Chen Zheng suspected that Teluos and another figure from the underworld had learned of his circumstances, which would explain why they kidnapped Lin Xiaoya to blackmail him. If that were the case, things would be much more difficult. However, based on the current situation, it seemed to be a simple kidnapping.

Chen Zheng quickly said into the phone, "Just don't touch her."

"Tsk, you sure care a lot about a little girl!" the voice on the phone sneered. "Get the money ready. I'll tell you the location. And remember, if you dare to pull anything, I'll make sure Lin Xiaoya's body is never found!"

With that, he hung up.

In fact, his guess was pretty much spot on. Chen Zheng mused, stroking his chin. The only people who knew about his relationship with Lin Xiaoya were her two best friends and her father, Lin Maoshi. In his view, there was a ninety percent chance Lin Maoshi was behind this.

Chen Zheng still remembered that man storming into Lin Xiaoya's villa and wreaking havoc. He never would have expected him to be her biological father.

However, this made the matter simpler. Chen Zheng was already planning to go to Crime City anyway. He had warned Lin Maoshi that if he pulled another stunt, he wouldn't let him off easy. Therefore, he decided he would just take Lin Maoshi back with him.

After leaving the safe zone, Chen Zheng began his preparations. Getting his hands on five million in cash wasn't difficult. While that was being arranged, he called Grandfather Long in Yanjing.

He dialed Long Ying's number. As soon as Long Ying answered, a faint smile touched his lips. "Well now, you're actually willing to call me, kid? What happened this time?"

"Grandpa, I need you to use your dark web connections to find a man named Lin Maoshi," Chen Zheng said.

"Hmm?" Long Ying's expression changed. "You mean the fugitive from Crime City? Is he in Yanjing?"

"No, he's just a civilian from Yanjing, so finding him shouldn't be difficult. He's Lin Xiaoya's father and a former colleague of mine from Dazhi," Chen Zheng explained.

"So you called me because of a girl? What would my father say?" Long Ying teased. "Stop chasing girls already. Ya Lin is a fine young lady, why don't you reconsider?" He chuckled. "If you marry her, I could even make her a member of the Night's Watch!"

Chen Zheng was speechless.

If Grandpa knew that Miss Sun had drugged him and that he had ended up in her bed, who knows what his reaction would be.

He cleared his throat and said, "Uh, could you just help me check? I need to get going."

Then, with a click, he hung up. With the power of the dark web, locating Lin Maoshi wouldn't be difficult.

Just to be safe, he also called Han Dong and asked him to get five million in cash. This was no problem for Han Dong, who delivered the money promptly. By then, it was already past eight o'clock.

An unknown number called. Chen Zheng answered. The voice on the other end was distorted by a voice changer.

"Heh, a burner phone and a voice changer. This guy's counter-surveillance skills are pretty sharp," Chen Zheng murmured with a light laugh.

"Is the money ready?" the voice demanded.

"I need proof of life," Chen Zheng replied calmly. "Put Lin Xiaoya on the phone."

"You can listen!"

A moment later, Lin Xiaoya's anxious voice came through. "Chen Zheng, don't come! There are too many of them, don't come here!"

Before she could finish, the phone was snatched away. The distorted voice returned. "Bring the money to an abandoned factory at No. 17 Xinnan Road. Someone there will be waiting. Don't try any tricks. As long as I get the money, I'll release her!"

"Fine, I'm on my way!" Chen Zheng replied.

Just then, he received a call from Long Ying. "Found him. He's at a repair shop at No. 37 Xinnan Road. Want a ride?"

"No need," Chen Zheng chuckled. "They're just civilians. But have the police sweep up some of the local thugs around No. 107 Xinnan Road."

"Alright, be careful!" Long Ying said before hanging up.

Chen Zheng got his car from Han Dong, loaded the cash inside, and drove off.

The shop was in a remote part of Yanjing, surrounded by other auto repair businesses but not far from the city center.

The kidnapper had told him to go to the factory at No. 17, while Long Ying had found Lin Maoshi at the repair shop at No. 37 on the same road. Chen Zheng knew without a doubt that Lin Maoshi was behind this.

What kind of father? Chen Zheng shook his head, feeling sorry for Lin Xiaoya.

The car moved slowly through the city. Just after nine o'clock, his luxury car crept along Xinnan Road. Chen Zheng pulled over at an intersection. He parked and looked toward the address, number 37.

Soon after, he drove up to the front of a garage and stopped at the entrance. He didn't enter immediately, instead sizing up the place from the outside. The men inside didn't look like mechanics. Most of them were tattooed and looked like thugs. However, he didn't see Lin Xiaoya or Lin Maoshi.

He rubbed his nose, then started walking toward the entrance.

"We're closed! Go somewhere else!" a man shouted, walking out of the shop and waving him away.

Chen Zheng chuckled lightly and, without a word, stepped inside.

Seeing Chen Zheng ignore him and walk in anyway, the man grabbed a pair of pliers from the ground. "I said we're closed for business! Didn't you hear me?"

As he spoke, several other men began to close in on Chen Zheng.

"Fine, you don't want the business, but is it worth getting so angry?" Chen Zheng drawled with a slight smirk.

"I don't have time for your bullshit! Get the hell out of here, now!"

Chen Zheng smiled at him. "Alright, I'll go. So, who here is interested in five million?"

The man froze, his eyes widening in realization. Before he could react, he felt a sharp blow to his throat. His vision went black, and he collapsed.

The others were stunned. The next moment, they saw only a black shadow flash between them. A series of dull thuds echoed as each man was struck on the head, falling to the ground one after another.

"A ghost!"

Chen Zheng's speed was completely beyond their comprehension. Watching their friends drop like flies, some of the remaining men were terrified.

One was about to scream when he saw Chen Zheng appear before him, a faint smile on his face.

The next moment, his world went dark, and he crumpled to the floor.

Chen Zheng's current strength far surpassed that of any mortal. More than a dozen men had been taken down without so much as a whimper.

Feeling somewhat relieved, Chen Zheng looked deeper into the garage. He saw a small building inside, and he could sense a large group of people on its second floor. He rubbed his nose again and moved closer to the structure.

Most of the kidnappers were on the second floor, leaving only a few guards on the first. Chen Zheng effortlessly dealt with them. Just as he was about to proceed, he heard a commotion from the floor above. He paused, not moving immediately.

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