Afternoon. Hou Qing’s wounds are treated.
Dong Xuebing cleaned his hands and helped Hou Qing wear back her pants.
Hou Qing was surprised and relieved to see Dong Xuebing did not pounce on her. “... Thank you.”
“Sleep a while. You should not have slept last night, right?” Dong Xuebing helped Hou Qing to lie down on his bed. “I will wake you when it’s time to eat.”
Hou Qing was beaten the night before and was exhausted. She hesitated as she looks at Dong Xuebing before closing her eyes. Her legs were curled up as if she was prepared to kick out anytime. Dong Xuebing was afraid she would escape out of the room. If she were caught by the people outside, she would be in danger. So, he took a rope and tied her legs before covering her with a blanket. After that, he went over to the chair and slept with his head on the table.
A few hours passed.
Knock... knock... knock...
Dong Xuebing woke and looked at his watch. It’s almost even, and the woman also awake.
Dong Xuebing walks over and opens the door. The man manning the stairs was outside with a few pieces of bread and packet milk, and Dong Xuebing took the food from him and thanked him. That man saw Hou Qing on the bed and winked at Dong Xuebing with a smile.
“How was her?”
“Hmmm... not bad. She is feisty.” Dong Xuebing replied.
That man laughed and left.
Dong Xuebing was hungry and stuffed a piece of bread into his mouth and finished a packet of milk. He helped Hou Qing up and started feeding the bread and milk to her. Hou Qing was starving and swallowed without chewing.
After Hou Qing was full, she looks at Dong Xuebing. “How much have they paid you?”
Dong Xuebing shrugged his shoulders. “They have not paid me anything. We got to wait until we are overseas.”
“What if they did not bring you along?” Hou Qing had not given up on convincing Dong Xuebing to switch sides. “They are a group of outlaws, and you are different from them. You don’t know what they are capable of. Young man, listen to me. If you don’t want to spend the rest of your life in hiding, help me pass a message to the police. You just want money, right? This is a big case, and the rewards will be high. It will be at least a few hundred thousand.”
Dong Xuebing shook his head. “Not interested.”
Hou Qing tried to persuade Dong Xuebing but was rejected.
At night, Hou Qing was thinking about how to escape. She can overpower this skinny young man if she tries, but even if she can untie herself, what’s next? Run out of the room? Many men outside are armed with guns. Hold this young man hostage to threaten them? It will not work. They will not let her go because of Dong Xuebing, and Hou Qing frowned as she continues to think of an escape plan.
The next day.
Morning.
It was cold in the basement, and Hou Qing woke up. She tried to get off the bed and realized she was still tied up. The ropes burned into her wounds, and she groaned in pain. Dong Xuebing, who was sleeping on the table, woke up and yawned. Hou Qing looks at Dong Xuebing. She was touched because Dong Xuebing had not raped her last night and even let her sleep on the bed.
“Did you have a good rest?” Dong Xuebing asked.
Hou Qing nodded. “Thank you.”
Dong Xuebing laughed. “If you want to thank me, stop thinking to escape.”
“How can I escape in this situation?” Hou Qing replied. “I must be able to move first.”
Dong Xuebing does not believe Hou Qing has no way to untie herself. He reminded her. “Big Sis, you should have seen what happened yesterday. You will have lesser sufferings being here with me. But if you tried to escape and is caught by someone else, I will not be able to help you. You should know what will happen to you if you are in their hands. All of them lust for you.”
Hou Qing kept quiet.
Dong Xuebing continued. “I might need to go out for a while. Just remain in the room quietly.”
After Dong Xuebing finished, someone knocked and entered the room. “Brother Xie, Boss, and Manager Ma are looking for you.”
“Ok.” Dong Xuebing took a deep breath.
That man brought Dong Xuebing out of the room and walked up the stairs. This is the first time Dong Xuebing saw the building and his location since coming here. This is a two-stories building, and there are no other houses nearby. He can see a few warehouses through the windows and further away, it is the sea.
They are located someone near the waters?!
That means the relics can be smuggled out of China, and they can escape?!
On the first floor, there are two armed men. One of them is standing by the window, and the other is by the door. That man did not stop on the first floor and continued his way upstairs with Dong Xuebing. They reached a room at the end of the second floor, and that man knocked. A man shouted, “Come in.” from inside.
“Boss, he is here.” That man said.
A middle-aged man with pale complexion raised his head. “Ok. You can leave now.”
“Yes.” That man left and closed the door softly behind him.
Ma Wentao and the middle-aged man were the only ones in the room with Dong Xuebing. Dong Xuebing immediately know the middle-aged man is the Boss. “Boss, Brother Ma.”
The Boss nodded slightly and asked. “You are Xiao Xie? I heard Manager Ma mentioning that you know a lot about antiques.”
Dong Xuebing replied modestly. “I only know a little.”
“Hehe... you are quite modest.” The Boss looks stern and had the aura of someone holding high positions. He smiled as he looks at Dong Xuebing. “I want you to validate a few items and see if they are authentic. Xiao Xie, check closely as this deal is very important. If you perform well, I will provide you with a good life.”
Dong Xuebing suppressed his excitement. “Yes. I will do my best.”
The Boss nodded towards Manager Ma.
Ma Wentao took out something from a cabinet on the right, and place it on the table.
This item is around two meters and looks like a scepter with a unique shape. An eagle is craved at the top, and there are a pointed beak and two long rabbit ears. In its mouth, there is a small ball inside. The middle portion hollowed, and the hollow part should be used to make the small ball. The lower part of the scepter has gold rings, and the item looks like it’s made from bronze.
Dong Xuebing saw it and was excited!
This is one of the stolen relics from the Museum!
Ma Wentao looks at Dong Xuebing. “Xiao Xie, can you tell if this piece is authentic?”
Dong Xuebing nodded and quickly held that item in his hands. He pretended to examine it carefully and frowned as he took the magnifying glass on the table. Suddenly, he gasped. “This item should be from the Yuan dynasty or Liao dynasty and is used by the nomads. I don’t know what the name of this item is, but the markings on it are not fake. This should be authentic. Look at this part. If the markings are from fake aging, the rust will not be like this. Also, here, here and here...” Dong Xuebing had read about the history of all the stolen artifacts, and can easily make up stories to fool them.
The Boss smiled. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.” Dong Xuebing replied. “I am sure this is authentic, but I am not sure about the value.”
Ma Wentao took out another box from the safe. “Take a look at this item.”
This item is a porcelain item, and it was not well preserved. Dong Xuebing’s heart skipped a beat. This is another stolen item. He pretended to examine it for a while and said. “This piece should be from the Song Dynasty. It is not made using the methods we used when we make counterfeits. Furthermore, if this is a counterfeit, no one will purposely make a flaw here. It’s a pity that this piece is damaged.”
The Boss thought for a while and asked. “How much is this worth?”
“Ah? I am not sure, but it is more than 10 million.” Dong Xuebing stares at that porcelain item greedy, but Dong Xuebing had not told them the truth. This item is worth more than 10 million. This is a national grade two cultural relic, and it is a crime to trade privately. If the porcelain item is not slightly damaged, it will be a Grade one relic. This item is priceless!
Manager Ma heard this and inhaled a deep breath.
Ma Wentao quickly took out two other items. One of them is a Grade two relic, and the other is a Grade one relic. Dong Xuebing did not play any tricks to prevent himself from getting suspected. He had prepared what to say and claimed all the items are real except for the last item. He told the Boss and Manager Ma that he could not tell if it is real. By doing this, the Boss and Ma Wentao believed him more. No experts can authenticate all antiques. It will be too suspicious.
The only regret was Dong Xuebing had not seen the most precious national treasure. Liu Shen Jade Suit Sewn with Golden Thread. But it should be kept in the safe below the desk. It’s hard to create a replica of Liu Shen Jade Suit Sewn with Golden Thread does not need Dong Xuebing to verify the authenticity.
After checking all the items, the Boss and Ma Wentao are in a good mood. Maybe they also know that these items are most likely real, but this transaction is worth more than a hundred million, and they will face the firing squad if they are caught. They need to be careful and asking Dong Xuebing to verify the items is to be safe.
“Xiao Xie.... You...” Ma Wentao was about to say something when his phone rang.
Ring... ring... ring...
Ma Wentao answered and immediately relaxed a little. He whispered to the Boss. “The boat is arriving.”
The Boss lit a cigarette and laughed. “Good. Ask the men to get ready and don’t wait until the boat has arrived. They must be ready to board the boat once it arrives. Oh, remember to give out the weapons to prepare for any accidents.”
“Yes.” Ma Wentao turns to Dong Xuebing. “Xiao Xie, let’s go.”
“Ok.” Dong Xuebing quickly followed.
In the corridor, Ma Wentao called two of his men over and instructed them to give out the guns and ammunition. He also wants a car to be ready for loading. He took a glance at Dong Xuebing and waved him to return to the basement by himself. Dong Xuebing was disappointed that he did not hear anything as he left. On his way to the basement, he took note of the surroundings on the first floor.
Dong Xuebing can confirm that the stolen relics are all in these people’s hands!
It’s time to act!
If Dong Xuebing is alone, he would have acted earlier. But there is a female officer locked up in the basement. If he starts to move, these people might use the female officer as a hostage. He must get the woman to safety before he can do anything.
But when Dong Xuebing returns to his room, he was stunned.
The woman is gone!
What happened? Where is that woman?
Dong Xuebing was anxious and almost cursed out loud. He looked under the bed, but she is not around. Did she escape? It will be great if she had escaped, but Dong Xuebing knows that it’s impossible. Even if she can get out of the basement, armed guards are guarding the first floor. Furthermore, he did not notice anything on his way down.
Damn! Where did she go?!
Dong Xuebing was panicking and stormed out of the room to look for Hou Qing in the toilet. The toilet is empty!
Suddenly, Dong Xuebing heard some soft cries, and it is from a room behind him. Some men are laughing, and a woman is cursing and swearing! She is there! Dong Xuebing turned and tried opening that room, but it was locked from inside. He has no time to lose and start kicking the door. On his third kick, the door opened!
What Dong Xuebing saw in the room made him exploded!
“What are you all doing?!” Dong Xuebing is furious!
Hou Qing is on the bed struggling and cursing. Her underwear was pulled down to her knees, and three men are beside her. Two of them are pressing her down, and another is grabbing her hair, stopping her head from moving. In the room, two other men are unbuckling their belts. Most of the men in the basement area are in this room!
“Oh, you are back?” The Crew-cut looked at Dong Xuebing and laughed.
Dong Xuebing stares at them coldly. “Let her go! Don’t forget she is mine!”
The Crew-cut laughed. “Hahaha... we are going off soon, and Boss is not going to let her off alive. Why not let us have some fun before she dies? Xiao Xie, don’t try to stop us! Close the door now and get lost! If you try to create trouble, I will break your legs!”
A man who had taken off his pants shouted impatiently. “Get lost! Get lost!”
“If you want to have fun, we will welcome you. If not, get out!” Someone shouted.
The Crew-cut had called these people over. He lusts over this woman because she looks a bit like his ex-wife, but he had lost the woman to Dong Xuebing yesterday in front of Manager Ma. That’s why he called everyone over. No one will be punished if everyone participates in it. The Crew-cut knows Manager Ma will not say anything, and the Boss will not stand up for Dong Xuebing.
“Are you going to leave or not?” The Crew-cut gave Dong Xuebing a stare.
Leave?! F**k you! Dong Xuebing rushed forward and pushed a tall skinny guy aside!
That skinny guy faced changed and punched Dong Xuebing on his shoulder. “Who the f**k do you think you are?!”
This is a powerful punch, and Dong Xuebing fell onto the ground!
“Hahaha... you are too weak!” The Crew-cut laughed.
That skinny guy spits on the floor. “I can win even against ten of you!”
Two of the men frowned. They felt it’s not right for them to be fighting among themselves, but they did not say anything.
The Crew-cut laughed. “Alright. Lao Hei, you had practiced Karate for more than five years. How many of us here is your match? Stop bullying the newcomer.”
That skinny guy, Lao Hei, laughed and shouted to Dong Xuebing. “Get out of here!”
Dong Xuebing narrowed his eyes as he stood up. He massaged his shoulders and thought about the situation in front of him. If he knocks everyone in the room out, it will not be different from the role of a weakling he had been pretending. How can a weakling who learned how to make fake antiques so good at fighting? His identity will be exposed, but if he doesn’t do anything, that female officer will be raped!
Should Dong Xuebing fight or not?
Should he kill these people now?
At this moment, Dong Xuebing decided. Kill!
Since Dong Xuebing will be exposed sooner or later, he might as well save this woman and fight their way out! The stolen relics can be recovered after they had escaped!
“Bastards! Get away from me!” Hou Qing shouted in despair.
“Hahaha....”
Dong Xuebing bent his legs slightly and moved his fingers, and is about to make his move.
Bang... bang... bang! Gunshots appeared suddenly!
Is it upstairs? Is someone firing outside?
The Crew-cut was shocked and jumped off the bed. “What happened?”
“I don’t know. Who opened fired?” It was getting tense in the basement.
Hou Qing’s eyes have a hint of excitement.
These people will not fire their guns at each other, and the only explanation is... the police are here!