Chapter 9: Zhao Dong’s Confession
The news only fueled Chen Xue Wen’s growing bloodlust.
But he concealed his emotions, his voice calm as he asked, “Who attacked Li Er Yong?”
Zhao Dong smirked, mistaking Chen Xue Wen’s restraint for fear. “Hah! His own Boss did it!”
Chen Xue Wen frowned. “His Boss?”
He knew Li Er Yong had been running with a crew, always boasting about his Boss, claiming the man was a fearless protector who looked out for him. But why would that very Boss cripple him?
Zhao Dong sneered. “What? You don’t believe it?”
“Hmph, you have no idea how powerful the people behind this really are.”
“Li Er Yong ran his mouth about getting justice for that Chen kid and came to us looking for witnesses. That was a death wish!”
“The real Boss made a single call, and Li Er Yong’s Boss broke his arms and legs himself.”
He shot Chen Xue Wen a mocking look. “Kid, think hard. How many lives do you have to spare?”
“If you don’t want to die, let me go.”
“Otherwise, I guarantee you’ll end up worse than Li Er Yong!”
Chen Xue Wen remained expressionless. Zhao Dong definitely knew more than he was letting on.
“Who exactly is this Boss behind the scenes?”
Zhao Dong stiffened for a moment before his face darkened. “Kid, don’t ask me that. I don’t know.”
“I’m telling you, if you want to live, release me now, or…”
Before he could finish, Chen Xue Wen drove his dagger into Zhao Dong’s other leg.
A bloodcurdling scream filled the air as Zhao Dong convulsed in agony.
Chen Xue Wen had stabbed deep—so deep that the blade wedged into the bone. Zhao Dong’s struggle snapped the dagger in half.
Frowning, Chen Xue Wen examined the broken blade. [What a lousy knife.]
He stepped forward, planting his foot on Zhao Dong’s throat and pressing the remaining half of the blade against his forehead. “Scream again, and I’ll drive it straight through.”
Zhao Dong nearly pissed himself. The previous wounds had already convinced him—Chen Xue Wen was deadly serious.
He clamped his mouth shut, trembling. “Big… big bro, I really don’t know…”
Chen Xue Wen’s voice was ice. “You just mentioned a Boss. Now you say you don’t know? You think I’ll believe that?”
Tears welled in Zhao Dong’s eyes. “I was just guessing!”
“Someone paid me twenty grand to testify against that kid.”
“Think about it! Throwing around that kind of cash—that’s big-time money. Must be a real Boss behind it.”
“But… but I swear, I don’t know who it was!”
Chen Xue Wen narrowed his eyes. “Who gave you the money?”
Zhao Dong hesitated.
Impatient, Chen Xue Wen drove the broken dagger into Zhao Dong’s shoulder.
With another howl, Zhao Dong broke. “It… it was Wu Li Hong! She paid me to testify!”
Chen Xue Wen froze. “Wu Li Hong?!”
He knew her—an old classmate.
Back in school, Wu Li Hong was nothing but trouble. Always dolled up, always hanging with thugs.
After high school, she never pursued further education. Instead, she spent her time in bars and nightclubs, working as a hostess at Wan Hao Entertainment City.
She had even attended their last class reunion—hanging out with the School Beauty like they were close friends.
But now, the School Beauty was dead, and Wu Li Hong was bribing witnesses.
That meant she had to know something.
Chen Xue Wen’s eyes darkened. “Where is Wu Li Hong now?”
Zhao Dong stammered, “She works at Wan Hao Entertainment City… probably there now.”
Chen Xue Wen nodded. He stared at Zhao Dong and suddenly asked, “Do you want to live or die?”
Zhao Dong turned pale. “I… I want to live!”
“Big bro, I’ve told you everything. Please, give me a chance!”
Chen Xue Wen smirked. “Alright.”
“Call Wu Li Hong. Tell her someone is investigating your false testimony and that you need to meet her to discuss a solution.”
“Make sure you don’t tip her off. If she suspects anything, I’ll kill you.”
He pressed the broken dagger to Zhao Dong’s throat.
Zhao Dong shook like a leaf. “I… I’ll call!”
He fumbled for his Personal Handy-phone, but Chen Xue Wen grabbed his wrist. “Calm yourself first.”
A call made in terror would only expose them.
Ten minutes later, once Zhao Dong steadied himself, he dialed.
The line connected, and Wu Li Hong’s voice came through. Zhao Dong followed the script.
“Sister Hong, we have a problem.”
“Someone is digging into the Chen Xue Wen case. They suspect I lied. What do I do?”
“Can we meet now? I’m scared.”
A brief silence.
Then Wu Li Hong’s voice, low and annoyed. “Tomorrow at noon. Same place.”
Zhao Dong tried again. “Can’t we meet tonight? I’m really freaking out.”
Wu Li Hong snapped. “Damn it, I’m with Brother Tiger’s friend tonight! I don’t have time!”
“Besides, I heard Chen Xue Wen was killed when he escaped prison.”
“So what if someone investigates? He’s dead. Just stick to your story. Don’t worry, my Boss will take care of everything.”
With that, she hung up.
Zhao Dong looked up fearfully. “Big bro, you heard her. She won’t come tonight.”
Chen Xue Wen clenched his fists. He had wanted to settle everything tonight, but now he had to wait.
And waiting meant more risk.
After a moment, he exhaled. “Fine. Tomorrow, then.”
“Where’s the meeting place? How do you usually meet?”
Zhao Dong stammered out the details. Chen Xue Wen committed them to memory.
Then, he pulled out a rope, tightly binding Zhao Dong.
For extra measure, he wrapped adhesive tape around him, layer upon layer, making escape impossible.
Dragging Zhao Dong to an abandoned sweet potato cellar, Chen Xue Wen peered into the overgrown hole in the ground. The stone cover remained in place—forgotten and unused for years.
He turned to Zhao Dong. “Until I finish what I need to do, you stay here.”
“I’ll be blunt. If something happens to me, no one will come for you. You’ll starve to death in this pit.”
“So think hard. Have you left anything out?”
“We’re in this together. If I die, so do you.”
Zhao Dong turned deathly pale. “I… I remember something!”
He spilled more details—about Wu Li Hong, their past meetings, things he had initially concealed.
Chen Xue Wen’s eyes turned cold. [Knew he was still holding back. Good thing I pressured him again.]
Once Zhao Dong was fully drained of information, Chen Xue Wen sealed his mouth shut with tape, then shoved him into the sweet potato cellar, dropping the stone lid over the opening.
With that done, Chen Xue Wen turned and disappeared into the night, heading back to Peaceful City.
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation