Muddy Eel sat on the couch, with Brother Ji kneeling a short distance in front of him. The TV was on, displaying a news report about the recently concluded child trafficking case:
“In recent days, a series of child trafficking cases in the city have been resolved. Through our police sources, we’ve learned that this was not just a simple trafficking ring but was also connected to drug crimes. The criminals used children to transport drugs and even controlled minors with drugs to assist them in trafficking. However, Ancheng police quickly and effectively dismantled the operation, resulting in zero casualties. They also uncovered a larger trafficking ring. It’s reported that the case was swiftly solved thanks to a key tip provided by a concerned citizen. We urge all citizens to actively assist the police and ensure the safety of themselves and their families.”
Brother Ji trembled on the ground, watching as Muddy Eel sat with his legs crossed, fuming. “Brother Muddy Eel, please spare me and let me make amends. I barely escaped. I was the only one who got out; all the other brothers…”
“You couldn’t even guard a child,” Muddy Eel spat angrily, grabbing a glass ashtray from the coffee table and hurling it at Brother Ji.
Brother Ji didn’t dare dodge, gritting his teeth and taking the blow. Blood trickled down his face from the wound on his forehead, pooling on the floor.
“That damn Luo Tian again. Last time, I almost died at his hands, and he wiped out several of my operations. Now I’ve lost even more men. Damn it!” Muddy Eel cursed. “Who’s the so-called ‘concerned citizen’ that gave the police the tip? Did you find out?”
One of Muddy Eel’s lackeys stepped forward, handing him a stack of photos. “The police haven’t released much information, so we couldn’t trace it, but we’ve been tailing Luo Tian. A few days ago, we spotted him chatting with a woman and the kid we kidnapped. Look at these.”
Muddy Eel flipped through the photos. They showed Luo Tian, Bai Cheng, and the child in the lake park, along with other shots of Luo Tian driving Bai Cheng home and the two walking side by side near her apartment.
The lackey continued, “That kid is the same one we kidnapped and the police rescued.”
Muddy Eel squinted at the photos, bringing one closer. “This woman looks familiar.”
“She’s Bai Cheng, the fiancée of the doctor you killed at the hospital, Brother Muddy Eel.”
“No wonder she looks familiar. So, it’s her, huh? What a coincidence. I wouldn’t have bothered killing her fiancé if he hadn’t gotten in the way. Blame him for trying to play hero instead of just being a doctor. He had a death wish, and he got what he deserved.”
Muddy Eel tossed the photos in front of Brother Ji. “Here’s your chance to redeem yourself. The woman in these photos—kidnap her for me. First, we’ll show Luo Tian that we’re not to be messed with, and second, we’ll reunite her with her fiancé down below. Don’t come back unless the job’s done.”
“Yes,” Brother Ji replied, wiping the blood from his face. He picked up the photos and, though he nearly fainted from dizziness, managed to steady himself and leave the room without assistance from the others, who remained still, not daring to move.
A few days later, Bai Cheng had just finished checking out at the supermarket and was waiting for the elevator in the basement parking lot, carrying a large bag of daily essentials. She stepped into the elevator with a mother and child, about to press the button to close the doors when a figure rushed in at the last second. The man wore a black mask, his head lowered, obscuring his face. He quickly pressed the button to close the elevator doors, and they began descending to the second basement level.
After exiting the elevator, the mother and child turned left, while Bai Cheng headed right. The masked man followed closely behind her, getting closer and closer. Sensing something was off, Bai Cheng had been keeping an eye on him. When she saw his reflection in the car window, she caught sight of the knife he was about to stab her with. Reacting immediately, she dodged to the side and hurled her shopping bag at him.
The masked man missed with his first strike and was momentarily caught off guard by the heavy bag that hit him. Regaining his footing, he chased after Bai Cheng, who was now running ahead.
Just as he was about to catch up to her, Bai Cheng suddenly spun around, swinging the stun gun Luo Tian had given her directly at him. The masked man collapsed to the ground, convulsing uncontrollably. Bai Cheng kept shocking him until he passed out completely, no longer responding.
Bai Cheng then ran to the ground-floor lobby and alerted security, who went to deal with the unconscious man. She immediately called Luo Tian.
Luo Tian arrived quickly with a team. He found Bai Cheng resting in the mall’s security office while the masked man was tied up in the adjacent room.
Luo Tian walked up to her, leaning his right hand on the desk and placing his left hand on his hip, clearly worried. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Bai Cheng said. “Good thing I had the stun gun you gave me.”
“Yeah, it’s lucky I gave you that for self-defense the last time I took you home. If you hadn’t had it…”
Two officers escorted the masked man past them, and Luo Tian turned back to Bai Cheng. “Miss Bai, I’ll need you to come with us to the station to make a formal statement.”
“Of course,” Bai Cheng nodded.
