Chapter 6701
A Bounty on Me?
Xiao Chen's lips curled into a cold smile, a smile tinged with disdain and mockery.
His pace suddenly quickened, and he weaved through the crowd like a bolt of lightning, disappearing into a dimly lit alleyway in a few flashes.
The alleyway was filled with a rotten smell, piled with clutter, old bicycles, discarded cardboard boxes, and rusty iron buckets were placed haphazardly, and moss covered the walls, making it look particularly gloomy under the dim light.
The air was filled with a damp, musty smell that made one want to vomit.
A few seconds later, a man wearing a black baseball cap and a black jacket appeared furtively at the entrance of the alley.
He lowered the brim of his hat, glancing warily left and right, his eyes revealing tension and unease.
His face was full of confusion, and he muttered, "Strange, I clearly saw him come in, but where did he go? This is a dead end!"
He moved forward cautiously, taking each step with utmost care, afraid of making the slightest sound.
Before the words were finished, a dark figure leaped down from the roof like a ghost.
The speed was so fast that the man had no time to react.
A pair of large, iron-like hands had gripped his throat tightly, the force of which seemed capable of crushing it.
The man felt a powerful force come over him, easily lifting him up so that his feet left the ground and he kicked wildly in the air.
With a muffled thud, the man's back slammed heavily against the wall, causing plaster to crumble and kicking up a cloud of dust.
The man felt as if his chest had been struck by a heavy hammer, and his internal organs had shifted out of place, causing him unbearable pain.
Breathing became difficult, as if an invisible hand was tightly gripping his throat, making it impossible for him to breathe.
He struggled desperately, gripping Xiao Chen's arm with both hands, his nails digging deep into Xiao Chen's skin, only to find that the other's arm was as if cast in steel, and did not move an inch.
As the lack of oxygen intensified, his face turned from red to purple, and his eyes became bloodshot, as if they were about to burst.
The veins on his neck bulged out like winding earthworms, and he was on the verge of losing consciousness.
Just when he thought he was going to die and his life was about to end in this dark alley, Xiao Chen suddenly released his grip, which felt like an iron clamp.
The man felt a sudden release in his throat, and he fell heavily to the ground like a kite with a broken string.
He lay on the ground, supporting himself with his hands, and coughed violently, each cough sounding as if he were coughing up his internal organs.
He gasped for breath, greedily inhaling the hard-won air, as if reborn, his eyes filled with the fear and relief of surviving a catastrophe.
"Who sent you, Qin Fang?" Xiao Chen's icy voice rang out above him, a voice that seemed to come from the deepest hell, carrying an undeniable sense of oppression that made the man shiver.
The man trembled as he pulled a photograph from his pocket, his hands shaking as he handed it over, his voice trembling with tears: "B-Brother, I really didn't mean it! Everyone in the ancient city is looking for you. If they find you, they'll get a million-dollar reward! I...I was blinded by greed for a moment. Please, have mercy on me! I have a family to support..."
As he spoke, tears and snot streamed down his face, making him look utterly disheveled.
Xiao Chen took the photo and, in the dim light, saw that it was a candid shot he had taken at Qinrenxuan earlier that day.
In the photo, he is standing in front of the counter talking to Qin Fang, looking completely at ease.
His eyes instantly turned ashen, his brows furrowed, and a sense of foreboding washed over him. Such a sudden commotion in the ancient city—had someone discovered his true identity?
It should be noted that if his identity is exposed, it will cause a huge uproar.
Or perhaps his plan to wipe out the Yang family has been exposed?
The Yang family was a prominent family in the ancient city. His destruction of the Yang family would inevitably attract the attention and retaliation of many forces.
"Who is the person behind the bounty?" Xiao Chen squatted down, staring intently at the man. The aura emanating from him made the man shudder, as if he were in an ice cellar, every inch of his skin being chilled.
The man felt the air around him freeze, as if an invisible hand was tightly gripping his throat. He knew that if he dared to utter a single lie, he would be killed by this menacing figure in front of him the next second.
He swallowed hard, a gurgling sound coming from his throat, and said in a trembling voice, "It's...it's Liu Jianming from the Liu family! I heard he used all his connections, even pulling up all the city's surveillance footage to find you! He's declared that he'll definitely find you and get justice for the Yang family!"
Xiao Chen's eyes flickered, a hint of understanding flashing in his deep eyes, and he immediately understood the reason.
Previously, he had treated Liu Jianming, which had alleviated some of Liu Jianming's symptoms. However, follow-up treatment was still essential. Without it, Liu Jianming would probably not live more than a month.
Xiao Chen thought to himself that Liu Jianming must be impatient, or perhaps he had doubts about his medical skills, which was why he came up with the idea of offering a reward to find him, hoping to force him to show himself.
"Go back and tell Liu Jianming that if he wants to live, he shouldn't play these little tricks and should come see me in person!" Xiao Chen's voice was cold, like the north wind in the dead of winter, carrying an undeniable authority.
As soon as he finished speaking, an invisible force suddenly burst forth from his body, spreading outwards like a surging tide.
The man felt as if a thunderclap had exploded in his ears, making his head buzz and his ears ache.
When he came to his senses, Xiao Chen was nowhere to be seen. Xiao Chen had vanished without a trace, as if he had never been there at all.
Meanwhile, in the Longyue Bay villa area north of the ancient city, the Liu family mansion was brightly lit, resembling a palace shrouded in light.
In the hall, the crystal chandelier emitted a bright yet soft light, but it could not dispel the gloom in Liu Jianming's heart.
Liu Jianming was dressed in an expensive Tang suit made of superior fabric and embroidered with exquisite patterns, but he could not hide his haggard appearance.
He paced back and forth in the hall, his steps hurried and frantic, each step feeling as if he were stepping on scorching hot coals.
His forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat, which slid down his cheeks and soaked the hair at his temples.
His brows were furrowed so deeply that they seemed to have been etched with the marks of time and illness.
He was once a powerful figure in the ancient city's business world, and his Jianming Group was at its peak, making him invincible in the business world.
He attends various high-end occasions, dressed in a sharp suit, chatting and laughing, radiating charisma.
But now, he was as restless as an ant on a hot pan.
Because he only had one month left to live, the shadow of death loomed over him constantly.
For the past two days, Liu Jianming has not slept a single time. His bloodshot eyes are like two burning flames.
He had heavy dark circles under his eyes, looking like a panda, and his whole appearance made him look ten years older. (End of Chapter)