As Xiaofan had anticipated, Zhu Fan was indeed using Cui Yuan to test him. However, the tactic was rather crude.

Although there was a countermeasure, having to stage a play every now and then, especially one where life is at stake, meant not only preparing the lines in advance but also having the expression just right.

If Xiaofan were to participate in something like the Life Academy Awards for Best Actor, the first prize would certainly be his.

At this moment, Xiaofan looked just like an enraged little lion, his face full of innocence and grievance, yet he maintained an expression of defiance, unwilling to bow down or bend to servility.

"Because you couldn't beat him, you just let him go? For someone who poses a threat to our organization, you should have risked your life to keep him," Zhu Fan continued the interrogation.

"Damn, why don't you try it? You make it sound so easy, risk my life? Why should I risk my life with him? He's so strong; if I go up against him, there's no way I can beat him. Am I an idiot to face him head-on? Anyway, since he didn't fight me in the end, of course, I let him go."

That...

Xiaofan's words left Zhu Fan and the others speechless. Yes, there was really nothing to say. If this were indeed the case, then Black Mantis was not in the wrong, was he?

Who isn't selfish? In this organization, who doesn't prioritize survival above all? Knowing that one's strength is inferior, of course, running is the obvious choice.

"Then why didn't you report to me immediately after discovering Cui Yuan's identity?" After pondering for a moment, Zhu Fan continued questioning.

"I wanted to report to you, but you have to give me a way to contact you, right? Every time there's a mission, we either receive calls from Uncle Zhong and then take action, or we wait for news online. Last night, I couldn't reach Uncle Zhong by phone, so where was I supposed to find you at short notice?" Xiaofan responded quickly, having anticipated such a question. It seemed the script was exactly as he had imagined.

However, there was one thing Xiaofan still worried about, and that was where Uncle Zhong had gone. Why didn't he answer his phone last night? If he doesn't come forward to prove Xiaofan's innocence, this matter wouldn't be over.

"It seems we need to make you suffer a bit before you'll tell the truth. Take him to the little dark room, keep him there for a week or ten days, and then we'll decide what to do." Zhu Fan didn't believe a word Xiaofan said. He was more inclined to believe that Black Mantis was the traitor, the spy, the undercover agent.

Only then would everything that had happened during this period make sense. Since the appearance of Black Mantis, the losses incurred could now be accounted for, but he would lose a valuable talent.

"Zhu Fan, if you don't want to keep me here, then let me go and give me back the money I made before. Don't keep giving me a hard time. Where's Uncle Zhong? Go get Uncle Zhong..."

"Uncle Zhong? Zhong doesn't have time to bother with you right now, lock him up..."

Upon hearing the boss's order, four men dressed in black prepared to escort Xiaofan towards the small dark room.

"You bastard..."

At this moment, Xiaofan let out a roar of anger, surprisingly breaking free from the restraint of the four men and sprinted directly towards Cui Yuan.

No one expected Black Mantis to have such explosive strength. And his speed was astonishingly fast.

Cui Yuan was a master. Facing the direct assault from Black Mantis, he remained calm, standing his ground to await the attack, then setting up to engage in combat.

This time, Xiaofan was indeed fighting with all his might. Even one Cui Yuan alone couldn't handle Xiaofan for a moment. So, a second master joined the fight. Then a third, and a fourth.

The scene left Zhu Fan somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected Black Mantis to really have some skills when going all out.

However, unable to unleash his full power, Xiaofan was being beaten back step by step. Seeing the earlier scenario about to repeat, these guys also began to lash out seriously.

Could he really be locked up for a week or ten days?

If he were locked in the little dark room, the pills on him would definitely be found, and he didn't have the silver needles with him. If he really gets locked up for a few days, he'd definitely have to endure painful interrogation.

Should he give it his all? There was still a chance to break through the people in front of him, but all efforts could be wasted. For now, he could only bear it for a few days. Once he contacted Uncle Zhong, everything could be explained.

But for now, he didn't know if the others would immediately kill him, and if Li San didn't receive his message, who knew if he'd act on his own. Damn it, where exactly is Uncle Zhong?

'Bang.'

Just as Xiaofan got distracted, he was kicked by another master, completely cornered into a dead end.

"Come on, kill me if you've got the guts, damn your grandmother!" Xiaofan struggled to stand up, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He couldn't give up until the very last moment.

"I'll kill you today, avenge my brother," Wu Hu shouted, immediately charging at Xiaofan to deliver a fatal blow.

And Zhu Fan, standing by, showed no intention to stop Wu Hu. In his eyes, eliminating a potential threat was far safer than gaining a capable assistant.

'Boom.'

"Stop, everyone stop."

Just as Xiaofan braced to confront Wu Hu's murderous intent, the door suddenly opened, and Uncle Zhong finally appeared in front of Xiaofan.

"Boss, Black Mantis is not the traitor, he sent me a message last night." Saying this, Uncle Zhong quickly approached Zhu Fan with his phone in hand.

"This?" Looking at the text on the phone, Zhu Fan didn't seem inclined to change his mind immediately.

"Indeed, I just got here from the other side. When I turned on my phone, I saw this message because all our phones are off during meetings. I had no way to inform you, so I hurried straight over," Uncle Zhong explained softly.

"There's something urgent to say, yet it doesn't mention discovering the traitor. And why use a message instead?"

'Bang.'

Over here, Xiaofan angrily pulled out his phone and threw it casually on the table.

"After leaving the warehouse, I immediately called Uncle Zhong to meet with you, but Uncle Zhong's phone was off. If you don't believe me, you can check the call logs. I thought you had already discovered who the traitor was and brought me in to testify, but I didn't expect, instead, I became the scapegoat with a crime to bear?" Finally, someone came to prove his 'innocence,' and Xiaofan stood taller and prouder.

"Even so, you should have explained the situation clearly," Zhu Fan seemed to become somewhat skeptical.

"Explain clearly? Even a Sect Leader from the South Gate can be a spy, who knows who else might be? To see you, I must go through Uncle Zhong. This matter I must tell you personally. But who knew you'd do this to me? Damn it, doing this to me."

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