Kapitel 51: Chapter 51 A Lone Journey to the Appointment
After hanging up Wu Fatty's call, Chen Yi fell into deep contemplation.
He had clearly taken 408,000 yuan from Wu Fatty, yet Wu claimed he had handed over a million. The details Wu provided were precise: first 400,000, then an additional 600,000 for a price-hiked magical artifact. What puzzled Chen Yi more was that just a few days ago, he had passed by Wu's jewelry store and noticed its thriving business. How could Wu now claim his business was on the verge of collapse?
If business were truly booming, Wu would have no reason to provoke him. Otherwise, he'd risk Chen Yi's ruthless retaliation, and the losses would far exceed a million yuan.
Wu was clearly sending a message in his own way.
Both Wu Fatty and Han Wenxue had been abducted by the same group, yet their real target was Chen Yi himself!
As Chen Yi pondered further, he realized that only someone like Feng Kun could orchestrate such a thing. However, if Feng Kun were truly behind this, how could one explain the runaway fuel tanker or the spontaneous combustion of corpses? Feng Kun didn't possess such capabilities.
Perhaps it was connected to those ill-fated young girls.
Among all his enemies, they seemed the most likely suspects.
But what was their purpose? If it was revenge, why go through so much trouble? Wouldn't it be easier and safer to come straight for him or stage another "accidental traffic incident"?
Although he couldn't fully grasp their motives, Chen Yi knew he had to tread carefully. These adversaries were beyond his current ability to handle. But who could help him? Luo Yan? Chen Yi shook his head. The methods of these people were unfathomable, far beyond what ordinary police officers like Luo Yan could contend with. Involving them would not only be futile but might also alert the enemy, potentially putting them in grave danger—something Chen Yi would never permit.
It was now 3 PM. He had five hours to prepare.
For once, Chen Yi abandoned his usual frugality. He hailed a taxi and threw the driver 500 yuan, instructing him to drive as fast as possible.
A journey that would normally take over an hour by bus was completed in under fifteen minutes, thanks to the driver's exceptional skills.
Upon arriving home, Chen Yi immediately set a pot of leftover herbal medicine to boil.
The day's injuries had been severe. He needed to recover to peak condition quickly to face the unknown dangers ahead.
While the medicine simmered, Chen Yi began preparing other items. He first retrieved a dusty guitar case from under his bed. Of course, someone as tone-deaf as Chen Yi had no interest in playing the guitar—he simply found the case convenient for storage.
Chen Yi, a master archer, naturally equipped himself with a fine bow.
The Matthews compound bow hidden in the guitar case was something he had acquired a year ago at great expense through a trusted contact. With a draw weight of 90 pounds and a maximum range of 1,000 meters, it was no less lethal than a standard firearm in his hands. He had named it "Xun Zhen."
"Xun" symbolizes wind, and "Zhen" represents thunder—together, the name conveys swiftness like the wind and ferocity like lightning.
Among traditional bows, recurve bows, and compound bows, Chen Yi favored the compound bow the most. Compared to the other types, the compound bow offered unmatched advantages: ease of use and precision.
Once the 90-pound draw weight surpassed its critical point, it required only 30 pounds of force to maintain a full draw, significantly conserving energy. This saved strength naturally enhanced stability while aiming. Moreover, the Matthews compound bow's precision sight allowed him to hit targets with pinpoint accuracy within 150 meters.
Though the guitar case was covered in dust, the Xun Zhen inside was immaculate, gleaming as if brand new. Whenever he had spare time, Chen Yi would take Xun Zhen to the nearby mountains for some hunting—wild hares, birds—and he regularly maintained it to preserve its performance.
Chen Yi meticulously inspected the 25 accompanying hunting arrows, carefully examining each one for damage. In the end, he discarded seven that showed signs of wear.
Though the arrows had been well-maintained, they were naturally more prone to damage than the bow itself. Even the slightest imperfection in an arrow could drastically affect its accuracy. For hunting, Chen Yi might not have cared much, but tonight, he was venturing into the lion's den, where the smallest mistake could cost him his life.
With Xun Zhen ready, Chen Yi began crafting talismans. Now at the Divine Will stage, he could create a few offensive talismans, though their power was limited. Still, they were better than nothing.
After completing his preparations, Chen Yi drank the herbal medicine and sat in meditation to recover his strength.
At 8 PM sharp, Chen Yi arrived at the address Wu Fatty had provided.
The location was an abandoned real estate development on the outskirts of the city. Spanning five or six hundred acres, it had once been a shining star in Quancheng's property market. However, halfway through construction, the developer went bankrupt and fled due to a broken financial chain, leaving behind this derelict site—a haven for stray cats and dogs seeking shelter.
One had to admit, the choice of location was cunning. Far from the city, vast in area, and desolate—if someone were to die here, it might take ten days or even half a month for anyone to discover.
Chen Yi took out his phone and dialed Wu Fatty's number. As expected, the person who answered was not Wu but a young man with a hoarse voice.
"I'm here. I've brought the money. Now, where are the people?"
"Hehe, Master Chen, don't be in such a hurry. I need to see the money first before I release anyone."
At that moment, Ai Chu sat grandly in a chair, a large cigar between his fingers. On the table before him was a laptop, and on the screen was a live feed of Chen Yi.
"Where should I meet you?" Chen Yi asked.
"Keep walking forward. If you can make it to the 21st floor of Building 15, you'll find the lovely Miss Han Wenxue waiting for you."
Ai Chu took a deep drag from his cigar, filling the 50-60 square meter room with thick, swirling smoke.
"Haha, Wu, you weren't lying—Chen Yi really did come with the money," Ai Chu said, his spirits high. To him, Chen Yi showing up alone meant the plan was as good as done. Once the dragon vein was severed, he could return to claim his reward and secure his position as heir to his family's legacy. No matter how much that woman schemed, it would all be in vain.
Wu Fatty, however, felt a chill run down his spine. He cursed Chen Yi inwardly, calling him a fool. This guy, usually so sharp, had suddenly turned dense when it mattered most. He had dropped so many hints—how could Chen Yi not pick up on them? At the very least, he should have brought some police officers along for protection!
"Do you know where you went wrong?" Ai Chu pointed at Wu Fatty. "You underestimated the allure of a woman. When a man falls in love, his actions often defy logic. It seems our Master Chen is deeply smitten with Miss Han."
Wu Fatty wore a bitter expression. His life was hanging by a thread—how could he have the mind to think about such things? "Boss, Chen Yi is here. I've fulfilled my end of the deal. Can you let me go now? I promise to forget everything about this."
"Haha, you must be mistaken. Our deal isn't over yet. Chen Yi may have shown up, but my mood hasn't improved. Naturally, I can't let you go. But don't worry—my mood might change later. Who knows? I might just let you off."
Ai Chu's tone was playful, as if coaxing a child.
"Miss Han, it seems you hold a special place in Chen Yi's heart. You'll have the chance to rest eternally alongside your lover. Shouldn't you thank me? Without me, he might be in the arms of another woman right now."
Han Wenxue's emotions were a whirlwind of joy, sadness, and guilt. She hadn't expected Chen Yi to truly come alone. Though she knew he was doing it to repay her grandfather's kindness, a trace of sweetness lingered in her heart. At the very least, in her final moments, she had a comforting thought to hold onto.
But what about Chen Yi? How could he possibly survive this ordeal? The enemies were too powerful.
Her thoughts were consumed by Chen Yi's fate, with no regard for her own safety. Whether or not he could save her, she owed him yet again. Sadly, she wouldn't live to repay him this time.
"Jin Hu, Tu She, take some men and test this guy. Let's see if he's worth my personal effort," Ai Chu ordered.
The tall middle-aged Jin Hu thumped his chest confidently. "Don't worry, young master. I'll bring you his head in no time!"
Tu She sneered, stretching out his unusually long, crimson tongue to lick his lips. "Foolish tiger, how about we make a bet? Let's see who can take him down first."
"Fine! Whoever loses calls the other 'grandfather' three times!" Jin Hu retorted.
Tu She's sneer deepened. "Haha, I'm certain I'll be the grandfather. Don't try to back out later."
"Hmph!"
Their bickering was cut short by Ai Chu's cold snort, silencing them instantly.
"I want him alive. The final blow is reserved for Miss Han," Ai Chu said, his voice icy as a winter gale.
"However, you can each lead a team and compete to see who captures him first. Whoever succeeds will receive a three-million-yuan reward."
Ai Chu's mastery of carrot-and-stick tactics was evident.
"Yes, young master!"
The two dared not argue further. Each took five men and swiftly departed.
After they left, Ai Chu turned his gaze back to the surveillance feed.
Chen Yi was crouched behind a rock, exposing only half his body. Ai Chu's eyes suddenly narrowed as the screen flickered to static, and Chen Yi's figure disappeared.
"Hehe, interesting. I didn't expect this kid to be an expert archer," Ai Chu remarked, exhaling a puff of smoke with growing amusement.
In less than a minute, Chen Yi had taken out several surveillance cameras in succession. Since entering the Divine Will stage, he had gained the ability to perceive spiritual energy and detect hidden threats. To him, the electronic malice emanating from the cameras stood out like fireworks in the night.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein