123: Chapter 123 Want to Try Something Exciting

They stayed in the room for twenty minutes.

When they came out, Cao Kun intentionally messed up his hair and unbuttoned two buttons on his shirt.

Lin Xiaoyan kept her head down, tear stains still visible on her face.

This part didn't need to be faked; she had truly cried.

Seeing them, Lao Shu grinned. "How was it? Is she tamed?"

"Feisty enough," Cao Kun panted, looking exhausted. "But it was thrilling."

He handed Lao Shu four hundred yuan.

This was the "service fee."

Lao Shu accepted the money with satisfaction. "Come back next time; there are even feistier ones."

Cao Kun smiled and said nothing.

As he left, he stuck another camera at the top of the stairs. This angle could capture the entire Basement.

Back in the car, Cao Kun did not leave immediately.

He connected to the camera's signal and watched the real-time footage on his phone.

In the Basement, the girls were huddled together.

Xiao Li was holding Xiao Yun, softly comforting her.

Lin Xiaoyan returned to her cubicle and leaned against the wall, her eyes vacant.

Wang Tingting was coughing, a heart-wrenching sound.

Meanwhile, Lao Shu sat at the top of the stairs, legs crossed, playing on his phone. He would occasionally look up at the girls with a gaze like he was looking at livestock.

Cao Kun turned off the screen and started the car.

Instead of going home, he went to Liang Lingmeng's place.

Liang Lingmeng lived in a Residential Complex in the old city district. The apartment wasn't large, but it was clean and tidy.

She opened the door wearing loungewear, her hair still wet, clearly having just showered.

"So late?" She let Cao Kun in.

"I just got some new evidence." Cao Kun handed her the voice recorder. "Listen to this."

Liang Lingmeng took it and plugged in her earphones.

As she listened, her expression grew increasingly grim.

When she reached the part about Xiao Mei, her fists clenched until her knuckles turned white.

After listening, she took off the earphones and remained silent for a long time.

"Animals," she finally said, her voice cold.

"That's not all," Cao Kun said. "They also force the girls to take drugs and film obscene videos. Brother Qiang's computer and phone are full of evidence."

"When do you plan to act?"

"Tomorrow night," Cao Kun said. "Brother Qiang and A Biao will be out, leaving only Lao Shu on guard. I'll go in to rescue them. You arrange for two people to wait on the perimeter as backup. Once I bring the girls out, you guys can rush in and make the arrests."

"It's too risky." Liang Lingmeng shook her head. "What if Brother Qiang and the others come back early?"

"I have an informant." Cao Kun didn't say who it was. "They will notify me in real-time."

Liang Lingmeng stared at him for a long time, as if assessing the risk.

Finally, she sighed. "Alright, but I must lead the team personally. If anything goes wrong, I'll rush in immediately."

"Fine." Cao Kun nodded. "One more thing."

"Speak."

"Xiao Mei's body... if we can't find it, this case will be missing a murder charge." Cao Kun said, "Can you find a way to check? Have any unidentified female bodies been found in Zhongzhou in recent months?"

Liang Lingmeng thought for a moment. "Last month, a female body was found at a landfill in Chengdong. It was heavily decomposed and unidentified. She was about twenty years old, and the cause of death was excessive blood loss... the forensic doctor said it might have been from a botched abortion."

Cao Kun's heart sank. "Where is the body?"

"It's still at the funeral home, unclaimed," Liang Lingmeng said. "If it really is Xiao Mei... we can do a DNA comparison."

"Good." Cao Kun stood up. "Tomorrow night at ten, No. 89 Xinglong Street. Twenty minutes after I go in, if I haven't sent a signal, you bring your people in."

"Cao Kun." Liang Lingmeng called out to him. "Be careful."

"I will."

After leaving Liang Lingmeng's home, Cao Kun returned to his own.

Tomorrow night, everything would come to an end.

...

The next day, Cao Kun spent the entire day preparing.

He checked all his equipment.

Cameras, voice recorder, telescopic baton, and a dagger.

This was a last resort; he hoped he wouldn't have to use it.

He changed into clothes suitable for movement: a black tracksuit, sneakers, and gloves.

At 8:00 PM, Cao Kun drove near Xinglong Street and parked in an inconspicuous alley.

He sent a message to Liang Lingmeng: "In position."

He quickly received a reply: "We've arrived too. Two cars, six people. Waiting for your signal."

Cao Kun turned off his phone and closed his eyes to rest.

He mentally rehearsed the steps of the operation repeatedly: enter, subdue Lao Shu, rescue the girls, bring them to the backup point. Every step had to be perfect.

At 9:10 PM, Brother Qiang and A Biao's van drove out of No. 89 Xinglong Street and disappeared into the night.

Cao Kun waited another twenty minutes to ensure they wouldn't suddenly return before getting out of the car and walking toward the target.

The moon was bright tonight, but it was obscured by clouds, appearing and disappearing. There were no lights in the alley, leaving it pitch black.

Cao Kun walked very lightly, making almost no sound.

The back door was ajar.

This was Lao Shu's habit, to make it easier to flee at any moment.

Cao Kun pushed the door open and slipped inside.

The lights were on in the first-floor living room, and the television was on, playing a vulgar variety show.

Lao Shu was lying on a worn-out sofa with his legs crossed, a bottle of beer in his hand.

Hearing a noise, Lao Shu looked up and was stunned to see Cao Kun. "What are you doing here? Brother Qiang and the others aren't around."

"I know," Cao Kun said. "I'm here for Xiao Li. I didn't get my fill yesterday."

Lao Shu grinned. "Addicted? Fine, five hundred."

Cao Kun took out his wallet, counted out five hundred yuan, and handed it over.

Lao Shu took the money and held it up to the light to confirm they were real bills before putting them away with satisfaction.

"Go down yourself; she's inside." Lao Shu pointed toward the Basement door and went back to watching TV.

Cao Kun walked toward the hidden door.

He opened it and went down the stairs.

Under the dim yellow light, the girls all looked up.

Seeing Cao Kun, a flicker of hope appeared in Xiao Li's eyes, but it quickly faded.

She saw that Cao Kun had come alone.

Cao Kun walked to Xiao Li's cubicle and lowered his voice. "The operation is tonight. Did Brother Qiang and the others leave?"

Xiao Li nodded vigorously. "They left at nine. They said they were going to pick someone up and would be back very late."

"Good," Cao Kun said. "Cooperate with me and lure Lao Shu down here."

"How do I lure him?"

"Just say I want to try something exciting and need his help," Cao Kun said. "Once he's down here, I'll deal with him."

Xiao Li was a bit scared, but she nodded anyway.

Cao Kun went back upstairs. Lao Shu was still watching TV, letting out lewd laughs from time to time.

"Brother Mouse," Cao Kun walked over. "I want to try something exciting... but she can't do it alone. I need your help."

Lao Shu's eyes lit up. "Sure, but it'll cost extra. One thousand."

"Um... alright." Cao Kun acted embarrassed as he gave the money to Lao Shu.

Lao Shu stood up immediately, his eyes gleaming with greed. "Alright! You really know how to have a good time! Come on, I'll set it up for you!"

"No need to set anything up," Cao Kun said. "Just Xiao Li and... the one with the fierce eyes, Lin Xiaoyan, right? The two of them will do. Come down and help me bring Lin Xiaoyan out."

"No problem!" Lao Shu grabbed his keychain and followed Cao Kun down to the Basement with great enthusiasm.