Chapter 1933: Clues

In the following days, Wang Zhiwei maintained close contact with Yang Ruoyun and Li Hao. He provided the two with more evidence and explained the actions the police planned to take. At the same time, he promised them that once the evidence was conclusive, Gu Zhengming would receive the punishment he deserved.

One evening, Wang Zhiwei came to the home of Yang Ruoyun and Li Hao, bringing shocking news.

"We have found a key witness," Wang Zhiwei said. "She is someone who was persecuted by Gu Zhengming. She is willing to come forward and testify that Gu Zhengming is the murderer of your parents."

Yang Ruoyun and Li Hao looked at Wang Zhiwei in shock. They had not expected such a coincidence to truly exist, and the appearance of this witness gave them hope.

"This witness is very important," Wang Zhiwei continued. "She knows many of Gu Zhengming's secrets, including his motive and the process of how he killed your parents."

Yang Ruoyun asked nervously, "So when can we meet her?"

Wang Zhiwei answered, "Tomorrow morning. I will take you to see her."

The next morning, Wang Zhiwei brought Yang Ruoyun and Li Hao to a secret location. It was an abandoned warehouse, very remote. Wang Zhiwei knocked on the door, and a woman opened it.

"This is our witness," Wang Zhiwei introduced.

The woman looked at Yang Ruoyun and Li Hao, her eyes revealing some unease and fear. She took a deep breath and nodded.

"I know Gu Zhengming is the murderer of your parents," the woman said. "I also know why he did it."

Yang Ruoyun and Li Hao listened nervously to the woman's account. They finally knew the truth, and this truth made them even more determined to avenge their parents.

"We must make Gu Zhengming pay!" Li Hao said angrily.

Wang Zhiwei nodded: "I will do everything I can to help you. This witness will also cooperate with the police to provide testimony."

Yang Ruoyun looked at Wang Zhiwei gratefully: "Thank you, Captain Wang. Without you, we might never have been able to avenge our parents."

Wang Zhiwei smiled and said, "This is what I should do. Justice will always triumph over evil."

In the days that followed, Wang Zhiwei, Yang Ruoyun, and Li Hao collected evidence and searched for clues together. They also maintained close contact with the witness to ensure she could provide accurate testimony in court.

Finally, thanks to the efforts of Yang Ruoyun and Li Hao, the evidence was conclusive and the crime was confirmed. Gu Zhengming was sentenced to death and executed immediately. The Heilong Gang also gradually collapsed due to Gu Zhengming's downfall, and many members were arrested by the police.

On the day Gu Zhengming was executed, Yang Ruoyun and Li Hao came to their parents' grave. They told their parents that they had avenged them, allowing their parents to rest in peace. Afterwards, the two left the cemetery and went their separate ways.

Wang Zhiwei gave each of them one hundred thousand yuan as a reward. Yang Ruoyun and Li Hao were naturally extremely grateful. From that moment on, the two completely let go of everything that had happened.

Three years later, Yang Ruoyun successfully entered the provincial capital university. Li Hao, relying on his diligence, hard work, and courageous spirit, successfully joined the club and served as vice president. Both possessed striking appearances and superior martial arts skills. Combined with their bold personalities and loyalty, they quickly won the recognition of other members, rapidly integrated into the club, and became core backbone members.

The glory of the two on campus naturally needs no elaboration. It was just that neither of them noticed that their friends around them were quietly changing.

One day, the two gathered to chat casually. Suddenly, Li Hao received a phone call. After hanging up, Li Hao said to Yang Ruoyun with a gloomy face: "Gu Zhengming's brother, Gu Tao, has returned to the country!"

Yang Ruoyun widened her eyes in surprise and said, "How did you know? Could it be that he..."

"I sent people to keep an eye on Gu Tao," Li Hao said with a solemn expression. "As soon as Gu Tao walked out of the airport, I received the news."

"Then what should we do? Gu Tao's return will definitely be detrimental to Gu Zhengming!"

Li Hao fell silent for a moment before saying, "It is not clear yet. But Gu Tao is definitely not a good person. I am worried that if Gu Zhengming falls into Gu Tao's hands, he will be in greater danger."

Yang Ruoyun asked anxiously, "Then hurry up and find a way to save Gu Zhengming?"

Li Hao sighed: "Do you think we have any way now? Although I am confident I can deal with Gu Tao, we cannot stop him from returning to the country, nor do we even have people to monitor him. I am worried that Gu Tao will turn his attention to our relatives. If he harms our family, we will be in even more trouble."

Yang Ruoyun's expression became even more solemn. She knew that since Gu Tao dared to return to the country, he must have come prepared. She and Li Hao were too impulsive and had not expected Gu Tao to return today.

"Then what do you think we should do?" Yang Ruoyun asked anxiously.

Li Hao thought for a moment and said, "This matter cannot be delayed. We must take action immediately. Otherwise, once Gu Tao returns to the country, it will be difficult for us to make a move."

"What should we do?" Yang Ruoyun asked.

Li Hao stood up and said with burning eyes: "We will return to Jingcheng right now and negotiate with Gu Tao first!"

"Negotiate?" Yang Ruoyun paused for a moment, then shook her head. "What good will negotiation do? Gu Tao is after all not an ordinary person; he might control very strong forces."

"This is also a path," Li Hao said. "Or Gu Tao might agree to our conditions. I will make arrangements in secret to try to capture Gu Tao and force him to comply."

Yang Ruoyun hesitated for a while, then finally nodded and said, "Alright."

So, they immediately set off to return to Jingcheng.

When they arrived in Jingcheng, it was completely dark. Li Hao drove directly to the outside of Gu Tao's villa, parked the car steadily, and the two got out and walked towards the villa.

Li Hao took out his key and opened the door. As soon as the two entered the house, four or five men surrounded them. The leader said, "Li Hao?"

Li Hao nodded: "It is me."

"My name is Lin Hao, the bodyguard and driver of Young Master Gu," the other party said. "I am ordered to protect Young Master Gu's safety. Please come with me to see Young Master Gu."

Li Hao snorted coldly and turned his head away.

Lin Hao frowned and asked in a cold tone, "What, do you have an objection?"

Li Hao still said nothing, pulled Yang Ruoyun, and walked towards the stairs.

A sinister smile appeared on Lin Hao's face. He waved his hand, and the other men immediately rushed at Li Hao. Li Hao's figure moved like a ghost, instantly knocking these people to the ground.

"Li Hao, I advise you to come with us honestly," Lin Hao said lightly. Li Hao said nothing and, together with Yang Ruoyun, followed Lin Hao and the others upstairs. Soon, they arrived outside Gu Tao's room. Lin Hao pushed open the door, and Li Hao and Yang Ruoyun walked in.

In the room, Gu Tao sat on the sofa. Seeing the two, a cold sneer appeared on his face: "Li Hao, you are indeed still alive."

Li Hao said coldly: "Gu Tao, where is your brother Gu Zhengming?"

Gu Tao laughed loudly: "Brother? He should have died long ago! But speaking of which, you should not have been with him. He is a waste; I have wanted to kill him for a long time."

Li Hao's heart sank; it seemed Gu Zhengming had truly fallen into Gu Tao's hands. He forced down the unease in his heart and asked in a deep voice: "What do you want?"

Gu Tao said lightly: "Very simple, the two of you must die! But before that, I want to let you taste a life worse than death first."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Hao rushed in with people. Gu Tao waved his hand to signal them to withdraw, then walked in front of Li Hao and Yang Ruoyun and said coldly: "You are not my match. If you do not want to die, surrender immediately."

Li Hao and Yang Ruoyun exchanged a glance and simultaneously looked at the bodyguards beside Gu Tao. These bodyguards were all tall and strong, looking very formidable. They were not a match for these people.

At this time, Gu Tao spoke again: "Surrender? You had better surrender immediately. Otherwise, once I use extreme measures, you will be in danger."

Li Hao and Yang Ruoyun felt a chill in their hearts. They knew Gu Tao was not joking; he would really use extreme measures against them. The two exchanged a glance and nodded simultaneously. They knew they could only pretend to surrender for now. At this moment, Gu Tao's subordinates immediately tied up Li Hao and Yang Ruoyun. Gu Tao looked at them and said coldly: "Now, I will make you suffer a life worse than death."

He waved his hand, and several subordinates immediately dragged Li Hao and Yang Ruoyun to the basement. In the basement there was a secret room, inside which were placed some torture instruments, such as whips, branding irons, blades, and so on.

Gu Tao sat on a chair and looked at the two coldly: "Now, I will let you know what is called a life worse than death."

Li Hao glared at Gu Tao and clenched his teeth: "Are you not afraid of our retaliation?"

Gu Tao laughed loudly: "Retaliation? Who do you think you are? You are just my playthings."

Yang Ruoyun cursed angrily, "Bastard! You will reap what you sow!"

Gu Tao's face darkened, and he said coldly, "Teach these two life-and-death-defying things a good lesson!"

Several subordinates immediately rushed forward and used torture instruments on Li Hao and Yang Ruoyun. They whipped the two with whips, seared their skin with branding irons, and cut their bodies with blades.

Li Hao and Yang Ruoyun screamed loudly in pain. They never expected to suffer such torment. Their bodies and minds endured immense agony.

Gu Tao looked at the two coldly and said, "Now, do you know what it means to wish for death but find life worse? However, this is only the beginning."

He waved his hand, and several subordinates dragged the two to another basement. This was an even more gloomy and terrifying place. Corpses that had been cruelly tortured hung on the walls, and traces of blood and organs remained on the ground.

Gu Tao walked to a blood-stained table, picked up a sharp knife, and said, "Now, I will make you taste true life-worse-than-death."

He turned to Li Hao and Yang Ruoyun: "You two, one is the person I hate most in this world, the other is the person I despise most. Therefore, I will cut off the most painful parts of your bodies so you will remember this lesson forever."

Li Hao and Yang Ruoyun trembled all over in fear. They knew Gu Tao was not joking; he would truly strike ruthlessly. They did not want to die, nor could they die here.

At that moment, a knock on the door suddenly came. Lin Hao opened the door, and a man walked in: "Young Master, it's bad! The police are coming this way!"

Gu Tao's face changed: "How could this happen? Didn't I order you to guard outside?" The man lowered his head and said, "Young Master, I'm sorry; the police discovered us."

Gu Tao looked at him with cold, dark eyes: "How did you mess this up? Didn't I tell you to be careful?"

The man said with a bitter face: "Young Master, we don't know what happened. The police suddenly rushed in."

Gu Tao snorted: "Fine, I understand. Forget about this for now. Hurry and take Li Hao and Yang Ruoyun out; under no circumstances can the police catch them."

No sooner had he finished speaking than several subordinates rushed into the basement and brought Li Hao and Yang Ruoyun out. Gu Tao led the people and hurriedly ran outside. They had to leave this place as soon as possible.

The police had already rushed into the villa; they had to be careful. Gu Tao led the people weaving around until they finally reached the villa's backyard. A black sedan waited for them there. Gu Tao hurriedly led the people into the car and drove forward.

Li Hao and Yang Ruoyun also got into the car. Li Hao looked at Yang Ruoyun, feeling some guilt in his heart: "Sister Yun, I'm sorry; I failed to protect you."

Yang Ruoyun shook her head: "Don't say that; I was too impulsive myself. Let's leave this place quickly."

The car drove extremely fast and soon left Jingcheng. Gu Tao led the people driving toward the distance; they intended to flee abroad to escape the heat.

Li Hao looked out the window, thinking of his family and friends. He knew they must be very worried about his and Sister Yun's safety right now. After returning to Jingcheng, he must contact them immediately and tell them that he and Sister Yun are safe. In a small city far from Jingcheng, Gu Tao settled Li Hao and Yang Ruoyun in a remote villa. They had temporarily escaped legal punishment, but Gu Tao's ambition had not been extinguished because of this.

A few days later, Gu Tao gathered his subordinates and said with cold, dark eyes: "I have lost everything in Jingcheng, but I will not give up my revenge plan. Li Hao, I want you to help me control this small city; I want you to help me make money and expand my power."