The abandoned factory was eerily silent, the faint scent of gunpowder lingering in the air. Li Chuan and Cheng Mo stood back to back, their senses sharpened, eyes scanning the dimly lit surroundings. The flickering lights cast twisted shadows, distorting reality, making it seem like unseen eyes lurked in every darkened corner.
They knew he was still here—waiting, watching.
Shen Qiu's voice came through the earpiece, low and tense. "I'm trying to restore surveillance, but he's deployed a signal jammer. Cracking it will take time."
Su Man, advancing cautiously from another direction, muttered, "We shouldn't give him time. He's stalling for something."
Li Chuan nodded. It was obvious. Their target had chosen to stop here for a reason. This place must give him an advantage. And if they rushed in recklessly, they'd be walking straight into his trap.
Taking a slow breath, Li Chuan scrutinized every possible hiding spot. His gaze briefly settled on a steel beam above—
Without hesitation, he raised his gun and fired.
BANG!
A shadow leaped from the beam, cutting through the air like a phantom!
Cheng Mo reacted instantly. His blade sliced forward, clashing against a dagger in a flurry of sparks. The sharp clang of metal on metal reverberated through the empty factory.
A shallow cut bloomed red across Cheng Mo's arm, but he didn't flinch. Instead, he swung a brutal punch toward the man's abdomen!
The black-clad figure twisted away with feline agility, landing lightly on the ground. His movements were fluid, effortless, almost playful.
"You're quicker than I expected," the man murmured, his voice tinged with amusement.
Li Chuan's gaze hardened. "Who the hell are you?"
The man tilted his head slightly, stepping just enough into the dim light to reveal sharp features and an unsettling glint in his eyes.
"Li Chuan," he whispered, as if savoring the name. "You're interesting."
"Enough talk." Su Man's voice was ice-cold, her finger tightening on the trigger.
But the man ignored her. Instead, he smiled and raised his wrist—
And pressed a button.
The entire factory plunged into absolute darkness.
"Shit!" Shen Qiu's voice crackled in their earpieces. "He rigged a remote blackout switch!"
Li Chuan remained unfazed. His voice was steady as he ordered, "Activate thermal vision."
Their gear included micro thermal imaging devices, allowing them to track heat signatures even in pitch-black conditions. But just as they reached for them—
ZZZZZT!
A harsh, static-filled screech erupted in their earpieces—
Then, complete silence.
Their communications had been cut.
A soft chuckle drifted through the darkness, echoing from nowhere and everywhere.
"Welcome to my hunting ground."
Li Chuan's breathing remained steady. He didn't panic. The enemy wanted fear—wanted them disoriented. But he wouldn't play into that.
A whisper of movement—
Instinct kicked in. Li Chuan dodged, just as a blade slashed through the space where his throat had been moments before.
Su Man and Cheng Mo fired simultaneously, but their bullets hit nothing but empty air. Their target had already vanished into the darkness.
"He's baiting our attacks," Cheng Mo murmured.
Li Chuan's voice was quiet but firm. "He's not just trying to kill us. He's testing us."
A ghostly laugh echoed in response. "Clever."
"Then let's see if you can survive."
The words had barely left his lips when multiple shadows emerged from the darkness—
It wasn't just him.
A team of assassins had been lurking, waiting for their moment to strike.
Li Chuan didn't hesitate. "Fall back—regroup at the east entrance!"
Su Man and Cheng Mo pivoted, covering each other with gunfire as they moved. But these weren't ordinary mercenaries. Their movements were too precise, their evasions too practiced.
Su Man's shot struck one in the shoulder, but he barely staggered—he was wearing reinforced body armor.
Cheng Mo snarled, then hurled his knife. The blade found its mark—slipping cleanly into an exposed throat.
"One down," he muttered, yanking the weapon free.
But more were closing in.
They were being surrounded.
Li Chuan's mind raced. They couldn't afford a prolonged fight. If they didn't break free now, they'd be overwhelmed.
His sharp gaze flicked across the factory—
There.
A row of industrial shelves stacked with chemical solvents.
A plan clicked into place.
"Cover me."
Without waiting for a response, he sprinted toward the shelves, leaping onto the second level. In one swift motion, he slashed open several containers—
The sharp scent of volatile chemicals filled the air.
He reached for a flare—
And threw it.
BOOM!
The explosion ripped through the factory, flames consuming everything in its path. Heat waves rolled outward, forcing the assassins to retreat.
Engulfed in firelight, the black-clad man stood motionless, watching the flames. His expression remained unreadable.
"Ah… I see now."
But Li Chuan didn't wait for his next move.
"Go. Now!"
Su Man and Cheng Mo bolted for the exit, and Li Chuan followed.
They burst out into the night just as the fire spread, sealing off their pursuers.
Chest rising and falling, Li Chuan turned back toward the burning factory, his eyes cold.
"This time… he lost."
But deep inside, he knew—
The real hunt had only just begun.