He opened his eyes again to a sky full of stars.

His entire body ached. When he tried to sit up, he found himself bound to a swing-set post in a corner of the courtyard.

Beside him was Big Fatty.

A’Ping and Little Seven were nowhere to be seen.

Had they managed to escape?

At that moment, a stealthy silhouette came jogging over from nearby — Little Seven.

“Boss, I came to rescue you!” Little Seven pulled out a small knife and cut through the tattooed man’s ropes, then moved to cut the ropes off Big Fatty.

The ropes came free, but Big Fatty didn’t wake up.

“He’s been electrocuted twice. He probably won’t come around for a while,” Little Seven said. “A’Ping drew that woman toward the residential building. Boss, while she hasn’t noticed us, let’s find somewhere to hide fast!”

“Hide?” The tattooed man looked toward the iron gate not far away. The exit was right there within reach — why hide?

By now he’d completely abandoned any thought of escaping together with his brothers. That electric baton of Bai Youwei’s was simply too effective. He figured the best move now was to get out as fast as possible, then regroup with more backup and come back for revenge.

“We need to get out right now!” The tattooed man stood up. “No time to worry about A’Ping — let’s go notify the others first!”

“There’s no time!” Little Seven said urgently. “The chains on the gate rattle the moment you touch them. It takes at least ten-plus seconds to get them all unwound. By the time we get the gate open, she’ll definitely have caught up!”

The tattooed man snapped impatiently, “Then what do you suggest?”

Little Seven’s eyes flickered. He dropped his gaze uncomfortably, and said with reluctance, “Then… then, Boss… should we… call the police?”

The tattooed man’s eyes went wide.

Call — the — police???

“Are you joking?!”

If they weren’t still stuck inside the welfare home, the tattooed man would have punched Little Seven right then.

He would rather die here than call the police!

A man of his stature, the great Qinglong Bro, rescued by cops? If that got out, would he have any face left? Would he?!

From somewhere in the distance came a sudden, anguished cry from A’Ping.

Little Seven went pale and gave a visible shudder. “Oh no — A’Ping got caught too!”

“Hide!” The tattooed man grabbed Little Seven and pulled him back, too pressed for time to go far. They crouched behind a row of hedges at the back of the swing set, concealing themselves.

A few seconds later, they saw a figure emerge from the corridor of the residential building in the distance.

As it drew nearer, they could make out a young girl wearing a rabbit mask. With one hand she was dragging A’Ping by his sleeve, walking slowly forward.

Despite dragging along the weight of a full-grown man, her stride was fluid and unhurried — it didn’t seem to cost her any effort at all.

The tattooed man watched from the shadows, his heart in his throat. He hadn’t expected Bai Youwei to be this strong.

…Not only strong, but fast. Every time he’d faced that electric baton, he’d been knocked down before he could even think to dodge.

Damn it.

He’d been careless. He should never have underestimated this woman.

Bai Youwei dragged A’Ping all the way to the swing set, noticed the cut ropes on the ground, and paused for a brief moment. Then she looked around, as if searching for which direction the “prey” had fled.

After a few sweeps, she found nothing, and turned her gaze back. She used the remaining rope to firmly bind A’Ping, then re-secured Big Fatty as well.

Once done, she didn’t linger. She turned and walked back to the residential building.

The tattooed man watched as she disappeared into the distance, and only after she was completely gone did he finally let out a breath.

Little Seven got up to go free A’Ping and Big Fatty again.

The tattooed man stopped him with a low voice. “Forget it. As long as they’re unconscious, cutting the ropes won’t help. Listen to me — I’ve already thought of a way out.”

Little Seven asked blankly, “Boss, what’s the plan?”

“Remember the trouble we ran into in that building during the day?” the tattooed man said. “In a bit, you find a way to draw her toward the teaching building. I’ll go pick up the glass marbles over there. When she comes chasing, I’ll scatter them in her path. If she steps on them, we’ll buy ourselves a few more seconds.”

—