Chapter 15: The Failed Assassination
Nightfall. Nightcolor Disco in Peaceful City buzzed with life.
According to Wu Li Hong, Zhou Hao had recently set his eyes on a new girl working at the club. Every night, he splurged extravagantly in an attempt to win her over. This made the disco the perfect place to track him down.
Chen Xue Wen had disguised himself well, donning a face-covering hat and carrying a flower basket. He mingled with the street vendors outside the club, hawking flowers just like the others.
It wasn’t uncommon for street peddlers to gather at the entrance, selling flowers to the wealthy playboys who, in their drunken romanticism, often bought one to charm their conquests. Chen Xue Wen blended in seamlessly.
However, security at the entrance prevented them from getting too close to the doors.
For nearly two hours, Chen Xue Wen stood there, his fingers and toes growing numb from the cold. Finally, around midnight, a group emerged from the club.
At the forefront was a young man clad in designer brands, his face carrying an unmistakable air of arrogance. Zhou Hao—the same guy Chen Xue Wen had shared classrooms with for two years. Drunk and unsteady, Zhou Hao had his arm wrapped around a woman, his hand wandering across her body, yet she made no move to resist. If anything, she seemed smug about the attention.
Flanking Zhou Hao were a few burly men—his bodyguards.
As soon as Zhou Hao stepped out, the flower vendors swarmed around him, their voices chiming in unison:
“Sir, buy a flower for the lady.”
“Sir, make her smile with a rose.”
“Sir—”
Taking the opportunity, Chen Xue Wen pushed forward, offering his basket as if joining the chorus.
Then, in a flash, his hand darted into the basket, drawing out a bone-cutting knife and slashing straight for Zhou Hao’s throat.
The attack was swift, aimed to sever the artery in one decisive strike.
But at that precise moment, Zhou Hao suddenly lurched forward and vomited.
His head tilted just enough that instead of slicing through the artery, Chen Xue Wen’s blade merely grazed his neck. Blood sprayed across his hand, but the kill had failed.
Zhou Hao staggered, stunned by the pain, but before he could react, Chen Xue Wen lunged forward, intent on finishing the job.
However, Zhou Hao had already snapped into awareness. Instinctively, he grabbed Chen Xue Wen’s arm with both hands, desperately resisting. The knife barely scraped across his cheek, leaving a shallow cut.
Chen Xue Wen pressed down with all his strength, but Zhou Hao, now fully awake and fearing for his life, held firm, refusing to let go. Blood from his neck had smeared onto Chen Xue Wen’s hands, making his grip slippery.
In the struggle, the bone-cutting knife slipped from his grasp.
For a split second, Chen Xue Wen froze.
That was all the time the nearest bodyguard needed—his heavy boot crashed into Chen Xue Wen’s chest, sending him sprawling across the pavement.
Before he could react, more men had rushed forward, forming a protective barrier around Zhou Hao.
Shaken but furious, Zhou Hao pointed at Chen Xue Wen and roared, “Kill him!”
Two of his men immediately charged forward.
Thinking fast, Chen Xue Wen scooped up a handful of dirt from the ground and flung it into their eyes.
Blinded, they flinched, raising their arms to shield themselves.
Seizing the moment, Chen Xue Wen bolted.
The bodyguards snarled in rage and sprinted after him, their heavy steps pounding the pavement. Behind them, Zhou Hao shouted, “Whoever catches him gets a hundred grand!”
The promise of money only made them more relentless.
Chen Xue Wen didn’t dare look back. These men were trained fighters—any one of them could kill him with ease.
Running was his only option.
For what felt like an eternity, he ran until his lungs burned. Eventually, the sounds of pursuit faded into silence. The bodyguards had given up.
But Chen Xue Wen didn’t stop. He kept running, pushing forward until his legs gave out beneath him. He collapsed into the dirt, gasping for breath.
Only when he looked around did he realize where he was—the Western Suburbs of Peaceful City, hidden within a grove of trees.
He staggered deeper into the woods to hide, but he knew he couldn’t stay there for long. He had failed his mission. Zhou Hao’s men would be hunting him down, and worse, the Law Enforcement Team would soon be after him too.
After resting for just a few minutes, Chen Xue Wen forced himself up and made his way back to the city.
In the following hours, he stole some clothes to change his appearance and sought shelter in the Funeral Home, spending the night there.
The next day, he moved again, blending into the bustling Shopping Mall to avoid detection.
But bad news was waiting.
With Chen Xue Wen still at large and causing multiple injuries, the Provincial City Enforcement Team had decided to step in, sending reinforcements to Peaceful City for a joint manhunt.
The news sent a chill down his spine.
He had barely managed to evade the local enforcers, but if the Special Enforcement Squad arrived, things would take a turn for the worse. They had the manpower and resources to seal off the city. If that happened, he would have nowhere to run.
Chen Xue Wen clenched his fists.
If he didn’t kill Zhou Hao tonight, he might never get another chance.
That night, he gathered supplies and made his way back to the abandoned brick factory.
The sweet potato cellar remained untouched. No one had discovered it yet.
Opening the hatch, he found Wu Li Hong and Zhao Dong still imprisoned inside. Zhao Dong, after two days without food or water, was barely conscious. Wu Li Hong, though weak, was in better shape.
When she saw Chen Xue Wen, her eyes flickered with an unreadable emotion—was it relief that he had survived, or hope that she might still?
He hauled her out and tore the tape from her mouth.
“Did you kill Zhou Hao?” she asked immediately.
Chen Xue Wen shook his head. “I failed last night.”
“Tell me, where would he be hiding?”
“Tonight, I have to get him.”
Wu Li Hong stared at him in shock. “Are you insane? Do you know how many bodyguards he has? Walking into his territory is suicide!”
Chen Xue Wen’s expression remained icy. “I don’t have time. The Special Enforcement Squad is coming. If I don’t do this tonight, I’ll never get another shot.”
Wu Li Hong sighed, lowering her head. “He has many properties. I don’t know where he’ll be tonight.”
“Give me my Personal Handy-phone, and I can find out.”
Chen Xue Wen hesitated.
“Relax,” she said. “I’m still in your hands. Selling you out does me no favors. I want to live.”
After a moment, he handed her the phone, reinstalling its battery.
As soon as she powered it on, a flood of messages arrived.
Her face paled as she read one of them.
“Chen Xue Wen, we have a problem. Zhou Hao has captured Li Er Yong!”
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation