C19 The One Who Asked for Help

Ye Fann had been nursing his injuries for several years and was nearly back to full health. However, today's events had set him back, and he'd need a few more months to heal.

Desperate to escape the ropes, he had expended a great deal of his energy, biting down on his teeth and fighting for his life to break free.

As soon as he stepped out of the hotel, a mouthful of fresh blood hit the ground, and he collapsed.

Huang Xinying rushed to his side, her eyes brimming with concern. "Ye Fann, are you okay? I'm taking you to the hospital right now."

"No need," Ye Fann replied, shaking his head, his face ashen as he fought through the pain. "I'm... I'm fine. Just need to rest a bit. Let's head back, now. Go on."

Despite her concerns, Huang Xinying insisted they go to the hospital, but Ye Fann was even more adamant. With no other choice, she helped him back to his house.

Lying in bed, Ye Fann could feel the tumultuous flow of blood and Qi within him, making it hard to breathe.

"Ye Fann, please, let's go to the hospital," Huang Xinying urged once more.

But the hospital was out of the question; it wouldn't help.

Ye Fann scribbled a prescription and handed it to Huang Xinying. "Herbal medicine, for balancing the Qi and blood."

"Alright, I'll go get your medicine right away." Huang Xinying didn't stop to question how Ye Fann knew about herbal remedies; she just headed out to fill the prescription.

Shortly after Huang Xinying had left, Ye Fann pondered a concern: Where was Huang Yong?

He recalled Chung Dafu inviting Huang Yong to the hotel, yet Huang Yong hadn't shown up.

Later, Ye Fann found out from Huang Xinying that Huang Yong hadn't just failed to show—he'd abandoned her at the hotel entrance and run off.

Taking a deep breath, Ye Fann clenched his fists, his mind set on finding a chance to deal with that foolhardy individual. Suddenly, Wang Ying entered. "Xinying, where's your brother? He's not back for dinner yet, and I can't reach him on his phone."

Before Huang Xinying could even respond, Wang Ying's eyes darted to Ye Fann on the bed, her brow furrowed and her expression darkened. "When did you sneak in here? And you have the nerve to just lie there? Do you think you're some kind of lord?"

"Mom, what are you doing? Ye Fann is hurt; he has to lie down."

"Hurt? He just had a bit too much to drink and passed out at the door, didn't he? Get up and fetch Huang Yong for dinner, and make it quick!" Wang Ying's voice rose sharply.

Ye Fann remained unresponsive. Huang Xinying's brow creased, ready to confront Wang Ying, when her phone erupted with a ring.

It was Huang Yong calling.

"Sis, help me, please help me, sis—" Huang Yong's voice, a mix of terror and desperation, blared through the phone the instant she answered.

Still reeling from the call, Wang Ying snatched the phone from her. "Son? Where are you, son? What's happened to you?"

"Mom? Mom, you've got to save me, I've been kidnapped—"

Huang Yong's plea was cut short by a scream.

As Wang Ying stood there, dumbfounded, a chilling voice came through the line. "If you want him back, have a million in cash ready. Otherwise, brace yourself to receive a corpse."

The call ended abruptly, leaving a heavy silence in its wake.

Ye Fann's frown deepened; the voice was familiar. If he wasn't mistaken, it was the same man from the coffee shop the day before.

That man's son had flipped up Ye Jing's skirt, and in her humiliation and anger, Ye Jing had slapped him. The father had then pounced, pinning Ye Jing to the ground and beating her mercilessly. Huang Yong had stumbled upon the scene, grabbing a chair and knocking the son unconscious with a blow to the head.

After Ye Fann's intervention, the man had taken his son to the hospital. Now, was this a twisted plot for revenge against Huang Yong?

"You were with your brother this morning; what exactly happened? How did things end up like this?" Wang Ying's voice, loud and frantic, snapped Ye Fann back to the present.

But Huang Xinying was just as bewildered, clueless about the day's events.

"Speak up," Wang Ying urged, pushing Huang Xinying, her voice tinged with desperation. "Huang Xinying, that's your own brother. What have you done to him?"

"Mom, I..."

"Was it you?" Wang Ying's gaze suddenly fixed on Ye Fann. "It's your gambling debts, isn't it? Your damn debts must have dragged my son, Huang Yong, into trouble."

Without another word, Wang Ying grabbed Ye Fann and hauled him to his feet. "Go find him, now! Find Huang Yong for me, and do it fast—go on, get moving!"

Before Ye Fann could even take his medicine, Wang Ying shoved him out the door. "If you can't find Huang Yong, don't bother coming back to me."

Then, without skipping a beat, Wang Ying pushed Huang Xinying out too. "You go look for him as well. If you can't find him, don't you dare return!"

The door slammed shut behind them with a loud thud.

Suffering from a pounding headache and overcome with weakness, Ye Fann leaned heavily against the wall, struggling to stay upright.

Huang Xinying, her brow furrowed and lips quivering, moved to support Ye Fann. "I'm sorry, I... I just..."

Overwhelmed with guilt, Huang Xinying was on the verge of tears, at a loss for words.

Ye Fann gave a wry smile and shook his head. "It's okay. Let's go find Huang Yong."

"But you're not well..."

"That's why we need to get help."

Huang Xinying's face fell, "Get help? From whom?"

Ye Fann gently squeezed Huang Xinying's cheek. "Don't worry about that. You go to work. I'll handle the situation with Huang Yong."

After some convincing, Ye Fann managed to send Huang Xinying on her way.

There were certain things he preferred to keep from Huang Xinying for now.

Standing at the entrance of the complex, Ye Fann watched as Huang Xinying got into a taxi and headed to her office. He then pulled out his phone and dialed a number. "Apprentice, could you lend me a hand?"

"Who is this? And who's your apprentice?" Huang Xiaoshan's voice was laced with defiance on the other end.

Ye Fann lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply, blowing out a stream of smoke as he watched the cars pass by. "My old wound has flared up, and it's sapped my strength. If you don't help me out, I might not make it."

"What's going on? How did you end up hurting your vitality?"

"Come out and talk to me in person," Ye Fann said before hanging up. He immediately called Huang Yong's number.

"Got the money ready that fast?" came the man's voice on the other end.

"Name the place. I'll bring the money and get him back," Ye Fann replied.

"Alright, but let me warn you—no funny business, or you'll regret it," the man cautioned.

A location soon arrived via a text from Huang Yong. The Golden Cauldron Group—of all places.

Was the man associated with the Golden Cauldron Group? His presence at the coffee shop yesterday—was it mere coincidence, or was he tracking Yang Hao?

If so, Yang Hao could already be on someone's radar.

Could Bi Dadan be the one pulling the strings behind the Golden Cauldron Group?

No time to waste, Ye Fann needed to warn Yang Min, or she might not even see it coming.

Yang Min had given him her number yesterday. As Ye Fann searched his contacts, a sports car screeched to a halt in front of him. Huang Xiaoshan was at the wheel, beckoning him to hop in.

They quickly reached the Golden Cauldron Group.

"Just make sure I get out alive—no showing your face, and no killing," Ye Fann reminded Huang Xiaoshan before stepping out of the car.

Huang Xiaoshan's smile held a hint of mischief. No killing? What a snooze.