Special Forces Medic

"Hmm, I'll have Zilin protect you. No matter the outcome, you must evacuate in half an hour. I'll find you a new place to stay."

"Why?" Hong didn't understand Xiao Lin's decision. He felt it was completely unnecessary; he was confident he wouldn't be tracked.

"Better safe than sorry." Xiao Lin fixed his gaze on the scrolling bar on the screen. A new task appeared before his eyes. His finger moved up and clicked to enter. The content was simple, just two words: "Hong Lian," task description: "Kill."

"Ah, brother, just hang on for a bit." The tail on the screen moved, unexpectedly, the attacking black line had entered the new system. "That idiot actually got in."

Hong's excited voice came through the headset, and Xiao Lin frowned. Could the new system be this easy to penetrate? It was even worse than the old system. "Hong, exit immediately. It's a trap." Xiao Lin leapt off the bed just as the door was knocked, and Wing appeared before him.

"Oh!" Hong reluctantly exited. He quickly typed a string of Arabic numbers and letters on the keyboard, and the tail instantly vanished.

This sudden change caused two other people sitting at their computers to exclaim in surprise, their expressions varied. "Officer, the third party has disappeared." One person, who was immobile in front of the computer, suddenly turned to report to the uniformed person behind him.

"Disappeared?" A questioning voice emerged as he sat in front of the computer, entered a command, and discovered that the tail that had been followed vanished. "Final record."

"No warning of exit, should still be in there."

"Is it invisible now?" The uniformed person rubbed his chin. Xiao Zhenfeng and Hua Muyun observed the change and then smiled similarly. "Did the other line take the bait?"

"It's already in the cage, waiting to reel in."

"No need to shut it tight; release it once you find the foothold." The uniformed person saluted to Hua Muyun and focused on the screen. "Act once the position is confirmed."

"Xiao Zhao, hold off for now." Hua Muyun signaled him to cancel the order. "Too many people, not convenient."

"You mean..."

"Surveillance."

"Got it." Xiao Zhao turned back to his subordinates. "Apply Tier Three contingencies."

Xiao Zhenfeng exited the information department and walked down the corridor. The windows covered by velvet curtains were still shrouded in darkness, the night seemed excessively long. Hua Muyun followed behind, knowing Tier Three was a risky strategy, as the new system was still in testing; he understood Xiao Zhenfeng's concerns.

"Leaving such a tail for the opponent, are you confident in reeling it in?" Xiao Zhenfeng rarely spoke so sternly to Hua Muyun. "You're joking where you stand."

"Please trust me as I trust you." Hua Muyun followed behind. "Without entering the tiger's den, where can you find a tiger cub? This system exists to lure the enemy."

Xiao Zhenfeng turned to glance at Hua Muyun. "This Xiao Zhao is also one of those in your secret team, right?"

"Nothing escapes you." Hua Muyun laughed. Xiao Zhao's immediate reaction and deployment were key points exposed to Xiao Zhenfeng. "Besides, there's still another one, I'm quite hopeful for this kid."

"Secretary Hua, the target's position is confirmed, it's currently locked down," Xiao Zhao called to the two still walking, and Hua Muyun glanced at Xiao Zhenfeng.

"Where at?"

"North District Academy Road." It was a new location that appeared in sight; Academy Road, as the name implies, is at the intersection of various educational institutions. "The other party might still be a student."

"You go ahead, be discreet at the campus."

"Yes!"

"Hong Lian! This person has been showing up frequently recently." Hua Muyun chuckled with a hint of sinister amusement. "You can put out the bait now." Xiao Zhenfeng looked at Hua Muyun with suspicion. "Lin Zhifang once logged into the central system using his own identity, all for the same purpose—to find someone named Hong Lian."

"So you suspect their target this time is Hong Lian."

"Regarding Hong Lian, neither you nor I are strangers. The escape from captivity years ago was indeed for personal motives, but someone inserted themselves, making things real; he's been missing since.

"Your bait is to use these people to find Hong Lian?" Xiao Zhenfeng squinted at the whitening morning haze outside the window. "This person wasn't in the plan; how are you sure those looking for him are related to us?"

"I'm not sure. That's why it needs to be clarified; just afraid of an unexpected situation." Hua Muyun's caution held rationale that Xiao Zhenfeng could appreciate, retracting his distant gaze.

"I'm just pondering one question: will someone capable of breaching the central system be easily fooled? I'm afraid you're wasting effort." Hua Muyun, accustomed to being doused with cold water, shrugged. "Notify me when you have updates. I came mainly for the matter of forbidden drugs; if they reach the market, the consequences are unimaginable."

"When will the directive arrive?"

"Should be any day now." Xiao Zhenfeng opened the window, and the pre-dawn breeze brushed his cheek. "The municipal committee meeting will proceed as usual. As for Lin Zhifang's issue, take this opportunity to handle it; shift candidates internally. I think he's neither direct nor even indirect personnel. The people in the City Police Department who can be leveraged are clear-cut after some pressure."

"The City Police Department might not be the only place with a mole."

"Stirring within the municipal committee might trigger adverse reactions right now; as it stands, they can't threaten you unless the Xiao Family falls."

"I'm aware of this."

"Leave what's explicit to Dragon Soul's people; monitor what's hidden yourself. Also, keep an eye on branches of the Chen Family and the Sun Family. It's always tricky to clean up the riffraff thoroughly."

"Are you heading back to the club now or going to find Xiao Lin?"

"Isn't there another Xiao in Yanjing?"

"Xiao Mu might be acting on impulse."

"Once it starts, others will follow; it has to be suppressed. I envy you for having just one child, nobody to contend with."

The commotion downstairs quieted just as dawn approached, and those departing only learned their mission after getting in the car, setting their sights on the North District.

Within the empty room, a computer, a cup of coffee, an ashtray piled with cigarette butts, and a wrinkle-lined sofa left behind from sleep. The place emptied, but a large grinning face on the screen was still jumping. "Failed." Xiao Zhao left the room with his men; the clock had barely struck six in the morning.

"Wow, how did you know someone would rush in?" Xiao Yu hid under a tree, watching the team enter before questioning Mu Rongyun behind him. The latter simply smiled, straightened his collar, and returned to their original dwelling. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, feel free to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations or monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)