The shadow of the abyss and the blade to break the deadlock

Lin Feng sat down opposite Monkey, offering no pleasantries, no words of comfort, and not even asking for details. He simply took a thin, tan-colored file folder from his briefcase and smoothly pushed it onto the table in front of Monkey.

The document bag, made of rough paper and sealed tightly, resembled a cold brick, forming a stark contrast to the kettle of boiling water on the table, which was still emitting faint white steam.

"Take a look at this first." Lin Feng's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable weight, instantly overwhelming the panic and chaotic thoughts surging in the Monkey's heart.

The Monkey stared blankly at the file bag, then looked up at Lin Feng's calm yet unfathomable eyes. An ominous premonition, like an icy tide, instantly overwhelmed his entire being. His hands trembled as he picked up the file bag, the cold touch on his fingertips sending a chill down his spine. He clumsily tore open the seal and pulled out a stack of documents.

At the top are several printed screenshots of web pages, which are promotional advertisements from Ankang Hospital on various online platforms, filled with enticing words such as "gathering of experts," "leading technology," and "humanized service."

Below are some charts analyzing financial data, densely packed with numbers and arrows. The Monkey couldn't quite understand them, but could sense the chaos and anomalies. Further down are several anonymously compiled comparative analyses of suspected alterations to medical records, as well as screenshots of vague accusations from patients' families on online forums and complaint platforms regarding "suddenly demanding extra money during surgery," "unclear cost lists," and "over-treatment of minor illnesses"...

Just as the Monkey was flipping through these unsettling documents, Lin Feng's deep, clear voice, like a cold narration, rang in his ears:

"Ankang Hospital has serious problems."

"Based on the information currently available, they are very likely involved in a systematic scheme to defraud the national medical insurance fund, a serious crime that undermines the foundation of the nation."

"There are serious violations in the management of medical records; they can be deleted or modified at will according to 'needs'."

"False advertising; they hired a large number of touts and online trolls to create a false impression of good reputation."

"The worst are 'extra charges during surgery' and 'over-treatment.'" Lin Feng paused here, as if to let the weight of those words settle completely. "'Extra charges during surgery' means that on the operating table, after the Patient is anesthetized and unable to resist, they suddenly ask the family for money, and if they don't pay, there might be 'accidents.' 'Over-treatment' means that they diagnose patients with illnesses when they are not, exaggerate minor illnesses into major ones, use the most expensive drugs, perform the most unnecessary tests, and squeeze every penny out of the patient."

As Lin Feng recounted his story, accompanied by the cold data and anonymous accusations in his hands, Monkey's face turned deathly pale at a visible speed. His fingers gripped the edge of the paper tightly, his knuckles turning bluish-white from the force. He felt as if he had suddenly been thrown into an ice cave, the biting cold shooting from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head, even his teeth began to chatter uncontrollably.

He remembered Doctor Qin's cold eyes beneath her warm smile, the eerie atmosphere in the office, the grim faces of his parents when they came out, and even more so, the transfer certificate he had just received—the one that, coincidentally, led to his sister's condition worsening and her admission to the ICU...

All the clues and doubts, at this moment, were strung together by the information Lin Feng produced and the detailed charges he made, forming a clear and ferocious chain that tightly constricted his heart!

"They... they could it be..." The Monkey's voice was hoarse and dry, filled with incredulous fear, "Could they be planning something to do to Xiaoya...?"

He dared not think any further; a wave of overwhelming panic engulfed him. He abruptly raised his head, looking desperately at Lin Feng as if grasping at a last straw, his voice trembling with a sob and a naive desperation:

"Madman! What should we do? Call the police! Yes, call the police right now! Arrest all these bastards!"

Looking at the Monkey, who was almost completely flustered, Lin Feng slowly shook his head. There was no surprise in his eyes, only a calm understanding of everything.

"Call the police?" His tone was calm, but it was like a bucket of ice water poured on Monkey's head. "The other side isn't just one or two doctors, but a huge, deeply entrenched interest group with a clear division of labor. Putting aside whether they have any protectors behind them, just based on what we have inferred from the anomalies in the internet and finances, lacking direct witnesses and physical evidence, it will be difficult for the police to immediately open a case and take coercive measures. At most, they can only investigate, and investigations take time."

He leaned forward slightly, his sharp gaze fixed on the Monkey: "Most importantly, Xiaoya is still in their ICU, completely under their control! If we rashly call the police and alert them, what do you think these people, who will stop at nothing for money and may even be involved in darker dealings, will do?"

Lin Feng lowered his voice even further, carrying a chilling undertone. "They might very well resort to desperate measures, and in order to destroy evidence and cover up the truth, they might... kill Xiaoya. If that happens, it'll be a lose-lose situation, and we can't afford the consequences."

"A fight to the death..." the Monkey murmured, repeating those four words. All his strength seemed to drain away instantly, and he slumped into his chair, his face ashen. Calling the police was useless, transferring him to another hospital was blocked, and his sister was trapped in a den of iniquity... He felt himself being tightly bound by an invisible net; the more he struggled, the tighter the net became, almost suffocating him. He was just an ordinary student, and faced with such a vast and evil conspiracy, he felt a profound sense of powerlessness and despair.

"Madman... then... then what should we do? I... I can't let anything happen to Xiaoya!" Monkey's voice was filled with helpless trembling. He was like a child who had completely lost his way in the dark, and could only place all his hopes on the person in front of him.

Seeing the Monkey on the verge of collapse, Lin Feng calmly reassured him, "Don't panic. It's precisely in times like these that you need to stay calm. The most important thing for you right now is to regulate your emotions and not lose your composure."

He pointed out a seemingly yielding but actually cunning path to the Monkey: "Go back to the hospital immediately, find that Doctor Qin, soften your tone, and tell him that after careful consideration, you think what he said makes sense, and that transferring to another hospital is too risky. You trust Ankang Hospital's capabilities and have decided not to transfer for the time being, and will fully cooperate with their treatment. You must keep him calm and not let him realize that we have become suspicious."

"Keep him calm?" The Monkey was a little puzzled, but out of absolute trust in Lin Feng, he nodded vigorously.

"That's right, keep him calm and buy us time." Lin Feng continued his instructions, "I'll immediately use special channels and connections to obtain Xiaoya's most original and authentic medical records and copies of her examination reports. Then, I'll have the expert in the provincial capital I've contacted bypass Ankang Hospital and secretly conduct a second diagnosis and evaluation of Xiaoya's condition."

His eyes were sharp as knives. "The first thing we need to determine is whether Xiaoya really has lymphoma, or rather, whether her condition is as serious as they describe! If..."

Lin Feng didn't finish his sentence, but the Monkey already understood what he meant. If even the illness was fake, or maliciously exaggerated... then this hospital was simply a den of iniquity that devoured people without spitting out the bones!

"What if... what if we're sure Xiaoya doesn't have cancer, or that her condition isn't that serious?" Monkey asked urgently, a faint glimmer of hope rekindling in his eyes, only to be quickly overshadowed by the harsh reality. "But even if we know the truth, Xiaoya is still in their hands. How can we get her out safely? Calling the police isn't an option..."

This was his core anxiety. What good would knowing the truth do? On the other side's territory, under their absolute control, how could he ensure his sister left that hellhole unharmed?

Faced with the Monkey's urgent and confused questioning, Lin Feng did not immediately answer with words this time.

He turned his head and looked at the transparent glass window of the small restaurant, gazing at the endless stream of car lights and neon signs in the night outside.

Then, he raised his hand and made a simple yet clear gesture towards the window—he waved.

The Monkey followed his gaze.

A black Mercedes-Benz was parked across the street from the restaurant. The door was immediately pushed open, and a figure got out of the driver's seat.

He was an extremely burly and robust man; even from a distance and through the glass, one could feel his imposing presence. He wore a tight-fitting black leather jacket that accentuated his rock-hard muscles, sported a nearly bald buzz cut, had a thick neck, a cold and hard face, and eyes as sharp as a hawk's.

He closed the car door with a swift and decisive movement, then strode forward with steady, powerful steps, ignoring the traffic flowing by on the road, heading straight for the small restaurant. His appearance seemed to freeze the surrounding bustling night.

The restaurant door was pushed open, and the bell hanging on the door rang crisply.

The burly man walked in, his gaze sweeping across the slightly noisy shop before instantly locking onto Lin Feng's location. Ignoring the curious or fearful looks from the other diners, he walked straight to Lin Feng and the Monkey's table and stood there like an Iron Tower.

He first bowed slightly to Lin Feng and said in a low, respectful tone, "Boss."

Then, he turned his gaze to the Monkey, who looked astonished and had not yet recovered from the sudden turn of events.

Lin Feng sat calmly in his chair. He pointed to the burly man standing by the table and, addressing the dumbfounded Monkey, spoke in a casual tone, as if introducing an old friend:

"Come on, Monkey, let me introduce you."

"This is a friend of mine."

His name is --

Li Jun.