Chapter Ninety-Six: The Onslaught of the Purple Smoke

Old Chen was reluctant to visit because he wanted to consider Old Jin’s feelings. After all, Old Jin had nearly made a grave mistake this time, and if Old Chen had come to see him, he feared Old Jin would be overwhelmed with guilt.

Chu Feng and Old Chen chatted for a while in the hospital room before Chu Feng, accompanied by Han Xuefang, went to Old Jin’s room. Chu Feng had been here for some time, and Old Jin had taken good care of him.

When Chu Feng and the others returned from Shanghai, they only brought back Molong and his slave. As for Old Jin’s wife and children, they were brought back by Wang Chen and Xiao Hei.

“Dad, Uncle Chu is here, and he brought a pretty lady with him!” Jin Jiaxiang, playing at the door, spotted Chu Feng’s arrival and hurried inside to tell Old Jin.

Han Xuefang smiled upon hearing Jin Jiaxiang’s words; every girl loves to be complimented on her beauty.

“Chu Feng, I really can’t thank you enough. If it weren’t for you, I’d be finished for life,” Old Jin said as he came out of the room and clasped Chu Feng’s hand tightly, unwilling to let go.

“You’re saying too much. I’ve been here a long time, and you’ve taken good care of me as well. We’ve helped each other,” Chu Feng replied modestly. He didn’t feel he had done much for Old Jin—bringing back his wife and children was more of a task for Old Chen than for himself.

“Old Chen asked me to tell you that wherever you go from now on, you must live well and not burden yourself with guilt. He didn’t come because he feared you would be consumed by self-blame,” Chu Feng conveyed Old Chen’s message carefully, urging Old Jin to let go of the past and move forward.

“Please tell Old Chen for me, if there is a next life, I’d gladly be his son and care for him until the end,” Old Jin said, tears welling at the corners of his eyes. Since he entered the research institute, Old Chen had always supported him, and yet he nearly brought ruin upon him. In the end, Old Chen had shown understanding and forgiveness.

“I will. Have you decided where you’re going? Once you leave, who knows when we’ll meet again. If you have time, come find me in Shanghai,” Chu Feng said, a twinge of discomfort stirring in his heart. But Old Jin had to leave, and his future life would be managed by others. He was both a contributor to the nation and a man bearing a heavy burden of guilt.

Before long, Old Wang came to see Old Jin off. The two had been close for over a decade, their bond strong. Since Old Jin’s situation became known, Old Wang had been distressed for days. But in time, he came to accept it. If Old Chen had forgiven Old Jin, what was left for him to hold onto?

After seeing Old Jin off, Chu Feng and Han Xuefang went out for a meal together. Chu Feng wasn’t particularly hungry, but since it was midday, he accompanied Han Xuefang.

In the Golden Triangle, inside a rather shabby wooden house, the outside may have looked worn, but the interior was lavishly decorated, befitting the word “luxurious.”

“The deputy captain, Molong, has been captured. I fear he might reveal our whereabouts to the Chinese side. I suggest we relocate immediately; we’ve made too much noise this time,” a man with a scorpion tattoo on his arm said to the figure sitting at the head of the room, who wore a mask of the Monkey King.

“Don’t rush. I’ve already sent Ziyan back. Hopefully, she can complete the mission and restore our Sunfire Mercenaries' reputation,” the man at the head, none other than Jack the Ripper, leader of the Sunfire Mercenaries, replied. The tattooed man beneath him was Molang, one of the deadliest assassins in Sunfire.

“That woman, Ziyan, can be troublesome. Last time, because of her, we lost two million dollars,” Molang said with a hint of possessiveness in his eyes when Jack mentioned Ziyan. She was indeed stunningly beautiful—any man who saw her would find it hard to resist.

“Don’t worry. If she completes this mission, I’ve promised to help her find her brother,” Jack said confidently, indicating Ziyan possessed some extraordinary means.

“Captain, I think this girl isn’t bad. Maybe we can find a way to...” Molang began.

“If you have the guts, you can try. But don’t even think about touching her, or you’ll lose your life,” Jack interrupted, his tone filled with deadly seriousness.

Molang fell silent but his eyes gleamed with a lascivious light.

“I’m worried Ziyan might struggle alone. I’ll help her, and all the reward will go to her—I won’t take a penny,” Molang proposed, a plan forming in his mind.

“If you want to go, fine. But I warn you, don’t get any ideas about her, or you’ll really die,” Jack said after a moment’s thought. Molong had fallen to Chu Feng’s hand; perhaps a woman like Ziyan wasn’t a match for him. So Jack agreed to Molang’s request but warned him beforehand.

Molang nodded but paid no mind. His thoughts were consumed by Ziyan’s graceful figure.

At Kyoto airport, a plane from the United States slowly landed. A girl with purple-dyed hair disembarked. She turned heads wherever she walked, and bold men tried to approach her, only to be ignored by the straight-haired girl.

Once outside the airport, the purple-haired girl hailed a cab and quickly left.

“Let’s go back. I’m a bit tired today. I need a good rest this afternoon,” Chu Feng said after finishing the meal with Han Xuefang. At that moment, he was unaware that someone was already watching him.

Back in Old Chen’s hospital room, Chu Feng lay down on the sofa and fell asleep. After catching Molong at the Jia Hua Hotel in Shanghai the day before, then interrogating him overnight, he hadn’t had a peaceful moment of rest.

When Chu Feng woke, it was already past 4 p.m. Old Chen and Old Wang were sitting on the sofa beside him, seemingly deep in discussion.

“You’re awake. Looks like you’ve been exhausted these past two days, sleeping soundly on the sofa,” Old Chen said as he poured a glass of water from Old Wang and handed it to Chu Feng.

Chu Feng drank the water in one gulp. After such a deep sleep, he felt revitalized and refreshed.

“Your young lady friend came by earlier. When she saw you were asleep, she left. You should go find her quickly.”