Chapter 122: Return to the Hospital

After finishing his meal, Chu Feng packed a portion for Ziyan and brought it back; the success of their next steps would depend entirely on her.

"Commander Jack, we have received confirmed intelligence. They will return to the hospital tomorrow, including that female traitor among your ranks." Mr. Pan had reached out to Commander Jack online once more to relay the information he had gathered.

"Are they staying in their previous rooms? If so, I’ll ensure that old man doesn’t live another day." Hearing Mr. Pan’s words, a look of excitement crossed Jack’s face. The failure of this mission had already begun to impact other operations for their "Blazing Sun" mercenary group.

"I don't know about that. Our intelligence is formidable, but it isn't omniscient. You’ll have to figure that part out yourself." Mr. Pan rolled his eyes at Jack’s question. He wondered how Jack could be so dense; if you had just been the target of an assassination, would you really dare to stay in the same room?

"The 'Sir' said that if you complete the mission tomorrow, he will add another two million dollars to your fee. If you fail, well, you’ll have to figure out how to make it back to the Golden Triangle on your own." Mr. Pan’s words were an ultimatum. If Jack failed, the deal was off, and how he escaped China would no longer be any of his concern.

"Please tell the Sir that I, Jack, will certainly complete the mission. If I fail, I will pay you double the penalty fee." Jack appeared confident, pounding his chest as he guaranteed success for the following day.

"Then I shall await Commander Jack’s good news." Mr. Pan said dismissively before taking his leave.

Once Mr. Pan had gone, a venomous glint flickered in Jack’s eyes. He had never expected a mere subordinate of the Sir to speak to him in such a tone. *Just you wait,* Jack roared silently to himself, *sooner or later I will kill you. No one has ever dared to speak to me like that.*

At around 8:00 AM the next day, Lieutenant General Gao managed to procure a commercial van. He had all the seats removed and replaced with a bed, allowing Elder Chen to lie down comfortably. He also dispatched an entire platoon to protect the elder on the way to the hospital, while the guards already stationed at the hospital remained in place, supplemented by additional men.

Chu Feng drove the van with Ziyan in the passenger seat, flanked by military vehicles in front and behind. Once they reached the city, traffic police were waiting to clear a path. As Lieutenant General Gao had to report to his superiors, he did not accompany them, and the van slowly departed the military district.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Ziyan found herself stealing glances at Chu Feng, a strange, indefinable feeling stirring within her.

"If you want to look at me, just do it openly. Don't keep sneaking peeks; doesn't your neck get tired?" Chu Feng had noticed her strange behavior and, unable to hold back any longer, finally spoke up.

Ziyan’s face flushed a deep crimson, caught in the act. "Who was looking at you? You’re so ugly!" she stammered, at a loss for words.

"My dear girl, I think you’ve taken a liking to Chu Feng. It’s a pity he already has a girlfriend, otherwise, I think you two would make a fine pair. Chu Feng is a good man, after all." Elder Chen chimed in from the bed in the back. As soon as he finished, Ziyan buried her face in her hands, hiding like an ostrich.

Chu Feng didn't have time to dwell on the sight; he had to focus on the road, not daring to be careless while transporting the elder. Had Lieutenant General Gao heard the elder praising Chu Feng like that, he would have been floored—Elder Chen rarely complimented anyone, usually keeping his assessments to a mere "passable."

Once the van entered the city, police outriders cleared the way, providing a dedicated lane. An hour and a half later, Chu Feng brought the vehicle to a smooth stop in front of the emergency wing of the Air Force Hospital. As soon as the van stopped, Dean Liu and the hospital leadership hurried over to open the doors.

"Elder Chen, welcome back." Liu Shuiqing had learned of the return from Chu Feng. Chu Feng had only asked him to prepare the room, but he hadn't expected the dean to be so heavy-handed, bringing a whole crowd to welcome them.

"Send these people back to work. Why bring such a crowd to welcome an old man like me? Who told you to do this? Get them out of here!" Elder Chen stepped out, saw the crowd, and immediately scolded Liu Shuiqing. Chastised, the dean didn't dare speak back; he simply waved his hand, and the doctors dispersed.

Chu Feng brought Elder Chen to his room on the second floor, as the special suite on the seventh floor was not yet fully prepared.

"Finally back. Although I have a natural affinity for the military district, it’s far too noisy there. The hospital is much quieter." Despite his love for the military life, the elder was getting on in years and preferred the peace of the hospital.

Shortly after they arrived, Old Wang, who had remained at the hospital instead of accompanying them to the military district, came in. Chu Feng had asked him to stay behind to handle tasks that now fell to him in the absence of Old Jin.

Chu Feng scribbled a prescription and instructed Old Wang to get the medicine from Tongrentang, telling him to use his special authority if they claimed any ingredients were out of stock. Even though the surgery was a success, the elder needed tonic decoctions to recuperate.

"Girl, do you know how to play chess? If so, play a round with this old man. Chu Feng’s skills are atrocious." Elder Chen suddenly felt the urge to play and asked Ziyan to join him. Ziyan nodded silently, and Chu Feng fetched the board.

They began their match. Since he had grown older, the elder had developed a passion for Chinese chess. When Old Jin was around, he would play with him or Old Wang, but with Old Jin gone and Old Wang often busy, the elder had played less and less.

Meanwhile, in a separate location, the Sir spoke coldly: "Old Pan, you’ve been with me for over a decade. I never expected you to start stealing from my pockets. Tell me, how would you like me to dispose of you?"