Chapter 194: Arrival

Each of them felt as if their faces were ablaze, as though they had been slapped dozens of times.

Mo Yuanqing, lying on the ground, ceased his struggles, closed his eyes, and clenched his fists, filled with regret and remorse.

Sitting in the car, Wan Caixuan’s eyes shone with admiration. It was her first time seeing this side of Lin Xiao. She had never envisioned the typically reserved Lin Xiao displaying such eloquence.

Lin Xiao consistently challenged and changed Wan Caixuan’s perceptions, compelling her to view him in a new light. Lin Xiao’s speech articulated everything Wan Caixuan had wanted to say herself.

“Miss, we apologize, we were mistaken,” Xiang Wentian, after taking a deep breath, faced Wan Caixuan, knelt on one knee without daring to look up, “give us a chance to redeem ourselves.”

The rest followed suit, kneeling on one knee, seeking Wan Caixuan’s forgiveness.

“I’ve already said, your fate lies in Lin Xiao’s hands. I won’t interfere with his decisions concerning you,” Wan Caixuan said, her glance shifting to Lin Xiao and catching his meaningful look.

She understood the implication in Lin Xiao’s eyes and changed her tone, “However, I’m willing to give you a chance. Tonight, please show your best performance, let me see the results of your training.”

Lin Xiao had played the role of the bad guy, and now it was her turn to assume the good guy part.

This was precisely Lin Xiao’s plan. He took on the villain’s role, allowing Wan Caixuan to be the hero. A slap followed by a sweet date effectively subdued the White Night Squad.

The White Night Squad deeply appreciated Wan Caixuan’s generosity, each expressing their loyalty with gratitude.

Finally, Mo Yuanqing managed to stand up. Despite being thrown to the ground multiple times, Lin Xiao’s precise control and use of skill over brute force meant he wasn’t truly injured.

At that moment, Mo Yuanqing felt no bitterness, only a deep respect for Lin Xiao.

Only those who had truly confronted Lin Xiao could understand his terrifying strength.

After comforting the team, Wan Caixuan then passed the authority back to Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao crossed his arms, sweeping his gaze over the group.

“Now, are you willing to follow my orders?”

“Yes!”

The eight members of the White Night Squad straightened their chests, their voices resonant and authoritative, displaying a drastically different demeanor.

“Tonight, your mission is to join us in locating Wan Shixuan’s hideout and capturing him,” Lin Xiao’s eyes gleamed in the dark. “The exact number of people with Wan Shixuan is unknown, so our operation must be swift, fierce, and precise. We’ll catch them off guard and finish the conflict before they have time to react.”

About ten kilometers away from the urban area of Jinghai City lay an unremarkable low hill dotted with a sparse collection of villas.

According to the information provided by Li Liancheng, Wan Shixuan was hiding in one of these villas. However, Li Liancheng’s resources were only able to track him to this vicinity without pinpointing the exact villa.

A Rolls-Royce and two SUVs parked at the base of the hill. The eight White Night Squad members quickly disembarked, spreading out around the Rolls-Royce, guns at the ready.

Emerging from the Rolls-Royce, Lin Xiao gazed up at the hill enveloped in darkness, his expression inscrutable.

After a few moments, he returned to the vehicle and saw Wan Caixuan holding a handgun.

“Do you really plan to come with us?” Lin Xiao asked, furrowing.

“I didn’t come here just to be a spectator,” Wan Caixuan said calmly, adeptly flicking off the safety and checking the magazine. “Don’t see me as a defenseless woman. I may not be on your level, but I’ve been trained in shooting.”

“Being trained in shooting and taking a life are two different matters,” Lin Xiao remarked coolly. “Moreover, we need to adjust our strategy.”

“Tell me.”

“The White Night Squad will focus on ensuring your safety. I’ll be responsible for locating of locating Wan Shixuan’s hideout and extracting him.”

“This is different from what we initially planned,” Wan Caixuan paused, her beautifully arched eyebrows knitting together as she glanced sideways at Lin Xiao. “Why the change in plans?”

“My intuition tells me this operation could be very dangerous,” Lin Xiao explained as he took the handgun from Wan Caixuan, examining it briefly before slipping it into his pocket. “Protecting you is my priority. I cannot risk your life.”

“Why do you feel it’s going to be dangerous? We’re supposed to catch them off guard. Is it possible that Li Liancheng is deceiving us?” Wan Caixuan’s expression darkened slightly.

“Li Liancheng isn’t deceiving us. However, what if Wan Shixuan intentionally leaked this information?”

Lin Xiao straightened up, his tone serious, “I can’t believe that someone capable of planting a spy near you would easily reveal his location unless it’s deliberate. This remote hill, far from the urban area, makes an ideal setup for a trap.”

Wan Caixuan fell silent, her gaze lowering as her lips pressed together tightly, her thick eyelashes fluttering. She was clearly wrestling with her thoughts.

“I trust your judgment. Then… let’s call off tonight’s operation,” she said after a few moments, her voice strained.

“There’s no need to cancel. Just wait for my signal at the foot of the hill,” Lin Xiao, now wearing just a black T-shirt for better mobility, said, “If Wan Shixuan really is here, I’ll bring him before you.”

“No!”

Wan Caixuan grabbed Lin Xiao’s arm, her bright eyes locking with his, slowly but firmly shaking her head, “I can’t let you take this risk. You are much more important to me than Wan Shixuan is.”

After speaking, Wan Caixuan seemed to realize the implications of her words, her cheeks blushing slightly, yet her hand still held onto Lin Xiao’s arm.

A warmth flooded Lin Xiao’s heart; his usually subdued voice now carried a hint of warmth, “President Wan, you should have faith in me.”

“Regardless, it’s not happening,” Wan Caixuan firmly insisted, biting her lip.

“Fine, I’ll scout the area. If it’s indeed a trap, I’ll return immediately,” Lin Xiao offered a compromise. “This is a good opportunity to capture Wan Shixuan, after all, isn’t it?”

Wan Caixuan paused, then released her grip, “Remember your promise, come back at the first sign of danger. Just as you won’t let me risk my life, I ask the same of you.”

Lin Xiao nodded solemnly, gave Wan Caixuan a wave, opened the car door, and stepped out of the Rolls-Royce.

Sitting in the car, Wan Caixuan’s gaze lingered on Lin Xiao’s retreating figure, lost in thought.

Lin Xiao’s decision to go alone to Wan Shixuan’s hideout wasn’t a quest for heroism, it was a matter of duty. His role was to protect Wan Caixuan. Despite not valuing the title of personal bodyguard, he was committed to professional integrity.

The attempt by the Dark Night assassins at the villa, though thwarted by Lin Xiao, revealed to him that the organization would not easily give up. If the Dark Night knew Lin Xiao’s identity, they wouldn’t dare continue their attempts. The issue, however, was their ignorance of his true identity, so they would definitely send more assassins after Wan Caixuan.

While Lin Xiao was unconcerned personally, he had to acknowledge the proficiency of the Dark Night’s assassins. Without his constant vigilance, Wan Caixuan would be vulnerable to their attempts.

There was a saying that you could be a thief for a thousand days, but you couldn’t guard against a thief for a thousand days.

Had it been his military days, Lin Xiao would have directly attacked the Dark Night’s stronghold. But, constrained to Jinghai City, he had no choice but to wait for them to make a move.

And Wan Shixuan, who issued the assassination order, was the key. Catching Wan Shixuan would mean cutting off the mission at its source.