Courtyard House: First, kill the hypocrites, leave none alive.

The mass grave in the west of the city.

Before liberation, this place was a mass grave for unclaimed corpses and poor people. After liberation, the government organized the leveling of the graves, but within a few years, the weeds grew back, taller than a person. It was eerie even during the day, and no one dared to come at night.

But at that moment, there were a few faint lights in the weeds—the red dots of cigarette butts.

Five people sat around a fallen stone tablet, eating dry rations by the moonlight. The rations were hard, flat cakes that needed to be swallowed with water. The water was drawn from a nearby ditch and had an earthy taste, but no one complained.

"That kid's got some nerve," a man with a scar on his face mumbled, taking a big bite of his pancake. "We lost three brothers yesterday, damn it, what a huge loss."

His name was Scarface, and he was the leader of this gang. He was in his forties, lean, and had eyes as sharp as an eagle's. The scar on his face ran diagonally from his eyebrow to the corner of his mouth, supposedly from a turf war he fought over years ago.

"Scarface, should we keep chasing him?" a younger man next to him asked. His name was Xiao Liu, he was in his early twenties, his face still had a bit of a boyish look, but his eyes were already fierce enough.

"Chase them? Why wouldn't we?" Scarface spat. "We've already taken the money, but the job isn't finished. How will we face people after this gets out?"

"But now the police have been alerted," said another man, Old Ghost, the oldest, almost fifty, who was always cautious. "The police are definitely investigating the commotion in the shantytown yesterday. If we show our faces again, what if we get arrested..."

"What are you afraid of?" Scarface interrupted him. "The police are investigating them, we'll do ours. As long as we're clean, who's going to know it was us?"

Old Ghost shook his head and said nothing more. He knew Scarface's temper; once he made up his mind, nothing could sway him.

"Who exactly is that kid?" Xiao Liu asked curiously, "Why would the employer spend so much money to get rid of him?"

Scarface thought for a moment: "I heard he's a fugitive who killed seven or eight people. His employer has a grudge against him and doesn't want him to go to court alive."

"Killed seven or eight people?" Xiao Liu exclaimed in surprise. "Then we'd better be careful."

"What are you being careful about?" Scarface sneered. "Even if he's strong, he's still just one person. The five of us, can't we take him down?"

Despite saying that, Scarface wasn't entirely confident. Yesterday in the shantytown, seven of them surrounded one enemy, resulting in three deaths and one serious injury, while the other only suffered minor injuries and escaped. Such skill and ruthlessness were beyond the reach of ordinary desperados.

But they've already received the money, a full five hundred yuan. A deposit of two hundred and fifty, and another two hundred and fifty after the deed is done. That's enough for them to live a carefree life for quite some time.

"Tomorrow," Scarface said, "keep searching. That kid's injured, he can't have gone far. Focus on checking abandoned houses, underpasses, and air-raid shelters near the shantytowns. Once you find him, take action immediately, no more talk."

"But what about the police..." Old Ghost was still worried.

"The police are investigating Chen Feng, it has nothing to do with us," Scarface said. "As long as we keep our hands clean and leave no survivors, who will know it was us?"

He paused, then said, "The employer said that as long as Chen Feng dies, it doesn't matter how he dies. We can use guns to finish this quickly."

The five men stopped talking, silently finished their food, took turns keeping watch, and the others took the opportunity to rest.

The night wind rustled through the mass grave, the wild grass whispering like countless ghosts. In the distance, the city lights flickered, like another world.

At the same time, a small villa in the city was sealed off.

This building is located in the affluent western part of the city. Before liberation, it was a capitalist's private residence. It is a three-story building with a small garden, in a European style. The exterior walls are painted with light yellow paint, and although some of it is peeling, you can still see its former grandeur.

After liberation, the capitalists fled, and the house was seized by the government, with seals affixed to the door. The surrounding neighbors all knew it was "enemy property," and no one dared to approach it; they would even detour when passing by.

Chen Feng discovered this place by chance.

After escaping from the black market, he dared not return to the mass grave, fearing those people were still searching the area. He wandered around the city for half a day before finally finding this small villa. The surroundings were quiet and deserted; the seal on the door was yellowed, indicating that no one had been there for a long time.

He went around to the backyard, found a window that wasn't closed properly, and climbed inside.

The room was pitch black, with only moonlight streaming in through the window, barely enough to make out outlines. The furniture was covered with white sheets, a thick layer of dust covered the floor, and there was a musty smell in the air.

But it's safe. No one will come here, and the police wouldn't suspect he'd be hiding in a place like this.

Chen Feng walked around the first floor and found a relatively clean room—it was probably a former servant's room. It was small, but it had a bed and a cabinet. The bedding was still on the bed, although it was covered in dust, but it was better than sleeping on the floor.

He closed the door, bolted it, and then sat on the bed to begin treating his wound.

His right shoulder was even more swollen, and it hurt terribly with the slightest movement. The knife wound on his back wasn't deep, but it was long, running from his shoulder all the way to his waist. He untied the bandage he had hastily applied the night before; the edges of the wound were already somewhat inflamed, and the oozing blood and pus were a sticky mixture.

It needs to be cleaned and treated with medication.

He went to the bathroom next door and turned on the tap—there was still water, though the flow was weak and murky. He filled a container with water, returned to his room, and used the salt he had gotten from the old woman at the black market to make a small amount of saline solution to carefully clean his wound.

The salt water stung his wound, causing him to break out in a cold sweat. But he gritted his teeth and cleaned it thoroughly, bit by bit. Then he took out some anti-inflammatory medicine he had bought on the black market—it was powder, wrapped in oiled paper. He carefully sprinkled it on the wound and then re-bandaged it with a clean strip of cloth.

After treating his wounds, he was soaked through, as if he had been pulled out of the water. He leaned against the wall, panting heavily, slowly calming his breathing.

Then, he began to inspect the equipment.

One pistol, a Type 54. There are two bullets left in the magazine, and two full spare magazines, each with seven rounds, for a total of sixteen rounds. Adding the 30 rounds from that other magazine, plus the ten rounds given by the old lady at the black market, I now have fifty-six bullets.

There are two knives—a dagger and a kitchen knife. The dagger is very sharp, while the kitchen knife is a bit dull, but still usable.

There was still a little over three hundred yuan left. The food was meager, just a few steamed buns and some pickled vegetables.

He needs more food, more medicine, and a permanent hiding place.

Although the villa was safe, it had been sealed off after all. If someone came to inspect it one day, it would be exposed. He couldn't stay here indefinitely.

But for now, this is the best option.

Chen Feng lay down on the bed, the dust beneath him rising up and making him cough a few times. He ignored it, closed his eyes, and forced himself to rest.

But I can't sleep. My mind is a mess.

Who sent those people who attacked him in the shantytown last night? Scarface and his gang are professional thugs, unlike the rabble in the courtyard who could be hired.

Could it be... someone Jia Dongxu hired before? Jia Dongxu is dead, but the hiring of hitmen might not have stopped. Those desperate criminals take the money and have to finish the job regardless of whether their employer is dead or alive.

Or perhaps it was a second group of people hired by Yi Zhonghai and the deaf old woman? Yi Zhonghai is dead, the deaf old woman is dead, but the middleman may still be in contact with them.

Regardless of which group it is, they're all coming for him.

He's injured and has difficulty moving around, and he's being chased by several groups of people, plus the police are conducting a city-wide manhunt. He's truly surrounded by enemies.

But Chen Feng wasn't afraid. From the day he escaped from prison, he never expected to get away scot-free. A life for a life—that's only fair. He'd killed so many people; he'd have to pay for it sooner or later.

But he had other things to do before he could repay them.

He had to find Xiaoyu. If she was still alive, he had to find her and make sure she was settled.

Kill all the remaining enemies. Liu Guangfu, Yan Jiefang, Jia Zhangshi, Auntie Da, Auntie Er, Auntie San... not one can be missing.

and then?

Then, he himself would die. Either he would be caught and executed by the police, or killed by his enemies, or... he would take his own life.

But he didn't want to die a pathetic death. Even in death, he wanted to drag his enemies down to hell with him.

Chen Feng opened his eyes and looked at the spider web on the ceiling. Moonlight streamed in through the window, casting dappled shadows on the wall.

He thought of his parents. His father, Chen Dashan, was an honest and hardworking fitter who had never argued with anyone in his life. His mother, Li Xiuying, was kind-hearted and always helped anyone in the neighborhood who was in trouble. They shouldn't have died, they shouldn't have died so tragically.

He thought of Xiaoyu. The little girl who followed him around calling him "brother," her eyes crinkling into crescent moons when she smiled. Where was she now? Was she still alive? Was she thinking of her brother too?

Tears welled up again. Chen Feng raised his hand to wipe them, only to find his hands covered in blood—from when he was treating his wounds.

He gave a bitter smile. Now even his tears were stained with blood.

Just then, a slight noise came from outside.

"Click—"

It sounded like a tree branch snapping underfoot.

Chen Feng immediately became alert. He rolled out of bed, quietly walked to the window, and looked out through the gap in the curtains.

The backyard was dark, and he could only make out a rough outline. But in the moonlight, he seemed to see a figure flash by the wall.

someone!

Chen Feng's heart tightened. They found us so quickly? Impossible, he'd only been here a few hours ago.

Maybe a thief? Or a homeless person?

He held his breath and continued to observe. But there was no further movement outside, as if the sound he had just heard was merely an illusion.

After waiting for more than ten minutes and confirming that no one was around, Chen Feng finally breathed a sigh of relief. Perhaps it was just his imagination, or maybe it was just stray cats and dogs.

He went back to bed, but couldn't fall asleep again. He had to stay alert and be ready to deal with any unexpected situation.

The night was very long.

Chen Feng opened his eyes and watched as the sky outside the window gradually brightened. Dawn was approaching.

A new day, a new chase, a new escape.

But he's gotten used to it.

From the day he escaped from prison, he was like a wild beast trapped in a cage, constantly struggling and tearing at each other. Now the cage is broken, the beast has escaped, but what he faces is an even bigger cage—the pursuit of the entire city.

But he doesn't care.

Blood debts must be repaid in blood.

Not a single one will be left.

Its daybreak.

Chen Feng sat up in bed and moved his right shoulder—it still hurt, but it was better than last night. He ate something, drank some water, and then began to plan his day.

He needed to go out to buy medicine and food, and also to gather information—about Xiaoyu, and about the origins of those who were chasing him.

But going out during the day is too dangerous. Police officers patrol the streets, and desperate criminals might be lurking in the shadows watching.

He decided to wait until evening.

During the day, I rested and recuperated in this small villa, while also getting familiar with the surrounding environment.

He walked around the building. Three floors, a dozen or so rooms, most of them empty, the furniture covered with white sheets. The basement was a wine cellar, containing some empty wine bottles that hadn't been moved. The attic was piled high with clutter, covered in a thick layer of dust.

He found some useful things in the bedroom on the third floor—a few old clothes, outdated in style but made of good material, still wearable; a first-aid kit containing some expired medicines, but the gauze and disinfectant were still usable; and some odds and ends.

Most importantly, he found a key in the study drawer—the key to the back door. This way, he wouldn't have to climb through the window every time.

Chen Feng spent the entire morning tidying up the small villa. He chose a relatively secluded room as a hiding place and moved all the useful items there. He cleaned away the dust and used rags to block the window gaps to prevent light from getting in.

He also found an old kerosene stove and some kerosene in the basement, which he could use for cooking and boiling water. Although kerosene had a smell, it was better than eating cold food.

At noon, he boiled some water on the kerosene stove and soaked a hard, dry steamed bun in it. After eating, he lay down on the bed, intending to take a nap and recharge.

But as soon as I closed my eyes, I heard the sound of a car outside.

Chen Feng immediately woke up, quietly walked to the window, and lifted a corner of the curtain to look outside.

A jeep pulled up in front of the small villa, and two men got out, both in uniform. One was older, the other younger. They walked to the gate, looked at the seal on the door, and then looked around.

Chen Feng's heart leaped into his throat. Police? Or people from the housing management bureau?

The two exchanged a few words at the door. The younger one took out a notebook from his bag and started writing something, while the older one looked around. Then they got back into their car and drove away.

It was a false alarm.

Chen Feng breathed a sigh of relief, but became even more vigilant. This meant that the building wasn't absolutely safe, and inspections would still be conducted. He had to be extra careful.

He decided to leave tonight and go somewhere else. But before that, he needed to go out and replenish his supplies.

As darkness fell, Chen Feng waited until 8 p.m., when it was completely dark, before quietly slipping out through the back door.

There weren't many people on the street, and the streetlights were dim. He pulled his hat down low and walked quickly, choosing side streets and shady spots.

He first went to a small pharmacy nearby. He bought some anti-inflammatory drugs, painkillers, and gauze. The pharmacy owner, an old man, glanced at him but didn't ask any questions—these days, many people get injured, it's nothing unusual.

Then he went to a small general store and bought some rice, flour, pickled vegetables, and candles. The store owner was very hospitable and even gave him a box of matches as a gift.

After finishing his shopping, Chen Feng prepared to head back. But as he passed through an alley, he suddenly heard voices coming from inside.

The voice sounded familiar.

He crept closer and peered inside from around the corner.

Two people stood in the alley, talking in hushed tones. In the moonlight, Chen Feng could see their faces clearly—it was Liu Guangfu and Yan Jiefang!

Liu Guangfu's right arm was still in a sling across his chest, and he had injuries on his face. Yan Jiefang also looked haggard, with red eyes as if he had been crying.

How did they get here?

Chen Feng held his breath and listened carefully.

"...I must avenge my brother." Liu Guangfu's voice was low but resolute.

"But how do we report it?" Yan Jiefang said. "That kid Chen Feng is elusive; even the police can't catch him. Where are we supposed to find him?"

"I have a way," Liu Guangfu said. "I've found out about Chen Xiaoyu. She went missing on the day of the fire, but she might still be alive. If we can find her..."

Chen Feng's heart sank. They wanted to find Xiao Yu? To use Xiao Yu to blackmail him?

"What's the use of finding her?" Yan Jiefang asked.

"Chen Feng cares most about his sister," Liu Guangfu said. "As long as we can find her, we won't have to worry about Chen Feng not showing up. Then we'll set a trap and take him down in one fell swoop."

"But...but that's just a child..." Yan Jiefang hesitated.

"What happened to the child?" Liu Guangfu's voice suddenly turned fierce. "When Chen Feng killed my father and my brother, did he ever think about them being human? Did he ever think about their families? Let me tell you, I'm capable of anything as long as I can get revenge!"

Yan Jiefang fell silent.

The two whispered for a while longer before parting ways.

Chen Feng leaned against the wall, his whole body shivering. Were they looking for Xiaoyu? Were they using Xiaoyu to lure him out?

No, absolutely not. He couldn't let Xiaoyu fall into their hands.

He must find Xiaoyu as soon as possible, before these people find her.

But where is Xiaoyu? She's not in the shantytown, nor in the mass grave. Where else could she be?

A place suddenly flashed through Chen Feng's mind—the orphanage in the east of the city. It was a government-run orphanage that took in homeless children. If Xiaoyu was still alive and had nowhere else to go, she might go there.

Yes, I'll go visit the orphanage tomorrow.

But now, he must deal with Liu Guangfu and Yan Jiefang first. These two already know of Xiaoyu's existence and cannot be allowed to live.

Chen Feng gripped the knife in his arms tightly.

Tonight, there will be bloodshed again.