Chapter Sixty-Eight: The Operation Begins

Chu Feng answered Ma Han’s call, told him to wait outside, then hung up and informed Old Wang and Old Jin before heading downstairs.

Once outside, Chu Feng saw Ma Han, Wang Chen, and Xiao Hei. This time, Ma Han hadn’t brought many people, as the others were out on missions; only the three of them remained at the base. Chu Feng invited them to a second-floor room where doctors changed bandages and explained the situation in detail.

“Damn, it’s those Sunfire men again! Last time we went to the Golden Triangle on assignment, we tangled with them. One of our brothers had his shoulder pierced by a similar crossbow bolt — he still hasn’t fully recovered,” Ma Han said, nearly splitting the table with his slap. Clearly, their last encounter with Sunfire had cost them dearly.

“Captain, this time we can get our revenge and then some. If we catch that bastard, I’ll tear his bones apart,” Xiao Hei, standing beside Wang Chen, was filled with hatred for Sunfire’s men; the injured brother was his spotter.

“Tell us your plan,” said Long Feihu, since Ma Han was to listen to Chu Feng, and Chu Feng surely had his own ideas.

Chu Feng laid out his plan and shared all the information he had gathered.

“That’s too risky. If you make the wrong bet, you’ll be dead. I think we should have that guy called Wolf stand in for you so you’ll be safe,” Ma Han protested. Chu Feng’s plan involved using himself as bait. If he couldn’t react fast enough, Sunfire’s people would surely kill him.

“If Wolf stands in for me, Sunfire’s man might not strike. His target is me. Only if I go out will he show himself. As for my safety, don’t worry about it,” Chu Feng replied. He had considered using Wolf as bait, but feared Sunfire’s man would see through it and not make a move, wasting all his effort.

“Then wear this bulletproof vest. Crossbow bolts won’t penetrate it; at worst, you’ll feel some pain,” Ma Han said, taking a vest from his bag and handing it to Chu Feng.

“You’re thorough — you even brought a bulletproof vest,” Chu Feng remarked, surprised at Ma Han’s preparedness.

“It’s for training. Earlier, we had new recruits train without vests and one almost died when he was shot. Ever since that safety incident, all recruits wear bulletproof vests during training,” Ma Han explained.

“This operation can’t use guns, only cold weapons. The attack site is surrounded by shops and street vendors — gunfire would cause panic,” Chu Feng explained, describing the environment where he’d been attacked.

They discussed the action's details and precautions in the room, emphasizing above all that Sunfire’s killer must not harm civilians.

Chu Feng whistled, took his keys, got in his car, and left the hospital. Not long after, in a building opposite the hospital, a man with binoculars around his neck pulled out his phone and made a call.

“The eagle has left the nest.”

Chu Feng drove to the food stall where he had eaten with Han Xuefang earlier. The owner was surprised to see him but didn’t think much of it, just brought out some dishes as requested.

Shortly after Chu Feng left the hospital, Ma Han and his team exited through the rear in an ordinary private car.

Chu Feng ate and played on his phone. It was already past eleven, nearly midnight, and the street was emptying. If not for Chu Feng, the stall owner would have started packing up.

Soon, Chu Feng placed two hundred yuan on the table and drove off. Not far away, a young man pulled out his phone and made a call.

Chu Feng returned toward the hospital as before, but this time he was keenly alert, watching for any sign of the assassin.

Suddenly, as he drove, Chu Feng made a sharp turn, nearly crashing into the adjacent car. On the road where he’d turned, a crossbow bolt stood upright, swaying.

Half the bolt was embedded in the ground, its shaft still trembling, a testament to its power.

Chu Feng sped away, and at a traffic light, he turned right, heading toward a deserted field.

He hadn’t gone far before he saw three men ahead, each holding a long knife. They looked like machetes, but Chu Feng could tell they were different from those used by Wolf and his team.

Chu Feng got out. The three saw him emerge and rushed at him together.

At that moment, Chu Feng sensed a malicious wind behind him. In a flash, he dove to the ground; something scraped past his scalp.

A scream split the night. Chu Feng looked up to see that the three men were now two — one had been struck in the chest and had fallen.

The arrowhead still quivered in the man’s chest, and Chu Feng was shocked. He hadn't noticed anyone tailing him. If his reaction had been even a tenth of a second slower, it would have been him lying there instead of the man in black.

As Chu Feng wondered how to alert Ma Han, a beam of intense light suddenly shone from the distance, so bright he couldn’t keep his eyes open.

With no other choice, Chu Feng tossed two scalpels, then vaulted over the car to the other side, avoiding the glare.

He didn’t know whether the light belonged to the enemy or Ma Han’s team. The only thing he could do now was take down the man with the crossbow — the greatest threat.