Upon hearing the name “Liang Jiankong,” Xu Qingyan’s heart skipped a beat. This situation was far from simple. She couldn’t help but question why she was once again caught up in such matters.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, and I don’t know Liang Jiankong,” she quickly clarified, trying to clear any association.

However, the Japanese man remained unconvinced. His brows furrowed as he coldly snorted, “You don’t know Liang Jiankong? Let me say it again, hand over the item!”

In an abrupt motion, the leader of the group forcefully kicked over an old wooden chair, shattering it into fragments.

Xu Qingyan instinctively took a step back in response.

“You’re not going to talk, huh? Let me take a guess. Is the item still in your possession, or have you already transferred it?”

“I really don’t know what you’re talking about,” Qingyan insisted firmly.

She was determined to stick to her claim of ignorance.

The Japanese men’s faces contorted with fury. They had no intention of wasting any more words on her. With a signal, the remaining two men moved forward to grab her.

They made no attempt to frisk her or rummage around; their sole intention was to take her away.

If Xu Qingyan still hadn’t grasped any clues, it would be a waste to have a friend from the police foce.

She was about to become a pawn in someone else’s game, a disposable tool in their scheme.

The crucial part of the puzzle lay in that small black box. It had been placed in her bag without her knowledge. However, the contents of the vial and the USB drive remained a mystery to her. Both items clearly belonged to the Japanese men. t was evident that the person who had framed her intended to target Liang Jiankong.

Amidst the swirling thoughts in her mind, the idea of surrendering the items for the sake of self-protection briefly crossed her mind. However, she swiftly dismissed it. If her suspicions were correct, someone was deliberately framing her. 

Surrendering the items would only solidify her guilt. On the other hand, if she refused to comply, the Japanese men might search her house or suspect that she had already passed the items to Liang Jiankong. As long as the whereabouts of the items remained unknown to them, there was still a chance for her to survive.

With little strength to resist the two burly men, Xu Qingyan was dragged and supported down the stairs. It was late at night, and the residential complex remained shrouded in silence.

The men cautiously avoided the monitored paths, leading her to the back entrance where multiple cars awaited their arrival.

Her mouth was sealed with duct tape. She was unceremoniously thrown into the back seat of one car, and in the rear seat sat the very man she had crossed paths with on the stairs, the unsettling gaze still fresh in her memory.

He exuded an aura that warned others to stay away, casting a gloomy glance in her direction without uttering a word.

Once inside the car, Yoshida quickly composed himself and began reporting in a respectful manner to the man. The man responded briefly, and Yoshida would occasionally glance at her. 

Yoshida then made two phone calls, and she caught fragments of words in between, such as “medicine,” “return,” “capture,” and “death.” Soon after, she saw Yoshida, with a furious expression, engaged in a conversation with the leader. 

After hearing the leader’s response, he uttered a single sentence. Without delay, the car accelerated. The three vehicles continued their journey, disregarding the attempts of personnel to obstruct them, forcefully breaking through the gate and barely coming to a halt in front of a secluded warehouse.

She was forcefully yanked out of the car and given a powerful shove, causing her to stumble several steps forward. Finally, she raised her gaze and surveyed the surroundings—a thick canopy of trees casting ominous shadows, with only a narrow path leading to a desolate warehouse. 

The path before her was caked in mud, and she treaded upon it with bare feet, enduring the sharp pain of rugged stones piercing her soles. The Japanese men paid no heed to her well-being, dragging her relentlessly until she was dumped onto the stone pavement in front of the warehouse. With a precarious stumble, she managed to regain her footing just in the nick of time, preventing herself from falling.

At this point, Xu Qingyan couldn’t help but chuckled. Who would have thought that after the nerve-wracking events in Nepal, she would once again be caught up in another mysterious conspiracy? And to her dismay, it was none other than this man called Liang Jiankong who repeatedly put her danger. Frankly speaking, a sense of disgust began to well up in Xu Qingyan’s heart, surpassing even her fear.

The young Chinese-speaking Japanese man, who accompanied Yoshida, stepped forward and addressed the unpleased guard at the door, “We’ve come to meet Mr. Liang. We’ve been informed of his presence here, and we’ve already had a phone conversation with him prior to our arrival.”

Xu Qingyan was momentarily stunned, but quickly understood that Yoshida had made the call to Liang Jiankong in the car. Judging by Yoshida’s reaction, Liang Jiankong must have said something that infuriated him.

In an instant, a group of security personnel swiftly surrounded them, their faces filled with a sense of weariness as if facing a formidable threat. Xu Qingyan discreetly counted the figures – there were twelve Japanese individuals on their side, while there were at least twenty security personnel in this place.

A robust man, clad in a black shirt, stepped forward and stood in front of Yoshida. His well-defined chest was perfectly outlined beneath the fabric, and his towering height of over 1.9 meters surpassed even that of Yoshida. He didn’t lower his gaze to meet Yoshida’s eyes, but instead looked down with a hint of disdain and said, “What do you think this place is?”

His attention then shifted towards the man standing behind Yoshida, clearly recognizing him as the leader. Only briefly did his eyes graze over Xu Qingyan’s presence before subtly diverting his gaze. 

“We have questions for him,” the Japanese man persisted, refusing to back down, though he still maintained a certain level of courtesy.

“You’re looking for Boss Liang? You’ve got the wrong place, pal. This place belongs to the Wang family,” the robust man retorted bluntly, showing no intention to say another word and signaling for them to be escorted out.

But just then, the Japanese boss standing beside Xu Qingyan unexpectedly spoke up. His voice was deep and resonant, like a heavy magnet.

Xu Qingyan didn’t quite catch his words, but they were quickly translated for her. This short sentence dripped with malice and intimidation.

“I wouldn’t mind meeting Miss Wang, but I must see Liang Jiankong today. Otherwise, I will chop off each of this young lady’s fingers one by one.”

Even Xu Qingyan, whose mental fortitude was strong enough to face dismemberment without batting an eye, couldn’t help but shrink her pupils.

Instinctively, Xu Qingyan clenched her fist. The next moment, the person beside her grabbed her wrist, lifting it high as if awaiting the fate of being slaughtered. She tried to exert force, but found herself completely unable to break free.

The surroundings grew desolate, and silence engulfed the area. Only the eerie shadows of the trees swayed in the wind, resulting in intermittent rustling sounds that inadvertently stirred the sensitive nerves of everyone present.

The area was shrouded in darkness, with thick clouds concealing the moon’s glow, leaving the formidable man’s expression obscured. The dim light from three ornamental street lamps near the warehouse failed to fully illuminate his features, except for the faintly raised veins on his temple, hinting at his inner turmoil.

As the heavy breaths of both parties filled the tense air, the warehouse door suddenly swung open from inside.

Xu Qingyan instinctively turned her gaze towards the source, but she couldn’t catch a glimpse of the person inside.

“Mr. Ryuzaki, it is an honor to have you grace us with your presence. However, may I inquire about the purpose of your visit at this late hour?” Amidst the stifling atmosphere, a melodious female voice sounded particularly out of place, cutting through the tension. Soon after, a stunning figure gracefully approached them.

Her long, glossy hair cascaded over her shoulders, soft and lustrous, accentuating her fair and translucent complexion. Her bright almond-shaped eyes, delicate nose, and cherry-like lips defined her undeniable beauty. 

Even someone as skeptical as Xu Qingyan had to admit that she exuded an irresistible charm. Though her appearance emanated softness and beauty, there was an undeniable aura of confidence that couldn’t be ignored. 

Despite being surrounded by a group of fiercely determined men, she gracefully approached them, her smile encompassing everyone before finally fixing her gaze on Xu Qingyan.

“My apologies for the intrusion, Miss Wang…”

The Japanese man who could speak Chinese was interrupted by the woman before he could finish his sentence. He was silenced by a subtle yet commanding look. That gaze conveyed a singular message: It’s not your place to speak here.

Afterward, Ryuzaki finally revealed a faint smile. He addressed the beautiful woman, saying, “Apologies for the disturbance, Miss Wang. However, I have a strong desire to meet with Mr. Liang. I kindly request that you refrain from obstructing me.”

His tone was polite, yet his gaze showed no signs of fear. This was a standoff between two individuals of equal status.

The woman clearly held authority in this place. She responded calmly, “What’s the rush? Mr. Liang is enjoying his wine inside. Mr. Ryuzaki’s actions might dampen everyone’s enjoyment.”

Xu Qingyan couldn’t help but admire the woman’s composure and gentleness. Although her words were unquestionable, her tone always remained soothing and pleasant, never causing any displeasure.

“Even if this young lady is in our hands, Mr. Liang still won’t come out?” Xu Qingyan asked.

Wang Jue replied softly, “Oh, he said, ‘Please proceed.'”

Afterward, she looked at Xu Qingyan, but couldn’t detect any emotions on the somewhat disheveled woman’s face.

Xu Qingyan struggled to identify her own emotions, but memories of Liang Jiankong’s enigmatic gaze crossed her mind several times. Her heart sank.

While he had spared her life, seemingly grateful for her act of saving him, it didn’t imply that he was a soft-hearted or merciful person. In a place like this, goodness was a rarity; most people concealed their hidden motives, contemplating how to eliminate their rivals.

Ryuzaki’s expression grew increasingly darker, while Yoshida’s impatience became evident. He was about to speak up when Ryuzaki raised his hand to silence him. He stared intently at Wang Jue and asked, “Is Liang Jiankong trying to stay away from this situation?”

From that point forward, there was a subtle shift in his tone.

Wang Jue showed no fear in return. Considering her own status, why would she be afraid of a mere Japanese man?

“I don’t know what Mr. Liang has in mind, but what I do know is that I don’t want any unnecessary trouble here. You barged into my territory in the middle of the night, Mr Ryuzaki. If it weren’t for Lord Ryuzaki, I wouldn’t even allow you to stand here and speak to me.”

Wang Jue spoke with a smile, but each word was like a sharp blade, leaving no room for ambiguity.

“Who would have thought that the Woodland Gang would be so unfaithful? And now, the Wang faction is joining forces with them.”

To everyone’s surprise, Wang Jue, the current leader of the faction, couldn’t help but laugh. “I never thought you to understand such complex idioms,” she retorted.

The Japanese man’s face turned even darker, but Wang Jue continued to provoke him.

“This matter has nothing to do with the Wang faction, and there’s no need for you to get involved.”

“Mr. Ryuzaki, haven’t you realized that the moment you set foot in this place, you issued a direct challenge to the Wang faction?”

Wang Jue’s smile faded slightly, while Long Qi narrowed his eyes, contemplating his next move. He hadn’t expected Liang Jiankong, with whom the Wang faction had a delicate relationship, to be standing alongside Wang Jue tonight. And now, she had refused to show him any respect and had become Liang Jiankong’s shield.

“Mr. Ryuzaki,” Wang Jue spoke up after a moment of silence, “Initially, I didn’t want to get involved. But now that you’ve taken it this far, backing down would only make us appear weak. Our territory isn’t open for anyone to enter and exit as they please. Since you’ve barged in, you’ll need to leave something behind before you can leave.”

The moment the Japanese men comprehended her words, they swiftly drew their guns in unison.

Ryuzaki made no effort to stop them. Simultaneously, all the members of the Wang faction swiftly drew their guns, positioning themselves to create a protective barrier around their young leader. Wang Jue, seemingly unfazed by the situation, casually leaned back as if she was used to such scenes.

The icy-black gun barrels glistened ominously, ready to ignite at any moment. Xu Qingyan could almost catch a whiff of the gunpowder. The situation was on the verge of eruption. Just then, a figure emerged from the warehouse door, swaying a glass of red wine in hand. With a nonchalant tone, he remarked, “Quite a lively gathering.”

Liang Jiankong calmly appeared before everyone, unfazed by the tense atmosphere that left everyone drenched in sweat. He stood confidently as he took a sip of his wine and savored it. Nodding approvingly, he said, “Not bad. Bring me a bottle later.”

Wang Jue smiled as she approached him, “Will one bottle be enough? I still have a whole case, just take them all.”

Liang Jiankong didn’t refuse. “I’ve brought you a heap of trouble and walked off with a whole case of your booze. Thanks for that,” he said casually.

Wang Jue shrugged dismissively. “Can’t really call it a big deal. We’ll take care of it.”

As Liang Jiankong scanned the shadowy faces and the glinting gun barrels below, Xu Qingyan caught a glimpse of a completely different side of him. It was the first time she witnessed his commanding and icy expression, unlike their previous encounter in his room where he appeared relaxed, and at most, slightly aloof.

Throughout the entire interaction, Liang Jiankong never once acknowledged Xu Qingyan’s presence, as if she were utterly nonexistent.