Chapter 111: The Underworld Abduction

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Huang Yu felt, upon hearing Peng Min’s words, that he was beginning to feel hungry as well.

He ordered some food to be delivered by phone. Everything was expensive and delicious; not a single item was cheap.

In truth, ever since he was old enough to understand such things, money had been nothing more than a string of numbers to him.

Having grown up in wealth, he regarded money merely as a means of obtaining whatever else he desired—a means that was always available in whatever quantity he wanted. He had never lacked anything.

It was deep into the night, sometime after three in the morning.

Peng Min awoke from her sleep. Still dazed, she reached out to embrace the man beside her, only to find no one there.

In an instant, all her drowsiness vanished, and she was fully awake.

Using the city lights shining through the window, she looked around the room but saw no sign of Huang Yu.

Peng Min got out of bed, slipped on her robe, and opened the door.

After searching around, she found Huang Yu on the balcony, sitting before the floor-to-ceiling window.

He sat motionless, gazing at the nightscape outside.

Peng Min did not go over immediately. Instead, she went to the kitchen, took two cans of chilled beer from the refrigerator, and then walked toward him.

“What are you thinking about?” she asked as she sat beside him. She opened one can and handed it to Huang Yu, then opened the other for herself. After taking a sip, she glanced at him.

Huang Yu accepted the beer and took a drink as well, his eyes fixed on the night view outside.

They were on the tenth floor—not particularly high, but not low either—and the view was excellent. A vast stretch of the city’s streets and night scenery lay clearly visible below.

There were far fewer vehicles on the roads than during the day, but since this was the city center, traffic remained fairly heavy.

Huang Yu watched for a while. He did not remain silent. After some thought, he said, “I was wondering why people come into this world. Why do they live? What is the purpose of living? Before two days ago, I had never thought about these things. But lately, whenever I have free time, I find myself pondering them.”

“Have you found an answer?” Peng Min asked.

She followed his gaze toward the city lights. After watching for a while, she decided there was nothing particularly interesting about them and turned her attention back to Huang Yu.

“No. Philosophers and thinkers throughout history have considered these questions, and there are countless theories, but there is no single, definitive answer.”

Huang Yu shook his head. If even the great thinkers of history had found no answer, then it was perfectly normal that he had none either.

He lifted the can and took a long swallow, as though trying to vent the frustration in his heart.

At his words, Peng Min set her beer aside and wrapped both arms around Huang Yu’s. Leaning against him, she said softly, “I’m not as learned as you are. All I know is that everyone has to eat, drink, sleep, and do all sorts of other things every day in order to stay alive. Otherwise, no one can last long.

“People already grow exhausted simply trying to live each day. Compared with ordinary people, I have one more necessity in my life: I have to take drugs regularly. That makes living even more exhausting for me.

“But I don’t feel tired now, because I met you. You gave me happiness and joy. I don’t know how long this happiness will last, but even if I can possess it only for a brief time, I am already satisfied.”

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Feeling Peng Min’s warmth and breath beside him, Huang Yu wished with all his heart that the person accompanying him at that moment was Li Jia.

But he knew that day would never come.

He no longer rejected this girl. He could accept her openly and without reservation.

She was the first woman he had ever had in his life, and he had developed feelings for her unlike any he had known before—feelings he could neither forget nor cast aside. She had secured a place in his heart.

Peng Min and Li Jia were entirely different people, yet Huang Yu did not know why, but lately he could always catch glimpses of Li Jia in Peng Min’s eyes and between her brows.

After Peng Min finished speaking, she had expected Huang Yu to pull away from her. To her surprise, he did not. This filled her with immense delight.

The two of them remained there, sitting together before the floor-to-ceiling window, leaning against each other as they gazed at the city’s night view.

Two days later.

In the suburbs, inside an old, dilapidated factory building.

The place had once served as a factory warehouse, but it had been abandoned for many years. No one ever came here anymore.

Today, however, it was unexpectedly bustling.

Five vehicles approached from the distance: one high-end business van and four seven-seat vans. They came to a halt in the open space before the factory building.

The door of the business vehicle opened automatically, and three middle-aged men in expensive suits emerged one after another.

At the same time, the doors of the four vans opened as well. A large number of men in suits climbed out. Dressed alike and moving with practiced efficiency, they escorted five bound captives toward the three middle-aged men and assembled before them.

One of the five prisoners was Jiang Feng, the scar-faced manager of the Prosperity Han Palace nightclub.

Jiang Feng looked calm, showing little fear. After all, he had powerful backing. The other four bound men, however, possessed none of his composure. Terror was written plainly across their faces.

One of them was the leader who had gone to Li Jia’s home to pressure her parents over their debts.

“Boss Zou, as far as I know, I haven’t offended you in any way. Why are you doing this?” Jiang Feng said upon seeing the three middle-aged men. He recognized two of them. Both were notorious leaders of the underworld in PE City, men for whom murder and arson were nothing unusual.

Whenever those two leaders visited the Prosperity Han Palace nightclub, Jiang Feng had always made careful arrangements for them. He had never given them cause for dissatisfaction.

Not only had he treated them to the finest food and drink, he had often given them discounts as well.

One of the men controlled the entire underworld in the northern part of the city, while the other controlled the gangs in the south.

The middle-aged man standing between them had to be another underworld boss—or else a major figure with an exceptionally powerful background.

Jiang Feng truly could not understand why the man had ordered him bound and brought to such a remote place.

This was an ideal location for murder and arson.

“Brother Jiang, it isn’t me you’ve offended,” Boss Zou replied. “If you had truly offended me, would these two bosses have needed to come along? Do you really have no idea whom you’ve offended?”

The question left Jiang Feng momentarily stunned. His face turned grim.

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He had received the order two hours earlier. The two bosses beside him had received it at the same time. All three were absolute forces in PE City’s underworld—ruthless and formidable figures.

They shared the same superior: Zhou Wen, the true leader of PE City’s underworld and its undisputed first man.

Although the three men usually referred to themselves as bosses when they went out, in essence they were all Zhou Wen’s subordinates.

Zhou Wen was one of the most powerful men in the city. Even the mayor had to show him a measure of respect.

When the three men met with Zhou Wen, he had given them only the information of the five targets, along with a time and a place, and issued a single instruction: the people had to be brought there.

It was an absolute order.

Though the three men were astonished, none dared disobey. Even though two of them knew one of the targets and had a certain personal relationship with him, they did not dare ask questions, much less plead on his behalf. They could only carry out the order.

Otherwise, they might well find themselves dead for no apparent reason the very next day.

“Whom have I offended? I haven’t offended anyone!” Jiang Feng said, first stunned, then carefully considering the matter. “Bosses, you two know what kind of person I am. In our line of work, I never offend anyone with even a little influence.”

He had always acted with extreme caution. Whenever he intended to deal with someone, he first investigated that person’s identity and background thoroughly. He would never knowingly provoke a major figure.

“Brother Jiang, think harder,” Boss Zou urged, looking at him. Over the years, Jiang Feng had done him many favors, and he could not help asking.

In truth, he did not know what Jiang Feng had done to offend Zhou Wen, but he did not dare reveal his superior’s name directly.

A favor was a favor, but he could not sacrifice himself for the sake of repaying one.

“I really can’t think of anything,” Jiang Feng said. “Please give me some hint, Boss Zou. If I can survive this ordeal, I will never forget your kindness.”

Seeing the strange expressions on the three men’s faces—and the pity in their eyes—Jiang Feng finally began to feel genuine fear.

At this, all three men, including Boss Zou, fell silent. They no longer said a word, merely watching the time and waiting for their superior to arrive.

Seeing that the three men had stopped speaking and were ignoring him entirely, Jiang Feng grew even more frantic.

“I truly don’t know which powerful figure I’ve offended,” he pleaded. “But please do me one favor. Send word about my situation and notify President Cao, Cao Tianrong.”

Jiang Feng belonged to Cao Tianrong and had worked for him for many years. He knew that his boss was a man with considerable influence. Otherwise, Cao Tianrong would never have dared to run a nightclub and traffic drugs for so many years without encountering trouble.

Perhaps Cao Tianrong could save him from this disaster. He was Jiang Feng’s only hope.

Yet the three men before him acted as if they had not heard him at all. Not one of them paid him any attention.

Even Boss Zou, who had been speaking with him moments earlier, remained silent.

Before the operation, all three had been warned that the matter had to remain completely confidential and be handled swiftly and cleanly. No one could be allowed to learn of it.

Therefore, no matter what Jiang Feng said, they would not respond.

They all knew who Cao Tianrong was. He possessed considerable influence in PE City. Though they could not afford to provoke him, that did not mean they feared him.

If they themselves were unafraid, there was even less reason for them to fear Zhou Wen, the man behind them.