Chapter 22: Waiting for the Rabbit

Chapter 22: Waiting for the Rabbit

Shenchi led the two men back downstairs. After they worked together to carry the motorcycle down, they drove it to the parking lot.

The underground parking lot of Huayuan New Mansion was extensive, with exits leading to various units on the first floor. At the next intersection, Shenchi parted ways with the others and ran towards Unit 1 of Building 12. He took the elevator straight to the top floor and then used the fire escape to reach the rooftop.

Each unit's rooftop was connected, and Shenchi slowly extended his dagger from the stairwell pocket.

Through the reflection of the blade, Shenchi saw that the two men outside were still in their previous positions, each standing guard and observing the situation below.

"Damn, this weather is unbearable."

"You're telling me. I heard it's freezing up north. Are we really going to follow the boss to that godforsaken place?"

"Of course! Why wouldn't we go where there are guns and women?" The bald man standing on the left suddenly noticed something amiss. He leaned closer to the railing, raised his binoculars, and scanned the area below. "Look, isn't there something moving in the green area of our building?"

Taking advantage of this moment, Shenchi darted out of the stairwell. His movements were exceptionally light, and by the time the bald man sensed something wrong and turned around, Shenchi had already knocked him unconscious with the handle of his dagger.

"It's probably just some cats or rats. Why do you care so much? Speaking of which, what's so interesting about a man's ass? It's just a place to shit. Why does the boss want to get his hands on that Shenchi? Wouldn't it be easier to just take that little Jiang? He looks similar and is obedient. Why do we need to be here getting sunburnt?"

The talkative man turned to ask the other man's opinion but was suddenly tackled by a shadow, causing him to stumble backward, his upper body hanging over the fence. His heart raced wildly.

Shenchi pressed the blood-stained dagger against the man's neck, restraining him and knocking him out.

Inside Room 701, Cao Kun, with his hands in his pockets, asked Wang Wei, who was seated before him: "Brother, what's the meaning of this?"

Sun Yong spat, "Who's your brother!"

"Tsk tsk, such dirty talk, needs some discipline." Cao Kun kept looking at Wang Wei and then asked, "I have plenty of experience dealing with unruly subordinates. Want me to give it a try?"

Wang Wei took a drag from Cao Kun's cigarette and exhaled. "Cao Kun, no need for empty talk. You know why I'm here. Think about it—do you want to join us?"

Sun Yong was shocked. "Boss?!"

Wang Wei pointed at him. "Looks like you need some discipline."

Sun Yong gritted his teeth and fell silent.

Cao Kun walked to the sofa, picked up a cigarette from the coffee table, put it in his mouth, and stuffed the rest into his pocket. Smiling, he sat down, crossed his legs, and seemed completely relaxed. "I have one small problem—I don't respond well to threats or kindness."

A man holding a phone approached Wang Wei and said, "That kid locked the opposite door; the guys inside can't get out."

Wang Wei listened and suddenly looked Cao Kun up and down. "Did you sleep with that young guy?"

"Cough! Cough!" Cao Kun cleared his throat, which was choked by saliva, and looked up. "What do you mean?"

Wang Wei didn't answer. He looked around and then laughed. Standing up, he said, "Seems not. Don't worry, there will be opportunities later."

Cao Kun's face changed, but Wang Wei suddenly pulled out a silenced pistol from his waist and fired three shots. "Remember, don't mess up the pretty boy. I haven't had my fun yet!"

In Unit 1 of Building 8, Xia Yi and Cao Zilong dared not use the elevator and ran directly from the basement to the sixth floor. They were like startled birds, jumping at every sound.

Xia Yi set up a crossbow by the seventh-floor window but found the angle unsatisfactory, so he and Cao Zilong cautiously climbed to the eighth floor. Logically, Unit 2 was Wang Wei's territory, but he had been frequenting Unit 1 recently, so they were constantly on edge, fearing an encounter with his men.

Fortunately, they didn't run into anyone.

Through the surveillance video, they saw Shenchi take down two men and move to the ninth-floor corner to attack. They quickly aimed the crossbow at the fire escape of the opposite building, identifying their target.

Xia Yi instinctively reached for his glasses, realizing he hadn't worn them in a while. He carefully examined the situation across the building, noticing even the email addresses on the business cards stuck to the wall.

As they focused intently, waiting for Cao Kun's signal, the elevator behind them suddenly dinged open, followed by footsteps in the fire escape. The sounds indicated more than three or four people, and worse, the elevator kept descending, stopping at each floor.

Xia Yi felt a chill down his spine, especially as the surveillance video suddenly cut off, and Shenchi was attacking someone in the corridor!

"Please," Xia Yi said to Cao Zilong before focusing on the target.

The horizontal distance between the two buildings was about 18 meters, while the optimal range for the lightweight crossbow was 25 to 50 meters. Even though it was user-friendly, hitting a slightly awkward target accurately was challenging, especially since it was a person.

Xia Yi took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, telling himself, "I can do this."

Seeing Xia Yi's state, Cao Zilong knew he couldn't rely on him. He glanced at the elevator; they had agreed that if they encountered the enemy, he would distract them.

But could he survive being caught between two fronts?!

That kid was up to no good!

Cao Zilong cursed inwardly, glanced at Xia Yi, whom he barely knew, and ran downstairs.

Shenchi slowly extended his dagger, adjusting its angle.

Ma Wei felt something flicker past the corner of his eye and instinctively turned around. The reflected light from the blade blinded him, forcing him to close his eyes and raise his hand to shield them.

Shenchi seized the opportunity, lunging forward and kicking the two men charging at him. Using the momentum, he twisted his body and swung his dagger at another man's neck!

Landing, a chill ran through his right side. Facing two knives, Shenchi reached for the nearest one, but the man's strength was considerable. Shenchi grabbed his hand, blocking the blades, which clashed with a piercing "clang."

The other man, weaker, stumbled backward.

Shenchi grabbed his waist, gathered strength in his left half, and slammed him into his companion!

The collision produced a dull "thud," and the stronger man hit the ground.

Heavy breathing came from behind. Shenchi turned just in time to see a bare-chested man wielding an axe rushing at him, moving swiftly!

Shenchi ducked, but a large, powerful hand grabbed his ankle.

Looking down, Shenchi saw the man who had fallen and was still clinging to him. A cold glint appeared in his eyes.

The narrow corridor left Shenchi no room to dodge. The bare-chested man swung his axe, but Shenchi opened his hand, revealing a submachine gun he had taken from the West Gate. Despite his poor marksmanship, the close range ensured a hit. However, this meant he couldn't leave any witnesses; he had to wait until they were dead before disposing of the bodies.

The axe behind him was about to strike Shenchi when suddenly a "whoosh!" sound broke the air. An arrow shot in from the window, piercing through the bare shoulder of the attacker and pinning him to the wall!

Shenchi, who had grabbed the assault rifle halfway, threw it back and immediately lifted his foot, stomping hard on the strong man's wrist!

"Aaah—!" The strong man, dazed, woke up from the sharp pain. His fingers lost control, and Shenchi pulled his foot back, turning to walk toward the last man holding a knife but too scared to move.

"Calling, calling..." Ma Wei, trembling, frantically pressed the walkie-talkie. Seeing the pale-faced man getting closer, he suddenly threw both the machete and the walkie-talkie to the ground and knelt down, begging for mercy: "Big brother, don't kill me! I surrender! Really! Please spare me?! I was forced into this! I have old parents and young children waiting for me at home!"

Shenchi walked step by step closer, and Ma Wei retreated in fear. He saw no sign of hesitation in Shenchi's eyes. At that moment, a gunshot echoed from downstairs. Ma Wei's eyes darted around, and he suddenly grabbed the nearby machete and threw it at Shenchi before turning and sprinting down the stairs.

Shenchi chased after him. The guard on the fifth floor ran up, passing Ma Wei. The two groups met face-to-face. Recognizing Shenchi, they immediately understood that this was an escapee. But they couldn't worry about the escapee now; instead, they turned their weapons toward Shenchi.

The door to Room 701 suddenly burst open. "Quick, come over—" The person hadn't finished speaking when they saw the scene outside and their expression changed. They shouted at the one attacking Shenchi: "The boss said not to kill this guy!"

"Damn it!" A man with tattoos all over his upper body swung an electric baton fiercely at Shenchi's stomach, yelling, "Get someone over here quickly! Everyone upstairs has been taken out!"

The man pointed his pistol at Shenchi's leg, "Do you think I don't want to call? Damn it, there's no signal on my phone, and the walkie-talkie isn't working either—"

"—Bang!"

A bullet fired, and the man was startled by a suddenly rolling head at his feet, causing him to stumble backward.

Cao Kun rolled to the door, slamming his hand against the floor. The wooden floorboards popped up, pierced by bullets. Cao Kun grabbed the Desert Eagle hidden inside and fired back!

The man by the door immediately aimed his gun at Cao Kun. Cao Kun sidestepped and kicked with his foot, striking the hand holding the gun. The gun flew out, and Cao Kun twisted the other hand, using the person as a shield against two flying bullets while firing at the one trying to sneak up from behind.

Wang Wei's face darkened. He didn't expect the opponent to guess he was waiting and still dare to show up. Nor did he expect the pale-faced man to be so powerful that even with so many people, they couldn't subdue him right away.

Sun Yong, noticing Wang Wei's gloomy gaze, trembled and explained, "Boss, I really didn't know! I didn't hear them say anything else..."

Wang Wei shoved him aside, roaring and lifting a leather sofa, throwing it at Cao Kun!

The leather sofa was enormous, and when thrown directly, it felt like a mountain crushing down, leaving no room for evasion.

On the other side, Xia Yi, hiding in the electrical box, heard the footsteps growing distant and pushed open the door, jumping out. He glanced at the empty hallway and ran to the window, where he could see the living room of Cao Kun's house opposite.

Just as Xia Yi realized the situation, he saw Wang Wei lifting a large sofa and smashing it at Cao Kun!

Xia Yi's eyes widened. But just as he thought Cao Kun would be crushed, the descending sofa suddenly paused mid-air, followed by a "bang!" sound. Flames erupted from the sofa, shooting straight at Wang Wei—

Wang Wei reacted quickly, kicking up a coffee table and grabbing it as a shield. However, the moment the fire collided with it, the marble coffee table instantly turned to ashes!

Cao Kun emerged unscathed from the massive hole burned in the sofa, holding a ball of flames in his hand.

Xia Yi was almost dumbfounded.