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

The meeting room of the public security bureau was filled with smoke, making it almost impossible to see the faces of the people opposite.

Officer Zhang stubbed out his fifth cigarette and stared at the huge map of Beijing on the wall. The map was densely marked with red dots and blue lines—the red dots were the crime scenes of Chen Feng, and the blue lines were possible escape routes.

"Two months, seventeen people," Zhang Gong'an's voice was hoarse. "From the steel mill workers' dormitory to the courtyard house, from the east of the city to the west, he was like a ghost, appearing and disappearing without a trace."

Seven or eight police officers sat in the conference room, all with solemn expressions.

"Captain Zhang, we've analyzed all the crime scenes," a young policeman stood up, pointing to a map, "and discovered a pattern—Chen Feng's activity range is within a five-kilometer radius of the courtyard house. He knows this area very well; he knows almost every alley and every blind spot like the back of his hand."

"What does this mean?" Zhang Gong'an asked.

"This means he has a fixed hideout, most likely in this area. After each crime, he can quickly disappear and return to his hideout. And..." The young policeman paused, "The intervals between his crimes are getting shorter. At first, it was once every seven or eight days, but recently, the intervals have been only two or three days."

The conference room fell silent. Everyone understood what this meant—Chen Feng's actions were becoming more frequent and daring.

"He's in a hurry," another veteran police officer said. "Either his wound is worsening and he knows he won't last much longer, or... he has other plans."

Zhang Gong'an recalled the news from the black market. Chen Feng was inquiring everywhere about a little girl with a mole on her neck and wearing a red string necklace. That was his sister, Chen Xiaoyu.

"He's still looking for his sister," said Officer Zhang. "As long as his sister is alive, that's his biggest weakness."

"But we haven't found that girl either," the young policeman said with a wry smile, "it's like she vanished into thin air."

Officer Zhang fell silent. Indeed, two months had passed. They had mobilized all their informants and deployed surveillance at every station, dock, hotel, and orphanage, but without a single lead. Chen Xiaoyu was like a drop of water, disappearing into the sea of ​​people in Beijing.

"Keep searching," said Officer Zhang. "At the same time, strengthen the protection of the courtyard house. Chen Feng's next target will definitely be the remaining people."

"Captain Zhang," the old policeman hesitated for a moment, "there's something I'm not sure if I should say."

"explain."

"Shouldn't we... change our approach?" the old policeman said. "Chen Feng is a desperate criminal now, but he's also seriously wounded. He needs medicine, food, and a place to hide. Instead of passively waiting for him to show up, we should take the initiative and cut off his supply lines."

Officer Zhang's eyes lit up: "Be more specific."

"First, thoroughly investigate all black market drug transactions. Especially controlled drugs like penicillin; their origins must be traced. Second, strengthen the search of abandoned buildings, basements, and air-raid shelters. Third..." The old policeman paused, "...we can set a trap."

"What bait?"

"Chen Xiaoyu".

Everyone in the conference room was stunned.

"We know Chen Feng is looking for his sister. We can spread false information, saying that a girl resembling Chen Xiaoyu has been found somewhere," the old policeman said. "Once the news reaches Chen Feng's ears, he'll definitely go check it out. Then..."

“Then we’ll be able to catch them red-handed,” Officer Zhang replied, but his brows furrowed. “But what if we make things worse? What if Chen Feng discovers it’s a trap and never falls for it again?”

"Then let's use real information," the young policeman suddenly said. "Don't we have informants? Let them spread the word that they saw a girl with a mole on her neck and wearing a red string necklace in a certain place. Don't specify the location, just let the news circulate in the black market. Once Chen Feng hears this, he will definitely go to those places to check. As long as we set up surveillance in the places he might go, we will have a chance."

After thinking for a long time, Officer Zhang finally nodded: "We can give it a try. But be careful not to alert them."

After the meeting, Zhang Gong'an stood alone by the window, gazing at the gray sky outside.

Two months of pursuit, seventeen lives lost, and the pressure on his superiors was mounting. If they couldn't catch Chen Feng soon, he'd be fired as captain.

But what grieves him even more are the innocent victims. Li Jianguo, a doctor, was killed in his clinic with his throat slit just because he sold a few sleeping pills. Old Sun, a cart driver, was so terrified after helping transport "goods" that he's now too scared to even leave his house.

And what about the people in the courtyard? Although they all made mistakes, their crimes didn't warrant death. Chen Feng's revenge had crossed the line and become an indiscriminate massacre.

"Chen Feng, oh Chen Feng," Officer Zhang whispered, "how many more people are you going to kill?"

---

Meanwhile, in the shantytowns of the northern part of the city.

Chen Feng, wearing a tattered straw hat pulled low, walked slowly through the narrow alley. He was dressed in faded work clothes and carried a tattered cloth bag over his shoulder, looking like an ordinary worker returning home after work.

My right shoulder injury is much better. Although it still hurts when I move it, I can at least move normally. The knife wound on my back has also scabbed over, and as long as I don't do strenuous exercise, it shouldn't be a big problem.

He's looking for someone.

Look for the girl with a mole on her neck and wearing a red string necklace.

For two months, he had searched almost every possible place in Beijing—he had gone to the moat no less than ten times, waiting from dawn till dusk, but Xiaoyu hadn't appeared. In the shantytowns, he had asked from house to house, but no one had seen such a girl. He had searched the train station, the dock, and the park, but to no avail.

Today, he returned to the shantytown. This is where his last hope lies.

"Grandpa, I'm asking about someone," Chen Feng stopped an old man who collected scraps. "Have you seen a young girl, about fifteen or sixteen years old, with a mole on her neck and wearing a red string necklace?"

The old man raised his head, his cloudy eyes scanning Chen Feng a few times: "Never seen him before. People come and go here every day, who would remember?"

Chen Feng pulled a dollar from his pocket: "Think about it some more?"

The old man's eyes lit up. He took the money and pretended to think for a moment. "I think... I think I vaguely remember. A while ago, there was a little girl wandering around nearby. She was thin and small, and dressed in tattered clothes. As for whether she had a mole on her neck... I didn't notice."

"Where did they go?"

"They went south," the old man pointed, "There's an orphanage over there, maybe they went there."

Chen Feng had been to the orphanage, but there was no problem.

But he thanked the old man and headed south.

To the south of the shantytown was an abandoned factory. The factory buildings were dilapidated, their windows gone, resembling empty eyes. Chen Feng walked around the factory area but didn't see a single person.

He leaned against a broken wall, took out his water bottle, and took a sip. The midday sun was intense, casting a desolate beauty on the dilapidated factory grounds.

Suddenly, he heard a sound in the distance.

It was the sound of footsteps, very light but very frequent, from more than one person.

Chen Feng immediately became alert, slipped behind the broken wall, and peered out through the gap.

Three men were walking towards them from the other end of the factory area. They were dressed in ordinary clothes, but they walked cautiously, their eyes constantly scanning their surroundings. The one in the lead was a scarred man, the same one who had sold him bullets on the black market last time.

Chen Feng's heart tightened. What was the scarred man doing here? Was it a coincidence, or...?

He held his breath, watching the three men approach. They seemed to be looking for something, going into every dilapidated factory building to investigate.

"Damn it, not a soul in sight," a tall, thin man complained. "We've been looking for two days now, where the kid is hiding?"

"Enough nonsense," said the scarred man. "That old bastard Yi Zhonghai paid a three-hundred-yuan deposit. He wants to see Chen Feng alive or dead. If we can't find Chen Feng, we won't get a single penny."

Yi Zhonghai? Chen Feng's eyes turned cold. That old bastard is dead, and these people are still working for him?

"Brother, do you think Chen Feng might have already left Beijing?" another short, fat man asked.

"No," the scarred man said confidently, "his sister hasn't been found yet, he won't leave."

"But we've been searching for so long and haven't found a single clue."

"So we should start with his sister," the scarred man said. "Spread the word that you saw a girl with a mole on her neck and wearing a red string necklace somewhere. Chen Feng will definitely go check it out when he hears that. Then..."

Chen Feng didn't hear what was said next, but he understood the meaning.

These people were assassins hired by Yi Zhonghai before his death, and they are still looking for him. Moreover, they want to use Xiaoyu as bait to lure him into a trap.

Chen Feng clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms.

Xiaoyu... If Xiaoyu is really discovered by these people, the consequences will be unimaginable.

He had to find Xiaoyu before they did.

After the three men had gone some distance, Chen Feng emerged from behind the broken wall. He glanced in the direction they had disappeared, then turned and walked in another direction.

Chen Feng thought of Old Sun. That cart driver, who had been entrusted by Jia Dongxu to transport Xiaoyu out of the city, but had eventually softened and let her go. He probably knew where Xiaoyu had gone.

We need to go find Old Sun.

---

The atmosphere inside the courtyard was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

The two cadres sent by the neighborhood committee, Xiao Wang and Xiao Li, have been "sick" and haven't come for three days.

The news came yesterday—Xiao Wang had a fever of 39 degrees Celsius and was bedridden. Xiao Li, on the other hand, had to take leave and return to his hometown because his elderly mother was seriously ill.

Everyone in the compound knew perfectly well that the fever and the elderly mother's serious illness were just excuses. The two officials were scared and dared not come again.

"The neighborhood committee doesn't care about us anymore," the second aunt said, sitting on the doorstep with vacant eyes. "We...we can only wait to die."

"Don't talk so discouragingly," the middle-aged woman said, trying to sound cheerful. "Aren't the police still patrolling outside?"

"What's the use of patrolling?" a middle-aged man sneered. "When Brother Li died, weren't the police out there too? Did they do anything?"

No one answered. Yeah, what's the use? If Chen Feng wants to kill, no one can stop him.

Fewer than twenty households remained in the compound, mostly the elderly, women, and children. The able-bodied men had either died or been frightened away—a few with some savings had secretly rented houses and moved elsewhere. Those who remained were penniless and had nowhere to go.

"Let's... let's chip in the money," the third woman suddenly said. "Let's chip in the money to hire someone to protect us."

"Hire someone else?" The second auntie gave a wry smile. "We still haven't paid back the money we owed for hiring someone last time. Besides, who can we hire? Even those thugs hired by Yi Zhonghai couldn't find Chen Feng, so what kind of people can we hire?"

"Then... what should we do? We can't just wait to die, can we?"

Silence fell over the courtyard. What to do? Nobody knew.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the front door.

Everyone was startled; some grabbed kitchen knives, while others hid behind the door.

"Who...who is it?" a man asked in a trembling voice.

"It's me, Lao Zhao," came Zhao Jianguo's voice from outside the door. "Open the door."

The door opened, and Zhao Jianguo walked in alone, his face looking very unpleasant.

"Director Zhao," an older woman greeted him, "Why did you come alone? Where are Xiao Wang and Xiao Li?"

"They...have something to do," Zhao Jianguo said vaguely, but everyone could understand what he meant.

The people in the courtyard looked even more dejected.

"I'm here today to tell you some news," Zhao Jianguo said. "The public security department has decided to set up a fixed post at the entrance of the alley starting tonight, with someone on duty 24 hours a day. At the same time, patrols will be increased, with at least three patrols every night."

The news brought a slight sense of relief to the people in the hospital, but the fear still lingered.

Could a sentry post and a few patrolling police officers stop Chen Feng?

"In addition," Zhao Jianguo continued, "the subdistrict office is applying to have our compound designated as a key protected unit. If the application is approved, there will be dedicated police officers stationed here."

"When will it be approved?" Auntie asked anxiously.

"Well... it depends on approval from higher authorities," Zhao Jianguo said. "It could take three to five days if things go smoothly, but it could take up to a week if things go slowly."

A week. A chill ran through everyone in the compound. A week was enough time for Chen Feng to make several trips back and forth.

"Director Zhao," an older woman suddenly said, "we want to move. Could you help us find a place to rent? We'll figure out the cost ourselves."

Zhao Jianguo glanced at her, then looked at the others in the courtyard: "Everyone wants to move?"

Everyone nodded.

"It's good that you're moving," Zhao Jianguo sighed. "Here's what we'll do: I'll go back and do a survey to see if there are any vacant rooms nearby. But let me be clear, the rental market is tight right now. Maybe one or two places might be okay, but with so many households moving at the same time, it will be very difficult to find a suitable place."

"We'll move as many houses as we can," an older woman said. "It's better than waiting to die here."

Zhao Jianguo nodded, took out his notebook, and began registering. People in the courtyard gathered around, chattering about their situations—how many people were in their families, how many rooms they needed, and how much money they could afford.

After registering, Zhao Jianguo closed the notebook: "I will do my best. But before that, everyone should still be vigilant, not go out alone at night, and make sure to lock doors and windows."

After giving these instructions, Zhao Jianguo left. The courtyard gate closed, and the courtyard returned to its deathly silence.

"You tell me..." a middle-aged woman suddenly lowered her voice, "Will Chen Feng come tonight?"

No one answered. But everyone was thinking: Yes, definitely.

He has already killed seventeen people, so a few more won't make a difference.

Not a single one can be left alive.

This phrase, like a curse, lingers in everyone's mind.

---

The carriage and horse inn in the north of the city.

When Chen Feng arrived, it was already evening. The sun was setting, and the sky was a blood red.

The inn was dilapidated, with several broken carts parked in the courtyard, and the neighing of horses coming from the stables. An old man was feeding the horses, his back to the door.

"Old Sun?" Chen Feng asked in a low voice.

The old man turned around and saw Chen Feng. His eyes widened suddenly, and he dropped the hay in his hand to the ground.

"You...you are..."

"Chen Feng".

Old Sun's face turned ashen, and he instinctively took a few steps back, almost falling over.

"Don't be afraid," Chen Feng said, "I'm not here to cause you trouble. I'm here to ask you something."

Old Sun took a few breaths and finally calmed down: "Ask...ask what?"

"My sister, Chen Xiaoyu," Chen Feng stared at him, "when you let her go, did she say where she was going? Did she leave any message?"

Old Sun remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "She...she didn't say anything. I put her by the moat, and she left. I watched her head south, and then...I don't know what happened after that."

"South? Which direction exactly?"

"Going south along the river," Old Sun said, "I thought to myself, how dangerous it is for a young girl to walk alone at night. But I... I was barely able to take care of myself, and I didn't dare to meddle in other people's business."

Chen Feng's heart sank. South of the moat lay the direction out of the city. Had Xiao Yu really left the city?

"How was she... how was she at the time?" Chen Feng asked. "Was she injured? Did she say anything?"

Old Sun recalled, "Her condition... wasn't good. She was pale and limped, probably because she twisted her ankle. As for speaking... she didn't say a word from the moment she got on the bus until she got off. But... when she got off, she turned around and looked at me. Her eyes... her eyes were very complicated, with hatred and gratitude."

Hate? Xiaoyu hates him? Hates him for helping Jia Dongxu transport people?

Chen Feng could understand. If he were Xiaoyu, he would also hate everyone involved in this.

"Anything else?" Chen Feng asked. "Was she wearing a necklace? A red rope necklace with a small stone on it?"

"A necklace?" Old Sun thought for a moment. "It seems...it seems like I'm wearing one. Yes, it's wearing a red string, but I couldn't see if there were any stones on it, it was too dark."

Chen Feng breathed a sigh of relief. The fact that Xiao Yu was still wearing the necklace meant she still cherished the gift and remembered him as her older brother.

"Thank you," Chen Feng said, taking out a wad of cash from his pocket, about fifty yuan, and stuffing it into Old Sun's hand. "Take this, get out of here, find somewhere to hide. Those who hired thugs are still looking for you; you're not safe."

Old Sun took the money, his hands trembling. "Chen...Chen Feng, listen to my advice, stop. You've already killed so many people, that's enough. If you keep killing, you..."

"We can't stop now," Chen Feng interrupted him. "Blood debts must be repaid in blood. Not a single one can be spared."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Old Sun watched him disappear into the twilight, the money in his hand feeling like a hot potato. He knew that Chen Feng had embarked on a path of no return.

A road to hell.

---

Night falls.

As Chen Feng walked back to the villa, Old Sun's words kept replaying in his mind.

South of the moat, in the direction of leaving the city.

Did Xiaoyu really leave the city? If she did, where would she go? The countryside? Another place? Or...?

He suddenly remembered a place—further south of the shantytown in the south of the city lay a desolate graveyard. It was a deserted place, inhabited only by stray dogs and crows.

Could Xiaoyu have gone there?

Chen Feng's heart tightened suddenly. No, it couldn't be. Xiao Yu is so afraid of the dark and ghosts, how could she go to a place like that?

But then I thought, if Xiaoyu really had nowhere to go and dared not stay in the city, it wasn't impossible for her to hide in a mass grave. Nobody goes there, so it's safe.

Yes, we'll go check out the mass grave tomorrow.

Chen Feng quickened his pace. He needed to go back to the small villa to get some things—a flashlight, food, water, and weapons.

His right shoulder injury started hurting again, but he didn't care. As long as he could find Xiaoyu, what did this little bit of pain matter?

In the darkness of night, his figure resembled a lone wolf, traversing the shadows of the city.

Inside the courtyard, the survivors huddled together, shivering as they awaited the dawn.

Will Chen Feng come tonight?

no one knows.

But everyone knows that this bloody revenge is far from over.

Not a single one can be left alive.

This sentence is both Chen Feng's vow and everyone's curse.