Chapter Seventy-One: The Next Step

"I have to say, you're really a lucky star," Ma Han remarked, looking at Chu Feng with a hint of helplessness. "Those people from Sakura Path came here to assassinate Elder Chen, but by some chance, you ran into them and even managed to capture them."

"I'm no lucky star," Chu Feng replied. "They were just unlucky. But judging from the knives in their hands, they don't look like professionals. You must interrogate them carefully and make sure not to make any mistakes." Chu Feng pondered; the men in black carried blades resembling Tang dynasty swords, not the weapons of the organization he suspected.

"They custom-made those Tang blades to disguise their identities," Ma Han explained, his voice fatigued. "The purpose was to divert our attention elsewhere." Clearly, the events of the day had drained him.

"I already questioned that Wolf you caught earlier. He recognized them, but I still feel something is off," Ma Han admitted, recalling the arrest. Chu Feng's plan had gone too smoothly; something didn't add up.

"What's off? Maybe you're overthinking it," Chu Feng said. "You two should find somewhere to rest. I'm going back to Elder Chen's ward."

The entire second floor of the hospital was reserved. Ma Han and his team could rest in other wards, while Chu Feng returned to Elder Chen's room.

It was two in the morning. Old Jin was on night duty, taking turns with Old Wang—Wang worked the first half, Jin the latter.

"Chu Feng, you couldn't help yourself after just a few days here. Next time, call me along; I know a good place," Old Jin said, his gaze lewd as he eyed Chu Feng.

"What kind of look is that? What do you think I was doing?" Chu Feng was baffled by Jin's insinuations.

"Do I really need to spell it out? You know what I mean," Old Jin shot Chu Feng a meaningful glance, obviously implying he’d gone to a massage parlor.

"You’re overthinking it. I’m not like you, with your peculiar tastes. You like visiting those women, but I don’t—too risky," Chu Feng replied, catching Jin’s drift and feeling speechless at the old man's persistent vulgarity.

"Alright, I'm going to catch some sleep. Enjoy your shift," Chu Feng yawned, pushed open the ward door, and lay down on the sofa.

The next morning, Chu Feng, still in a dream, heard the door open and instantly woke. He looked up to see Han Xuefang entering.

"Up so early today? Did I wake you when I opened the door?" Han Xuefang walked over, holding a breakfast in her hand.

"Why so eager? Were you a hungry ghost in your last life? Go wash your face and brush your teeth first," Chu Feng reached for the food, only to be stopped by Han Xuefang, who insisted he freshen up before eating.

"Then I'll have a bite first. Next time, buy a bit more—I'll have the hospital reimburse you," Elder Chen's hearty voice sounded from inside. Judging by his tone, he’d been awake for a while.

"Elder Chen, if you like it, I'll buy it for you every day. Don't worry about the money," Han Xuefang replied, though she didn’t know Elder Chen’s identity. The soldiers guarding his ward made it clear he was no ordinary patient.

Han Xuefang measured Elder Chen’s blood pressure and temperature before letting him eat, knowing that post-meal readings wouldn’t be accurate.

"You carry on with your duties. I have some things to discuss with Elder Chen—I’ll find you later," Chu Feng said after eating, asking Han Xuefang to leave. She was just an ordinary person; there were matters she couldn’t know.

"Elder Chen, last night I happened to catch two Sakura Path members and a killer from Scorching Sun. The Sakura Path men were after you; the killer was targeting me."

Chu Feng detailed the events of the previous night and urged Elder Chen to change wards—it was unsafe to stay in the same room.

"Changing wards is too troublesome and wastes hospital resources. Let them come. I’ve never feared the battlefield—do they really think a handful of petty thugs can take my life? They underestimate me," Elder Chen declared, a commanding aura surging forth. Perhaps years of research had made him forget his days as a battle-hardened veteran.

"You must be careful. Have Jin or Wang handle any tasks. If you’re endangered because of me, I’ll never be able to face your family."

Elder Chen did not want a repeat of tragedies that befell his assistants. He was too old to bear such blows.

"Don’t worry, they’re not qualified to threaten me," Chu Feng replied, his words full of bravado, not taking the Scorching Sun mercenaries seriously at all.

"This afternoon, please rest in that other ward. I’ll have the Dragon Scale Special Operations team protect you. I have a plan to execute," Chu Feng explained, detailing his strategy and asking for Elder Chen’s cooperation.

"Go ahead. Whatever you need me to cooperate with, just say so. As long as you don’t ask for my research data, I don’t mind. That work is more important to me than my own life—country before family," Elder Chen said.

After brewing medicinal soup for Elder Chen in the morning, Chu Feng discreetly moved him to another ward by noon, with Wang Chen and Xiao Hei guarding him.

None of the guards at Elder Chen’s original room were moved. The purpose was to lure those with malicious intent, making them believe Elder Chen was still there.

At two in the afternoon, the door to the room holding Wolf and the others suddenly opened. Four men stepped out—the two captured by Chu Feng earlier and the two caught by Ma Han yesterday.

"I know where the old man's ward is. I’ll lead you there. Even if we die today, we must complete our mission. Sakura Path’s honor cannot be sullied," Wolf declared, then led the others straight toward Elder Chen’s ward.

He had entered the ward during his previous assassination attempt, so he knew the route well. Yet he failed to notice that, as they opened the door, there was no one guarding them on either side.