Chapter 126: The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind

There was not a hint of panic inside the vehicle, even though three cars were clearly closing in on this black business sedan from the front and rear. Yang Changfeng’s formidable combat prowess—coupled with the fact that his opponents clearly did not know he had returned overnight—meant that as long as a collision was avoided, every assailant who showed up was essentially one more casualty for them, a prospect they had never anticipated.

Did these people not even think to send someone to the company first to check if their attempt to lure the tiger away from the mountain had succeeded?

Chen Aijia had anticipated this long ago. When the company was burglarized last night, she realized someone was trying to draw Yang Changfeng away from her. It was obvious that whatever remained in Wang Hu’s office was far less important than preventing the company from continuing to investigate the trail Wang Hu had left behind. Their goals were not just to distance themselves from Wang Hu, but also to secure their own interests.

Undoubtedly, a company as powerful and completely under Chen Aijia’s control did not suit the interests of certain parties, and they would go to great lengths to seize it back.

In Chen Aijia’s mind, Wang Hu was never a true adversary. She had plenty of ways to deal with him, but once he was taken down, the masterminds behind the scenes would emerge. Since she hadn't yet identified who the real opponent was, she couldn't formulate a plan to handle the impending crisis.

Ultimately, Wang Hu’s influence was something the company had indulged itself. The fear of those pulling the strings had inevitably made Wang Hu increasingly rampant; his power had grown under the company’s own leniency to the point where he no longer respected even his own boss.

Now, it was time to step into the ring for a real fight. If there were still those who refused to give up, then she would make sure they gave up for good.

As Chen Aijia thought this in the passenger seat, she could hear An Ya’s breathing becoming ragged with tension.

Likewise, An Ya had great confidence in Yang Changfeng. This man had single-handedly decimated an entire security department of over a hundred people; could these three cars behind them possibly hold twenty men? Not everyone possessed the extraordinary talents of the neighboring magical nation!

An Ya was only afraid of the car being rammed. The opponent’s modified Passat looked sturdy, the small truck seemed heavy, and there was even a beat-up Xiali. It was clear the Xiali was intended as cannon fodder, its bumper reinforced with steel bars specifically as a tool for destruction.

At the intersection ahead, two large trucks were parked horizontally, seemingly having scraped against each other. What a coincidence; if things like this could happen, one might as well go buy a lottery ticket today.

"What should we do?" An Ya asked nervously.

"Don't be afraid," Yang Changfeng said. "Drive according to their intentions. There are many cameras on this road; they wouldn't dare hijack us here. They will only force us to a place without surveillance. As long as we don't let them inflict lethal harm, once we reach our destination, we'll give them a surprise."

The car was forced to turn into a narrow, disused road. On both sides, newly built apartment buildings stood alongside the rubble of old structures being demolished. It was early in the morning, and with few people about, the area looked desolate.

There were still cameras covering this area, but once they passed through it and reached the urban village ahead, they would truly be in a place where there was no need to worry about being filmed. The spot they had chosen was excellent—far enough from the company that Chen Aijia would have no time to call for help.

They had been driving for less than ten minutes when a Wuling van pulled across the narrow, pothole-ridden road, blocking their path. Six or seven men with sunglasses covering their faces stood by, and two barriers had been set up in front of the car. Everything had been prepared in advance.

At this point, Yang Changfeng was no longer worried about any complications; instead, he was worried that these guys might try to run away. Seeing this formation, however, he relaxed. They had no chance of escape.

The cars following them had also managed to trap themselves. The Xiali was at the front, the Passat in the middle, and the truck at the rear, completely sealing off their own retreat.

*Where do you people get such confidence?*

"Don't worry," Yang Changfeng said. "Stop before the barrier. Don't get out of the car. Wait for them to come to us."

An Ya nodded. Even though she knew there would be no issue, her hands were still trembling. She had a strong feeling that this hijacking was merely the beginning of the struggle. It was fortunate she hadn't left the company; otherwise, the enemy would certainly have exploited her, someone who knew Chen Aijia so well. They would have set a trap, turning her into a convenient card to use against Chen Aijia.

The car screeched to a halt. The Xiali behind them swerved, drove onto the vacant lot to the side, and blocked the path of retreat.

*Truly confident, aren't they?* Yang thought. *Do you really believe your brains are that sharp?*

Yang Changfeng lay down in the back seat. He couldn't let the enemy see him before the doors opened, or else losing even one of them would be a waste.

A man stepped out of the Xiali—just the driver, no one else. There were three men in the Passat. Judging by their attire, they were the elite of this group. One of them wore an Armani suit, twirling two walnuts in his hand. He looked to be under thirty and wore a gold necklace around his neck that appeared to be genuine.

Yang Changfeng’s eyes lit up. "Excellent! I’m going to make a fortune today. This kid is loaded; that necklace must be worth at least twenty or thirty thousand!"

Rubbing his hands together, Yang Changfeng decided that the gold necklace would be his from now on.

Chen Aijia was speechless. This man was simply a greedy landlord; the moment he saw something valuable, his eyes turned red. Did he not realize that robbery and extortion were crimes? She didn't expect that Yang Changfeng had no intention of reporting this at all. Since the enemy had chosen the methods of the underworld, he wouldn't hesitate to use those same methods to "return the favor" in kind.

The man with the gold necklace gestured, and the men in suits and sunglasses walked over, blocking the business sedan. He walked with a swagger, the walnuts spinning rapidly in his palm. He walked steadily up to the passenger side, tapped on the window, and called out with an air of restraint, "Boss Chen, at this point, surely you understand the rules? Don't make me use force. Get out of the car obediently, or my brothers won't be so polite."

Chen Aijia slowly turned her head, offering a mocking smile toward the window.

"Oh, as expected of a big boss. Even at a time like this, you can still laugh. My brothers and I have to admire that!" The man with the gold necklace nodded repeatedly. His walnuts stopped spinning, his face darkened, and he said viciously, "Since Boss Chen won't give us the courtesy, then my brothers will have to offend you. Smash it!"

Unexpectedly, before anyone could rush forward to smash the car, Chen Aijia rolled down the window and said with a smile, "Although I have no interest in knowing a small-time thug like you, have you really not bothered to ask around? Do you truly believe you lot are capable of hijacking someone like me?"

The man with the gold necklace grinned. "In normal circumstances, that would be true, but see, that guy surnamed Yang, he, he, he..."

He couldn't finish the sentence. He saw a figure rise from the back seat—the legendary demon, sitting up with a grin and waving at him. "Are you talking about me? What a coincidence. I just realized, I am that guy surnamed Yang."