Let the true energy circulate for a while

……

The robbers sped along on their motorcycles, carrying Er Mao, towards the old tire factory in the western suburbs.

Los Angeles, western suburbs.

In the early 90s, Glorious Tire Factory was a large state-owned factory.

At its peak, the workshop was filled with the roar of machines day and night, and the workers were working with great enthusiasm. The factory also had a school for the children of its employees, a hospital for its staff, and a residential compound for their families.

The workers at that time had only one thought: once they entered the factory, they would work there with their eyes closed until retirement.

After changing hands several times, it is now a warehouse owned by a local tycoon.

The warehouse owner, nicknamed "Old Fish" on the street, used to be the workshop director in the factory.

After losing his job, Lao Yu had elderly parents and young children to support, and things were in complete chaos. His wife went to work in Guangcheng and never came back.

At that awkward age, Lao Yu started a shady business, selling pirated books and DVDs, and made a small fortune. This warehouse was used to store the pirated books.

These days, pirated books are harder to sell, so Lao Yu partnered with a few people to create a borderline website. It's a riskier way to make money, but they're doing quite well.

A small room was partitioned off in the warehouse. There was a small table on the bed with a small stove on it. The pot was filled with pork stew with vermicelli, bubbling and steaming.

Old Yu sat cross-legged on the bed, sipping his wine and enjoying his late-night snack.

He took a sip of wine, picked up a piece of handmade tofu from the basin next to him, placed it in his palm, cut it into pieces with a blunt knife, and put it into the hot pot.

"After eating pickled vegetables and tofu, even the emperor is no match for me."

He made the tofu himself. There's an old millstone behind the warehouse. Besides his side hustles, Lao Yu is also passionate about traditional culinary techniques.

A tablet computer was set up on the corner of the small table, showing Uncle Benshan's masterpiece "Selling Crutches". Old Yu had watched it more than 800 times, but he still couldn't get tired of it.

Just then, the roar of a motorcycle sounded at the door, followed by hurried footsteps and the laughter of a little girl.

Old Yu turned his head and saw two people with a little girl enter, looking flustered.

"What brings you two here? Who is this little girl?"

A man removed his helmet, revealing a ferocious face. "Old Fish, I played a big game with the Koreans!"

He put the little girl down and looked around curiously.

Old Yu roughly guessed what had happened, and asked with wide eyes, "You two are trafficking children?!"

The Korean guy nodded dumbfounded: "Brother Gua said it can sell for 80,000 yuan!"

Old Fish roared, "Winter Melon, are you two idiots?!"

Mao Taimi wasn't scared at all. She sniffed and stared longingly at the meat in the pot.

Donggua said, "We've already made contact with the supplier. We originally agreed to deliver the goods at the unfinished Hengbi Villa building, but then we were targeted, so we had no choice but to change our plans and borrow your warehouse for one night."

Old Fish was so angry he almost laughed: "You've been targeted? I must have had the worst luck in eight lifetimes to have met two idiots like you!"

Donggua said, "I used a feint and a clever escape tactic to shake them off. Don't worry, we won't use your place for nothing; we'll give you a kickback."

Old Yu grabbed a bowl from the table and threw it, yelling, "Fine—you motherfucker! Get lost—"

Donggua dodged, his face darkening. "Yu Dehai, you've gone too far. We're all related, and by seniority, I'm the uncle. You're making a fortune through shady dealings without helping us brothers out?"

Old Yu suppressed his anger and said coldly, "Take this child back to me now, or I'll call the police for you!"

At that moment, the little girl, about seven or eight years old, walked over to the small table, looked at the meat in the pot, and asked, "Can I try some?"

After calming down for a moment, the old fish asked, "Little girl, what's your name?"

"My name is Er Mao."

Old Yu said earnestly, "Er Mao, remember this: if you see the police, you must make it clear that it was those two who kidnapped you, and that it has nothing to do with me."

"Okay. May I eat it now?"

"Can."

Old Yu was speechless. This little girl was different from others. There was no fear in her eyes, and she didn't seem stupid. She looked quite cute and had a normal appearance.

Brother Gua pulled up a stool and sat down, head stiff, clearly indignant: "Anyway, we've found a buyer, they've offered 8, and I've already taken the deposit. Once we've made contact, we'll hand over the person."

Old Fish asked, "Who's buying people?"

Brother Gua said, "Don't ask around. I heard from the contact that the other side has a lot of power and they specifically recruit girls as young as seven or eight."

Old Yu frowned. "What do you need girls for?"

"How the hell should I know? Besides, the more the merrier."

How did you get in touch with them?

"Never mind that. I'll just sit here all night, Yu Dehai. If you really call the police, I'll expose all the dirty deeds you've done in the past."

Old Yu jumped up in anger, gritting his teeth as he said, "Just one night! Get out of here first thing tomorrow morning!"

"Old Fish, I don't want this either, but I'm short of money. Nobody wants me if I become a gigolo, what can I do? I'm just a worthless person, and I finally have a chance to make money."

Old Yu picked up the wine on the table and drank it all in one gulp.

"Winter Melon, let me tell you, you must never touch this business again after you've finished it. Your supplier's supplier is definitely not an ordinary human trafficker. You're right, his power is probably huge, bigger than you can imagine. If you're not careful, you might end up getting yourself killed."

A flame ignited in Donggua's eyes, and he said firmly, "No, no, no, no, Old Fish, not only will I continue, but I'll also find a way to reach them. This is my chance to turn things around! Life is like gambling! I'm going to take a gamble!"

The man pulled out two watermelon knives, their blades gleaming: "Brother Watermelon! I've thought it through. Fortune favors the bold! I'll gamble with you!"

"Where did you get this knife?"

"I've been hiding it in the motorcycle's trunk!" The Korean man handed over the knife, which the latter caught, saying in a deep voice, "Fine! Korean guy, you've got guts! From now on, whatever I eat, you'll have a bite too!"

Just then, Donggua's phone rang; it was the contact person calling.

"Hey! I'm at the door! Which house?"

"Wait a moment, I'll come out to get you."

"Hmm, no need, I saw your motorcycle."

……

Five kilometers away, a convoy was heading towards the old tire factory. It was a special operations force, about several dozen people, fully armed.

The leader is named Chang Wei, codenamed Poison Wolf. He used to be a special forces instructor and is 29 years old this year. He is an outstanding special operations soldier.

He was sitting in a tactical off-road vehicle, cleaning his pistol, with a Gatling gun next to him!

Because the mission was too urgent, Poison Wolf had not yet learned the specifics of the situation. He only received the order to be fully armed and it was clearly stated that Gatling guns should be carried and at least four snipers should be assigned to him!

This sounds like a very serious task!

"Have you received the mission details and target information? Is it an overseas armed drug lord? Or terrorists?" Poison Wolf asked.

One of the subordinates said, "Not yet. We just received news that Elder Qin has requested three armed helicopters to assist us. They've already taken off. Wolf Team, this is probably going to be a big job!"

Poison Wolf became excited, rubbing his hands together: "Brothers, cheer up! Looks like we're in for a tough battle!"

The carriage was filled with a strong smell of gunpowder!

The special operations team members, dressed entirely in black, were checking their weapons. Everyone seemed quite excited.

"I've been so restless ever since the last special training session in the West District!"

"Wolves, this time they're definitely tough, that's impressive! Haven't the mission objective been transmitted yet?"

Poison Wolf raised a hand: "I have a feeling this might lead to a firefight! The other side might have heavy weapons!"

"It's alright, let the armed helicopters strafe them first. I don't believe the criminals in the country have rocket launchers!"

"Wolf Team, it's Old Qin on the phone. He says there's something very important and he wants to tell you personally." Someone in the passenger seat handed him the phone.

Poison Wolf chuckled and whispered, "I reckon it's Elder Qin giving a pep talk before the battle."

In Qin Shifan's view, this overly exaggerated fuss was an opportunity to express an attitude; it was a muscle memory within the system!

……

At the same time, about one kilometer away from the convoy, a young man with long hair took a shortcut and ran wildly through the woods in the southwest direction of Los Angeles, his body as swift as a dragon and as graceful as a startled swan.

Chen Ye sped forward, the shadows of the trees rushing past.

He traversed dense forests and encountered ravines, leaping several meters into the air, landing silently, and then taking flight once more.

Suddenly, a pool of water appeared ahead. Chen Ye lightly touched the surface of the water with his toes, creating ripples, like a dragonfly skimming across the water. After landing, he pushed off the ground and sprinted away, sometimes leaping through the air over low bushes, sometimes crouching low to the ground, rising and falling.

……

At the same time, at Xincheng Sixth Mental Hospital, an elderly man with white hair was transferred to Luocheng. He got into a car accompanied by three special personnel.