Chapter 119: An Endless Vendetta

Chu Feng and Lieutenant General Gao worked together with a team of doctors to install various medical instruments and equipment into the small clinic. Once everything was in place, the already cramped facility felt even more crowded.

No sooner had Chu Feng finished setting up the equipment and sat down to catch his breath than his phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number. He didn't want to answer, but the persistent ringing forced his hand.

"Chu Feng, a girl with purple hair has been seriously injured. She said to tell you to come and save her." A voice filled with anxiety came from the other end. It sounded familiar, but Chu Feng couldn't immediately place it.

However, who else could the purple-haired girl be but Zi Yan? She had been fine when he left the hospital earlier; how could she be severely injured now?

"Don't panic. I'm driving back to the hospital now. You must ensure the girl is out of immediate danger."

In truth, he had no obligation to save Zi Yan, having already done so twice; any debt he owed her had been cleared. Yet, Chu Feng considered that Han Xuefang and Zi Yan were now friends. He decided to save her one last time out of respect for Han Xuefang.

After briefly explaining the situation to Lieutenant General Gao, Chu Feng drove back to the hospital.

Zi Yan had been resting in her bed when an unexpected visitor slipped in: Jack. Jack had come to take her life, but he hadn't counted on two soldiers standing guard in the adjacent room. When they heard the commotion, they rushed in, weapons drawn. Seeing the armed soldiers, Jack leapt out the window, but not before inflicting serious injuries on Zi Yan. The soldiers alerted the guards outside, but they failed to catch him. Jack was cunning; he reached the hospital entrance, hopped into an unmarked car, and vanished. Without a license plate, there was no way to track him.

When Chu Feng arrived, the doctors had already stabilized Zi Yan, waiting for him because she refused to let anyone else treat her. "You all may leave," Chu Feng said, clearing the room of doctors and soldiers.

He applied silver needles to Zi Yan and transferred a portion of his lifespan through his wristwatch. He was careful not to transfer too much, needing to reserve enough for Elder Chen's upcoming surgery.

Once her condition improved, Zi Yan told him about Jack’s return. She wanted to leave the hospital immediately, fearing further attempts on her life. Anyone who betrayed the Scorching Sun Mercenary Group faced endless, relentless pursuit until death. It was a rule established at the group's founding. Of the two traitors to date, one had been executed by Jack himself; only Zi Yan remained.

"How about this," Chu Feng proposed. "Come with me to a secure location. Once you've recovered, do me a favor: help me lure Jack out." He decided to take her to the military district, intending to use her as bait to reel in Jack.

Zi Yan was too weak to walk, so Chu Feng had no choice but to carry her to his car. As he held her, a faint blush colored her cheeks. Having been carried by him once before, this second time stirred something inexplicable within her.

Before reaching the military base, Chu Feng consulted with Lieutenant General Gao, who decided to place Zi Yan in the detention center to prevent her from seeing sensitive military installations. Chu Feng settled her in and arranged for the mess hall to deliver her meals, as she could not leave the room.

With Zi Yan secured, Chu Feng headed to the Lieutenant General's office—his first time there, which left him feeling a bit nervous. "Chu Feng, you seem busier than I am," Gao remarked with a smile. "Not only are you hunting killers, but you're also looking after your girlfriend and this confidante of yours."

Despite their rapport, Chu Feng remained somewhat reserved given their difference in rank. "I have no choice," he replied with a shrug. "These people are targeting me, and they aren't afraid to use unscrupulous methods."

The Lieutenant General’s expression turned serious. "Do you have absolute confidence in tomorrow's surgery? I hope you do, as I have already reported this to my superiors."

"I cannot claim a hundred percent certainty, but I have an eighty percent chance of success. You needn't worry." No one dared to claim total certainty, as even a 0.1 percent chance of failure was a reality that had to be accounted for.

"If you say so, then I am relieved. If you cure Elder Chen, I will personally recommend you for a commendation."

They discussed Elder Chen’s condition and other matters, finding their views aligned. After dinner in the military canteen, Chu Feng checked on Zi Yan, then visited Elder Chen to reassure him, careful not to let the old man get too excited before the surgery.

At 10:00 AM the next day, Chu Feng was fully prepared. Lieutenant General Gao had cleared his schedule and was waiting outside the clinic. At 10:30, Elder Chen was brought in. Before Chu Feng entered the operating room, the General urged him one last time to ensure the surgery was a success.

Once inside, Chu Feng performed a final check, administered the anesthesia, and began the operation.

"Jack, you have the brain of a pig!" inside a hotel suite in the capital, a man was berating another. "My master paid you five million dollars, and not only did you fail to kill that old man, but you didn't even take out Chu Feng!"

"Don't blame me," Jack replied, his face dark. "You claimed to have intelligence on everything. Why didn't you know the old man had been moved?" He had thought the plan was flawless, but he hadn't accounted for Elder Chen being relocated.