C15 Han Feihu!

The leader had been waiting at the crossroads with a few of his men for quite a while, yet there was no response in sight.

He wasn't stupid; he just habitually relied on force to solve problems and was momentarily slow to catch on. However, the situation was so dire that if he hadn't realized what was happening, he wouldn't deserve his position.

His face darkened as he rubbed his chin, muttering to himself, "They've been gone too long. There must have been an accident, or... damn, we've been tricked."

A classic bait-and-switch, a tactic to divide and conquer.

The moment he realized he'd been outsmarted, the leader's first thought was to leave quickly and report back to the boss.

But before he could move, a deep voice shouted from an alley, and a muscular figure leaped out of the darkness like a tiger lunging for its prey, accompanied by a sudden blast of strong wind.

His subordinates didn't have time to react, their morale shattered, leaving them unable to resist and standing dumbfounded.

But the leader, true to his role, immediately sensed something was amiss. He quickly identified the attack and broke free from the intimidating presence, retreating three steps and slipping behind his men.

The force had been unleashed, the power expended; retracting the move was impossible.

However, the muscular man, undeterred, saw his main target slip away. Decisively, he turned and resolved to deal with the smaller fish first.

His attack was as fierce and ruthless as a tiger's.

The subordinates had no chance to turn around before the kick came, sending one flying. His hands, like tiger claws, viciously struck out to either side.

The other two were sent flying by the powerful blow, leaving only the leader and the muscular man, Han Feihu, standing in the clearing.

"Good, very good, Han Feihu," Cao Bao spat out, his voice filled with venom. "I may have been bested today, but don't you get too smug. There will come a day when you'll fall at Third Master's feet, as helpless as a dog."

Cao Bao, the leader, was seething, his eyes bloodshot as he bore into Han Feihu with a look that could kill, his expression filled with a hatred so deep it seemed he wanted to consume his enemy's flesh.

Han Feihu raised an eyebrow, his presence exuding the authority of a tiger. He stared down Cao Bao and retorted, "So this was all Third Master's scheme. Who else but him could orchestrate such a plot in our territory? But to think I'd end up groveling like a dog, like you? Let me tell you, that will never happen."

"Heh, we'll just have to wait and see," Cao Bao taunted with a sneer. "Though I may be blind, I'll keep an eye on you from hell."

Fully aware that his end was imminent at the hands of Han Feihu, Cao Bao nonetheless faced his fate with defiance. He opened his chest to the enemy, his face twisted into a grimace that seemed to curse Han Feihu deeply, wishing upon him a torturous end akin to a thousand cuts.

Han Feihu, a towering figure, didn't utter a single word as he prepared to end Cao Bao's life with one swift motion.

"Wait, it might be wiser to spare him," Chen Mo suggested, casually stroking his chin as he leaned against the wall. He watched the scene before him with a keen eye, feeling an inkling that keeping Cao Bao alive might be more beneficial than killing him.

"System, what should we do next?" Chen Mo asked.

[Hehe, young man, I'm just a cute, money-grubbing system. I don't know anything, can't understand anything. I don't even possess what you'd call a brain, so whatever you're saying, it's completely over my head. Understand? I'm utterly clueless.]

The system maintained its foolish act, but Chen Mo knew better; it was just the system's habitual charade. With the information at their disposal, Chen Mo's every action seemed to be anticipated by the system, which calculated his moves with precision.

Naturally, this conversation had taken place in Chen Mo's mind. On the outside, he had just finished speaking and emerged from the dark alleyway.

Han Feihu, visibly confused, lowered his hand and questioned, "Why should we let him go? This villain has put us through hell. He deserves to die a hundred times over."

Chen Mo gave Han Feihu a look of exasperation. He silently blamed him for their predicament.

But those words remained unspoken. It wasn't for fear of Han Feihu's reaction; rather, Han Feihu's thought processes were so unique that if Chen Mo were to express his thoughts openly, Han Feihu would undoubtedly have a slew of questions, testing even Chen Mo's patience to its limits.

Cao Bao burst into laughter, "I never thought I'd see the day when Han Feihu, the man who fears neither heaven nor earth, would actually listen to someone else. Today has truly been an eye-opener, ha ha ha..."

Chen Mo glanced at Cao Bao and interjected, "Hey, blockhead—oh, I mean Cao Bao—enough with the laughter. I've got something to discuss with you."

However, Cao Bao was dismissive, turning his head away impatiently, "If you're going to kill me, just do it. Why all the talk? Besides, who do you think you are? Why should I listen to you?"

Chen Mo was unaffected by Cao Bao's arrogance, but Han Feihu was instantly enraged. His previously relaxed hand shot up, his thick arm seemingly swelling with anger, and in the blink of an eye, his fist, as large as a cauldron, slammed into Cao Bao's abdomen. Cao Bao, who had been looking down on Chen Mo with disdain, suddenly bent over, vomiting violently, as if he was about to spew out his stomach acid and bile.

"That's my brother you're talking about," Han Feihu thundered. "You dare insult my brother, you're picking a fight with me!"

Chen Mo said, "Big guy, you're too worked up, and you've slipped back into your old speech habit again."

When Han Feihu got emotional or excited, he tended to switch 'I' to 'me,' a quirk that Chen Mo initially found both endearing and fierce.

Han Feihu immediately corrected himself, "I misspoke. What I meant was, 'He's my brother.' You dare insult him? You're asking for trouble. Believe me, I could break your limbs right now and make you wish you were dead."

Perhaps it was the nature of the environment he was born into, one where fighting and killing were unavoidable, that Han Feihu not only developed terrifying combat skills but also a ferocious temperament. He was quick to threaten death or dismemberment, which Chen Mo found uncivilized and quite terrifying.

Shaking his head, Chen Mo stepped forward to mediate, "Why don't you calm down for a moment? I've laid out what Cao Bao said. Whether you listen or act is your choice, but if I'm not mistaken, you really don't have much of a choice."

Cao Bao had just managed to straighten up, leaning against the wall, his face pale, "What do you want to say?"

His tone had softened considerably, no longer brimming with the same arrogant bluster. Clearly, he was genuinely afraid of the pain that comes with broken limbs, for Cao Bao knew all too well that Han Feihu was a tough character. On the surface, he seemed simple and honest, but he was just as straightforward behind closed doors. Moreover, when it came to throwing a punch, Han Feihu never held back. Everyone who lived in these parts knew that Han Feihu didn't know the meaning of a light touch, and he wasn't afraid to use any means necessary.

"The one who sent you must be Third Master, right? Considering your eagerness for death, going back without completing your mission won't bode well for you. You're looking at a dead end or a fate worse than death."

Chen Mo's voice was smooth and enticing as he spoke, "Disaster looms either way, so why not heed my advice? I can offer you a way out."

After all, clinging to life is preferable to death, and if even an ant fights for survival, why wouldn't a human?

Hope sparked in Cao Bao's eyes. "What do you propose?"

Chen Mo was deliberate, crafting a narrative in his mind as he laid the groundwork. "Your mission has failed, and you're bound to face wrath. But there's no need to oversimplify things. Say, for instance, that Han Feihu's accomplice found him, and we were outmatched, leading to our failure. The more formidable you make this accomplice out to be, the less likely you'll face severe punishment."

Cao Bao paused, uncertainty flickering across his face. "Do you think I can fool Third Master? His insight is terrifying, as if he can see right through people. I'm not sure I can deceive him."

Chen Mo reassured, "Don't worry about it. Times change, and all you need to do is approach him with the mindset you have right now. I assure you, it's foolproof."

One can often discern a person's emotions through subtle cues, yet unless Third Master possesses the ability to read minds, Cao Bao's current hesitance and inner turmoil are perfectly suited for the situation at hand.

His failure to complete the mission naturally breeds fear and anxiety, which, although different from the trepidation of deceiving his own boss, manifests similarly and can effectively mislead others.

Furthermore, through snippets of conversation, Chen Mo had already formed a clear picture of Third Master. He must be a master strategist, with first-rate cunning and tactics. Accustomed to a position of authority, no one has dared to deceive him, leading to a certain complacency in his vigilance. To prevent Cao Bao from living up to the unfortunate implications of his name, Chen Mo offered a piece of advice.

Certainly a master of strategy, with top-notch cunning and intellect, and occupying a high position, no one ever dared to lie to him. As a result, over time, he naturally became less guarded. However, to prevent Cao Bao from living up to the homophonic play of his name, which suggests being a complete fool, Chen Mo gave him a timely reminder.

"By the way, there's something you shouldn't forget. If Third Master or someone close to him insists that you're lying after hearing what you've said, don't be afraid. They're trying to trick you. Stand your ground and insist that what you're saying is true. Eventually, everyone will come to believe it."

With lingering doubts, Cao Bao departed, leaving Chen Mo to wait with Han Feihu. There were still matters to attend to on Cao Bao's behalf.

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