Qi Li picked up the laptop, ignoring the flabbergasted n staring at him. He carried it to where his boss and Lu Tian were stationed at the dining table, both focused on their own search.
"Boss, we found sothing."
He set the laptop down and played the video call, zooming in on Ji Jingxu’s subtle, silent ssage.
"He’s sowhere in Retro."
Yue Ling studied the footage, her eyes narrowing before she nodded in agreent. Lifting her gaze toward the living room where her team worked, she spoke with quiet authority.
"Search Retro. Do it in teams and rotate each shift."
Lu Tian regarded his wife for a long mont, then turned to his assistant and Jiangyu.
"Inform Wolf Team. Have everyone join the search."
The order was t with silent nods. Everyone knew Retro would not be an easy place to comb—especially discreetly—but they would scour every corner to bring Ji Jingxu back.
Yue Ling watched her team and Jiangyu file out, leaving only her, Lu Tian, Liu Shan, Lin Hui, and Xu Long. She knew the latter three were itching to join the hunt, but she needed them on surveillance, keeping eyes on Retro in case the search teams overlooked sothing.
Lin Hui suddenly rose from his seat.
"Boss, I’ll take my leave."
Liu Shan and Xu Long exchanged puzzled looks, and Lin Hui quickly explained.
"Liu Ye can be a pair of fresh eyes in the search. "
Yue Ling’s expression softened at the ntion of the young man. She’d heard the Liu siblings had settled into their new place, though she hadn’t visited yet due to her schedule.
"Alright. Do it."
She agreed, a hint of concern in her tone. Their father may have been warned, but knowing he had ties to Hung Woo, she worried he might make a move when she wasn’t looking.
As Lin Hui packed and left, Yue Ling addressed the two assistants.
"You’re welco to stay in the guest room."
Then she returned to her laptop.
Beside her, Lu Tian wanted to tell her to rest, but seeing her focus, he decided to give her ti. He stood up and walked over to his assistant.
"Check if this is connected to Choi Li Sun or not."
Grandfather Ji had told him it wasn’t, but he needed to be sure.
He said in a low voice, unaware that Liu Shan’s sharp hearing caught it. His fingers paused briefly on the keys, brows furrowing. Choi Li Sun? That was the person Qin Jun and the others were after.
Could Lu Tian be working the sa case?
His thoughts drifted to when the aloof man had spoken about Grandfather Ji’s health and his boss’s parents’ deaths. Could Choi Li Sun be behind it?
However, he tucked the thought away. First, they had to get Ji Jingxu back.
The night wore on as Yue Ling gathered every scrap of intel on Ji Chu Hua, determined to deal with the woman after she handled Hung Woo. Sleep tugged at her, but she fought it off.
While Yue Ling, Lu Tian, Liu Shan, and Xu Long continued the search from ho, the others were already moving through Retro.
The underworld district was choked with smoke, oil, and the tallic tang of old blood. Neon signs sputtered over doorways to dens where debts were paid in bruises.
Alpha Team’s first stop was Red Militant. After careful observation, they found no sign of Hung Woo. Gui Tian Lan’s phone rang just as they chose their next move.
"This is Gui Tian Lan."
["Do you have eyes on Liu Peng?"]
Lin Hui hadn’t gone ho; instead, he’d stopped by the Liu kids’ apartnt to let Liu Ye practice his hacking. Thanks to the boy’s quick thinking, they uncovered suspicious transactions in his father’s account, confirming Lin Hui’s suspicion. Liu Peng was hiding out at Red Militant.
If Hung Woo wanted to keep soone hidden without drawing attention, he’d have soone outside his crew run errands.
Partially aware of Lin Hui’s discovery, Gui Tian Lan scanned the building through binoculars, his gaze skimming past drugged patrons and scenes he’d rather not rember until it landed on Liu Peng.
"Found him," he murmured.
The man was dressing after having a sexual encounter with a woman. He then whispered sothing to her, downed a drink, and walked out.
["He should be coming out now. Follow him, if anyone else knows where Hung Woo is, it’s him."]
Gui Tian Lan didn’t question the man and kept his eyes on the front door. Sure enough, Liu Peng erged, glancing both ways before heading in a particular direction.
"Thanks, Hui. We’re going to follow him."
["Alright. I’ll keep watch from here."]
Seven shadows trailed Liu Peng, staying within the noise and gri. Every so often, the snap of a lighter or the crunch of glass underfoot masked their steps.
"Spread out."
Qi Li murmured into his earpiece, never taking his eyes off the man.
"He’ll sll fear before he sees us."
Liu Peng maneuvered through the streets until he reached a guarded gambling hall. He muttered sothing to the doorkeepers, who stepped aside and allowed him entrance.
Gui Tian Lan signaled silently. Ju Suo, Lian Ni Shang, and Shan Sinan circled to the back, while he and Tang Zhonghui slipped in with the crowd. Qi Li and Gui Zhongmin lted into nearby shadows.
Inside, the stench of sweat and liquor clung to the air. Liu Peng moved easily, greeting a dealer before disappearing behind a curtain.
Gui Tian Lan frowned.
"He’s going deeper," he said into the comm.
Seconds later, Qi Li’s voice ca through.
"Lin Hui found sothing. There’s an underground tunnel to the next building."
Knowing a chase inside would draw attention, Gui Tian Lan and Tang Zhonghui withdrew. Outside, Qi Li and Zhongmin moved toward the adjacent building, its windows sealed and entrances barred.
They circled the one-story structure next door, finding three n smoking out back.
"Man, how much longer do we have to stay here? I want to get back to Red Militant and have so fun with my girls," one complained.
The bulkier man exhaled smoke and laughed.
"Should’ve had your fun with that slut Boss called earlier. I made sure to show her a good ti before sending her on her way."
Their laughter grated, but the following words made Qi Li tense.
"Hey, should we go have so fun with the kid? Boss said as long as we don’t kill him, we can use him as a punching bag."
Rage surged through Qi Li, but Gui Zhongmin stopped him with a hand on his arm. Breathing hard, Qi Li fixed his gaze on the first man, recognizing him as the one Lin Hui had shot during the earlier chase.
They would pay for taking Ji Jingxu. His boss’s family had suffered enough.
When the n finished their smoke and went inside, Qi Li and Zhongmin stayed in the shadows.
"He’s here. We’re going in to confirm."
Gui Zhongmin alerted the others as he and Qi Li moved toward the door the three n had entered. They were almost certain Ji Jingxu was inside—but they needed to be sure. If they were wrong, they couldn’t afford to tip their hand.
Slipping into the building was easy enough. The hallway was narrow, the light dim, the air heavy with stale smoke. Laughter drifted from sowhere deeper in, and they crept, checking each room as they passed.
Through a half-open door, they caught sight of Hung Woo. He lounged in a chair, a woman kneeling between his legs, her head bobbing while he spoke casually with Liu Peng.
Qi Li’s jaw tightened in disgust, and he kept moving. Behind him, Gui Zhongmin forced himself to swallow the bile rising in his throat.
They passed another room—a loud card ga in progress, curses flying as drunken n argued over their hands. Others were slumped unconscious from alcohol or drugs. The chaos was their cover, and they slipped by unnoticed.
Turning down another hallway, Qi Li froze. Ahead were the three n from outside. He signaled to Gui Zhongmin, and they ducked behind stacked crates until the coast was clear.
Once the path opened, they crept to the room the n had entered. Chains rattled from inside.
Qi Li eased his head around the doorfra. The three n stood with their backs to him, oblivious. But his eyes went straight past them to Ji Jingxu.
The boy’s head hung low, his body battered.
Qi Li’s fists clenched. He started forward, but Gui Zhongmin’s hand shot out, stopping him.
"We can’t."
Gui Zhongmin whispered, and Qi Li glared at him, his eyes sharp, almost feral. He wanted nothing more than to free the boy.
Gui Zhongmin shook his head.
"If we move now, Hung Woo will warn Ji Chu Hua."
Qi Li ground his teeth, forcing back his rage. His boss’s plan had to co first.
Then Gui Zhongmin’s eyes flicked back into the room, darkening as he saw one of the n pick up a tal rod. His lips curled in a thin, dangerous smile.
"But that doesn’t an," he murmured, "we can’t knock them out."
Qi Li’s eyes lit with the sa glint.
They moved in silently. The first man barely turned before Qi Li’s elbow smashed into his face, cartilage crunching. Blood poured from his nose as he crumpled against the wall.
The second man swung in panic, but Gui Zhongmin ducked low, driving a fist into his gut. As the man folded, gasping, an uppercut snapped his head back and sent him sprawling to the floor.
The third fumbled for his pistol, trying to shout, but Qi Li’s kick sent the weapon skidding away. A sharp hook to the jaw snapped his head sideways, and his legs buckled.
Ten seconds later, the room was silent except for the faint noise of shouting from sowhere else in the building.
Qi Li knelt, checking each man’s pulse—alive, but out cold.
He crossed to Ji Jingxu, and his chest tightened at the sight of the boy’s condition. Swallowing hard, he forced himself not to touch the chains.
"Jingxu."
He murmured as he lightly tapped the boy’s cheek.
"Can you hear ? Hold on. We’re getting you out tomorrow. Your sister’s coming."
Ji Jingxu’s eyes fluttered open to look at the person. When he saw Qi Li, a small smile appeared on his face, and he nodded.
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