King of Gamblers: Growing from a Student to a Jade King

Upon arriving at the traffic bureau, we met a kind-hearted officer at the entrance. He asked no unnecessary questions and led us directly to a computer. Zeng Hong provided him with the car's license plate number, and he conducted a search. Unfortunately, nothing turned up.

Anxious, I asked why the car's location couldn't be tracked. He explained it might be because the GPS system had been disabled or removed.

Despair began to creep in, but the officer offered a glimmer of hope. "Even if the GPS is disabled, we have surveillance cameras on all major roads. We can check the footage," he said.

His words reignited a flicker of hope in me. He promptly pulled up the surveillance feeds, and we carefully reviewed footage from roads leading out of Kunming. Suddenly, Zeng Hong pointed at the screen. "That's the car!" she exclaimed.

The officer, now fully engaged, began retrieving a series of images and videos related to the vehicle.

As I watched the footage, an eerie feeling settled over me. The driver's face wasn't visible, but I saw Xuanling. She was speaking with Hua Hua before being shoved into the car. A few others followed her inside. The footage, captured at the exit of a pedestrian street, left no doubt in my mind—this was where it all started.

The scenes shifted rapidly as the car hit the highway. I noted the road signs: Anning, Chuxiong, Dali… Finally, the car exited the highway at Baoshan.

Baoshan. Xuanling's hometown. It was far away, and I recalled Cheng Na mentioning that Xuanling had planned to return there. But why? Why would Hua Hua kidnap her and take her back to her hometown?

The mountainous terrain around Baoshan made it an ideal place to hide, or perhaps it was a deliberate misdirection to lull everyone close to Xuanling into a false sense of security.

Hua Hua was cunning—far beyond the grasp of an ordinary woman.

The surveillance footage ended as the mountainous roads around Baoshan lacked cameras. Still, we now had a direction. After thanking the officer, we left the traffic bureau.

The officer asked if we wanted to file a police report, but I declined. Hua Hua had meticulously planned everything, ensuring no one would discover Xuanling's kidnapping. She had even threatened to kill Xuanling and disappear if I involved the authorities.

Sitting in the car, I turned to Zhao Kui. "Mobilize our brothers and have them head to Baoshan," I said.

Zhao Kui nodded without hesitation, making a quick call. Moments later, he informed me, "It's done, Brother Fei. They'll be waiting for us in Baoshan."

The journey to Baoshan would take about five hours, but even once we arrived, finding her would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.

I suddenly glanced at Zeng Hong. "You mentioned Hua Hua borrowed your car for a getaway. Did she say where she was planning to go?"

Zeng Hong thought for a moment before scratching her head. "Yes, she mentioned wanting to visit the primitive forests near the Lancang River. I remember joking about what anyone would want to see in such a desolate place. Now I realize she might've chosen that area to…"

She trailed off, but I understood her implication—disposing of a body. The Lancang River bordered Myanmar, surrounded by dense forests. If someone were to dump a body there, it would be impossible to trace.

Though horrifying, this was a valuable clue. It significantly narrowed down our search area.

I turned to Zeng Hong. "You've done enough. You don't need to come with us. Thank you…"

"I'll go," she said firmly. "Hua Hua is my friend. I can help mediate. Please, Zhao Fei, let me help."

Her unwavering resolve stirred a pang of guilt within me. Neither Hua Hua nor I had ever truly considered Zeng Hong a friend. Hua Hua had always seen her as a pawn—a fat sheep to exploit when the time came. My own treatment of her hadn't been much better.

I said nothing more, torn by inner conflict. The car sped toward Baoshan.

Halfway there, my phone rang. It was Xuanling's number. I answered immediately.

"What do you want?" I demanded.

A cold voice responded, "In a rush, are we? Why didn't you think of this before?"

Anger flared in me. "Cut the nonsense. What do you want?"

The line went dead. Furious, I slammed my fist against the seat. Damn it. That wretched woman! What was her game?

Zhao Kui glanced at me. "Brother Fei, don't lose your temper. She wants you to break. Stay calm, or she wins."

I took a deep breath, knowing he was right. The power was in her hands, and I had no choice but to follow her lead.

After thirty agonizing minutes, the phone rang again.

This time, Hua Hua laughed. "Smart of you to calm down. Know your place and the situation. The cards are in my hand, not yours."

"I get it. Tell me what you want," I said coldly.

"Three million. Not a cent less. Transfer it to the account I gave you before. And just so you know, I've strapped your girlfriend with a blasting cap. The mountains here are full of explosives. Who knows if one might go off prematurely?"

Cold sweat broke out on my forehead. She wasn't bluffing.

"I need to see her alive before I transfer the money," I said.

A beeping sound cut through the line. Hua Hua's voice followed, icy and mocking. "You don't get to negotiate. The timer's set. You have three and a half hours to decide. My phone will stay on. Transfer the money, and I'll release her."

I didn't trust her. She wouldn't let Xuanling go. People like Hua Hua thrived on chaos and revenge. She wouldn't rest until I was utterly destroyed.

Before I could respond, Zeng Hong grabbed the phone. "Hua Hua, it's me, Zeng Hong. Please, as a favor to me, don't hurt Xuanling. We'll get you the money. Just let her go. I'm begging you…"

Her heartfelt plea left me deeply conflicted. All the times I had used and betrayed her flashed through my mind like a series of stinging slaps.

Hua Hua hesitated before responding, "Fine, Zeng Hong. Three and a half hours. I'll send the location via WeChat. Whether you make it in time is up to you. But if the money isn't transferred, I'll show no mercy."

The call ended. Moments later, the GPS location arrived. I handed my phone to Zhao Kui, who immediately accelerated.

Though relieved, a new worry gnawed at me. I was short a hundred thousand yuan. All my wealth amounted to just 2.9 million.

Turning to Zeng Hong, I hesitated before saying, "I need your help once more…"

Without hesitation, she smiled. "Tell me. I'll help."

"Can you lend me one million?"

She blinked in surprise but quickly nodded. "I'll call my father. He'll transfer it immediately."

Gratitude filled me as I watched her make the call. True to her word, the funds were transferred in minutes.

The money was ready, but the clock was ticking. As we sped toward the coordinates, I braced myself for the battle ahead.