"Of course I've heard of them. I hear they're some kind of great houses — filthy rich, and powerful too!" Yu Xiaoke said this with a touch of envy. "If I knew where their home ground was, I'd go take a look around. I bet our orphanage would never have to worry about money again..."

"Nonsense! What makes you think that's a place you can go?" The old director glared at Yu Xiaoke and scolded her sternly. "If you went there, you likely wouldn't come back!"

"Huh? Is it really that bad?" Yu Xiaoke stuck out her tongue in fright. "I was only saying it offhand..."

"Offhand or not, you don't say it! Do you have any idea how strong these families are? They have plenty of Yellow Rank experts — even Mystic Rank experts! How many lives do you have to throw away there?" the old director reprimanded. "Whatever you do, don't go doing anything foolish!"

"Oh... I understand!" Yu Xiaoke nodded, though inwardly she felt a pang of regret — if only she could go rob them once. Aloud she asked, "And that hidden Zhao family — are they one of the Four Great Families and Five Minor Families too?"

"No. They're a hidden family — something far more terrifying than the Four Great Families and Five Minor Families!" The old director shook his head. "The hidden families are full of experts. But I've heard they don't concern themselves with the affairs of the mundane world. Otherwise, the Four Great Families and Five Minor Families wouldn't count as great houses at all."

"If that's so, then why is that Zhao Qibing still here? He's not lying to us, is he?" Yu Xiaoke asked, puzzled by the old director's words.

"Whether he's lying or not, I can't say for certain. We'll have to take it one step at a time. If they really do send experts here, then your master's little bit of strength won't be worth their notice..." The old director shook his head.

"Then they're just bullying us! What right do they have? What's going to become of the children at our orphanage?" Yu Xiaoke was indignant, thoroughly displeased.

"Bullying us? I suppose so. But what can we do? We're no match for them at all!" The old director sighed. "Besides, my identity can't be exposed... otherwise there'll be big trouble..."

"Master, back then, what exactly did you..." Yu Xiaoke trailed off, hesitant. She had asked many times before, and every time her master had been vague, never saying a word about what happened back then. She was terribly curious.

"It's better you don't know about these things," her master said mildly. "Otherwise you'll be in trouble too."

"Oh..." Curious as she was, hearing her master say that, Yu Xiaoke shut her mouth.

The kidney-harvesting ring's case was finally settled. The ringleader, Tattoo Brother, was brought to court, while Zhong Yongliang and An Jianwen appeared as victims, testifying to the gang's crimes.

An Jianwen found it somewhat disgusting and absurd — the kidney-harvesting ring was his own, yet here he was, testifying against his own criminal gang.

When Zhong Yongliang saw that An Jianwen had actually shown up in court as a victim too, he was astonished beyond measure — and inwardly overjoyed! An Jianwen had had his kidney harvested too? Wasn't the kidney-harvesting ring under his control? How had he become a victim as well?

Truly, evil is repaid with evil. An Jianwen had ruined himself, and at last he'd gotten his retribution — his kidney had been cut out too!

Though Zhong Yongliang found the whole thing a bit incredible, since An Jianwen could appear in court to testify, it must have been confirmed by the police — his kidney had undoubtedly been harvested as well!

After returning from court, An Jianwen was finally free. With the police no longer watching him, he immediately dialed Zhong Yongliang's number.

In the courtroom he had noticed Zhong Yongliang staring at him the whole time with a strange look in his eyes, and he'd been secretly anxious — Zhong Yongliang had better not let something slip. Fortunately, Zhong Yongliang had only smiled oddly and said nothing out of place.

An Jianwen couldn't tell what Zhong Yongliang was trying to convey. Sympathy? Curiosity? Or gloating?

An Jianwen knew that in Zhong Yongliang's heart there must be resentment over having a kidney cut out. But now that his own kidney had accidentally been cut out and given to him, surely Zhong Yongliang should have calmed down?

Still, whatever Zhong Yongliang thought, An Jianwen decided he would contact him at the first opportunity and demand his kidney back. He could always buy another kidney with money, but nothing worked as well as the original.

Gao Xiaofu accompanied Zhong Yongliang home. The past while had been rough on Zhong Yongliang; the first thing he did when he got home was take a bath to wash away the bad luck. Thanks to Divine Doctor Kang's wound medicine, his wound had healed long ago, and his body had recovered fairly well.

"Brother Liang, this business with An Jianwen is pretty bizarre. He got his kidney harvested too? Wasn't the kidney-harvesting ring under his control?" Gao Xiaofu asked, puzzled.

"Who knows. But it's worked out well enough — he lost the kidney-harvesting ring and his kidney along with it. I feel a bit more even now!" Zhong Yongliang nodded. "By the way, how's Wei Zhao been lately?"

"Same as ever — he's a big deal at school, nobody dares cross him..." Gao Xiaofu sighed. "Oh, right, Brother Liang, when is Naipao coming back? Once he's back, we can settle our scores!"

"I'm not sure yet. If we're not busy these next few days, let's go up the mountain and see him, see if there's anything he needs help with," Zhong Yongliang said.

"Sure. I've been wanting to see how Naipao's doing anyway!" Gao Xiaofu nodded. He was very much looking forward to Zhang Naipao's return.

As the two were talking, Zhong Yongliang's phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID — an unfamiliar number — and answered casually. "Hello? This is Zhong Yongliang. Who's this?"

"Liangzi, it's me, An Jianwen!" An Jianwen's voice sounded warm and eager.

"Oh, Brother Wen? What is it?" Zhong Yongliang's expression shifted slightly. Why was An Jianwen calling him? What did he want?

"Ah, Liangzi, I'm calling about something important!" An Jianwen hadn't caught the unfriendliness in Zhong Yongliang's tone — he couldn't see his face — so he went on, "How's your kidney? Any problems with it?"

"What? Is there something wrong with the kidney you gave me?" Zhong Yongliang sneered inwardly. My kidney's already dead and cut out, and you still have the nerve to ask if there's a problem? That thing has put me under the knife three times!

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