The alley between the two buildings was filled with sewage and a pervasive stench due to the lack of sunlight. It was the perfect place for filth and vice to hide.

"Clang..."

The trash can tumbled in the sewage, and Xiao Hong’s furious voice rang out:

"Where’s Miaozi?"

"He almost got me killed!"

"Aren’t you fine now?" A teasing voice followed immediately:

"I warned you not to work with someone like Miaozi. He’s very skilled with women. Did you really think he liked you?"

"I told you, but you didn’t listen!"

"Bang!"

The trash can was once again a target for someone’s anger.

"You know perfectly well what the Cheng Family does," a cold voice said:

"They run casinos and do human trafficking. Did you really think you could swindle millions from the Cheng Family with your clumsy methods?"

"You’re just the bait. Miaozi and the others are the ones doing the fishing!"

"Now that Miaozi has reeled in that million, of course, he wouldn’t take the bait along. It’s only natural he’d leave you to the Cheng Family to escape."

"So what do I do now?" Xiao Hong gritted her teeth:

"My sister is still in the Cheng Family’s hands. Cheng Da said he won’t release her unless I give them Miaozi or a million."

"Then go do it," the shadow said, revealing a middle-aged man. He held a cigarette in his mouth, exhaling smoke, and shook his head:

"With your skills, you could earn hundreds of thousands a year. The interest will be enough."

"Where’s Miaozi?" Xiao Hong gritted her teeth:

"I know you have a way to contact him."

"You’re wrong," the middle-aged man shook his head:

"He has a way to contact me. I can’t get in touch with him. Don’t bother trying. He definitely won’t show up in the next year or two."

"Step aside!"

"I’ve got business."

He pushed past Xiao Hong, greeting a figure coming from the shadows with a smile.

The figure was hunched over, holding a bamboo cane, tapping the ground with it as he walked. It was a blind man.

"Tap tap... tap tap..."

"Tap..."

The tapping paused.

"Chen Biao?"

"Elder Shao," Chen Biao said with a smile:

"You’re right on time."

"Hmm." The blind man nodded, his voice hoarse:

"Did you bring the person?"

"I did." Chen Biao rubbed his fingers together:

"Elder Shao, did you bring the money?"

The blind man didn’t respond but extended his trembling hand, retrieving a bulging item wrapped in newspaper from his coat and handing it over.

"Three hundred thousand!"

"Elder Shao, you’re impressive!" Chen Biao gave a thumbs up, took the newspaper, and opened it to reveal stacks of money inside.

"Tsk tsk..."

Chen Biao clicked his tongue and shook his head, not expecting an old street-corner fortune teller to produce so much money.

"I didn’t earn this money for nothing. I searched all over the country to find someone who met the requirements. I finally found one."

With that, he turned and pulled a seven or eight-year-old boy out of the shadows.

The boy was skinny, wearing only a thin shirt in the cold weather, shivering as the wind blew.

The blind man turned his head, reached out, and grasped the boy’s hand, feeling his palm lines with his bony fingers. A smile appeared on his face.

"Not bad!"

"It’s him."

The blind man nodded and ’looked’ at the boy:

"Don’t be afraid, child. Follow grandpa."

His voice seemed to have an inexplicable magic to it, causing the boy to tremble, then gradually relax his expression and nod.

The old and the young walked into the darkness, moving further away.

"Hmph!"

Watching this scene, Xiao Hong snorted coldly:

"Never thought you’d get into human trafficking too?"

"Don’t speak nonsense," Chen Biao’s eyes widened:

"That kid is an orphan with no home. I sold him to Blind Shao. They can keep each other company. This is a good deed!"

"Really?" Xiao Hong was skeptical:

"So the blind man bought the kid to care for him in his old age?"

"Probably not," Chen Biao rubbed his chin and said:

"He asked me to find a suitable child years ago. His requirements are special, not like he’s looking for someone to take care of him, more like finding a disciple."

"A disciple?"

Xiao Hong’s eyes flickered, her expression suddenly changing, and she dashed in the direction the old and the young had left.

...

"Good boy."

In the dark corner filled with garbage, the blind man touched the boy’s face, speaking slowly:

"Don’t be afraid. It’ll be over soon."

As he spoke.

He took out a cloth bag and laid it out to reveal needles of varying lengths, glinting in the dark.

"No..."

The boy’s face showed a struggle, trying to back away.

"Good boy!"

The blind man spoke again, his voice calming the boy’s struggles and turning his fear into confusion.

"Good boy."

"Don’t be afraid. Grandpa will be very gentle."

The blind man sighed, gently caressing the boy’s face to find his eyes, while slowly pinching a silver needle with the other hand.

"Whew..."

He took a deep breath, holding his breath, prepared to insert the needle into the boy’s pupil.

"Stop!"

At that moment, a sharp shout rang out:

"Blind man, I’ve called the Public Security Bureau. Let the boy go!"

"Hmm?"

The blind man turned his head, his ears twitching slightly:

"That breathing... Are you the girl who was beside Chen Biao? Are you all in on this together? Trying to scam this old blind man?"

His voice was agitated, growing louder, his expression becoming fierce and terrifying.

"Who’s scamming you?"

Xiao Hong instinctively took a step back:

"You bought the boy, but you’re planning to blind him. I know your kind, exploiting your disability to beg for money."

"Beg?"

The blind man shook his head:

"I’m not a beggar. I’ve lived for decades never asking for anything, not even a grain of rice." 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"You’ve misunderstood."

His expression softened slowly, saying:

"My kind’s skills require blindness to hone. This child is my successor; how could I harm him?"

"Bullshit!"

Xiao Hong stepped forward:

"You’re about to blind someone’s eyes and still want to argue!"

With that, she rushed forward, grabbing the boy and shielding him behind her.

The blind man stood no chance, his reaction slower than a normal person’s. He swung a bamboo cane wildly, to no avail.

"Miss."

He inhaled deeply, speaking calmly:

"What will it take for you to trust me?"

"There’s no need for me to trust you," Xiao Hong replied:

"When the Public Security Bureau arrives, convince them."

"Miss," the blind man shook his head:

"Do you think you’re saving this boy? His life is full of misfortune, plagued by disease. Without taking him under the blind man’s wing, he won’t live past nine."

"I’m saving him!"

"Hmph!"

Xiao Hong snorted disdainfully.

"Well..." the blind man thought for a moment, cautiously extending his hand:

"Miss, let me hold your hand and read your fortune. Then you’ll know if the old blind man is truthful."

"Heh..." Xiao Hong chuckled, about to refuse, but saw another figure suddenly appear, nodding to her gently.

The newcomer was Fang Zheng.

Hmm?

"Alright!"

Xiao Hong raised an eyebrow, extending her hand.