Chapter 45: Hostage Crisis

“What’s wrong? Why do you ask that?” Boy looked at Ye Feng with curiosity.
“The values detected just now are different from those before the upgrade. It’s just a slight difference, but how is it possible that all my values have increased a bit in such a short time?” Ye Feng’s face showed disbelief.
“That’s not impossible. You should know that, considering your growth rate, you’ve already stayed at the peak level for quite a while. Once you enter the innate realm, your strength will experience a period of rapid growth. It seems your growth period has come a bit too suddenly,” Boy said with a smile.
“That sounds like good news.” Hearing Boy’s words, Ye Feng raised his eyebrows slightly.
“What are your plans now? Do you still intend to fight them as originally planned? I don’t think that’s necessary. With the secret manual in your hands, your future is bright—there’s no need to take such risks,” Boy said, hands in his pockets, looking like a little adult compared to his appearance.
“I originally planned to corner that woman until she had no way out, then, when she was at her weakest mentally, sneak into their building and force her to reveal who’s behind this. After that, I’d deal with that person,” Ye Feng said, taking off the improved detector again.
“And now? Are you still thinking of that bad idea?” Boy turned his head toward Ye Feng and shrugged.
“Now… I have plenty of time to enjoy myself with her… Find an opportunity when she’s alone, kidnap her, and force her to tell me what I want to know. I can practice the ‘Wu Dian’ while keeping an eye on her movements. I won’t be bored…” After saying that, Ye Feng walked toward the entrance to the virtual realm. “I’ll come back when I have time. I probably won’t be idle these next few days.”
“Go ahead. Just don’t die!” Boy pulled out his right hand from his pocket and waved at Ye Feng.
“Don’t worry…” Ye Feng shook his head with a bitter smile and pushed open the door to leave.
…
“Were all these cases committed in the United States?” Pearl, dressed in black, picked up the documents on the table.
“That’s right. These are the only ones that meet your requirements. We have very limited information from the U.S. side,” the upright-looking middle-aged man nodded. “According to insiders, these cases were committed by a hunter named Blade. His methods are unique, completely different from others.”

“Over the past four months, all the cases involved non-humans and were all HUNTER missions. The fatal wounds were all in the same spot—between the eyebrows on the forehead, using exactly the same method. In other words, the one who attacked us is a hunter.” Pearl spread out the photos on the table, looking at the fatal bullet wounds on those non-human heads.
“During these four months, there hasn’t been any unusual activity on Long Tian’s end, nor has there been any news that one of his key subordinates went to New York, USA.” Pearl frowned slightly. “But… Ye Feng disappeared exactly four months ago… Which means it’s very likely that the shooter is him…”
After reaching this conclusion, a fierce look flashed in Pearl’s eyes. “He must have heard about Long Tian’s death, so he’s come to avenge him… Since Long Tian is so important to you, then your roommates must be even more important!”
“Those young people are innocent. You shouldn’t drag them into this. It’s a personal grudge between you and Ye Feng, and besides, it’s all just your speculation. It might not even be him.” The middle-aged man frowned.
“It’s fine. I’ll just use them as hostages to lure Ye Feng out and then kill him. As for those students, I’ll let them go after everything is done.” Pearl raised her gaze slightly at the middle-aged man across from her.
“I have to be there,” the middle-aged man said firmly. “To watch you let them go!”
“Stay out of my business,” Pearl replied coldly, staring at him. “If you’re dissatisfied with me, you can just arrest me impartially or leave me alone. I’ve never forced you to do anything, so please stop giving me orders. You can go back to being that beloved deputy director of the Public Security Bureau, while I can be a free madwoman.”
“I must be there, and you must keep your promise today—let those kids go!” The middle-aged man wouldn’t budge.
“Fine, as you wish!” After a brief standoff, Pearl conceded.
“Amu, bring everyone from their dormitory here tonight! Alive!” Pearl shouted at someone beside her.
……
“Ye Feng has been gone for four months without even calling back. Has he forgotten us?” The eighth roommate lay bored on the bed, tracing circles on the bed frame with his finger.

“He must be quite busy. There’s also a time difference between the US and here. When it’s daytime here, he’s sleeping, and at night, he’s busy with work. That’s why he hasn’t had time to call!” Xu Qiang, the leader of the dormitory, said with a shake of his head and a smile.

“He’s at the dormitory entrance.”

“That’s right. He’s dropped out already. What do you want from him?” Xu Qiang grabbed Lao Liu, who was about to walk over, and glanced warily at the young man at the entrance.

“It’s like this: When I came back from outside just now, there was a guy at the school gate who said his name was Ye Feng, claiming he was from your dormitory. The security guards kept him outside…”

“Why didn’t he call us?” Xu Qiang took out his phone but saw no missed calls. He then looked at the others, who all shook their heads.

“He said he forgot his phone at the hotel. He just wanted to come back and check on you guys, but the security guards wouldn’t let him in,” the young man explained. “Do you want to go down and take a look?”

“Thanks, we’ll be there right away!” Xu Qiang relaxed his vigilance after seeing that the young man wasn’t doing anything suspicious and just stood at the entrance without entering.

“Then I’m done here. I’m leaving!” The young man turned and left.

“Leader, is it really Ye Feng who’s back, or is it a trick by the organization that’s hunting him?” Dormitory member Lao Ba asked Xu Qiang.

“If we want to find out, it’s simple. Let’s find a place with binoculars to see if it’s Ye Feng standing at the entrance. If not, we’ll call the police. If it’s him, then we’ll go over.” After what had happened last time, Xu Qiang and the others became much more cautious.

After leaving the dormitory building, the group quietly hid behind a teaching building not far from the school gate. Xu Qiang took out binoculars and looked toward the school gate.

“So, leader? Is it Ye Feng?” the others couldn’t help asking.

“The back looks like him. He’s talking to the security guards. I can’t see his face,” Xu Qiang said, shaking his head.

“Let me see!” Lao Er snatched the binoculars. “He turned his head. Let me take a look… It’s really Ye Feng! Has he come back from the US?”

“Let me see!” The binoculars were handed to Lao Ba. “It’s really him! It seems the incidents from a few months ago made the security guards much more cautious. They probably won’t let him in easily. Let’s go over there instead!”