Rotting Land: Survive

Chapter 759 - 744: Visitor on a Snowy Night (Part 3)

In Liu Fugui’s words, Old Xu and the others did not detect the underlying intentions; for the latter, what was considered was another matter altogether.

"Old Lin, I’ll accompany General Manager Liu to meet Yao Ruyi. You make sure Li Xiaoxin and the others are ready for hospitality."

With double entendre, though Xu Renjie’s expression was unclear in the dark, Old Lin understood his intent.

That was something they had prearranged. If Yao Ruyi indeed arrived at the villa as Liu Fugui claimed, then precautions must be made beforehand without alerting the other party.

"General Manager Liu, shall we go?" Old Xu called out. Yet Liu Fugui remained staring at the monitor, showing no intent to leave. This prompted Old Xu to question with suspicion, "General Manager Liu? Is something wrong?"

"Oh, it’s nothing, nothing!"

"Then shall we proceed?"

Liu Fugui still stood motionless, heightening Old Xu’s doubt: "General Manager Liu? What’s wrong? If there’s something, it’s best you be honest!"

Old Xu expressed these words with utmost seriousness and determination. Liu Fugui discerned the sternness and displeasure in the other’s tone. He promptly began to walk, albeit with a limp. Observing this, Old Lin concernedly asked, "General Manager Liu, what is..."

Liu Fugui waved his hand dismissively, somewhat helplessly, "Ah, it’s truly quite embarrassing to speak of, as age catches up, one falters. Just standing there, out of nowhere the right leg spasmed, so shameful! Haha!"

So that’s how it was, Old Xu felt relieved. Promptly, he extended his right hand to support Liu Fugui, laughing lightly, "General Manager Liu, what’s there to laugh about? It’s human nature. How are you? Do you need help upstairs for some rest?"

"Thank you! No need, I must go this time, else the two downstairs might wrongly assume something has happened to me at your hands. Any unnecessary conflict would spoil the mood." Liu Fugui’s eyes gleamed slyly; there was nothing wrong with his legs, both were perfectly fine. His behavior was merely a cover-up for his earlier hesitance to move.

Through brief observation, he had confirmed the person on the enlarged display was indeed Yao Ruyi. Yet, he did not want Old Xu to perceive his suspicion toward those downstairs, thus feigned an ailment on the fly to muddle through.

Although the scheme was crude, Liu Fugui’s excellent acting successfully achieved his goal. On the way, Old Xu raised no further comments on the prior incident.

Yao Ruyi carried a double-barrel shotgun, stomping fiercely in the chilling wind. On such a freezing night, moving around is truly uncomfortable, much because one is in a constant state of alert fearing ambush. The psychological pressure alone causes a sharp drop in body temperature.

Yao Ruyi felt numbness creeping into his feet. After merely a few minutes standing in wind and snow, his cratered face akin to the lunar surface was red with cold.

"Liu Fugui, where are you! Hurry up!"

Yao Ruyi repeated these words internally, as though doing so would summon the person he was referring to.

Yet life is often full of surprises beyond expectations.

The door opens! Sound resounds!

Liu Fugui’s uniquely calm silhouette penetrated through layers of snow and reached Yao Ruyi’s ears, "Ah, Little Yao, you all finally made it!"

Yao Ruyi’s first reaction was to touch his own face, confirming it wasn’t an illusion, then he looked around and replied, "General Manager Liu, is that you?"

With the darkness and the obstruction of heavy snow, it was understandable why Yao Ruyi could not discern Liu Fugui.

Excitedly supported by Old Xu, Liu Fugui limped laboriously to the front door, where Yao Ruyi at last saw the approaching person clearly.

His instinctive response, however, was not a warm welcome but to raise the double-barrel shotgun in his hand.

Liu Fugui’s heart skipped a beat; he instinctively shoved Old Xu aside, diving into the nearby snow, both men almost landing simultaneously.

At the same instant, an arrow whistled into a fence five meters away from Yao Ruyi, who quickly retaliated. Bang, bang, two shots fired skyward with uncertain results, and he sprinted backward while shouting, "Start the car, quickly retreat, it’s an ambush!"

Old Xu, confirming the enemy’s retreat, crouched up from the snow; the thick layer spared him injury from Liu Fugui’s push earlier.

"General Manager Liu, are you alright? Are you hurt?"

"No, but it was truly close just now!" Liu Fugui exclaimed with lingering fear, inquiring back to Old Xu, "Don’t just talk about me; Captain Xu, are you hurt anywhere?"

"No, thanks to your timely push, General Manager Liu, otherwise I, Old Xu, might have perished here. Can you walk?" Old Xu exerted strength on his shoulder to lift the fallen Liu Fugui and patted away the snow covering him.

Latter, considering himself still a patient, quickly abandoned thoughts of standing independently, feigned hardship, "Seems now I really do need your help."

Old Lin led Li Xiaoxin and Shen Lian promptly out of the villa, escorting the two inside. Gathered in the living room, Old Xu queried with concern first, "Yao Ruyi, did they leave?"

"Left, he only fired two shots before jumping into a car and fleeing!" Old Lin confirmed with Bi Dahu and Yue Guishan. The adversary indeed came swiftly and retreated just as rapidly.

"That damn bastards ran fast!" Li Xiaoxin muttered quietly, while Shen Lian chimed in, "Who says otherwise, like they had rabbit legs, vanished faster than a blink!"

With confirmation of their departure, Xu Renjie finally felt some peace within but remained uncertain if these were mere advance guard, wondering if they had additional accomplices.

Carrying these urgent inquiries needing clarity, he turned his gaze towards Liu Fugui, expressing sincere gratitude, "General Manager Liu, for what happened earlier, I, Old Xu, thank you here. We owe you a life, someday it shall be repaid!"

Old Xu clasped his hands to show gratitude; he thought had it not been for Liu Fugui’s sacrificial push at the critical moment earlier, he might have now been in Western Heaven.

Yet, in actuality, Liu Fugui, always harboring vigilance, feared they were part of Spring Xiu’s gang sent to assassinate him.

Thus, upon noticing the raised gun, he instinctively dodged, while pushing Old Xu aside purely because the latter holding him was an obstruction. It was merely a reflexive move for escape.

Surprisingly, this earned Old Xu’s gratitude, an outcome far beyond Liu Fugui’s expectations, which he was more than happy to accept.

He knew these men were sincere and loyal, might just be of use someday for the debt they owe him.

Feeling quite pleased, Liu Fugui cordially remarked, "Ah, Captain Xu, there’s no need for such formality; surely, if roles reversed, you’d have saved me in kind."

However, barely had he finished speaking, Old Xu’s expression suddenly changed, sternly demanding, "General Manager Liu, can you explain what exactly happened? Why did Yao Ruyi suddenly shoot at you?"

"Right, General Manager Liu, didn’t you say he saved your life before? If so, then why such action, wasn’t that redundant?" Old Lin pursued simultaneously.

The situation was presently highly disadvantageous for Liu Fugui; he realized if unable to provide a plausible explanation to everyone now, suspicion toward his intentions might arise, potentially leading to being asked to leave the villa.

Luckily, he had anticipated all possible scenarios beforehand, though the present one was the worst case he had foreseen, and was ready with an excuse.

"Alas!" After a long sigh, Liu Fugui glanced around the room, bowing his head to explain. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com for reading.)