Crimson Instinct

Chapter 185: Tell us what happened

Time: 6:35 AM. Eighteen hours and fifty-five minutes left.

---

*Xin Lei*

Luo Zhiqiang was discharged from the hospital as he was out of danger now. For Duan Deming, we had already lost all hope but still told the doctor to inform us if he wakes up in a rare chance.

Back at the apartment where Dad was, he said, "I heard what happened. It's unfortunate."

I nodded.

Then I saw someone else who looked all too familiar to me.

"Qi Qiang!"

Liao Huifang exclaimed and rushed towards him.

He raised his head from his laptop, and just as he was about to say something, Liao Huifang pounced on him. "Qi Qiang! How are you here?"

He pushed her away and wiped his shirt. "Ew Liao Huifang. Stay away. You must haven't even taken a bath yet."

I chuckled. 

She hit him on the head. "Shut up! You don't look anything different than a zombie, either."

He adjusted his glasses and said, "At least I am clean. Shoo. Don't come close to me."

"Hah! Now I will rub all of myself on you." And she inched towards him.

Qi Qiang hopped off the couch and ran. "Hey! Stay away from me, you filthy dumbo."

They were playing their tug-of-war when Luo Zhiqiang suddenly cleared his throat. I held in my smile as his expression seemed cold and dark.

I guess their feelings are mutual hoho~~

"I think somebody does not like it. I can sense something dark emanating from my side." Bai Li commented.

I typed. "It's Luo Zhiqiang."

"I thought so."

I giggled.

"Nice to meet you, Qi Qiang." Bai Li smiled.

"Big bro! Big sis!"

I nodded and smiled. I typed. "Who brought you here?"

"Big brother Xin Zhen. He sent an officer from IB to pick me up, and he brought me here."

Big bro just shrugged. "We are all in Dongcheng, so why not gather together?"

"A very bright boy indeed," Dad said, "I am amazed how he works on the laptop. I cannot even see him typing. He taught me so many things, too, while you were gone."

Qi Qiang grinned. "That was just some basic thingsOh yes! I searched for some places starting from SC in Dongcheng."

We immediately gathered around him.

Bai Li asked, "What did you find?"

"There are many places. I have opened the map here and marked all the places. Maybe it can help."

We took a look, and I said the same to Bai Li. I listed out all the places, and he shook his head.

Shi Ruiling sighed. "There are so many places. Cafes, shops, malls, street names..."

"But none of them feels it's the base. No. I think we are looking at this from the wrong direction. We are missing something out. I don't know what." Bai Li brushed his hand through his hair and sighed.

There was silence as we all put on our thinking caps.

Dad rubbed his chin. "Something starting from SC...it cannot necessarily be that way."

I typed. "I get that feeling. Like maybe we have to generalize it."

Bro narrowed his eyes. "I think the General might be pointing towards something more basic, and we are looking at specifics. This isn't helping."

Qi Qiang and Liao Huifang frowned. "I don't understand."

Bai Li said. "Like um... We have to sort by places that start with SC, but they are not their actual names. For example, Aromas is a cafe in Dongcheng that starts with AR, but if you look at it from the point of view as to what kind of place it basically is, then it comes down to the fact that it is a cafe. So it starts from CA. Aromas is the specific name, but generally, it's a cafe."

I typed. "Like the Pheonix mall, which is the biggest shopping mall in Dongcheng. It starts with PH, but it's basically a mall, so we can say that it starts from MA."

"Aaah, now I get it."

They nodded.

I typed. "I think that's what we were missing out. That's why these places are not making any sense."

"Yeah. I think he was trying to say what sort of place is that, not it's actual name."

Dad shrugged. "Plus, the spots on the map are all functioning and crowded places. The boss would hardly choose it as a place where they want to torture victims. Too much visibility. They cannot bring victims without anybody ever noticing them."

Suddenly, my phone buzzed, and I frowned as I looked at an unknown number.

"Who is it?" Bro asked.

I shook my head, indicating that I had no idea.

"Pick it up."

As soon as I clicked on the green button, I heard a panicked voice from the other end. 

"Is it Xin Lei? I am Zhang Chao. Please help me!"

Eh? What happened?

Bai Li asked, "Zhang Chao? What happened? Why do you seem in panic?"

"Is that you, Bai Li? Please. I need your help and mainly Xin Lei's. M-my Ning is injured. Somebody just almost knocked her against a car. She is b-bleeding...I-I don't know what to do"

An attack on Zhang Ning again?

I quickly typed. "Is it Zhang Xiulan?"

"I am not sure. I have asked my assistant to investigate. Right now, the culprit is unclear, but I think it could be her. Please come quickly. I-I"

Bai Li asked, "But you must have your own doctor, right?"

"Right now, I cannot trust anybody!" He suddenly yelled in frustration. "The attack was too close to our home, and I don't know if the culprit is nearby. What if some doctor I call turns out to be in disguise, and instead of treating her, he kills her! I can only think of you!"

Zhang Chao was too riled up. I could even hear him breathing heavily on the other end and the sound of his 

"...A-and sorry if it seems rude, but you cannot talk, so I can verify that you are the real doctor. And Bai Li cannot see either so..."

Suddenly, bro banged his fist on the table. His expression wasn't a very good sight to see.

Ughh

I signed and said that it was fine. I wasn't offended.

Dad raised his hand and gave one glance to him. Shi Ruiling patted his shoulder, and he only cursed.

Bai Li said, "Zhang Chao. People can pretend to be mute and blind."

"I have my methods to 'verify.' Now, please, will you come? I know you don't like me because I...I got my driver killed to hide Qiuyue's death, but please help Ning! She wasn't involved!"

I typed. "Is she in your house?"

"Yes."

Bai Li asked, "So she doesn't need hospitalization?"

"I don't think it's that serious...she has hit her head, but other than that, there are no injuries on her body."

I typed. "Okay. We will be there."

"Thank you. Please come fast. Should I send someone to pick you?"

Bai Li said, "We will come on our own."

"Okay... please come fast. I am waiting!"

He hung up.

"Fucking bastard!" Bro cursed.

I hugged bro and smiled.

He snorted. "You can be fine with it, but I am not."

Dad asked, "Are you really going?"

I typed. "I cannot ignore if he has called me as a doctor."

Bai Li said, "Let's go. Maybe we can get some clue to the place there."

I typed. "I thought the same."

Liao Huifang said, "I will come with you too!"

Luo Zhiqiang slowly got up. "I think I can help you as well."

I typed. "You should rest, Luo Zhiqiang. Liao Huifang can come if she wants."

Bro said, "She is right. You rest, Zhiqiang. Help us in cracking their base down until Xin Lei is done treating Zhang Ning."

"I will look for more such general places," Qi Qiang already started typing on his laptop.

"Let's go, Xin Lei."

---

The guard let us in, and as soon as we got inside, Zhang Chao hurriedly came towards us.

"Thank God! I will take you to her room. Ning is getting even paler. Please"

His brows were tightly knitted together.

I nodded.

He took us to her room, and I saw Zhang Ning lying on the bed, breathing heavily with sweat covered on her forehead. She was slightly trembling and shaking.

I sat beside her and took her pulse. It was getting weaker and weaker. Her gaze seemed unfocused too.

I checked her wound on her head, and it indeed looked bad. Her forehead felt hot, too, with a fever.

I listed some things down and typed. "Get these things quickly. I will stitch her wound and bandage it."

Zhang Chao immediately handed it over to one guard. "Do as she says."

"Ugh."

Zhang Ning mumbled. "Dad"

He sat on her other side and patted her head. "Ning Ning don't worry. Look. Xin Lei is here. You will be fine in no time. Just stay strong"

"Dad"

I typed. "Don't say anything and rest. Don't strain yourself. It will be more painful if you speak."

The guard brought everything I needed, and I immediately got to work. I stitched her wound in ten minutes and quickly wrapped her head with medical tape.

I typed. "It's done. I have injected some medicine to lower down her temperature. Let her rest now."

Zhang Chao said, "Thank you...I am so grateful to you."

Bai Li said, "So, show your gratitude by telling us what happened."