Chapter 229: Chapter 219: It’s the end, and the beginning!
After what happened just now, Cheng Fei acted on instinct. The other party’s intention was obvious; those holding guns were all injured. Now, seeing Cheng Zhi holding a powerful handgun, he couldn’t help but blurt out.
However, after speaking, he felt something was off. Right, wasn’t this boosting someone else’s momentum and killing his own spirit? Just a few small broken branches scared him so much?
The gang members nearby were also taken aback by Cheng Fei’s words. How could the usually fearless top hitman suddenly become so timid? This was not like his usual style at all.
Cheng Zhi, who had just entered, wanted to ask what had happened, but was surprised to hear Cheng Fei shouting for him to put down the gun as soon as he came in. Usually, Cheng Fei wasn’t like this. Why was he shouting for him to put down the gun the moment he came in?
However, at this moment, Cheng Zhi suddenly sensed danger approaching. With a master’s instinctive reaction, he rolled to the ground and then shot in the direction of the threat, firing three shots: bang, bang, bang.
Simultaneously, five other Poison Dragon Gang members carrying submachine guns, having been alerted by Cheng Fei’s warning upon entering, quickly dodged from their original positions. However, two who reacted slightly slower, like Cheng Fei’s previous team members, screamed in anguish.
Cheng Zhi, being decisive, immediately ordered, "Retreat!" After speaking, he swiftly passed through the left door and rushed outside.
Although he didn’t know what had happened, Cheng Zhi could sense the danger. The seemingly calm courtyard hid dangers that seemed beyond his ability to contend with, a master’s innate reaction.
Cheng Fei also realized the peril, not daring to stay at the door any longer, and followed up with the command, "Everyone retreat!"
"Master Cheng, what about the gun?" a team member, still not fully reacting, asked.
"If you don’t want to die, go pick it up!" Cheng Fei snorted coldly, turned, and left without hesitation—decisive and straightforward.
Xiao Lin hadn’t expected the new Poison Dragon Gang members to react so quickly, especially the leader, who was clearly a master. Not only did he evade the attack, but he also managed to shoot back in the direction of the threat. Although Cheng Zhi was considered a master to others, firing quickly, it was impossible for him to hit Xiao Lin. By the time Cheng Zhi shot in his direction, Xiao Lin had already changed position.
However, when Xiao Lin wanted to attack the enemy’s armed team members again, it was already a bit too late. The Poison Dragon Gang members were retreating, leaving no chance to strike again.
"Clever indeed!" Xiao Lin smiled to himself secretly, drifting to a large tree behind him, preparing to withdraw and then get closer to the enemy team again. He believed that after the attack just now, the enemy wouldn’t dare re-enter the temple, possibly even retreat entirely. Xiao Lin didn’t want to miss such a good opportunity and wouldn’t let them just walk away.
As Cheng Fei and Cheng Zhi met after retreating, Li Nan’s call came in, directly asking, "What’s the situation inside? Why am I hearing so many screams? What exactly happened?"
"I’m afraid things have changed. We were intercepted by a master who attacked our gunmen with broken branches. However, we couldn’t find the enemy’s hiding place. To avoid unnecessary losses, we’ve retreated and are outside the main entrance, hoping to discuss it with you," Cheng Fei quickly explained, without holding back. After all, Xiao Lin’s shock to them was immense. Even the closest branches that could support a person’s weight were over ten meters away, let alone hiding within trees dozens of meters high. At such a distance, in the darkness, to be able to accurately attack gun-wielding members with broken branches at the same time was the mark of a top-notch master. At least, to his knowledge, not even the leader of the Poison Dragon Gang had such skills. The Poison Dragon Gang had hit a steel wall tonight.
Hearing this, Li Nan was shocked and exclaimed, "Just one person, and you retreated? Even if he attacked the gunmen, he couldn’t take out everyone at once, right? Why didn’t I hear anyone fire back?"
While the two talked over the phone, Li Nan also started walking towards the main entrance. Along the way, he realized something was wrong inside the temple. According to Cheng Fei, this was not just encountering a master, but something beyond human comprehension. In such an environment, to be able to injure people at will was unimaginable, especially when even Cheng Zhi nearly fell for it. If Cheng Fei hadn’t warned him beforehand, Cheng Zhi might have ended up like the inner hall disciples.
Soon, the three met up, gathering together, not daring to spread out. However, at that moment, the disciples observing from the temple’s perimeter began screaming one after another, with intervals no more than fifteen seconds, and they were at least forty meters apart, all hiding among the surrounding large trees. These successive screams further terrified Li Nan, Cheng Fei, and Cheng Zhi, and needless to say, the rest of the gang members were even more frightened. Was this even human?
"Brother Li, what should we do? The opponent’s skills are simply abnormal. Even though we have more people and guns, the opponent is highly skilled and hidden. We can only passively take the hits without the ability to counterattack!" Hearing the screams of the disciples on the outskirts, Cheng Fei, who was always bold and aggressive, had lost his previous momentum. Anyone in this situation would probably be unable to muster any bravado; it’s completely one-sided.
"Break into smaller groups, retreat!" Li Nan decisively said, then looked at Cheng Zhi and asked, "What does Master Cheng think?"
"Hmm, we have no other choice now!" Cheng Zhi agreed with Li Nan’s suggestion.
"But, hasn’t the Yanjing Special Police Team arrived? Could they have been called by that person?" Cheng Fei whispered.
If Cheng Fei hadn’t brought it up, Li Nan almost forgot about it, because what Cheng Zhi said earlier was so shocking that it made Li Nan forget the existence of the Yanjing Special Police Team. Calculating the time, the officers should be arriving soon, in no more than five minutes.
If they break into smaller groups to retreat, even though the opponent’s skills are advanced, it’s impossible to capture everyone. However, with the Yanjing Special Police Team fully armed, if it weren’t for that hidden expert, they wouldn’t even need to worry about these police officers. But this hidden expert is clearly targeting them, and thinking about it made Li Nan suck in a cold breath. He had already anticipated this situation before, which is why he called in the Yanjing Special Police Team?
On reflection, it seemed impossible. Since when did the Yanjing Special Police Team have such an expert?
"Cheng Fei is right. Trying to break up and leave seems even more unrealistic. Although the Yanjing Special Police Team only dispatched one squad here, if we were together, they might not dare to act first. But if we split up, wouldn’t that be falling into their trap?" Li Nan said in a deep voice.
"But even if we stay together, aren’t we still like meat on the chopping board — at their mercy?" Cheng Zhi said quietly. Given the situation now, even if they gather together, the hidden expert might still attack, and they have no ability to retaliate. They’re just at the mercy of others. In all these years, tonight might be the most oppressed and gloomy moment, and there’s not even a place to fight desperately.
Xiao Lin seemed to have heard what Cheng Zhi said and began to take action. In their first move after meeting up, they attacked the opponents with guns, and three screams rang out.
After these three screams, the remaining disciples with guns hesitated for two seconds, then decisively threw their guns on the ground, having no intention to resist.
"Break into smaller groups, whoever can get away should!" Seeing this situation, Li Nan decisively gave the order to retreat. Even if they were captured by the Yanjing Special Police Team during the retreat, it couldn’t be as miserable as now. At least they wouldn’t have to worry about a stray bullet coming their way. Moreover, after these events, both the inner disciples and the gang’s guards are consumed by immense fear, rendering them incapable of any combat effectiveness.
Encountering such a strange expert, the whole group is only at their mercy, with no ability to fight back. If they stay like this, they won’t last ten minutes before they’re done for. Now retreating, there’s still a glimmer of hope.
Cheng Fei and Cheng Zhi had no objections. Facing backward, they directly said, "Retreat, whoever can get away should!" They didn’t want to stay on North Mountain any longer; there was simply no point.
Xiao Lin knew their intention and admired their straightforward approach. By scattering like this, he wouldn’t know whom to chase. After a moment’s thought, he pursued in the direction where Li Nan was escaping.
Dealing with Li Nan isn’t as simple as dealing with ordinary members of the Poison Dragon Gang. Although one-on-one, Li Nan is no match for Xiao Lin, but now Xiao Lin can’t reveal himself. He knows that it’s the mysterious pressure and fear of the unknown that’s causing them to break ranks. If Xiao Lin had made a frontal attack from the beginning, there wouldn’t be such a remarkable effect.
Just then, the powerful sounds of footsteps could be heard not far away. The Yanjing Special Police Team, led by Wu Shuang, had reached the outskirts of the temple. Seeing the dispersed members of the Poison Dragon Gang, it was naturally no problem for these officers to capture them. In just a short distance, nearly twenty fleeing gang members were apprehended.
Seeing this scene, Wu Shuang let out a big sigh of relief. It seemed that this mission was surprisingly smooth and effortless. However, for the Poison Dragon Gang members fleeing in other directions, Wu Shuang had no additional manpower to pursue them, which left some regret. If there were more manpower, at least half of the Poison Dragon Gang members on North Mountain would have been captured. This would have been more damaging to the Poison Dragon Gang than the major anti-crime operation a few days ago because Wu Shuang recognized that the members currently captured are the core disciples of the Poison Dragon Gang and its economic source to the outside world. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian () to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)