Reborn as the Villain's Wife, I Shine in 80s-Chapter 522: Without entering the tiger’s den, how can one obtain tiger cubs?

Chapter 522: Without entering the tiger’s den, how can one obtain tiger cubs?

Tian Sangsang held back her tears, muttering furiously under her breath, "Who is it?" This was utter lawlessness—abducting someone in broad daylight and even daring to beat them like this.

She suspected it was some kind of criminal organization. All they wanted was that damned map. Should she just give it to them?

"Don’t be afraid, Sangsang," Guan Kunling reassured her. "They haven’t gotten what they came for yet. Zhao Chun’s life isn’t in immediate danger."

Tian Sangsang knew this, but it didn’t make it any easier. How could she feel anything but anguish, knowing her friend was suffering while she stood powerless to help? She had considered calling the police, but it wouldn’t work. What could she even say? That Zhao Chun was forcibly taken away in public? The police would inevitably bombard her with questions. Was he acting strangely before? Was his mood unusual? Who had he been in contact with? Where had he gone? Was his health okay?

What a load of pointless crap!

The truth wasn’t as complicated as the police might think—it was precisely as that man had said: they were after the map.

She absolutely couldn’t tell the police the truth.

Since she couldn’t be honest, handing the map over to the authorities was pointless. Without understanding the full context, how could the police quickly locate Zhao Chun? Let’s be real—they wouldn’t even have half a clue. Hell, *she* was still fumbling in the dark. Ever since she returned from Mount Lu, her life had been shrouded in a suffocating fog of uncertainty.

The enemies lurked in the shadows while they floundered out in the open.

Damn that map. Damn that man.

As Tian Sangsang and Guan Kunling stewed anxiously, it didn’t take long before they received a message. It came in the form of a note, stabbed into the door with a knife.

Guan Kunling stood, pulled the knife out, and handed the note to Tian Sangsang. The gist was clear: bring the map and trade it for Zhao Chun. The location was in some remote area.

"Kunling." Tian Sangsang decided to come clean. "I do have what they’re looking for." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Guan Kunling understood immediately. A subtle flicker moved through her steely gaze as she said, "Keep the map. You can’t give it to them. If we hand it over, then everything we’ve suffered will have been for nothing, and everything Zhao Chun endured will be wasted."

"You’re saying exactly what I’ve been thinking. They’re desperate for the map, so let’s not make it easy for them—let’s dangle it just out of reach to drive them crazy." Her bravado was hollow, and she couldn’t even force a smile. "But Zhao Chun still needs to be rescued. He was taken because of me, but I can’t think of a way to get him out."

Guan Kunling said, "You still have me. I’ll help you rescue him."

"Are you confident?" Tian Sangsang asked.

"Don’t worry." Guan Kunling gave her a faint smile. "Ten men wouldn’t be a match for me."

Tian Sangsang realized that, apart from Kunling, she had no one else left to trust. Her hand unconsciously brushed over her swollen belly, and her thoughts drifted to Jiang Jinghuai. If only he were here, she would feel so much more at ease. But whenever she needed him, he was never around. This time was no exception. She understood his reasons, but understanding didn’t ease the ache in her chest.

After a moment’s thought, Tian Sangsang said, "Not involving the police will make things much harder. But I don’t think our opponents would risk not preparing for the possibility of law enforcement showing up—they must have a fallback plan in place. So tomorrow, I’ll go with you. Once we’re there, you can take action when the opportunity arises. I just want all three of us to walk away together." Yet even if they all made it back together, what then? As long as she still had the map—or even if she didn’t—the danger wouldn’t disappear. Every day after this would be a life lived in endless fear.

Guan Kunling shook her head. "You can’t go. I can handle it alone and bring Zhao Chun back."

Tian Sangsang opened her mouth to protest.

"One less person means one less risk. You’re pregnant, and you’ve already exhausted yourself. In your condition, you won’t be able to run if things go south," Guan Kunling said firmly. "Yanyan is still at home, and there’s always the chance they’ll try something else. Just stay and keep Yanyan safe."

Pregnancy really did make a woman a bit scatterbrained. Tian Sangsang felt utterly useless. Closing her eyes, she handed a small listening device to Kunling. "Take this. If something happens, I want to be able to prepare. If necessary, I’ll alert the police." During the earlier call, she hadn’t heard any useful information at all; the other side hadn’t revealed a shred of their identity.

Kunling took it and nodded. "Alright."

**

Following the address on the note, Guan Kunling set off.

The location was extremely remote. After leaving the main road, all that remained was a winding mountain path. The trail was overgrown with weeds, brambles sprawled across the ground, and dense trees loomed on all sides. It was the kind of place where you could easily lose your way or sense of direction.

Surrounded by the cover of the forest, it was utterly desolate—a forsaken valley where no one ventured.

As she weaved through the mountain trail, Kunling used her knife to carve marks into the trees, just in case.

The note had only mentioned the mountain in general—there was no specific location provided. She had to search on her own. She didn’t know how long she’d been walking by the time her pants were caked with dust and bits of grass, but her face remained cold as frost, her spirit unyielding. She wasn’t the least bit tired.

After rounding a bend in the trees, she finally saw it—a house up ahead.

The structure was dilapidated and unremarkable, but Kunling was certain Zhao Chun was inside. Although there were no visible guards around the house and not so much as a whisper of movement, she could feel the tension of an ambush in the air.

Kunling’s brow furrowed slightly.

She knew her adversaries were no amateurs. They didn’t fear her bringing the police or reinforcements. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be so brazen—using a note to spell out their demands.

Bringing the police would only complicate things and turn the situation into a total mess.

When it came to trust, Kunling trusted herself more than anyone else. As an assassin, she had faith in her own abilities. It was lucky Sangsang hadn’t come along. Otherwise, she’d only become a distraction.

Sangsang was pregnant. She shouldn’t be exposed to scenes of bloodshed and blades.

As Kunling took her first step forward, an invisible wave of killing intent crept closer.

A faint, icy smile curved her lips. Completely undaunted, she strode forward. The door was chained with a thick iron lock. She took out a silver needle, inserted it into the lock, and gave it a few deft twists. The lock clicked open.

With a sharp clang, Kunling ripped the chain off. It coiled around her arm like a serpent. She kicked the door open and marched straight inside. The heavy, rotting stench hit her nostrils as she made her way to Zhao Chun. She tore off the black cloth covering his eyes and untied him.

Zhao Chun was groggy. He felt someone’s hands moving over his chest, abdomen, and back. Every touch sent a surge of pain through him, making his breathing grow labored. He suspected his organs were shattered—why else would even the slightest movement hurt so much?

Yet wherever those hands pressed, a strange warmth seemed to seep in—a soothing heat that flowed through his body, like a gentle stream of warm spring water.

The unbearable agony lessened just enough for him to open his eyes.

"You... Kunling," he croaked. He almost called her by the nickname "Egghead."

Kunling nodded, propping him up with one hand. "Bear with it. I’m getting you out of here."

Zhao Chun’s cracked lips twitched as he murmured, "Sangsang... is she...?"