The water gun club had been suspended for rectification following the previous assassin incident.
In this era, the death of a person, especially through gunfire, was a serious matter.
Consequently, plainclothes police officers were now surveilling the club 24/7, ostensibly to investigate but also to "protect."
Naturally, there was no way to find Liu Pinger there.
The only option was to arrange to meet her at a coffee shop. This place, Chuan Chuan Bay, was owned by a friend of Liu Pinger.
In less than ten minutes, Liu Pinger, dressed in a camouflage uniform, pushed open the door.
The gender-neutral clothing, instead of making her appear ordinary, lent her an air of heroic spirit, possessing a unique beauty.
Upon seeing Li Chonglou, she raised her hand in a greeting.
"Your style today is quite tough," Li Chonglou commented, his gaze lingering, hinting at something more.
This petite woman, outwardly delicate, was remarkably strong at heart.
She was, after all, someone who had grown up in an orphanage.
Her willingness to risk her life to distract the assassin last time was a clear testament to this.
"Heh, if someone wants my life, I can't just sit around and do nothing," Liu Pinger replied with a cool smile. "You asked to meet me today, what's up?"
"Li Hanlong is dead," Li Chonglou dropped the bombshell immediately. "Yan Bin can rest in peace."
The news struck Liu Pinger with a complex expression, her eyes rippling with emotion.
She had been investigating Li Hanlong for a long time and naturally knew his capabilities.
He was as tenacious as a turtle, making him impossible to get close to.
And now, after only a few days, he was dead?
"I thank you on his behalf," Liu Pinger said after a long pause, her composure returning, a hint of relief gracing her face.
Yan Bin's death had been a constant ache in her heart.
A childhood companion, it was only upon learning of his demise that the cruel reality of life felt so close.
Many might think it was pitiful enough to be without parents in an orphanage.
No, she didn't feel that way because she had a group of brothers and sisters who cared for her.
They had even shielded her from hardship after she entered society.
She seemed born a princess, cherished and protected by everyone around her.
Therefore, this incident had dealt her an unparalleled blow.
In the preceding days, she had been discussing with her companions how to avenge Yan Bin, only to find that Li Chonglou had already accomplished it.
Deep down, she was grateful to Li Chonglou.
However, she didn't want to show it.
She was well aware of why Li Chonglou had asked to meet her here.
"I need that item," Li Chonglou stated directly, without beating around the bush. "I believe you've thought things through over the past few days."
"Even if you return the item now, or promise that person to keep silent, do you really think they will trust you?"
"With the police present, he hasn't sent any more assassins."
"But while the police can protect you for a while, they can't protect you forever..."
Before he could finish, Liu Pinger's eyebrows shot up, interrupting him. "Stop talking. I understand everything you're saying, but it's useless!"
"I said, I can't just disregard the lives of so many of my companions."
"There's no room for negotiation on this matter. The only reason I'm meeting you today is because we've faced life and death together."
"Don't make me dislike you."
Her tone was resolute, leaving no room for compromise.
Upon hearing this, Li Chonglou remained silent.
Liu Pinger was not him; she was, after all, just a woman whose mindset was primarily defensive, and that was understandable.
There was nothing wrong with protecting those close to her.
Therefore, he could not force Liu Pinger.
However, he was determined to obtain that evidence.
He would not give up just like that.
After a few seconds, Li Chonglou uttered three words: "I'm sorry!"
"It's nothing," Liu Pinger replied indifferently, assuming he was apologizing for his earlier words.
As soon as she finished speaking, Li Chonglou moved with lightning speed, gently pressing a point near her vagus nerve.
Instantly, Liu Pinger lost consciousness.
Her body went limp and tilted, caught by Li Chonglou, who had shifted beside her.
He carefully retrieved her phone from her pocket.
The server by the bar, seeing the two sitting intimately side by side on the sofa, couldn't help but smile. "Pinger is actually going on a date. What big news..."
As she spoke, she picked up her phone and snapped a photo of the backs of their heads.
Meanwhile, Li Chonglou, having obtained Liu Pinger's phone, used her fingerprint to unlock it.
He began searching for files within it.
This was a method Wu Hao had taught him. Before Liu Pinger arrived, he had been chatting with Wu Hao.
He suspected that such an important file would be carried by Liu Pinger and backed up on her phone.
However, Li Chonglou was not very adept with modern technology.
After searching high and low without success, he started to sweat, fine beads appearing on his forehead.
Specialization was key, and different fields were like separate mountains.
Unable to find what he was looking for after a prolonged search, he had no choice but to use his own phone to call Wu Hao.
He said in a low voice, "Many files on her phone are encrypted; I can't unlock them."
"Add me on WeChat and send me a virus file; I'll handle the rest," Wu Hao replied.
Soon after, having added Wu Hao, he received a file and clicked to open it.
The screen displayed a brief sequence of alternating red and green patterns before disappearing.
"Done. Wait for my message. Decryption takes some time; I'll contact you when it's ready," Wu Hao sent a message.
Then, he instructed Li Chonglou to delete all contacts and messages, and to place the phone back where it was.
He then pinched Liu Pinger's philtrum, waking her up.
"What happened to me?" Liu Pinger asked, looking confused.
She hadn't even seen Li Chonglou's movements before losing consciousness, and the gap in her memory made her feel uncomfortable.
"You might have been highly stressed. Go back and get some rest. With the police here, the assassin probably won't come again," Li Chonglou replied calmly.
"Sigh..." Although Liu Pinger sensed something was amiss, she didn't suspect anything further and simply sighed softly.
After a few casual words between them, they parted ways.
Watching her get into a taxi, a hint of melancholy appeared in Li Chonglou's eyes.
He had no choice but to resort to this method.
Liu Pinger was thinking too simply. No one would be willing to let others hold their secrets; they would inevitably use all means to silence them.
Blindly pursuing protection and peace was an illusion.
Only by counteracting could one survive.
Since he had planted a virus on her phone, Li Chonglou now had an additional responsibility.
The people at the water gun club absolutely could not suffer any further harm.
He had to understand the entire situation before the police left, resolving it once and for all.
Returning to the Ning residence, Li Chonglou lay on the bed to rest.
He had been truly exhausted these past two days; his injuries healed only to reopen. Had it not been for the powerful self-healing ability of the sheepskin scroll's cultivation technique, he would have long since died.
One night passed.
His injuries had improved considerably.
He woke up and chatted with Ning Lang for a while, drinking some tea.
Enjoying this moment of leisure.
In the afternoon, he was scheduled to meet that elusive prominent figure.
Ning Lang seemed even more excited than he was.
A moment later, the phone rang. Li Chonglou assumed it was Wu Hao successfully decrypting the file.
However, upon picking it up, he saw it was Jin Jing's number.
Opening the message, he frowned.
"Brother Li, Cheng Daqi is here again, and he's brought people to smash up the shop... Please, help me..."
Reading these words, Li Chonglou felt a surge of annoyance.
He actually disliked such domestic squabbles. Moreover, interfering in a couple's affairs once was already excessive.
To get involved again would be overstepping.
Thus, he didn't reply and had no intention of meddling.
However, seeing his frown and hint of displeasure, Ning Lang curiously asked, "What's wrong? I rarely see you make that expression."
"I inadvertently helped someone, and now it's caused trouble," Li Chonglou explained the situation briefly.
Ning Lang burst into laughter after hearing it. "Your role as the lover is too unqualified."
"Someone is calling for your help, and you're just going to stand by and watch. That won't do."
"Let's go. We're free now anyway, I'll accompany you there. Let's settle this once and for all!"
Ever since he met Li Chonglou, Ning Lang had felt a sense of admiration for him, hitting it off immediately and treating him like a brother.
But he had never seen Li Chonglou in such an awkward situation.
This matter was quite unexpected for him. Perhaps it was a perverse sense of humor, or perhaps genuine boredom.
Whatever the case, as soon as the thought struck him, he wanted to get involved.
"If you want to go, you go. I'm not interested," Li Chonglou saw through Ning Lang's intentions at a glance and flatly refused.
About ten minutes later...
At a dried goods store in the market.
Li Chonglou walked to the entrance with a helpless expression, accompanied by Ning Lang.
He saw Cheng Daqi sitting arrogantly in the store with several men, his demeanor ferocious.
Jin Jing was kneeling on the ground with disheveled hair, sobbing. Half of her face was red and swollen.
Her eyes were puffy from crying.
"Hey, why are you hitting a woman?" Ning Lang, eager to stir up trouble, was the first to enter the store and accuse them.
As he spoke, he examined Jin Jing.
He had to admit that this woman possessed considerable beauty and a gentle demeanor, making her marriage to a scoundrel like Cheng Daqi a great injustice.
In terms of looks alone, she was worthy of being the "slut" of his brother.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but chuckle mischievously to himself.
"Hmph, who are you? What business is it of yours!"
Cheng Daqi glanced at Ning Lang disdainfully and cursed him impatiently.
He then turned to Li Chonglou, stood up, and menacingly shouted, "Kid, you've finally arrived!"
"Last time, you relied on that blond punk to force me to kneel and apologize."
"Divorce this bitch and hand her over to you."
"You've got guts, haven't you? I've found a new boss now, and we'll settle old scores and new ones!"
As he spoke, a sense of nouveau riche superiority emanated from him.
It was as if he had transformed from a lapdog into a celestial hound.
Ever since he was forced to kneel before Li Chonglou and then compelled to divorce Jin Jing, he had been consumed by hatred and couldn't even sleep.
He had pulled every string he could to find a powerful gangster, using his influence to return and seek revenge on Li Chonglou and Jin Jing.
Upon hearing this, Jin Jing quickly turned her head to look at Li Chonglou, her face filled with remorse, and cried, "Benefactor, please leave quickly."
"It was Cheng Daqi, that beast, who snatched my phone and sent you the message!"
"He's not human..."
*Slap!*
Before she could finish speaking, Cheng Daqi slapped her across the face again.
Men like him, who endured humiliation and swallowed their pride outside, were experts at beating their wives at home.
"Leave? Where are you going?" Cheng Daqi said with a sinister grin. "You care so much about this lover, huh? Today, I'll fulfill your wishes."
"Let you two, the lover and the slut, understand who you can't afford to offend!"
He signaled the thugs accompanying him to step forward and surround Li Chonglou and Ning Lang.
A cold glint appeared in Li Chonglou's eyes.
He never took scoundrels like Cheng Daqi seriously.
He had tried to avoid involvement, but unexpectedly, the dog couldn't change its ways and dared to provoke him again.
Since Ning Lang had persuaded him to come.
He couldn't just let others insult him like this.
Therefore, he replied coldly, "Cheng Daqi, I gave you a chance, but unfortunately, you were useless."