Deadly Trap.

Chapter 64. Self-Destruction
"Boss, Slayer reports: Target has entered the encirclement. Only one person. A black sedan is waiting outside."

"Is it Tang Quan?"

Upon hearing the name, Welsh in the driver's seat was visibly startled, as if a lingering sense of unease returned. But he quickly regained his composure and professionalism.

After a few words, Welsh confirmed with Slayer on the other end of the walkie-talkie using a coded signal before replying, "No."

Gu Mufeng gently rubbed his temples: It seems that even Su Yan, his adopted sister, is not qualified for Tang Quan to personally come and take action.

“Wait, Boss. Slayer recognizes this person.”

Listening carefully to the report in his earpiece, Welsh's expression gradually turned serious and finally froze: "It's Butcher. The 'Butcher' of the Dilong Society. How come even the number one assassin on the Minzhou Dark List has come?"

Gu Mufeng, who was relaxing and reclining in the back seat with his eyes closed, immediately opened his eyes when he heard "Butcher":

It's him!

Dai received intelligence from Cheng Shining of the Xizi District Police Station that the Tianxing Gang and the Dilong Society had been in frequent contact recently. Sure enough, things were turbulent in the shadows of Minzhou. Now was the perfect opportunity for him to strike amidst the chaos.

"Well, at least it didn't disappoint me." Gu Mufeng sat up from the shadows behind the car.

By this moment, they had been staking out Su Yan's apartment complex for two consecutive nights. Tang Quan's actions were far too late for him. Logically, Su Yan had leaked the information. As soon as word got out, Tang Quan would have acted without hesitation, eager to eliminate her.

The car interior was cramped, so Gu Mufeng shifted his stiff legs. Still partially hidden in the shadows, he spoke again, his face expressionless:

"Have Slayer proceed according to the third plan. Tell her to be careful. The other party is Butcher, and he won't be easy to deal with."

"Special forces and transportation team, prepare to be on standby. Have X switch the monitoring in."

"Yes, Boss."

Immediately, Welsh relayed Gu Mufeng's orders and adjusted several modified options on the front panel of the car. A moment later, a faint hissing sound of an encrypted signal connection could be heard inside the car. Despite this, the monitoring system remained completely silent.

Slowly, a woman's voice drifted over first.

The voice was elegant, yet it carried an endless air of arrogant mockery, like that of a deposed empress exiled to the ends of the earth.

Her voice was distant and indistinct: "Did Tang Quan send you?"

Putting himself in her shoes, Gu Mufei frowned slightly. He could easily imagine the shock and astonishment on Butcher's face as he arrived in the dead of night.

Although Gu Mufeng still felt contempt and disgust from the bottom of his heart, he had to admit that Su Yan was extraordinary.

"It seems she really is an extraordinary woman, just as the president said."

After a long pause, another voice came through the monitor. The man's voice was sticky and slippery, like a leech burrowing into the skin, carrying an indifferent cruelty that was both familiar and made Gu Mufeng feel a chill in his heart.

Butcher.

"Where is Tang Quan? I need to see Tang Quan. I have extremely important information to tell him. He'll regret it if he doesn't listen." Su Yan remained calm and unhurried.

"The chairman already knew about your 'important intelligence' two days ago. Today, I alone am enough. You choose: hang yourself? Take poison? Slit your throat? Or jump off a building?"

"Even in death, Tang Quan still avoids me?" Through the eavesdropping, Su Yan let out a series of cold snorts and laughter:

"He recognized me as his sister and swore an oath of brotherhood! But because of my selfishness, I betrayed his Fangran and ruined his path to the Gu family. He's quite vengeful."

"Such a powerful president, yet so petty."

Inside the car, Gu Mufeng gritted his teeth: Su Yan! That woman deserved to die!
But having Butcher do it is a bit too much.

"Oh. Yes. The president did have something to say, instructing me to make sure he relays it."

In a high-profile manner, Butcher, listening in, cleared his throat and, mimicking an emcee's affected tone, said, "The chairman said, 'You ruined my chance to be a good person.'"

At this point, Butcher suddenly burst into loud laughter, as if he were telling an absurd and outrageous joke.

"Go and wait for me on the road. Although it will be a long wait."

Over the intercom, Butcher was chuckling and laughing incessantly, like a balloon constantly deflating, which annoyed Gu Mufeng.

After laughing for a long time, Butcher then calmly continued, "Look, hurry up and choose a method. I'm in a hurry. There are so many heads in Minzhou waiting for me to chop them up."

"I think hanging is pretty good. You kick and thrash, you're exercising before you die, you'd be healthier as a ghost. Alas, it's a pity you're blind. We have to make it look like suicide, don't we?"

"you!"

Su Yan must have been furious. Her arrogant voice was now completely menacing.

"How about jumping off the building?" Butcher ignored her concerns and continued to help Su Yan make a choice. "Oh, that would be too noisy. 'Splat!' I'd have to carry you to the rooftop. It's so late at night, disturbing people's sleep is so immoral."

"You are presumptuous!"

"How about taking medicine? Oh, right, the chairman instructed that his 'sister' has a strong personality and doesn't take medicine. 'My fate is in my own hands, not in the doctor's' hands, right? I understand, I understand. Forcing you to take medicine might arouse suspicion."

"Tang Quan!"

"Or how about we slit your throat? That's my specialty."

"Wouldn't cutting my own throat arouse suspicion?" Su Yan clung to a sliver of hope. "I'm blind, how could I possibly cut my own throat?"

"Hey, let me finish. See, I told you, I'm an expert. I'll use my strength, I'll chop your neck into tiny pieces. Heard of, 'finely chopped for meat sauce'? Just like you chopping it repeatedly yourself, hey, it'll be fatal. It's not hard. That way, I can enjoy watching you thrash around in the blood for a while. I don't like people dying too quickly. Boring. The night is still long anyway."

After saying that, Butcher's sticky voice started to chuckle again, like someone was pressing down on his fingernails and repeatedly scratching a piece of coated paper.

Gu Mufeng's face was completely pale. He felt as if the same blade was rubbing against the side of his neck, the scar reopening and causing excruciating pain.

Without thinking, he instinctively gripped and pressed his veins.

"You pervert!" Su Yan roared.

"Hey, thanks for the compliment!" Butcher's voice was full of excitement. "I've heard about you from the president. We're in the same boat, kind of like-minded people. Well, you've rambled on enough with your last words, shall we?"

"Tang Quan! Even if I die! I won't let you go! Tang Quan! You wait, I'm going to—! Uh—"

He sullenly chuckled.

Immediately following was a blurry, damp rustling sound.

"Shut it down. There's no need to listen anymore. Have Slayer keep a close eye on things. Report back after this is over."

Forcing himself to catch his breath, Gu Mufeng irritably straightened the shirt collar he had been clutching. He frowned in disgust: without a doubt, he genuinely loathed this world, and loathed himself.

Suddenly, only his and Welsh's breathing remained in the car. Tonight, the moonlight was pale.

Suddenly, Gu Mufeng felt a surge of heat, as if his heart had been pierced. He saw a person with soft, light chestnut hair, a gentle, alluring gaze, and eyes that never yielded.

She had once slept peacefully in his arms, holding him close. She was determined to squeeze into his heart.

Su Li.

Clutching his chest, Gu Mufeng froze.

He silently told himself that with her, he had only been playing a part from beginning to end. They each got what they wanted. He was tired of her, had had his fun, and didn't want to support her anymore, right? Was that not allowed?
what happened to him?
He had planned meticulously, leaving himself no way back when they parted ways. Now that things had come to this, seeing that Su Yan deserved to die, he couldn't possibly—

"Welsh, get Slayer to take action. Save Su Yan."

"Boss?"

Welsh was stunned. In the eight years since he'd followed Gu Mufeng's lead, he'd never seen Gu Mufeng prioritize personal matters over official duties. Not even for his own boss's life. How could this happen so suddenly?

"Boss, saving Su Yan means you've overturned your entire strategy! Your safety—"

Snatching the walkie-talkie from Welsh's hand, Gu Mufeng shouted urgently, risking his life, "Slayer! Save Su Yan! Don't kill Butcher!"

Without a word, a cold "whoosh" came from the wireless communication.

"Boss. Done. Butcher escaped wounded. Instructions." A cold female voice came through the walkie-talkie.

"Where is Su Yan?" Gu Mufeng's voice trembled uncontrollably: Is it too late?

"The bait has fallen to the ground. But it's still breathing."

"Welsh, ambulance."

This time, Welsh did as instructed immediately, but he was utterly shocked: his boss had abandoned everything.

"Notify X to handle the aftermath; the transportation team, follow Butcher. Operation commence."

After saying this, his heart pounded wildly, and he could only suppress it with his trembling palms. Gu Mufeng threw down the walkie-talkie in his hand: In Minzhou, he had meticulously planned and ruthlessly schemed for eleven years, and he was never one to act rashly!

But his beliefs crumbled like a tsunami. Clearly, his concern clouded his judgment.

Gu Mufeng knew perfectly well: he would rather be misunderstood by Su Li forever than accept that she hated him even more because of her mother's death.

To do something futile again for her.

He covered his face completely with his hands. In silence, Gu Mufeng felt as if his heart was being torn apart. He had to remind himself again: Su Li had completely and utterly left him without any room for negotiation.

It was her; she didn't want him anymore.

Su Li's sincerity could not tolerate any manipulation, scheming, or deception from him.

Gu Mufeng could no longer deceive himself: tonight, even if it meant destroying everything he had. Losing her was never what he wanted.

>>>>>
Next chapter: "Just close your eyes and drive forward"

[Author's Note | Chapter Sixty-Four]

For eleven years he had planned flawlessly, but in just one night he destroyed his own Great Wall.

Unexpectedly, Gu Mufeng ended up saving Su Yan.

To prevent Su Li from hating him even more, that was all. Gu Mufeng overturned his entire plan and abandoned his revenge against his mother's killer. Even though he knew it would be futile—

What do you think of his sudden overturning of everything?
Gu Mufeng and Tang Quan have officially started their war. What will happen to Butcher's escape in the next chapter?

Share your thoughts in the comments section!

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(End of this chapter)