About two to three minutes later.
With a sharp screech of brakes, the taxi stopped on a bustling street.
Without bothering to get change from the driver, I quickly signaled for Cheng Minglang and Han Jinlun to get out, and we vanished into the sea of people like a mountain.
"Damn it! Didn't we agree to lose the people following us? We only went through two traffic lights and you're getting off? This is getting me all fired up..."
"Hey, you! I'm not giving you any refund!"
With that, the taxi driver, with a lingering sense of unfinished business, sped away.
Seeing this, Cao Hongliang and his group, who had caught up from behind, decisively abandoned their car and gave chase...
When it comes to cars, as long as you have the license plate number, the probability of completely shaking off pursuers is only fifty-fifty.
Because no matter how much you try to hide, you can only hide inside a car. If they don't catch up, then it's fine.
But once they catch up, you're definitely not getting away.
However, it's different when it's people chasing people.
If you can't outrun them, you can hide. If you can't hide, you can keep running. Run and hide, hide and run...
So, the moment I got off the train, I had no other thought in my mind but to escape using the crowd.
I planned to use the taxis coming and going from the train station, and the endless stream of people on the street outside the station, to shake off Cao Hongliang and his gang.
I originally thought this unexpected move would likely succeed.
But I underestimated human nature, underestimated human greed and desire for money!
In the eyes of Cao Hongliang and his group, I was practically walking cash worth three hundred thousand!
"Man dies for wealth, birds die for food." This is an eternal truth.
Cao Hongliang and his group not only pursued relentlessly, but like me, they also used the crowd to their advantage.
It was only then that I realized the immense power of that rival of Su Liuli, the one Huang Feixiang had mentioned!
After running for only a few minutes, when I looked back to check the situation, I saw that quite a few people among the crowd around us had joined Cao Hongliang and were now also chasing and intercepting me!
Looking at the situation, I guessed that before we even got off the train, Cao Hongliang had already stationed people outside the train station, ready to act at any moment.
Whether I wanted to transfer or seize the opportunity to leave the train station, Cao Hongliang had already made contingency plans.
It wasn't so much Cao Hongliang as it was Su Liuli's rival.
To make an example of me, they had offered a hefty reward and provided strong support to Cao Hongliang and his group...
As I weaved rapidly through the crowd, I suddenly saw several men with fierce expressions hurrying towards us from ahead.
Looking back again, Cao Hongliang and his group were also getting closer.
Seeing this, and with no time to dwell on other thoughts, I quickly signaled Cheng Minglang and Han Jinlun, and we darted into the dense crowd, sprinting desperately across the road.
Cao Hongliang and his group behind us chased like mad dogs...
As we ran, I realized the difference in physical condition between those who trained and those who didn't.
Take Cheng Minglang, for example. Although he was as thin as a bamboo pole, he was always the one running at the front.
In contrast, Han Jinlun, despite his muscular build, was much weaker.
I don't know if this guy was building muscle with protein powder while desperately expending protein on women's bellies, but he was running slower than me!
Within a few minutes, Han Jinlun was panting like he had asthma.
At this point, I finally confirmed that Han Jinlun's earlier claim about "taking down" that tall woman meant nothing more than literally "taking her down"!
"Love on the go, in the middle of a crowd."
This saying was perfectly embodied by Han Jinlun!
Ahem, I've gone off track! Back to the main point.
During the escape, although Han Jinlun's pathetic performance made me momentarily consider abandoning him, I dismissed the thought when I remembered how his diversionary tactic had saved me earlier.
After signaling Cheng Minglang to slow down, we both started dragging Han Jinlun along.
With the delay and the added burden, our escape pace slowed considerably.
Within a few minutes, the three of us were caught up by Cao Hongliang's group.
Once they caught up, at Cao Hongliang's command, a large crowd of people instantly surged forward, surrounding the three of us.
After a quick scan, I estimated that Cao Hongliang had called in at least twenty reinforcements to chase and intercept us.
Just as I was contemplating how to break free, Cao Hongliang spoke.
"Kid, about that business on the train earlier... shouldn't we settle the score?"
Cao Hongliang stared at me with a mocking expression as he said this.
His confident demeanor was like a cat playing with a mouse.
Although it's said that a strong dragon doesn't suppress a local snake, and a wise man doesn't fight when the odds are against him, and bowing down isn't shameful, I had absolutely no intention of compromising!
This is because they weren't after money, but for one of my hands!
So, rather than compromising and still having my hand chopped off in the end, it was better to find an alternative approach and change my strategy...
Hearing Cao Hongliang's words, I ignored him and directly pulled out a bank card from my pocket, looking at everyone and saying, "Everyone! I know someone offered thirty thousand to buy one of my hands."
"You've been relentlessly pursuing me, all for that thirty thousand."
"But ultimately, that thirty thousand reward can only be taken by one person."
"If it's divided among you, even if split equally per head, each person would only get about ten thousand for their trouble!"
"And that's me being generous."
"When it comes to actually dividing the money, you'll be the only ones who know the exact amount!"
"Everyone out here is looking for wealth. This card in my hand... it's exactly thirty thousand!"
"Whoever offered thirty thousand for my hand, I'll offer thirty thousand myself to buy back my hand!"
"As long as one of you can lead us out, I'll take him to get the money right now!"
"Of course, I know individual strength isn't enough, so..."
"The more people, the better! As long as you can lead us out, I'll pay you per person!"
"I guarantee that all this money will go directly into everyone's pockets."
As soon as I finished speaking, I saw a spark of eagerness in the eyes of many in the surrounding crowd.
Money moves the heart!
"One monk carries water to drink, two monks carry water together, three monks have no water to drink."
No one is unaware of such a simple truth.
Before long, except for Cao Hongliang's group, the later arrivals, whose previously fierce gazes had shown signs of wavering, began to change.
Seeing this, Cao Hongliang immediately shouted coldly, "Everyone, don't listen to his nonsense!"