“Clear the area!”
At the sound of the commanding voice, a well-organized team of soldiers, each supporting the other by the shoulder, entered the area. The old man leading them still held the pull ring of a stun grenade in one hand, while the other gripped a revolver.
Looking at the bodies of his comrades scattered around, the old man called out toward a blood-stained barricade, “I presume you’ve been sent here by someone as well. Though I don’t know who you are, anyone capable of wiping out our entire reconnaissance squad is a rare force to be reckoned with. But I don’t think it’s worth sacrificing your life over a little girl. I urge you to reconsider.”
Despite his words, the old man had already signaled his team with a glance to flank the barricade from both sides, determined to encircle Ye Feng.
After a long silence with no response, the old man sensed something was amiss and shouted again, hoping to pinpoint Ye Feng’s location.
“You must know that our mercenary group has never failed a mission. We show no mercy in our tasks. If you value your life, step out now, and we’ll guarantee your safe passage.”
“......”
Still, there was only silence. This slighted the old man, and as he led his team forward, he suddenly noticed something unusual. A grenade rolled out from behind the barricade toward one of his men. Before the mercenary could pick it up and throw it back, it exploded on the spot. The blast shook the entire area, reducing it to near ruins.
“Ah! My hand!”
“Help me! Help me!”
The cries of agony and screams echoed in the ears of those nearby. Reacting swiftly, the old man drew his pistol and ended the lives of several incapacitated mercenaries who were wailing in pain. He then barked at the others, “Anyone who disrupts morale will meet the same fate. We won’t survive unless we root out that bastard!”
......
The thick scent of blood mixed with the acrid smell of gunpowder weighed heavily on everyone’s minds. They had never encountered a situation where they lost so many men without even seeing their enemy. Despite their high combat skills, how could they aim at someone they couldn’t see? This was a one-sided slaughter, and they were the lambs trapped in the slaughterhouse.
Even the old man, with his vast combat experience, realized something was wrong. Their adversary knew the terrain intimately and had delivered a devastating blow, as if he were a frequent visitor to the estate. Yet, according to Mei'er’s intelligence, no one in the estate matched the profile of this monster. Could it be Li Jing’s secret weapon? Regardless, with the enemy in the shadows, it was foolish to charge blindly. He immediately ordered a retreat, confident that if the enemy pursued, he had a plan to trap them.
“Fall back! Retreat to the nest!”
The old man issued the command, and the remaining soldiers breathed a sigh of relief, cautiously stepping backward toward the exit. Just as the last man was about to leave, a gunshot rang out from the flank, and a bullet struck his shoulder. The man groaned in pain, clutching his wound as he stumbled out.
“Huff... huff... huff...”
Ye Feng, hiding in a dark corner, finally had a chance to lean against the wall and catch his breath after watching the mercenaries retreat. The prolonged movement and intense focus had left him physically and mentally exhausted. If this continued, his stamina would run out. He needed to find Li Mucheng quickly, but searching for her in this vast estate was like looking for a needle in a haystack. Just as he was at a loss, a thought struck him: since they hadn’t captured Li Mucheng yet, she must still be hiding somewhere. If not in the estate, the only place that could delay their pursuit was... the forest on the back mountain!
“Boss! Bihu has found her. The young lady of the Li family is in the forest on the back mountain.”
Mei'er relayed the message from Bihu to the mercenary leader as soon as she received it. The leader narrowed his eyes, slightly puzzled as he glanced toward the estate.
Why hasn’t the old man returned yet? Is it really that hard to deal with one person? Never mind, focus on the girl first.
“Mei'er, take the elite guard and assist Bihu. I want to see the Li family’s daughter within ten minutes.”
“Understood.”
Mei'er removed her headset, shook her flowing hair, picked up a submachine gun, and led her team toward the forest.
Ye Feng had just lifted his foot to step out of the estate gate when he froze mid-air. Slowly, he pulled his foot back, noticing a tripwire connected to a grenade right beneath him. If he had taken that step, he would have been done for.
As Ye Feng considered another route, he heard the sound of a bullet being chambered behind him, followed by a hoarse voice.
“Hello there, first time meeting you.”
Ye Feng stood still and replied calmly, “I’m not a fan of greetings like this.”
“Oh? And do you think I enjoyed you nearly wiping out my entire squad?”
The old man pressed the barrel of his gun against the back of Ye Feng’s head, clearly relishing the situation.
“You know what? I love crushing arrogant people like you under my heel. No matter how skilled you are, you’re just another casualty. I’m the real powerhouse here.”
The old man chuckled disdainfully. Clearly, he had killed many capable individuals like Ye Feng, and it seemed to be his pleasure to prove how easily he could end their lives.
“Turn around. I’ll make sure you remember the face of the man who kills you.”
Taking a deep breath, Ye Feng slowly turned to face the old man.
“Huh? You’re...”
In the moment of the old man’s confusion, Ye Feng seized the opportunity. He grabbed the gun barrel and pushed it upward. A shot rang out, hitting the ceiling. Ye Feng then maneuvered behind the old man, using his other arm to lock the old man’s neck in a chokehold, aiming to render him unconscious.
“Cough... cough...”
The old man struggled, clutching his pistol tightly, but Ye Feng’s strength far surpassed his. Ye Feng’s combat techniques were fluid and precise, countering every move the old man made. Just as the old man broke free and tried to fire, Ye Feng tangled him up again. Slowly, the old man’s consciousness began to fade.
“Kid... you’ve still got a lot to learn.”
Unexpectedly, the old man laughed. With his free hand, he reached for a dagger strapped to his thigh, pulled it out, and stabbed it into Ye Feng’s abdomen.
“Sssshhk”
......