Chapter 044: The Video Hijacked

This story is entirely fictional.

At that very moment, Ya Ting Gao arrived. Finding the door unlocked, she stepped inside, only to be stunned by the scene before her...

Ever since Jun Feng Leng learned of Ya Ting Gao’s relationship with Yun Jiu Dai, he had been in low spirits. Nothing could lift his mood. As usual, he lounged in his office, legs crossed, ceaselessly puffing on a Cuban cigar, filling the entire room with its rich scent.

He had entrusted Black Tiger with a task but had no idea how it was progressing, so he picked up the phone and called him.

Black Tiger answered, “Mr. Leng, what you requested is rather difficult. Last time I told you my men had a chance to visit Ms. Gao’s villa, but so far there’s been no news. Please be patient; as soon as I get the item, I’ll bring it straight to your office.”

“A trivial matter dragged out for so long—I have to say your efficiency is highly questionable,” Leng replied with growing impatience.

After receiving Black Tiger’s instructions, Ghost Dread had been frustrated by the lack of opportunity to act. Now, at last, he had obtained what he needed and was overjoyed. He hadn’t visited his mentor for days to freeload, but today, with this item in hand, he was sure to impress him.

He called Black Tiger, “Master, how have you been lately? Since you gave me the task, I've racked my brains and endured countless ordeals, but finally, I've acquired the true treasure!”

“Enough, enough. You think you're something special just because you handled a bit of business? You say you faced eighty-one tribulations—was it harder than the journey to the West?” Black Tiger was impatient.

“I just got something, and honestly, it's almost too much for me. That seductress, Ms. Gao—her performance in bed is eye-opening. I’ll let you see for yourself, Master, feast your eyes.”

“A feast for my eyes? Isn’t it all the same? I, Black Tiger, have seen everything there is to see,” he replied dismissively.

“No, no. You have a refined taste, and your experiences are far beyond mine. But even you haven’t seen everything. This is truly valuable, Master. It's worth a fortune,” Ghost Dread boasted.

“Ha! If it were worth a fortune, you’d keep it for yourself. You wouldn’t just hand it over to me,” Black Tiger doubted the claim.

“Honestly, even I can hardly believe it. This item is genuinely priceless. I know your current situation—Mr. Leng is very dissatisfied with your performance. If you use this treasure to curry favor with Jun Feng Leng, he’ll be ecstatic. Not only will you have a chance to turn things around, but I will too. With this, fortune will smile on both of us. Isn’t that a priceless treasure?”

Hearing this, Black Tiger rose from the sofa, “If you really have something valuable, bring it here and let me see.”

“I’ll be right there, Master. Wait for me in your office,” Ghost Dread said, grabbing his car keys and heading for the underground garage.

He entered the garage, finding it deserted. He pressed the remote to unlock his car, and the vehicle responded with the sound of the door opening.

He climbed inside, oblivious to the masked figure dressed in black waiting in the back seat. The figure sat silently and asked coldly, “Where are you headed?”

Ghost Dread nearly lost his composure, but turned and replied, “I’m just going for a drive, to clear my head.” Regaining some calm, he asked, “Who are you, and why are you in my car?” Ghost Dread, a seasoned rogue, remained unruffled.

“You’re going to see your master, aren’t you? Am I wrong?” the masked man pressed.

“So you even know I’m visiting my master. Seems you’re very familiar with my movements,” Ghost Dread said coolly.

“I don’t just know your movements; I know everything you do. Believe it or not. I’m paid to solve problems for others. Enough talk. Hand over the item, and you’ll leave this garage unharmed,” the masked man demanded.

Ghost Dread felt the blade pressed against his back and said nothing further. Sensing danger, he knew his life was more important. He took a pen-shaped storage drive from his bag and handed it over.

“Is there a copy? If there is, we’ll destroy it together. You’re bold, meddling with the wrong people. Are you tired of living?” asked the masked man.

“I have my rules. When working for superiors, I never leave anything incriminating behind. Besides, I haven’t had time to make a backup. You can rest easy.”

The masked man nodded, finding the explanation reasonable. “Drive out of the garage. I don’t want to leave any security footage here. Take me where I tell you and drop me off.”

“Alright, alright,” Ghost Dread replied, starting the car and driving out.

He drove to a pitch-black spot, devoid of cameras. The masked man vanished into the darkness, swallowed by the night.

Ghost Dread’s prized possession was gone, leaving him bitter. But he had no choice; he recognized the man as a professional killer. Surviving was already more luck than he deserved.

His face pale and spirit heavy, he knocked weakly on Black Tiger’s office door.

Seeing Ghost Dread arrive, Black Tiger was all smiles. Based on Ghost Dread’s description, he believed the treasure would be his lifeline, the chance to change his fate. After years following Mr. Leng, he had few notable achievements and blamed his lack of promising talent nearby. Fortunately, Jun Feng Leng still treated him as a trusted confidant, assigning him important tasks. After the last tracking mission, some discoveries had pleased Leng. Now, Ghost Dread’s findings filled Black Tiger with hope for the future. He longed for a day when he could rise above, so his wife would no longer look down on him.

He pressed the automatic door opener, and the door slid open with a smooth sound.

Ghost Dread, bloodless and shaken by recent events, tried to maintain composure. He was a nobody, never imagining he’d been under surveillance all along. Fear gripped him. He’d hoped to climb the ladder using Black Tiger’s influence, but now found himself struggling in a perilous world.

“Why did you take so long? I’m dying of curiosity to see this treasure you promised. Come on, hand it over,” Black Tiger urged, full of anticipation.

“Sorry, Master. My precious drive was stolen by a masked man. To save my life, I had to give it up. I’m truly sorry!” Ghost Dread bowed repeatedly, apologizing.

“You idiot, didn’t you make a backup? How could I have a disciple as stupid as you?” Black Tiger was furious.

“Actually, it’s lucky I didn’t. If I had, I might not have survived. The masked man let me go only after I told him there was no backup. Otherwise, he would have gone to my office, and if things went badly, he might have killed me,” Ghost Dread explained.

“What was on it? Was it the video of that woman and Yun Jiu Dai? You told me before you installed cameras in her bedroom. When you mentioned video, I guessed it must be that,” Black Tiger asked.

“Master, you’re truly insightful—nothing escapes your keen eye,” Ghost Dread flattered him.

“It’s a shame to lose it. Getting another video of that woman won’t be easy now. Since they knew you were behind it and demanded the item directly, it means their security detected your activity and the camera you installed has been removed,” Black Tiger analyzed for Ghost Dread.

“Master, I have concerns. Now that Ms. Gao’s side knows I did it, will they retaliate? Her private life was exposed to us—could we be in danger?” Ghost Dread asked nervously.

“I don’t think so. She’s not familiar with you. Though her private life was exposed, she knows we wouldn’t dare keep a backup. As long as we don’t talk about it, Ya Ting Gao won’t confront us. She values her reputation highly. Her previous husband was Will, the head of headquarters, and she lived with a foreigner for nearly ten years. Her openness is beyond your imagination. As long as it’s not publicly exposed, she can tolerate a few people seeing it. She knows many men desire her, but she seldom engages with anyone. So don't worry. Lay low for a while; keep out of sight,” Black Tiger said, handing Ghost Dread a bank card. “Use this money wisely. If anything happens, come to my house. But watch for tails when you visit.”

Ghost Dread’s hands trembled as he took the card. He wiped away tears, overcome with gratitude, and bowed in thanks. “Master, you are my savior—I’ll never forget your kindness.”

“All right, all right. No need for formality between us. You’ll always be my favorite disciple. Go hide out somewhere for a while. When things settle down, I’ll call you to return.”

Ghost Dread bowed and left the office, his heart full of gratitude.

Soon after, Black Tiger’s phone began ringing incessantly. He pondered how to deal with Ya Ting Gao’s call.

He hesitated, then finally picked up.

To his surprise, Ya Ting Gao was not angry. Instead, her tone was gentle and soft, a stark contrast to her usual sternness. “Brother Tiger, how have you been lately?”

Black Tiger was caught off guard, expecting her to explode, but she didn’t. He breathed a sigh of relief.

“I’m well, thank you for your concern,” he replied, unsure what else to say.

“You say concern, but I’ve shown too little, so now you’re concerned about things you shouldn’t be. That makes me uncomfortable. Normally, I would demand you hand over your subordinate—I’d make him pay dearly, for he violated my privacy, saw what he shouldn’t have seen. For someone like that, a hundred deaths wouldn’t be enough. But I heard his mother is ill, needs expensive treatment, and he’s her only support. It’s pitiful. So, I’ll spare his life for now. Let him go as far as he can. I know you’re all just employees, each serving your own master. This incident isn’t your intention; your boss, Jun Feng Leng, has always had designs on me. I hope this matter ends here. No more trouble, no more unpleasantness.”

“Absolutely,” Black Tiger replied decisively.

“As for explaining to your boss, I trust you’ll know what to do,” Ya Ting Gao said before hanging up.

A short while later, Jun Feng Leng called. “I just got a call from Ms. Gao—her tone was strange, and I didn’t understand some of what she said. After thinking it over, I wonder if something’s gone wrong on your end. Did she contact you?” Leng asked.

“No, why would she look for a nobody like me? She’s too high up to bother. If she has anything, she’d go straight to you!” Black Tiger replied, showing no guilt.

“Stop the operation for now. We’ll reconsider everything,” Leng instructed.

“Yes, yes, I’ll do exactly as you say—never overstep,” Ghost Dread put down the phone, wiped the sweat from his brow, and cursed under his breath, “Damn it!” (To be continued.)