Zhang Liunian sneered, stopping before the painting. The moment he stood still, he saw Zhu Lao San's body slightly bend, a subtle shift he caught.
With a watchful eye, Zhang Liunian examined more closely, not only taking down the painting but also tapping the wall where it hung.
This tapping was significant, for it produced an echo, not the sound of hollow bricks, but of a small, sealed space.
Zhang Liunian was very familiar with this sound, having had it in his own home in his past life, so he knew he had found it.
If he wasn't mistaken, his Qing Qing might have been hidden in this secret room by Zhu Lao San.
Zhang Liunian smiled and began tapping inch by inch, quickly discovering an anomaly.
"Found it!"
As Zhang Liunian tapped on a wooden door, he immediately let out a laugh.
Zhu Lao San's face turned pale instantly, but unwilling to let Zhang Liunian find Jiang Qing Qing, he suddenly roared, "Attack!"
Then, a large number of thugs poured in from outside, and some even opened fire on Zhang Liunian and his companions.
Zhang Liunian showed no mercy, turning and using Zhu Lao San as a human shield, successfully causing Zhu Lao San to spurt blood and writhe in agony.
Just as Zhang Liunian was about to finish him off and send Zhu Lao San to his end, Zhu Lao San cried out in pain, "Stop, stop, don't move anymore."
Zhu Lao San's voice trembled with fear. The moment he spoke, the people outside dared not act, merely watching Zhang Liunian with hostile glares.
Zhang Liunian was amused. Looking at the pitiful Zhu Lao San, he smiled and said, "Make them throw their guns in."
"..." Zhu Lao San, covered in blood and fearing his imminent demise, immediately complied.
He was truly scared; if his men dared to make a move, he would surely die.
Guns were collected, people were tied up, the familiar procedure to resolve future troubles. Only then did Zhang Liunian kick open the hidden door, and in the next moment, he saw Wu Gu Di holding a small knife to Jiang Qing Qing's neck, "Release Xiao Zhu Zhu, or I'll take her life."
In fact, Wu Gu Di had known Zhang Liunian had entered the room as soon as he did, and had also realized Zhu Lao San's precarious situation.
To save them, Wu Gu Di grabbed a small knife from the table and held it to Jiang Qing Qing's neck.
Seeing Wu Gu Di's quick thinking, Zhu Lao San inwardly felt it was good to keep him around, and that this man was sometimes more useful than those with guns.
Look, without being taught, he knew to threaten Zhang Liunian. Given Zhang Liunian's importance to Jiang Qing Qing, he would surely grant his freedom for her sake.
But he would soon realize he was overthinking things.
This was because Zhang Liunian had already taken in the situation in the secret room and spotted a potted plant by the door, having already devised a plan.
"Quickly release her, or I'll kill her," Wu Gu Di said, seeing Zhang Liunian's calm demeanor and inexplicably panicking.
"If you want to release her, alright, how about we exchange them?" Zhang Liunian dragged Zhu Lao San in with a smile. After taking only two steps, he suddenly attacked, first flicking a small knife behind his back directly at Wu Gu Di's face.
"Ah!" Wu Gu Di, who had never experienced such a scene, immediately shrieked and tried to dodge. At that moment, Zhang Liunian extended his leg again and kicked the potted plant at his feet towards the sideways-moving Wu Gu Di.
As a result, with a "bang!" Wu Gu Di was knocked to the ground by the potted plant.
"Xiao Qian, help me tie up Wu Gu Di and bring Qing Qing over," Zhang Liunian said, holding Zhu Lao San tightly.
Zhang Qian, upon receiving the order, stepped forward and tied up Wu Gu Di with his own clothes, then rescued Jiang Qing Qing.
"Liunian?"
Once free, Jiang Qing Qing ran towards Zhang Liunian, only stopping when she saw Zhu Lao San in front of him, her eyes tearful.
Zhang Liunian's hands were occupied, so he could only comfort her, "Don't cry, we still need to see if there's anyone else in here. We have to deal with everyone."
The crisis was not yet over; unless all threats were eliminated, they could not rejoice too soon.
Jiang Qing Qing also knew it wasn't the time for embraces, and it was better to finish the important matters.
Thus, the group, carrying Zhu Lao San, searched the entire place. After confirming no one else would appear, Zhang Liunian dumped Zhu Lao San and the others onto the ground.
Zhu Lao San was utterly pathetic at this point, not only covered in blood but also unable to walk due to the gunshot wound. He looked as if he had been fished out of blood.
"I'm dying, save me, please save me," Zhu Lao San, lying on the ground, extended his hand to Zhang Liunian for help. His face was pale and bloodless, and he felt that if he didn't receive a blood transfusion, he would surely die.
But Zhang Liunian would never save him; he was his enemy, and he would be happy if he died like this.
"Saving you is absolutely impossible. I'll only feel at ease when you're dead," Zhang Liunian crouched down and smiled at him.
Zhu Lao San was furious but lacked the strength to argue with Zhang Liunian, so he shouted at the tied-up Wu Gu Di, "Aren't you his sister-in-law? Ask him to save me, I'm going to die if I don't get treatment."
Wu Gu Di, also dropped on the ground, heard this and immediately crawled towards Zhang Liunian, "I was wrong, I was wrong. If you want to hit or kill, come at me. Please, for my sake, let Xiao Zhu Zhu go, okay?"
Wu Gu Di truly considered Zhu Lao San her world, and was willing to give up anything to save him.
But all she received was Zhang Liunian's cold glare and indifference.
Seeing Zhang Liunian's stony heart, Wu Gu Di, filled with resentment, turned to Jiang Qing Qing, "Qing Qing, if I hadn't saved you just now, your purity would have been compromised. Consider it repaying my kindness, help me send Xiao Zhu Zhu to the clinic, okay? I'm begging you, sister-in-law, please."
Jiang Qing Qing looked at her like this and felt a pang of reluctance, but remembering her near predicament, she bit her lip, refusing to speak.
"Ah! You are demons, murderers, you refuse to save people, you will go to eighteen levels of hell..." Wu Gu Di, seeing that they were all refusing to help, suddenly started shouting hysterically.
Zhu Lao San, however, lay on the ground watching Wu Gu Di's frenzy, his face expressionless, but the despair in his eyes was unbearable to look at.
Mr. Xue, looking at the pile of people on the ground, suddenly stepped forward and said, "Why not let me handle them all? I'll be returning to Hong Kong tomorrow. If they can reach there safely, I will put them to use. If not, then it's their fate."
This was his way of offering to deal with Zhu Lao San for Zhang Liunian. Zhang Liunian was extremely surprised; they had only met twice and had not known each other for long, yet Mr. Xue was proactively offering to resolve Zhu Lao San for him, which truly astounded him.
"Last month, Mr. Fu and I were developing Xiangyuan in Hong Kong and were in great need of manpower. They can be of great help there.
Besides, I don't like men who have designs on other people's wives. It's better to let him fend for himself." Mr. Xue was not doing this for Zhu Lao San; he had his eyes on the twenty thugs behind Zhu Lao San. These people would be excellent laborers in Hong Kong.
"Since they are useful to you, I won't object to you taking them away. However, I need to see Zhu Lao San dead before I can rest assured," Zhang Liunian would not let Zhu Lao San go.
Mr. Xue, seeing him say this, was about to speak when Jiang Qing Qing interjected, "Liunian, give him to Mr. Xue too. Let fate decide his life or death."
Mr. Xue was taken aback, then smiled, "Leave them to me, rest assured. As long as they enter Hong Kong, no matter who they are, I will never let them return."
Zhang Liunian looked at Zhu Lao San on the ground, who seemed on the verge of death, and finally sighed and agreed.