The door was quickly pushed open, and a subordinate rushed in eagerly, asking, "Boss, what's wrong?"

"Lock this traitor up! He's not allowed to eat or drink without my permission!"

The subordinate: "......???" Could he have misheard? Weren't they just acting like brothers a moment ago?

“I didn’t betray you.” He Songling looked at him. “I just hope that, for the sake of me helping you, you will hand Cheng Zaozao over to me. What I did for you, in exchange for Cheng Zaozao, you won’t lose out.”

"I don't like to settle scores with a traitor. In my eyes, your decision to stop helping me is a betrayal, and I can't let that go." The masked man glared at his bewildered subordinate and roared, "What are you all standing there for? Can't you hear what I'm saying?!"

The subordinate trembled with fear, stammering, "Boss... Boss, is there... is there some kind of misunderstanding between you and Brother He?"

"Enough with all this nonsense!" the masked man snapped. "Do I need to repeat myself?"

Subordinate: "..."

“You don’t need to make things difficult for him,” He Songling said. “Since I’m here, I’m prepared to leave unscathed. I won’t let you imprison me.”

"Is that so?" The masked man looked at him leisurely. "Are you still thinking of taking Ye Chengzaozao with you? You're prepared to get away unscathed, but I'm prepared to make sure you can't leave, understand?"

He Songling picked up the wine glass beside him and said with a light laugh, "Are you referring to this glass of wine that has been drugged?"

Masked man: "......"

Subordinate: "..."

He Songling toyed with his wine glass and said with a faint smile, "I know all about your tricks all along, so I naturally have to take precautions. That's why I took the antidote beforehand, so you can't drug and control me."

"It seems I truly underestimated you," the masked man sneered. "So now, you're planning to kill us all, find Cheng Zaozao, and take her away, is that it?"

“I told you, I will not betray you.” He Songling put down his wine glass. “You just need to tell me where Cheng Zaozao is, and I will pretend I was never here.”

"Pretend you were never here? What a joke!" The masked man's voice was deep and cold. "Do you think I'm a pushover? What makes you think you can leave here today...?"

“I told you, I was prepared.” He Songling looked at him. “From the moment I stepped into this courtyard, my phone started recording, and every ten seconds it would sync our conversation to my computer in the hotel. If I don’t get out of here, I will reveal your identity before I die. Zhan Jingting will find my computer sooner or later, and your identity will be exposed.”

The masked man slowly clenched his gloved hand into a fist. "You dare threaten me?"

"I'm just protecting myself," He Songling said frankly. "I always keep my word. As long as you don't want to kill me, even if I fall into Zhan Jingting's hands, I won't reveal your identity. But if you want me dead, then I don't mind fighting to the death."

“I know you’re angry, but I hope you won’t act impulsively. We’re friends, not enemies. Besides, Zhan Jingting would be happy to see us fighting amongst ourselves. I don’t want that to happen. After all, I’m just like you, hoping he’ll die at your hands soon.”

The masked man closed his eyes briefly, gritted his teeth, and said, "From now on, we are no longer friends! Get out!"

He Songling stood up. "Where is Cheng Zaozao?"

"All I can say is that she's no longer here," the masked man sneered. "You think you're so capable? Capable enough to threaten me? Then go find her yourself."

He Songling said nothing more and turned to walk out.

As he reached the door, he suddenly stopped and said, "As a friend, I hope you understand that we don't have to live in the dark forever. Once you've dealt with Zhan Jingting, try living in the sunlight. Perhaps you'll discover a different world."

After He Songling finished speaking, he strode away.

The subordinate standing to the side wished he could disappear on the spot, and stammered, "Boss, this..."

"roll!"

His subordinates hurriedly scrambled away.

......

Qiao Wanwan didn't receive the message until the next morning.

"Master Zhan, Madam, He Songling has returned to the hotel and is alone."

Before Qiao Wanwan could even think about it, her phone rang.

She glanced at it, then immediately swiped to answer, "Hello?"

He Songling's voice came through, "I've already confirmed with him that Cheng Zaozao is no longer in his hands."

Qiao Wanwan frowned. "Did he say where Zaozao is right now?"

"According to him, Cheng Zaozao was turned into a human pig, but in order to torture you better, he did not send her away immediately, but hid her."

Qiao Wanwan's hand holding the phone trembled violently, and she felt as if she were in an ice cellar!

He Songling continued, "If that's really the case, it's normal that Cheng Zaozao isn't by his side. After all, no matter where you hide that human pig, she can't escape..."

"Shut up!" Qiao Wanwan roared in despair, tears streaming down her face. "I want to see her alive or dead! Even if she's been turned into a human pig, I still want to see her! I'm telling you, He Songling, today is the seventh day. You have three days left. If you haven't found Zaozao by then, don't blame me!"

"Qiao Wanwan!" He Songling raised his voice, "Xu Lai is innocent!"

"When you kidnapped my sister, did you ever think about how innocent she was!" Qiao Wanwan questioned. "He Songling, let me tell you, I also have a dark side. You keep calling me a human pig, fine, if my sister doesn't come back, I'll turn Xu Lai into a human pig too. We'll all die together, and no one will get away with it!"

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!