Chapter 1742 — Kidnapping

"Aren't we backed by the Hidden Right Family? What's there to fear?" Kang Zhaoming was thoroughly displeased by his elder brother's sudden dampening of spirits. He knew well enough what was going through the man's mind: nothing more than seeing him as too capable, as having outshone him, and fearing he would be left with no place in the family hereafter.

"Little brother, it isn't that I, as your elder brother, wish to wag my tongue, but the Hidden Right Family has made itself clear — they can only help us in secret, and we must never breathe a word of this to anyone. So once trouble comes, if Wei Zhao traces it back to us, wouldn't our entire Kang family be finished?"

"Brother, I understand what you mean now. You just want to wash your hands of it, don't you?" Kang Zhaoming sneered. "If Wei Zhao really comes looking for trouble, I'll take responsibility for what I've done. I'll bear it alone!"

"That's good, then. I'm only considering the overall interests of the Kang family — this isn't aimed at you." Though Kang Zhaolong could see the enormous profit in this affair, he could also see the enormous risk.

If Wei Zhao came knocking and the Hidden Right Family simply abandoned them, the Kang family would be in grave danger. That was why Kang Zhaolong had spoken first to make his position clear: if nothing went wrong, he had merely played the petty villain for nothing, but if trouble did come, he would be the great hero who had seen it coming — and could seize back his standing in the Kang family once more.

"What Zhaolong says has some truth to it. The profit this time is great, but we cannot drag the whole Kang family into it because of that!" Divine Doctor Kang was a cautious man as well. He nodded after listening. "Still, Zhaoming, you truly are being wronged this time!"

"Grandfather, I am a son of the Kang family and must naturally do my part for its advancement!" Kang Zhaoming said. "As for this matter, I will tell the world that I cooked it up myself, and that it has nothing to do with the Kang family!"

"Good. As for the plan from here on, our Kang family will take no part. You and the Hidden Right Family's experts will devise it among yourselves. As for us, we shall know nothing at all!" Kang Zhaolong had washed his hands of it cleanly.

"Fine by me. Then we'll move out and live elsewhere starting today!" Though Kang Zhaolong's words were chilling to hear, they in fact suited Kang Zhaoming perfectly. With no one else from the Kang family involved, all the credit for this affair would be his and his alone!

And he had absolute confidence that he could complete this mission. So what if Wei Zhao was an early-stage Earth Rank expert? Wasn't there a mid-stage Earth Rank expert on his own side? When the time came, they would see what tricks Wei Zhao had to turn the situation around!

Of course, Kang Zhaoming had left himself a way out. His present course might look rash, but it carried a deeper meaning. If the scheme were exposed and he had nowhere to turn, he could still flee to the Hidden Right Family. In his view, he had been single-mindedly serving the Right Family; now that trouble had arisen, surely the Right Family could not just abandon him?

So long as he was allowed to take refuge with the Right Family, the matter would be resolved. And if he could learn some alchemy from them as well, that would be simply spectacular!

Kang Zhaoming had in fact long been plotting the kidnapping of Guan Xin. It was only that he had never found the right opportunity to act, and he had also feared Wei Zhao's strength, unable to contend with it — which was why he had never made his move.

Now, with the support of the Hidden Right Family's expert, Kang Zhaoming naturally had nothing to fear.

This expert from the Right Family had no name. Kang Zhaoming understood, in fact, that he did not wish to reveal his identity, and had simply given himself the name You Shisan.

But none of that mattered. Kang Zhaoming did not care to know what he was called.

Kang Zhaoming worked quickly. On the second day after moving out of the Kang household, Guan Xin disappeared...

Guan Xuemin was the same as ever. The maid, Auntie Liu, had finished preparing the meal, and he sat at the dining table reading the newspaper, waiting for Guan Xin to come home from work.

Ordinarily, Guan Xin could have resigned by now, but she had said she wanted to finish her final shift properly. Once she left the hospital, she might never be able to return to the nursing post again, so she treasured these last days...

"Professor Guan, the food's gone cold... Shall I call Xinxin and ask whether the hospital's keeping her late?" Auntie Liu looked at the dishes on the table and spoke to Guan Xuemin, who was absorbed in his newspaper.

"Oh? What time is it?" Guan Xuemin started slightly and set down the newspaper in his hands.

"It's already past eight in the evening. Normally, if Xinxin isn't on duty or working late, she'd be home by a little after six..." Auntie Liu said.

"I'll give her a call and ask." Guan Xuemin frowned slightly. Guan Xin was always punctual about getting off work; even when she worked late, she would call to let him know. So her sudden silence today left him somewhat unsettled.

He dialed Guan Xin's cell phone, and it was answered quickly enough — but the voice on the other end was not Guan Xin's, but that of a strange man!

"Hello?" The voice was lazy, as though victory were already in hand.

"This... isn't this Xinxin's number? Who are you?" Guan Xuemin was taken aback. He checked the number he had dialed and found it was correct, and could not help feeling puzzled.

"Doctor Guan, I thought you no longer cared about your granddaughter. It took you this long to call me — that really is a surprise!" the man said slowly. "Two hours now. Still, not too long. I was even thinking that if you hadn't called within five hours, I'd kill her. I don't have that much time to play games with you!"

"Kill her?" Guan Xuemin was stunned for a moment, then said, "Who exactly are you? What do you want? Where is Xinxin? How is she?"

"Doctor Guan, with all your learning, can't you guess who I am? A kidnapper, of course!" This man was none other than Kang Zhaoming. He had successfully abducted Guan Xin and intended to use her to demand from Guan Xuemin the formula for the Longevity and Detoxification Pill.

"Xinxin is in your hands?" Earlier Guan Xuemin had been frantic with worry, but hearing Kang Zhaoming speak, he steadied himself instead and said in a low voice, "What do you want?"

"What do I want? Doctor Guan, you're a straightforward man, as expected!" Kang Zhaoming said. "If you want your granddaughter safe and sound, Doctor Guan, you need only pay a small price!"

"How much money do you want?" Guan Xuemin asked.

"Talking about money is so vulgar." Kang Zhaoming shook his head. "I don't want money."

"Then what do you want?" Guan Xuemin was puzzled by this. A kidnapper who didn't want money — what did he want, then? Still, Guan Xuemin asked without betraying any emotion.

"Doctor Guan, I hear you have the formula for a Longevity and Detoxification Pill. I wonder if you could give me a copy?" Kang Zhaoming said bluntly.

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