Abduction

"We cannot provide any additional help other than this or control what you do," Her soft and sweet voice echoed in his ears as he frowned slightly.

They are giving me a second chance to re-create my image by offering to provide me with help and also eliminating Zhu Bai and Wen Dong in a way to avenge the dagger. While it sounded extremely intriguing, I'd say it is rather a difficult process and the process of cleansing my name wouldn't end with that.

By merging innate body with the dagger, I could summon the dagger at will and especially in times of desperation, it would come in handy.

Cui Len'an was extremely intrigued by his own plan and also possibilities of the future.

It sounds very much like those novels I read in my high school days…

Wen Dong and Zhu Bai weren't difficult rivals to deal with, one scandal could potentially destroy their future but how would he do it without it making it seem he is a snitch, who betrays his own kind and rebuilding trust with the community?

I may have to think about this…

Cui Len'an grimaced inwardly.

"May I ask something?"

"Sure," Yue Lan smiled, assuring him with her smile.

"Does the dagger have a name? Or does the lady have a name?" Cui Len'an glanced at the dagger and looked at Yue Lan.

"The lady was called Yi Ling, we have no other information of her due to her wish to keep her identity disclosed," She spoke with a thoughtful face, "The dagger doesn't have a name though because it has never been used before giving them to you."

"Oh, I understand. Would it mind if I name it?" Cui Len'an smiled graciously and shot a glance at Old Lao. Old Lao nodded his head and responded,

"I'm sure it wouldn't mind."

What name should I call it? I can't possibly go around saying dagger all the time. That is very unprofessional of me.

Lady of Hatred? Madam of Resentment?

After a couple of moments, he eventually came up with a name.

"I shall name it Lady of Despair." Cui Len'an spoke up after a minute of thinking and smiled.

The three of them didn't speak for quite some time before having the silence shattered by Old Lao's words,

"Are you sure of what you want to do now?" Old Lao asked Cui Len'an meaningfully.

Cui Len'an nodded his head slowly, "I am sure of what to do now."

"If you need any help, use this to summon us," Yue Lan took out a wooden pendant from her pocket and extended it to Cui Len'an's side.

The wooden pendant looked plain and ordinary; it wasn't worth looking at.

"How?" Cui Len'an asked after accepting the pendant, inspecting it, and finding there isn't any button to press.

"Whisper Lao Cai or Yue Lan in English and tap it three times," She smiled at him, completely aware of his educational background.

"Also, remember to be careful. Some organization may send people after you…"

He nodded and thanked them repeatedly. Old Lao and Yue Lan prepared to leave his house before Old Lao spoke out, "You will find out more about our organization when you are done with your business in Beiying first."

"I will have them personally discuss with you once you are done with sweeping all the mess you have made here. Our organization isn't headquartered here but, in another province, and you may have to make preparations to move out someday."

"After all, Beiying isn't a suitable place for you…"

Old Lao voiced with a complex expression and eventually left along with Yue Lan, leaving behind no traces of having ever been here.

Cui Len'an stood motionless for a couple of whiles before averting his attention to the coffee and breakfast, realizing they all went cold and hard.

Despite that, Cui Len'an sat back down in his seat and continued eating.

Merging the dagger with my innate body is the ultimate goal of the week or month, depending on how I plan to deal with Zhu Bai and Wen Dong and the time needed to prepare.

I also plan to head out to take some money out of my account and see if my father would still be supporting my lifestyle…

Also, since rebirth, I haven't had time to see my grandmother…

So many things to do! I think I may have to postpone some of these to another day!

-

Having finished his cold breakfast, he went out in his white t-shirt, dark blue jeans, and English-imported casual brown boots.

I own more than twenty of these boots in different colors…

He thought self-deprecatingly.

Cui Len'an decided to take a stroll on the pavement, deep in thought,

I haven't talked to my father for quite some time now, I wonder what is he doing and how he is coping…I am not certain he would welcome me with open arms.

He read some news on his phone,

No news of his incident? He must have swept them under the rugs…Rich people do get away with everything including myself although I have now paid the full price.

He let out a bitter laugh while finding his way to the bank.

"…"

My money?!? They're all gone?!!

Cui Len'an came out of the bank with a drained and blank expression, his face almost melting due to his shock at seeing his account balance.

They informed me someone had frozen my assets and seized all of my income!

Cui Len'an couldn't laugh or cry, just speechless and in addition to his speechlessness were mixed reactions. He remembered he transferred some cash from this joint account with his father, into his own personal bank.

One he had secretly done using a different identity!

Then again, he didn't want to take it out due to it being saved in case of an emergency and his situation wasn't something in need of urgent help. He had a lot of ways to earn money without batting a sweat.

That is to sell some of my collection of estates and cars! Too many of those things are making my life very crowded and high-prolific.

The money would last him a lifetime therefore he deliberated to put them for sale some day or later.

I also own a company as well but with the use of another identity!

He recalled he had opened a company a couple of years although the income it had accumulated couldn't cover all of his yearly expenses, it was something he was quite satisfied with.

I have more plans to use the company for something else so I won't put it on sale anytime soon!

Cui Len'an decided to call his sister and ask what was up with the current situation. Overall, he didn't hear much from the Cui Family.

Beep! Beep!

"Hello…" A cold and hoarse voice echoed in his ears.

"Uh sis! There's something I wanted to ask you…" Cui Len'an spoke awkwardly, trying to make his voice sound polite.

After all, the person he was speaking to was in charge of overseas projects of CY Conglomerate and she could be said to be one of the highest-ranking members of the family. Right now, she was currently in Singapore and going to meet some investors there.

Cui Xue!

She was the eldest miss of the family and the second eldest sibling of Cui Len'an. She was quite known to be a capable and ruthless businesswoman.

"An? Is that you? What is it?" An abrupt noise could be heard as she recovered out of her daze and spoke softly.

"I wanted to ask you if you know that father seized my assets…"

"He did. Are you in need of money?" She said indifferently and the iciness of her voice could still be felt through the phone system. She didn't seem surprised at all.

She was also known as the Ice Queen!

"No, no, no. I was just simply asking. I have some money left on me, it's enough to feed me for quite some time," He let out a bitter laugh and continued, "How have you been?"

She didn't reply for quite some time and eventually returned back to the call, "I have been well."

She didn't speak anymore and Cui Len'an couldn't persuade her to speak. After all, she was an extremely reserved and quiet eldest miss.

"I think I am a bit in a hurry, I'll talk to you later," Cui Len'an was about to end the call before being stopped by a cold voice,

"Wait! There's something I need your help with," She spoke indifferently but was laced with hidden unease.

"Kan has gone missing for quite some time. Are you aware of his whereabouts?"

Cui Kan, the third eldest young master and the older brother of Cui Len'an. He was also infamous in his circle of friends for being a large money-spender, having gambled most of his inheritance away in some cities and coming back with only his clothes on and no money left.

The money-spending habit of his got quite a handful of scolding from father but he didn't stop there, he often escaped home secretly to spend his money abroad.

He had only returned home a couple of weeks ago and now completely no news of his whereabouts…

I wouldn't be surprised if he was held hostage by some mafia or gambling boss…

He wanted to speak out loud but was considerate of the fact he was still talking to his sister.

"No. Not that I know of…"

I spent ten days in the hospital! How am I to be aware of his location and doings?

He thought to himself.

Beep! Beep!

Another phone call was heard from the other side, Cui Xue immediately told Cui Len'an,

"I have a call to pick up. I will return back later," Without leaving him anytime to continue speaking, she hung up the phone.

"…"

What was going on with everyone? They seemed to be quite busy lately.

Ding!

A blue notification popped up on his phone screen and it was from his bank,

'200,000 RMB was transferred to your main account.'

"…"

Cui Len'an was momentarily stunned, he felt a bit embarrassed knowing his sister may have detected the fluctuation in his voice when he mentioned money. She was quite observant of his words and picked up on the reason why he had called.

It feels a bit embarrassing to accept her act of kindness as a younger brother…

Cui Len'an left the bank and took a trip to his company, he eventually got a call back from his sister.

"What is the matter, sister?" Cui Len'an asked.

"Kan has been held hostage," She said slowly with an anxious voice, Cui Len'an narrowed his eyes as he stared out the window of his car, "By whom?"

"By The Snakes," She replied hurriedly, "I got a call just now about his whereabouts."

The Snakes, a gang formed by a drug lord, was notorious for their acts of terrorizing citizens and especially, those who are rich and famous.

"How is he?"

"He is doing badly; he hasn't been fed anything for days now. Dad is trying his best to find him."

"Send me his whereabouts," He said solemnly, "I'll contact the police!"

"No! They threatened if the information of this abduction is revealed to the police, they will take Kan's life," Cui Xue breathed heavily.

"The only way to get him back is by paying them 50 million RMB…"

50 million RMB?! That's way more expensive than having to raise a child to adulthood!

Don't tell me I have to head there by myself…

'The more progress you make, the more knowledge you will acquire.'

Old Lao's voice resonated inside his head.

"Send the location to my WeChat and continuously inform me of any new news," He spoke solemnly, having come up with a plan, "I will try to find fighters who are capable of taking on this mission."

Those fighters are mostly me…

"Alright," She didn't speak for quite some time, apparently sending the location to his phone, "I will transfer you more money."

"No need!" He interrupted her, "My money will be enough to cover the expenses."

"All you need to do is to update me on his wellbeing and status."

"Umm," She hummed determinedly.