Chapter 290

Xiao Long quickly got out of the car,

His hands were covered in blood, holding something like a SIM card.

He said to me and Shangguan Zhuren, "The crystal has been found."

I anxiously asked, "How is your father?"

Xiao Long said, "He fainted from the pain, my Uncle Yong is watching over him."

Shangguan Zhuren said, "Hurry up and drive, go to Qihe Mine Hospital to treat your father."

Xiao Long nodded, then wanted to destroy the crystal.

I said, "Don't destroy it, give me the crystal; we'll split up. I'll lure them away."

I took the crystal from Xiao Long's hand.

Shangguan Zhuren said, "Xiao Fang, get in the car and return to Qihe Mine. The rest of you follow us."

Shangguan Zhuren, Shen Honghong, and Lao Wai got into my car,

Xiao Long led Li Ming, Xiao Fang, and Shi Yong rushing toward Qihe Mine.

I quickly turned the car around and headed in another direction.

I was driving fast,

Shangguan Zhuren then asked, "Where are we going?"

I said, "First go to Huaihai, lure them there, then we'll see."

Shangguan Zhuren said, "Go to Huaihai, and I believe the whole road will be blocked."

I said, "They're following the crystal; if we move the crystal elsewhere, they'll keep following it, so they won't find us."

Shangguan Zhuren asked, "How do we move it elsewhere?"

After a moment's thought I said, "Have someone take it. Up ahead is Shanghu territory; when we reach Shanghu we'll discard it."

I drove forward for another ten or so minutes.

At this point I shouted at the sleeping Lao Wai, "Lao Wai, I have a task for you."

Lao Wai, sitting in the back, was suddenly awakened by my shout.

"What is it?" Lao Wai asked.

I said, "You'll get out at the upcoming intersection, then find your own way to Huaihai City.

We'll meet in Huaihai City. This way we avoid letting them capture all of us."

Lao Wai glanced at me,

"Zhao Jianqiang, you won't abandon me, will you?"

I said to Lao Wai, "Lao Wai, don't overthink it; we're just splitting up. How could I abandon you? You know a lot about us; if they catch you, it won't do us any good either."

Lao Wai then said proudly, "As long as you understand that. When you get to Huaihai, take a taxi—you must cover the cost."

I said, "I'll give you money. Get out first."

After saying that, I stopped the car.

Lao Wai got out of the car.

By then the sky was fully light.

I opened the car door, letting Lao Wai step out.

I held the wrapped crystal in my hand,

then I took out 5000 yuan in cash from the bag,

"Lao Wai, I'm telling you, you must absolutely avoid being caught by them; if they catch you, they'll kill you because you hit Ruan Wei."

Lao Wai said, "Zhao Jianqiang, I hit Ruan Wei because you ordered me to; it has nothing to do with me."

"Whether it's related or not, your word doesn't count. Lao Wai, I have a task for you: take this thing away, and I'll give you 5000 yuan."

After speaking, I placed the 5000 yuan in front of Lao Wai's eyes.

Upon seeing the money, Lao Wai's expression changed,

"What is this?" Lao Wai asked.

"Don't worry about what it is. Just take it away and throw it somewhere deserted." I said.

This Lao Wai had been asleep the whole time and didn't know that Li Ming was carrying the crystal.

"You mean I just have to throw it away, and I'll get the 5000 yuan."

I nodded,

"Lao Wai, it's best to toss it onto a passing freight truck; that way it'll be carried far and no one will know. There are no vehicles on the road now, so wait a bit for a freight truck to come, then throw it."

"That's easy; just leave it to me." Lao Wai picked up the 5000 yuan and the crystal from my hand, happily humming a little tune as he limped away.

I also got into the car.

At this point Shangguan Zhuren asked, "What if Lao Wai gets caught by them?"

I said, "Lao Wai is sly; ordinary people can't catch him.

Besides, he doesn't know much about us.

The crystal also shows we're in Shanghu, so they'll likely target Shanghu.

As long as Lao Wai throws away the crystal, he'll be safe; nobody pays attention to a cripple."

"That's the only way, but how do we get to Huaihai City? This road isn't easy to travel." Shangguan Zhuren said.

"We'll go by boat. From Shanghu to Huaihai by boat takes about an hour; we'll contact Xiao Wu at Linqiao Port." I said.

"Another boat ride? I'm not going to Huaihai." Shen Honghong said from behind.

"You must go to Huaihai. Otherwise, they'll catch you." I said.

"Catch me then; I've had enough of this life, constantly running around." Shen Honghong said angrily.

I ignored Shen Honghong; where to go was not up to her at all.

I drove the car straight to Linqiao Port.

Upon arriving at Linqiao Port, I parked the car.

I used Shangguan Zhuren's phone to contact Xiao Wu, asking him to send a boat to pick us up quickly.

Xiao Wu quickly sent a boat over.

Our group boarded the boat.

Xiao Wu was waiting for us on the boat.

Everyone had met before and was quite familiar.

Xiao Wu said to me: "Jianqiang, it's still safer on the boat; this thing is mobile, not fixed, they can't possibly catch us."

I said: "The boat's safety is only temporary; continuing like this isn't a long-term solution. What plans does Kong Xiangju have after contacting Kong Shi?"

"Yes, this kid is scheming how to kidnap his brother and extort 5 million from Kong Shi, so he doesn't have to leave it all to his brother."

"Great, as soon as this kid makes a move, just let me know; we'll really give Kong Shi a hard time." I said.

"Don't worry, as soon as this kid succeeds, I'll contact you."

"Take us by boat to Huaihai City; we need to hide there for a while."

"Going to Huaihai is fine; it's just over an hour's trip. There are familiar places over there, and if not, I'll help you find one." Xiao Wu said.

"There is a place. Keep that boat temporarily at Linqiao Port; if something happens to Qi He Kuang, I want that boat to pick up Li Ming, Shi Yong, and the others, and bring them all to Huaihai."

"That's easy to say; does Kong Shi know about Qi He Kuang?" Xiao Wu asked.

"I don't know either, but for now it's safe. I'm worried something might happen suddenly, given how formidable their methods are now." I said.

"Yeah, alright; I've had the boat captain at Linqiao Port on standby. If anything comes up, just call me." After saying that, Xiao Wu had the boat captain steer the boat straight to Huaihai City.

Our group quickly arrived at Dragon Bay Port in Huaihai City.

Upon reaching Dragon Bay Port, Xiao Wu immediately found an acquaintance, arranged a car, and took us to Huaihai City.

We had the driver take us to the Silver Capital Hotel in Huaihai City.

After arriving at the hotel, I first contacted the Bank Manager, asking him to open a few more rooms, and we moved into his suite.

Upon entering the suite, Shen Honghong happily exclaimed: "Finally we're back to a decent place; I want to take a good bath."