The phone rang a few times, and on the fifth ring, just as Tang Nian thought Meng Jingwei wouldn't answer, the call connected.
"Meng Jingwei, damn it, where's my wife?"
He cursed as he strode up the mountain.
Looking up, as far as his eyes could see were steps ascending like clouds into the sea, with dense tombstones lining both sides.
Tang Nian cursed inwardly, wondering why Meng Jingwei brought his wife to such a dreadful place.
"Your wife is at the summit, of course," Meng Jingwei smiled. "Mr. Tang, you have twenty minutes left."
With that, Meng Jingwei hung up the phone.
"Son of a bitch!"
Looking at his phone, which had been hung up on again, Tang Nian finally couldn't control his anger and smashed the phone heavily onto the steps.
The phone shattered into pieces, scattering several meters away.
Despite his fury, Tang Nian, concerned for his wife Li Lei's safety, continued to ascend the mountain, panting.
A group of bodyguards and Shen Liannuo, her hands bound behind her back, were also forcibly dragged up the mountain.
Shen Liannuo, having practiced martial arts since childhood and born on a mountain, found ascending and descending effortless, not even breaking a sweat.
Time ticked by, and Tang Nian, sweating profusely and gasping for breath, continued to climb towards the summit.
Meng Jingwei had given them twenty minutes to reach the top. Tang Nian, out of breath, climbed, occasionally raising his wrist to check his watch.
When twenty minutes had passed, they had only climbed a third of the way. He had to use one of his subordinate's phones to call Meng Jingwei, but she didn't answer.
Three consecutive calls were made, but Meng Jingwei didn't pick up.
"Damn this scoundrel!"
Tang Nian raised his hand, about to throw the phone. Seeing his posture, a bodyguard nervously and subserviently reminded him, "Mr. Tang, that's... that's my... my phone."
Tang Nian shot him a glare and tossed the phone to the short-haired bodyguard.
Catching a glimpse of Shen Liannuo behind him, an impulse struck him. He kicked Shen Liannuo, "Dare to touch my wife, and I'll make you all die!"
He cursed, but as he kicked, Shen Liannuo sidestepped easily, avoiding the blow.
Shen Liannuo's hair was messy, her fair and delicate features bruised, and the blood oozing from her lips had dried. She raised an eyebrow and smiled, possessing a kind of battle-worn beauty, yet her core radiated a cold arrogance. "Have you forgotten what Jingwei said? Your wife is in her hands. If you don't want your wife to suffer, feel free to make a move!"
"You...!"
Tang Nian gnashed his teeth in anger, almost unable to catch his breath.
A nearby bodyguard immediately tried to placate Tang Nian, "Madam is still waiting for you, Mr. Tang. Let's hurry up... huff... huff... and go up."
The group of bodyguards were also panting from exhaustion.
Tang Nian and Shen Liannuo locked eyes, neither willing to back down. The atmosphere grew heavy, and the sound of panting all around them became strangely comical.
"Hmph, I'll wait for the day you kneel and beg for mercy!"
Tang Nian wasted no more words and braced himself to climb the mountain. His legs felt weak and heavy as he climbed, each step feeling as if his leg was filled with lead, too heavy to lift.
After an indeterminate amount of time, the group finally reached the summit.
Xian Mountain was very high. The south side of the mountain was a cemetery, while the other side was open to the public. At the summit, there were several pavilions and a very large observation deck.
At the summit, the wind whistled. Tang Nian looked around but couldn't find Meng Jingwei, so he called her. "Where are you?"
"Don't worry about where I am. Have Shen Liannuo go to the observation deck ahead by herself," Meng Jingwei said.