"Xiao Tian, do you remember that time when those people went to your house to collect debts and intended to take Yu Xiang away?" Li Deping asked.
Lin Xiao Tian nodded.
This was something he could never forget.
At that time, Cao Yun Tian's subordinates, armed with a deed of sale, wanted to take Qin Yu Xiang to a club to pay off debts. Lin Xiao Tian had desperately resisted, sustaining a severe injury. It was the most serious injury he had sustained since recovering his normal senses.
"After that incident, someone came to find me."
"What did they want with you?"
"Mostly they asked about your situation, then told me to keep an eye on you and report anything to them," Li Deping said, looking guiltily at Lin Xiao Tian. "What's more, they promised that if my information was useful, there would be plenty of benefits later, whether it was a house, a car, or career advancement, they would help me arrange it all."
"Do you know who they are?"
"I used to think it was Cao Yun Tian, especially since one time when they contacted me, it was their second-in-command. But Cao Yun Tian was arrested later, wasn't he? And someone still contacted me, so I guessed it wasn't Cao Yun Tian."
"Are they a group?"
"I don't know that. I think they are, because when I provided information, they didn't repeatedly contact me, and they didn't ask about old matters."
Listening to Li Deping's words, Lin Xiao Tian couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
Pig Brother, Cao Yun Tian's second-in-command, was clearly one of Cao Yun Tian's people. According to Li Deping's analysis, they should all be from Cao Yun Tian's group.
But could it be remnants of Cao Yun Tian's gang?
"Who has been contacting you recently?" Lin Xiao Tian recalled the conversation he had overheard, which mentioned a name, Master Kui. Lin Xiao Tian wanted to test Li Deping to see if he was hiding something.
"That person calls himself Master Kui. I met him last time."
Hearing the appellation "Master Kui," Lin Xiao Tian roughly judged that Li Deping wasn't lying.
"Li Deping, you clearly know Cao Yun Tian has been caught, so how dare you believe that person will give you benefits?"
"Oh! I'm not stupid. If he didn't have the ability, would I help him? Do you know who I saw when I went to meet him last time?"
Lin Xiao Tian was stunned. "Who?"
Li Deping glanced around, then leaned close to Lin Xiao Tian's ear. "Mayor Liu of Jiang City!"
"What?"
Lin Xiao Tian couldn't believe it.
No wonder Li Deping was willing to help him wholeheartedly. He, a mere village head, rarely even had a chance to meet the county magistrate. Suddenly, he had connected with a mayor, so naturally, he felt he had hope.
Li Deping also said that Mayor Liu was very polite to Master Kui, but Master Kui was clearly not involved in officialdom.
"Xiao Tian, they just asked me to keep an eye on you, clearly not daring to confront you directly. My suggestion is, don't make a fuss about this. Analyze now who around you is targeting you, then give me their photos. I've met Master Kui, and I'll definitely recognize him instantly."
"And about the matter of returning from the dead, you need to keep it suppressed too, otherwise, it's easy to make the other party suspicious."
Li Deping advised.
Admittedly, Li Deping was quite useful if he wasn't an enemy.
"I will have someone inform the people here to keep it confidential," Lin Xiao Tian replied.
But Li Deping shook his head.
"No, that's too insecure. You ask them to keep it secret, will they definitely keep it secret? Can you guarantee they won't tell others in private?"
Lin Xiao Tian was taken aback. "You have a point, but I can't control that!"
"Dead people are always better at keeping secrets than living ones," Li Deping said thoughtfully.
Lin Xiao Tian couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth. "Li Deping, have you watched too many spy movies? I wouldn't dare to kill anyone."
Li Deping couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Who told you to kill? I mean... faked death!"
"How so?"
"Later, I'll pretend to fail resuscitation, and then you push me out, say we're going for cremation, make it as serious as possible. At least fool these people, then sneak me out later."
Lin Xiao Tian couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "Li Deping, you've really got something."
"Hehe, Xiao Tian, don't you know that old ginger is spicier?"
Lin Xiao Tian nodded, then looked at Li Deping very seriously again. "However, speaking of faked death, I actually have a good idea."
Lin Xiao Tian said a few words in Li Deping's ear.
Li Deping frowned. "That... Xiao Tian, don't you really kill me! Don't forget, I helped you out when you were a child."
"Don't worry, I've got it under control."
"Will it hurt?"
"Uh..." Lin Xiao Tian made a gesture indicating "a little bit."
After agreeing on the plan with Li Deping, Lin Xiao Tian left the ward.
Outside the ward, a group of medical staff looked at Lin Xiao Tian as if he were a celestial being.
"Dr. Lin, we all know now. We never expected such a divine doctor like you to appear here. It's truly an honor!" The doctor from before looked at Lin Xiao Tian with deep admiration.
"I was too impolite earlier, Dr. Lin. I hope you can forgive me. We medical professionals also have many difficulties," the nurse who had obstructed Lin Xiao Tian earlier said apologetically.
Lin Xiao Tian smiled slightly, indicating he wasn't angry.
"Oh, right. The patient's condition will still be unstable. Please take good care of him for me tonight. I need to go up the mountain to find some medicinal herbs."
"No problem, Dr. Lin. You can rest assured."
Lin Xiao Tian smiled awkwardly.
He felt a bit guilty about what was about to happen.
Not long after, Lin Xiao Tian left the health center.
Sister Hong, with her people, was guarding outside the ward, afraid of any accidents. Lin Xiao Tian thanked Sister Hong again, then walked towards the outskirts of the town.
However, Lin Xiao Tian didn't go far. After disappearing into the darkness, he silently returned to the vicinity of the health center.
Lin Xiao Tian asked Li Deping to fake his death, but the premise was that Li Deping couldn't actually die.
To prevent the person who intended to harm Li Deping from reappearing, Lin Xiao Tian had to be extra vigilant.
Time ticked by, and suddenly, a commotion came from the health center.
Immediately after, Lin Xiao Tian heard nurses shouting that something had happened and asking someone to call Lin Xiao Tian.
But Lin Xiao Tian's phone was set to airplane mode, so it couldn't be reached.
The health center descended into chaos. Sister Hong even sent people to look for him, but she obviously wouldn't find him.
Finally, an hour later, Lin Xiao Tian called them back.
"Xiao Tian, something has happened! Li Deping's condition suddenly worsened, and he has no breath now."
Lin Xiao Tian feigned surprise. "What? Oh no, it must be the poison that's problematic."
Not long after, Lin Xiao Tian rushed back.
As soon as he returned, he checked Li Deping's pulse and knew he was still in a state of suspended animation. Lin Xiao Tian secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but still put on a bitter expression and said to everyone:
"There's only one Poison Nullifying Pill. There's nothing we can do this time."