Chapter 108: Estrangement

Page 1 of 3

Just as planned, when the Falcon brothers met again, they had indeed become sworn enemies.

The island was not large, and it did not take long for the two sides to encounter each other.

Ever since the ship carrying Zhang Xingmin and the others had learned that traces of enemy activity had been detected in the waters around Ghost Island, they had made preparations to conduct a thorough search of the island before the fleet even came ashore. Thus, the moment the fleet docked, the accompanying guards immediately began their operation.

Of course, no enemy had the words “I am a bad person” written across his face. Moreover, many Baralans had temporarily sought refuge on the island. The guards could only search by following the clues, specifically looking for people with criminal records.

With the thorough search, rewards for informants, and other favorable conditions, the guards soon made considerable progress. They apprehended more than a dozen suspicious individuals. Fingerprint comparisons revealed that some of them had been fugitives for a long time. Though they were merely minor figures, taking them back might well lead to the capture of bigger fish.

As expected, Lin Xiaofeng was among those arrested. He had no ties whatsoever with the people on the island, and after someone casually identified him, he was immediately surrounded. Just as the guards were feeling satisfied with their haul and preparing to wrap things up, Lin Xiaofeng was brought over under guard.

As a globally wanted criminal, Lin Xiaofeng was treated as a hardened felon. Several men held him down as he was forced forward with his back bent. The posture was extremely uncomfortable, and the pain was plainly visible on his face.

Damin and Brother Long spotted Lin Xiaofeng being brought over from a distance. Since he was a suspect, the guards certainly showed him no courtesy. One of them, annoyed by Lin Xiaofeng’s slow pace, kicked him every few steps.

As his good friends, Damin and Brother Long felt every kick as if it had landed on their own hearts. But they could not openly step forward and declare that Lin Xiaofeng had been falsely accused and should be released. If they did, they might both be charged with treason and face additional punishment.

The best solution now was to publicly sever ties with Lin Xiaofeng and sacrifice him for the greater good. That would protect them, give Lin Xiaofeng some freedom of movement, and might even allow him to escape amid the confusion.

Having made up his mind, Brother Long took advantage of the others’ inattention, stepped beside Lin Xiaofeng, and kicked him hard in the shoulder. He held back deliberately. The blow looked severe, but it carried little actual force. He also knew how much Lin Xiaofeng cherished his face, so he avoided striking it and carefully controlled the angle, sending Lin Xiaofeng down onto his back.

Lin Xiaofeng hit the ground heavily and felt some pain, but he did not make a sound. He knew Brother Long was trying to help him. Thanks to that kick, he was temporarily freed from the guards’ direct control and could stretch out and relax for a moment.

Once Lin Xiaofeng was lying on the ground, Damin did not remain idle either. He took out a bottle of mineral water, unscrewed the cap, and slowly poured it over Lin Xiaofeng’s face while muttering, “Traitors belong in the trash.”

Page 1 of 3

Page 2 of 3

When the water began to pour over him, Lin Xiaofeng did not dodge. Others might not have understood, but he immediately saw what Damin meant. The motion of pouring the water clearly spelled out one word: run. Was he telling Lin Xiaofeng to head toward the trash bins?

Realizing that Lin Xiaofeng had understood, Zhang Xingmin tipped the entire bottle upside down and poured out the remaining half all at once. Lin Xiaofeng choked, rolled onto his side, and began coughing violently on the ground.

Seeing Zhang Xingmin and Yang Dalong behave this way, the accompanying personnel aboard the ship assumed that the two Falcon investigators, having suffered another betrayal, had acted on impulse and lost control of their emotions. They hurried over to persuade the pair to calm down.

Seeing everyone come to intervene, Damin quickly took advantage of the situation. He slammed the empty bottle onto the ground and turned toward the ship.

Lin Xiaofeng knew that throwing down the bottle was another signal. He quickly scrambled to his feet and ran toward his left.

When the guards saw him trying to escape, they immediately gave chase. Thus, the scene unfolded with Lin Xiaofeng sprinting ahead while a crowd pursued him relentlessly.

After turning a corner, in a place no longer visible from the small square, Lin Xiaofeng suddenly braked to a halt. Someone he knew stood in front of him: Anna—or, more precisely, the Young Master, Zhao Zeyi. The delicate image he had displayed earlier was gone. Instead, he had dressed himself in an exceptionally sharp, androgynous style, with a group of people behind him.

The guards chasing Lin Xiaofeng also came to an abrupt stop when they saw him halt. They stared blankly at the dense mass of people before them, wondering how they had failed to notice so many hidden complications on the island during their earlier patrol.

“What is it, little brother Xiaofeng? Where do you think you’re running?” Zhao Zeyi asked in the familiar voice of Zhao Nana.

“So it was you! What exactly are you trying to do?” Lin Xiaofeng demanded.

“What am I trying to do? What could I possibly want? Out of consideration for our past relationship, I merely brought you a little gift. What’s wrong? Don’t you like it, little brother Xiaofeng?” Zhao Zeyi replied mockingly.

“I… don’t… quite… understand… what… you… mean!” Lin Xiaofeng retorted, enunciating every word.

“How is the injury on your arm? It was so dark that night. One little slip, and then… I’m sure you understand what I mean.” Zhao Zeyi switched back to his real voice—a cool, resonant masculine voice tinged with menace.

Page 2 of 3

Page 3 of 3

“So it was you!” Lin Xiaofeng demanded.

“To be precise, I ordered someone else to do it,” Zhao Zeyi corrected him.

At that moment, Zhang Xingmin, Yang Dalong, and the group of guards arrived as well. They happened to hear Zhao Zeyi admit that he had ordered someone to carry it out. Anyone intelligent immediately understood that the entire affair was a trap and that Lin Xiaofeng had fallen deeply into it. Yet he was still struggling.

“This won’t do you any good,” Lin Xiaofeng said.

“We’re short-handed these days. Losing one assistant is no great matter. I remember that little brother Xiaofeng is quite skilled, and a decent person too. Not like Zhang Xingmin, that wooden block, or Yang Dalong, who buzzes around all day like a fly.”

At the Young Master’s words, Damin and Brother Long’s faces turned green. Nevertheless, they held their tongues and continued watching the show.

“Why should I listen to you?” Lin Xiaofeng continued, as though negotiating.

“You don’t have to. But you’re currently wanted worldwide, you know. If I remember correctly, your father offended quite a few people in the past. He’s been dismissed from his post and is sitting at home now. What if something unexpected were to happen to him…?” the Young Master threatened.

“You…” Lin Xiaofeng grew worried when he heard that his father might be in danger.

“Xiaofeng, don’t listen to him! Come over here! We’ll go back and explain everything to our superiors. The warrant should be able to be withdrawn!” Brother Long shouted from behind him.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk! Trying to run? It won’t be that easy!” the Young Master snarled.

Page 3 of 3