{Chapter: 227 Target: Ye Feng's head!}
Just as the atmosphere reached its peak of tension—hearts pounding, fingers tightening on triggers, and the air thick with the scent of impending conflict—Lin Yuan suddenly raised his hand and gave a calm, yet commanding wave.
"Enough. Stand down, all of you," he said, his voice carrying a note of authority that immediately silenced his men. "What are you all doing? Since Director Luo and the others have officially declared Ye Feng innocent, then there's no need for further confrontation."
He narrowed his eyes slightly, casting a meaningful glance at his subordinates. "Let them take him. Back off."
The shift was almost immediate. His followers, though visibly reluctant and still radiating hostility, began to disperse slowly, stepping aside one by one to create a path for the police officers to escort Ye Feng. The steel in their eyes remained, but they obeyed Lin Yuan's words without question.
Both Chen Meng and Luo Yinghao exchanged glances, their expressions mixed with surprise and caution. They knew very well that Lin Yuan had intended to kill Ye Feng today. His decision to back down wasn't a change of heart—it was strategy. Outnumbered and facing government-backed law enforcement, Lin Yuan was simply choosing a smarter moment to strike.
As Ye Feng approached the police vehicle, preparing to step inside, his eyes landed on something that made him freeze. There, lying grotesquely on the ground, was Gu Qingshan's mangled corpse. The body had been bombed and mutilated so severely that only half remained, the other scorched by fire, unrecognizable.
A sharp pain flickered across Ye Feng's face. He clenched his fists at his sides, his chest tightening with fury and grief. His jaw locked as he stared at the remains of his fallen companion.
Then, slowly, he turned his head toward Lin Yuan.
The look he gave was bone-chilling—an expression so venomous and filled with hatred that it resembled a serpent coiled to strike. There was no mistaking the murderous intent in his eyes, restrained only by the thinnest veil of self-control. A silent promise was made in that moment: this wasn't over.
Lin Yuan, however, remained unmoved. He met Ye Feng's glare with a faint smirk, clearly unfazed by the unspoken threat. He turned to Director Luo, pretending to be lighthearted. "Director Luo, do remember that I killed Gu Qingshan for the safety of our people. I expect a reward. Make sure it's generous—fit for a public hero."
That statement struck a nerve.
Ye Feng, who had just reached out to open the car door, suddenly froze. His fingers curled tightly around the handle, and the strain in his hand became visible—blue veins bulged as he squeezed with silent fury. The door didn't budge, not because of his strength, but because of the sheer will he was using to keep himself from lashing out.
Inside the vehicle, Chen Meng noticed his hesitation. He reached out and tugged lightly at Ye Feng's sleeve, signaling him to get in. "Let's leave this place for now," Chen Meng whispered.
Ye Feng didn't answer right away.
His mind replayed Gu Qingshan's last words—"Stay alive… don't be reckless."
Those words echoed like a mantra.
Taking a deep breath, Ye Feng forced himself to let go of the handle. Though his eyes still radiated hatred, he climbed into the vehicle and sat beside Chen Meng without further resistance.
Outside, Luo Yinghao gave Lin Yuan a cold smile and said, "We'll do our best to recognize your… 'contribution'. But remember, true justice lies in punishing evil and protecting the good—not in self-righteous slaughter. Be careful not to get caught in the gutters yourself one day. You might just end up drowning."
There was more he wanted to say, but Lin Yuan interrupted with a mockingly warm tone. "Ah, Director Luo, thank you for your concern. I only wish the same for you. You've always put your heart into serving the people… just be cautious. Don't overdo it and die for them. If anything happens to you, the nation will mourn deeply. What a tragic loss it would be—China's model officer, gone too soon."
The sarcasm laced with a veiled threat caused a visible twitch in Luo Yinghao's eyelids.
Their exchange was like two swords clashing with each word, each phrase sharpened with venom and contempt. It was a duel not of blades, but of politics, power, and veiled curses.
Luo Yinghao didn't respond. He gave Lin Yuan one final, long stare—cold and measuring—before turning his back and stepping into the car.
The door shut behind him with a dull thud.
The sleek, extended Lincoln sedan purred to life and began to pull away slowly from the scene, leaving behind scorched earth, silent threats, and unresolved hatred that lingered in the air like smoke after a battlefield.
Inside the moving Lincoln sedan, Ye Feng sat quietly, his face pale yet filled with smoldering rage. As the vehicle rolled farther from the scene of chaos, he couldn't help but look back through the tinted rear window. His eyes, dark and cold, locked onto Lin Yuan in the distance—still standing tall and motionless like a predator seeing off wounded prey.
Ye Feng's gaze was venomous, filled with unfiltered hatred. His pupils gleamed with the intent to kill.
And Lin Yuan, unshaken and equally cold-blooded, returned the stare without blinking.
There was no longer any need for words between them. In the silence, their eyes did the talking—each man promising the death of the other. It wasn't over. Not even close.
Chen Meng, sitting beside Ye Feng, saw the expression on the young man's face and gently placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"Xiao Feng," he said solemnly, "you'll get your revenge. Uncle Chen promises you. You won't have to carry this hatred alone."
Ye Feng gave a slow nod, swallowing his fury like a burning ember. "Thank you, Uncle Chen. And thank you too, Uncle Luo," he added, glancing toward Luo Yinghao in the front seat. "If it weren't for the both of you, I'd have died back there. I owe you both my life."
Luo Yinghao let out a dismissive snort, his expression irritated. "That punk Lin Yuan wouldn't dare touch you. I have too many people backing me up. His arrogance will cost him one day."
*****
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