Chapter Seventy-Seven: Fury Ignited

Jiang Xiwen glanced at the clock on the wall and said, “That’s enough, you two. Let’s stop here. I already know your intentions, so I won’t play along any further. Comrade Fan Qiang, take care of yourself from now on. I’m heading to the Zhenxing Teahouse to meet the real chairman, Tian Weidong.”

Having eaten and drunk to his satisfaction, Jiang Xiwen swaggered out of the private room.

“You…?” Fan Qiang’s eyes were as wide as copper bells. Tian Xibei, standing to one side, was equally astonished. He turned and said to Fan Qiang, “Principal Fan, I didn’t mess up. This kid must have known all along. Anyway, you still owe me the rest of my money. Don’t try to default; that’s not a technical issue. My professional standards as Gu Xibei are impeccable.”

“Get out! With a name like Xibei, how could you possibly pass for anyone else?” Fan Qiang threw a wad of banknotes at Gu Xibei’s face.

Gu Xibei quickly pocketed the cash, muttering, “It’s just a stage name. If you don’t even understand that, how do you expect to make it in this industry?” Without waiting for Fan Qiang to explode, he hurriedly dashed downstairs.

Jiang Xiwen nearly burst out laughing, but remembering Fan Qiang’s pitiful expression moments ago and his own resolve to be kind, he managed to restrain himself.

“Jiang Xiwen, how did you know? Did Chairman Tian call you and arrange to meet at the Zhenxing Teahouse?” Fan Qiang was unwilling to give up. He was disappointed, regretful, but it was all too late. Suppressing his anger, he asked the question weighing on his mind, hoping for some closure.

“I’ll tell you another time if there’s a chance. I’m in a hurry now!” Jiang Xiwen checked the clock again, shoved past Fan Qiang, and strode away.

Furious, Fan Qiang shouted after him, “Don’t get too happy just yet! Even if you did arrange to meet Chairman Tian, he’s not at the Zhenxing Teahouse. Did you really think you could see Tian Weidong that easily? He’s here in Yangjiang, but right now he’s visiting a friend of mine.”

He put extra emphasis on the words “visiting.” Jiang Xiwen caught the implication and quickly turned back. “What? Where is he? You realize what you’re doing is a crime!”

“Don’t try to scare me with talk of crime. I’ll be blunt: I’ve detained Tian Weidong. What can you do about it?” Fan Qiang sneered viciously.

Damn, the boss has revealed his true colors! Jiang Xiwen hadn’t expected Fan Qiang to be so bold as to attempt a kidnapping. But courage always triumphs over bosses—especially when the boss is this small-time.

With a sudden shout reminiscent of Kenshiro from Fist of the North Star, Jiang Xiwen landed a punch using Wang Wu’s combat techniques. Fan Qiang’s nose immediately gushed blood as he doubled over, clutching his face, tears streaming down.

“Talk! Where is Tian Weidong?” Jiang Xiwen grabbed Fan Qiang by the collar, his voice turning icy cold. From Wang Wu, he had learned not only fighting techniques but also a deep-seated aura, rooted in the subconscious.

As Wang Wu often said, such an aura is forged through relentless training: when you can only hold a horse stance for a minute but push for ten seconds more; when your limit is fifty push-ups but you do ten extra; when you can punch a hundred times but force yourself to throw ten more. This perseverance seeps into your bones, shaping your very presence.

With that kind of aura, facing an opponent, you exude an intimidating force—sometimes enough to win the fight before it begins.

Jiang Xiwen remembered Wang Wu’s words, spoken with solemn reverence, like a mentor. Now, for the first time, he felt that aura within himself, as he saw the fear replace the malice in Fan Qiang’s eyes.

“Tian… Tian Weidong is at the Yangjiang Hotel…” Fan Qiang stammered. The server nearby, frightened by Jiang Xiwen’s ferocity, dared not approach and was quietly trying to slip downstairs to call the police.

“The Yangjiang Hotel? What’s really going on?” Clearly, this wasn’t a kidnapping. Jiang Xiwen stared coldly at Fan Qiang.

Fan Qiang barely dared to breathe, enduring the pain as he explained, “No, it’s Liu Dashan. He’s talking to Tian Weidong about a private school. If Tian Weidong refuses, he’ll keep him there by force—helping me stall him…”

“A private school?” Jiang Xiwen started piecing things together. He was about to ask more when a commotion erupted downstairs, followed by a familiar voice shouting, “Quick, a phone! Give me a phone!”

Jiang Xiwen dropped Fan Qiang and rushed downstairs, where he saw Wang Wu, shirtless in the middle of winter, drenched in sweat, blood streaming from a cut on his arm.

“Wang Wu, what happened? What’s going on?” Jiang Xiwen was shocked and hurried to Wang Wu’s side.

“Quick, something happened to the old company commander. He’s in the basement of the garage over there…” Wang Wu panted heavily.

“Calm down…” Jiang Xiwen spoke as much to Wang Wu as to himself, trying to steady his own nerves and think clearly.

Tian Weidong needed rescue, and so did Wang Wu’s old company commander. Judging by the situation, Tian Weidong was probably only being detained—Liu Dashan had something to gain from him—but the old company commander might be in real danger.

“We can’t afford to wait! The company commander’s daughter is in there too…” Wang Wu shouted at the server, “Where’s the phone? Now!”

“Private school, private school…” Jiang Xiwen muttered. After calling the police, the priority was to rescue the old company commander. But something felt off about just calling the police.

That’s it—Zhang Ya and Gong Xiang were kidnapped by Liu Dashan. This guy, desperate to start a private school, must have known about Tian Weidong’s connection to Zhang Yong and hoped to use him as leverage for his application. But if the police went to the Yangjiang Hotel, Liu Dashan could claim he was just conducting business, not holding anyone against their will, and get away with it.

But if they didn’t report Tian Weidong’s situation, after rescuing the old company commander, Tian Weidong could end up in real danger. Jiang Xiwen slapped his forehead. Suddenly, he remembered the phone number of the deputy chief of the criminal investigation unit he’d met at Zhang Yong’s house.

All this took longer to write than it did to think—Jiang Xiwen sorted it out in his mind in less than thirty seconds. He turned and shouted, “Where’s the phone?”

He saw Wang Wu was already calling—clearly not dialing the regular emergency line. Without any wasted words, Wang Wu read off a note in his hand, “Ning Yu is trapped in the basement—send help quickly.”

Jiang Xiwen didn’t have time to wonder about Wang Wu’s unusual way of calling for help. The moment Wang Wu hung up, he grabbed the phone and dialed the deputy chief’s number. The background noise was lively—clearly, the family was celebrating the New Year’s Eve.

“Deputy Chief? Don’t ask who I am. I know the truth about the kidnapping. Liu Dashan is about to detain Tian Weidong at the Yangjiang Hotel. You know what you need to do.” With that, Jiang Xiwen hung up. Regardless of Zhang Yong’s relationship with the deputy chief, Jiang Xiwen had no choice but to risk it—lives were at stake, and with Liu Dashan needing something from Tian Weidong, it was unlikely he’d use real violence. “Wang Wu, let’s go!” Without waiting for Wang Wu to respond, Jiang Xiwen dragged him out of the Yangjiang River Seafood Restaurant.

“Xiwen, it’s over there. But the company commander told me to call the police and wait for them before going in.” Wang Wu stopped at the restaurant entrance, standing straight as a pole, eyes fixed forward, unmoving.

Jiang Xiwen frowned. “The company commander is worried about your safety. Didn’t you tell me he taught you, as a soldier, to be fearless and undaunted by danger?”

At these words, Wang Wu’s hesitation vanished, replaced by renewed determination. “You’re right, Xiwen—we soldiers shouldn’t fear sacrifice or hardship!” As soon as he shouted, he charged ahead.

Jiang Xiwen didn’t know exactly who the company commander had crossed, but after two months of friendship with Wang Wu, he trusted that the man Wang Wu respected so much must be a good and upright person.

The basement Wang Wu spoke of was beneath a shop across from the restaurant—a parking garage below street level. Following Wang Wu to the entrance, Jiang Xiwen saw it was pitch dark inside, but from deep within came the metallic sounds of a fierce struggle.

“Wang Wu, where?”

“Follow me!” Wang Wu, having found his bearings, strode inside. Jiang Xiwen followed close behind. After running about ten meters, they came upon a rolling shutter door.

Clearly, the sounds of fighting were coming from within.

“Company commander, I’m here to save you! We’ll fight side by side!” Wang Wu shouted as he pounded on the door with his fists.

The fighting inside abruptly stopped. Then a voice said, “Well, well, look who’s not afraid to die.” With that, the shutter door rolled up, revealing an old acquaintance—Blackskin.

Wang Wu ignored Blackskin, darted inside, and Jiang Xiwen followed. The space was about fifty square meters, dimly lit by a single weak oil lamp hanging on the wall. In one corner, a man stood half-crouched, surrounded by five armed thugs blocking his way.

“Wang Wu, don’t move. Defend yourself!” The besieged man’s voice was deep and powerful. As soon as he heard it, Wang Wu bent his knees and scanned the area, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the dark.

This must be the company commander Wang Wu spoke of. The voice was familiar, but Jiang Xiwen couldn’t quite place it.

Against the other wall, a child sat slumped, hands tied to a chair, seemingly badly hurt. The darkness made it hard for Jiang Xiwen to see clearly.

To treat a child with such cruelty—rage flared in Jiang Xiwen’s heart.