Chapter 00020: Pursuing Lan Xiaobu
# Pursuing Lan Xiaobu
Chapter 20
Novel: Abandon The Universe
Chapter 20: Pursuing Lan Xiaobu
On the streets, police cars were constantly coming and going, and inspections were everywhere. Lan Xiaobu was well aware that he had to leave Jin City as soon as possible. Once it was past ten o'clock at night and the number of people on the streets decreased, it would be even harder for him to escape.
After hesitating for a long time, Lan Xiaobu ultimately decided to rely on himself to leave. Whether it was hitching a ride or sneaking onto a train, the likelihood of being discovered was over sixty percent. Currently, the inspection points on the ramps were equipped with infrared life detection systems, making it easy to be found even if he hid inside a truck. Given his abilities, stealthily moving along the train tracks would instead be a more effective way to leave Jin City.
As Lan Xiaobu stealthily made his way along the train tracks, the Shang family was holding an emergency family meeting at that very moment.
The family head, Shang Hongze, sat at the head of the table, his expression unreadable. Like Shang Wei, Shang Hongze had one large ear and one small ear. If Lan Xiaobu had seen Shang Hongze, he would surely think to himself, "Can ear size be inherited?"
More conspicuous than Shang Hongze's ears was his head of white hair, yet he had no white in his long beard.
On either side of Shang Hongze sat more than ten people, including several women.
"Feixiong, how is Xiaowei's condition?" Shang Hongze's gaze fell on the bearded Shang Feixiong, his tone calm.
Shang Feixiong's face was filled with guilt as he stood up. "Family head, this person is extremely ruthless; Xiaowei's knee was shattered into pieces. I have already called for the best orthopedic doctor in Europe, Dr. Dewei, who is currently on his way. This incident is my oversight, and I take full responsibility."
Shang Hongze waved his hand. "Now is not the time to discuss responsibility. Even if we have to turn Jin City upside down tonight, we must find this person. Fang Qi, how are your arrangements?"
A man of medium build stood up. "Jin City is already searching, but I worry that this person is originally from Jin City. If that’s the case, it will be difficult."
Another person stood up to speak. "I can guarantee he is not from Jin City. Although Jin City is large, only a few can qualify for the Thousand Sounds Auction."
The speaker was Shang Youshui, the strategist of the Shang family. Many of the family's investigations and difficult decisions were resolved by Shang Youshui.
"You Shui, how can you be sure this person is not one of those few?" Shang Feixiong asked, frowning slightly.
Shang Youshui replied calmly, "Because he doesn't even know the location of Wangjiang Road No. 291. I checked the surveillance from today on Wangjiang Road. This person arrived here very early in the afternoon and wandered around No. 290 multiple times. Then he entered a small eatery and sat for two hours. After two hours, he must have made a judgment based on how others entered the Thousand Sounds Auction, which is why he went in. Moreover..."
"And what?" As Shang Youshui's words paused, Shang Feixiong asked urgently. He hated Lan Xiaobu the most; if Lan Xiaobu stood before him, he would guarantee he would twist Lan Xiaobu's head off and shred him into pieces.
Shang Youshui's expression grew serious. "I discovered that not only are we searching for this person, but the Savage Crocodile Gang also seems to be looking for him."
"The Savage Crocodile Gang?" Upon hearing this name, Shang Hongze's expression also turned grave.
The Shang family could command power in Jin City, possessing enough influence and strength both openly and covertly. However, they were wary of the Savage Crocodile Gang. If they truly fell out with the Savage Crocodile Gang, the Shang family would have no choice but to retreat.
The Savage Crocodile Gang did not engage in small business; those who did business with them were either major players or mercenaries. Every time the Savage Crocodile Gang acted, it was a world-shaking event.
Besides the gang leader, there were the Five Ministers surrounding him. Each of them was a strong Inner Strength Martial Artist with extensive connections.
To be targeted by the Savage Crocodile Gang meant a fate akin to being eyed by a crocodile—one would be torn to shreds. It was truly unexpected that this guy had caught the attention of the Savage Crocodile Gang.
Shang Youshui affirmed, "It is definitely the Savage Crocodile Gang, but right now they likely haven't determined who they are looking for. One of their members waited at Wangjiang Road No. 290 for several hours, only to leave empty-handed in the end. The reason I am certain that the person we are looking for is the same as theirs is that the individual we want to find hid in a small tavern for over two hours after noticing the Savage Crocodile Gang member. He is a cautious person."
"Then it's settled. I had some doubts before, but now I am certain of who this guy is." Shang Feixiong suddenly interjected.
"Hmm?" Shang Hongze looked at Shang Feixiong in confusion, while the others also regarded him with puzzled expressions.
Shang Feixiong said solemnly, "Xiaowei once told me that a terrifying middle-aged man came to see him a few days ago, inquiring about a person named Lan Xiaobu. Xiaowei didn't know Lan Xiaobu at all, so he didn't pay it much attention. But Xiaowei said that the middle-aged man had a fierce aura, and he felt a bit frightened standing before him. Given this, that middle-aged man must be a member of the Savage Crocodile Gang, and he is likely an Inner Strength master. An Inner Strength master from the Savage Crocodile Gang must be one of the Five Ministers."
Shang Fangqi let out a sigh of relief. "Since he has been targeted by the Savage Crocodile Gang, this person will eventually be dragged out."
However, Shang Hongze's expression grew even more serious. He slowly said, "Our Shang family must bring this person to us before the Savage Crocodile Gang captures him."
He could not disclose the reason, but he knew that now there was a slight presence of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, and there were definitely others who could secretly cultivate Inner Qi besides the Shang family. The medicinal formula for refining bones was of utmost importance to the Shang family at this moment.
At the top-level VIP suite of the Jin City’s premier hotel, the Jinyue Hotel, a man with a sinister gaze stared out the window for a long time before chuckling, "I never expected that he would actually kill the Right Minister, use the Right Minister's Thousand Sounds Auction token to enter the auction, and then steal the Shang family's items. Is your name Lan Xiaobu? You have guts, enough courage."
Lan Xiaobu was not discovered by him but by Cheng Jianjie. Although Cheng Jianjie had not informed anyone about Lan Xiaobu's situation, the fact that he did not attend the Savage Crocodile Gang’s Five Ministers meeting a day ago indicated that he was likely eliminated. Otherwise, Cheng Jianjie would have had no reason or courage to miss the meeting.
According to his investigation, Cheng Jianjie had been looking into a person named Lan Xiaobu before he went missing. If that was the case, there was an eighty percent chance that the person who killed Cheng Jianjie was related to Lan Xiaobu. He came to Jin City because he knew the Thousand Sounds Auction was being held here. If the person who killed Cheng Jianjie wanted to use the Thousand Sounds Auction token in Cheng Jianjie’s possession to attend this auction, he would definitely appear in Jin City.
"Ring ring ring!" The phone rang.
The sinister man glanced at the number, a cold smile appearing at the corner of his mouth; he knew the answer had arrived. He previously only knew that the person Cheng Jianjie was investigating was Lan Xiaobu, but he did not know Lan Xiaobu's background. Now, this call was going to reveal Lan Xiaobu's origins.
A respectful voice came from the other end of the line. "Brother Jitou, we have thoroughly clarified Lan Xiaobu's background. He is a descendant of the Lan family from the Lansong Group, originally from Tingjiang, but left Tingjiang at the age of fourteen and has been studying in Haiyang ever since. He is currently eighteen years old and entered the Haiyang Medical University’s youth class for pharmacy at fourteen, later transferring to clinical medicine in his sophomore year. He is now a fourth-year clinical medicine student at Haiyang Medical University..."
Upon hearing this, Jitou immediately frowned. A fourth-year student? This obviously could not have killed the Savage Crocodile Gang's Right Minister, Cheng Jianjie. Even if Cheng Jianjie were bound hand and foot, a fourth-year student would not be able to kill an Inner Strength Martial Artist.
If Cheng Jianjie’s death had nothing to do with Lan Xiaobu, then it meant his investigation was interrupted. As for whether Cheng Jianjie was dead, Jitou had no doubt; he was certain that Right Minister Cheng Jianjie was dead.
"However..."
Hearing the hesitating voice on the other end of the line, Jitou snorted and said, "Speak clearly, don’t hesitate. Are you new to working with me? Don’t you know my temper?"
"Yes, yes." The voice on the other end replied again, "Lan Xiaobu dropped out over two months ago and then went to Hu Prefecture’s Kunhu Hospital to be an intern..."
"Wait a minute..." Jitou immediately interrupted, "You said Lan Xiaobu is at Kunhu Hospital? The Kunhu Hospital in Hu Prefecture?"
Although the other party had yet to respond, Jitou was basically certain that Cheng Jianjie was killed by Lan Xiaobu. Cheng Jianjie went missing after arriving in Hu Prefecture, and now Lan Xiaobu was in Hu Prefecture; what could be more convincing than that?
"Yes, Lan Xiaobu is not only at Kunhu Hospital in Hu Prefecture, but he also collaborated with Ji Zheng from the Dao of Medicine and Kunhu Hospital to publish a shocking paper in the medical community titled 'The Deadly Hidden Dangers of Lancomycin.' Now, Lan Xiaobu is a global celebrity. Furthermore, after publishing this paper, Lan Xiaobu resigned from Kunhu Hospital and has been missing since; many people are reportedly looking for him..."
Hanging up the phone, Jitou understood the direction he needed to take; the person he was looking for was Lan Xiaobu.
Lan Xiaobu could kill Cheng Jianjie, and he was definitely not an ordinary person. Lan Xiaobu was studying medicine, so it was not impossible that he used medical means to carry out his actions. What puzzled him was how such an old hand like Cheng Jianjie fell into Lan Xiaobu's hands.
There was no need to wait here any longer. If the person who killed Cheng Jianjie and stole the Shang family's items was indeed Lan Xiaobu, the Shang family's methods would absolutely not be able to capture Lan Xiaobu. He had to quickly relay the news back; even if the Savage Crocodile Gang set up a net to catch him, they had to capture Lan Xiaobu.
(End of Chapter)