BL Ch96

Under the scorching sun, three Mercedes S-Class bulletproof cars converged in the middle of an empty dirt road, pulling over to form a single line.

Ji Lin leapt out of the backseat, slamming the door with a bang! and asking urgently, “What’s going on? Why weren’t we on the same route? It took half the day to find you guys.”

Lou Baoguo and Zhou Yi stepped out of the other two cars, and the three gathered together. Lou Baoguo’s face was pale with panic as he said, “It must’ve been the young master’s idea, but that’s not important now. What do we do? The young master’s probably been carjacked by Bai Zhiming. Big… Bai Zhao might be in on it, but he sent us a signal to rescue the young master. Should we trust him? Could it be a trap?”

Zhou Yi said gravely, “Trap or not, we have to go. We can’t just leave the young master behind. Captain Ji, did you get through to Pei Ming?”

Ji Lin waved his phone. “Just called him. He acted like nothing’s wrong, all calm and collected. I chatted briefly, and he said he had some business to handle, then hung up.”

Lou Baoguo tugged at his sweat-soaked hair, completely losing it. “Why would Da Ge call Pei Ming? Is he working with him? Is Pei Ming a good guy or a bad guy? I’m going insane!”

Zhou Yi’s brows furrowed deeply, the long scar by his eye giving off a fierce vibe. “It’s a shame we couldn’t bring guns to pass the checkpoint. If we had, I’d have shot Bai Zhiming on the mountain. That old beast is nothing but trouble!”

Ji Lin was anxious too, but unlike the other two, who were fiercely loyal to their boss, he managed to keep his composure. “Enough talk. Saving him comes first. Have we got a lock on the watch’s location?”

Zhou Yi nodded. “It’s in a village ten kilometers from here. That must be Bai Zhiming’s real hideout.”

“Good. Let’s move out now and figure out the rest on the way.” Ji Lin glanced back at his car, a flicker of hesitation crossing his face. Finally, he steeled himself. “I’ll ride with you guys. Have them take Mu-ge to safety first.”

Zhou Yi’s heart softened. “A-Bao and I can handle it. We’ve got seven or eight guys—plenty without you. Go with Officer Mu, Captain Ji. You two just reunited. If something happens…”

He didn’t finish, but everyone understood.

This place was over a hundred kilometers from Mugu’s city center, far from any help. They couldn’t call the police in time. Every second delayed increased the chance of something happening to Yu Duqiu. Worse, Bai Zhiming had a gun and could easily wipe out their unarmed group.

This was a life-or-death rescue mission.

Ji Lin clapped his shoulder and headed for Zhou Yi’s car. “What are you talking about? We cops don’t back down at times like this. Mu-ge would chew me out if he knew, and I’m not about to embarrass him.”

Zhou Yi opened his mouth to argue, but Ji Lin cut him off. “Don’t forget you’ve got a daughter. If anyone should sit this out, it’s you.”

Lou Baoguo nodded vigorously. “Yeah, Old Zhou, maybe you shouldn’t go.”

Zhou Yi smacked Lou Baoguo’s head. “You think I’d trust you two youngsters to lead a team against a cunning old drug trafficker? Forget it, we’re all going! If we all make it out safe, I’ll burn incense and pray when we get back. Even if the young master calls me superstitious, it’ll be worth it!”

“Achoo!”

The basement, unventilated for years, was damp and chilly. Yu Duqiu sneezed, curled up in a corner. His now-freed hands pretended to be bound, hidden behind his back.

His knife-blade necklace still hung around his neck. Bai Zhiming likely hadn’t noticed the small accessory, but against an armed opponent, this tiny weapon was practically useless.

Yu Duqiu scanned the cramped basement, searching for a viable weapon. The space seemed to be a storage room, cluttered with thick winter clothes, rain boots for fieldwork, and rarely used small appliances—none capable of injuring a strong, burly man.

In a corner sat several clay jars, likely filled with pickled vegetables, the source of the room’s sour, rotting stench. Smashing one over someone’s head might knock them out, but the thought of the jars shattering and splashing their foul, acidic contents onto him made Yu Duqiu’s stomach churn.

…Better look for another weapon.

But reality didn’t afford him much time. The door, closed just two minutes ago, swung open again. Bai Zhao entered first.

Following him were Pei Ming and Bai Zhiming.

As soon as Pei Ming stepped in, he covered his nose in disgust. “What’s that smell?”

Bai Zhiming plastered on a grin, his wrinkles bunching together as he said deferentially, “Homemade pickled cabbage, Mr. Pei. Want to take some back with you?”

“Who’d want that stinking garbage?” Pei Ming’s unmasked arrogance came out in a huff. “This place is a dump. Don’t you get sick of living here? I gave you a villa, and you come to this backwater, faking your death. What the hell happened?”

Bai Zhiming’s face shifted instantly to a look of distress. “I pissed someone off and got into trouble. Didn’t want to drag you into it. Had nowhere else I knew to go, so I came here. Never thought you’d come looking for me in person.”

“You think I wanted to? It’s because…” Pei Ming’s eyes landed on Yu Duqiu, bound in the corner. His expression changed, instinctively slipping into his usual affable, refined demeanor. But then, realizing there was no need to pretend anymore, he dropped the act and walked over to Yu Duqiu, continuing, “It’s because Mr. Yu set a trap for me, expecting me to fall in. So I decided to play along and see who ends up in the pit. Looks like… it’s not me, is it, Duqiu?”

Yu Duqiu gave a faint, desolate smile. “You knew he was alive all along?”

He looked utterly defeated, his suit crumpled beyond recognition, his once-dazzling silver hair dulled under the dim light. He was no longer the celebrated prodigy adored by thousands.

Pei Ming loomed over him, savoring the moment, happy to chat with this broken version of Yu Duqiu. “I knew before your press conference. I wasn’t planning to come, but then you invited me. Turning you down would’ve made me look guilty. Fifteen percent of the shares is tempting—nobody normal would say no. So I had to take the risk myself.”

Yu Duqiu leaned against the wall, as if all hope had drained from him, murmuring, “So you knew everything… Bai Zhao told you everything… didn’t he?”

Pei Ming adjusted his trouser cuffs and crouched down, smirking ambiguously. “Not everything. That day at your company, when you suddenly asked about the overseas party, I got spooked, thinking this kid betrayed me. Luckily, he didn’t. But I didn’t expect him to tell you about attending the party.”

Yu Duqiu blinked, confused. “What do you mean? Was he lying?”

“I don’t know what he told you, but it probably wasn’t the truth. Otherwise, you wouldn’t trust him so much now.” Pei Ming’s gaze was pitying. “You were blackout drunk that night. I had him take you to your room and inject you with something to dull that genius brain of yours. But the guy was too timid back then and smashed the syringe. Tsk. This time, he said he wanted to make up for it, and I agreed. Good thing he didn’t let me down.”

Yu Duqiu stared incredulously at the lying little beast behind Pei Ming: Even your so-called love at first sight was a fabrication?

Bai Zhao’s hands were in his pockets, the right one bulging slightly, faintly outlining the shape of a watch. He shot Yu Duqiu an apologetic look.

…Killing him and stuffing him as a trophy wouldn’t be enough. He deserves to be torn apart and fed to dogs.

The less composed Yu Duqiu looked, the more satisfied Pei Ming felt. After years of holding back, he could finally vent. “Duqiu, I’ve got to hand it to you—you’re a prophet. ‘Xiao Bai, the ungrateful wolf’… Haha, I nearly burst out laughing when I heard that nickname. Too perfect. You didn’t actually fall for him, did you?”

Yu Duqiu stayed silent. Pei Ming didn’t care. He was riding high, eager to show off his cunning. “Let me tell you what your precious wolf has been up to. That night at the Junyue welcome banquet, I sent him to get close to you and keep an eye on Xiao Zhuo. I knew your dangerous project would stir up trouble, but I didn’t expect him to win you over so easily. Lust is a dangerous thing, Duqiu.”

You should say that to yourself, nearly killed by Wu Min and still thinking you’re the ultimate winner, Yu Duqiu thought bitterly.

“I thought you were just having a fling, but when I heard you went to the U.S. to visit professors and invited the mayor to tour, I knew you were serious. That spelled trouble for me.” Pei Ming grinned. “That incident with Huang Hanxiang? Thanks to Bai Zhao’s heads-up, I got to watch you make a fool of yourself in person. I even brought a photographer, but that Ji kid ruined it, deleting the photos before they could hit the press. Otherwise, your project would’ve been shut down by public backlash.”

No wonder Ji Lin couldn’t find any evidence of Huang Hanxiang contacting Pei Ming. It was all Bai Zhao meddling behind the scenes. It also explained why Huang Hanxiang avoided looking at Bai Zhao—he likely knew Bai Zhao was close to Pei Ming and feared being recognized and reported, causing trouble.

It was hard to say whether Pei Ming was clever or foolish. He thought himself the mastermind, oblivious to being framed, smugly recounting his “brilliance.”

Yu Duqiu silently mourned for him, his face showing the despair of a defeated man, his eyes lifeless. “Why… did you do all this?”

Pei Ming sighed with mock regret. “I didn’t want to, but if I didn’t, everything I’ve fought to rebuild—my career, my status—would crumble again. What choice did I have?”

“Why would it crumble? What does my project have to do with you?” Yu Duqiu asked deliberately, stealing a quick glance behind—Bai Zhao was listening intently, the watch in his pocket likely recording. Bai Zhiming stared at Pei Ming’s back, his sinister eyes unreadable, showing no sign of acting yet.

Pei Ming, lost in his grievances, didn’t notice the precarious situation or that Yu Duqiu was baiting him. Treating Yu Duqiu as a dead man walking, he saw no need to hide anything. “It wasn’t a big deal at first. I just didn’t want to see you pull off another miracle. But then you announced you were using Miss Cen’s data from twenty years ago to prove her research was sound. That made it personal.”

Pei Ming gave a helpless, bitter smile. “My dad’s been locked up for years, and now I’m still paying for his sins… But he’s my father. If he’s branded a murderer, my future’s done.”

Bai Zhiming couldn’t hold back. “Mr. Pei, no need to tell this kid so much. Your father said not to mention it to anyone…”

Pei Ming snapped without turning. “Shut up! Don’t think I don’t know—you killed Cen Wan’s family of four. They weren’t even dead after the crash. You set the fuel tank on fire and burned them alive. I’m cleaning up your mess!”

Bai Zhiming’s face reddened, his voice low and sullen. “It was your father’s orders. I was just following them.”

Yu Duqiu saw Bai Zhao’s hand subtly move in his pocket, ending the recording. He pulled his hand out, flashing an “OK” gesture and silently mouthing, Thank you.

Yu Duqiu knew even without his prompting, Bai Zhao would’ve found a way to make Pei Ming spill. Pei Ming guarded his father’s secrets for his own gain, and Bai Zhiming wouldn’t confess his crimes willingly. The only opening was catching Pei Ming off guard when he felt safe and smug.

The little beast had endured years of humiliation, likely waiting for this exact moment.

But if he was so determined to bring down Bai Zhiming and his allies, with his ruthless streak, he could’ve used faster, shadier methods.

Why did Bai Zhao choose the longest, most hopeless, least efficient path? Without today’s events, would he have waited forever?

The situation left no room for Yu Duqiu to ponder. The beast was infuriating and suspicious, but now wasn’t the time to settle scores.

With the evidence secured, the next question was how to escape.

Two Mercedes sped toward the tracked location, covering ten kilometers in just ten minutes.

When the village came into distant view, Zhou Yi had the cars stop to avoid detection. Seven or eight men quickly disembarked, slipping into the cornfield before the village.

The green cornstalks, taller than a person, concealed them perfectly. They moved stealthily toward their target, the rustling leaves blending with the wind.

The village was mostly home to elderly residents and children; able-bodied adults had left for city jobs. A few kids digging for loaches in a ditch by the field were playing noisily until they spotted a group of tall, imposing strangers emerging from the corn. Terrified, they dropped their tools and bolted home to hide.

Lou Baoguo brushed off the dirt, saying, “Must be your scary face freaking out the kids.”

Zhou Yi stepped out from behind him. “Bullshit, they didn’t even see me.”

Ji Lin’s sharp eyes caught something. “Quiet, look over there. Isn’t that your young master’s car parked by that house?”

Zhou Yi’s hawk-like vision confirmed it. “Yes, and those two next to it are Pei Ming’s. There are three bodyguards at the door. Based on the headcount from when we left, there should be five more inside.”

Lou Baoguo asked, “Not counting Da Ge, they’ve got ten guys. Can we take them with fewer people?”

Zhou Yi’s fists cracked as he clenched them. “They’ve got guns and a hostage. It’s tough, but we have to try. Captain Ji, let’s split up, flank the house, and check for a back door. Avoid the bodyguards if we can.”

Ji Lin nodded, and the group divided into two teams, parting ways at the cornfield. Under the curious stares of villagers and village dogs, they swiftly and cautiously approached their target.

To their disappointment, the house had no back door.

Lou Baoguo gritted his teeth, snarling, “Let’s just charge in and fight to the death.”

Zhou Yi shook his head, whispering, “I’ll distract the three at the door. Take out as many as we can. You guys rush in when you get the chance.”

“Sounds good.”

Ji Lin suddenly raised a hand, pressing his ear to the wall, frowning. “Wait, listen. That sounds like Pei Ming. He’s yelling at someone.”

“What a fine ‘following orders,’ washing your hands of all blame!” Pei Ming ignored Bai Zhiming’s excuses, venting to Yu Duqiu. “Duqiu, do you know how much I envy your clean family background? Everything you had as a teen, I had too. But overnight, it was all gone. I kept hoping you’d fall from grace one day, but you’ve sailed through unscathed, thriving more than ever. It’s just not fair.”

The defeated look on Yu Duqiu’s face faded, replaced by a cold, mocking sneer. “Not unfair—jealousy, right? Forgive my bluntness, Pei-ge, but the awards, honors, and wealth I had as a teen far outstripped yours. There’s no comparison.”

Pei Ming froze, not expecting defiance at this point. A vein pulsed on his forehead, his icy eyes flickering with suppressed anger, though he maintained his composure. “You know what’s most annoying about you, Duqiu? Your big mouth, your arrogance, your complete lack of class.”

“My big mouth comes from being honest. My arrogance comes from having the talent to back it up. And you?” Yu Duqiu propped himself up, inching closer, his narrowed eyes glinting with sharp menace. “Your so-called class is just a mask to hide your ugly face. I’ve done nothing to be ashamed of, so why would I need fake refinement to cover it up? Don’t you get it, Pei-ge? You’ve fallen this far not just because of your father’s crimes, but because you’re cut from the same cloth!”

That last line struck Pei Ming’s sore spot. His face darkened, his handsome features twisting into something sinister and terrifying. He shot back sharply, “What do you know? Have you ever been called a drug trafficker’s son? Been shunned like a plague? Felt the fall from heaven to hell? I didn’t follow his path. I rebuilt the company from nothing. I’m nothing like him!”

Yu Duqiu’s gaze swept over him with disdain. “Then what are you doing now? Don’t tell me you grabbed me just to chat and let me go later.”

Pei Ming sneered. “You brought this on yourself. I was waiting to see your experiment’s results, but when your device actually healed that volunteer, I had no choice but to act.”

Yu Duqiu instantly understood—Bai Zhao hadn’t told Pei Ming that the “volunteer” was Mu Hao or that the Themis project couldn’t cure addiction. He might’ve even exaggerated to spook Pei Ming, making him think he was under serious threat, pushing him to take drastic action.

The beast was bad, but his actions were all about luring the enemy out.

Guilty and paranoid, Pei Ming fell for Bai Zhao’s ruse, believing his father’s crimes were about to be exposed. Too impatient to wait until they returned home, he teamed up with Bai Zhiming to carjack and kill, intending to bury his family’s secrets in this dirt forever.

The blame for the murder could easily be pinned on Bai Zhiming, already a killer.

But for all his scheming, Pei Ming didn’t account for his subordinate’s betrayal. At that moment, Bai Zhiming’s eyes gleamed with bloodlust. Seizing the moment, he reached into his jacket, slowly drawing a wolf-claw knife, its blade glinting coldly in the dim light—Bai Zhiming was finally making his move.

With bodyguards outside, he couldn’t use his gun. Pei Ming, enraged and focused on Yu Duqiu, was oblivious to the danger behind him, making this the perfect moment for an assassination.

Just as Bai Zhiming drew the knife, preparing to creep closer silently, a hand gently pressed his.

He turned, puzzled, to see Bai Zhao shaking his head, pointing to the knife, then to himself.

Though father and son weren’t close, years of working together gave them unspoken understanding. Bai Zhiming quickly got it: Bai Zhao was saying, Let me handle it.

Bai Zhiming was surprised.

He felt little for this foster son, just as he did for Jiang Sheng and Liu Shaojie—tools to fill the void of his physical shortcomings.

But Bai Zhao was different from the other two.

When he picked him out at the orphanage, he still remembered the boy’s wary, icy stare—the eyes of a lone wolf. With his knack for reading people, he knew this kid, with a bit of training, could be a force.

But reality didn’t match his expectations.

Bai Zhao was brilliant, with a photographic memory, excelling at every task, even flawless in appearance. Yet one thing infuriated Bai Zhiming: the boy wouldn’t harm anyone.

Paradoxically, when punished for this, Bai Zhao endured silently. Whipped with a belt until bruised, locked in a basement for days without food or water, he shed no tears, showing no weakness.

Obedient like the others, he still gave Bai Zhiming an unsettling sense of being untamable.

And the kid was a jinx. The year he arrived, Bai Zhiming’s luck tanked. The Pei family’s drug stash was exposed, landing Pei Xianyong in prison and costing Bai Zhiming his lucrative gig. He still hadn’t found the snitch.

Given all this, his view of Bai Zhao was complex—capable of great things yet prone to ruin. He couldn’t pin him down.

So when someone approached him to restart the drug trade, he hesitated and chose the clumsy Jiang Sheng and ruthless Liu Shaojie over his most capable son. At least those two were fully under his control and bold enough to kill.

Now, Bai Zhao volunteering to kill Pei Ming sparked first delight, then doubt. The kid seemed the same, but after serving someone else for half a year, could he have changed loyalties?

Bai Zhiming hesitated for a few seconds, not handing over the sharp knife. Instead, he slipped off the less lethal ruby ring and passed it to him discreetly.

Bai Zhao didn’t object, took the ring, slid it onto his finger, and quietly approached the crouching Pei Ming.

Yu Duqiu caught this in his peripheral vision and kept Pei Ming’s attention, picking up the conversation. “How are you going to deal with me? Kill me? Can you at least make it look good?”

Pei Ming, still catching his breath from his earlier outburst, loosened his collar. “I don’t like violence. Plus, we’ve been friends for years—I’d feel a bit bad. How about this: I’ll let your beloved do it, make it as painless as possible. Bai Zhao.”

“Yes.”

“You…” Pei Ming froze. The reply was too close, practically in his ear. He instinctively turned—

Something sharp pressed against his neck.

A terrifying chill shot from his feet to his brain. His eyes flashed with shock, rage, and panic, but he fought to stay calm. His trembling voice betrayed him. “You… you dare… ugh!”

Bai Zhao clamped his mouth shut, his arm slicing swiftly, cutting a gash. Blood poured from the thin skin of Pei Ming’s neck.

Raised in privilege, Pei Ming had only endured emotional wounds, never physical pain like this. Panicked, his survival instincts kicked in, and he thrashed, muffled cries escaping.

“Want to live? Play dead,” Bai Zhao whispered rapidly in his ear.

Pei Ming stilled, confused. Why would his own man try to kill him, then save him? But with no time to think, he hesitated briefly, then followed orders, slowly ceasing his struggles. His head drooped as if he’d passed out.

Bai Zhao released him, tossing him to the ground like a rag sack, and said calmly, “Dead.”

Bai Zhiming stepped over, inspecting. Pei Ming’s eyes were wide, twitching in pain, his neck soaked in blood. The wound’s depth was unclear, but he looked done for.

Bai Zhiming clapped, impressed. “Not bad, kid. Killing with a tiny ring blade—you’re the second I’ve seen do it.”

Bai Zhao and Yu Duqiu both tensed.

The first must be the queen.

“Who else killed like that? Better than me?” Bai Zhao sounded competitive.

Bai Zhiming, thinking he was just being cocky, laughed. “You’d have to fight them to find out who’s better. Their ring was fake, though—said they hated guns, so they had it custom-made. Not like yours, real ruby, worth a fortune. Alright, finish off this young master, and we’ll head out. Say Pei sent us on a job. You drive one car, I’ll take the other.”

Bai Zhao showed his slightly trembling fingers, shaking his head. “First time killing. Can’t handle two in a row.”

Bai Zhiming’s face darkened, his eyes dripping with contempt. “Thought you’d toughened up. Useless. Move, I’ll do it.”

Bai Zhao stepped aside as ordered.

Bai Zhiming drew his wolf-claw knife, his eyes glinting with greedy, cruel hunger, like a starved beast eyeing prey. Without a word, he lunged at Yu Duqiu’s neck—

The bound man suddenly flashed a chilling, eerie smile, unnerving him.

Bai Zhiming froze, baffled why someone facing death would smile. In that split-second hesitation, his target vanished.

A piercing, gut-wrenching pain exploded in his groin, so intense he couldn’t even scream. Cold sweat poured out, his face contorted, gasping and wincing. The knife slipped from his hand, clattering to the floor.

Yu Duqiu, rolling aside and shaking off the ropes, swept his leg, striking true. The blow sent the burly Bai Zhiming crashing to the ground, clutching his groin, convulsing—likely ruined for good.

Pei Ming, playing dead on the floor, shuddered, suddenly feeling his neck wound wasn’t so bad.

Yu Duqiu lunged for the gun in Bai Zhiming’s jacket, but Bai Zhao grabbed his hand. “Run! If he yells, we’re done!”

“But Pei Ming—”

“He’s fine. His bodyguards will save him.” Bai Zhao dragged him. “Your bodyguards only care about you.”

Yu Duqiu hesitated briefly, then was pulled out of the basement.

His vision opened up, the bright light stinging his eyes, forcing him to lower them. He saw their clasped hands.

Bai Zhao’s ring blade was retracted, the ruby now stained with blood, its vivid, gorgeous hue impossible to look away from.

Rushing from the basement to the first floor took mere moments. On the final step, Bai Zhao spun Yu Duqiu in front of him, locking an arm around his throat, pushing him upstairs like a hostage.

In the living room, bodyguards resting had just heard a noise from the basement and were about to investigate when they saw Bai Zhao with Yu Duqiu. They blinked, confused. “What’s this?”

Bai Zhao, gripping Yu Duqiu, strode calmly toward the door, not glancing at them. “Mr. Pei told me to take him to a deserted spot, deal with him, and bury him to save cleaning up.”

They knew he was Pei Ming’s trusted aide and didn’t question him. One even offered kindly, “Need help?”

Bai Zhao was already at the door. “No. Oh, Pei wants you all downstairs. There’s stuff to move.”

They frowned, puzzled. “What stuff? Needs all of us?”

“Pickled cabbage,” Bai Zhao deadpanned, “and a neutered rooster.”

Yu Duqiu panted heavily, sucking in air to suppress a laugh.

The bodyguards didn’t suspect a thing, assuming Pei Ming wanted local specialties. His taste was odd, but the boss’s orders were law—even if he wanted to haul manure, they’d do it.

“Alright, we’re on it.” The indoor bodyguards called to the ones outside, and they all headed to the basement to move the “stuff.”

The car was parked right in front of the house. With no one guarding it, freedom was a step away.

Bai Zhao let out a soft breath, not daring to waste a second. He hurried Yu Duqiu toward their bulletproof car, just ten meters away, a few steps—

“Let him go, you traitor!”

A deafening roar thundered from nowhere. Both froze for half a second, their movements halting as they looked toward the sound—

Lou Baoguo sprinted forward, launching himself into the air, flipping his 180-pound frame with startling agility. His foot slammed into Bai Zhao’s chest with jaw-dropping force, sending him flying back two meters, his back skidding across the ground, kicking up clouds of dust and gravel.

Yu Duqiu watched the whole thing, his mouth slowly falling open, his voice stuck in his throat.

Lou Baoguo landed steadily, spitting furiously with righteous indignation. “I called you Da Ge all this time! You double-crossing scum, we’re done!”