On Hong Kong Island, in Shawan, thunder roared one after another against the dark clouds.
Han Chongshan stood in the shadows, his eyes scanning his surroundings, his hands on his waist inside his raincoat.
The other three were swiftly using branches and weeds to cover the diesel boat that had carried them across the sea back to Hong Kong Island during the torrential rain.
"Brother Shan, hide Jiu Liu well!" Three men walked over, and the man named Gui Xiu Wen, who had been keeping watch down the mountain when Lengzai was interrogated in Peng Chau, spoke up.
Han Chongshan gazed at the distant Chuanyaliao Village, which resembled low hills layered upon each other in the darkness. "We won't get anything out of them tonight, and we can't explain to Mr. Tam. Let's go, let's arrest them."
The four people walked quickly towards Liaocun, following the shadows and using the sound of thunder and waves from the storm.
The boat shacks in Shawan are simple houses built by fishermen who couldn't afford to settle down on Hong Kong Island. They gradually expanded from a few shacks to their current size, with half of the shacks on the shore and half in the sea. In stormy weather like tonight, all the dilapidated houses in the shacks are shaking incessantly in the wind. Occasionally, some wooden planks, tinplate, and other house parts are blown off by the wind and rain, making clanging noises, followed by angry curses and shouts.
Before Han Chongshan and his men arrested Lengzai, they already knew Lengzai's background. However, they did not expect Lengzai to be so stubborn and not utter a single word. Tan Jingwei had also instructed Han Chongshan and his men to extract some information tonight. Left with no other choice, Han Chongshan came here to kidnap Lengzai's family, hoping that Lengzai would talk.
The four people carefully entered Liaocun Village. The village roads varied in width, some wide enough for two people to walk side by side, while others were so narrow that it was difficult for one person to walk sideways. Moreover, the rainwater on the streets was already knee-deep in several houses, so they had to be careful with each step to avoid kicking up too much water and making too much noise. In addition, Gui Xiu Wen, who had come here to scout the way earlier, needed to carefully identify the path in the dark, so the four people walked very slowly.
Gui Xiu Wen walked in front, Han Chongshan walked at the back. The four of them were three steps apart as they slowly entered Liaocun from outside the village.
"Brother Shan, that kid has a wife, mother, and kids—six people in total. We only have four. How many should we arrest?" The subordinate walking in front of Han Chongshan back and asked him.
Han Chongshan glared and whispered, "Act according to the situation, and shut up!"
The subordinate chuckled dismissively, "Brother Shan, don't worry, they're just fishermen. Even if they could hear us in a storm, what could they do?"
"Be careful, it's better to make a mistake!" Han Chongshan looked at Gui Xiu Wen, who was walking at the front, and asked, "Ask Xiu Wen how much longer?"
Before the two men could relay the message to Gui Xiu Wen had already turned around, pointed to a hut ahead, and indicated that he had found it.
Everyone looked at Han Chongshan, Han Chongshan slowly took a few steps forward and surveyed the layout of the hut.
Gui Xiu Wen, standing nearby, looked pale and bluish, likely from being washed by the rain. He whispered to Han Chongshan, "There are two rooms. The outer room is a storage room for guests and cooking, and inside there are several bunk beds for sleeping."
Han Chongshan withdrew his gaze and looked at the three men. "Xiu Wen, go listen to the commotion first. With this heavy rain, some people might not be sleeping. Once there's no noise, pry open the door. Try to be as quiet as possible so no one else notices. Once inside, grab the two children, knock them unconscious, and tie them up. As for the rest, regardless of age, gag them and cut their throats to prevent future trouble."
The three nodded, Gui Xiu Wen cautiously approached the hut. He listened for a while outside the hut before lifting his raincoat, pulling out a bayonet from under it, and reaching through the crack in the door to pry open the bolt!
Seeing that Gui Xiu Wen was about to open the door, his two companions also drew their daggers and leaned against Gui Xiu Wen's back, waiting for the door to be pried open so they could go in immediately.
Just as Gui Xiu Wen lifted his raincoat, a bolt of lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating Liaocun as bright as day. Han Chongshan noticed that on Gui Xiu Wen's belt, besides the gun's blue barrel gleaming slightly in the lightning, a silver longevity lock worn by a child also lit up in the lightning!
In an instant, Gui Xiu Wen put down the raincoat, and the lightning flashed by. But Han Chongshan's heart skipped a beat. Gui Xiu Wen had a son and a daughter, and his daughter wore a longevity lock around her neck! Even when they were starving and hungry on Hanging Neck Ridge, Gui Xiu Wen had never thought of selling his daughter's longevity lock for food. How did it end up on Gui Xiu Wen's waist now? Was it because he was out working and wanted to wear it for peace of mind?
Before he could react, Gui Xiu Wen had already pried open the bolt! The dilapidated iron door was quietly opened, and his two companions slipped inside. Gui Xiu Wen turned to look at Han Chongshan and found that Han Chongshan was actually lagging behind. At that moment, Han Chongshan was also looking at Gui Xiu Wen. Their eyes met briefly, and then Gui Xiu Wen turned and walked into the hut.
Han Chongshan immediately pulled out a submachine gun from under his raincoat, pressed himself against the open iron door, and shouted in a low voice, "Come out, all of you!"
The sounds of footsteps that had been echoing inside suddenly fell silent as Han Chongshan's voice rang out, creating an eerie stillness.
Han Chongshan pressed his ear against the tin wall to listen to the sounds inside. He heard a footstep not far from him and instinctively pulled his head away from the tin wall, taking half a step back!
With a "whoosh!" sound, a bayonet pierced through the iron wall from the inside, its gleaming blade bursting forth! It was embedded in the spot where Han Chongshan had just been holding his ear! If Han Chongshan hadn't heard that footstep and alertly turned back, he would probably have had that bayonet pierce his head by now!
Han Chongshan rolled backward, ignoring the rain and mud, and retreated behind the wall of a nearby house! He then raised his hands, holding two guns, an M3 in one hand and a pistol in the other! His face was filled with shock and anger at being deceived!
Before the other party could react, Han Chongshan raised his hand, pulled the trigger, and a burst of bullets flew towards the house! Leaning against the wall, he shouted, "Get out here!"
An oil lamp lit up in the room opposite, and several figures moved about. Han Chongshan fired another burst of bullets at the figures he saw through the window, making the pots and pans inside clang loudly!