Chapter 694

The sky over Wu Zhou had, at some unknown time, been covered with a layer of gloom, oppressive enough to make one breathless.

In a somewhat aged residential building on the outskirts of the city, Duan Xiaobin, having just seen off two "visitors," closed his home door with an uneasy mind.

He was not old, about twenty-ish, his face still bearing the unfaded air of a student, yet a heaviness of gloom inconsistent with his age hung over his brow.

His father Duan Xinhua's mysterious disappearance weighed on him and his mother like a massive stone.

The two people who came today, the man named Peng Tianhua and the woman named Xu Qing, claimed to be investigators sent from above.

The two asked many questions about his father Duan Xinhua.

Especially whether, before his father's disappearance, he had left behind any notes or materials, or repeatedly mentioned someone's name.

Their tone was very polite.

But Duan Xiaobin could feel the undercurrents surging beneath the calm surface, for they mentioned Li Hengbo, and even the high-ranking Li Zhenyang.

Those two names made Duan Xiaobin's heart feel as if clenched by an invisible hand.

Before his father's disappearance, there was indeed an occasion when, drunk and emotionally agitated, he angrily cursed Li Zhenyang and said he had grasped something deadly enough to send certain people to prison.

At the time he thought it was just his father's drunken nonsense, but now he realizes it's not that simple.

Duan Xiaobin dared not think further. As he saw Peng Tianhua and Xu Qing out the door, his palms were full of cold sweat. The two investigators, before leaving, solemnly urged him to contact them immediately if he recalled any details or encountered any abnormality, and left him an encrypted means of contact.

"Dad…… just what kind of trouble have you stirred up……"

Duan Xiaobin leaned against the door panel, muttering to himself, a sense of ill omen rising in his heart, feeling that his father might already be in grave danger.

He needed to get some fresh air, and also needed to go buy some blood-pressure medicine for his mother.

His mother's health had been poor because of his father's affair.

Slipping his phone and wallet into his pocket, Duan Xiaobin went downstairs and walked into the dim, hazy streets of evening.

All the way, his mind was heavy with thoughts.

Duan Xiaobin did not notice that, not far behind him, a gray van without license plates started up like a ghost and followed at a distance, neither near nor far.

Moreover, he did not know that, while he was talking with Peng Tianhua and Xu Qing, the downstairs of his building had already been filled with Li Hengbo's informants.

Although Li Hengbo had ingratiated himself with the Li family in Wu Zhou, he never relaxed surveillance over any potential threats to him in Jingcheng and Wu Zhou.

The appearance of Peng Tianhua and Xu Qing, and their actions in contacting Duan Xiaobin, were transmitted via the informants to Li Hengbo's ears at once.

At that time……

Li Hengbo was accompanying Li Shuting in tea tasting; at the moment he received the news, the hand holding his teacup trembled almost imperceptibly, spilling a few drops of scalding tea that reddened the back of his hand, yet he was utterly unaware.

"Brother Hengbo, what's wrong?" Li Shuting keenly sensed his abnormality.

"Nothing, just a minor matter." Li Hengbo quickly put on a gentle smile, masking the fleeting tension in his eyes: "My subordinates messed up, causing a little trouble; I'll go deal with it."

He found an excuse to leave; upon returning to the hotel room, his face instantly darkened to the point of seeming to drip water.

"Duan Xiaobin…… Peng Tianhua…… Xu Qing……"

He gritted his teeth while uttering those names, killing intent flashing fully in his eyes.

Lin Dongfan!

It must be Lin Dongfan!

He indeed never let go of the lead concerning Duan Xinhua!

That waste Qian Youcai surely also spilled the beans about Duan Xinhua!

Duan Xinhua has already "disappeared"; we absolutely cannot let his son speak!

Once Duan Xiaobin reveals whatever he knows—even just a hint—to Peng Tianhua and Xu Qing, and they follow up, it will very likely drag in Li Hengbo himself, and possibly even implicate Li Zhenyang!

"He cannot be left alive……"

Li Hengbo, speaking into the phone to He Qixing, squeezed out a cold order from between his teeth: "Send Duan Xinhua's son to meet the Buddha; do it cleanly, like his father, leaving no trace."

His voice was calm, yet carried a chilling determination.

To protect himself, and to avoid destroying the hard-won situation in Wu Zhou, he did not hesitate to raise the butcher's knife again, aiming it at an innocent youngster.

……

Duan Xiaobin came out of the pharmacy, holding the medicine he had bought for his mother, his unease growing stronger.

He constantly felt eyes watching him from the dark; he snapped his head around, but the passersby on the street hurried by, seeming nothing out of the ordinary.

He quickened his pace, wanting to get home as soon as possible.

Just as he turned into a relatively secluded lane leading to his building, the gray van suddenly accelerated, lunging to his side with a screeching "skid!"

The car door flew open with a clatter, and two men wearing baseball caps and masks, of sturdy build, jumped out without a word and lunged straight at Duan Xiaobin!

"What are you doing?! Help……"

Duan Xiaobin screamed in terror, the medicine bag in his hand falling to the ground.

But he only managed half a cry before a large hand reeking of a pungent smell clamped over his mouth, a strong dizziness hitting him instantly.

It was ether!

He struggled desperately, but the opponent's strength was immense, their movements practiced and brutal, twisting his arms behind his back and stuffing him into the van like dragging a dead dog.

Despair and fear flooded his consciousness like icy water.

Just then.

A harsh shout came from the alley entrance: "What are you doing! Stop!"

It was Peng Tianhua and Xu Qing!

They had not gone far; out of professional sensitivity and concern for Duan Xiaobin's safety, they had been loitering nearby observing, and indeed they spotted the abnormality!

Peng Tianhua charged over like a leopard, while Xu Qing called for backup while trying to block the alley mouth.

The two thugs, seeing someone suddenly intercept them and appearing not ordinary, flashed a hint of panic in their eyes, but their movements grew even more vicious.

One of them locked a ruthless grip on the already half‑unconscious Duan Xiaobin, while the other drew a gleaming dagger and viciously stabbed at the lunging Peng Tianhua!

"Old Peng, be careful!" Xu Qing exclaimed.

Peng Tianhua dodged sideways, the dagger scraped his ribs, drawing a line of blood.

He let out a muffled groan, but did not halt; a heavy punch struck the armed thug's face, and he kicked another thug.

The scene instantly descended into chaotic brawl.

Taking advantage of Peng Tianhua entangling two thugs, Xu Qing rushed forward to pull Duan Xiaobin.

However, the thug holding Duan Xiaobin saw the situation was hopeless, a flash of mad cruelty in his eyes; instead of fleeing, he clenched his arm and twisted hard.

"Crack!"

A faint yet distinct bone-cracking sound that made one's teeth ache, almost inaudible amid the chaotic fighting.

Duan Xiaobin's head lolled at an unnatural angle.

He instantly lost all signs of life.

The thug flung Duan Xiaobin's limp body to the ground, exchanged a glance with his accomplice, showed no hesitation, and jumped onto the van.

The engine roared like a beast, the van slammed into reverse, smashing past Xu Qing who tried to block it, then sped wildly out of the alley, disappearing into the endless traffic.

"Duan Xiaobin!" Xu Qing ignored the pain and lunged to his side.

Peng Tianhua also subdued another thug, knocking him unconscious, and hurried over.

However, it was already too late.

Duan Xiaobin's eyes stared wide, his pupils dilated, his neck bent at a strange angle, and he had no breath.

He was dead.

Right under the investigators' noses, he was silenced.

Peng Tianhai slammed his fist hard into the nearby wall, blood seeping from his knuckles, yet he felt no pain, only boundless anger and frustration.

Xu Qing looked at Duan Xiaobin's youthful yet lifeless face, chilled to the bone, lips trembling: "They... how dare they..."

In broad daylight, committing murder to silence witnesses! How arrogant! How vicious!

This lead, just when a glimmer of hope appeared, was ruthlessly and directly cut off!

The news was transmitted back to Jingcheng.

Lin Dongfan remained silent for Along time, his tea cup gripped until his knuckles whitened. He had anticipated Li Hengbo's retaliation, but never expected the other side to be so ruthless, their methods so brutal!

"Li Hengbo!" Lin Dongfan's eyes flashed with cold light: "You're asking for death!"

Duan Xiaobin's death was like a drop of boiling oil falling into an already boiling pot.

The conflict was no longer mere commercial rivalry or power struggle; it had escalated to a life-and-death, blood-soaked showdown! This storm was destined to sweep up everyone at its center in an even more brutal manner.