Chapter 284: Contacting Zhang Zong

"Ruan Wei, we meet again." I said, looking at Ruan Wei.

Ruan Wei looked at me,

He was very confused.

Shi Yong said from the side: "Ruan Wei, kid, do you still recognize me?"

Shi Yong knows Ruan Wei,

Ruan Wei was about to say something when Lao Wai also came over and immediately gave Ruan Wei a big slap,

"Damn, do you still recognize me?"

Ruan Wei froze again.

I pushed Lao Wai aside; this guy gets involved in everything.

"Ruan Wei, I'm Zhao Jianqiang. Do you remember?" I said.

Ruan Wei stared at me with his eyes, examining me carefully, then loudly said: "Zhao Jianqiang, you really are Zhao Jianqiang. What do you want to do with me?"

"Do you want to die or to live?" I asked.

"Anyway, I'm in your hands; whether I die or live is up to you." Ruan Wei said firmly.

I thought this kid would beg for mercy.

I snorted,

"You want to die, huh? But it's not that easy to die. We'll torture you to death properly. Lao Wai, I heard you have a knack for torturing people—bring out your special skill."

Lao Wai walked up to Ruan Wei, leering,

"I, Lao Wai, love torturing people the most."

"We'll tie you up, then use a rope to bind your... that thing, leave it outside to freeze overnight, and I believe you'll become a eunuch directly."

Lao Wai again recited his old tricks,

Unexpectedly, Ruan Wei sneered: "Haha, someone will come to rescue me soon; none of you will get away."

Lao Wai swung another big slap,

"Damn, even at death's door you're still tough."

"Before your people arrive, we'll kill you first; we'll seal your mouth and then throw you somewhere they can't find."

"I don't believe it,"

"I still can't subdue you."

"I, Lao Wai, love tangling with tight-mouthed people. Shi Yong, pull down his pants; I'll use a rope to tie off his... that thing. When they find him, this kid's lower half will completely rot."

As soon as Lao Wai's words fell,

Shi Yong started pulling down Ruan Wei's pants.

Lao Wai held a thin nylon rope, ready to act.

Seeing that Lao Wai was serious,

Ruan Wei immediately panicked; without that thing, what's the point of living? He might as well die.

Ruan Wei shouted at me loudly: "Zhao Jian, no, Mr. Zhao, let's talk properly. Everyone knows each other; we're all friends."

"Well, we've recognized each other again; it looks like you want to live, so if you want to live, show some sincerity." I said.

"What sincerity?" Ruan Wei asked.

"Let the three of us leave this place safely." I said.

"This, this, isn't easy to handle." Ruan Wei said.

"If it's not easy, then we'll all die together. Anyway, I don't care. Lao Wai, keep going—use the rope to sever his... that thing. Let him lose all hope." I said angrily.

"All right, I love playing with this thing." After saying that, Lao Wai moved the rope closer to Ruan Wei's front.

Shi Yong pressed his hand on Ruan Wei's leg.

"I promise you, I guarantee the three of you can leave this place safely. Mr. Zhao, I beg you, release my brother." Ruan Wei said pitifully.

"Exactly, if you happily agree, it's done—no hassle. Lao Wai, untie the rope." I ordered Lao Wai.

"Oh, it's a dead knot, that's how you undo it." Lao Wai said.

"Use a knife." Shi Yong said, then pulled a knife from his pocket.

Ruan Wei looked at the glinting knife,

sweat poured down, and he said to Shi Yong: "Brother, go easy; my life is in your hands."

Shi Yong said: "Don't worry, I've been playing with knives for decades; this small thing is nothing."

After saying that, Shi Yong used the knife to pick open the rope.

Only then did Ruan Wei relax.

I said to Ruan Wei: "Ruan Wei, your life is in my hands; I ask you, who is responsible for coming to Chengzhongcun to capture us this time?"

"You contact him directly by phone and let him release us first."

"Then we'll release you."

Ruan Wei said: "The person who brought people to capture you this time should be Zhang Zong; as long as I have something going on here, he'll bring people over."

"I'll now call Zhang Zong to have them release you and let you go."

"Zhang Zong also came—great, we're all old friends. Now you contact him." I said.

"Zhang Zong, do you know him?" Ruan Wei asked.

"Of course I know him; we've been old friends for over twenty years." I laughed.

Then I took out my phone,

Ruan Wei gave out Zhang Zong's phone number.

I quickly dialed Zhang Zong's phone,

Zhang Zong's voice came through the phone,

Hello, who is this?

Zhang Zong, hello—can't you tell my voice? I said into the phone.

I really can't tell—quickly, who are you? I'm busy here, Zhang Zong said.

You're busy—are you looking for Zhao Jianqiang? I asked.

Who exactly are you, and how do you know about this? Zhang Zong asked again.

I am Zhao Jianqiang—I can't even recognize my own voice; it seems you, Zhang Zong, truly forget important people. I laughed.

You are Zhao Jianqiang. I'm asking you—is Ruan Wei with you? Zhang Zong asked anxiously.

Yeah, he's right here. Let Ruan Wei say a few words to you. After saying that, I put the phone to Ruan Wei's ear.

Ruan Wei urgently said: "Zhang Zong, I'm Ruan Wei. You're in their hands right now—hurry up and take people away. Let them go, or my life will be over. Zhang Zong, please believe me—I'm telling the truth, they really will kill me."

Zhang Zong said over the phone, comforting Ruan Wei: "Ruan Zong, I understand—I'll report to Liu Zong and get his opinion. Don't worry, we will definitely rescue you."

Ruan Wei said: "You must save me, otherwise we won't be able to cooperate in the future. My father will drive you all out of the Southern Group."

Okay, okay, I'll consult Liu Zong then. Zhang Zong said and hung up.

Don't worry, Mr. Zhao—they will definitely release you. My father wields great power in the Southern Group; if they disagree, they won't be able to operate there. Ruan Wei said confidently.

Soon after, my phone rang,

I pressed the answer button,

Zhao Jianqiang, I've already consulted Liu Zong—you can release Ruan Zong first, and then we guarantee your safe departure, Zhang Zong said over the phone.

Your guarantee? Yeah, right—who would believe that? Zhang Zong, here's what we'll do: we need to leave safely. I'll take Ruan Wei with us until we deem it safe, then we'll release him. Otherwise, there's nothing more to discuss. I said directly.

I don't trust them at all—if I let Ruan Wei go, they'll immediately bring people over.

Haha, it seems you don't trust us, Zhao Jianqiang. How about this: I'm heading to Chengzhongcun right now. You release Ruan Wei, I'll come over as a hostage, and you take me with you.

I can absolutely guarantee your safety. Zhang Zong said.

Zhang Zong was willing to trade himself for Ruan Wei—it seems Ruan Wei is truly important in the Southern Group.

Mr. Zhao, do you believe me now? Release me first, then Zhang Zong will come over. He'll escort you out safely, and we'll all be secure. Mr. Zhao, let's trust each other this once. Ruan Wei said from the side.

I coldly said: "Cut the crap, Zhang Zong—do you want to cooperate? Show some sincerity. Since you want to come over and replace Ruan Wei, you have to come in person—just you alone.

I'll be waiting here for you.

Dare you?

Fine, I'm on my way—we haven't seen each other in years; I just want to catch up. Zhang Zong said cheerfully.