Chapter 119: The Army-Breaking Star and the Great Gate Star (Please Add This to Your Bookshelf)

The call had come from Tan Zhiyong. After hanging up, Lin Fan’s expression turned grim. A faint murderous aura flickered around him, and sharp glints flashed beneath his phoenix-shaped eyes. He truly had not expected the other party to use himself as bait to lure Dragon Soul into the trap.

They had committed the greatest taboo in the assassin’s world: setting a snare to capture an assassin they themselves had hired. If Dragon Soul did not demand justice, it would never again be able to establish itself in the mercenary world. No matter how formidable its strength, it would still be looked down upon. Hmph. Whoever they were, from the moment they chose to oppose Dragon Soul, they had already placed themselves before the judgment of the Grim Reaper.

During the call, Tan Zhiyong had told Lin Fan that, by making use of Dragon Soul’s vast network of connections and the traces left behind by the employer, he had finally uncovered the employer’s identity. As it turned out, the person who had hired Dragon Soul to assassinate Scorpion was Scorpion himself. In other words, Scorpion had used his own life as bait and laid a trap, thereby capturing Li Nanxing.

Tan Zhiyong’s news instantly made Lin Fan understand why Li Nanxing’s assassination attempt had failed. If someone knew an assassin was coming for his life, how could he possibly be unprepared? At the same time, Lin Fan also realized that someone had likely been deliberately plotting against Dragon Soul from behind the scenes.

“Brother Lin, are you all right?” Jin Zhengyang asked. Lin Fan had not spoken since ending the call, and Jin Zhengyang could naturally sense the dense killing intent radiating from him.

“I’m fine, Brother Jin. Please continue.” Lin Fan composed himself and spoke evenly.

Regardless of why Scorpion had set this trap or what his purpose was, Lin Fan knew that his most urgent task now was to rescue Li Nanxing as quickly as possible. No one knew what might happen next.

Jin Zhengyang glanced at Lin Fan and said, “Scorpion is an old hand in the Golden Triangle’s drug trade. He has plenty of men under him, and his weapons and equipment are quite good. His stronghold is in the mountains along the border between the Golden Triangle and Myanmar. It’s easy to defend and difficult to attack.”

Jin Zhengyang briefly and clearly explained the useful information he had gathered.

“Brother, could you help me with something?” Lin Fan asked after a moment’s thought.

“Don’t worry, Brother. Even if you hadn’t asked, I would have helped you vent this anger. Scorpion has smuggled a great deal of narcotics into China over the past few years. I’ve wanted to take him down for a long time, but I never found a suitable reason. Tomorrow morning, I’ll lead the Blue Banner Army and send him and all his men straight to the King of Hell.” Jin Zhengyang waved his hand decisively, making it clear that Lin Fan no longer needed to concern himself with the matter. He would take care of it.

Lin Fan shook his head. “I appreciate your kindness, Brother, but this is Dragon Soul’s affair. Even if we destroy Scorpion with the Blue Banner Army’s help, Dragon Soul still won’t be able to establish itself in the mercenary world. Besides, we don’t need many people to deal with one Scorpion. If you truly want to help me, lend me some weapons. Once I’ve dealt with this matter, I’ll repay you twice over.”

“You’re being too formal, Brother. We’re brothers—there’s no need to talk about repayment. If you need weapons, just say the word. Tomorrow morning, I’ll take you to the arsenal. You can choose whatever you want, and take as much as you need.” Jin Zhengyang spoke with complete sincerity. He was only too happy to be able to help Lin Fan.

“Thank you.” Lin Fan lifted the teacup filled with Immortal Drunk and drained it in one gulp.

…

That evening, Lin Fan stood by the window, lit a cigarette, and blew out a ring of smoke.

“Qiangzi, contact Mo Fei and tell him to wait for us alone at the foot of the mountain tomorrow.”

“Understood, Boss.” Xu Qiang’s voice was calm.

Xu Qiang knew that, strictly speaking, he was not a member of Dragon Soul. Li Nanxing was Lin Fan’s brother. Although Xu Qiang had never met him, because of his relationship with Lin Fan, he believed that Li Nanxing was undoubtedly someone worth treating with sincerity.

Early the next morning, Lin Fan and Xu Qiang rose from bed. After Jin Zhengyang accompanied them to the arsenal and helped them select the weapons and ammunition Lin Fan required, he sent men to escort them down the mountain.

As soon as they left the Blue Banner Army’s base and reached the foot of the mountain, Lin Fan dismissed the soldiers, leaving all the weapons and equipment behind. Mo Fei spotted Lin Fan and Xu Qiang in the distance and hurried over.

“Boss, you finally made it!”

Lin Fan nodded slightly. “We aren’t yet familiar with the terrain of the Golden Triangle or the situation on the other side. I’ll trouble you to scout ahead. Xu Qiang and I will follow with the others.”

“Yes, sir!”

Mo Fei put away his usual carefree attitude, stood at attention, and gave a military salute before turning and leaving.

A highway lay not far from the foot of the mountain. Although there was not much traffic, Mo Fei easily flagged down a taxi. As an expert in tracking and counter-tracking who was highly skilled with concealed weapons, he was the ideal person to investigate the enemy’s situation. Even if he were discovered, Lin Fan believed that Mo Fei could retreat unscathed with the aid of his hidden weapons. After all, he was the most accomplished person Lin Fan had ever seen when it came to using them.

After Mo Fei left, Lin Fan called Zhang Lei.

“Zhang Lei, have you contacted the others?”

There was no unnecessary small talk. The moment the call connected, Lin Fan went straight to the point.

“I’ve reached all of them. They’re here with me,” Zhang Lei replied.

The weapons were not particularly numerous, but Lin Fan and Xu Qiang certainly could not carry them all. Moreover, making too much movement might alert the enemy. Jin Zhengyang had told Lin Fan that Scorpion still wielded considerable influence in the Golden Triangle. Lin Fan therefore had no choice but to tell Zhang Lei where he was and have him hurry over.

“Boss, Nanxing will be all right,” Xu Qiang said from the side.

Ever since something had happened to Li Nanxing, Xu Qiang could tell that although Lin Fan showed little emotion on the surface, he had never stopped worrying about this Dragon Soul brother whom Xu Qiang himself had yet to meet.

About half an hour later, two off-road jeeps came speeding toward them. With a shrill screech of brakes, they stopped not far from Lin Fan. Two men jumped out first, followed by several Dragon Soul brothers.

Lin Fan did not know every member of Dragon Soul personally, but every one of them knew him. After all, it was Lin Fan who had led Dragon Soul to an entirely new peak.

When Lin Fan saw the young man standing beside Zhang Lei, he froze slightly. Then he stepped forward, pulled him into a tight embrace, and asked, “When did you get here?”

For the past few years, Ren Qianxing had been protecting Lin Yan in China under the guise of a bodyguard. Since returning to China, however, Lin Fan had not actually gone to see him. His sudden appearance in the Golden Triangle was certainly unexpected, though in retrospect it also made perfect sense. The members of Dragon Soul and Li Nanxing were brothers who had shared life and death. How could Ren Qianxing possibly have remained in China after something had happened to him?

Moreover, both of them belonged to Star Soul. Li Nanxing was the Star of the Great Gate, while Ren Qianxing was the Star of the Army-Breaker—“become a demon incarnate, solely to protect.” The depth of feeling between the two men went without saying.

P.S. I just finished dinner and am still writing. I’ll fatten this book up as quickly as possible—that’s my promise to all of you.