Chapter Eleven: Undercurrents in Motion

As Lin Feng stepped out of the Longteng Building, the piercing sunlight forced him to narrow his eyes. In his grasp was a USB drive, retrieved from Zhang Kun just before the man took his own life. The battle at the top floor had been brief, but it was enough to confirm the deep entrenchment of the Shadow Syndicate in Jiangcheng. Zhang Kun's final words—"You'll never find him"—echoed in his mind, a grim reminder that the mastermind known as Black Shadow was more cunning than he had imagined.

Sliding into his car, Lin Feng dialed a number. The call was answered immediately.

"Return to the office," he ordered. "I have something that needs investigating."

"Yes, Master Feng!" came the immediate response from the bespectacled man on the other end. Lin Feng hung up, his fingers tightening around the steering wheel as he drove toward the city center. The ambush at Longteng had only intensified his resolve for vengeance. But now he fully grasped the enormity of the task before him. The Shadow Syndicate had its roots spread deep in Jiangcheng, and cutting them out would require patience, precision, and ruthless execution.

Back at his office in the skyscraper's top floor, Lin Xue'er sat on the leather couch. The moment Lin Feng entered, she rushed forward, concern evident in her voice.

"Brother, are you alright?"

She had long grown accustomed to the dangers that accompanied Lin Feng's every outing. The uncertainty of his return weighed on her each time.

Lin Feng ruffled her hair lightly, his tone casual. "I'm fine. Just dealt with some small fry."

He strode to his desk and handed the USB drive to the bespectacled man standing nearby. "Check what's inside. We can't afford to lose the trail on the Shadow Syndicate."

The bespectacled man nodded. "I'll have the tech team crack it immediately."

Lin Feng sank into his chair and lit a cigarette. Smoke curled upward as his mind replayed the events of the previous night at the northern outskirts casino. The discovery of the transaction records, coupled with Zhang Kun's unexpected appearance, painted a picture far more intricate than he had originally anticipated. Jiangcheng's criminal underbelly was not merely a chaotic free-for-all—there was a structure, an order, orchestrated by unseen hands. The downfall of Lin Zhengxiong and Zhao Wanshan had merely pried open the edge of this elaborate web.

"Brother, what do we do with Lin Zhengxiong and Zhao Wanshan?" Lin Xue'er asked softly. A flicker of hatred passed through her gaze. For three years, those two names had been thorns in her heart. Now, with them finally reduced to powerless wrecks, she was left uncertain about the next step.

Lin Feng exhaled a long stream of smoke, his voice carrying a chilling finality.

"They're still useful. The Shadow Syndicate's secrets—what they know goes beyond just that casino." He tapped the ash off his cigarette. "But once we extract everything we need, their lives will have no further value."

Lin Xue'er nodded slowly, a quiet sense of relief washing over her.

Half an hour later, the bespectacled man returned, holding a laptop. His expression was grave.

"Master Feng, we cracked the USB. It contains financial records and personnel lists of the Shadow Syndicate spanning the past three years. In Jiangcheng, Zhang Kun was merely a mid-tier figure. Their core operations seem to be centered in a hidden facility in the western outskirts, codenamed 'Dark Nest.'"

Lin Feng's eyes narrowed slightly. "The western outskirts? That's an industrial zone. A warehouse there wouldn't draw much attention. What about the personnel list?"

The bespectacled man flipped to a page on the screen. "There's one name of particular interest—a man codenamed 'Viper.' He ranks just below Black Shadow and oversees all assassination operations in Jiangcheng. If Zhang Kun mentioned an elite enforcer before dying, it's most likely him."

"Viper…" Lin Feng smirked. "Keep watch on the western outskirts. Tonight, I'll pay him a visit."

The bespectacled man hesitated. "Master Feng, the terrain there is complex. I can arrange for backup—"

"No need." Lin Feng cut him off with a wave of his hand. "I can handle this alone."

He turned to Lin Xue'er. "Xue'er, stay here tonight. I'll be back soon."

She bit her lip, then nodded. "Be careful, Brother."

As night fell over the western outskirts, the abandoned industrial zone took on a sinister, desolate atmosphere. Crumbling factories loomed under the pale moonlight, their skeletal remains casting long, distorted shadows across the cracked pavement.

Lin Feng parked his car near an open clearing, stepping out with one hand casually tucked into his pocket. His sharp gaze landed on an unassuming warehouse in the distance—'Dark Nest,' the Shadow Syndicate's clandestine base of operations. Without hesitation, he advanced, his footfalls soundless yet exuding an undeniable aura of menace.

Two guards lingered at the entrance, smoking and conversing in hushed tones. Lin Feng approached swiftly. Before either could react, a sharp strike to the back of their necks sent them crumpling to the ground. He pushed open the warehouse door, revealing a dimly lit interior cluttered with stacked crates. A handful of men in black stood among them, inventorying shipments.

"Who's there?"

A cold, sibilant voice echoed from the shadows. A tall, gaunt man stepped forward, clad in a sleek black leather jacket. A glint of steel flashed in his hand—a serrated dagger, its edge gleaming ominously. His narrowed eyes resembled those of a serpent.

Lin Feng smirked. "You must be Viper."

The man's expression darkened. "Lin Feng… I see Zhang Kun failed miserably." His tone dripped with disdain. With a flick of his wrist, he signaled to the surrounding men. Immediately, they fanned out, weapons drawn, encircling Lin Feng.

But Lin Feng remained unfazed.

The moment the first attacker lunged, he burst into motion. His movements were a blur—every strike precise, every counter deadly. Within moments, the ground was littered with groaning bodies.

Viper's smirk vanished. He lunged with his dagger, but Lin Feng effortlessly sidestepped, delivering a devastating palm strike to his shoulder. The force sent Viper staggering backward, his weapon clattering to the floor.

Lin Feng loomed over him, his boot pressing firmly against the man's chest. His voice was low, ice-cold.

"Where is Black Shadow?"

Viper coughed, his lips curling into a twisted grin. "Kill me if you want… but you'll never find him. He never shows his face."

Lin Feng's gaze darkened. He applied more pressure, eliciting a pained groan from the man beneath his foot. But Viper had already succumbed to unconsciousness.

Frowning, Lin Feng rifled through his pockets, retrieving a single business card. Its surface bore only a few words: "Dark Nest - Administrator."

He scoffed. "Useless."

Tossing the card aside, he retrieved a lighter and flicked it open. The moment the flame touched the stacked crates, fire erupted, swiftly consuming the warehouse's contents.

As the inferno roared behind him, Lin Feng stepped away, watching the warehouse engulf in flames. His expression was unreadable, but deep within his eyes, a quiet certainty had settled.

"Black Shadow… You won't stay hidden forever."