Bang!
No sooner had the words fallen than a gunshot roared. Xu Lie's left shoulder instantly bloomed with a flower of blood before he could even fully bend his waist.
With a muffled groan, he toppled backward onto the ground.
At the same time, the middle-aged man in the co-pilot seat of the Mercedes van leaned out, also holding a handgun. He removed his sunglasses with one hand, revealing a cold, rigid face devoid of any expression.
The middle-aged man walked a few steps closer and fired two more shots into Xu Lie's body. Then, he spoke in a cold voice, "A beast is a beast. Fierce, savage. Willing to lose a leg just to pounce and bite. But no matter how fierce you are, you'll die today."
"If I were you, I wouldn't chase." He hadn't intended to get out of the car, but Xu Lie's ferocity far exceeded his expectations. Two subordinates with knives had already fallen. Even the driver had been knocked out with a gun. What if Xu Lie got his hands on a firearm?
These three shots were almost all aimed at vital points. Even if Xu Lie were a demon with six arms, he would surely die today. The few words he spoke were merely a minimum of respect for a strong opponent.
"Where is Chonglou?" Xu Lie coughed up blood-tinged foam, his voice as weak as a mosquito's hum. It had to be said that his vitality was astonishingly strong, far surpassing ordinary people. He could still make a sound after being shot in vital spots three times. But he was at the end of his rope.
"Idiot." The middle-aged man put away his gun, a flicker of contempt in his eyes. He turned and got back into the car, driving away quickly, completely ignoring his still-unconscious companion. Xu Lie's bloodshot eyes fixed on the departing van, gradually losing their light.
Meanwhile.
Inside the golf course.
The door to the solitary cell where Li Chonglou was being held was suddenly smashed open. Li Duo'er, her face flushed and beaded with sweat, held a fire extinguisher aloft.
"Big brother, hurry and come with me!" she exclaimed. "I'll take you out!"
Without waiting for Li Chonglou to respond, Li Duo'er made her intentions clear. After the guards had threatened Li Chonglou with guns, dragged him back to the cell, and locked the door, they had left her behind. This was a golden opportunity. If Li Chonglou wanted to get out again after today, it would be as difficult as ascending to heaven.
"Aren't you afraid of your second uncle anymore?" Li Chonglou didn't move, looking at the girl whose expression was tinged with panic. Of course, he wanted to leave this wretched place. He dreamt of it. Especially after learning that his senior sister had arrived in Yong'an, his heart burned with impatience. But no matter how urgent, he would not jump around like an ordinary person. This was the benefit of his experience from two lives.
Li Duo'er, although she treated him well, was still the niece of Li Hanlong. Her choosing to oppose Li Hanlong for his sake had an unpredictable outcome. Moreover, he was very curious about the deeper reasons for Li Duo'er's help.
"Of course, I'm afraid. But these past few days, I've felt so uncomfortable, more uncomfortable than ever before." Li Duo'er dropped the fire extinguisher with a clang and pouted. "I can't even sleep at night. If I don't save you now, I have no idea what my second uncle will do to you."
"I don't want you to die."
"Are you coming or not?" What was meant to be an emotional plea seemed to her to be overly sentimental, so it ended as her usual petulant tone. She didn't know what was happening to her. In the past, if asked to choose sides, she would have unhesitatingly sided with her second uncle, Li Hanlong. Even if she liked Li Chonglou more, she knew the difference between life and death. But this time, she was truly lost.
Two voices constantly echoed in her mind: one telling her to keep a close eye on Li Chonglou and not listen to his persuasion. The other urged her to help Li Chonglou escape, even if it meant opposing her second uncle. That's why she had willingly helped Li Chonglou deal with those bodyguards. She couldn't understand why. Perhaps it was the slap from her second uncle? Or perhaps the mystery and composure emanating from Li Chonglou resembled her father. Could it be that she felt a sense of security from him that no other man could provide?
No matter what, even if it was wrong, she would do it! At least her head wouldn't be so tired and painful.
"Let's go!" Li Chonglou rose to his feet and strode out of the room, his voice decisive.
A short while later, by the main door.
Li Duo'er, repeating her previous action, raised the fire extinguisher to smash open the door but was stopped by Li Chonglou. She asked with a puzzled expression, "Big brother, are you really sure you can open the password lock?"
"No guarantees, I'll try," Li Chonglou replied truthfully. Although he had been paying attention to the patterns of password changes and even compiled a massive amount of data in his mind, his confidence was still less than fifty percent. This was mainly due to his limited understanding of Li Hanlong, which resulted in insufficient material. The combination for an eight-digit password was even more complex than a lottery. Simply put, the chance of success was smaller than winning the lottery. But with the opportunity right in front of him, why wouldn't he try?
He then asked, "Tell me numbers related to Li Hanlong, like his birthday or age."
"October 29, 1974. His lucky number is 8," Li Duo'er replied without hesitation, revealing everything she knew. This showed that Li Hanlong was indeed very close to his niece. Otherwise, how could she know such private information as his lucky number?
Beep, beep, beep.
Li Chonglou pondered for a moment and pressed eight numbers. The password lock flashed with red light and emitted a sharp, piercing wail. Clearly, the password was incorrect.
"It's over. The password attempt failed. My second uncle will be notified immediately and will rush over," Li Duo'er's face turned ashen. The fire extinguisher clattered to the ground, and she crouched down. She had suggested brute force, but Li Chonglou insisted on trying the password. This door only allowed three attempts. The first incorrect attempt would notify her second uncle. Two more incorrect attempts would lock it permanently, and unless opened from the outside, even smashing the lock violently would be useless.
"Don't panic," Li Chonglou's expression remained unchanged. He was human, not a god. Human calculations ultimately couldn't account for everything, so how could he succeed on the first try? He entered another combination, but it was also incorrect. Looking at Li Duo'er, who was beside herself with grief, Li Chonglou took a deep breath and closed his eyes. The strong self-confidence built over time allowed him to remain calm, unlike Li Duo'er. Instead, he forced himself to think calmly. What numbers would a proud, cunning, and sinister person like Li Hanlong use for a password that changed daily and had to be remembered by the guards? It definitely wouldn't be random; that wouldn't fit Li Hanlong's controlling nature. A man like him wouldn't allow anything to be beyond his control. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so furious knowing Li Duo'er had almost foiled his plans. It couldn't be anyone else either, because he wouldn't trust anyone but himself.
No chaos! No panic!
This was the last chance. If he missed it, he didn't know how long he would be confined in this dreadful place, possibly for life. He absolutely could not afford another mistake.
For a moment, Li Chonglou's mind raced. Even Li Duo'er stopped all movement and sound, waiting for him silently. Nearly five minutes later, Li Chonglou's eyes snapped open abruptly, a sharp glint in them. His hand moved like lightning as he pressed the password lock again.