Chapter 17 The Ambush
Liang Sheng had been busy lately.
He hadn’t come to Lincheng for days.
Something felt wrong.
New paintings kept appearing in his office.
He still replied to my messages at the usual pace.
I couldn’t pin it down.
Then one day, near the studio, I spotted a familiar figure in a cap slipping into an office building.
Er Bin.
I knew instantly.
I ran after him, grabbed his arm.
“Where’s Boss?”
Liang Sheng had dozens of men, but only A Qian ever got close in private.
This Lincheng trip was personal.
If something had happened to him, he would never send anyone else.
Er Bin’s face drained of color the moment he saw me.
“Zhou Wen… I…”
“Where is Boss?”
He was young.
A few sharp questions and his eyes filled with tears.
He spilled everything.
Boss had turned ruthless against the old faction these past months.
Sixth Uncle wanted to step down, but Boss refused to take over.
Instead he kept sabotaging their big deals.
The elders were furious.
Especially Uncle Hong.
Boss had exposed his private drug runs.
Uncle Hong almost died in Yi An.
No mercy.
The old faction was cornered.
Three weeks ago, Sixth Uncle fell gravely ill.
Boss sent him abroad for treatment.
On the way back, the convoy was ambushed.
No one knew if he was alive.
Cold shot up my spine.
My breath shook.
I dug my nails into my palm until I steadied.
“Where was A Qian when you left?”
Er Bin wiped his eyes.
“At headquarters. Boss isn’t there. A Qian is holding everything together. He sent me to finish the Lincheng project… and hang the paintings for you.”
Relief hit me hard.
If A Qian was still in charge, Boss was safe.
I closed my eyes, forced the panic down.
Then I told Er Bin,
“Stay here, wrap up the project.
Find me a boat out.
I’m going back.”