Chapter 67: Encountering Lu Yunzhou, Who Came to Save Her

Just as Shen Zhaoxi regained her senses, a sudden burst of gunfire erupted outside Blackwater City. It sounded as though an armed force had arrived.

Jiang Chen’s gaze darkened. He moved to the edge of the factory, glanced outside, and quickly sized up the situation.

“Boss, it’s the military!” he announced, frowning as he ducked back in through the window.

His expression was grave as he turned to Shen Zhaoxi. “There are also police vehicles.”

His tone grew even heavier as he spoke the last words, as if even he hadn’t expected this—both military and police forces had arrived together.

Shen Zhaoxi was puzzled. For a kidnapping case, even if someone had discovered it, surely only the police would have come. But now that both the military and the police had mobilized, something was clearly amiss. Normally, the military wouldn’t involve themselves in such a minor affair.

Shen Zhaoxi and her companions had come here because their investigation had led them to clues connected to Blackwater City. She had come to see for herself what was really going on. But it was evident now that they had walked right into a trap. Not only them, but even those who had kidnapped Shen Sisi were unwitting pawns in someone else’s scheme.

This was, in fact, an elaborate snare.

Blackwater City might once have harbored secrets, but now, someone had deliberately hired people to kidnap Shen Sisi and bring her here, using the kidnapping to distract the military’s attention. In this way, whatever had previously transpired within Blackwater City would remain hidden. The illicit dealings there had likely been moved elsewhere long before Shen Sisi’s abduction, and this place was now nothing more than the scene of a kidnapping.

As for why they had chosen Shen Sisi as their victim, Shen Zhaoxi suspected it was a mistake—their true target was herself. Only by kidnapping the eldest daughter of the Shen family could they provoke the powerful military and political clan based in the capital.

The mastermind had cast an exceptionally wide net, ensnaring not just the kidnappers, but also Shen Zhaoxi and her friends. Now, those who had taken Shen Sisi would become scapegoats for the real powers behind Blackwater City. What a meticulous scheme.

Jiang Chen and Xiao Xiao both looked grim. With the military on the scene, Blackwater City was, for the moment, secure. But this also meant they risked running into the combined forces outside—and revealing their own identities was not an option.

Shen Zhaoxi’s voice was cold as she issued her order. “We’re leaving. Now.”

“Yes, Boss.” Jiang Chen’s face was taut and stern, his lips pressed in a thin line. Even though the military had arrived, they were strangers—if caught, they would have to explain themselves and their backgrounds, and might even need to verify their identities with the military. It would be a mess. Their best option was to get out immediately.

Listening to their exchange, Shen Sisi felt completely lost. Her eyes, red from crying, latched onto the most important point: Shen Zhaoxi and her group were about to leave.

“Where are you going?” Suddenly, Shen Sisi reached out in desperation, grabbing the edge of Shen Zhaoxi’s coat. She looked up, her tear-filled eyes wide and round, full of worry. She was frightened—Shen Zhaoxi was the only person she knew here. If Shen Zhaoxi left, what would she do?

Seeing the tears in Shen Sisi’s eyes, Shen Zhaoxi frowned. Leaving now would indeed be complicated with Shen Sisi in tow. They couldn’t escape by water—Shen Sisi couldn’t swim.

Shen Sisi, her voice small and plaintive, stared at the stern-faced Shen Zhaoxi. “I just want to go home.”

Shen Zhaoxi met her gaze calmly. “You want to go home?” she repeated.

Shen Sisi nodded. Just as she was about to say more, Shen Zhaoxi suddenly raised her hand and struck Shen Sisi sharply on the back of the neck. Shen Sisi’s world went black and she collapsed, unconscious.

Shen Zhaoxi’s voice was cold. “This way, when you wake up, you’ll be home.” And there was no need to be afraid.

Jiang Chen’s eyes widened at the scene, inwardly marveling at his boss’s decisiveness. What a direct solution!

By now, the gunfire within Blackwater City had gradually ceased, replaced by the sound of disordered footsteps as search teams fanned out. The city, built on water, held dozens of factories and warehouses, sprawling enough that the military and police had split up to search for hostages.

Hearing the commotion outside, Shen Zhaoxi lowered her eyes. She gently laid Shen Sisi in a corner against the wall, letting her drift in unconscious slumber. The dim light inside cast stark shadows over Shen Zhaoxi’s pale face. Her black hair was pulled into a high ponytail, giving her a crisp, capable look. Dressed all in black, she seemed even colder, her movements brisk as she slid her blood-stained knife back into her belt.

She glanced coldly out the window, her voice low as she spoke to Jiang Chen and the others. “We go out the back.”

Their time was running out—the searchers would reach them soon.

“Yes, Boss!” Jiang Chen and the others exchanged glances, then slipped out through the inconspicuous rear door of the factory.

Outside, Lu Yunzhou stood in his black tactical uniform, his voice deep and magnetic, his expression icy. “Have you found anyone?”

“Captain Lu, not yet! But we did find an unconscious girl in Factory East 25—she appears to be a hostage brought here by the kidnappers.”

Lu Yunzhou’s tone was cold as steel. “Keep searching.”

“Yes, sir!”

These military units had been dispatched at a moment’s notice. Someone had sent word to the Shen family, claiming that their eldest daughter had been taken, demanding ransom, and threatening that otherwise they would find Shen Zhaoxi’s corpse the next day.

Upon receiving the message and discovering that Shen Zhaoxi was missing in the night, the Shen family immediately sent people to search. Lu Yunzhou quickly learned that something had happened to her as well, and began investigating those who had contacted the family, tracking their IP address by computer through the night, which led them to Blackwater City.

The kidnappers who had visited the Shen family were here.

Thus, at the very moment Shen Zhaoxi came to investigate the forces previously mentioned by Sheng Ting, she ran straight into Lu Yunzhou, who had come to rescue her.

Shen Zhaoxi was speechless. Grandpa, you really outdid yourself this time. Should I let myself be kidnapped, just to make you all believe it’s real? After all, she hadn’t been home all night, and this mess had unfolded. Even if her grandfather knew the truth, Lu Yunzhou did not.

How was she supposed to explain this?

Frowning, Shen Zhaoxi weighed her options. In the end, she decided it was best to play dead for now.

“You want to take her place?” Jiang Chen was stunned, glancing at the unconscious Shen Sisi. “Boss, what about her?”

“You take her with you,” Shen Zhaoxi replied. Then she shot Jiang Chen a look so subtle it was almost imperceptible.

Jiang Chen’s brow furrowed, a sense of foreboding creeping over him. Shen Zhaoxi’s look seemed to say: Knock me out. Thank you.