Chapter Nineteen: The Ambush Meeting

The night at Black Dragon Manor was eerily silent, the darkness stretching like an endless abyss. Lin Feng stood just outside the grand hall's window, his piercing gaze locked onto the shadowy figures inside. The previous night's infiltration had gone smoothly, allowing him to map out the entire estate. Now, tonight was the night—the night when the Shadow and his operatives would gather for a critical meeting.

Reaching into his pocket, Lin Feng retrieved his phone and dialed a familiar number. When his second-in-command picked up, he spoke in a low, steady voice. "Be ready. We move in ten minutes."

"Yes, Boss Feng!" came the immediate response. Lin Feng ended the call and turned to the elite squad waiting behind him. They had already taken their positions, blending seamlessly into the shadows. Each of them held their weapons at the ready, their muscles taut with anticipation. This was not their first mission, nor would it be their last.

The cool night breeze carried the distant sound of rustling leaves, blending with the faint chirping of insects. Lin Feng's pulse remained steady. He had trained for moments like this—moments when hesitation could mean death. He had spent years tracking the Shadow, and now, the time for patience was over.

Taking a slow breath, Lin Feng pushed the window open soundlessly and vaulted inside with the grace of a predator. His feet barely made a sound as they touched the polished wooden floor. A quick scan of the room revealed several masked men seated around a long table, poring over maps and documents. The dim candlelight flickered across their faces, casting ominous shapes against the walls.

For a moment, everything was still. The masked figures, caught off guard by his sudden entrance, froze. Then, a deep, distorted voice sliced through the silence.

"Lin Feng?"

The speaker was clad in a long black robe, his face completely hidden. The altered voice made it impossible to discern gender, but the aura of authority was unmistakable.

"Shadow?" Lin Feng's lips curled into a smirk. He slid one hand into his pocket, exuding an air of effortless confidence. "After all these years in hiding, you finally decided to show yourself?"

The robed figure let out a cold chuckle. "You're persistent, I'll give you that. But I'm afraid tonight, your luck runs out." With a sharp gesture, he signaled his men to attack.

The masked men sprang into action, drawing their weapons as they rushed at Lin Feng. But Lin Feng didn't flinch—he moved. Like a phantom, he wove between them, his strikes precise and devastating. The first attacker barely had time to react before a crushing blow sent him sprawling to the floor. Another swung a knife at Lin Feng's ribs, but he sidestepped effortlessly, grabbing the man's wrist and twisting it until the blade clattered uselessly to the ground.

A third enemy lunged at him, but Lin Feng caught his wrist and flipped him over his shoulder, slamming him onto the floor with bone-jarring force. The man groaned, dazed from the impact. A fourth opponent came at him with a sword, slashing furiously, but Lin Feng evaded each strike with the ease of someone who had fought a thousand battles before. With a swift kick, he sent the sword flying before delivering a final, devastating punch to the man's jaw, knocking him out cold.

Within seconds, several assailants were down, groaning in pain. The remaining ones hesitated, realizing they were up against a monster.

Seeing his subordinates fall so easily, the robed leader swiftly pulled out a throwing knife, his arm snapping forward with lethal precision. Lin Feng saw it coming. He shifted his weight at the last second, the blade grazing past his shoulder, embedding itself in the wooden pillar behind him. Seizing the opportunity, Lin Feng lunged forward, his foot slamming into the man's knee.

A sickening crack echoed in the hall as the leader staggered and fell to one knee.

Before he could recover, Lin Feng was already on him. He pressed his foot firmly against the robed figure's chest, pinning him to the ground. His voice was ice. "Shadow, who gave the order three years ago?"

The fallen man panted heavily but managed a twisted grin. "It was me," he rasped. "The Lin family was in my way. They had to be eliminated."

Lin Feng's eyes darkened, an unforgiving storm brewing within them. For three years, he had lived with the weight of those words. Now, standing over the very man who had orchestrated the tragedy, the rage burned deep. Without hesitation, he delivered a sharp strike to the man's shoulder, sending a jolt of pain through his body. Blood dribbled from the leader's lips before he finally slumped into unconsciousness.

At that moment, gunfire erupted outside the manor. The deafening exchange of bullets sent shockwaves through the night as Lin Feng's forces clashed with the enemy guards. The battle had begun.

One of his men rushed into the hall, his expression tense. "Boss Feng, the outer defenses have been neutralized. Do we retreat?"

Lin Feng smirked, glancing down at the unconscious figure at his feet. "Yes. Take him with us."

The squad swiftly moved in, securing the defeated Shadow with heavy restraints before making their way toward the exit. Lin Feng followed closely behind, but before stepping out, he cast one last glance at the grand hall. The flames had begun to spread, licking hungrily at the wooden beams.

'Shadow, this is the end of your reign.'

By the time they reached the command post, Lin Xue'er was already waiting. The moment she spotted them, she rushed forward. "Brother, did you get him?"

Lin Feng nodded, his expression unreadable. "Yes. The mastermind behind everything that happened three years ago."

Lin Xue'er clenched her fists, her eyes burning with a mix of relief and fury. "Then it's finally over."

Lin Feng was silent for a long moment. His gaze shifted to the unconscious man, bound and defeated. He exhaled slowly. "No," he murmured. "This is just the beginning."

Outside, the flames continued to consume the manor, a blazing inferno against the dark sky. The night's battle had been won, but war was far from over.