“Buzz...buzz...buzz…”
The phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated. Xia Xiaobao picked it up and quickly answered, "Dad, what's wrong with you..."
"Let's talk," came a strange and cold voice from the phone.
Xia Xiaobao's expression hardened. He realized his father might have been kidnapped and hurriedly asked, "Who are you? Where's my dad?"
Xu Neng glanced at Xia Guoqing: "He's a good person. I'd like to make a deal with you."
"As you can see, our leader is dead. There's no need to continue this fight; it won't end well for either of us."
So, I want you to release us all and let us leave.
Xia Xiaobao's worst fears came true.
The man was indeed not in the boiler area, but went to Zone 1, and has now kidnapped Dad.
Xia Guoqing was a little distance away from Xu Neng. His hands and feet were tied to a chair. Although he couldn't hear very clearly, he guessed why they had captured him.
So, disregarding the danger, he shouted loudly at Xu Neng:
"Xiao Bao, don't worry about me. Protecting others is more important. I'm old, and I don't have many days left to live..."
How could Xia Xiaobao not recognize that voice? His heart clenched instantly, but he dared not show it. Feigning composure, he coldly said:
"What makes you think I would let the tiger return to the mountain for my father's sake? If I don't wipe you all out this time, you'll come back sooner or later."
It's not the theft itself that's scary, it's having someone eyeing you. I don't want to live in constant fear.
Xu Neng glanced at Xia Guoqing, who looked older than Hu Tianhao, with gray hair, and then said:
"If this stake isn't strong enough, then we can add other people. It just takes more time, which isn't difficult for me."
"So, do we have enough chips now?"
Upon hearing this, Xia Guoqing, who was standing next to him, also fell silent...
He could give up his own life, but he couldn't bear to watch so many old colleagues and friends, with whom he had spent his whole life, die.
Xia Xiaobao's hand trembled slightly as he held the phone, while his other hand clenched into a fist. He knew this was no joke, but a blatant threat.
He glanced at his brother in the distance; among the people mentioned on the phone were their parents, wives, and children…
But releasing these invaders would risk the lives of everyone in the steel mill; releasing them would plunge us into an endless battle.
He steeled himself and, feigning indifference, said:
"So you're thinking of using our dozen or so elderly, weak, women and children to exchange for your hundred or so able-bodied men? I'm not stupid, I can't agree to this deal."
Xu Neng scoffed:
"You seem to have misunderstood the situation. You have no choice now. With our strength, it won't be too difficult for us to lead a large group of people to force our way through the door and rescue those more than a hundred people."
"But once they are released, a fierce battle between us is inevitable. With your current manpower, you know how terrible the consequences will be without me having to say more."
Xia Xiaobao was startled. Judging from the man's tone and strategy, could he be the same man who escaped last time?
That man with amazing fighting power?
If it's him on the other end, then this is really difficult...
Xia Xiaobao wavered a little and asked, "If I release you, can you guarantee you will never attack again? If you can't guarantee that, then there's no point in continuing the discussion."
Xia Xiaobao finally relented, and Xu Neng pressed his advantage, continuing to persuade him:
“It was not my intention to attack you today. Now that the instigator is dead, no one will pursue you anymore.”
"Given my position, my words carry some weight. Furthermore, the reason I chose to make peace with you is that I want to resolve the issue peacefully."
Xu Neng has already extended an olive branch, and Xia Xiaobao has no other choice but to give it a try.
The most important thing now is for him to meet this man and determine if he is telling the truth: "A deal is possible, but we must meet in person."
"Okay, but you must come alone. If I find a second person, I will take action immediately."
"Okay, it's a deal."
Xia Xiaobao was full of curiosity about this man. Just as he said, if he wanted to kill, he didn't need such a roundabout method. He could have just used violence to break through the boiler area and save people.
The steel plant is currently facing a severe shortage of medicines and doctors. In the recent period, a woman has died due to complications during childbirth, and two elderly people have also died due to a lack of medication for diabetes and high blood pressure.
If what he said is true, perhaps we can cooperate with them.
...
Wang Feifei stared at Chen Nian, whose anger had reached its peak. He wiped the blood on his hands onto Xiao Gao's body and slowly stood up...
Summoning courage from who-knows-where, Wang Feifei pointed an arrow at his head: "Don't come any closer!"
"Why did everything change overnight? Why did things turn out like this between us? What did I do wrong that you would treat me like this for a dog!"
"It's not me who's changed, it's you, Chen Nian. You've become cruel and selfish, using despicable methods to trick me into appearing. What are you trying to do?"
"What do I want to do? I'd like to ask you, you knew this disaster was coming, so what did you do to help me? Just let me guard a supermarket that I couldn't possibly protect?"
"So, is it my fault that you couldn't keep the supermarket going? At that time, that was all I could do."
"Yes, it's not your fault. My dad took pity on that woman, which led to his downfall. I've seen through it all. In this world, kindness only gets eaten, while evil endures forever..."
Chen Nian stared at Wang Feifei, then took a small, almost imperceptible step forward: "So, back then, that was all you could do. Now, are you willing to help me?"
"If you can take me in, I will go back to how I used to be, only good to you. Let's rely on each other to survive, okay?"
"Chen Nian, calm down. I don't have enough supplies for one more person, which is why I couldn't help you back then, and it's the same now."
A flash of murderous intent crossed Chen Nian's eyes, unseen by anyone, as he pleaded:
"I just want something to eat, it won't affect you, even... even your leftovers are fine with me."
"By the way, is that cat there? You could share some of its food with me... In your heart, I should be more important than a cat, right?"
Chen Nian has started using moral blackmail, even making advances towards dairy cows, which further confirms Wang Feifei's suspicions—
Chen Nian is a different person now.
Wang Feifei took a step back and said in a deep voice, "Don't come any closer. If you take another step... don't force me..."
"Am I not even as important to you as a cat? Wang Feifei, Feifei, I think about you every day. Please take me back home."
Chen Nian spoke as he walked forward...
Wang Feifei closed her eyes and resolutely fired an arrow.
Chen Nian stared in disbelief as the arrow pierced his left shoulder.
He clutched his wound and rushed over like a madman...
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