Chapter Twenty-six: The Truth Behind the Shadows

The underground basement of the Jiangcheng office building was dimly lit and damp. Water dripped from the ceiling, creating an eerie rhythm in the silence. The air smelled of rust and mold, a suffocating presence that only added to the oppression of the moment. Lin Feng stood before a shadowy figure, his posture rigid, his gaze as sharp as a blade. The figure was tied to a chair, his face swollen and bruised beyond recognition. Dried blood crusted on his lips, a reminder of the merciless beating he had endured the night before. The battle in the northern outskirts had shattered his arrogance, yet in his dark, sunken eyes, there remained a flicker of defiance.

Lin Feng sneered, holding up a thick stack of documents seized from the Black Dragon Manor. He flipped through the pages with deliberate slowness, the rustling sound echoing like a judge reading a death sentence. His voice was calm, almost indifferent, but it carried the weight of an executioner.

"Speak. What other secrets does the Shadow Syndicate hold?"

The captive panted heavily, his breaths uneven, yet a twisted grin curled on his battered lips.

"Lin Feng, do you really think you've won just because you caught me?" he croaked. "The Shadow Syndicate's roots run deep. You think cutting off a branch will kill the tree? I'm just an enforcer." His voice, though hoarse, carried a trace of mockery.

Lin Feng's eyes turned colder. Without warning, he raised his boot and stomped down viciously on the man's leg. A sickening crack echoed through the room, followed by a guttural scream. The captive trembled, his defiance shattering into a thousand pieces as agony overtook him.

"Alright! I'll talk!" he gasped, his voice barely above a whisper.

Swallowing hard, he continued, "The true leader of the Shadow Syndicate is not me. It's someone known only as 'Ghost.' He is the mastermind behind everything. Three years ago, the destruction of the Lin family—it was his order. I merely carried out the plan."

"Ghost?" Lin Feng narrowed his eyes, his fingers tightening around the document in his hand. "Where is he?"

The captive shook his head frantically. "I don't know! No one has seen his real face. He operates entirely through the dark web. Even I don't know who he really is!"

Lin Feng frowned. His mind worked quickly, processing every possibility. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he struck the man's shoulder with his palm. The sheer force sent the captive coughing up blood, his body wracked with pain.

"I only know that he holds a secret meeting overseas every quarter," the captive wheezed. "The next one is next month!"

"Next month?" Lin Feng's lips curled into a cold smile. "Then you're no longer useful." He turned to his subordinate, a bespectacled man who had been watching silently.

"Lock him up. Make sure he stays alive—I want to dig this 'Ghost' out of hiding."

The bespectacled man nodded and dragged the captive away. Lin Feng left the basement and returned to his office on the top floor. As he entered, Lin Xue'er rushed toward him, concern written all over her delicate face.

"Brother, what did he say?" she asked anxiously.

Lin Feng sank into his chair, lighting a cigarette. Wisps of smoke curled around him like specters of the past.

"He mentioned a bigger fish. Someone called 'Ghost'—the true mastermind behind what happened three years ago." His voice was deep, contemplative. He exhaled a long breath, his eyes dark with thought.

Lin Xue'er's eyes reddened. "What do we do now?"

"We wait," Lin Feng said simply. "Next month, we'll pull him out of the shadows."

He walked over to the window, gazing down at Jiangcheng. The city lights flickered like a restless beast, unaware of the storm that was about to unfold.

Ghost, you've hidden for three years. This time, you won't escape.

His phone buzzed. Answering it, his lieutenant's voice came through.

"Boss, remnants of the captive's forces are still active in Jiangcheng. Looks like they're planning a rescue mission."

Lin Feng chuckled coldly. "Rescue him? Then let's reunite them all in hell. Find their location. I'll handle it personally."

Ending the call, he turned to Lin Xue'er. "Stay here today. I have some trash to clean up."

She nodded, a mix of anticipation and concern in her eyes.

Lin Feng grabbed his coat and headed out, driving toward the location provided by his lieutenant—a deserted warehouse in the western outskirts of Jiangcheng. The night was heavy, the air thick with an approaching storm. As he arrived, his lieutenant greeted him at the entrance.

"Boss, there are about twenty of them inside. Armed."

Lin Feng smirked. "Twenty? That's barely a warm-up."

Without hesitation, he stepped inside, his presence exuding lethal intent.

Inside the warehouse, over twenty men clad in black were engaged in a heated discussion about their rescue plan. The moment Lin Feng entered, all eyes turned toward him. The leader, a bald man with a scar across his cheek, sneered.

"Lin Feng? You actually dared to show up?"

Lin Feng's lips curled. "If I didn't, how would I send you all on your way?"

The bald man signaled his men. "Kill him!"

A swarm of black-clad fighters lunged toward Lin Feng. He moved like a specter, his strikes swift and deadly. In mere moments, several men collapsed, groaning in pain.

The bald man roared and swung a blade at Lin Feng. With a single motion, Lin Feng caught his wrist and twisted. A sickening crack echoed through the warehouse as the man howled in agony. A powerful kick to the chest sent him sprawling unconscious.

The battle ended as swiftly as it began. Lin Feng dusted off his hands, his voice devoid of emotion. "Anyone else?"

Silence.

His lieutenant stepped forward. Lin Feng gestured toward the remaining captives. "Take them back for interrogation. I want to know exactly how many more of them are out there."

As the subdued men were dragged away, Lin Feng lit another cigarette, exhaling a long breath. This was just the beginning. If Ghost thought he could remain hidden, he was gravely mistaken. The hunt had only just begun.