Chapter 44
The freighter slowly regained its composure amidst the aftermath of the explosion. The deck lay in shambles, the stench of gunpowder and blood mingling with the sea breeze, a pungent, unpleasant smell. Silently and efficiently, the sailors cleaned up the scene, throwing the attacker's body into the sea and washing the blood from the deck. Professional cover-up efforts were swiftly underway, as if the brief, intense boarding battle had never occurred.
Qin Xiao stood by the side of the boat, watching the burning wreckage of the fishing boat drift away on the sea, his face expressionless. He turned around and looked at Gu Jing who was walking towards him.
"Did you ask?" he asked, seemingly not surprised by the answer.
Gu Jing nodded and said concisely: "Redmayne, Old Lighthouse, Basement. Zhou Liguang's authority."
Qin Xiao whistled frivolously, but there was no smile in his eyes, only cold calculation: "It's him. Your good uncle's hands are longer than you can imagine, and his heart is very dark." He paused and looked at Gu Jing. "How is it? The protagonist of this wonderful drama of internal strife in the Gu family has finally become your turn. How do you feel?"
Gu Jing's face remained calm, as if he wasn't discussing his own family scandal or the impending fratricide. "He's just the first one." His voice was cold and clear, like tempered steel.
Qin Xiao raised an eyebrow, seeming to admire his attitude. "You're courageous. It's settled then. Once the boat is cleaned up a bit and refueled, we'll change course and go directly to deliver a 'gift' to your 'good uncle'."
He patted Gu Jing's shoulder, as if to encourage, or as a gesture of marking ownership, then turned and walked towards the cockpit to arrange a new route.
Gu Jing didn't move. He stood there, watching the busy sailors wash away the last traces of blood. The salty, wet sea breeze seemed to have blown away the brief warmth of the battle, leaving only the cold, hard reality.
He walked back to the cabin area. 739 was guarding the door of the medical cabin, looking alert. He relaxed slightly when he saw Gu Jing.
"What's it like inside?" Gu Jing asked.
"No more movement," 739 whispered. "He struggled a bit when he heard the explosion and gunfire, but then he completely collapsed."
Gu Jing pushed the door open and walked in. Viper was slumped in the medical chair, his face ashen and his eyes vacant, as if all his energy had been drained away. Seeing Gu Jing, he made a hoarse sound in his throat, but couldn't utter a single word. He knew that the information he had revealed would mean his demise, no matter which side ultimately won.
Gu Jing didn't look at him, but just said to 739: "Keep an eye on him. He will still be useful when we get to Redmayne."
"Yes, Mr. Gu."
Gu Jing returned to his simple cabin and closed the door. The noise outside was blocked out, leaving only the steady roar of the engine and the regular crash of the waves.
He took out the torn piece of paper from his pocket again.
How to Pretend Not to Love You
His fingertips stroked the blurred handwriting.
Qin Yu...
That paranoid madman pushed him into the abyss in the most extreme way, and then forced him to climb out with a bloody ladder by destroying himself.
The hatred has not disappeared, but it has long been distorted and corrupted, mixed with too many unspeakable and chilling things.
And now, he held the piece of paper as if he was holding the last bit of ashes left by that man.
The road ahead is filled with the Gu family's intricate conspiracy, the venomous fangs beneath Zhou Liguang's hypocritical mask, Qin Xiao's valuable "cooperation," the lingering suspicions of Interpol, and the unknown gaze behind that mysterious anonymous letter...
The waves are surging and dangerous.
But he was extremely calm in his heart.
He carefully put the piece of paper away and placed it against his chest, where his heartbeat was steady and strong.
He no longer had to pretend anything.
Love or hate, it's all in the past.
From now on, he is Gu Jing.
Just for the reckoning.
The freighter adjusted its course, broke through the deep blue water, and sailed steadily towards the "Free Port" Redmayne, towards the darkness where the Gu family's dirty roots lay.
The storm is gathering ahead.
And he is heading towards the center of the storm.
Under the cover of darkness, the freighter, like a silent black behemoth, quietly approached a desolate coastline outside Redmayne Harbor. There were no bright dock lights here, only the jagged reefs and abandoned fortifications casting a sinister shadow. A humble boat was lowered again, carrying Gu Jing, 739, the sedated, clouded-eyed Viper, Qin Xiao, and his two most capable men, silently gliding toward the dark beach.
The cold, salty sea breeze carried the scent of scrap metal and rotting seaweed from the shore. The boat's bottom scraped against the rough gravel and came to a stop.
"Hurry!" Qin Xiao was the first to jump off the boat. His movements, unlike his usual laziness, became as agile and alert as a cheetah. He gestured, and two of his men immediately set up the barely able-bodied Viper and followed closely.
Gu Jing and 739 then set foot on this strange and dangerous land.
There were no lights to guide the way, only the dim flashlight in Qin Xiao's hand, illuminating a small area ahead. They quickly passed through an abandoned storage yard, where rusted containers stood in a chaotic manner like giant tombstones, and the air was filled with the smell of rust and urine.
After about ten minutes of walking, a solitary old warehouse, almost completely engulfed in shadows, appeared before their eyes. The walls were largely peeling, the windows were boarded shut, and only a heavy iron door appeared to be intact.
Qin Xiao knocked rhythmically on the door. A hidden camera above the iron gate swiveled, a faint red light flashing. A few seconds later, a heavy bolt slid open from inside, and the iron door opened a crack.
A man wearing a black tactical vest and with a cold face appeared behind the door. He nodded to Qin Xiao, and swept his sharp eyes over Gu Jing and others, especially lingering on the viper for a moment, and then made way.
Inside was a renovated safehouse, a stark contrast to the dilapidated exterior. The lights were cold and white, and several cots, weapon racks, communications equipment, and medical supplies were all readily available. The air smelled of metal and disinfectant. Three other people were busy inside, checking equipment and debugging instruments. They were clearly members of Qin Xiao's core team.
"Tie him to a chair." Qin Xiao pointed to a metal chair welded to the ground in the corner. His men immediately dragged the dazed Viper over and secured him with restraints.
Qin Xiao walked to the weapons rack, picked up a pistol, checked the magazine expertly, and then tossed it to Gu Jing: "Do you know how to use it? Use it for self-defense. This isn't a cruise ship, and there could be an accidental discharge of a gun at any time."
Gu Jing took the gun, feeling the cold metal. His fingers moved nimbly, unloading the magazine, glancing at it, and then pushing it back in to load the gun. His movements were smooth and without hesitation. He said nothing, simply shoving the gun into his waistband.
Qin Xiao raised his eyebrows and smiled playfully: "It seems that my damn brother has taught you a lot."
Gu Jing ignored his probing and walked to the only table in the middle of the room, on which was spread a detailed map of Redmayne, with the "Old Lighthouse" area prominently circled in red.
"When will Zhou Liguang go to the backup point?" Gu Jing asked directly.
"My dear father has fallen. He's more panicked than anyone else." Qin Xiao also walked over to the table, pointing his finger at the "Old Lighthouse." "Based on the fragmentary intelligence Viper has previously revealed and cross-checked with my own intelligence, he's been active recently, especially late at night. It's likely that he'll be going to confirm or move those life-threatening items in the next two days."
He looked at Gu Jing, his eyes flashing with calculation: "We will give him a surprise when he thinks he is safest."
"Defense situation?" Gu Jing's eyes moved quickly on the map, memorizing the layout of the surrounding streets and buildings.
"There are both visible and covert sentries. They are all his carefully trained private forces, not ordinary security guards." Qin Xiao pointed at a few points on the map. "Here, here, and this commanding height. There is a high probability that there are observation points. The internal structure is unknown, but there are definitely emergency passages and secret rooms. Breaking in by force is too costly."
"What's your plan?"
"Wait until he goes in." Qin Xiao's mouth curled up coldly, "We will sneak in from behind while he is 'working'. The iris and password of 'Viper' will be our stepping stones." He pointed to the limp figure in the corner.
At this moment, an extremely slight, almost imperceptible noise suddenly came from outside, like a wild cat stepping on a dead branch, but it seemed deliberate.
Everyone in the room stopped instantly, their eyes changing suddenly.
Qin Xiao looked sharply at the cold-faced man who opened the door. The man immediately dodged to the door and looked out through an extremely hidden observation hole.
There was dead silence outside, with only the sound of the wind.
After a few seconds, the man turned around and shook his head at Qin Xiao, indicating that he didn't notice.
But the atmosphere in the room had completely changed.
Qin Xiao's face darkened. He walked up to Viper and grabbed his hair, forcing the latter to raise his distracted face.
"How many trackers are planted on you? Huh?" His voice was low, but it was as cold as a venomous snake.
Viper gasped for breath, gave a twisted and strange smile, and said intermittently: "...Sir... never... completely trust... anyone..."
Qin Xiao's eyes sharpened as he ripped open Viper's already tattered coat and inspected it carefully. Soon, in the folds of an old scar on his lower back, he discovered a new subcutaneous tracker the size of a grain of rice, almost blending in with his skin tone.
It's still working faintly!
"Damn it!" Qin Xiao cursed softly, and without hesitation, he picked up the thing with the tip of the dagger, threw it on the ground, and crushed it to pieces with one foot!
But obviously, it was too late.
The signal has most likely been received, and their location may have been exposed.
"Pack up! Prepare to move!" Qin Xiao gave the order immediately, his voice quick and calm.
The men took immediate action and began to collect key equipment and weapons quickly and orderly.
Qin Xiao looked at Gu Jing with a complicated expression: "It seems that the 'welcome ceremony' will be brought forward. Master Gu, are you ready to stretch your muscles?"
Gu Jing had already drawn his gun, checked the safety, and swept his cold eyes towards the tightly closed iron door, as if he could see through the metal and see the danger lurking outside.
"Always prepared." His voice was calm, without any trace of panic.
The wind outside seemed to have stopped.
A suffocating silence descended.
The next second——
"Bang!!!"
A massive explosion suddenly erupted from outside the iron gate! The entire warehouse shook violently! The heavy iron gate was twisted inward and shattered by the directional blast!
In the air filled with smoke, several figures wearing all-black combat uniforms and night vision goggles were like ghosts, holding submachine guns and firing wildly inside!
Bullets poured in like a rainstorm!
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