Li's father's face flushed with shame and then turned pale. He clenched his teeth tightly.
Just then, Duan Chen's phone rang again.
It was a new photo.
In the photo, Li Wei looked extremely pained, her lips pale. Water had already submerged her calves, and blood was seeping from her wound, dissolving into the icy water and forming a bizarre, eye-piercing color.
The countdown displayed:
8:30:11.
Li's father's legs gave way, and he slumped onto the bed, his phone slipping from his hand.
At this moment, he truly believed his daughter was in danger.
"I told you, your only hope now is Duan Chen," Gao Tiankai patted Li's father's shoulder. The man seemed to have aged considerably in an instant.
Li's father's arrogance vanished. He stared blankly for a full 10 seconds.
"Duan Chen, I was wrong before. Uncle apologizes to you... Just for the sake of your past with Li Wei, please go and save her."
Li's father's plea was spoken in a low voice.
Duan Chen remained silent.
"Uncle Li, aren't you pushing Duan Chen into a fiery pit? You've seen it yourself, this place is filled with bombs, it's extremely dangerous. Even a special operations team would have difficulty escaping unscathed. But the kidnapper demands Duan Chen go alone, which is clearly a death sentence," Gao Tiankai analyzed. "Moreover, to be honest, considering Li Wei and Duan Chen's current relationship... it's not enough for him to risk his life."
Li's father's face darkened. He knew Gao Tiankai was telling the truth. If the kidnapper was indeed Zhong Xingwen, then there was no point for Duan Chen to get involved.
Could his daughter really...
"I can go," Duan Chen said calmly, looking at Li's father.
A light immediately sparked in Li's father's eyes, and he looked at Duan Chen with expectation.
"But you have to kneel down and beg me," Duan Chen said coldly to Li's father, "just as you once demanded of me."
Years ago, Li's father had demanded Duan Chen kneel before he would allow his daughter to continue dating him.
A man's knees are made of gold. Duan Chen had said he could kneel to his parents and his country, but he would never kneel to Li's father for that reason.
Li's father seemed to have anticipated this and accused him of not loving his daughter enough.
Duan Chen could only sneer. Love or not, could it really be judged by whether one knelt or not? He was clearly making things deliberately difficult.
Gao Tiankai was also surprised. After all, Li's father was an elder, and for Duan Chen to make such a demand...
To everyone's surprise, Li's father lowered his head, gritting his teeth.
Then, with a thud, he knelt before Duan Chen.
"As long as you go save my daughter, I'll do anything!"
A hint of surprise flickered in Duan Chen's eyes. He had thought Li's father was a man who only cared about money, but seeing him now act with a father's desperation, he felt a sense of respect.
He stepped forward and helped Li's father up. "Alright, I, Duan Chen, keep my word. You don't need to worry about me having ulterior motives towards Li Wei. I'm going to save her solely out of my responsibility as a special agent to protect the public.
And you, since you can do this for your daughter, you've earned back my respect.
From now on, the grievances between the Li family and me are settled. However, in the future, you'd better choose your son-in-law with clearer eyes, otherwise, you'll only push your daughter into a fiery abyss."
Li's father looked dazed, his eyes glistening.
Duan Chen turned to Gao Tiankai and said, "Take care of him. I'll be back soon."
Gao Tiankai sighed, "Alas, I knew it. You're really risking your life. Besides, do you even know where Li Wei is?"
Duan Chen smiled slightly. "The abandoned factory in the east of the city. By analyzing the scattered sheet metal and pillars in the photo, and the scenery reflected by the glass, it can be deduced."
His smile vanished, and a ferocious expression emerged.
A murderous glint flashed in Duan Chen's eyes. "Zhong Xingwen, as you wish, we'll settle this score properly. If you're really one of the Evil God's people... hmph."
"Hey! Your discharge papers..." Gao Tiankai called from behind.
"Leave it to you!" Duan Chen waved his hand and ran towards the parking lot.
The Corolla started and sped away.
...
In an old villa in the western suburbs.
Wu Suowei slowly walked towards a door in the backyard.
The door had no handle or lock, its design was extremely minimalist. But upon closer inspection, one could see intricate, strange totems carved onto it, resembling some kind of special incantation.
Wu Suowei pushed the door open and stepped inside.
A sapphire sky, swirling clouds, waves crashing against the shore, an ancient, mysterious temple outlined by light and shadow in breathtaking colors.
In front of the temple stood a stone table, upon which a chess game was in progress.
In the void opposite the chessboard, a faint, ethereal silhouette appeared.
"Your white pieces have been silent for a long time. Although you don't have many moves left to counter me, you still have authority you can delegate, don't you? You're doing everything yourself; don't you have any trace of divinity left?"
Wu Suowei re-examined the chessboard. "Labor brings me joy."
"..."
The silhouette seemed a little taken aback, gnashing its teeth in anger.
"You! Don't get too smug. I know you've set your sights on Duan Chen again, and you've even almost broken the rules... Hehehe, your little tricks can't change anything. With a little temptation, no human can resist. After all, in 999 world lines, Duan Chen is mine..."
"You don't need to remind me."
Wu Suowei interrupted the silhouette, his gaze returning from the chessboard. "Fate has already written its stakes. Though you and I can know fate, it still depends on what humans choose themselves."
The silhouette flickered and let out a chilling, cackling laugh.
"After losing so many times, you can still be so naive. Humans are the most unpredictable beings; they will always be the uncontrollable element in a perfect system. It seems you're destined to lose this thousandth time as well... This is your last chance."
"You think he'll choose you again this time?" Wu Suowei chuckled lightly. "A person's experiences can determine what kind of person they become. This time, Duan Chen will definitely become the white piece. I'm confident."
"Oh ho ho ho~ Then let's wait and see. You can never completely erase the evil in his bones."
At this moment, the chessboard churned, and a transparent chess piece, neither black nor white, moved rapidly.
"Kidnapping, hmph, a low-class tactic," Wu Suowei said with disdain.
The silhouette, however, was quite proud. "After all, we are the evil side. I'll take it as you complimenting me, heh heh heh..."
"Unfortunately, Li Wei is already Duan Chen's ex-girlfriend. His mindset has changed greatly in the past two years; Li Wei can no longer influence him," Wu Suowei observed the chess piece.
"Isn't that all due to your little tricks? Hehehe, it's hard to say. No matter what, she's a woman he once loved. Gods are too heartless; you can't understand human emotions."
The silhouette even started humming a tune, appearing completely confident of victory.