Chapter 182: Even If Our Line Is Extinct, I Could Never Shelter You

Immediately after, the Project Team Leader brought Ning Jinli a surveillance video of a secluded stretch near the police station, confirming her suspicion.

The video shows Wu Sanye being forcibly taken away by a van.

This is clearly a kidnapping!

"It must have been Su Qiang's gang," Ning Jinli quickly analyzed, "and Su Qiang went to the antique shop to cause trouble; the mastermind behind it is Yang Zhengxing…"

The Project Team Leader immediately said, "Miss Ning, please wait a moment. I'll assign a few people to keep retrieving surveillance of the stretch, to find where that van went, and also interrogate Yang Zhengxing to see if we can pry any clues about the kidnapping from his mouth."

"Alright, thank you for your effort."

Ning Jinli was very worried about Wu Sanye's safety.

First, several hours had already passed since he was kidnapped.

Second, Su Qiang, a petty man emboldened and vengeful, might do something extreme.

But now, aside from patiently waiting for clues, there is no other way.

The Project Team Leader was very attentive to Ning Jinli's case and, in less than twenty minutes, came to inform her that although they hadn't yet extracted any clues from Yang Zhengxing's mouth, they had located the segment where the surveillance last captured the van.

The vehicle entered an old, rundown urban village.

The Project Team had already dispatched personnel to search.

Ning Jinli waited another half hour, but what arrived was not good news.

The search team found the van in an abandoned alley, but no one was found.

Moreover, the van was using a fake license plate, a black car, so no related leads could be traced.

Analysis indicated that the kidnappers had transferred Wu Sanye here.

The trail of clues pursued from the surveillance video abruptly halted.

"Where is Yang Zhengxing? Still hasn't explained?" Ning Jinli asked impatiently.

The Project Team Leader's expression grew solemn, "That kid keeps rambling and still won't admit any connection to the kidnapping."

"It can't be unrelated," Ning Jinli sprang to her feet, "Can I go ask him?"

The leader's face showed reluctance, "Miss Ning, this… is against protocol. Please trust us; we will capture the kidnappers as soon as possible and rescue the hostage."

Ning Jinli furrowed her brows.

She didn't distrust the Project Team.

These people were all personally arranged by Lao Yang, so they must be reliable.

But as each second passed, Wu Sanye's danger level kept rising.

Moreover, this kidnapping wasn't for extortion; it was purely for revenge.

The problem became even more serious.

Ning Jinli even considered storming directly into the interrogation room, dragging Yang Zhengxing over to Xiao Qidi, giving him a punishment from over two thousand years ago, refusing to leave unless she could extract the key clues about the kidnapping from his mouth.

"I'll go ask," a hoarse, weary voice sounded.

Ning Jinli turned her head, "Lao Yang? Why are you here! Your wound…"

"Leader," the Project Team Leader called out.

Lao Yang touched the gauze on his head, smiled and said, "No problem, the hospital has already taken care of it. As soon as I woke up I rushed over. Looks like you need me now, take me to see Yang Zhengxing."

"Yes, right this way," the leader promptly led the way.

Lao Yang arrived at the interrogation room door, paused, and asked, "Has that kid's drug effect worn off?"

The leader said, "It's about over; now he's limp and quiet, no longer has that arrogant vigor he had before."

Lao Yang nodded slightly, "Then now is the moment his mental defenses are weakest; open the door."

The leader opened the door for him.

Inside the interrogation room, Yang Shao hung his head, yawning continuously.

Lao Yang strode in; the two interrogators inside sprang up, snapping to attention with a sharp "clack".

Yang Shao, hearing the commotion, lazily lifted his eyes.

When he saw his uncle appear before him, he looked as if struck by lightning, his face full of shock, instantly more alert.

"You all step out first; I'll talk with my nephew," Lao Yang told the interrogators.

"Yes!" the two immediately left.

Yang Zhengxing was both shocked and terrified; had his limbs not been bound to the chair, he would have curled up on the spot.

Lao Yang waited until the interrogation room door was closed, then locked it and casually turned off the surveillance camera.

Seeing this series of actions, Yang Zhengxing's heart raced faster and faster.

"What does that mean…"

"Is he going to beat me?"

"Does this mean I'm about to get a beating?!"

The more Yang Zhengxing thought, the more nervous he became, a fine layer of cold sweat forming on his forehead.

"Being beaten is actually secondary."

The main point is, he had thought that with his uncle missing, he could continue to use the tiger skin as a banner; as long as his uncle didn't appear, he felt safe.

A living person vanishing into thin air is too bizarre; given such strangeness, logically the missing person is most likely never to return.

He might have died outright, or gone to some unknown dimension, or perhaps been abducted by aliens.

In any case, no one could have imagined that he would reappear alive and well so quickly right before him.

"How are you doing," Lao Yang asked lightly.

Yang Zhengxing's face was ashen, his voice feeble as he said, "What else can I do? All I can do now is wait for judgment. You want to beat me to vent, right? After you beat me, could you tell me what sentence you'll give me? I need to prepare myself mentally."

"Aren't you going to say something yourself?" Lao Yang asked again.

Yang Zhengxing snorted coldly, "Ha, do I still need to say anything? Anyway, I won't say anything, and there's no need to."

Old Yang paced over and raised his right hand.

Yang Zhengxing instinctively shrank his neck and hurriedly closed his eyes.

However, the next second he felt Old Yang was wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, the motion still gentle.

He opened his eyes, looked at Old Yang in bewilderment, "You…… what do you mean?"

Old Yang's expression softened, he said helplessly, "You are after all the Only Heir of our Yang Family; how could I just watch you come to ruin? Otherwise our line would end……"

"Ah?" Yang Zhengxing stared, stunned.

Old Yang sighed again, "Actually, you becoming like this, I as your elder uncle also bear great responsibility; today's events cannot be blamed entirely on you and your father, it's…… I'm sorry to you."

"No…… elder uncle, you…… what exactly do you mean?" Yang Zhengxing couldn't quite process it.

Old Yang continued, "I today also count as having made a trip from the Ghost Gate; I suddenly understood many things, and besides, before coming to see you I had already gone to see your father; I can tell you, he confessed nothing, and I didn't tell the investigators about his wanting to kill me; I released him."

Yang Zhengxing's pupils constricted, "Really? Elder uncle…… you…… you came to help me?"

"Otherwise why would I tell you all this?" Old Yang wore a solemn expression, "Zhengxing, for the Yang Family to have an heir, and to make up for my over twenty years of debt to your father and you, I will protect you. But you must promise me not to do bad deeds from now on."

Yang Zhengxing was overjoyed, instantly moved to tears.

Thinking about it, it made sense; no matter how you say it, I am the Yang Family's sole descendant! If Elder Uncle were to kill me, the Yang Family would end, how could he face the ancestors?

"Elder uncle…… sorry, elder uncle," he choked, "I know I was wrong, I promise to behave well from now on, please let me go now!"

"Sigh……" Old Yang suddenly sighed, his expression showing some difficulty.

Yang Zhengxing was just about to celebrate his narrow escape, but seeing Elder Uncle sigh, his mood plummeted like a roller coaster to the bottom; he hurriedly asked, "What's wrong, Elder Uncle? My father has already been released, so…… am I still not okay?"

Seeing him extremely nervous, knowing he was completely hooked, Old Yang frowned and said, "Things that haven't been exposed I can help you suppress, but the antique shop matter is a bit troublesome."

Yang Zhengxing grew anxious, "How exactly is it troublesome? Elder Uncle, stop being cryptic!"

Old Yang patted his shoulder, "I had the interrogators recuse myself and turned off the surveillance just to settle this trouble for you, but the precondition is you must tell me the truth, otherwise I can't handle it."

"Well……" Yang Zhengxing thought, then replied, "I admit, I indirectly instructed someone to cause trouble."

Old Yang shook his head, "No need for you to admit it, everyone knows. I'm talking about the antique shop owner being kidnapped by your people; I can tell you, this is no longer a secret, can't be covered up, unless the kidnapped person is safe and sound, only then can I suppress the case as well."

"Ah, that's how it is! Elder Uncle, quickly go bring Wu Sanye out!" Yang Zhengxing said without thinking, "Originally I planned to, after I finish things, also personally go give them a beating."

Old Yang said solemnly, "Then tell me where your people have him locked up. I will directly release you, and then you can cooperate with me to settle the kidnapping case."

Upon hearing he could be released immediately, Yang Zhengxing didn't hesitate and immediately gave the exact location where his subordinates had detained Wu Sanye.

At this point, Yang Zhengxing naturally wouldn't lie.

He eagerly awaited Elder Uncle to take him away from here.

As a result, Old Yang suddenly darkened his face, turned and opened the interrogation room door to leave.

"Elder uncle! Elder uncle!" Yang Shao shouted, "I already told you the address, I didn't lie! Let me go!"

Old Yang turned back, coldly staring at him, "I deceived you; actually, before seeing you I never went to see your father, nor did I release him. This should be the last time I see you both. The Project Team will thoroughly investigate your situation and will also give you the punishment you deserve according to law."

Yang Zhengxing felt as if struck by lightning again, even harder than before, his mind went blank, unable to comprehend:

"Elder uncle…… I…… I am the Only Heir of the Yang Family! How can you destroy me? How dare you let our line die out?! How can you face the ancestors afterward?"

Old Yang's mouth twisted into a bitter, angry smile, "The only thing that makes me ashamed to face the ancestors is that the Yang Family produced a social menace like you. Even if it means our line ends, I could never shield you."

Having said that, Old Yang strode away and slammed the door shut with a bang.

"Ah!!!" A desperate roar echoed from Yang Zhengxing inside the interrogation room.

After leaving the interrogation room, Old Yang immediately told Ning Jinli the key information he had just extracted from Yang Zhengxing's mouth.

"Miss Ning, the shop owner is entrusted to you for rescue; if you need police help during the process, just call me, but……" Old Yang said, smiling, "I estimate it won't be necessary; sending police might actually get in your way."

Ning Jinli understood Old Yang's intention, nodded, and hurriedly left.

The sky grew dark.

Night fell over Xinghan City.

Inside a freight warehouse belonging to Yang Zhengxing, Su Qiang and his friend Ya She Mao, together with over ten accomplices, were drinking and eating hot pot.

Ya She Mao took out his phone and called Liu Zong, but no one answered.

"Strange……" Ya She Mao muttered, "What is Liu Zong up to? I've called him several times, no answer, and he doesn't reply to messages."

He and Su Qiang had tied up Wu Sanye according to Yang Shao's instructions, and Yang Shao had also said he would personally come to deal with Wu Sanye later.

But it was already dark, and Yang Shao still hadn't shown up.

Ya She Mao wasn't important enough to directly contact Yang Shao, so he also lacked Yang Shao's contact info, and could only repeatedly try to reach Liu Zong.

"Maybe Liu Zong is busy having fun with his secretary or mistress," someone said with a suggestive glance.

Immediately someone added, "Or maybe the secretary and mistress together……"

"Hahaha!" a group let out a lewd laugh.

Ya She Mao took a swig of beer, "Liu Zong's wrist is severely fractured, he's in a cast, don't guess wildly."

"What's the big deal about a fracture, what's the big deal about a cast?"

"Liu Zong always values beauties over his life; a minor injury, could he care about it?"

"Exactly, plus it's just a hand injury, not elsewhere, doesn't affect exercise. Hehehe."

"Hey! Besides, Liu Zong probably doesn't need to move; his secretary and mistress often work out, that agility…… that stamina…… tsk tsk…… damn, the more I say, the more I envy……"

"Hahahaha!" everyone burst into another round of laughter.

Su Qiang, full and satisfied, lit a cigarette, rubbed his belly and said, "I hope Yang Shao comes later the better; I haven't had enough fun yet! Damn, I almost got caught today, I at least need to cripple Wu Sanye to break even."

Ya She Mao reminded, "You can cripple him, but don't kill him; be careful."

Then he shifted the topic, inquiring about Ning Jinli.

Su Qiang's face instantly darkened, he spat and cursed, "That little bitch, she was just something my mom picked up while scavenging trash, raised for over ten years, damn, I never thought she could now ride on my head."

"Has she practiced some special martial arts?" Ya She Mao continued asking, having previously clashed with Ning Jinli, which left him some psychological trauma.

Su Qiang exhaled thick smoke from his nostrils, "I don't know that either; I'd never seen her that formidable before, indeed it's a bit absurd."

While the two were chatting intermittently, Wu Sanye's voice sounded from behind an iron door nearby, "Can you also give me a bite? I haven't eaten anything since this morning..."

"What the hell?" Su Qiang turned his head and snapped, "You've recovered your strength again? You actually still have the energy to ask for food."

"If you don't eat something, how can you keep holding out against your beating?" Wu Sanye behind the iron door said while swallowing saliva, "You're eating hot pot, right? It smells so good... Give me something to eat, please."

Su Qiang's eyes shifted to the gurgling, boiling red-oil hot pot broth; a sinister smile crossed his face as he ladled a bowl of hot soup, walked over, and unlocked the door.

"Hey, Third Uncle, you want to eat, huh? I'll bring it over for you!"