Zhang's expression softened, and he looked at the money string with suspicion.

The latter continued, "Your mission failed, you were abandoned, but suddenly your injuries healed. Do you think he would believe that you dragged your heavily injured body back on your own?"

One of them remained silent.

Is it to take the huge risk of going back to face that paranoid man, or to accept the invitation from the "10 of Spades" and the "10 of Diamonds" and join their camp?

It seems he only has one path left to choose from.

He remained silent for a long time, then raised his head, his eyes becoming resolute. "I can tell you, but you need to help me rescue my brother."

"good."

Wu Fangming agreed.

Having received an affirmative answer, Zhang glanced at Xiong Ajiao before continuing:

"The person who sent us is Hou Yifan, 'Plum Blossom 9' from Plum Blossom City."

"Snap—"

The sound of shattering rang out behind everyone. Upon hearing that name, Xiong Ajiao hurriedly stood up from her stool, accidentally knocking over a cup on the table, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

Wu Fangming asked in confusion, "You know him?"

Xiong Ajiao seemed to have heard some forbidden words, and her whole body began to tremble.

Chuanliu reached out to comfort him, thoughtfully handing him warm water.

After a long pause, Xiong Ajiao spoke to Wu Fangming in a trembling voice, "Do you remember the person I told you about before?"

That demon who deceived his feelings, then imprisoned and abused him, made him face those inhuman, ghostly corpses, kept him from seeing the sun every day, and lived in constant fear.

"It's Hou Yifan."

Xiong Ajiao took a deep breath, trying her best to stop recalling that memory, but she still couldn't help but tremble.

"What?"

Wu Fangming asked in surprise.

Then, Zhang also confirmed, "That's right. Actually... I've seen you in Plum Blossom City, but I couldn't recognize you."

So, it was Hou Yifan who wanted to kill them?

"Plum Blossom 9" in the City of Plum Blossoms?

Among them, apart from Xiong Ajiao, it seems that no one else had any contact with this person.

Even if Chuanliu did something in Red Peach City that really threatened the cooperation between Jiulong and Hou Yifan, it doesn't coincide with the timing of Wu Fangming and Xiong Ajiao's attack.

Therefore, it must have happened before the river and money flowed to the City of Hearts.

Therefore, the underlying cause of the matter lies with the only person present who had any connection with Hou Yifan.

——"Plum Blossom 2" Xiong Ajiao.

But clearly, Xiong Ajiao was completely unaware of the situation.

He was still immersed in endless fear and worry.

"Brother Ajiao, are you hiding something from us?"

Although Wu Fangming was reluctant, he still spoke up.

Xiong Ajiao shook her head repeatedly, as if she wanted to shake her brain and her memories out.

Qian Chuan added, "We all thought these masked men were targeting Chuanliu, but now it seems they're targeting you and everyone you've had contact with. So, Xiong Ajiao, what do you know that made Hou Yifan go to such lengths to kill you and silence you?"

Xiong Ajiao burst into tears, her chubby face streaked with tears, and her eyes filled with extreme fear.

He kept muttering, "He's going to kill me, he's going to kill me..."

Wu Fangming softened his tone and said softly, "Ajiao, think carefully. When you were with Hou Yifan, did you see anything you shouldn't have seen or hear anything you shouldn't have heard? We're all here, and we'll all help you."

With Wu Fangming's comforting words, Xiong Ajiao's emotions calmed down a bit. She sobbed and fell into her memories.

During the days he was imprisoned and abused by Hou Yifan, he had almost no right to leave the room.

Hou Yifan said he gave him a "2 of Clubs", but "2 of Clubs" are everywhere in the main city, and no one will obey him or respect him.

Everyone knows that he was just Hou Yifan's plaything.

Not even everyone, but just a handful of people who knew of his existence.

Every day, he was surrounded by corpses whose minds had been clouded by heroin.

They were only a meter away from him, yet they couldn't reach him, which greatly satisfied Hou Yifan's perverted desires in this regard.

On the few occasions he did manage to escape, including the day he did.

Hou Yifan would very occasionally show mercy and let him leave the room, gently taking him out for a big meal.

Aside from the day he planned to escape, there was only one day when he left the room but Hou Yifan wasn't by his side.

The servant who was supposed to fetch him did not come, but his door was opened. So he wandered around, trying to memorize the layout of the main city.

However, in the main city of Plum Blossom, without high-level access, it is impossible to go to higher floors.

Fortunately, he was clever and used the little information he knew about Hou Yifan to pretend to be his subordinate and get into the ninth floor.

While exploring the ninth floor, he accidentally found Hou Yifan's office.

He saw Hou Yifan talking to someone.

He couldn't hear clearly, nor did he know who the other person was.

He wanted to get closer.

Let's get a little closer.

Then, he was pinned to the ground by the masked men protecting Hou Yifan.

Hou Yifan also discovered his presence.

Afterwards, Hou Yifan's abuse intensified, often leaving him with raw, bruised skin. Afterwards, however, he would act like a perfect gentleman, comforting him and taking him out for lavish meals…

After listening to his account, Wu Fangming and Qian Chuan roughly understood the whole story.

The tricky part is that Xiong Ajiao really knows nothing about it, while Hou Yifan obviously doesn't think so.

If Xiong Ajiao had remained under Hou Yifan's control, the latter might have spared his life; but now that Xiong Ajiao has escaped his control, she must be eliminated, and no one can know about it.

But now, even if Xiong Ajiao personally went to Hou Yifan to explain that she knew nothing, Hou Yifan would not believe her.

Moreover, given the current situation, it's uncertain whether Xiong Ajiao will even make it to Plum Blossom City alive.

Qian Chuan remained silent throughout, gazing at the girl who was still suffering from amnesia, lost in thought.

Could this be related to the deal between Jiulong and Hou Yifan?

And that's why people other than Xiong Ajiao were dragged into this?

Before the group could discuss the matter further, Wu Fangming's brothers knocked on the door and came to report.

"Boss, 'Quick Q' Jin Rugo is here. She said she's come to check on Miss Chuanliu's injuries."

Everyone fell silent and immediately left the room.

Naturally, one person shouldn't let more people know about this.

Not long after I sat down in the living room, I saw Jin Rugo walk in from outside with a smile.

Once settled, she offered her condolences: "Our higher-ups heard that Chuanliu was injured, so they specially sent me to check on him."