Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

"Wei Chen!" Jin Aiguo looked at Wei Chen. "You're the most skilled and have the fastest reflexes! You'll be the lead attacker! Disguise yourself as a passerby or a junk collector. When he passes through Old Locust Tree Alley, find the right opportunity to approach him from the front or side and subdue him as quickly as possible! You must incapacitate him and prevent him from speaking in one strike! Don't give him a chance to draw his weapon or shout a warning!"

"Xiao Zhang, Wang Qiang! You two are responsible for blocking both ends of the alley! If Wei Chen makes a move, immediately seal off his escape route to prevent him from escaping or passersby from accidentally entering!"

"Xiao Li, Zhao Gang! Establish perimeter security, evacuate any approaching civilians, and prepare for backup and restraint!"

"I'm in charge of the on-site command! Remember, the operation must be swift, ruthless, and precise! If the target fiercely resists or attempts to detonate, the use of weapons is permitted, but ensuring your own safety and the safety of the public is the top priority! Understand?"

"Understood!" the crowd responded in hushed tones, their eyes gleaming with murderous intent.

"Alright! Go back and prepare, check your equipment, and conserve your energy! Tomorrow, we must succeed in one strike!" Jin Aiguo slammed his hand heavily on the table.

This night was exceptionally long for those involved in the operation.

The next day, the sky was overcast, with low-hanging, leaden clouds. A cold wind swirled dust and fallen leaves through the old locust tree alley, making a mournful sound. The dilapidated brick walls on both sides of the alley added to the somber atmosphere.

Wei Chen was wearing an even more tattered cotton-padded coat, his face smeared with dust, and carrying a bulging, tattered burlap sack. He squatted in a corner of the alleyway, where there was a pile of miscellaneous items, like a tired scavenger taking a break.

His heartbeat was steady, his breathing was long and deep, but his mental energy was highly concentrated, like a fully drawn bowstring covering both ends of the alley.

Xiao Zhang and Wang Qiang disguised themselves as a farmer searching for lost poultry and a lazy man sunbathing against a wall, respectively, and stood guard at opposite ends of the alley. Xiao Li and Zhao Gang hid at a corner further out. Jin Aiguo hid behind a low wall, his eyes fixed on the alley entrance.

Time ticked by, second by second. 8:55... 8:58...

coming!

At the alley entrance, the familiar figure, dressed in a tattered cotton-padded coat, wearing a worn-out felt hat, and carrying a burlap sack, appeared on time. He kept his head down, walking at a steady pace, as always, into the Old Locust Tree Alley.

Wei Chen's mental power instantly locked onto him. He could clearly "sense" the other party's seemingly casual but actually tense physical state, and the vigilant gaze hidden under the brim of his hat, scanning the front and the walls on both sides like a hawk.

The goal drew closer step by step. Fifty meters... thirty meters... twenty meters...

Wei Chen kept his head down, seemingly organizing the contents of the sack. But every muscle in his body was already in optimal working order, his mental focus locked onto the target's hands and the possible locations where weapons might be hidden at his waist.

Ten meters!

Just as the target was about to brush past Wei Chen, who was crouching down!

Wei Chen moved! Without the slightest warning! Like a cheetah suddenly pounced from its slumber! He threw aside the sack, his body shifting from extreme stillness to extreme motion. With a powerful push off the ground, he shot forward like an arrow, carrying a sharp gust of wind, straight towards his target!

His speed was incredible! The target only saw a dark shadow flash by the corner of his eye, and a tremendous sense of crisis washed over him like ice water! His reaction was incredibly fast; almost instinctively, he reached into his pocket! At the same time, his mouth opened, as if he wanted to let out a sharp cry of warning!

But Wei Chen was faster! In the instant he lunged forward, Wei Chen's right hand moved like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, delivering a precise chop to the left carotid sinus with a sharp, tearing sound! The force was perfectly controlled, enough to instantly cut off the blood supply to the brain without being fatal!

"Uh..." The target only let out a short groan, his hand reaching for his chest went limp, his vision went black, and his body slumped forward as if his bones had been removed.

At the same time, Wei Chen's left arm, like an iron clamp, swiftly tightened around the target's neck from behind. He then pressed forward, pinning the unconscious body to the ground! The entire action was executed flawlessly, from the initial outburst to the subjugation, taking no more than two seconds!

"Block the road!" Jin Aiguo roared, leaping out from behind the low wall. Xiao Zhang and Wang Qiang, like tigers descending a mountain, instantly blocked both ends of the alley.

Xiao Li and Zhao Gang rushed in, working in perfect harmony. Xiao Li quickly pulled out a roll of thick, water-soaked hemp rope and professionally bound the target's hands and feet tightly, then quickly gagged him with a rag. Zhao Gang immediately stepped forward and swiftly began searching the target's entire body.

"Report! A dagger was found in the waistband!" Zhao Gang pulled a gleaming dagger from the target's lower back.

"There's something in his arms!" Xiao Li pulled a palm-sized, hard lump carefully wrapped in oil paper from the inside pocket of the target's cotton-padded coat. Jin Aiguo quickly stepped forward, cautiously opening a corner of the oil paper package, his expression changing drastically: "Explosives! The detonator is already inserted!" He gasped, quickly rewrapping the package and handing it to Zhao Gang: "Keep it safe! This is evidence!"

Looking at his target, bound like a dumpling and unconscious on the ground, and then at Wei Chen's swift and decisive grappling moves, Jin Aiguo's eyes were filled with admiration and lingering fear. He slammed his fist heavily on Wei Chen's shoulder: "Good lad! Well done! Absolutely brilliant! Fast! Accurate! Ruthless! Didn't give this bastard a single chance! Good!"

Wei Chen shook his slightly numb hand, his face expressionless, but his eyes were sharp as he stared at the target on the ground: "Jin Ke, we've caught him, found the explosives, and the things in his house..."

"Don't worry! He can't escape!" Jin Aiguo's eyes flashed coldly. "Xiao Zhang, Wang Qiang, you two stay here and cooperate with the police officers who will arrive later to cordon off the scene, maintain order, and evacuate any potential onlookers! Watch your wording. Just say we caught a roving armed robber! Don't mention a single other word!"

"Wei Chen, Xiao Li, Zhao Gang! Take the men and the seized explosives and daggers, and immediately take them back to the factory security department! When the police arrive, raid his hideout! Dig three feet into the ground, and find everything he's hiding!"

"yes!"

The group, escorting the unconscious enemy agent and carrying the dangerous spoils, quickly and discreetly withdrew from Old Locust Tree Alley. The alley returned to deathly silence, save for the cold wind, as if the lightning-fast attack had never happened.

Back in the makeshift detention room set up by the security department, the target was strapped to a specially made chair and guarded by heavily armed officers. Jin Aiguo immediately made an urgent report to the higher-level public security department and the factory's main leaders via a secure telephone. Soon, a team of police officers with specialized equipment arrived at the steel rolling mill.

Led by Jin Aiguo and Wei Chen, the police officers and the security technical team rushed to the large courtyard in Niqiu Hutong. With Wei Chen's precise mental guidance, the hidden basement entrance and secret compartment were quickly located.

When the radio transmitter, the remaining explosives, detonators, fuses, codebook, and a large number of sketches recording the steel mill's production data, security patrol routes, and personnel information were found and laid out in front of everyone, even the most experienced veteran police officer couldn't help but gasp in shock.

"Good heavens! If he had succeeded or been awakened, the consequences would have been unimaginable!" The police captain leading the team looked ashen-faced as he gazed at Jin Aiguo and Wei Chen, sincerely praising them, "Old Jin, your steel mill's security department has done a great job this time! Especially Comrade Wei Chen! Sharp-witted! Decisive! His actions were clean and efficient! Truly commendable!"

Jin Aiguo straightened his back, his face full of pride: "It was all thanks to the concerted efforts of our comrades! Comrade Wei Chen and... uh, his vigilance was the key to discovering and capturing this lurking enemy agent!"

The dust has settled. The news, like a boulder thrown into a deep pool, caused a huge stir among the steel mill's upper management and within a specific circle, but among ordinary workers and residents, it was strictly controlled within the scope of "the capture of an armed robber." This was for the sake of possible further investigation and to protect the safety of those who had contributed, such as Wei Chen.

The atmosphere inside the factory's Party Committee meeting room was solemn yet enthusiastic. Wei Chen had once again distinguished himself, this time by capturing an enemy spy. He would certainly be commended by his superiors, and the factory needed to demonstrate its commitment as well!

The factory leaders personally read out the factory's commendation decision, highly praising the Security Section for its outstanding contributions in thwarting the enemy's plot, and specifically commending Deputy Section Chief Jin Aiguo for his decisive command and Comrade Wei Chen for his crucial role. A bright red factory-level "Factory Guardian" medal was pinned to Wei Chen's chest.

Jin Aiguo grinned from ear to ear, patting Wei Chen on the shoulder and shouting, "Little Wei! Well done! You've really made our section chief proud again! This medal is well-deserved! I'll report to the higher-ups and recommend you for commendation. You and Da Huang must get the top credit! And a bonus!"

Wei Chen stroked the cold medal on his chest, feeling the admiring gazes around him, yet his heart remained unusually calm. He knew that behind this medal lay the explosive charge that had almost detonated, the radio transmitter in the dark basement, and the true thunderclap in the silence. He had simply done what he was supposed to do. He also knew that the real danger might not have been completely eliminated. Where did the command to awaken the "Lone Wolf" come from? Were there other "spies" among them?

In the courtyard, the well-informed Yan Bugui began his "broadcast" again.

"Have you heard? Wei Chen has done it again! This time he caught a big thief! One with a knife! I heard he's really fierce!"

"Wow! Really? Where was it caught?"

"It's over there to the west! I heard the thief tried to resist, but Wei Chen took him down in no time! Tsk tsk, that skill!"

"It must be rhubarb, right? Did it smell it?"

"Of course! Wei Chen said that Da Huang was the first to notice something was wrong during the patrol! That dog is amazing!"

The chatter was filled with amazement and pride. When Wei Chen pushed the cart with Big Yellow into the yard, he was greeted with warm welcomes and admiring glances. Aunt Liu even brought out a bowl of freshly steamed mixed grain buns from the house and insisted on giving it to Wei Chen: "Little Chen! You've worked hard! Take this, it's fresh out of the steamer! Calm your nerves!"

"Thank you, Aunt Liu." Wei Chen accepted the gift and thanked her gently.