Da Hei ignored him, walked to the sofa, circled it twice, and then walked away.
"Dinner's ready!" Ye Qing brought out the food from the kitchen, the fragrance surprising Huo Pingping immensely.
Old Wang Ba was the first to jump up, but he couldn't make it off the sofa because his shoes were missing.
"Where are my shoes? My shoes?" Old Wang Ba looked frantically around and saw Da Hei coming out of the bathroom, instantly furious, he yelled, "Was it you, you damn dog, that took off with my shoes!"
Da Hei turned its head and glanced at the toilet, appearing guilty. Old Wang Ba immediately burst into a rage, yelling, "You dead dog, hurry up and bring out my shoes!"
"Woof woof." Da Hei barked twice at Old Wang Ba, who immediately softened and waved his hand, "Fine, fine, can't I just get them myself?"
Old Wang Ba jumped down from the sofa and ran barefoot to the bathroom. Just as he entered, Da Hei suddenly sprang up, slammed the door, and shut the bathroom door completely.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Old Wang Ba turned around to bang on the door, but from inside, he couldn't get it open.
"How did the doorknob break? Who did this?" Old Wang Ba complained from inside, "Hey, Little Leaf, hurry up and help me open this door."
As Old Wang Ba shouted, Da Hei also stood at the door, barking loudly. This drowned out Old Wang Ba's voice and his calls went ignored.
Ye Qing brought out the food and saw everyone seated at the table except for Old Wang Ba, curiously asked, "Where's Old Wang Ba?"
Huo Pingping maliciously enjoyed the scene and pointed towards the bathroom, "There, tricked by Da Hei and locked inside."
Ye Qing knew that was typical of Da Hei, and chuckled, "What business did he have in the bathroom, anyway."
"He said Da Hei took his shoes there, ran to fetch them," Huo Pingping pointed below the sofa and laughed, "That old guy had his shoes dragged under the sofa by Da Hei. He didn't bother to look properly and ran straight for the bathroom. Honestly, his IQ can't even compare to mine!"
Ye Qing couldn't help but laugh, walked over to the bathroom, gently patted Da Hei's forehead, and opened the bathroom door.
Old Wang Ba, barefoot inside, was yelling loudly, but as soon as the door flew open, he charged out and started cursing Da Hei, "You dead scoundrel dog, dare to deceive me, one day I'll stew you into a delicious pot of meat!"
"Woof woof woof!" Da Hei barked loudly, frightening Old Wang Ba enough to make him dash to the table and grab his chopsticks yelling, "Let's eat, let's eat, Little Ye, keep an eye on your dog, if he bites someone, they'll need a rabies vaccine."
Black Bear earnestly said, "Da Hei usually doesn't bite people, it only bites bad people."
Without any embarrassment, Old Wang Ba nodded, "No wonder it didn't bite me."
Black Bear said, "Don't always curse at it, Da Hei holds grudges. If it targets you, you're going to have a hard time later!"
"I can still... uh..." Old Wang Ba wanted to boast a bit, but recalling being trapped in the bathroom by Da Hei, he suddenly felt deflated. This dog was really not ordinary; he didn't know how, but it managed to break the doorknob, and Old Wang Ba couldn't even open the door from inside. It was wise not to offend such a high-intelligence military dog.
Huo Pingping initially had little hope for the meal Ye Qing had cooked. The aroma was inviting, so she reluctantly took a bite. After that bite, she found couldn't stop eating; this meal was far more satisfying than any meal before, leaving her face expressing her lingering desire for more.
Huo Pingping exclaimed, "Dead soldier, I didn't expect your cooking to be this good. What were you in the military, part of the cooking corps or what?"
Black Bear replied, "Even the cooking corps didn't cook as deliciously as the captain."
"Wow, then you're really wasting your talent not being in the cooking corps," Huo Pingping said, "With your skills, forget being a salesclerk, you should open a restaurant, you'd definitely earn much more than you do now."
Looking at Ye Qing, Black Bear said regretfully, "The captain not being in the military is the real waste."
Ye Qing didn't reply; if not for his brother's situation, he indeed would have preferred to spend his entire life in the military. Although the battlefield was swarming with shells and danger was always present, he had grown accustomed to that life.
Underneath the bright lights and glamor of this modern city lay a darkness, a world full of sins and vile human nature, which he found far less appealing than the perilous jungle.
After taking another dose of medicine at noon, Ye Qing's condition improved slightly, and the flow of Internal Breath within him strengthened. His physical strength had nearly half recovered, and now even if he encountered three or four people, Ye Qing was fully capable of defending himself. In another day, he would be completely restored!
The entire day had been eventless, but the next day, Ye Qing was able to train as before. At this rate, he would definitely be completely recovered today.
However, in the afternoon, the thing Ye Qing feared most still happened. He and Black Bear had jogged a few laps around the building and when they returned home, they found the door wide open and the house in disarray. Huo Pingping, who had been resting at home, was missing.
Da Hei was crouched in the corner with a bloody mark on his back, likely from a knife wound. Clinging to his mouth were several pieces of torn fabric, and there were bloodstains in the house; Da Hei must have bitten someone.
Ye Qing's face changed drastically; undoubtedly, someone had come and taken Huo Pingping. And more likely than not, it was Li Lianshan's people!
Black Bear hurriedly bandaged Da Hei's wounds, unable to help himself from saying, "These gangsters are really lawless. To think they'd barge into someone's home in broad daylight and take a hostage, they're even more brazen than the biggest drug lords!"
Ye Qing furrowed his brows and immediately phoned Zhao Chengshuang.
Upon hearing that Huo Pingping had been kidnapped, Zhao Chengshuang was also greatly shocked. Two days had passed since Boss Lin had negotiated with Li Lianshan—there was no reason for Li to act now.
Zhao Chengshuang consoled Ye Qing for a few moments, then immediately called Li Lianshan. This time he bypassed Old Lin because the matter infuriated him too.
Listening to Zhao Chengshuang's intense invectives, Li Lianshan's voice sounded genuinely surprised, "What? Someone took that woman? What happened? Who did it?"
"Li Lianshan, let's not beat around the bush," Zhao Chengshuang clenched his teeth, "Shenchuan City is only so big; I can find out who did what. I told you, two days later, you could handle things as you see fit. But now, not even two days have passed, and you've taken the woman. You clearly have no regard for my standing.
I, Zhao Chengshuang, may not be capable of much, but if we must come to a desperate pass, I will make sure you have no peace either!"
Li Lianshan said, "Young Master Zhao, since I'd already promised Old Lin, I definitely wouldn't touch those people within two days. I truly don't know who did this. But I can assure you, it definitely wasn't my men. If you don't believe me, you can investigate however you wish.
I can tell you right here and now: if it indeed was my men, then I, Li Lianshan, will immediately leave Shenchuan City and never step foot in it again."
Zhao Chengshuang couldn't help but be surprised, perhaps this matter really wasn't Li's doing?
"Li Lianshan, I will definitely look into this matter. If it wasn't you, then I will surely apologize for the things I said today!" Zhao Chengshuang didn't say much, but his intent was very clear. If it was you, I definitely won't let you get away with it!
"No need for apologies; it's normal for you to suspect me given the circumstances. After all, you spoke up for me, Young Master Zhao; whoever did this was disrespecting you," Li Lianshan said, "Young Master Zhao, better sort this out soon. Li Lianshan keeps his word—the deal with you expires tomorrow at noon. After that, don't be upset with whatever I might do!"
"We'll see then!" Zhao Chengshuang dropped the call with these final words, his face full of anxious bewilderment. If Li Lianshan didn't orchestrate this, then who did? How many enemies does Ye Qing have in Shenchuan City, and how many does Huo Pingping have?
Zhao Chengshuang racked his brains but couldn't figure out who was behind this, while Ye Qing received a call from an unknown number.
"Hey Ye, know who this is?" A domineering voice came through from the other end of the phone.
"Young Master Wei!" Ye Qing's eyebrows immediately knitted together; now he knew who had taken Huo Pingping.
Li Lianshan had an agreement with Zhao Chengshuang, but Young Master Wei had none. In fact, Ye Qing had always focused his attention on Li Lianshan, considering him the biggest threat, and hadn't paid much heed to Young Master Wei.
But he'd never expected that Young Master Wei would be the first to strike; this spoiled young master was daring and made a daring move in broad daylight, taking hostages right from their homes—utterly lawless!
"Remember me, huh? Good, good." Young Master Wei chuckled coldly, "Wanna hear your friend scream?"
As Young Master Wei spoke, he moved the phone away, and Ye Qing could distinctly hear Huo Pingping's screams from the other side, indicating her distress.
Ye Qing's expression darkened, and after a moment's silence, he said, "Young Master Wei, don't take this too far. She's just a girl; bullying her gets you nothing. If you have an issue, come at me!"
"Don't worry, I'm giving you a chance," Young Master Wei sneered, "Tonight, 10:30 PM at North Huanqian Bay Bar, send over that big guy from last time to make the exchange. Remember, 10:30, and your friend won't lose a single hair before then. But if you're even a minute late after 10:30, prepare to collect your friend's corpse!"
"And no cops. Don't say I didn't warn you. Whether the cops show up or not is another matter, but if I find out you've contacted the police, then don't wait for 10:30; just prepare for a funeral!"
Ye Qing, holding the phone, stood silently for a long while, then turned to Black Bear, "Xiong Zi, get ready; we move tonight."
"Yes!" Black Bear strode into the room and pulled out a military uniform to wear.
Dressed in a military uniform, Black Bear appeared even more imposing and muscular. With his formidable physique, standing there exuded an oppressive aura. His taut muscles and clenched fists showed he was already in combat mode!