Chapter 843

The sounds outside were closing in; Qiao Xu had no time to examine the letter closely, and at the moment the door opened, he flicked the crystal apparatus down with the alcohol lamp beside him.

Jin Fu rushed in with his people at that moment.

"Yo, you really are here."

Dozens of bodyguards behind him raised their guns, the dark opening letting Qiao Xu feel a bit short of breath.

He trembled as he gripped the apparatus, letting the sharp crystal edges pierce his palm.

"What exactly is your relationship with Jin Chen?"

Hearing that, Jin Fu's eyes flashed with obvious displeasure.

"Young daughter-in-law, aren't you meddling too much?"

"Hand over the crystal spirit bullet, or… you'll die an ugly death."

Qiao Xu pressed his lips, deliberately talking back: "If I gave it to you, you'd still kill me."

"You want to use those… shady things to get me addicted."

"I know… Jin Chen hates those things the most, and you want to split us up—shameless!"

While accusing them, he quietly retreated toward the window, the hand behind him pressing the chain, signaling the person hidden above the casino.

Father's people are up there; they'll definitely be fine.

Thinking this, Qiao Xu's inner confidence grew; his gaze drifted to the scalpel on the nearby lab stand.

Meanwhile, above the Gu Family casino.

"Signal received!"

The hidden squad hearing this exchanged glances, nodded slightly, and prepared to enter the casino.

Qiao Yushu also hid in the crowd, specifically urging: "Be sure to bring Xiao Xu back whole and unharmed… Jin Chen?"

He looked surprised at the incoming person from behind, still not reacting: "Didn't Xiao Xu say you went to Eagle Country?"

"I'm back after finishing the business."

Jin Chen glanced at the side door of the bustling commercial street; that was the necessary route to the underground casino.

"Why was Qiao Xu taken away by them?"

Mentioning Qiao Yushu still made him a bit angry; he snorted and coughed harshly, "Really, why? Because of you."

"It's from the blocker you gave me; I counter‑eavesdropped and found that the Gu Family and your so‑called uncle are collaborating to ruin you, and they even have a weapon capable of killing you outright."

Jin Chen blinked, surprise flashing in his eyes, "So he just went without hesitation?"

Does the little ancestor not realize how dangerous it is down there!

Qiao Yushu: "Otherwise, could he still go hesitating?"

"Stop the nonsense, hurry down to save them—Qiao Xu just sent a distress signal."

Qiao Yushu was so anxious he wanted to run down himself, but the butler forcibly held him back.

Just as Jin Chen was rushing to the casino, Qiao Xu had already begun to face a life‑or‑death crisis.

Qiao Xu refused to hand over the lousy bullet in his hand, and from the reactions of everyone opposite he realized that once the crystal device is opened, the bullet could cause irreparable destruction.

This is the only leverage I can currently use.

"Qiao Xu! If you don't hand it over, I'll kill you!"

Gu He would not allow himself to be threatened by this lowlife on his own turf, and at this moment he couldn't care about any addiction plan.

Rather than using an addicted lover to threaten Jin Chen, it's better to just show him the corpse!

He had already raised his gun, ready to fire at any moment.

And Qiao Xu finally moved slowly to the experimental frame holding the scalpel, his back against the frame, and with a reverse grip he picked up the scalpel.

The hand holding the crystal device made a throwing motion.

Gu He instinctively turned his head following that arc, but was suddenly side‑kicked, knocking the gun from his hand and throwing him off balance backward.

By the time he reacted, Qiao Xu already had the scalpel pressed to his neck.

"You!"

"Don't move!" Qiao Xu snapped coldly.

Perhaps because adrenaline was surging at the moment, all of Qiao Xu's fear was deeply buried, and his eyes already showed a hint of ruthlessness.

"Let me go, and I'll let him go."

Jin Fu chuckled softly a few times, "Little niece‑in‑law, to me his importance still doesn't compare to yours."

Gu He's expression changed, "Uncle Jin! You promised my father!"

"I promised not to kill your father—what does that have to do with you?"

Jin Fu hummed, his tone rising, "Really, helping such a naïve child!"

"Uncle, I'm not playing house with you guys today."

He raised his hand backward, "Grab the crystal device!"

"Wait!"

Qiao Xu could only find another excuse to stall, waiting for his father's people to arrive.

His mind raced, and he instinctively recalled what he had just seen.

He almost blurted out, "Are you related to Jin Chen's mother? You used to be lovers!"

Jin Fu's already unpleasant expression grew even more sinister; whenever this topic was brought up, it was as if his reverse scale had been touched.

"What do you want to say?"

Qiao Xu lowered his gaze, his eyes flickering, the blade still pressed against Gu He's neck as a shield, his voice much softer than before.

"Jin Chen… is he your child?"

This is just speculation; Qiao Xu himself isn't certain, but he inferred it from the earlier photo and a rough scan of the letter's content.

You imprisoned Jin's mother for so many years, and you made Jin Chen's father believe his beloved wife was already dead.

You never considered that after imprisoning her for so many years, Jin's mother would still hate you, because……

The atmosphere in the laboratory had already dropped to freezing point.

Jin Fu waited in a self‑torturing manner for Qiao Xu to say those words.

It's because you don't understand love at all, and you don't deserve Jin's mother's love. For over ten years…… she surely thinks of her husband every moment.

Qiao Xu knew his guesses were surely mistaken in some places, but that didn't matter.

At least two points are correct: Jin's mother indeed still hates this man, and…… Jin Chen truly is this man's child.

Heh.

Jin Fu squeezed out a laugh from his throat, then let out a long sigh: "You don't understand... you understand nothing."

Do you think I'm unaware of what you're saying?

I don't care whether she loves me or not; as long as she still has a breath, don't even think of returning to Jin Tingxiao's side.

Perhaps because his emotions fluctuated too greatly, Jin Fu actually failed to notice.

Qiao Xu had already very slowly used his foot to hook the wobbly experimental apparatus that was about to topple.

At the instant the experimental frame fell, Qiao Xu quickly shoved Gu He toward Jin Fu, taking advantage of the chaos to escape along the wall.

Jin Fu reacted instantly, his anger flared, and he shouted angrily.

Catch him!

Gunshots rang out in the laboratory.

Qiao Xu no longer cared at all about where the path ahead led; he only knew he had to flee quickly.

The pursuer behind him and the endless barrage of bullets seemed to awaken memories from his youth.

Just then, the flustered Gu He casually picked up a gun, and, familiar with the surroundings, took a detour and quickly caught up to him.

The bullet shot out instantly.