Shadow Heir II: Dark Glory - Chapter 36

Linzhou and Jinyang were both prefecture-level cities in Linjiang Province, and both were economically developed. However, northern Jinyang City was mountainous, and Xiyang Town was a mountainous township. This town had an important geographical location, though—it was situated at the border between Linjiang Province and Xijiang Province.

A mountain road connected the two provinces, and trucks traveling north and south would often pass through Xiyang Town to save on highway tolls. Guilan Restaurant was located right next to this road and also offered lodging.

At this point, it was already seven in the morning, and the entire group had been awake all night. All the restaurants along the mountain road had already opened, and large trucks were parked along the side of the road. Long-distance drivers who had been on the road all night often chose to eat breakfast and rest their feet in Xiyang Town.

Su Wuji said, “Our car will go in first. The other cars will wait on the outskirts. Have you all remembered what the suspects look like?”

Xiao Yinlei replied, “Boss, all of our subordinates have had their faces memorized for two years. There’s no chance of a mistake.”

Jiang Wanxing, who was listening nearby, was secretly surprised. To prepare for this day, they had been memorizing and preparing for two years… It was clear that Su Wuji had put all his subordinates to work on this.

“Good. Don’t let a single one get away,” Su Wuji narrowed his eyes. “There can’t be just those few accomplices. This is a criminal syndicate. Today, we’re going to pull them out by the roots.”

“The Linjiang Special Ops Team will arrive in ten minutes,” Jiang Wanxing said, looking at Su Wuji. “I can hand over command to you.”

This Special Ops Team was a branch of the Top Secret Task Force in Linzhou. All of its members were elite soldiers selected from the special forces, yet Jiang Wanxing was offering to hand over command of the team directly to Su Wuji?

“Isn’t that a violation of regulations?” Su Wuji asked, surprised.

“Regulations are not more important than the lives of children.”

As she spoke, Jiang Wanxing took two communicators from her bag and handed one to Su Wuji. “Clip this to the inside of your collar. You can give orders at any time. There are a total of twenty-four people, including an assault team and a sniper team.”

She knew that handing over command was a violation of protocol, but Jiang Wanxing believed that because Su Wuji had prepared for this day for so long, he must have simulated the operation many times and had every detail planned out.

“Thank you.” Su Wuji then said to Xiao Yinlei, “Yinlei, you and I will go to Guilan Restaurant first to check out the situation.”

“I’ll go with you,” Jiang Wanxing offered. In her opinion, her own fighting skills were a bit better than the mature woman in the qipao, and she could be of help in a real fight.

“Fine,” Su Wuji didn’t refuse. He continued, addressing Xiao Yinlei. “Then you’ll take my gear, find a suitable position, and wait. If anyone tries to run or resist, take them out immediately.”

Take them out immediately!

With this command, it was confirmed beyond a doubt that Su Wuji was the mysterious sniper from the night before!

“Understood.” Xiao Yinlei got out of the car, took a long box from the trunk, and with a few long strides, disappeared from sight.

Jiang Wanxing was a little incredulous. “Boss Su, you’re saying all this right in front of me?” After all, both possessing a sniper rifle and giving the order to eliminate someone were illegal!

“Have you forgotten? We’re allies now,” Su Wuji said, glancing at Guilan Restaurant in the distance. He spoke casually. “You wouldn’t arrest your ally first, would you?”

“But you want Manager Xiao to shoot and kill people…”

Su Wuji said, “These human traffickers don’t deserve to die even a hundred times. The current laws are simply too lenient for them.”

Jiang Wanxing was a little anxious. “But no matter what, you’ll have to bear legal responsibility for privately opening fire and killing people!”

Su Wuji looked at her, then reached out and patted her thigh. “That’s why I didn’t refuse your Special Ops Team’s support.”

Jiang Wanxing immediately understood! Su Wuji intended to pin the blame for the sniper rifle on the Special Ops Team! He must have known that her top-secret unit had terrifyingly great power and, when carrying out a mission, could totally shoot first and report later!

Jiang Wanxing took a long, hard look at Su Wuji. His careful planning was a bit shocking.

Jiang Wanxing didn’t hesitate. “Fine. Every bullet fired from that gun will be attributed to the Linjiang Special Ops Team’s sniper.”

“Thank you. At least you’re not a dogmatic woman,” Su Wuji said, his first smile in hours.

Jiang Wanxing took over the conversation. “But I’m also terrified by your actions.”

The two of them got out of the car, and a middle-aged man emerged from a van next to them.

“Boss,” he said in a low voice. “We have people watching the home addresses of all the accomplices.” This man was Li Chaosheng, the same person who had spoken to Su Wuji on the phone earlier. He had a simple, honest face, a buzz cut, and a straight back. Jiang Wanxing looked at his right hand—it was covered in calluses on his fingers and the web between his thumb and forefinger. She was intimately familiar with where those calluses were located—because she had them too!

“Good. You and your men block the other end of the town and wait for my command,” Su Wuji said.

“Understood.” Li Chaosheng then got back into the van.

“He’s a veteran?” Jiang Wanxing asked.

“An old scout from the Southwest Military Region. He’s fought with the monkeys,” Su Wuji said. Jiang Wanxing understood that by “monkeys,” Su Wuji meant people from a certain country.

“Impressive. A senior,” Jiang Wanxing’s surprise grew. An old scout who had been on the battlefield was a treasure to the special forces. Even high-ranking generals might not be able to command them, but Li Chaosheng was clearly obeying Su Wuji’s orders without question, showing a deep respect for the young boss.

Su Wuji and Jiang Wanxing walked to the entrance of Guilan Restaurant. Standing outside was a middle-aged man frying dough sticks. Seeing the two of them approach, he called out, “You two here for breakfast? We have everything. If you’re tired, you can also rest your feet. The rooms are all very clean.”

Jiang Wanxing looked at Su Wuji, her eyes filled with caution, yet her smile was coquettish. “Honey, I’m hungry. These dough sticks smell so good.”

The origin of Jiang Wanxing’s wariness was simple. On the way here, she had already memorized his face from the photos on her phone! This was one of the main accomplices of the Sister Fen criminal syndicate! Even though the man was slightly different from the photo, she still recognized him at a glance!

Seeing Jiang Wanxing’s cooperation, Su Wuji said, “Okay, let’s eat here then. Next time I drive, you’re not allowed to be so naughty in the passenger seat. Stop putting your hands on me; it wears me out.”

The man frying the dough sticks gave them a knowing smile that all men understood. He then stared at Jiang Wanxing, taking several extra glances. His eyes were like those of a hunter sizing up its prey.

Jiang Wanxing pinched Su Wuji. It looked like a young couple teasing each other, but only Su Wuji knew that the pinch was not light at all.

“We’ll have two bowls of salty soy milk, two of your dough sticks, and two cages of soup dumplings,” Su Wuji said as he ordered, pulling Jiang Wanxing to a seat.

“What are you doing making jokes at a time like this?” Jiang Wanxing said in a whisper, glaring at Su Wuji.

Su Wuji leaned close to her ear. “The guy frying the dough sticks was giving you a really lecherous look.”

Jiang Wanxing thought back. “His smile was definitely malicious.”

Su Wuji gestured to the five-story building behind the restaurant’s main hall. It was the lodging area of Guilan Restaurant. “If you came here alone, something bad would probably happen.”

A cold glint flashed in Jiang Wanxing’s eyes. She spoke in a heavier, hushed tone. “They wouldn’t dare!” She understood what Su Wuji meant. The lodging area behind the restaurant had a lot of male drivers coming and going. Business was clearly much better than other motels. It was highly likely that forced prostitution was happening here!

Su Wuji looked at her face, which was both heroic and charmingly beautiful. He paused for a few seconds before saying, “They would dare, because you’re too pretty.”

Jiang Wanxing looked down, avoiding eye contact with Su Wuji. Of course, she didn’t think he was trying to flirt with her at a time like this. But for those women who had been kidnapped and trafficked, beauty might have been the original sin that led to their tragic lives.

At this moment, Su Wuji lowered his head slightly, his lips close to the communicator clipped to his collar. “Listen up. The Linjiang Special Ops Team is now under my command. The assault team will lock down the main roads of Xiyang Town. The sniper team is in position, watching Guilan Restaurant. You have free authorization to shoot. No need to take them alive.”

Jiang Wanxing watched Su Wuji give the orders. He was so professional; it was as if this wasn’t the first time he had commanded an operation like this. It was like he was a former special forces soldier. But… no need to take them alive! Jiang Wanxing knew this command violated regulations, but after thinking it over, she actually didn’t say anything to interfere!

At that moment, the man frying the dough sticks at the entrance shouted, “The dough sticks are ready! Come get them!”

Su Wuji said, “I’ll go get them.” Just as he was about to take the dough sticks, their two bowls of salty soy milk were brought to their table in the main hall.

Watching the woman carrying the tray, Jiang Wanxing instinctively held her breath. Even though the woman was wearing a mask, she could still tell that her face was gaunt, her cheekbones high, her eyes a narrow triangle, and her hair was silver-white. The bangs on her forehead covered her sinister gaze.

It was Sister Fen, the human trafficker who had been on the run for so many years!

Seeing this, Su Wuji lifted his foot and stomped on the edge of the deep fryer!

With that, the deep fryer was sent flying, and a pot of boiling oil splashed all over the middle-aged accomplice’s head and face!