Chapter 225: Third Page Found
As Li Chen arrived home, he quickly dropped off Zhang Mei, ensuring she was safe before continuing on to Madame Tang’s house. Arriving at the modest home, Li Chen parked his car and approached the front door cautiously.
As he stepped onto the porch, he noticed a subtle shift in the atmosphere, a sense of tension hanging in the air. The door creaked open, revealing Madame Tang’s small living room filled with dim light. Li Chen’s senses sharpened as he scanned the room, noticing movement in the shadows.
"Who’s there?" Li Chen called out, his voice steady but alert.
A figure emerged from the darkness, stepping into the faint light. It was Madame Tang’s neighbor, Mrs. Li, a frail elderly woman with a worried expression etched on her face.
"Thank goodness you’re here," Mrs. Li said, her voice trembling slightly. "There are men inside Madame Tang’s house. They’ve been asking about something, something about a manual."
Li Chen’s heart raced as he realized the gravity of the situation. Without wasting a moment, he nodded to Mrs. Li and silently gestured for her to stay back. With careful steps, he entered Madame Tang’s house, his senses on high alert.
Inside, he found a group of unfamiliar men, rifling through drawers and cabinets in search of the manual. Their presence sent a surge of adrenaline coursing through Li Chen’s veins.
"Stop right there!" Li Chen’s voice boomed, commanding attention as he confronted the intruders.
The men turned to face him, expressions ranging from surprise to hostility. Li Chen assessed the situation quickly, noting their numbers and potential threats.
"I don’t know who you are, but you’re trespassing," Li Chen continued, his voice unwavering. "Leave now, or face the consequences."
The tension in the room escalated as the men hesitated, sizing up their opponent. Li Chen stood his ground, ready to defend Madame Tang’s home and retrieve the vital document before it fell into the wrong hands.
The leader of the group, a burly man with a menacing glare, stepped forward, his voice dripping with contempt. "This is none of your concern, kid. Just stay out of our way if you know what’s good for you."
Li Chen’s jaw clenched as he faced down the intruder, his resolve unwavering. "I won’t let you intimidate Madame Tang or take what belongs to her," he retorted, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through his veins.
Leader: "Get rid of him!"
The group of men in black lunged forward, weapons raised menacingly.
Li Chen: "You really want to do this?"
Attacker: "Mind your own business, punk, or you’ll regret it!"
Li Chen: "I’m not one to back down from a fight."
As the assailants closed in, Li Chen’s eyes narrowed, his body tensing with anticipation.
Attacker 1: "Take him down!"
Attacker 2: "He’s just one guy, let’s finish him!"
Li Chen: "Come on then, let’s dance."
With lightning speed, Li Chen dodged the first swing of a baton aimed at his head.
Li Chen: "Too slow."
Using his opponent’s momentum against them, Li Chen swiftly countered with a powerful strike to the abdomen.
Attacker 3: "Get him!"
Li Chen: "Is that all you’ve got?"
With precise movements, Li Chen parried a knife thrust, disarming his opponent with a twist of his wrist.
Li Chen: "You should’ve stayed home."
With each strike, Li Chen incapacitated his attackers, his movements fluid and precise.
Li Chen: "Had enough yet?"
In a matter of moments, the room fell silent, the attackers lying defeated on the ground.
Leader: "Impressive, but you’ve yet to face me!"
With a menacing glint in his eye, the leader stepped forward, brandishing a sleek, deadly-looking knife.
Li Chen: "Finally, a worthy opponent."
The leader’s movements were swift and calculated, his attacks aimed with lethal precision.
Leader: "You’ll regret crossing paths with us!"
Li Chen: "We’ll see about that."
Their clash echoed through the dimly lit room as Li Chen expertly countered each strike with skillful agility.
Leader: "You’re skilled, I’ll give you that."
Li Chen: "Likewise, but I won’t hold back!"
With a swift maneuver, Li Chen disarmed the leader, sending the knife clattering to the ground.
Leader: "You’re stronger than you look!"
Li Chen: "And you’re not as tough as you think."
Their battle intensified, each combatant pushing themselves to the limit in a display of sheer determination.
Leader: "You may have bested my men, but you won’t defeat me!"
Li Chen: "We’ll see about that!"
With a decisive blow, Li Chen incapacitated the leader, leaving him sprawled on the floor, defeated.
Li Chen: "Anyone else want a taste of defeat?"
The room fell silent, the attackers defeated and subdued, as Li Chen stood tall, victorious.
With the leader lying defeated at his feet, Li Chen wasted no time in questioning him. Leaning down, he grabbed the man by the collar and demanded answers.
"Who sent you here?" he pressed, his voice edged with urgency.
The leader, bloodied and bruised, spat defiantly, "I won’t talk, you’re wasting your time."
Li Chen’s grip tightened, his patience wearing thin as he pressed for information. "You have two choices: talk or suffer the consequences."
But the leader remained stubborn, his lips sealed in defiance as he glared back at Li Chen. "You’ll never break me, I serve a higher purpose."
Li Chen’s eyes narrowed, frustration simmering beneath his calm exterior. "Suit yourself. But remember, I’m not known for my mercy."
Li Chen’s voice cut through the tense air, his tone firm and unwavering. "Are you sure you won’t tell me?"
The leader, drenched in sweat, glared back defiantly, lips pressed into a thin line. He remained silent, his eyes betraying a mixture of fear and determination.
Li Chen took a step closer, his gaze piercing. "You know who sent you. You know why you’re here. It’s not too late to do the right thing."
The leader remained stubbornly silent, his resolve unyielding even in the face of Li Chen’s interrogation.
A flicker of frustration crossed Li Chen’s features, but he didn’t back down. He needed answers, and he wasn’t about to leave without them.
With a swift movement, Li Chen reached out to grab the leader’s collar, his grip tightening with each passing second. "Tell me!" he demanded, his voice echoing with authority.
But before the leader could respond, he reached into his pocket and produced a small pill. With a swift motion, he swallowed it, his body convulsing violently before collapsing to the ground.
Li Chen recoiled in shock, his heart pounding in his chest. The leader had chosen death over revealing the truth, leaving Li Chen with more questions than answers.
Taking a deep breath, Li Chen glanced around the desolate alley, his mind racing with possibilities. Whoever was behind this was willing to go to extreme lengths to keep their secrets hidden.
Li Chen’s heart raced as he uncovered the hidden cabinet in Madam Tang’s house, his fingers trembling with anticipation. With bated breath, he opened the old wooden box, and there it was—the manual he had been searching for. It felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders as he carefully pocketed the precious artifact.
Stepping outside, Li Chen found the neighbor lingering nearby, concern etched on her face. With a reassuring nod, he gestured for her to return home, his voice steady despite the turmoil raging inside him. "You can go home now. It’s all sorted."
As the neighbor retreated, Li Chen settled into his car, the weight of the wooden box pressing against his chest. With a sigh, he dialed Xu Zonghao’s number, his voice low and urgent. "I need a scene cleanup before the police arrive."
Xu Zonghao’s voice crackled over the line, brimming with efficiency. "Where?" he inquired.
"Tang Ziyi’s house," Li Chen replied without hesitation.
"Consider it done," Xu Zonghao assured him, the promise of swift action bringing a glimmer of relief amidst the chaos.
