Chapter 124: The Abduction

As soon as Lin Xi entered her room, she lightly touched a small bead on her bracelet, and the voice of Casey, from headquarters, came through.

"Xi, you mentioned earlier that you were being followed. I’ve looked into it, and it's true. They are plotting an abduction." Casey’s tone was grave. "I've identified the woman; it is Jiang Ziqi, who escaped from the First Women's Prison. She has been very active in the Dragon City black market recently. The man is named Wen Yiming. My assessment suggests he has some connection to your parents, though the specifics are unclear. They are planning to act soon."

"I see. Thank you," Lin Xi replied. Her brows tightened, and a chilling, formidable coldness flashed across her delicate features. Although Wen Yiming had attended Elder Gu’s birthday banquet, Lin Xi had paid no attention to such an insignificant person and had no idea who he was.

Casey’s voice grew tense, worried that their organization, Solomon, might be turned upside down. "Xi, please don't act rashly. Should I notify the Dragon City branch?"

"No, I can handle this small matter myself. Do not tell my eldest brother for now," Lin Xi said, having already made up her mind.

"But..." Casey hesitated further. "Xi, if the Boss finds out, he will kill me..."

"What? Are you listening to him or me? Don't worry, if you don't say anything, no one will know." Lin Xi reassured her. "Don't you trust my skills?"

"How could I not?" Casey quickly responded; after all, Xi was the best fighter in Solomon. "Just be careful."

"Understood."

After cutting the connection, Lin Xi’s icy eyes held a bone-deep chill. She clenched her fists tightly; she was determined to uncover what happened all those years ago and how her parents had truly perished.

Lin Xi decided to go out, intending to be accommodating and provide them with an opportunity to make their move.

Using an excuse to return to Jinxiu, she bid farewell to Mother Gu and Yiran before heading out in casual clothes. Her face was exquisite, her pupils clear and bright, and her long lashes fluttered slightly against her flawless, fair skin. A black baseball cap obscured the upper half of her face. As expected, as soon as her car left the Gu estate, another vehicle began to tail her.

Lin Xi had her driver drop her off at Aisi Plaza. It was late, and no one paid her any mind. Keeping a close watch on her pursuers, she slipped into an elevator through a small side entrance.

The elevator was bright yet eerie. She leaned against the wall, her face appearing even paler under the cold light. Just as the doors were about to close, a hand shot out, blocking the gap and causing the doors to slide open again.

Two people entered: a middle-aged man with an ordinary appearance, dressed in a standard black suit and leather shoes. He had deep, dark circles under his eyes, heavy shadows beneath his sockets, and a thick layer of stubble on his face. He looked disheveled and desolate, with greying hair that made him seem much older than he was. Beside him was a woman in ordinary clothes, thin and petite, her face completely hidden behind a large surgical mask.

Lin Xi remained calm, observing them from the corner of her eye. They gave her a strange feeling. She didn't know if this was the man Casey had spoken of, but while his eyes were vacant, they carried a complex, haunting quality—like a soul-less ghost. He stood in the elevator, motionless, staring at her with gloomy eyes.

"Who are you?" Lin Xi asked, testing him. When he didn't respond, she frowned. The elevator was deathly quiet, as if only the sound of her own breathing remained.

"You should know who I am better than anyone else," a voice finally rasped from the elevator. It was hoarse, unpleasant, and devoid of any emotion or vitality.

Lin Xi’s heart jolted. She looked at the man; his expression was flat, his eyes cold, and his lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. "Who are you?" she demanded, her voice dropping to an icy temperature as she realized this was the mysterious man, and the woman beside him must be Jiang Ziqi. She was deeply perplexed—how could Jiang Ziqi be involved with the person who harmed her parents?

"Hahaha! Did my precious daughter not tell you who I am?" He laughed in a bone-chilling manner.

Lin Xi’s brows knitted together in displeasure. "Who is your daughter?" As she asked, realization dawned on her. Casey had said his name was Wen Yiming. That meant... he was the head of the Wen Corporation! Xiao Jin’s father!

How could this be? Her pupils constricted. He squinted at her, his eyes filled with greed and lewdness. The temperature in the elevator seemed to plummet as Lin Xi’s murderous intent flared, unmasked. Regardless of who he was, Lin Xi saw him only as a madman—a madman of the highest order.

"What do you want?" Lin Xi suppressed her anger and nausea, asking in a flat tone.

"Hahaha!" He roared with laughter, his demeanor becoming wildly arrogant. His laughter grew louder and more unrestrained, filling the elevator and echoing through the empty stairwell, sounding truly hair-raising.

At that moment, Jiang Ziqi stepped forward and grabbed Lin Xi’s arm, pinning her down. With a gloomy face, she commanded, "Come with us."

Lin Xi’s expression was as dark as the sky before a storm, a surge of killing intent rising from the depths of her heart. Being treated with such contempt was infuriating, but she knew she could not act rashly just yet—she wanted to see what they were planning.

They took her to a dilapidated factory. It was vast and desolate, containing nothing but a few tables, chairs, and some wooden planks piled with discarded steel pipes. Jiang Ziqi tied her to a chair, binding her securely. They were unaware that such small tricks were child's play to her; her only goal was to extract information.

"What do you want? Speak," Lin Xi said, her eyes narrowing as she looked directly at the two outlaws.

Wen Yiming remained in his crazed state, while Jiang Ziqi stood to the side like a puppet, head bowed in silence.

"Do you know who this is?" Wen Yiming carefully pulled a photograph from his breast pocket and held it up before Lin Xi. The woman in the photo was smiling, vibrant and moving, her presence gentle and tranquil.

It was her mother!

Lin Xi froze, her eyes filled with a complex mix of shock and fury. She stared at the man, flames of rage burning in her gaze; she had never imagined such an absurd situation could exist.

"How is this possible? How do you have a photo of my mother?!" Lin Xi asked, unable to believe it. A thought crossed her mind—a possibility that made her feel physically sick.

"Heh heh heh, haven't you already guessed?" Wen Yiming laughed wantonly. "Back then, if it weren't for Lin Zhaolun, Pei-er would not have died! It’s all his fault—he insisted on driving and dragging my Pei-er along with him."

Lin Xi was bewildered. How was her father involved in this?

"And you!" His face contorted hideously. "If it weren't for protecting you, she wouldn't have been injured so severely and died on the spot!"

"What did you say?" Lin Xi’s heart pounded. She was nearing the truth.