lChapter 14, Key Plot
"Don't go forward."
His wrist was suddenly grabbed. Ji Linxue looked at Gu Hengzhi, who shook his head at him, "There's no light ahead. It's impossible to walk on such a dark path. You come back with me first."
Ji Linxue stared intently at the dark opening ahead, his lips trembling slightly, "You go back and find people first, I'll be right there."
He hadn't expected the key plot point to arrive so quickly.
Back then, he hadn't understood why Gu Hengzhi was kidnapped. Anyone with eyes could see that Gu Fengyan didn't value him, so why would Gu Fengyan's enemies specifically kidnap him and injure his leg?
Now he finally understood. Gu Hengzhi wasn't the one being kidnapped, he was injured by the kidnappers while trying to rescue Gu Zixi.
Saying he didn't like this younger brother, yet when danger struck, he rushed forward without hesitation.
Truly contradictory.
Gu Hengzhi didn't know what he was thinking. The path ahead was clearly a trap, and he couldn't let Ji Linxue walk straight into it, "If we go, we go together."
Ji Linxue shook his head. Gu Hengzhi also refused to back down.
The two stalemated for a while, and eventually Ji Linxue gave in. He showed a helpless expression, "Okay, let's go back first then."
Gu Hengzhi held his arm tightly, afraid he would turn and run.
The two followed the path back to the garden and ran straight into a frantic Lin Muxin. Behind her followed a group of bodyguards, who came rushing over in a throng.
Lin Muxin immediately grabbed Gu Hengzhi's shoulder, squeezing so hard her knuckles turned white, "Where's Xiaoxi! Did you harm him! He's your brother, how could you do this to him!"
Ji Linxue nimbly blocked her hand, "Auntie Lin, Xiaoxi was kidnapped by someone else, it has nothing to do with Gu Hengzhi. You'd better calm down, lest you miss the best time for rescue."
Shen Shaoyan also helped persuade her, "Auntie Lin, how could Heng Ge harm Xiaoxi? The most important thing now is to rescue him."
Lin Muxin seemed to be completely deaf to what others were saying, muttering frantically, "My Xiaoxi, Gu Hengzhi, give me back my Xiaoxi..."
Saying this, she tried to rush forward again, but this time Gu Hengzhi, who was already prepared, dodged her.
His gaze was slightly cold, "I wouldn't stoop to such things. If you don't want your son's life, then keep wasting time."
Lin Muxin suddenly revealed a vicious look.
Just then, a phone rang abruptly.
Lin Muxin took the phone handed to her by a bodyguard, and instantly burst into tears, "Fengyan! Xiaoxi is gone! It must be Gu Hengzhi's doing! Hurry and save your son... We're at the hot spring resort. Okay, hurry up..."
The phone was quickly handed to a bodyguard. Unsure what orders were given on the other end, after hanging up, over a dozen bodyguards rushed into the garden, leaving only two to guard Lin Muxin.
"It seems there's nothing for us to do here anymore," Shen Shaoyan nudged Gu Hengzhi, "Let's go."
Gu Hengzhi glanced at the garden, then nodded, "Mhm."
The four returned silently to the accommodation area. The room card beeped. Just as they were about to enter, Gu Hengzhi suddenly spoke, "He sent me a message."
He opened the text message interface on his phone. There was indeed a message sent a few minutes ago.
The content was simple, for him to come alone to rescue Gu Zixi, with the address clearly marked.
But if they saw bodyguards or the police, they would immediately kill the hostage.
Ji Linxue's eyes narrowed, "You can't go!"
Everyone's gaze turned towards him.
Ji Linxue realized his outburst and quickly said, "He's deliberately making you go. There's definitely danger. If you go, you'll fall right into their trap."
Gu Hengzhi's personality had completely changed because of this incident. It took a long time for his legs to recover enough to walk normally, but his knees would ache whenever it rained, leaving him with permanent sequelae.
This time, the people who kidnapped Gu Zixi were Gu Fengyan's enemies. They not only wanted money but also planned to kill the hostage once the money was in hand, leaving Gu Fengyan without an heir.
Gu Hengzhi absolutely could not go.
Shen Shaoyan chimed in, "Exactly, Xiaoxue is right. Anyway, so many people care about Gu Zixi, and there are so many bodyguards, he'll definitely be fine."
Lu Yu also said, "Hengzhi, you can't go."
After a brief silence, the expression on Gu Hengzhi's face suddenly relaxed. He shrugged, as if indifferent, "Don't worry, I won't go."
He entered the room. The others waited outside for a while longer, making sure he wouldn't leave, before returning to their respective rooms.
In the middle of the night, the living room was pitch black. The door on the first floor was quietly opened.
Half a quarter of an hour later, a figure appeared at the gate of an abandoned factory not far from the resort, walking slowly inside.
The factory was pitch black, with zero visibility. In one of the rooms, two fierce-looking men were huddled together, talking.
"Did you send the message?"
"All sent. Gu Fengyan should be bringing the money over soon. Abin will send us a message once he gets the money. Don't think too much."
"What about the other kid? Are you sure he won't tip off his parents?"
"His relationship with Gu Fengyan isn't good. He definitely won't tell."
"Then how could he come to save his brother? Are you stupid?"
"Oh, right."
"..."
The room next to theirs was where Gu Zixi was being held. Ji Linxue quietly opened the window and climbed in through the sill.
Gu Zixi's face was covered with a black cloth, his body bound with ropes, huddled motionless in the corner.
Hearing footsteps, he tried his best to endure, but still trembled.
Ji Linxue tore off the black cloth from his face and the strip of cloth from his mouth. Gu Zixi's eyes widened in surprise. Just as he was about to speak, a warm palm covered his lips.
A whispered voice sounded in his ear, "Don't speak."
Gu Zixi nodded repeatedly. The ropes on his body were loosened one by one. Ji Linxue pulled him up, "How is it? Can you still walk?"
"Yes," Gu Zixi looked at him eagerly, "Just my legs are a bit weak."
Ji Linxue helped him onto the window. Gu Zixi carefully jumped down. After he was out, Ji Linxue also climbed out.
Things were easier than he expected.
Gu Zixi's legs were still weak and he couldn't walk. Ji Linxue simply picked him up.
"Linxue Gege, thank you. Did my brother send you to save me?"
Ji Linxue patted his head, "Yes, your brother was very worried about you."
Gu Zixi leaned against his shoulder restfully, his voice sweet, "I knew Gege wouldn't abandon me."
The large and small figures slowly walked out. Just as they were about to leave the factory, a blinding beam of light suddenly shone ahead, illuminating them clearly.
Ji Linxue covered Gu Zixi's eyes, squinting towards the source of the light.
Two men stood beside the light source, one short and one burly.
"Oh, I thought you wouldn't come. Didn't expect such a surprise."
Ji Linxue looked at them with a cold face, "Who are you?"
"You don't know who we are and you still dared to come? This whole place is under our surveillance. We knew the moment you came in." The short man looked him over for a while, then a surprised voice rang out, "You're not Gu Hengzhi?"
Saying this, he slowly approached and quickly confirmed a fact, "Who are you? You're not from the Gu family."
"You don't need to know who I am." Ji Linxue put Gu Zixi down, shielding him behind his back, "You just need to know that I'm taking him away today."
The short man let out a coarse laugh, "Little brat, still daring to talk big. Let's teach him a lesson."
The tall man stretched his muscles and slowly approached them.
Ji Linxue patted Gu Zixi's shoulder, "Later, run straight back. Don't come over. Don't let them catch you, understand?"
Gu Zixi's eyes filled with tears, "What about you, Gege?"
Ji Linxue smiled at him, "Don't worry, I'll be fine."
The tall man suddenly rushed forward. Ji Linxue pushed Gu Zixi out and directly met the attack.
The tall man looked robust and was also very agile. He rushed up with a punch. Ji Linxue guarded himself with both hands, forcibly blocking the punch.
Unlike the amateurs he had encountered before, this person's skill was like that of professional bodyguards, he was going for a kill, and his speed was very fast.
His fist wind was very sharp, punch after punch. Soon, Ji Linxue was at a disadvantage.
"Gege, save me!"
Gu Zixi's voice rang out from not far away. Ji Linxue turned his head and saw Gu Zixi being held by the short man, struggling wildly.
Ji Linxue wanted to go over, but the tall man's punches blocked his path. He gritted his teeth, switching from defense to offense, pushing away the opponent's arm, and fiercely striking towards the opponent's neck.
The tall man stood firm, even giving a mocking smile, "Is that all the strength you have?"
Just then, Gu Zixi's voice rang out again, "Gege!"
Ji Linxue turned his head and saw Gu Hengzhi had arrived at some point. He kicked the short man in the back, rescuing Gu Zixi from his grasp.
The short man yelled, "Abin has been caught by them, you run!"
The tall man no longer lingered in the fight. His actions also became more ruthless. Only then did Ji Linxue realize that the opponent had been completely toying with him like a cat playing with a mouse. In just two exchanges, he was grabbed by the neck, and a knife was held to his throat.
"Let him go!" the tall man roared, "Otherwise, I'll kill him!"
Gu Hengzhi's movements paused. The short man struggled desperately in his grasp, "Did you hear me? Let me go, or your companion will die."
After a long moment, Gu Hengzhi's hoarse voice rang out, "Okay, I'll count to three, two, one, and we'll release simultaneously."
"Three."
"Two."
"The people are inside!"
Outside the factory, a sudden clamor of voices erupted, accompanied by footsteps. Instantly, dozens of bodyguards surged in.
The tall man's eyes were bloodshot, "It's over, it's over."
Gu Fengyan and Lin Muxin walked out from the crowd. Gu Fengyan's voice was cold, "Where is my son? I advise you to hand him over, don't make me act."
As his words fell, he noticed Gu Zixi and Gu Hengzhi on the side, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
Gu Zixi cried and ran over, "Papa! Mama! I'm here!"
Lin Muxin embraced him, also crying profusely, "Xiaoxi! Are you okay?"
Gu Zixi shook his head, wiping away Lin Muxin's tears with his small hand, "I'm fine, Mama, don't cry."
The two voices echoed in the air. Unlike the warm tenderness here, the atmosphere on Ji Linxue's side was already tense.
The bodyguards had already rushed over, surrounding the tall man.
The tall man only had one knife, so he saw Ji Linxue as his only way out. The force in his hand grew even more reluctant to loosen.
"Gu Fengyan, give me five million, and I won't kill him."
Gu Fengyan glanced at Ji Linxue and shook his head, "Ridiculous. I don't even know him. Why would you think I'd spend five million for a stranger?"
He wasn't joking at all. If it were Gu Zixi who was captured, he would naturally be willing.
Gu Zixi tried to say something, but Lin Muxin covered his mouth.
"Then I'll kill him!" the tall man's expression was frenzied, "I'll really kill him!"
A bloody scratch almost instantly appeared on Ji Linxue's neck. Gu Hengzhi disregarded everything else, his eyes red, "Let him go! I'm more useful. I'll swap with him!"
"Okay, you come over." The tall man's eyes were vicious. He never intended to let Ji Linxue go, but rather waited for Gu Hengzhi to come over to have another bargaining chip.
"Gu Hengzhi." Seeing his eldest son unmoved, Gu Fengyan shook his head, "You are truly foolish."
Gu Hengzhi ignored him, walking step by step towards the tall man.
Fine beads of sweat emerged on Ji Linxue's forehead. He felt the pain in his neck and made a hoarse sound, "Don't come over."
Gu Hengzhi ignored him, staring intently at his neck.
Just as he was about to get close, a bodyguard from the shadows seized the opportunity and appeared from behind the tall man. The tall man subconsciously turned his head to look. At the same time, Ji Linxue tilted his head up and forcefully struck the opponent's nose. Taking advantage of the tall man's moment of distraction, he snatched the knife from his hand.
Without the hostage and the weapon, the tall man was quickly swarmed by bodyguards and subdued on the ground.
Ji Linxue breathed a sigh of relief, not expecting that this time, he had actually successfully avoided the key plot point.
He smiled at Gu Hengzhi. Gu Hengzhi still stood dumbfounded, seemingly not having reacted yet.
"Gu Hengzhi, it's okay now."
Just as Ji Linxue's words fell, an iron pipe rose from behind Gu Hengzhi. Ji Linxue's pupils constricted. When he reacted, he had already pulled Gu Hengzhi into his embrace, his right hand raised high.
Bang—
The steel pipe hit a soft human body. Everyone present clearly heard the crisp sound of bone.
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