The Offensive

A door opened on one of the vehicles in the convoy. As a high-heeled shoe touched the ground, an alluring woman with a slender waist stepped out, wearing a short skirt, a fur stole, and purple eyeshadow. Her heels clicked against the pavement as she sauntered over to the patrol car. Reaching into her bosom, she produced a resident identity card, handed it to one of the security patrolmen, and cast him an enticing glance. As both guards couldn't help but look at her, a hypnotic gleam flickered in her eyes, leaving the two men staring blankly at her. With a subtle flick of the woman's fingers, two hair-thin implants slid out, winding around and burrowing into the napes of their necks. After a moment, the two guards seemed to recover their senses. One of them inspected the identity card closely and found that it belonged to an actual resident of the area. Even so, he did not lower his guard, glancing back at the other vehicles. "Why do you have so many people?" The woman smiled seductively, her voice tingling with sweet allure. "We were invited to a party at someone's home. The hosts love a lively crowd, so we brought quite a few people along." "Are all the people inside the vehicles invited guests?" "Indeed they are." "May we look inside? Please pardon us, but we're responsible for the safety of every resident in this district." "Naturally." Smiling, the woman walked toward the back. At every vehicle she passed, she swung open the door. Sitting inside were tall, muscular men and women, their bodies draped in dusters, all wearing serpent-shaped ornaments—some pierced into their lower lips, others hanging against their chests. Their gazes were icy cold. Several bore scars and snake tattoos across their faces, appearing downright ferocious. Yet in the eyes of the two security guards, what met their gaze was a parade of voluptuous beauties and impeccably dressed, handsome youths. Considering the hour at which such a crowd was being escorted to a private residence, both men showed rather subtle, knowing expressions. After completing the inspection, one of the guards handed the identity card back to the woman. "Apologies for disturbing you," he said, before returning to the patrol car and quickly driving off. They rendezvoused with the patrol car behind them and reported up the line: "Check complete. No issues. It's an East District resident invited to a party hosted by a North District household. The people in the cars... just that sort of crowd, what else? But damn, that woman just now was a real stunner..." Once the patrol cars departed, the convoy resumed its advance. Xiao Sheng looked toward the back seat and praised the woman sitting there. "Sister Feng, this hypnosis technique of yours is an eye-opener every single time." Sister Feng waved a hand. "Come off it, no need to flatter me. I could only pull it off because we have that field-interfering creature. Otherwise, their internal implants would've detected the physiological anomalies the moment hypnosis set in and triggered an alarm. If that had happened, Mount Motie's security would've been all over us by now." Just then, a shadow seemed to pass overhead, accompanied by the sweep of a searchlight beam and the drone of spinning propeller blades. That was a small Mount Motie patrol airship. Those vessels were highly dangerous. Even with several third limit experts in their convoy, there was little they could do against an airship hovering so high up, so it was best avoided whenever possible. Fortunately, as the fog grew thicker and visibility dropped, it was unlikely to patrol as frequently. After that, the convoy met no further obstacles. Driving through without hindrance, they gradually drew near the grounds of the Meng estate, though the heavy fog allowed only a faint silhouette to be seen. "Is that it?" Sister Feng asked. "Yeah, right there," Xiao Sheng replied. He tapped the side panel and told the driver in front, "Pull up ahead and tell them to halt here." Within a minute, the convoy pulled up around a bend. Xiao Sheng checked his wristwatch and said, "Timing is just right. Five minutes left. We just wait." The dense fog provided optimal cover—the exact weather they had long awaited. Alongside their assault, he had arranged for two mercenary squads to strike different locations on Mount Motie. Once the Mount Motie security system's attention was drawn away, they would launch their strike on the primary target. This was the most convenient tactic, effective in any situation. Moreover, even if those mercenaries were wiped out completely, it wouldn't matter—it would just save them money. The time soon arrived. Faint sounds of gunfire echoed from both the east and west. Knowing their moment had come, Xiao Sheng immediately stepped out of the vehicle and walked over to the middle-aged man. "Boss?" The middle-aged man nodded. Xiao Sheng promptly turned and barked, "Check your gear, get ready to move!" Doors were shoved open, and figures poured out of the vehicles—men and women of varying heights. "Remember, to ensure our retreat, we have twenty minutes at most. Within twenty minutes, the target must be dead..." Xiao Sheng patiently reiterated the key points. In truth, he had said these words several times before, but he knew some of the squad members cared nothing for a plan; all they wanted was the thrill of killing and slaughtering. If not for the boss keeping them in line, they wouldn't listen to a word he said. Yet as the person in charge of the plan, he had to give the briefing once more, even if they only took in a fraction of it. "Aside from that third limit fighter, the estate only has ordinary security guards and biological weapons. You need to keep in mind that this third limit fighter is no ordinary opponent. "You've all seen the earlier footage. Wei Wusheng, who specialized in external conditioning, was hammered to death with bare hands, and he killed Feng Yaren bare-handed within three paces. We must take him down immediately. Don't give him a chance to display what he's capable of..." Seeing the impatience showing on many faces, he cut himself short. "All right, move out!" Meanwhile, at the Meng estate, the gunfire erupting in the distance drew the attention of the security patrol, who immediately reported to Chen Chuan. "Mr. Chen..." Inside the villa, Chen Chuan had already emerged from his meditative seated stance. "I hear it," he answered. Yet no sooner had he spoken than he found there was no response from the other end—only static and a rushing hiss. He tried contacting Wu Bei and the others, only to find the exact same thing. Realizing that the field signal was being jammed, he knew what was coming had finally arrived. He walked out and addressed the guard stationed at the door: "The enemy is coming. Get ready." The guard stiffened, saluted him, and immediately ran out. Moments later, sirens wailed across the estate. Inside a bedroom of the residence, Meng Shu threw on her coat and rose the moment she heard the alarm. A flicker of tension crossed her face, but it quickly subsided once the servants, Yan Yi, and the security personnel arrived. Yan Yi stepped up to her. "Miss, let us head down." Meng Shu nodded and followed them toward the basement. When passing by a window, her steps faltered, and she looked outside. Yan Yi said, "Mr. Chen has made so many arrangements, and he possesses formidable martial strength. There shouldn't be any issue." Meng Shu gave a gentle nod. Three female security guards promptly escorted her into the basement, which would soon be sealed shut. The defensive installations there were sufficient to guarantee that armed attackers outside could not break through anytime soon. At the same time, the Disposal Bureau, which had been keeping a close eye on the Meng estate, also detected the anomaly. A resonator spoke up at once: "Captain Guan, field information is experiencing interference!" Captain Guan said with a grave expression, "It seems Meng Huang has made his move. Notify Mount Motie security immediately and break through the signal jamming as fast as possible!" "Yes, sir!" Back inside the villa, Chen Chuan unhurriedly donned his duster, slipped on his gloves, put on his protective mask, and finally took up the Xuejun Saber before stepping steadily out of the villa once more. Standing on high ground, he looked downward. The dense fog obscured any clear view, but thanks to repeated drills, the security personnel showed no panic, swiftly moving to their designated positions. Flying biological weapons also awakened from hibernation, darting back and forth across critical points. Their combat prowess was secondary, but their senses were extraordinarily sharp. If anyone crossed through the sectors they guarded, no matter how fast, they could not avoid alerting them, which in turn would alert the defenders. As searchlights swept down from above the estate, blurred silhouettes could be glimpsed through the surrounding fog, moving swiftly up the hill. At that moment, the firing points deployed around the perimeter opened up. Among the armed personnel raiding the estate, there were not only third limit fighters, but also first and second limit experts, as well as ordinary gunmen. Their primary task was to draw attention and provide supporting fire, so upon realizing the estate had opened fire, they immediately returned shots. Chen Chuan knew these people were not the primary threat. True experts would not be constrained by terrain and would never charge into concentrated frontline fire; they would flank from the sides. He paid no heed to the gunfire, standing alone with his saber, guarding the open ground on the hill that led to the residence. After waiting a short while, movement sounded from the left flank. A burly figure rushed toward him at a speed completely belying his bulk. The man was built as wide as he was tall, carrying a thick folding shield on his back. Looking at him alone gave a sense of rock-hard, unyielding muscle. Over his knuckles were gloves studded with metal spikes. The biological weapons blocking his path burst into shattered pulp simply from colliding with him. When one slammed toward his face, he merely ducked his head, reducing it to a mess of gore plastered across his brow. He casually wiped it away, closed the distance, and leaped into the air, landing heavily ahead to the left. The ground beneath his feet instantly webbed with cracks. Yet no sooner had his feet touched the ground than the figure standing ahead flashed right before him. With no time to unfasten the shield from his back, he roared and threw a punch straight forward. Facing the blow, Chen Chuan did not dodge or parry. His breath abruptly turned scorching, and he unleashed a punch of his own. With a booming crash like thunder erupting over the mountain peak, their fists collided heavily. Wisps of white vapor hissed from the point of impact, rising like clouds to blend into the surrounding fog. The towering figure froze for an instant before rattling cracks sounded throughout his entire body. Countless beads of blood seeped from his pores, and before the stunned eyes of the squad members rushing up behind him, he went limp as if shorn of every bone, collapsing in a heap on the ground. Maintaining his punching posture, Chen Chuan's gaze was cold, yet his words were calm: "The first." At the same time, beneath his outer coat, across the interior of his protective suit, and upon his mask, a faint gleam flickered into light.