After sending Qin He away, Ling Chen returned alone to his guest room. At that ti, Tang Yuan had already gotten up and was washing up in the bathroom.
"What did you run off to early in the morning?"
"Just t with soone." After finishing, Ling Chen’s mind moved, and he asked, "Old Tang, have you ever heard of the Heavenly chanism Pavilion?"
"Of course, I’ve heard it ntioned quite often in those martial arts novels."
Hearing this, Ling Chen couldn’t help but give a wry smile, and decided not to continue this topic. After breakfast, Zhong Wei called to say there was nothing planned for the morning, Nanrong Wanqing would be working in the hotel, dealing with company matters remotely, and told them to go about their day freely.
Tang Shiyun’s concert was in two days, so the group had to stay at least two more days in Beijing.
With nothing particular to do, Ling Chen and Tang Yuan stayed in their room, idly watching television. Around noon, Tang Yuan received a call from the base, and his expression changed imdiately.
"What’s wrong?" Ling Chen noticed the change in his expression and asked.
Tang Yuan didn’t speak but rather received a video on his phone and played it. Suddenly, an image appeared on the phone’s screen. In the picture, a young man, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, was tied to a chair, his body covered in bruises and wounds, his face swollen and bloody, with a split at the corner of his eye, blood flowing freely, looking very miserable.
Looking at the young man in the video, Ling Chen’s eyes narrowed imdiately, revealing a cold glint.
He recognized this young man—it was Yang Tao, a forr teammate in the Ghost Organization. It appeared their guess was correct, Yang Tao had been captured. The Ghost Organization had lost nurous mbers throughout its existence, but this was the first ti one had been taken alive.
"This video just ca in from the base."
"What are they trying to do, extort us?"
As he spoke, the image on the cellphone video suddenly changed, showing a man in a suit and mask.
"Ghost Organization, you are the most secretive organization in the world, but I know all about you. The God Organization was destroyed by your hands, and suffered great losses. And now, you still won’t let go, always opposing us at every turn. Do you truly think we are afraid of you? Today, the God Organization rises once more. Old and new grudges, it’s ti to settle them. From now on, we officially declare war, vowing not to stop until the Ghost is wiped out."
As he said this, the image switched back to Yang Tao, "You have three days’ ti. After three days, if no one rescues him, I will deliver his corpse to the doorstep of your base."
The video ended, and Tang Yuan put away his phone, saying: "The General has asked us to go there."
Ling Chen nodded; he understood the seriousness of the situation. The Ghost Organization was likely in turmoil, anxious and restless.
Upon arriving at the Ghost Base, Ling Chen and Tang Yuan went straight to Qiao Zhen’s office.
"Have you both seen the video?"
Ling Chen asked, "General, what’s your plan?"
"Yang Tao’s capture is our inescapable responsibility. We had no prior knowledge that the arms dealer was actually a peripheral mber of the God Organization, with God Organization mbers personally guarding him. Yang Tao’s mission failure was mainly due to the God Organization’s enhancent drugs. Han Bing has just investigated the IP address from which the video was sent, the location indicates that Yang Tao is still being held in the territory of that arms dealer."
"General!" Ling Chen let out a sigh, "You know as well as I do, without saying, this is obviously a trap, just waiting for us to fall into it."
"I know it’s a trap, but it’s also our opportunity. The God Organization is very secretive, after all these years of fighting, we haven’t caught any big fish; the intelligence we’ve collected so far hasn’t been of much value. We must infiltrate their inner circle to dismantle their power."
"Zhu Hong." A na popped out of Ling Chen’s mouth, "He definitely has a deep connection with the God Organization, we can start from him."
"I know Zhu Hong is a suspect, but we don’t have enough evidence to arrest him. Although we of the Ghost Organization have privileges, we must still follow the law and cannot supersede it. As long as Zhu Hong is in the country, we must proceed according to legal procedures, first collecting evidence of his cris before prosecuting him."
After a pause, Qiao Zhen continued, "I know what you are worried about. Yang Tao is bait, and they will surely set up a dragnet. If we send soone to rescue him, I fear it may be a one-way trip. However, as long as there is a glimr of hope, we must not give up. Moreover, he is our comrade-in-arms, do you really want to stand by and watch his body being sent back?"
Ling Chen and Tang Yuan looked at each other and then bowed their heads in silence.
Qiao Zhen tossed a file onto the desk and said, "Han Bing and I have devised a rescue plan. They have given us a three-day deadline, within which Yang Tao won’t be in danger to his life. During these three days, we will stand by and let them think we have abandoned Yang Tao. When the deadline is nearly up, they will certainly let their guard down. That’s when we will strike unexpectedly and rescue him. Of course, I don’t deny the extre danger of this mission. Tang Yuan!"
"Present," Tang Yuan quickly stood up, chest out, head high, standing upright, waiting for instructions.
"You will lead this mission. Apart from you, there will be three other team mbers accompanying you. And you..." Qiao Zhen turned to look at Ling Chen, "You have already left the Ghost Organization; I have no authority to order you around, so I will not force you. It’s up to you to decide whether or not to go."
Upon hearing this, Ling Chen couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.
The old general had made his point clear—how could he not go? Besides, Yang Tao was once his comrade-in-arms. Now that he knew about this situation, how could he ignore it?
"When do we move out?"
"The flight tomorrow morning. It will take us at least two days to prepare once we’re there, so we can’t delay."
Ling Chen scratched his head; he had promised to attend Tang Shiyun’s concert the day after tomorrow, but now it looked like he would have to break that promise.
"Besides the five of you on this operation, I have arranged for soone to provide you with support. Once you reach the destination, he will contact you. Rember, this rescue operation is happening abroad, we are not authorized; if you get caught, you can only bear the risk yourself."
"General, this isn’t our first mission; we’re clear on all of this."
Qiao Zhen nodded and said, "Ling Chen, watch that video a few more tis. morize that person’s voice and try your best to locate him."
"Got it."
"Alright, Tang Yuan, you go out first. I have sothing to say to Ling Chen alone."
After Tang Yuan left, Qiao Zhen got up, walked over to Ling Chen, and clapped him on the shoulder, saying, "Kid, take care of yourself. I don’t want to see you return in a coffin. After this mission is over, I might just introduce my granddaughter to you."
Ling Chen grinned and said, "General, at least show a photo of your granddaughter first. If she’s pretty, I’ll fight to return alive no matter what."
"Scram, my granddaughter is more than good enough for you." Qiao Zhen said with a smile and a curse.
Leaving the office, Tang Yuan, who was waiting outside, gave him a look and said helplessly, "You shouldn’t have agreed to the general just now."
"Why?"
"You and I know very well, this trip is too dangerous, with a slim chance of survival. You don’t need to take this risk."
Ling Chen gave a slight smile, draped his arm around his shoulder and said, "What, am I that sort of spiritless person? More to the point, if I don’t go, who will bring you back? Without my help, do you think you could complete the mission with your diocre skills?"
"Get lost, I’m not that bad," Tang Yuan said with a disgruntled face, yet his eyes showed a hint of being touched.
Returning to the hotel, Ling Chen and Tang Yuan were about to head upstairs. But at that mont, a fiery red Ferrari slowly drove up to the hotel entrance. The window rolled down, and a stunning woman stuck her head out, calling towards Ling Chen: "Get in the car!"
User Comments
0 comments from readers