Pov: Vik
After we arrived at the society, Roman and I carried the thugs while Lu Xiaoran stayed busy with Jessica. I didn't disturb them. Old man Zhou led us to an old warehouse. Soon, we reached the back of the society and found an abandoned storage warehouse. Zhou unlocked the door, and we entered. It was mostly empty, with just a few chairs and a sofa on one side. We laid the thugs and Lu Zhang on the ground. I turned to Zhou and said, "Thank you, Zhou. We can handle things from here. It would be best if you left, as interrogation might involve some violence."
He nodded and walked out, closing the gate behind him. Now, in the warehouse, it was just me, Roman, and the thugs. I conjured a ball of water and threw it at the thugs' faces. They woke up, confused about their surroundings. They tried to assess their situation, but upon seeing me, they hurled curses. Roman quickly shocked them with a slight jolt, and they became as docile as puppies, shivering before me. I took a chair, sat down, and said, "Hi everyone, my name is Vik. Before we start our little talk, I want you all to introduce yourselves." They nodded and began to speak.
Hyena: "My name is Stan. I am just a normal thug who recently joined this jungle gang. My title is Hyena."
Boar: "My name is Zhyang Chi. I am called Boar in this jungle gang. I am just a normal thug. Please forgive me; I am only doing this for my livelihood."
Lion: "My name is Vicky Wright. I am a senior police inspector at the governor's district police station. Before I became a police officer, I was a regular thug and started the jungle gang. I slowly helped the upper echelons of this city, who in turn helped me become a police officer. I'm telling you the truth; our current actions are not personal. I am doing this at Lu Zhang's command. He wanted to handle all those protesting villagers; it was his plan to kidnap them and get their signatures. I don't know anything beyond that."
All the thugs shared what they knew. Their leader provided more than enough information without needing any more shock. I thought the earlier shock had made them more talkative, but Lu Zhang kept quiet. I asked again, "Now, tell us, Lu Zhang, why are you ordering these thugs to acquire lands from several villages? As far as I know, there's no profit in infrastructure projects in the Azure mountain hills. That land can't support heavy buildings. Why are you so intent on acquiring it? Or are you just following someone else's orders like these thugs?"
Lu Zhang: "You don't know who you're dealing with. I warn you; your actions won't end well. Release me before the whole city comes to hunt you down. You don't know the power of the Lu family and my backer."
Vik: "Can you be quiet for a moment? You're warning me, but what was your Lu family doing when I took you in front of them? Your father and all the elders are as helpless as you are. If I'm right, your unknown backer is Lin Chen. In fact, Lin Chen is the one who wants to acquire that village land while you act on his behalf."
As I spoke, color drained from his face; my assumptions were right. I signaled to Roman, who shocked Lu Zhang again. He screamed and, with some crying and begging, readied himself to tell us everything.
Lu Zhang: "Please don't shock me again. I will tell you what I know. There is some kind of ancient treasure buried deep inside the Azure mountains that makes these mountains so special. Many people have tried to find this treasure, but no one has succeeded. Recently, Lin Chen deciphered an ancient scroll from our Lu family heritage that contains a map to the treasure and ways to acquire it. That's why we're doing this. We want that treasure, but it's buried beneath those villages. We just want the land so we can search for the treasure without interference. I swear we don't want to harm any villagers."
His words confirmed my suspicions, but I was more concerned about the connection between Lu Xiaoran and Lin Chen. If it is Lu Xiaoran's fate to die by Lin Chen's hand, then it all makes sense. They have an enmity over who they love, and now they're against each other regarding the villagers Lu Xiaoran tried to save. It's clear that fate is at play here. No matter what Lu Xiaoran does, he will unknowingly oppose Lin Chen. It's like those movies where escaping death once leads to death hunting the person down to claim them.
But unlike those movies, fate is trying to hunt my disciple. I'm not like those clueless protagonists who rely on luck. I understand how these things work; I grasp the basic functions of fate. From now on, I will defeat fate at her own game.
With that resolved, I looked at the thugs and Lu Zhang again. They had become useless to me, so I raised my hand, wiped their memories of our meeting, and planted a false name and memory in their minds. If anyone asked them about their kidnapping, they would only remember being taken by people from an anonymous hall. After completing this, I teleported them to a garbage dump in front of the Lu family estate and returned.
Now back at the society, I turned to Roman and said, "Roman, we have some problems. We need a new plan. Fate has decided to put Lu Xiaoran against Lin Chen again, but this time, we will make sure Lu Xiaoran wins. I'm going to increase your training."
He nodded and replied, "Yes, master. I feel that my current strength isn't enough to dominate enemies. I also look forward to our training."
With that, we both left the warehouse and returned to the society compound. We found Lu Xiaoran surrounded by many people from the society who were thanking him for saving their family members. He looked like a hero basking in praise, unaware that fate was again trying to make him into a villain. As his master, I will ensure he doesn't fall for fate's petty schemes.
Pov: Lin Chen
I received news that Lu Zhang had been kidnapped from his residence in front of the elders and his father. He was later found dumped in a garbage heap in front of their family estate.
I arrived at the scene with my convoy. I saw Lu Zhang shivering on a sofa in his family hall, surrounded by thugs who had been kidnapped with him. His father and family elders were checking his condition to confirm if he had been injected with a slow-acting poison. So far, all reports indicated he was fine, with just some trauma.
I approached him, and upon seeing me, he showed an excited expression and began to plead, "Brother Lin Chen, please save me! Those people will kill me! They're after you too. Brother, please help me! Let's leave this city, no, let's go to another country! Those people are very powerful; they won't let us go."
Lin Chen: "Lu Zhang, please take a deep breath and tell me who these people are. Tell me their names, and I will take care of them. You know how much power I have, so don't be afraid and share everything you know about the people who kidnapped you."
Hearing my words, he calmed down a bit and began to share his experience but provided no details about the kidnappers or where they took him. It was as if someone had messed with his memory. The only name he remembered was Anonymous Hall.
I didn't know this organization, but if they were blocking my way, they had to pay. Anonymous Hall, I don't know who you are or where you are, but I will take my revenge against you. I swear I will destroy this organization.