Chapter 141: My Eyes Felt as If Stung by Bees

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As I looked at the three of them, the smile on my face gradually faded. Tossing the skewer and the bottled water aside, I took deliberate steps toward the trio. Their expressions changed drastically, and they exchanged glances with each other. At this moment, I was ready to fight at any time, my hand already reaching for the collapsible baton tucked at my waist—the one Prince Hao had given me earlier. Yet, I never expected that the three would drop their hoes and turn to flee. Their speed was so swift that even I couldn’t catch up. But I had no intention of chasing them. Stowing away the baton, I approached the large pit, jumped in, and immediately untied the sack. Just as I caught sight of a person’s head, a sharp sting suddenly exploded before my eyes. “Ah!” I cried out. Instantly blinded, the pain was excruciating, as if my eyeballs were about to burst. The agony threw me to the ground, my hands instinctively trying to cover my eyes, though I dared not touch them. Soon, I felt several kicks landing on me. “Damn it! Why are you hitting me? You were kidnapped! If I hadn’t seen it, you’d have been buried alive by now!” Perhaps my shout worked, for the blows stopped. I don’t know how long passed before I could squint and make out my surroundings. Through the haze, I heard soft sobbing nearby. I reached for my backpack, pulled out the bottled water, and began rinsing my eyes. Moments later, I used my phone’s light to examine myself. My eyes were so swollen I doubted my own grandfather would recognize me. It would take days to reduce this swelling. How could I possibly go out looking like this? Feeling helpless, I turned toward the source of the sobbing. It was none other than the man searching for his girlfriend, with a canister of pepper spray placed beside him. Well, imagine—a grown man carrying such a spray to confront me? “Hey, buddy, why are you crying? I think I’m the one who should be crying,” I said, pointing to my eyes. “You tell me—were you aiming properly when you sprayed me?”

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The man glanced at me, startled for a moment, but said nothing more. He sat on the ground, still sobbing. “What’s the matter with you? Acting like a woman. Look at your age—why cry when something happens?” I pressed. “What else can I do? I only wanted to take my girlfriend out for some fun, and now she’s missing. I was almost buried alive myself. What else do you expect?” “Solutions come from the mind. Can’t you think positively? Those people wanted to bury you alive because your actions had an effect.” “I… I’m going to report this to the police. The ones who tried to bury me must be the ones who kidnapped my girlfriend. She’s not missing—she’s been abducted!” I clapped my hands sharply. “That’s right. But even if you report it now, it’s too late. By the time the investigation starts, you might only find your girlfriend’s corpse.” “Then… what should I do? My girlfriend’s been kidnapped, and I was nearly buried alive.” I sat beside him, pulling out a pack of cigarettes from my pocket. Lighting one, I took a drag despite the smoke irritating my already painful eyes, causing tears to flow. “I still say this: trust me. I can help you find your girlfriend.” “You?” He looked skeptical. I smiled faintly and handed him a business card. “Manager Jiang Huai of Jianghuai Funeral Services.” “Jiang Huai Funeral Services? You’re the manager?” “Yes, that’s me.” It seemed odd—what did a funeral director have to do with finding someone? “If you want to help, I’m fine with it, but I have no money to pay you.” The man was desperate; he was alone here with no relatives or friends. “Don’t worry, I don’t want money. I just arrived and have nowhere to stay. You let me stay with you, and we split the accommodation costs. I guarantee I’ll find your girlfriend.” “Really?” He seemed incredulous. I quickly concocted a reason he could believe.

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From what I learned, the man’s name was Yin Cheng, an art teacher. This trip to Majiazhuang was not just to attend the famous festival but also to paint a few works. But on the very first day, something like this happened. “I’ve been searching for three days, but there’s no clue about my girlfriend.” His face was grim. Anyone would feel the same, especially after nearly being buried alive. “Jiang Huai, do you know who those people were? Why did they try to bury me alive?” I pursed my lips. “I’ll help you find her, but on one condition: you can’t get involved or start asking around about your girlfriend like before. Otherwise, you’ll remain in danger. Luck won’t always be on your side.” After a pause, I continued, “Think about what would have happened if you hadn’t met me today.” “But I…” “Enough. Your girlfriend’s disappearance isn’t ordinary. You’re lucky to have encountered me quickly, unlike another guy.” I sighed. The ‘other guy’ was none other than Qin Nian. “That won’t do. I must come with you!” Yin Cheng said earnestly. “If you’re with me, we can watch out for each other. If I’m alone and you’re not there, what if those people come after me?” “You said your other identity is a private detective, and you have some skills. You can protect me.” That was awkward—I made up the private detective part on the spot, saying I was here looking for someone on behalf of another boss. Yet, he actually believed it. Looking at him, I thought: with that pepper spray, he got me into this mess, so does he really need my protection? I smiled wryly but still agreed. “Alright, but whatever you do, you must listen to me. Understand?”