In the winter of Washing City, the chill was not as severe as in Bincheng, nor was it as damp and cold as in the Jiangnan region. It was a temperature that wrapped a hint of warmth within the cold, making one feel both reluctant and drawn in.
Winter had already settled in for some time, with thick snow covering the grass and hills. Of course, on the highways and streets, thanks to the diligent efforts of sanitation workers, it was hard to see glaring patches of snow. Occasionally, a playful gust of wind would sweep down from the hills, pulling down strands of snow that would not linger long on the road before being whisked away by a passing vehicle.
The car stopped at the entrance of Canglang's Floating Life. A young man named Wang Yuan was the first to get out. He quickened his pace to open the back door, revealing two elegantly made-up beauties who resembled blooming wild azaleas, instantly brightening up the harsh winter.
Jufeng had been waiting at the door, opening his arms to embrace the approaching woman. Afterward, he nodded in greeting to Sister Xue, his face beaming with joy.
"A Yuan, I knew I wasn't mistaken about you; your efficiency is commendable. Park the car properly and come inside to join us."
Wang Yuan was overjoyed at this remark, nodding repeatedly in agreement while not forgetting to flatter them: "It's all thanks to you two ladies."
Sister Dai and Sister Four were amused by Wang Yuan's words, and soon laughter echoed in front of Canglang's Floating Life.
Jufeng's identity as part of the Underworld was naturally not hidden from Lu Qijia and her sisters. Fortunately, none of them were ordinary people; after a brief moment of surprise, they quickly regained their composure. Their respective families were all prominent figures in their industries; how could they be unaware of some Underworld matters? Thus, they took it in stride. The mischievous younger sister even boasted about wanting to hang out with Jufeng in the future, which made the other sisters quite nervous.
As they crossed through the courtyard, only a few people remained on duty. With the year-end approaching, Jufeng had reduced their numbers by more than half and divided them into many shifts; otherwise, it would be unbearable to endure the biting cold outside during winter.
Pushing open the villa door, A Yuan had already caught up by this time. A wave of hot steam rushed toward them, carrying a faint fragrance.
"It's hot pot!" Jiang Xue exclaimed with her keen sense of smell, immediately identifying the source of the aroma in the air. Looking inside, she saw that the table was already filled with dishes and a large hot pot steaming invitingly.
"Sister Jiang's nose is truly remarkable; please come inside and take a seat."
Xue stood at the door, ushering in the group of four while joking with Sister Xue and smilingly nodding at Sister Dai, showing proper etiquette.
"Please don't call me Sister Jiang anymore; just like Brother Jufeng, you can call me Sister Xue. Come on now, let's eat; I can hardly wait."
Jiang Xue shrugged off her outer coat and tossed it onto the sofa, her graceful curves becoming evident. The room instantly filled with allure. As she rolled up her sleeves to reveal her fair skin like lotus roots, she gazed hungrily at the table full of delicacies.
Seeing this scene, everyone in the room couldn't help but smile knowingly; a woman who was unrestrained suited this group of brash men perfectly.
Lu Qijia had shed her winter attire, and although her figure was not as exaggerated as Jiang Xue's, it exuded a sense of elegance.
"Sister Xue, aren't you afraid of being laughed at? It seems like I’ve been neglecting you at Azure Waterside, as if I haven't even fed you," she teased.
Sister Dai's words left Sister Xue blushing and smiling shyly, trying to deflect the comment. It wasn't that the food at Azure Waterside was bad; it was just that with only two people dining in the vast villa, it felt rather lonely. Even the finest delicacies could seem tasteless without the right mood.
Jufeng, seeing that everyone had gathered, couldn't bear to keep Sister Xue in suspense any longer. After a few simple words, everyone raised their glasses together.
"Cheers! Here's to a happy New Year!"
"Cheers!"
...
The old year had passed, and the New Year had arrived. The hands of time had turned to a new era, and compared to last year, the most significant difference was that there was finally one less "two."
No longer would they have to be so naïve.
The hour hand pointed straight up; yesterday was behind them, and tomorrow lay ahead. Snow fell softly, and Washing City seemed to enter one of its most tranquil moments.
In Canglang One Floating Life, everyone was sprawled in various positions. Jiang Xue had been sent alone to a room to rest, while Sister Dai and Jufeng embraced in his room, Restful Sleep. In the hall on the first floor, several brothers lay in strange positions on the large bed, with countless bottles scattered across the table and floor.
The snow intensified, and amidst the original tranquility, unexpected sounds began to emerge.
"Pat pat," the sound was faint and almost indistinguishable. In this silent snowy night, it rang out particularly loud for some.
Almost simultaneously, Jufeng on the second floor and Wenming on the first opened their eyes in an instant, a hint of worry crossing their brows.
Without a second thought, Jufeng sprang up and gently roused Sister Dai, whispering something before heading downstairs.
It was deep into the night; the lights in Canglang One Floating Life had long been extinguished. Due to the snowfall, even the moon had vanished from sight. Only Starlight reflected off the snow and filtered into the villa, providing a faint glimmer of light.
Jufeng arrived on the first floor just in time to encounter Wenming, who was getting ready to head upstairs. The two quickly understood the situation.
"There’s a bottle of revitalizing liquid in that drawer. Let them smell it; it works wonders for sobering up."
Wenming nodded and quietly went to retrieve the revitalizing liquid. Jufeng moved to the window, listening intently.
Moments later, Sister Dai came down the stairs holding Sister Four's hand. Aware of the gravity of the situation, they chose to remain silent. Most of the brothers around Wenming had already begun to wake up groggily.
"What's going on, Feng?"
Xue, who had drunk less than the others, woke up quickly. Rubbing his bleary eyes, he sensed the oppressive atmosphere and asked with concern.
Jufeng stepped out from the corner, his brow furrowed tightly.
"This time we might be in some trouble. At least thirty assassins have come from outside, armed with guns. Those brothers on guard might have sacrificed themselves."
"Boom!" Jufeng's words struck like thunder, hitting every awakened heart with a heavy blow. Xue frowned even deeper upon hearing this; he took out his phone and saw that all signals had been cut off, an ominous feeling rising within him.
Xue looked up at Jufeng, who nodded slightly, seemingly confirming his fears. Even Xue felt a pang of anxiety.
"The enemy came prepared. I suspect our other strongholds will also face fierce attacks. I just can’t fathom who could have such overwhelming power. I can’t think of any force in Washing City that possesses this kind of strength."
Jufeng's words plunged everyone into deep thought; the greatest crisis since Hurricane's establishment was about to unfold.
"Brother Jufeng, don’t worry! We will definitely ensure your safety. We swear to fight our way out today! After you get out, remember to avenge us!"
He Jie was straightforward by nature. Seeing everyone’s spirits low stirred a strong sense of unwillingness within him; anyone in the Underworld had a bit of hot blood in them.
"Yes! Brother Jufeng," Song Peng added, "ever since we followed you, we never thought about enjoying a life of luxury. If Hurricane is in trouble now, we will pledge our loyalty to the death!"
Seeing his brothers’ declarations, Jufeng felt genuinely moved. In the past, he had faced danger alone without hesitation; now that his brothers were in peril, he found himself at a loss for how to act.
Sister Dai walked slowly to Jufeng's side, grasping the young man's somewhat calloused hand, murmuring, "You have saved me so many times; I believe in you."
Jufeng took a deep breath, calming his emotions, and patted the delicate hand in his grasp, his eyes reflecting a hint of regret.
It was as if he was saying, I'm sorry for putting you in danger again.
Jufeng turned his attention to Tong Bailong, who appeared confused yet unafraid. Although Xue wore a worried expression, it was not one of self-pity; he seemed to be contemplating how to reconnect with his own intelligence network after they managed to escape. Lezheng was more straightforward, pulling out five handguns from under the bed and handing them to Jufeng. He Jie, Song Peng, and Wang Yuan awaited Jufeng's orders with anticipation. Sister Xue stood quietly beside Lu Qijia, holding the latter's hand and slowly tightening her grip.
Wenming, who had been standing in the corner where Jufeng had just been, spoke up after a moment: "There are indeed about thirty of them—ten at the front and around ten on each side. The guns should be the 796 fourth generation, each with twelve rounds of ammunition and full metal suppressors. Yes, that's the type."
Wenming took the handgun from Jufeng's hands, weighing it skillfully before removing the magazine and reloading it. The gun seemed to come alive in his grip.
Jufeng's eyes lit up; he hadn't expected Wenming to be so familiar with firearms. The others were equally thrilled, as if they had suddenly seen hope in a desperate situation.
"What do you think?"
Wenming pondered for a moment before responding earnestly: "Let me go to the rooftop to create a diversion while you all launch a surprise attack from the flanks. I'll cover you. There's a forest behind the villa; once we get into the trees, everything will be manageable."
His suggestion prompted nods of agreement from everyone; it seemed like their only option at that moment. However, Jufeng frowned even more tightly upon hearing it, clearly dissatisfied with the proposal.
"You’re not going to tell me you can sprout wings and fly away from the roof, are you? If we run away, what will you do?"
Jufeng's words jolted everyone back to reality. If Wenming created a diversion for them, he would undoubtedly be unable to escape himself. They all came to this realization and couldn't help but admire Wenming even more.
Wenming had more to say but was interrupted by Jufeng. "I will not abandon any brother, just as I will not abandon my woman."
As he spoke, Jufeng's gaze turned toward Lu Qijia, revealing a sense of determination within him.
"A Yuan, take Sister Dai and Sister Four to the garage. Wait for my signal; then drive with all your might back to Azure Waterside. And you and A-Zheng should go too. Once you're back at Azure Waterside, contact the intelligence network immediately; I need to know exactly what has happened."
"Wind..."
"Brother Jufeng..."
Jufeng waved his hand and said, "Trust me, I will be safe. With fewer people, it will be easier for us to escape."
The others knew that this was not the time for modesty; they had no choice but to trust Jufeng. So A Yuan led four people into the garage. The garage was located at the back of the villa, connected to it, making it invisible from the outside.
As Xue and the others finished their preparations, the footsteps outside grew louder, and even He Jie and the others could faintly hear them.
The sound of footsteps was like a death knell, growing more urgent with each passing moment, as if urging Jufeng to make a decision quickly!
(To be continued)
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