Half a day later.
Zhang Feng and King Snake took turns driving all night, arriving at a mountain range the next morning.
Looking around.
Ahead lay a broad little hill, over thirty meters high, covering thousands of square meters.
In comparison, it seemed insignificant against the backdrop of mountains that easily reached thousands of meters in height.
But near this 'little hill' were some factories, billowing black smoke.
Zhang Feng paused upon seeing this.
It felt different from the 'drug dealer villages' he saw on TV.
More like the drug processing hideouts in internal documentaries he remembered watching, as 'original Zhang Feng'.
Everything was very modern, efficient.
"This is one of our villages."
King Snake got out of the car, "How does it look?"
"Hmm, the scale is quite large." Zhang Feng glanced around, seeing three factories, "Just judging by the smoke volume, the work rate is very high."
"Why are you looking at these?" King Snake saw Zhang Feng observing the surroundings, but pointed at the little hill up ahead, "I'm talking about the village, not the factories below.
All these factories are our legitimate ones, used as camouflage, they're all clean in checks.
The village I'm talking about is up on this hill."
There was a dirt road leading up in the direction King Snake pointed, but the slope was too steep for the car to ascend.
Meanwhile.
King Snake took out a small notebook from his pocket, the account book for this quarter,
"I brought you here today to suggest a promotion for you.
I estimate promoting you to 'soldier' wouldn't be a problem.
Because you handle matters skillfully, Brother Luo Huo likes capable brothers like you."
He spoke while checking the account book.
After completing the final check.
Before climbing the hill, King Snake instructed Zhang Feng, "But don't follow me up the hill, stay in the car, don't go anywhere."
Even with the promotion to 'soldier'.
Zhang Feng's rank was still not high enough to meet Luo Huo.
Being able to reach one of the hideouts now was thanks to 'Soldier Leader' King Snake's protection.
Otherwise, this hideout would be out of reach.
"Alright..." Zhang Feng responded, then asked, "Is Brother Luo Huo on the mountain?"
"Hmm." Because the one asking was a trusted brother, King Snake subconsciously replied.
But after nodding, he questioned in slight surprise, "Why are you suddenly asking about Brother Luo Huo's whereabouts?"
"I just heard you say you needed to report." Zhang Feng pointed toward the mountain, "So I wondered if Brother Luo Huo was up there."
"Oh." King Snake gave Zhang Feng a glance, "About matters concerning Brother Luo Huo, just listen to me, don't ask more questions.
As for Brother Luo Huo's location, I don't know either."
King Snake's words were always ambiguous.
Having spoken, he walked towards the mountain.
Zhang Feng watched his departing figure for a few moments, then leaned against the car, pondering for a while, ultimately deciding to go and see.
Because the task was [Find Luo Huo's hideout]
Now, the target was most likely right in front of him.
And hearing King Snake say that he had many hideouts.
If he missed this 'quarter', it was uncertain when the next chance would be.
It was better to take a risk now and see if Luo Huo was indeed on this hill.
'Damn it! Not a single word from these people sounds real! My head hurts from their roundabout talk!'
Zhang Feng left the car, heading straight up the hill.
His focus was executing with speed.
Whoosh—
Running swiftly.
Zhang Feng knew that once he left the car's side, there might be someone tasked with monitoring him ready to notify.
Thus, he needed to be fast and take a shortcut.
Tap!
Upon nearing the mountain, Zhang Feng chose not to follow the path, but directly climbed the left side of the mountain.
This part of the mountain was very steep, but allowed direct access to the top.
Swoosh—
Zhang Feng leaped nearly two meters high, stepping on the mountain surface, gathering strength again, and made another leap, grabbing onto a protruding rock above.
Swoosh swoosh—
Loose rocks continuously slid down the mountain.
Zhang Feng ignored everything, pressing onward with hands and feet, reaching the mountain's peak in mere tens of seconds.
Whew—
Zhang Feng took a deep breath, and, without hesitation, entered the forest atop the mountain, rushing towards the path ahead.
"Someone's climbing the hill!"
"Damn! The guy King Snake brought is climbing barehanded? What the hell? Is he human?"
At this moment, dozens of armed drug dealers ran out from the factories below.
Some even held military-grade snipers.
"Shoot on sight!"
"Don't notify King Snake, kill him directly! This guy seems strange, too much of a threat!"
"Beware! Don't approach him closely, King Snake once said that this guy's strength is akin to a beast in the forest!"
Information kept updating through the communicator, along with Zhang Feng's location.
"He's on the southern path!" Drug dealers from various parts of the mountain also began converging here.
If the scene shifted to above, it would reveal that shortly after Zhang Feng left the car, drug dealers swarmed out, encircling him.
Zhang Feng was oblivious to this situation, disregarding everything, focusing solely on the path ahead.
Swoosh swoosh—
His view brightened as he once again cleared the trees.
Zhang Feng finally saw the end of the path he was seeking.
It was a place reminiscent of a village entrance.
But at this moment, a dozen armed drug dealers aimed their guns at Zhang Feng as he emerged from the woods.
Meanwhile.
King Snake stood fearfully in front of a well-dressed old man.
Upon seeing Zhang Feng appear.
The old man, who initially had a kind expression, turned icy, and faced King Snake, "Your man relies on skill and accomplishments to break the rules so defiance? Forgot family rules?"
"No... no... I wouldn't dare..." King Snake's face twitched upon hearing the old man's words, "Brother Luo Huo... It's my fault... I'll handle it..."
With that, he directly pulled out a gun from his waist, spoke an old derogatory phrase angrily, and fired towards Zhang Feng.
"Damn it, Feng Zi! I told you not to come up here! Why didn't you listen?!"
Bang bang bang!
...
Down the mountain.
Zhang Feng regained awareness, looking at King Snake as he checked the account book.
After King Snake finished checking the account book, he curiously glanced at Zhang Feng, "Why are you staring at me blankly?"
Zhang Feng suddenly understood, "Nothing, I was just thinking."
```
"Damn it, scared the hell out of me." King Snake laughed and cursed, "I thought I did something wrong and offended my good buddies."
As he said this, King Snake advised Zhang Feng before heading up the mountain, "Stay in the car, don't go anywhere."
Zhang Feng silently watched his back, looking at the mountain above, where the village entrance belonged to Luo Huo.
'Got it.'
...
About two hours later, King Snake returned.
He didn't say anything.
The two of them continued driving back to the border city.
But at night,
Zhang Feng pretended to work normally, making rounds in the nightclub, but then he went to the parking lot, took out a SIM card, and edited a message to the captain.
(Found Luo Huo's hideout, southwest mountain range, about fifty miles north of Xiaoli County, where there are some factories. The factories and the hills surrounding them are hideouts for the drug traffickers, the factories are a disguise)
Sent.
Zhang Feng leaned against the wall, feeling both relaxed and confused, but without any guilt of 'betraying his brothers.'
Because King Snake had coldly aimed to shoot and kill him today.
But even if he didn't kill him, he was actually a person without feelings, everyone was mostly using each other, and they would sell out at any moment.
Most of them would only care about their own interests.
Talking about sincerity with drug traffickers, Zhang Feng wasn't that naive, he wouldn't be swayed by a few words of 'good brothers.'
Buzz—
While Zhang Feng was lost in thought, the captain replied.
(Ensure your own safety, if necessary, you can immediately withdraw from King Snake's side, your task is complete, leave the rest to us)
...
In the following days.
Zhang Feng still went to work, without any unusual moves.
On the afternoon of the fourth day.
The nightclub wasn't open yet, and it was quite deserted inside.
Zhang Feng was drinking at the bar.
Tap tap—
Soft footsteps, King Snake suddenly walked in from outside, sitting next to Zhang Feng.
"Feng…" He was about to say something.
"Inspection!"
"Nobody move!"
A group of SWAT officers and anti-drug personnel suddenly rushed in.
Leading them were the captain and the SWAT captain.
King Snake frowned and was about to stand up when two SWAT officers stepped forward, aiming their guns at him.
Meanwhile, the captain walked briskly to Zhang Feng and King Snake.
King Snake smiled slightly, speaking to Zhang Feng, "Brother, I just got the news, Luo Huo got caught.
After knowing the situation, I let Shun'er and them drive around the city, trying to distract others.
Then I came here to take you away.
But look."
King Snake looked at the captain and others, "Shun'er and them didn't hold on, we can't leave now…"
Clatter—
A few of the anti-drug officers stepped forward and cuffed him, interrupting his words.
But they didn't cuff Zhang Feng.
On the contrary, the captain solemnly looked at Zhang Feng, directly revealing Zhang Feng's identity and saluting.
The purpose was to announce that the matter was over, and the captain didn't want Zhang Feng to continue undercover in other criminal gangs as 'remnants of Luo Huo.'
This time, he felt Zhang Feng was already old enough.
"Welcome back to the team, Comrade Zhang Feng!"
The captain spoke earnestly.
Swish!
The anti-drug team members here also stood straight and saluted.
King Snake, cuffed on the ground, first showed suspicion upon seeing this, then laughed madly.
But eventually, he calmly shook his head,
"I was wondering how Luo Huo's information leaked, turns out it was you."
"Ignore him." The captain worried Zhang Feng might feel a moral dilemma, so he stood in front of Zhang Feng, blocking him from King Snake.
Zhang Feng shook his head, pushed the captain aside, looked at King Snake who was lifting his head with effort on the ground, "It was me."
"Then that's settled." King Snake seemed to let go of a burden, his face pressed against the ground,
"When Little Tiger wanted my life that time, I was as good as dead, it's you who snatched me back from King Yama's hands.
I owe you my life.
But now, barely a year has passed, I have to repay you with it.
Of course, the interest after a year is high, it costs our entire tribe's lives.
Feng, you're better at doing business than me…"
...
A month later.
Due to Luo Huo's arrest, the anti-drug operation struck from 'top' to 'bottom', soon exposing and capturing all the drug traffickers one by one.
A few months later.
Verdict was announced in court.
Xiang Chaoning by the alias (Luo Huo), He Zaihang by the alias (King Snake), among a list of crime leaders, sentenced to death, immediate execution, rights stripped for life…
Shun'er (Chu Bin), Crew Cut (Lu Dunmin), Ah Long (Kuang Zhentao), aiding He Zaihang (King Snake) in smuggling, illegal possession of firearms, and multiple charges, sentenced to death…
...
End of the month.
Execution ground.
Zhang Feng holding the execution gun, looking at the back of King Snake,
"Didn't expect you to have some pull, getting someone to contact me, selecting me to execute you."
"Yes…"
Unlike when he was captured a few months ago.
King Snake now looked somewhat weary, hair disheveled, voice trembling in fear, "But I still thank Brother Feng for agreeing…to send off this older brother…"
He shivered slightly, tilted his head to look at Zhang Feng, whose hair was newly trimmed, "Got…any cigarettes? Brother Feng…"
"I do." Zhang Feng took out a cigarette, lighting it for him, "Your favorite brand, bought specifically for you."
"Thanks…" King Snake took a few puffs, "Do you know…why I wanted you to execute…execute my execution?"
Zhang Feng looked at him.
King Snake forcefully expelled the still-lit cigarette,
"Because I want to puff on Brother Feng's cigarette, like before…then…speak a word to Deputy Captain Zhang Feng of the Anti-Drug Squad now…"
He fought to suppress the fear of death,
"Which is…
Fuck you, Zhang Feng!"
Bang!
The gunshot rang out.
Zhang Feng looked at King Snake, shot in the forehead,
"Brother King Snake, this bullet repays the one on the mountain, we are on different paths, different ways off the mountain, thus settling things."