HC CH222
The man wore a black, form-fitting outfit and walked step by step toward Ji Chenjiao out of the shadows. That face, which had become blurred and distorted in his memory, was once again clear to the point of sharpness.
Yan Xi, the man Ji Chenjiao had sworn to capture with his own hands!
Su Yi clapped his hands like a host. “Officer Ji, you two seem to have a lot to talk about.”
Ji Chenjiao’s eyes were nailed to Yan Xi’s face. Amidst his shock, he suddenly sensed something peculiar. Yan Xi’s face had barely changed since he toyed with Ji Chenjiao and Ning Xiechen six years ago, but his eyes were different. There was no smile in them; they looked like a pool of dead water. He couldn’t even find a trace of emotion in Yan Xi’s eyes at reuniting with an old acquaintance. Yan Xi looked at him as if looking at an irrelevant stranger.
Yan Xi met Ji Chenjiao’s gaze indifferently. After half a minute, as if dragging such a figure out of the past, he frowned. “You are…”
Anger rose in Ji Chenjiao’s heart, but he had to suppress it. He said coldly, “I trust you’ve been well, Teacher Yan.”
Yan Xi reacted to the title “Teacher Yan.” “Xiao Ji.”
Ji Chenjiao felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over his head. How could this person call him “Xiao Ji” so nonchalantly?
But right now, Yan Xi’s attitude was unimportant. Ji Chenjiao looked past him, gazing behind him—since his appearance, the atmosphere had suddenly become tense. A group of tall, armed men filed in, mostly white, with a different temperament from most people in “Jasmine Tea.”
After they entered, more “Jasmine Tea” mercenaries appeared. They practically surrounded this small palace located in the ski resort scenic area with three layers of people inside and out. It was self-evident whom they were targeting.
Although Ji Chenjiao didn’t know why “Floating Light” appeared at “Jasmine Tea’s” base, this scene explained one thing—”Jasmine Tea” was a participant in “Floating Light’s” operations in L Country. “Wang Ting,” the L Country police, and even the Special Action Team might have all fallen into their trap.
Ji Chenjiao turned to Su Yi and asked calmly, “What is the meaning of this?”
Su Yi looked very innocent, shrugging at Ji Chenjiao and Yan Xi. “Don’t you have anything to chat about? I specially created an opportunity for you to bury the hatchet before getting down to business.”
Between Yan Xi’s brows was something Ji Chenjiao couldn’t read, seemingly mixed with surprise and emotion. But at this point, what emotion could he possibly have? While Ji Chenjiao was pondering, the emotion Yan Xi just showed disappeared into calmness.
Yan Xi took a step back, and “Floating Light” members immediately stepped forward, aiming their guns at Ji Chenjiao. Ji Chenjiao raised his chin, showing no fear. These people were completely different from the “Floating Light” members they fought in Basun Village and other places last year; they were clearly better trained, the true elite of this criminal organization.
Su Yi raised both hands and laughed. “No need to brandish weapons so soon, right? Mr. ‘Black Peacock,’ since you have no old times to reminisce about with Officer Ji, how about handing him over to me for now?”
“Jasmine Tea” members stepped forward. Yan Xi nodded faintly and went to sit at a luxurious dining table.
Su Yi signaled those holding guns to put them down, then placed a tablet in front of Ji Chenjiao. “Officer Ji, our communications were destroyed by ‘Wang Ting’ and Asak, delaying you from contacting your teammates. However, I have a battle report sent back from the front lines here; you can take a look.”
Ji Chenjiao clicked on the video. Sharp explosions and crashing sounds immediately came from the tablet. He frowned subconsciously. The footage was very bloody, showing pickup trucks rampaging through a devastated city, the ground covered in blood and corpses.
“This is Weimannu City, where the fighting is fiercest, and also where your teammates are,” Su Yi said. “But don’t worry, I heard your people have safely withdrawn from Weimannu City and headed to the Tianma forest on the border.”
After one video ended, another followed immediately. It was a blazing mountain forest, gray smoke connecting the mess on the ground with the sky.
“Officer Ji, you know better than I do that your teammates’ goal is to capture ‘Black Peacock’ hiding in the Tianma forest.” Su Yi huffed a laugh. “Now all of them are out of contact; I don’t know if they are dead or alive. But what I am sure of is that your wish to capture ‘Black Peacock’ is destined to fail, because Mr. ‘Black Peacock’ is an honored guest I invited here.”
Looking at the thick smoke, Ji Chenjiao felt like he had been punched in the chest. Was Ling Lie okay? With an ashen face, he looked up at Su Yi, then at the composed Yan Xi. Countless fragments of information flew through his mind. At this moment, he was not a member of the Special Action Team, but the captain of the Major Crimes Unit of Xiarong City. He was sorting through complex clues like analyzing a tricky homicide case.
In a flash of lightning, he grasped the most crucial link!
Duan Wande!
“Floating Light’s” true collaborator wasn’t “Wang Ting,” but “Jasmine Tea.” For the past six months, the Special Action Team had tried every possible way to capture “Black Peacock.” However, capturing “Black Peacock” alive in E Country was almost impossible, and they couldn’t lure him into the territory. It could only be done through international cooperation between the authorities of two countries when he went to a third country.
“Black Peacock’s” cooperation with “Wang Ting” in L Country seemed like a perfect opportunity to capture him, but didn’t “Black Peacock” himself want to eliminate the relentless Special Action Team? It was certainly impossible within our borders, but what about outside? In a place like L Country where human life was cheap? Even if he couldn’t kill everyone in the Special Action Team, he could at least use the lives of a few members as a deterrent!
They had dealt with Ling Lie and Zhao Fan like this last year!
Also! Su Yi was definitely not simple!
Although Duan Wande was willing to serve his sentence, as the founder of “Jasmine Tea,” in the heart of his successor, Duan Wande might have an irreplaceable, sacrosanct status. Su Yi seemed to have given up rescuing Duan Wande, but in fact, he hadn’t! Like “Black Peacock,” he wanted to take the heads of the Special Action Team members abroad!
Thinking through these crucial causal relationships, Ji Chenjiao felt a chill wash over him. They had underestimated this group of desperadoes. Every force currently in L Country had their own calculations—the L Country police wanted to restrain “Wang Ting,” “Wang Ting” wanted to use “Floating Light” to become the number one gang in L Country, “Floating Light” wanted to fish, “Jasmine Tea” wanted to save their former leader… It seemed now that the L Country police and “Wang Ting” had been the first to lose.
“Officer Ji, you don’t look so good.” Su Yi took a camera from a subordinate and pointed it at Ji Chenjiao’s face. “But this works too; fear is more persuasive.”
Ji Chenjiao looked at Su Yi silently through the lens.
Su Yi said, “Officer Ji, you are a smart man. You should have figured out my purpose, right?”
Ji Chenjiao said, “You want to use our lives to exchange for Duan Wande’s freedom.”
Su Yi laughed loudly. “Correct!”
The sound of a gun being cocked came from behind Ji Chenjiao. Without looking back, he knew that with one command from Su Yi, a bullet would fly toward him.
Su Yi said, “Don’t you have anything you want to say to your compatriots?”
Ji Chenjiao remained silent.
“Fine if you don’t say anything; I will.” Su Yi wanted to connect to the Special Action Team command center, but after fiddling for a while, the signal still didn’t work. He spread his hands. “Let’s record a video first then.”
Saying that, he appeared in the lens with Ji Chenjiao. “Captain Shen Xun, Mr. Fu Zhong, hello. I am the current person in charge of ‘Jasmine Tea.’ You should be familiar with my name. I won’t waste words. Your elite team members are now in my hands, and by the way, in ‘Floating Light’s’ hands too. ‘Floating Light’ wants to execute them, but I can still give you a chance.”
The casualness in Su Yi’s eyes suddenly condensed into killing intent. “Exchange Mr. Wonder with me. As long as you send Mr. Wonder back safely, I will save your team members’ lives from ‘Floating Light’s’ hands.”
The recording stopped. The brief silence was suddenly broken by a chuckle. Yan Xi said, “You calculate sharply.”
Relying on this being his territory, Su Yi wasn’t polite. “Mr. ‘Black Peacock,’ once Mr. Wonder is safe, I will definitely fulfill my promise.”
Yan Xi looked at Ji Chenjiao nonchalantly and said after half a minute, “Doesn’t matter. I just want to enjoy this rare time of freedom.”
Su Yi didn’t understand and showed a suspicious look.
The sense of unfamiliarity in Ji Chenjiao’s heart grew heavier. “Black Peacock” Yan Xi didn’t seem like he should be this way right now.
That was a man who calculated everything for revenge. Just finding out that Yin Hanshan had contacted Ning Xiechen before disappearing, he personally came to Xiarong City to act as an informant. After his identity was exposed, he immediately poisoned Ning Xiechen, step by step reborn “Chen Jin” into “Floating Light,” manipulated “Gray Peacock” Bai Lingxue, achieved perfect revenge against Sha Man, and finally cast his greedy eyes over every inch of the territory.
Such a person should have extraordinarily shrewd and sharp eyes, knowing all deployments in L Country by heart. But why did “Black Peacock” seem not to care much about anything? What did that “freedom” mean?
“Sent successfully.” Su Yi smiled and turned the computer around, looking at Ji Chenjiao expectantly. “Now let’s see if the Special Action Team is willing to facilitate this deal.”
At the temporary command post south of the Tianma forest, the L Country police were in chaos. Asak arrived personally, slamming the fake “Black Peacock” against the wall despite attempts to stop him. If Ling Lie hadn’t suddenly stepped forward to block the fake “Black Peacock,” this “Floating Light” member, whose back somewhat resembled Yan Xi’s, would have been executed.
Although Asak was impulsive, he still had to give face to the Special Action Team. He gritted his teeth, pointed his index finger at Ling Lie’s face from a distance, and left with his men.
The wounded were being transported out of the mountains one after another, including “Wang Ting” members and police. Asak wasn’t stupid. Piecing together the cause and effect, he realized he might have fallen into a trap. The police and “Wang Ting” were both victims. Who benefited? Only “Jasmine Tea”!
“Floating Light” even bombed “Wang Ting,” and the one appearing in the Tianma forest was a fake leader. Who did the real leader go to see? Whoever he saw was “Floating Light’s” true ally!
“Ed!” Asak called his deputy gloomily, his beast-like gaze staring straight south. “What position has our mole inside ‘Jasmine Tea’ climbed to?”
The deputy was also extremely indignant at this moment; the shame of being fooled made him furious. “He has long been approved to operate in ‘Jasmine Tea’s’ lair, the Alice Crown Carnival.”
Asak suddenly grinned ferociously and slapped the car door. “Good, good! Let them destroy ‘Jasmine Tea’s’ lair at all costs!”
“Yes!”
The deputy tried to contact the mole. Asak’s chest vibrated violently; unable to laugh out loud, he endured the severe pain in his ribs.
“Jasmine Tea,” “Wang Ting,” “Floating Light,” and the Special Action Team from the East—all these people were fucking using him! But did he have no backup plan? If Su Yi wanted to ask him for the position of police captain of the Salingauke region, wouldn’t he plant a spy in “Jasmine Tea”?
He bit on his cigar, his throat making huffing sounds. He hadn’t lost this duel yet!
At the Special Action Team’s command center, Shen Xun opened the email, read it calmly, and gradually clenched his right hand on his knee.
Everything was in chaos. Every force in L Country was plotting against each other, yet to capture “Black Peacock,” the Special Action Team could only dive into this huge vortex.
Su Yi’s demand was to release Duan Wande, but this was absolutely impossible. Duan Wande was currently in the prison system; the Special Action Team couldn’t interfere. Even if he were still with the Special Action Team, our country could not accept such a threat.
Fu Zhong immediately reported to the higher authorities. Shen Xun sought to speak with Su Yi, but communications in the Salingauke region were cut off again.
Fu Zhong said, “Once communication is established, stabilize him first. This Su Yi isn’t a stupid person; he won’t act immediately.”
Shen Xun nodded. “The L Country police are no longer reliable. Now we can only rely on our team members to attempt a rescue.”
Speaking of which, Shen Xun suddenly thought of Duan Wande. “Captain Fu, I apply to speak with Duan Wande!”
“You want him to persuade Su Yi?”
“He persuaded Su Yi last time, but I guess even he won’t be effective this time. Captain Ji and the others are trapped in the Alice Crown Carnival, which is an entertainment venue built by Duan Wande. If Ling Lie and Zhao Fan go to rescue them, perhaps the information Duan Wande has can help us!”
Because he couldn’t contact Ji Chenjiao and was exhausted from the battle not long ago, Ling Lie’s tinnitus was getting worse. His head ached terribly; he simply wanted to pierce his eardrums. Seeing his discomfort, Zhao Fan kept pacing around him, making him even more anxious.
“No, I can’t wait here!” Ling Lie jumped off the hospital bed. “I’m going to the Salingauke region right now!”
Zhao Fan hurriedly stopped him. “Are you crazy? You’re half deaf, totally crippled, and have a gunshot wound on your arm. What are you going to do?”
Ling Lie said irritably, “I feel something is wrong. Something must have happened! Ji Chenjiao has been out of contact with me for a long time. ‘Jasmine Tea’ won’t let him go!”
Zhao Fan tried to stop him again, but orders from headquarters arrived.
Shen Xun looked solemn as he forwarded the received video to them. “Ling Lie, listen to me. The situation is urgent now, but you absolutely cannot panic…”
Zhao Fan watched the video in astonishment. The light in Ling Lie’s eyes grew colder and colder.
But after the video finished playing, Ling Lie calmed down surprisingly.
Two modified off-road vehicles left the temporary L Country command post south of the Tianma forest, speeding toward the Salingauke region in the wind and sand. Ling Lie’s gaze was like a knife, scraping across the smoke rising along the way.
“We have now clearly grasped the goals of ‘Jasmine Tea’ and ‘Floating Light.’ ‘Jasmine Tea’ wants to use our team members to exchange for Duan Wande. ‘Black Peacock’ Yan Xi wants to lure you out of the country and take your lives in the chaos, thereby achieving the purpose of deterring our police.”
“But we must face this tough battle!”
“Yan Xi and Su Yi are both at the Alice Carnival. You have two missions in this operation: one is to rescue our team members, and the second is to capture Yan Xi!”
Shen Xun’s voice and the images in the video repeatedly surfaced in Ling Lie’s mind. He was suddenly annoyed at himself—why did he have tinnitus at this time? Why did he get injured in the Tianma forest?
The gunshot wound on his arm began to ache madly, displaying its presence, reminding him that he was a wounded man and all his skills would be discounted. The twisted ankle also hurt piercingly, as if all the nerves in his body were tied there, and someone was drilling into it with a drill.
“Fuck!” He slammed his fist onto his leg.
Zhao Fan hurriedly shouted, “Are you crazy?”
Ling Lie wiped his face roughly. “I’m fine.”
Zhao Fan pressed down hard on the back of his neck and shook him a few times. “When the time comes, A’Chang, Xiao Hui, and I will act. You maneuver on the periphery, understand?”
Ling Lie suddenly laughed. “Unless you break this leg of mine too.”
“You!”
“Our Xiao Ji is inside. He’s mine. Can I just watch?”
Time ticked by. Communication between “Jasmine Tea” and the Special Action Team was never smooth, but they exchanged meanings back and forth several times. Shen Xun expressed willingness to negotiate, demanding that “Jasmine Tea” must not harm the Special Action Team members. Su Yi agreed good-temperedly, but the smile on his face was very cold.
“Officer Ji, you people aren’t very sincere, playing Tai Chi with me. To release or not to release, such a simple question, they can give a hundred irrelevant answers.”
Ji Chenjiao remained silent.
Su Yi played with a dagger, suddenly twirling it and patting it against Ji Chenjiao’s chin. “Does Shen Xun not shed tears until he sees blood? How about I bleed you a little first, then see if he still wants to continue playing Tai Chi?”
Ji Chenjiao raised his eyebrows and looked at Su Yi, his eyes very calm.
Su Yi frowned, as if seeing some familiar quality in those eyes. The hand holding the dagger paused. A few seconds later, he put the dagger away.
“I know your identity,” Su Yi said. “You are Mr. Wonder’s own flesh and blood. Officer Ji, you two really look alike from some angles.”
Yan Xi looked at them rarely, his eyes seemingly revealing a trace of curiosity.
Ji Chenjiao said indifferently, “Is that so?”
“But why did you become a police officer?” Su Yi said puzzledly. “Mr. Wonder’s blood flows in you. You should be a free and unrestrained person, yet you voluntarily put on shackles and became a lackey of the system.”
Ji Chenjiao said, “Then are you very free?”
Su Yi was stunned. “Are you mocking me?”
“I am asking for your advice,” Ji Chenjiao said. “Since you think people like me aren’t free, then contrary to me, you should be free. But if you were truly free, how could you be here negotiating terms with the police?”
Ji Chenjiao smiled. “If you were truly free, you wouldn’t think my sentence just now was mocking.”
Su Yi’s smile disappeared. He paced two steps, came behind Ji Chenjiao, and pressed both hands on Ji Chenjiao’s shoulders. “I don’t really want to use you to negotiate with your country anymore. How about this? Don’t go back. Stay here and become a member of ‘Jasmine Tea’?”
Yan Xi raised his eyebrows silently.
“Looking at Shen Xun’s attitude, even if I negotiate with him in the end, I might not get Mr. Wonder back. Wouldn’t all this effort be wasted?” Su Yi said. “Since Mr. Wonder’s blood flows in you, you are the rightful heir of ‘Jasmine Tea.’ How about you replace Mr. Wonder? We’ll make ‘Jasmine Tea’ the decision-maker of L Country. When L Country stabilizes, you can still be a police officer—a free and unfettered police officer.”
Ji Chenjiao chuckled. “What about you?”
“Me?”
“I inherit ‘Jasmine Tea.’ What about you?”
Su Yi patted his shoulder and laughed presumptuously. “I was joking. Officer Ji took it seriously?”
Ji Chenjiao was about to continue engaging Su Yi when chaotic noises mixed with gunfire suddenly came from outside.
Everyone in the room was stunned. Su Yi immediately sent a trusted aide to see what was happening.
This was the ski resort vacation area with the highest security factor in the Alice Crown Carnival. Ordinary people couldn’t pass the access control system at the foot of the mountain at all. Even if something happened in the entire Salingauke region, nothing could happen here.
The gunfire became denser. Boom—a loud noise. An explosion!
Ji Chenjiao looked calm on the surface, thinking inside—Could it be a rescue?
No, they didn’t have that many people, nor could they cause an explosion.
Su Yi seemed to suddenly understand something, looking at Yan Xi with a laugh. “‘Black Peacock,’ you played me?”
The “Floating Light” members still in the room quickly raised their guns. Su Yi’s bodyguards didn’t show weakness either; two rows of gun muzzles pointed at each other.
Instead, no one cared about Ji Chenjiao, who was waiting to eat a bullet.
Yan Xi rubbed his brow, standing up calmly from the sofa. “I was just listening to your drama. It’s unpleasant when a good show is interrupted. Mr. Su Yi, you are a poor host, yet you blame the disaster on me? I should be the one suspecting that you set up a Hongmen Banquet for me.”
Su Yi’s face looked even worse. Not “Floating Light’s” trick? Then… the Special Action Team? Impossible, they couldn’t be that fast!
Bang bang bang bang—
At this moment, a wave of bullets pierced through the glass, sweeping directly in from outside. The room instantly turned into chaos. “Floating Light” and “Jasmine Tea” protected Yan Xi and Su Yi respectively. Three gunmen were hit and fell. Seeing the opportunity, Ji Chenjiao rolled on the ground when the bullets swept over, the bullets almost grazing the back of his hand. He leaped into a hiding spot between the walls, already holding the gun of a fallen man, and flashed out of the room.
Su Yi shouted, “Chase him!”
Mercenaries chased out, but seeing the scene outside, they were almost all stunned. People guarding outside the villa, whether “Jasmine Tea” or “Floating Light,” had fallen in large numbers. The trusted aide Su Yi sent out to check the situation not long ago had a gushing bullet hole in his forehead. Smoke was rising everywhere. Loud booms came from the foot of the mountain. Bullets shuttled through the air. The three security gates outside the ski resort had all been breached!
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—
Bullets breaking through the air harvested lives. Using the wall as cover, Ji Chenjiao collected magazines from the dead. When he was brought here, all his weapons were confiscated. Now, regardless of whose it was, he’d take it first!
“Mr. Su Yi!” A mercenary covered in blood arrived. “It’s Asak’s men! He ambushed eight people in the carnival long ago! They caused the explosions at the foot of the mountain! Killed our men and rushed up to bomb the ski resort!”
Su Yi was filled with shame and anger, immediately retreating under the cover of his men. Asak had truly caught him off guard this time. He hadn’t expected that fat-headed lunatic to dare cause trouble right under his nose!
In the chaos, the most composed person was actually Yan Xi. He stood amidst the hail of bullets, as if not afraid at all that these blind things would take his life.
“Floating Light” surrounded him, escorting him to retreat from the besieged villa.
Su Yi didn’t see Ji Chenjiao and spat fiercely. If he let Ji Chenjiao run, “Black Peacock” would be his last bargaining chip. He absolutely couldn’t let “Black Peacock” die here!
“We must join hands now!” Su Yi shouted to Yan Xi while dodging bullets whizzing past. “Asak doesn’t have many men; we can break through!”
Before his voice faded, a whistle that cracked the heart sounded in the air. A rocket!
“Take cover!!!”
Mercenaries, bodyguards—people frantically sought cover like birds and beasts. Ji Chenjiao leaped into the nearest deep ditch, lying down with his head covered. In the last moment before his vision was obscured by smoke, he saw Yan Xi standing alone in place, watching the direction the rocket came from.
BOOM—!!!
After the loud noise, the earth shook and mountains swayed. Sand and stones splashed wildly like life-claiming bullets.
Ji Chenjiao felt countless stones smashing toward him. The ground beneath him shook violently. He closed his eyes, waiting for the moment the vibration stopped.
However, the roar from deep within the earth did not cease, and the air became increasingly scorching.
Ji Chenjiao raised his head, the raging fire in the mountains not far away reflected in his pupils!
That was the ski resort’s energy machine room! Once the machine room burned and exploded, almost no one on the ski resort could survive!
Whoosh whoosh whoosh! Another string of bullets hit. Ji Chenjiao tensed instantly, seeing three people running toward the deep ditch, carrying individual rocket launchers on their shoulders!
Ji Chenjiao knew he had to leave the deep ditch, but it might be too late.
Just then, he saw a magnificent shadow gradually expanding on the ground. The feeling of the earth shaking and mountains swaying struck again. The three people fled in panic as if seeing an apocalyptic sight, but it was too late. The grandest Statue of Alice on the ski resort toppled in the explosion, crashing toward them with a boom.
BOOM—!!!
The pure white goddess shattered into pieces, fresh blood staining her skirt and face.
In this moment, at the cost of being crushed to pieces, she protected the child she had long bid farewell to.
Seconds later, Ji Chenjiao snapped out of his shock and immediately climbed out of the deep ditch. He hadn’t forgotten the responsibility on his shoulders. This might be the Special Action Team’s last chance to capture “Black Peacock.” Even if he died, he had to tether “Black Peacock” to his side!
Su Yi looked at the fire in the machine room, bullets continuing to fly overhead. He sneered, hatred brewing in his blood-red eyes to dig out Asak’s heart and eat his bones.
Ji Chenjiao dug Yan Xi out from the ruins and corpses. Yan Xi had a head injury, and his bloody arm bore marks of being torn by shrapnel.
Yan Xi glanced at Ji Chenjiao. “Why save me?”
“Bringing you back is my mission!” Ji Chenjiao dragged the man forward. “Survive first, then find a way!”
Su Yi saw Ji Chenjiao and Yan Xi and nodded. “You aren’t dead yet.”
The fire in the machine room burned more fiercely; perhaps it would soon turn this place into a sea of fire.
“I know you must have a way,” Ji Chenjiao said. “You aren’t someone who sits and waits for death.”
Not many people were still alive now. Su Yi sized up the people around him, then looked at Ji Chenjiao. “If you want to live, follow me. I know a safe way out.”
Rockets continued to fire at the Alice Crown Carnival. The overwhelmed machine room finally erupted with the most blinding light amidst the fire. Fire engulfed the ski resort; no life could survive anymore.
Before reaching the Salingauke region, the Special Action Team’s car braked sharply in the earthquake. Ling Lie’s heart skipped a beat, his wide eyes staring straight ahead motionless.
In this moment, he suddenly couldn’t hear anything.