Chapter 270: I’ve Been Looking for You for a Long Time

Gunfire erupted from the freighter. Bullets zipped through the air, aimed at Xiao Yu and his team.

And yet, a shocking scene unfolded. None of them slowed down.

They pressed forward, relentless, like a pack of wolves closing in on their prey.

Shots rang out from the armed helicopters overhead and the heavy machine guns on the dock. Bullets rained down, creating a storm of firepower that blanketed the freighter.

This overwhelming assault, combined with the relentless charge from Xiao Yu and the others, forced the mercenaries into a desperate counterattack. They knew better than anyone that if Xiao Yu and his team made it onto the freighter, they were as good as dead.

But if they could get the freighter away from the dock, there was still a slim chance—just one in ten—that they might survive.

A few mercenaries, braving the hail of bullets, dashed out from their cover to fire at the charging team heading for the freighter’s gangplank.

The submachine guns in Xiao Yu’s team’s hands roared to life.

Two mercenaries were cut down on the spot.

In the distance, heavy sniper fire rang out, taking down two more mercenaries.

From above, four rifles mounted on the armed helicopters poured fire onto the freighter, keeping the mercenaries pinned.

And then, a figure stepped onto the freighter.

Clink, clink!

Two grenade pins dropped to the ground, left dangling from Xiao Yu’s tactical gear.

Two grenade levers snapped open in his hands. With a powerful swing of his arms, Xiao Yu hurled both grenades.

One grenade struck a mercenary’s face from over ten meters away, shattering his teeth and lodging itself in his mouth. The other grenade ricocheted off a container, bouncing right next to a group of mercenaries.

The high-explosive grenades detonated with thundering booms.

The unlucky mercenary who’d been hit in the mouth was blown to pieces, reduced to chunks of meat.

Behind a container, chaos erupted as four mercenaries were killed instantly in the grenade explosion.

Xiao Yu pushed forward, sprinting as his mind raced through calculations.

Seventeen people. Were there really only seventeen on the freighter?

Two had been taken out by sniper fire. Another two were killed by heavy machine guns. Four more died during the charge. The grenades had just killed five. If his math wasn’t failing him… that left four. Among them were supposed to be two civilians.

The boss?

And who was the other civilian?

A name surfaced in Xiao Yu’s mind: Hua Xiangyang. The same Hua Xiangyang who murdered police officers in S City, stole the counterfeit printing plates, and worked alongside Shen Li.

As for the remaining mercenaries? Xiao Yu dismissed them outright. Hua Xiangyang and the boss were the ones he was after.

A gunshot echoed.

Xiao Yu, at full speed, ducked low, narrowly avoiding a bullet.

With every system ability activated, every skill pushed to its limit, it was almost impossible for him to get hurt.

His crouched body sprang forward like a coiled spring. Xiao Yu slammed his knees into the entry door to the ship’s bridge. The door shattered inward under the force of his superhuman strength, slamming into someone inside. At the same time, Xiao Yu’s feet landed firmly on the fallen door.

The man trapped beneath it screamed, the sound of breaking bones echoing for only a moment before silence fell.

As Xiao Yu stepped inside, a faint black glint flashed toward his neck—silent and deadly.

Without turning his head, Xiao Yu reacted instantly.

Just as the weapon was about to pierce him, he ducked, bent forward, and moved like a ghost. In a blink, Xiao Yu appeared behind the would-be assassin. Both of Xiao Yu’s hands clamped down—one on the back of the assassin’s neck, the other on their lower back.

Xiao Yu lifted the body effortlessly, despite it weighing at least 180 pounds.

With one knee on the ground, he braced himself. His hands gripped the man firmly, pulling him downward with force.

A sharp sound echoed as Xiao Yu’s knee crushed into the mercenary’s spine.

The man’s face went blank. His unfocused eyes filled with despair. His body slid limply off Xiao Yu’s knee and collapsed onto the floor. But he wasn’t dead. Lying there, his eyes glimmered faintly with a flicker of life. His pale skin briefly flushed with color, betraying a fleeting surge of vitality.

Though unable to speak, his icy blue eyes locked onto Xiao Yu with a desperate, unwavering gaze.

“I’ve heard a saying before,” Xiao Yu began, his voice calm but cold. “‘Those who invade our land will be punished, no matter how far they run.’”

Rising to his feet, he continued, “It’s a simple idea. Anyone who threatens or violates our nation’s safety or territory, no matter where they hide, we’ll find them. And when we do, we’ll scatter their bones to the wind. But you? You aren’t even worthy of being hunted down.”

Xiao Yu pressed his military boot down on the man’s neck, then turned and walked away.

Were the mercenaries wiped out?

Xiao Yu wasn’t entirely sure.

Could it be a fluke?

No.

If the mercenaries had been fully armed, equipped to match the firepower of the special forces and national security teams, the battle would have been far bloodier. Even if they were defeated, the cost in casualties would have been steep.

But the strongest weapons the mercenaries had were pistols.

What chance did they have against sniper rifles, heavy machine guns, assault rifles, and submachine guns?

And that wasn’t even factoring in Xiao Yu—a literal game-changer.

Was it unfair? Lacking honor?

Were they invited to cross into this country?

Xiao Yu smirked faintly as he walked off.

Since they dared to come, who else but them should die?

Inside the freighter’s hull, Xiao Yu strolled through a narrow metal corridor. As he walked, his nose twitched a few times. Faint but distinct scents lingered in the air.

Eighteen people.

But didn’t the scout say there were supposed to be seventeen on board? So who was this extra person?

Two of the scents didn’t belong to locals.

Could the third one be Hua Xiangyang?

Suddenly, Xiao Yu stopped in front of a cabin door. Someone was behind it, hiding just beyond. Gripping the handle, Xiao Yu pushed it open. In an instant, a blade lunged toward him. No, not just any blade—it was a military knife. A three-edged blade.

Xiao Yu’s eyes locked onto the weapon, recognizing the spiral grooves on its surface.

So, it was this knife. The same knife used not long ago to murder police officers.

The bodies of the two slain officers were still lying in the morgue.

Xiao Yu caught the hand holding the knife, yanking it forward. He brought the attacker’s hand close and sniffed.

There it was—the faint, unmistakable scent of blood–human blood.

Before the attacker could scream, his wrist snapped with a sickening sound. Xiao Yu’s boot struck his chest, sending him sprawling onto the ground. Xiao Yu looked down at the man’s face, calm yet terrifying. His smile widened—a smile that resembled that of a devil.

“Hua Xiangyang. It’s good to finally meet you.”

He crouched down, bringing his face closer to Hua Xiangyang’s, which was twisted in pain and terror.

“I’ve been looking for you for a long time.”