Volume Two: Anbei Consortium Chapter Twelve: The Novice Underling

Chen Jingfu drove fast, but with steady hands. When Li Yu arrived at the location, he saw several people dressed as police officers investigating the surveillance footage nearby.

Li Yu avoided these men. The girl who had called him rushed out upon seeing him; she had been at the dinner table the previous night and had a fairly close relationship with Huang Xiu.

Earlier that afternoon, since Huang Xiu hadn’t returned home for lunch, she and the girl went out together, intending to grab a meal at a shop off campus. As they were heading back to school, a van suddenly pulled up, and Huang Xiu was snatched inside. During her struggle, some items fell to the ground, including her phone. After reporting to the police, the girl suddenly remembered Li Yu and called him.

“They’re probably just ordinary people,” Chen Jingfu remarked.

If they were trained in martial arts, their actions wouldn’t have been so sluggish, nor would they have allowed Huang Xiu the chance to resist.

“Thank you. You should head back to school,” Li Yu said, instructing the girl to return. She was just an ordinary student, uninvolved in the matter; now that he had gathered some information, there was no reason for her to linger.

...

“If they used a vehicle, with so many cameras around, they couldn’t get far. They’d have to switch modes of transport or travel on foot,” Li Yu pondered for a moment. He still had no clear leads, but he understood now: this was indeed the work of ordinary people.

He had come here specifically to check whether there was any lingering spiritual energy in the area.

From what he had gleaned from the auction and some things Chen Chengde had inadvertently revealed, he had the distinct feeling there was a hidden force on Blue Star, perhaps even one inclined towards cultivation.

“Do you know of any shady groups operating around here?” Li Yu asked.

“Shady groups…” Chen Jingfu understood what he meant. She frowned slightly in thought, then said, “This area belongs to Black Dog. He—”

Before she could finish, Li Yu interrupted. “Does this include the current incident?”

“Yes, it does.” Chen Jingfu nodded.

Li Yu said, “Then it’s him. Take me to find him.”

Every minute wasted increased the chances of something happening to Huang Xiu.

It was too much of a coincidence: nothing had happened before, or after, but it was right after the auction that trouble arose. Li Yu knew this was the only explanation. He felt restless and agitated.

If anything happened...

He shook his head to clear it. Panic would do no good now. Since these were ordinary people, the local criminal circles would likely know something.

Chen Jingfu drove quickly, even running several red lights, before stopping at a nondescript building.

“Black Dog mainly runs protection and collects money; during the day he stays here with his men. They’re ruthless and cruel,” Chen Jingfu explained, giving Li Yu a brief overview of the place.

In other words, there were no decent people in this building. Li Yu glanced at the three-story structure, lips pressed together.

Five idle young men lounged near the entrance, several with tattoos on their exposed skin. Seeing the beautiful woman park her car nearby, they whistled and laughed with crude insinuations.

Chen Jingfu’s brows arched sharply; before her anger could flare, Li Yu strode straight over.

“Is your boss here?” Li Yu offered a harmless smile to a blond youth—the only one among the five without a tattoo.

“Who the hell wants to see Dog Brother?”

“Who do you think you are? Move along, don’t block the way.”

“Heh, have that chick come over and give us a good time, and we’ll tell you.”

Before the blond youth could reply, the others chimed in. The boy before them was strikingly delicate and innocent-looking, not at all like someone from the street, which emboldened them to act without restraint.

Li Yu’s eyes narrowed as he looked at the speakers. Though their muscular build suggested they’d trained for brawling, to him they were nothing but empty shells. He could handle them with one hand.

He thought so—and acted accordingly.

Moments later.

Li Yu spoke gently, “Don’t be afraid, I just want to ask a question. Saves me from searching inside for nothing.”

The blond youth swallowed, sweat pouring down his forehead, tinged with red.

When the boy had made his move just now, the youth and his friends had tried to fight back, but in a blink they hadn’t even registered his movements before being knocked to the ground. The senior members, seasoned from years on the street, now groaned beneath Li Yu’s weight.

“So fast! Even faster than my grandfather!” Chen Jingfu, now approaching, couldn’t hide her astonishment.

When channeling internal energy, there are often outward signs—like clothes fluttering despite no wind—a result of aura changes, not mere theatrics.

Yet Chen Jingfu was certain Li Yu hadn’t used any internal force at all. He’d brought down all five with sheer physical strength in an instant.

“He’s inside, the boss is inside,” the blond youth stammered, watching the sole of Li Yu’s shoe inch closer to his head.

Li Yu smiled, “See? Isn’t it better this way? The ground’s filthy, get up and show me the way. You don’t mind walking a bit, do you?” He removed his foot and offered a hand.

“No, not at all.”

The blond youth scrambled up on his own, sensing that refusing would mean the shoe might really connect with his head.

“The boss just got back from business,” he said, obediently leading the way and answering every question.

Business. Just returned.

Li Yu and Chen Jingfu exchanged a glance.

If it wasn’t a meal, then the timing matched closely with Huang Xiu’s abduction. Was it really such a coincidence?

They proceeded unimpeded.

On the top floor was a long corridor, doors symmetrically lining both sides, stretching to a closed door at the far end.

“The boss is inside,” the blond youth pointed to the door at the end.

“You can go now.” Li Yu shoved him aside and strode forward.

Freed, the blond youth’s heart leapt; he tumbled down the stairs, desperate to escape. He’d done his part—if Dog Brother triumphed, staying would mean trouble.

As Li Yu passed, doors on both sides opened, men emerging to watch him silently. No one acted, but their eyes followed him with intensity.

Li Yu kept his gaze fixed ahead.

He hadn’t knocked out the gatekeepers, so it was natural for word to spread. He didn’t mind; in fact, he welcomed their reaction.

Analyzing their responses was far more useful than asking questions and getting lies.

He wanted nothing more right now than to find Huang Xiu and rescue her.

That was why he’d chosen the blond youth for questioning—of the five, only he lacked tattoos, clearly a new recruit.

Such people were always the easiest to extract information from.