Chapter Forty-Three: A Frenzied Dash Under Surprise Attack

The night was thick with darkness, the wind slanted and the rain cold. Yan Ming sped along the road, heading straight for the outskirts of Ba County.

When only two kilometers remained between him and the marked location, he spotted a police car ahead, crawling slowly with flashing headlights. A policeman had his head out the window, scanning both sides of the road as if searching for something.

Yan Ming eased up on the accelerator, overtook the police car, then pressed on, gaining speed. At a distance of one kilometer from the destination, a black sedan appeared ahead, driving directly toward him.

There were few vehicles on this stretch of road, not a single pedestrian in sight. Any car that appeared suddenly would draw attention. As the black sedan passed, Yan Ming stared intently, noting the windows were tightly shut, revealing nothing inside.

He glanced in the rearview mirror—the car was a Volvo, but the license plate was unreadable.

Yan Ming continued driving. Dense woods lined either side of the road, and soon a fork appeared ahead; the right turn led to a dirt road.

Relying on the marked location, Yan Ming turned onto the dirt road, unaware that the black Volvo had quietly turned around, switched off its headlights, and was now lurking behind him like a cunning wolf.

A sudden clatter rang out as Yan Ming’s car grazed a tree, startling a flock of roosting birds from the thicket. As they swooped away, he heard a sharp shout from not far ahead: “Catch her!”

The harsh cry resounded, piercing the silent night.

Yan Ming switched off his headlights, proceeding slowly while scanning his surroundings.

After driving on for several dozen meters, he glimpsed through gaps in the trees a small wooden cabin by the lakeside, with a yellow lamp hanging at its doorway. A woman was surrounded by three people; two held her shoulders while one stood before her. She wore black, her hair wild and unkempt, her head lifted as she gazed skyward.

The sky was black, moonless and starless. In that dim light, Yan Ming recognized the woman as Yin Nian, and the three others as the Yang siblings.

Surveying the situation, Yan Ming immediately realized Yin Nian was at a grave disadvantage—she was restrained, unable to move. Yet, curiously, she did not scream or struggle, but slowly lowered her head, staring at a basket on the ground.

Yang Yongli was speaking to Yin Nian, while straightening the basket and pressing a foot atop it.

The distant sound of sirens echoed behind him; whether the police had come for this incident was unclear.

Yan Ming did not act rashly. Instead, he began to deduce the chain of events in his mind.

A cabin in the outskirts, the Yang siblings, a basket, the police...

Yan Ming believed the likelihood of Yin Nian being framed by Han Duoduo tonight was high. Perhaps Han had colluded with Yang Yongli ahead of time, lured Yin Nian here, and set a trap for her.

From what Yan Ming knew of Yang Yongli, the man was obsessed with money. If he discovered Yin Nian had eavesdropped on him, what would he do? Yan Ming was certain Yang would use it as leverage, demanding money for silence.

How would Yin Nian respond to such a predicament? Judging by her character, she would never pay him off, nor let Yang Yongli succeed easily.

Yan Ming looked again at the scene before him, piecing together a likely sequence of events.

The contents of the basket were probably crucial evidence used to threaten Yin Nian.

The police were most likely summoned by the Yangs to exert pressure on her.

The cabin was the site of the incident, the heart of the trap.

That earlier shout—“Catch her”—suggested Yin Nian had tried to flee, only to be caught.

Yan Ming pondered and swiftly made a decision: before the police arrived, he had to destroy the evidence and rescue Yin Nian.

But how?

The basket.

Since the basket was so important, if Yan Ming could snatch it unexpectedly, he could distract the Yang siblings and then improvise a way to get Yin Nian out.

With his plan set, Yan Ming wasted no time. He shifted gears, switched on the headlights, and burst out from his cover, flooring the accelerator straight toward the cabin.

The roaring car immediately drew the siblings’ attention. The glare of the headlights blinded them; unable to discern the vehicle’s shape, they assumed it was a police car. Yang Yongli waved his arms, shouting, while Yang Yongfang hurried toward the cabin, evidently fearing the car might crash into it.

With their attention fully occupied, Yan Ming spun the wheel sharply, veering straight toward them.

They had worried the car might hit the cabin; in a blink, it turned and charged at them. Dazzled by the headlights, they instinctively scattered to the sides.

Yan Ming braked hard, flung open the door, and as the car screeched to a halt, he leaned out, snatched up the basket from the ground, and then slammed down the accelerator, speeding forward.

“The basket!” Yang Yongli shouted. “It’s not the police! After him!”

Yang Yongli bolted for the Buick, while Yang Yonggui and Yang Yongfang stood frozen, confused by the sudden appearance of the car and uncertain what was happening. As Yang Yongli slid into the Buick, Yin Nian seized the moment—she bit Yang Yonggui on the wrist. His attention had already wandered, and the pain made him instinctively let go. Yin Nian drove her knee forcefully between Yang Yonggui’s legs and dashed forward.

“Throw it in the lake!” Yin Nian shouted. “Throw the basket into the lake!”

Yan Ming heard her cry, confirming his hunch. He sped for the lakeshore and, upon reaching the edge, hurled the basket forcefully into the water.

He hadn’t glimpsed what was inside—only a mass of dark, indistinct matter.

After tossing the basket into the lake, Yan Ming drove back toward the dirt road. He saw Yin Nian running into the woods, the Buick coming at him, and Yang Yonggui and Yang Yongfang chasing after her.

Yan Ming quickly assessed the situation, honked the horn loudly to attract the police’s attention, and steered toward the thicket, preparing to pick up Yin Nian.

As he reached the dirt road, Yin Nian emerged from the trees. Yan Ming shouted, “Get in!”

Yin Nian rushed out and jumped into the car.

The Buick followed, bumping Yan Ming's car from behind, while Yang Yonggui caught up and pulled at the door.

“Hold on!” Yan Ming twisted the wheel, the car swerving toward the slope, shaking off Yang Yonggui. He looped back down, returning to the dirt road, forcing the Buick to stop by the roadside.

As Yan Ming approached the junction, the police car was coming from the opposite direction.

“Should I stop?” Yan Ming asked Yin Nian.

“No need. Whether we stop or not is irrelevant—without evidence, they can't do anything to me,” Yin Nian replied.

Yan Ming floored the accelerator, hugging the police car as he sped past.

Yang Yongli followed, also without stopping.

Yang Yonggui and Yang Yongfang surrounded the police car. The officers got out and began to negotiate, with Yang Yonggui pointing toward the cabin and then the lake. The police recorded details and walked toward the water.

After merging onto the main road, Yan Ming slammed the accelerator in the darkness, racing away.

As they neared a small junction, Yan Ming switched off the headlights in advance, made a sharp turn, and hid the car among the fields in the woods.

Yang Yongli’s car sped straight past, completely unaware.

“Are you alright?” Yan Ming looked at Yin Nian.

“I’m fine…” Yin Nian’s face was pale. She clutched her chest as if she might vomit, but forced herself to hold back.

She took two deep breaths, steadied her nerves, then looked at Yan Ming, astonished and suspicious. “Why… is it you?”

“Who else did you expect?” Yan Ming shrugged, feigning relaxation, though his face remained tense.

“I thought… it was Han Duoduo.” Yin Nian glanced at the back seat—empty.

“Han Duoduo?” Yan Ming took a deep breath. “You still don’t know?”

“Know what…” Yin Nian looked confused.

“The reason you’re sinking deeper is because Han Duoduo is working against you behind the scenes.”

“That… can’t be… You’re joking, right?”

“I’m not joking. I’ve already gathered plenty of evidence. Did you see the message I sent you?”

“I haven’t had a chance yet…”

“Then I suggest you read it first.”