CHAPTER 993: CHAPTER 993: DISAPPEARANCE

At that time, Xi Luo told him that Li Guangming was abducted from his company’s restroom, while Duan Shuyuan was directly drugged at the beauty salon.

In order to capture Mr. and Mrs. Li, the turned Special Execution Team dispatched fifty members in plainclothes to infiltrate the South Sea. They didn’t act at the Li family villa but went the opposite way.

As for Mo Jue, coincidentally on leave, he should have been with Duan Shuyuan at the beauty salon for beauty treatments, but he was also unexpectedly drugged and taken to Myanmar.

Moreover, Xi Luo hinted between the lines that if it weren’t for the Bo brothers pretending to switch sides and someone secretly passing messages to Qiaoqiao, the Li family might have faced dire consequences long ago.

Li San knew Xi Luo wasn’t exaggerating because when they found them, Xi Luo was seriously injured, not only wounded at the shoulder but both arms were dislocated.

Mo Jue’s wrists also suffered various degrees of injuries, and as for Uncle Zhong the Ninth, Jiang Hande, Mu Aoxian, the three teachers of Li Qiao, they weren’t the real ones. They had long been swapped by Li Qiao, arranging others to impersonate them.

They claimed to be Li Qiao’s senior brothers from the Poor People’s Kiln. Though they tried hard to contend and maneuver against a battalion, due to the overwhelming numbers, they inevitably got injured.

...

After midday, Li San led Nan Xin back to the border first, while the Border Five Sons stayed at the hotel, discussing the funeral arrangements for Xiao Yehui.

Not long after, Yin Zhihong came in carrying a fruit platter. He first looked at Yin Mo, then at the other four sons, pursing his lips as he bent slightly, "Thank you all this time."

"Dad..." Yin Mo murmured softly but hesitated to step forward and stop him.

In context and logic, it was thanks to everyone, particularly to Li Qiao, that her dad could retreat safely.

Su Moshi and the others looked at Yin Zhihong, voicing the long-standing doubt in their hearts, "Uncle Yin, is Qiaoqiao really okay?"

Yin Zhihong placed the fruit platter on the table, paused for a moment before shaking his head, "She’s fine, but... Xiao Hongdao did have me prepare abortive drugs, which I’ve disposed of."

"Abortion!" Shen Qingye suddenly clenched his fists, "That old bastard is really ruthless."

Compared to the others, Song Liao, who always had beast-like instincts, asked pointedly, "Didn’t he say he wanted to spare the child’s life before? Was locking her up just to abort her?"

For a moment, several pairs of eyes unexpectedly fell on Yin Zhihong.

Under such circumstances, Yin Zhihong’s aged face turned red in embarrassment, increasingly recognizing his misjudgments.

Standing near the coffee table, he spoke with difficulty, "Not just that, he merely planned to temporarily keep Li Qiao to restrain Old Mr. Shang. Once back in British Imperial, he would... carry out the kill."

Yin Zhihong lifted his eyelids, feeling increasingly obscure, "He didn’t even want his own son, so how could he possibly nurture someone else’s child into a duke. He said this only to make Li Qiao lower her guard and eat the food he prepared with ease.

If Li Qiao suffered a miscarriage, her body would be weakened, making escape impossible. By then, she would be completely at his mercy. After all, Xiao Hongdao had long known that Shang Shaoyan was sick, Li Qiao could heal him and also destroy him.

Xiao Hongdao always planned to use Li Qiao to destroy Old Mr. Shang’s most outstanding son, fortunately, nothing terrible happened."

Yin Zhihong’s low and slow narration seemed happy for everyone, but in fact, left a heavy shadow in each person’s heart.

The guest room remained silent for a long while, Xia Siyu’s gaze rigidly lifted, "Does this mean... if it weren’t for you, Qiaoqiao would probably..."

Seeing their frightened expressions, Yin Zhihong hurriedly waved his hand, forcing a smile, "No, no, before arriving in Myanmar, the child had already contacted us. Without her, perhaps my wife and I would be finished for life."

Thanks to Li Qiao’s early arrangements, Mother Yin managed to fall into the water halfway through to escape.

Yin Zhihong could also dodge a disaster wearing a bulletproof vest.

If not for Li Qiao, Mr. and Mrs. Yin would definitely have been taken back to British Imperial to face punishment.

Feeling overwhelmed, Yin Zhihong wished he could kneel and thank Li Qiao if she were here.

"Then, Mr. Li and Mrs. Li were captured, was that you?"

Yin Zhihong nodded heavily, "The situation was too urgent then, I had no choice but to notify Li Qiao. But later Shang Shaoyan came over first, not knowing who passed the message to him."

The Five Sons felt a heavy bitterness rise inside, many things were passed on mouth to mouth, they had all heard.

Indeed, Master Yan arrived at the scene first, but he... abandoned the Li family on the spot.

That night, there were two groups causing chaos at the Liao Mountain base, one led by Yun Ling’s mercenaries, and the other was another local Myanmar force.

Half an hour later, the Five Sons finalized the itinerary. Su Moshi went alone to the River Valley Corridor to smoke.

He knew better than anyone about Shang Yu’s condition, and now he had vanished with Li Qiao, probably not having a relapse, but completely losing his mind.

Soon, light footsteps sounded from behind, Xia Siyu walked up beside him, raised her hand for a cigarette, "I need your advice on something."

"What is it?" Su Moshi handed her the cigarette box, both of their expressions were very desolate.

Xia Siyu hesitated, and after struggling for a while, said faintly, "I want to adopt Huizai’s sister."

Su Moshi’s gaze flickered, "Have you decided?"

"Yes." Xia Siyu looked out at the front of the valley, "Everyone in the Charlman Family was wrong, but she wasn’t. Huizai entrusted her to live well in the future, but without anyone to care for her, she can’t.

The Charlman Family was sealed off, staying in British Imperial would only subject her to humiliation, without a single family member, how can a child in her teens survive."

Su Moshi sensed the softest corner of her heart from Xia Siyu’s words.

No wonder she had such thoughts. Back then, Xia Siyu and Huizai were best friends, and it’s normal she wants to do something for him after his death.

Su Moshi took a drag of his cigarette, chuckling bitterly, "I actually agree with your approach, but I’m afraid you won’t have the opportunity anymore."

"Why?" Xia Siyu turned her gaze in surprise, "That little girl..."

"It should be Uncle Shang. Before leaving last night, I heard Wei Ang calling Shang Lu, arranging for Shang Lu to go to British Imperial personally for Xiao Yening’s adoption procedures, so her future should be secured."

Xia Siyu opened her mouth and exhaled deeply, "That’s good, that’s good."

Yesterday, at the moment of Huizai’s suicide, it was her who covered Xiao Yening’s eyes.

A child in their teens shouldn’t have to bear too much bloodshed, after all, she was Xiao Yehui’s sister who he treated kindly.

No matter the sincerity or not.

Xia Siyu and Su Moshi silently smoked half a cigarette, the topic inevitably returning to Li Qiao and Shang Yu.

"Where do you think they might be?"

Su Moshi paused in his smoking, lowering his gaze saying he couldn’t guess.

The world is vast, if someone wants to hide, it’s indeed difficult to find them.

Moreover, given Shang Shaoyan’s exceedingly deep background and influence, unless he wants to appear, it’s like searching for a needle in a haystack.

Xia Siyu suddenly curled her fingers, still clutching the cigarette which had become deformed, "Qiaoqiao will come around, right?"

"She will." Su Moshi’s eyes appeared dark red, his tone very solemn, "Qi Zai never takes the same path twice, whatever she chooses, she’ll continue no matter how hard."

Xia Siyu softly glanced sideways, sniffing as she murmured, "Suddenly it feels like we owe her so much. Hopefully, she didn’t overhear those words she shouldn’t have heard."

"Even if she heard, she’d still pretend nothing happened." Su Moshi turned his face, his voice gradually becoming hoarse, "Don’t forget, Uncle Yin said Qiaoqiao walked with them through the air-raid passage in the military zone. She lived at Liao Mountain, more familiar with the terrain than any of us. It’s highly possible she was already near the military zone before entering the passage."

Otherwise, why would she take the initiative to meet Xiao Hongdao?

Unless she heard Master Yan’s words, pressed by circumstances, only able to use herself to buy time.

If all hypotheses hold true, Su Moshi can even imagine Li Qiao’s mindset at the time. She probably thought of nothing else, just strategizing, even without a trace of blame.

Because she understands more than anyone how dire Master Yan’s situation is...