Chapter 645: Even If It's a Trap, I Must Go

The atmosphere between the two fell into a stalemate once again.

Li Xiao looked at Cai Xiaotang's foot with concern, finally compromising: "Fine, I won't touch you. I'll just watch you get back to your room. Let's go."

He took a step back, but his left hand was subconsciously raised slightly, forming a protective posture.

Cai Xiaotang couldn't be bothered to deal with him and hopped on one foot directly toward her bedroom.

Yet, she couldn't help but mutter to herself inside.

Is this guy ever going to stop?

Knowing full well what her feelings for him were, and now acting like this...

The more Cai Xiaotang thought about it, the angrier she became. She suddenly stopped and glared at the person behind her.

"Li Xiao, what exactly are you thinking?"

She asked suddenly with a serious expression.

Li Xiao was taken aback upon hearing this. He realized what she was referring to and didn't know how to answer.

Cai Xiaotang continued, "I think I made myself very clear that day. I like you. Since you have someone you like and you rejected me, what is this now? Does caring for someone you could never accept, letting her know there's no hope while she still can't help but hold onto a little hope, give you a sense of accomplishment?"

Cai Xiaotang asked the questions she had been bottling up inside for several days.

"I'm not..."

Li Xiao subconsciously wanted to defend himself, but halfway through, he met her somewhat hurt gaze and had to retreat to a secondary position: "I'm sorry for what happened, but can't I just care about you as a friend now?"

Friend... a friend.

That was the relationship between the two of them now.

Li Xiao's gaze flickered for a moment as he found the most appropriate definition for the two of them.

The next second—

"I don't want to be friends with you."

Cai Xiaotang spoke without hesitation, her tone devoid of any doubt.

Li Xiao was slightly stunned and wanted to say something more, but he had already heard Jiang Baobao coming upstairs.

Cai Xiaotang cast one last glance at her, then turned and entered her room.

Li Xiao had no choice but to turn and leave, bumping right into Jiang Baobao as she walked over.

"Li Xiao? Is Xiao Tang in her room? Aren't you going to stay and take care of her?"

Jiang Baobao took the opportunity to try and hand the medicine kit in her hand to him.

Li Xiao shook his head: "No, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you to take care of her today. Beijue is still waiting for me in the study; we have some things to discuss..."

"Alright."

Jiang Baobao agreed, then added worriedly: "If you have any news, you must tell me. Don't keep anything from me..."

"Alright, don't worry."

Li Xiao agreed, and only then did he leave.

Two more days passed—

There was finally news from the Viper's side.

Li Xiao had successfully obtained the location where the other party intended to trade and had already made deployments in advance.

Li Beijue went with him, while Jiang Baobao and Cai Xiaotang stayed at home to wait for news.

"How much longer until you leave?"

In the living room, Jiang Baobao looked at the two men, who were already geared up and ready to go, and asked nervously.

"Half an hour."

Li Xiao checked his watch, made a call to his subordinates, and confirmed all the operations for today once more.

The atmosphere in the living room was heavy.

Several people sat silently on the sofa, listening to the clock tick away, and no one spoke.

Finally—

"It's time to go."

Seeing the hand land exactly on the hour, Li Xiao and Li Beijue stood up together.

Jiang Baobao hurriedly said: "Be careful! You guys..."

"Baobao, don't worry."

Li Beijue knew what she was worried about; he pulled her into his arms and kissed her on the forehead.

Li Xiao subconsciously looked toward Cai Xiaotang, just in time to meet her gaze.

Cai Xiaotang quickly looked away and said nothing.

After checking their gear one last time, the two men took their people and prepared to leave.

Li Xiao's men had already gone to the trading site ahead of time, leaving only a few people by his side to depart with them.

As they all got into the car, one of the subordinates suddenly asked worriedly: "Asura, the news this time came too easily. If today is a trap..."

Li Xiao didn't speak, but calmly glanced at his subordinate.

The subordinate immediately understood and shut his mouth, saying no more.

The car fell into silence.

Li Xiao and Li Beijue exchanged a look, both understanding what the other meant.

They had both realized long ago that this might be a trap.

The other party had gone to such great lengths to ruin the wedding and kidnap Tiantian; how could they release information so easily?

But regardless of whether it was a trap, it was a chance to rescue Tiantian.

Even if they couldn't rescue her, it would be enough to make Poison Snake lower his guard.

Wasn't he keeping Tiantian just to toy with them?

Then it would be better to truly let him think that they were acting rashly out of concern, and that they would jump into any trap he set!

It's just that, this way... the situation they would have to face would be even more perilous...

Half an hour later—

The car stopped in the suburbs.

This place was located in the desolate wilderness, with only what looked like an abandoned factory in the distance.

This was precisely the location for Poison Snake's transaction today.

Li Xiao tapped his invisible earpiece, and soon, news came from his subordinate on the other end.

"Shura, Poison Snake's men have already arrived, but it seems Linke's men haven't arrived yet..."

Linke was Poison Snake's supplier here, and also one of the financiers who had been supporting him from behind the scenes.

"Did you see Tiantian?"

Li Xiao asked in a low voice.

"No, but Poison Snake's men are holding a large bag; the hostage must be packed inside."

The person on the other end of the earpiece replied.

Li Xiao acknowledged this and didn't say anything more, simply giving a look to the few people beside him.

The few people understood immediately and moved silently toward the factory not far away.

The terrain here was truly not suitable for bringing too many people.

That was why Li Xiao had made arrangements early on.

The few people successfully circled to the side of the warehouse and saw several cars parked not far away.

They were precisely Poison Snake's men.

Beside the feet of one of them lay a huge burlap sack.

It was more than enough to fit a little girl inside.

"Tiantian... might be in that bag... or she might not be..."

Li Xiao whispered to Li Beijue beside him, his expression somewhat hesitant.

Although the bag looked like it contained something, it was completely motionless.

If it were just a trap set by the other side, the bag should just be for show...

Li Xiao couldn't quite make up his mind.

Just as he was thinking, his peripheral vision caught another group of people walking over.

They were the few subordinates of Linke they had mentioned earlier.

The two groups of people seemed to start talking.

After a few random words, Poison Snake's men picked up the bag at their feet, intending to hand it over to the other side.

Li Xiao's expression turned stern, and he immediately gave the order: "Move!"

Almost as soon as his voice fell, the next second—

"Bang, bang, bang!"

Gunshots immediately rang out all around!

But Poison Snake's men reacted extremely quickly; it seemed they had been prepared, and in an instant, they scattered to find cover!

Immediately following—

Another loud "Bang!" rang out!

An explosion occurred somewhere in the factory, and a cloud of thick smoke rose instantly.

Li Xiao furrowed his brows and let out a cold snort through gritted teeth.

It really was a trap; they never intended to trade Tiantian at all.