206: Chapter 206 The Mysterious Big Buyer

Chapter 206: A Big Buyer of Unknown Origin

The yellow-haired youth who rushed in from outside was none other than Ma Donghe's subordinate, Chen Yingjun.

There were other customers in the shop; some were sitting on the bench waiting for their prescriptions to be filled, while others were quietly discussing their illnesses with Master Lin.

Seeing this scene, everyone couldn't help but be a little surprised.

Fang Cheng's eyes flashed with a cold glint, and he then calmly walked towards Chen Yingjun, saying in a low voice:

"Stop shouting, come with me to the back to talk."

With that, he led him in quick strides into a lounge in the inner room.

Click.

The door locked, isolating the slight commotion outside.

Under the dim incandescent light, Chen Yingjun was drenched in sweat, which mixed with the dust and blood on his face, making him look exceptionally disheveled and wretched.

He looked at Fang Cheng with anxious eyes, muttering in a flustered manner:

"Mr. Fang, please think of a way to save my boss..."

Fang Cheng's sword-like brows furrowed slightly, and he asked in a deep voice:

"Calm down first and explain clearly what is going on?"

Seeming to feel the steadying power brought by Fang Cheng's voice, Chen Yingjun's flustered and helpless emotions stabilized slightly.

He then took a deep breath, raised his hand to wipe away the blood and sweat on his face, and with his mouth still trembling slightly, he began to speak:

"This matter is completely ruined by that remaining batch of firearms. A few days ago, Brother Donghe managed to contact a big buyer, hoping to clear out the inventory all at once before the new year and make a big profit, so that the brothers could live a stable life afterwards."

"Who would have known that these guys look forthright, but actually harbor malicious intentions. We agreed on the price and the delivery location, but right before the transaction last night, they suddenly pulled out an unprecedented 'additional agreement', demanding to change the transaction terms. Not only did they push the price down ridiculously low, but they also attached a bunch of harsh conditions, clearly aiming to squeeze us."

"How could Brother Donghe swallow this anger? He started arguing with them on the spot, and after just a few words between the two sides, they started fighting."

"They were numerous and armed, and the brothers were caught off guard, suffering many casualties. To protect everyone, Brother Donghe also sustained heavy injuries, and he is still being detained at that abandoned waste disposal plant in the southern suburbs..."

Hearing this, Fang Cheng's eyes narrowed, and looking at Chen Yingjun with scrutiny, he asked:

"How did you escape?"

Chen Yingjun trembled slightly, as if recalling a nightmare-like scene, swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and stammered:

"At that time, we were tightly surrounded, with gun barrels almost pressed against our foreheads. Everyone had no way to resist and could only accept our fate, raising our hands to surrender."

"Yet those bastards were extremely ruthless; they dragged me and the remaining few brothers into the corner of the factory, beating and kicking us, specifically targeting vital parts, while cursing and threatening to throw us into the garbage incinerator."

"The brothers screamed in agony from the beating, and a few of them were already breathing more than they were taking in. I thought I was going to meet my end there too."

Chen Yingjun paused, the look of fear on his face growing heavier, and continued:

"Just as dawn was approaching, someone hurried over and whispered a few words into the leader's ear. The leader's expression changed slightly, and only then did he let me go."

"However, before releasing me, the leader also dropped a harsh threat, giving me a limit of three days to raise five million in ransom and deliver it to a designated location. If I were even a minute late, he would silence Brother Donghe and all the remaining brothers."

At this point, Chen Yingjun's eye sockets instantly turned red, his voice carrying a crying tone and helplessness:

"However, Mr. Fang, where am I supposed to get that much money? Our hands are already tight on cash, and time is so pressing. I really couldn't think of a way, so I could only come to you..."

As Chen Yingjun spoke, a grown man was actually so anxious that his tears fell in a rush.

Like grasping at the last straw of life, he looked eagerly at the man in front of him who possessed unfathomable abilities.

Fang Cheng did not reply, his gaze merely sharp as a falcon's, staring fixedly at Chen Yingjun.

That gaze seemed as though it wanted to see right through him, probing out every hidden minute detail.

Just as Chen Yingjun was made to feel extremely uncomfortable by the stare, with waves of unease surging in his heart,

Fang Cheng suddenly reached out and quickly searched his body.

Soon, he fished out a fingernail-sized, metallically gleaming small black object from the inside of Chen Yingjun's collar.

"What is this?"

Chen Yingjun was full of doubt, mixed with a trace of panic and unease.

Fang Cheng withdrew his hand with a solemn expression and said in a cold voice:

"It should be a tracking device used for positioning. They deliberately let you back, presumably wanting to use this thing to find your lair and wipe you all out in one sweep, or..."

At this point, Fang Cheng's tone suddenly paused, his eyes flashing like sudden cold stars with a trace of sternness:

"By the way, let's see who else would come wading into this muddy water!"

Hearing this, Chen Yingjun also realized something, his complexion instantly turning even paler.

"These bastards, damn it..."

He cursed through gritted teeth, his body trembling from anger and lingering fear.

The blood scabs that had originally coagulated on his body also oozed wisps of blood again with the violent movements, staining his already tattered clothes red.

Fang Cheng frowned deeply, pondering inwardly, as he caught sight of the shocking wounds all over Chen Yingjun's body.

Without any further delay, he quickly took out a first aid box from the cabinet and skillfully gave him some basic treatment.

Using tweezers to pick up a cotton ball dipped in medicinal liquid to clean the wounds, he asked:

"Do you know the specific origins of those people?"

Chen Yingjun endured the pain and shook his head somewhat weakly:

"They seemed to have popped up out of nowhere; we'd never interacted with them before, and they went straight for the kill as soon as they came up."

"However... some of those people had non-local accents, and Brother Donghe got in touch with them through the introduction of a friend..."

Fang Cheng frowned slightly, then asked for the specific location where Ma Donghe was being detained, as well as the approximate number of personnel and firepower equipment of the other party.

After applying medicine to Chen Yingjun and bandaging his wounds, he then instructed him in a deep voice:

"After going out later, you pretend that you just came here to treat your injuries, and then continue driving to somewhere else, making frantic phone calls all the way, saying you want to find other people to raise money."

"Remember, don't blow your cover; those guys are definitely watching you from the shadows."

"As for saving Ma Donghe, don't worry, I will make a move. You shouldn't get mixed up in this yourself; just do as I say and try your best to steady the trackers."

Chen Yingjun showed hesitation, his eyes full of incomprehension and worry.

When his gaze touched Fang Cheng's bright and firm eyes, he couldn't help but recall those astonishing feats he had done in the past, and finally nodded through gritted teeth.

Having treated his injuries and stabilized his emotions, Chen Yingjun then, as Fang Cheng instructed, pretended to rush frantically out of the trauma clinic.

Using his bandage-wrapped right hand to loudly make phone calls to borrow money, he scrambled into the car parked by the roadside, quickly ignited the engine, and drove away.

Inside the clinic, Fang Cheng stood silently behind the window.

His eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze piercing through the glass like a tangible entity, locking tightly onto the street outside without missing the slightest movement.

Sure enough, not a few seconds later, a black sedan that had been lurking in the shadows not far away started its engine like a fierce wolf that had caught the scent of its prey, and sped away in the direction Chen Yingjun had left.

The oblique sunlight happened to shine on the car window of that sedan, and through the bright glass, the people sitting inside could be seen with absolute clarity.

They were all unfamiliar men with unfriendly features, each with fierce eyes, just like desperate scoundrels who had just stepped out of a sea of blood and mountains of blades.

Confirming that they had gone far and disappeared at the end of the street, Fang Cheng's expression grew even more solemn.

Noticing something was amiss just now, he had been extra cautious.

Thus, he checked Chen Yingjun's body through the "Scavengers Eye" and discovered the tracking device hidden on him.

Such behavior from the opponent clearly showed they had planned this for a long time and came prepared.

It was definitely not a simple case of black-on-black crime, and it was very likely targeted at him.

Several suspect targets flashed rapidly through Fang Cheng's mind.

Red Tiger Gang? Noah Organization? Or the Special Investigation Team?

Judging from their style of action, it didn't look much like the work of the authorities.

If it really were people from the Special Investigation Team, there would be no need at all to take such a big detour and track stealthily; they would directly use various search and detection methods.

Therefore...

"A-Cheng, are you alright?"

Amidst his thoughts, Lin Fusheng walked over with steady steps, his concerned gaze falling on Fang Cheng.

At the same time, the mother-daughter duo of Wen Xin and Wen Huiyi also stared closely at him, likewise revealing expressions of worry.

Wen Xin then ran to Fang Cheng's side, holding his hand, and asked crisply:

"Brother, if you encounter difficulties, tell me, I can help you too, oh."

As she spoke, she also secretly blinked those amber-colored big eyes, as if telling a little secret between the two of them.

Wen Huiyi pursed her lips, her gaze full of care for the young man in front of her.

Fang Cheng shook his head gently, a smile pulling at the corners of his mouth, and said with feigned ease:

"It's nothing major. That fellow Ma Donghe lost miserably gambling during the New Year and got stripped naked and detained in a mahjong parlor, so he had to send his subordinate to borrow money from me. How could I have money to lend him, so I told him to go find someone else."

Master Lin nodded slightly upon hearing this, a look of understanding appearing on his face.

He had indeed heard the content of Chen Yingjun making phone calls to borrow money just now.

"Check out error-free, first release, content all viewed here!"

Then, as if performing magic, he suddenly pulled out a bright and festive red envelope from his clothes and handed it toward Fang Cheng.

Seeing this, Fang Cheng couldn't help but be stunned, subconsciously speaking out:

"Ah, do I have one too?"

He had just seen Master Lin give a red envelope to Wen Huiyi, saying it was a year-end bonus.

After all, he only came to help out occasionally and learn his craft along the way, not being a formal employee, so he hadn't thought much of it.

"Just a small token of appreciation."

Master Lin laughed heartily, his laughter echoing in the room, dispelling some of the solemn atmosphere:

"You've been busy running around here, how could I, as your master, be stingy? Over these past few months, thanks to you, the clinic has been able to run smoothly."

Saying this, not allowing Fang Cheng to refuse, he stretched out his big hand and forcefully shoved it into his palm.

Afterwards, Master Lin unhurriedly took out a slightly smaller red envelope and handed it to Wen Xin, who had run aside to pour tea for the guests.

Seeing this, Wen Xin's eyes instantly lit up.

But she was also a bit embarrassed, shaking her head like a rattle-drum, with her two little hands behind her back, fidgeting as she said:

"Grandpa Lin, I don't want it; I'm just helping my mom do some work."

Wen Huiyi also waved her hand from the side and said:

"Exactly, exactly, Master Lin, you really don't need to be so polite."

Master Lin feigned anger, but the smile on his face did not diminish:

"How can that do? This is New Year's money given by an elder to a Junior for good luck, take it!"

Saying that, he still forcefully shoved the red envelope into the little girl's hand.

Wen Xin glanced at her mother, cautiously took the red envelope, and quickly and politely bowed:

"Thank you, Grandpa Lin."

Then, like a cheerful little rabbit, she bounced over to Wen Huiyi's side. After getting her mother's permission, her smile became even more brilliant.

She couldn't help but hold the red envelope up to her eyes, examining it carefully, the bright red reflecting on her cheeks so that they were flushed as well.

Looking at this scene, Fang Cheng's heart seemed to be gently brushed by a warm current, dispelling a bit of the gloom brought by Ma Donghe's affair.

His thoughts turned, pondering how to rescue Ma Donghe without exposing his true identity, while also getting the person rescued safely.

Since the opponent made such a big fuss and set a trap,

that waste disposal plant where Ma Donghe was kidnapped might also be a carefully prepared trap.

But——

Fang Cheng had to go save him.

And he had to cut through the gordian knot quickly and finish it in a flash!

Seeing that the Spring Festival was approaching, tomorrow was New Year's Eve, a day for family reunion.

Fang Cheng did not want to leave hidden dangers at a time like this and fail to have a stable, peaceful, and good New Year.

What's more, Ma Donghe encountered danger while running errands for him.

And his family must be looking forward to his coming home for a reunion at this very moment.

Fang Cheng could empathize very truly with that eagerly awaiting mood.

...

The southern suburbs of Dongdu City.

The afterglow of the setting sun, like shattered golden gauze, spilled over the rusted iron sheet walls of the waste recycling plant.

As the light grew darker and darker, the temperature was also dropping rapidly.

A gust of cold wind howled and swept in, running amok inside the spacious and dilapidated factory area.

Garbage debris and white plastic bags were tossed high into the air, flying wantonly like a group of baring-claws-and-fangs ghosts.

Inside the six-story-high factory building, a pungent stench of putrefaction permeated the cold air, choking people to the verge of nausea.

"Cough, cough..."

From the depths of the darkness where even the setting sun could not reach, a few weak coughs came.

Ma Donghe was tied up securely with ropes to a dilapidated chair.

Behind him was a bottomless pit tens of meters in diameter.

It was like a giant beast about to devour people, opening its pitch-black maw.

The edge of the pit was piled with all sorts of garbage, including rotted wooden boards, broken plastics, and twisted metals.

Layer upon layer, precarious, as if it could pour down at any moment to fill this dark abyss even fuller.

And the chair under Ma Donghe's buttocks was located right at the edge of the pit, just a few centimeters away from the pit wall.

If he moved back just a few more inches, he would slide down along the grime-covered concrete pit wall and be buried in one place with that unprocessed garbage.

At this moment, Ma Donghe's complexion was as pale as paper, his lips dry and peeling.

The wounds on his body ruptured because the ropes dug deep into his flesh and blood, and fresh blood continuously oozed out, staining his already tattered and filthy clothes red.

This place was located at the highest point of the entire waste disposal plant, at the top of the well hole used for landfilling and degrading garbage.

The surroundings were dead silent, and only the pipes at the bottom of the pit faintly transmitted a sobbing, plaintive wailing sound, making one's spine chill.

Suddenly, a chaotic sound of footsteps treading on the iron stairs broke the silence.

Hearing this sound getting closer and closer, Ma Donghe suddenly appeared a bit excited, abruptly raising his head to look over.

Clatter.

He saw that right above his head, a dim incandescent light was lit.

The dazzling light instantly dispelled some of the darkness, but it also illuminated the surrounding dilapidation and gloom even more clearly.

Following closely, along the aisle at the edge of the pit, a group of people of various shapes and sizes walked over.