Two days later, in the morning.
Chen Jinzhao received a text message from a number registered in Lingnan. The message contained only a short sentence:
"Meet me at the International Port tonight at 9 PM. Do not bring anyone else."
Upon seeing the message, Chen Jinzhao's brow furrowed instantly.
His intuition told him this was the Li family's trap, designed to ensnare him. But why would the Li family believe he would fall for it?
Therefore, Chen Jinzhao surmised that the Li family must have a contingency plan.
As expected.
Half a minute after the text message arrived, Chen Jinzhao's phone received a short video. The protagonist of the video was a woman sitting under a tree, dressed in a light green long gown, resembling traditional Hanfu.
This short seven-second video was enough for Chen Jinzhao to confirm that the woman was Tao Qiyue, whom he had been searching for desperately.
She was not dead. She was alive!
Chen Jinzhao's heart was once again stirred. He repeatedly watched the short video.
He attempted to contact her, but her phone was off. It was likely that she had already flushed the SIM card down the drain, making it impossible for Chen Jinzhao to reach her.
After several failed attempts to contact her, Chen Jinzhao calmed himself and muttered, "Now that I know Qiyue is alive, the rest of the matter will be easier to handle. If I'm not mistaken, the Li family is behind this, planning to kill me at the International Port."
Using Tao Qiyue as bait was exactly what Chen Jinzhao wanted.
He could even imagine how the Li family intended to kill him. There were thousands of reasons not to go to the meeting, but with only one reason compelling Chen Jinzhao to attend, he would not hesitate.
"I said I would take you home," Chen Jinzhao murmured to himself.
Subsequently.
Chen Jinzhao had someone investigate the shareholding of the International Port and confirmed that a significant portion was indirectly controlled by the Li family.
"You are forcing my hand," Chen Jinzhao whispered.
Night fell.
Chen Jinzhao instructed Luo Feng at 8 PM to ensure he was not disturbed. In reality, after turning off the lights, he left his residence through the backyard and headed alone towards the International Port located at the provincial capital's estuary. This port ranked among the top ten in the world for throughput, a veritable behemoth and a never-stopping money-printing machine.
As Chen Jinzhao made his way to the International Port, Li Erzhou and Chi Hu waited anxiously in the study for news from the front lines.
On the desk sat a half-empty bottle of strong liquor.
This liquor was meant to see Li Taihao off.
After Li Taihao's departure, the atmosphere in the study became oppressive, almost suffocating.
"Alas, it would have been most appropriate for me to handle this matter. I shouldn't have let him go," Li Erzhou said. Although Li Taihao was now in his sixties and appeared elderly to outsiders, to Li Erzhou, his father, Li Taihao would always be a child.
A father's heart couldn't rest easy when his child was about to embark on a perilous journey.
Chi Hu said in a deep voice, "As long as Chen Jinzhao can be killed, it will be worth it."
"Is Chen Jinzhao really that easy to kill? I heard he has already broken through to the Shackled realm and become an extraordinary being. I truly fear that Chen Jinzhao will emerge unscathed, while your grandfather perishes there," Li Erzhou sighed.
This was a mission with a guaranteed death sentence.
"Chi Hu, you will arrange your grandfather's funeral and give him the grandest send-off."
Chi Hu nodded in agreement.
However, he felt a sense of unease and hesitated, "Since grandfather is going with the resolve to die, all we can do is pray that he experiences no pain. But I think we should also consider one question: will Chen Jinzhao even go to the International Port? With his experience, he should easily see that it's a Hongmen banquet."
Li Erzhou sighed, "You don't understand Chen Jinzhao. Do you know why those around him either revere him as a god or are utterly loyal to him? It's because Chen Jinzhao has always been righteous and possesses great charisma. Even with just a sliver of a chance to find Tao Qiyue, I believe Chen Jinzhao would go without hesitation."
Chi Hu was confused.
This was clearly a trap leading to certain death, so why would Chen Jinzhao still go?
On the other side.
Under the cover of night, the International Port remained brightly lit, truly a city that never slept.
Chen Jinzhao arrived at the International Port stealthily. Before he could even exit his car, he was stopped by several staff members. Chen Jinzhao rolled down his window and said, "I'm looking for someone."
The staff members exchanged glances. It was evident they were all placed there by the Li family.
The leading staff member took out a piece of paper from his bag and handed it to Chen Jinzhao through the car window, instructing him to follow the route on the map, as someone was waiting for him at the end.
Chen Jinzhao took the paper, which depicted a map of the International Port and the designated route.
He paid no further attention to the staff members and continued driving towards his destination. After ten minutes of winding through complex paths, he finally reached his destination.
As he opened the car door, a gust of damp sea breeze hit him.
Chen Jinzhao looked around.
He was in an open space, surrounded by towering stacks of shipping containers, but there was not a soul in sight.
"I'm here. Are you still not going to reveal yourself?" Chen Jinzhao called out.
*Clap, clap, clap!*
A clear clapping sound echoed from the darkness. Chen Jinzhao turned towards the source of the sound and saw an elderly man in a Zhongshan suit emerging from behind a container. The old man's half-gray hair was neatly combed.
Chen Jinzhao recognized the man's face and frowned, "It's you?"
Li Taihao walked closer to Chen Jinzhao and smiled, "Why couldn't it be me? Mr. Chen, are you surprised?"
Chen Jinzhao first shook his head, then nodded, "I knew this was the Li family's scheme, but I didn't expect you to be the scapegoat. I originally thought it would be Li Erzhou."
"Haha, my father's absence may disappoint Mr. Chen. Lingnan needs the Li family, and my father needs to be here to hold things steady, so naturally, he couldn't take such a risk," Li Taihao said frankly. Chen Jinzhao felt a pang of disappointment. He didn't want to waste words with Li Taihao. "I want to know, where is Qiyue?"
Li Taihao maintained a gentle smile and said faintly, "You can rest assured about that. Miss Tao is safe now, and no one will harm her. I don't understand why you must find her. Isn't it enough to know that she is living well now?"
Chen Jinzhao did not respond.
Li Taihao relished the feeling of confronting Chen Jinzhao directly, giving him a sense of supreme satisfaction, like looking down from a mountaintop.
"I only want to know where she is," Chen Jinzhao said, closing his eyes.
Li Taihao's smile remained unchanged. "Mr. Chen, rest assured, she is living very well now, in a very safe place where no one will disturb her."
Chen Jinzhao was now certain that Tao Qiyue was not nearby. The sliver of hope he held extinguished, replaced by a touch of disappointment. When he opened his eyes again and looked at Li Taihao, Chen Jinzhao said, "Since she is safe now, let's talk about your Li family."
"After going to such lengths, in what way do you intend to kill me?"