"Don't be so formal," Chu Yuxuan said. "Let's go. Turn off all the lights upstairs and downstairs. I'll go get the car and wait for you at the gate."
"Alright!" Yao Liang responded, pausing for a moment. He glanced at the gun in his hand and asked, confused, "Boss, aren't we taking any other equipment?"
Chu Yuxuan replied, "The others have enough gear. What we have is more than sufficient."
"Oh, okay." Yao Liang instinctively looked at Chu Yuxuan's waist, noticing there wasn't a single gun. How much trust did this demonstrate?
Moments later, Chu Yuxuan drove out of the garage in his newly modified GTR. He revved the engine twice, satisfied, and then parked at the gate. Yao Liang had turned off all the lights in the house and walked over to the car.
Chu Yuxuan quickly got out and personally opened the passenger door for Yao Liang, a gesture that left Yao Liang even more astonished.
"You're injured, so it's not convenient for you to open the door. Get in quickly."
"Mm!" Yao Liang nodded gratefully and got in. Afterward, Chu Yuxuan thoughtfully closed the door for him before walking around to the driver's seat. The car started slowly, and it seemed Chu Yuxuan was wary of being monitored or followed. He intentionally took several detours, while Yao Liang nervously loaded his gun and kept glancing backward.
Once he confirmed there was no one tailing them, Chu Yuxuan finally headed toward Xinying Village.
Xinying Village was to the southwest. Since Feicui Lake was already on the outskirts of the city's ecological zone, driving there took just over an hour. If speeding a little, they could make it in about an hour.
After a while, they left the city. Chu Yuxuan increased the speed slightly, keeping it between 130 and 140 kilometers per hour.
Yao Liang, a bit nervous, said, "Boss, shouldn't we slow down a bit?"
Chu Yuxuan glanced at him sideways, smiling faintly. "This is already slow. If the highway wasn't so rough, with this car, reaching 300 would be a breeze."
Yao Liang gave an awkward smile. "Boss, you're really a great driver."
After about half an hour, they left the highway and started driving on the narrow roads leading to Xinying Village.
The night was as dark as ink, with the stars and moon hidden behind thick clouds. The GTR drove along a desolate path, surrounded by silence as if in a ghostly domain.
The trees and grass on either side, revived by a spring rain, were waiting for the light of dawn. Darkness would eventually be dispelled, and hope was not entirely a fantasy.
Before long, the car entered a hilly area.
Out of the blue, Chu Yuxuan asked, "Old Six, they only kidnapped your parents?"
Yao Liang's expression darkened. "And... my younger brother. He's only twenty-five this year."
Chu Yuxuan sighed. "Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to them."
Yao Liang looked at Chu Yuxuan with a complicated expression and softly acknowledged.
After a brief silence, Chu Yuxuan suddenly smacked his lips and pointed to the rolling hills around them. "This is the only road to Xinying Village. We should've set an ambush here tonight. Look how perfect this terrain is!"
As he spoke, Chu Yuxuan slowed the car to about 20 kilometers per hour. He glanced around while pulling out his phone, seemingly planning to call his brothers to join them. At that moment, a few beams of light suddenly flashed from behind a hill ahead. Several jeeps turned a corner, speeding toward the GTR!
Chu Yuxuan's brow furrowed. He quickly hit the brakes, shifting into reverse. "Why are they acting so soon? Old Six, keep your head down!" Before he finished speaking, Yao Liang suddenly pointed his gun at Chu Yuxuan's head.
"Don't move!"
Chu Yuxuan's body stiffened. Slowly turning his head toward Yao Liang, his gaze darkened. "Old Six?"
Yao Liang bit his lip, struggling to speak. "I'm sorry, boss!"
"You're pointing a gun at me and saying sorry? So, tonight's trap... is set by you and the Tianji Society?"
"I... I had no choice! Don't move! Hands off the wheel!"
"A ruse? Is that it?" Chu Yuxuan glared at Yao Liang and then looked ahead. There were three jeeps blocking the road, and in the rearview mirror, two more jeeps emerged from the trees, blocking their escape route.
Yao Liang's face showed deep conflict. "They just want to use you to trade for Liu Jun with your father. Don't resist! You can't escape, so don't force me to shoot! Boss, please listen to me. Just hand over Liu Jun! You can't beat them!"
"You really are a good brother," Chu Yuxuan said coldly, his eyes flicking toward the armed men stepping out of the jeeps, all wielding assault rifles with deadly intent.
Yet Chu Yuxuan suddenly began to laugh.
"What are you laughing at?" Yao Liang frowned. "Don't try any tricks! Your brothers are still at Liu Jun's place, far from here. No one's coming to save you! Get out of the car!"
Chu Yuxuan's laughter grew more unrestrained. He leaned back against the seat, his tone mocking. "What if I don't get out?"
With that, he casually picked up a cigarette from the car's center console and placed it between his lips.
"Don't push me! I really don't want to hurt you! Get out of the car!"
Chu Yuxuan continued to ignore him, lighting the cigarette and taking a slow drag. "And if I do push you? Shoot me."
The gunmen outside pointed their weapons at Chu Yuxuan, ready to fire at the slightest movement and turn him into a sieve.
"Do you think the Tianji Society won't kill you because they need you to trade for Liu Jun?" Yao Liang said sternly. "They might not kill you, but injuring you is no big deal! The gun's in my hand. I'll be careful, but you should stop making this harder than it needs to be. Boss, this is the last time I'm calling you that. Don't force my hand!"
Without a hint of fear, Chu Yuxuan calmly grabbed the headset from the car's dashboard, a mocking glint in his eyes. "Shoot me then."
"Don't be stupid! There's no signal here! Even if there was, your brothers wouldn't make it in time!" Yao Liang shouted. "Don't push me! I have no choice!"
"I said, shoot me!"
With lightning speed, Chu Yuxuan reached out and grabbed Yao Liang's gun, forcing it downward. In the split second Yao Liang realized what was happening, the gun was aimed at Chu Yuxuan's right chest — a spot that wouldn't be fatal. Yao Liang didn't hesitate to pull the trigger!