Chapter 763: Walk Into a Trap!
As one of the nation's new first-tier cities, Hangzhou was home to a Special Department Base of considerable size, power, and influence. Within the Jiangnan region, it was a titan, and across all of Yanxia, it ranked among the top ten.
The base was overseen by three Grandmasters and an esteemed Artificer True Person. Beneath them served a formidable contingent of thirty to forty Martial Arts Grandmasters and Artificer True Persons. As for the martial artists and artificers of the Xiantian and Houtian realms, their numbers swelled into the thousands. This force was supplemented by a vast arsenal of firearms, ammunition, and advanced weaponry.
Even a powerhouse at the level of a Heavenly Human would have to treat such a force as a formidable adversary, forced to take several steps back. After all, there is strength in numbers, and the advent of modern weaponry had significantly narrowed the gap once defined by individual martial prowess.
, the Yanxia Special Department was a unified entity, not just a collection of isolated bases. If anyone were foolish enough to attack the Hangzhou branch, experts from every corner of the country would converge to provide support, creating a response force that far surpassed even the Martial God Hall.
"Brother Shen, is this the kind of place you were talking about?" Zhang Yaqian's starry eyes blinked, a look of pure surprise blooming on her beautiful face.
Before them stood what appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary, utterly unremarkable farmhouse resort nestled in the suburbs.
Shen Anyu was also seeing it for the first time, but his Aunt An Zhiyue had described it to him in detail. Besides, his own Divine Sense had already detected the complex web of activity hidden deep beneath the rustic facade.
"On the surface, it's just a simple farmhouse resort," Shen Anyu explained, his voice a low, gentle murmur. "But in reality, there's a space a hundred times this size buried underground, large enough to house thousands and fortified to withstand a nuclear blast."
Listening to his explanation, Zhang Yaqian's small mouth fell slightly open, her surprise deepening into astonishment. Who could have possibly imagined that this quaint, rustic getaway was actually the heavily fortified base of the Hangzhou Special Department? That an unassuming waiter might, in fact, be a highly trained operative?
If some hapless criminals ever broke in here looking for a score, they would surely find themselves questioning every choice that led them to this moment.
'Though,' a new thought surfaced in her mind, 'this would be a wonderful spot for a secret rendezvous.'
As the idea took root, Zhang Yaqian stole a glance at Shen Anyu's handsome profile, a faint blush warming her cheeks.
…
"What the hell are they doing here?"
Brother Leopard and his crew watched from a safe distance, their expressions laced with confusion.
Zhang Yaqian carried herself like a young lady from a wealthy family, and the Hennessey Venom that Shen Anyu was driving was a top-of-the-line supercar. Why would a pair like that shun a six-star hotel for a dusty farmhouse resort on the outskirts of Hangzhou?
"Maybe they're rich kids trying to 'experience life'?" Skinny Monkey offered with a shrug.
Brother Leopard's brow furrowed. He had survived for so long in the Dark World precisely because he was cautious and suspicious. A knot of unease tightened in his gut; something about this felt off.
"Heh, maybe they're here for a secret tryst…" Deer snickered mischievously.
The two certainly looked the part. Zhang Yaqian was clinging to Shen Anyu's arm, her head resting intimately on his shoulder as they walked, chatting and laughing. They looked for all the world like a young couple deeply in love, which made the idea of a clandestine affair all the more plausible.
Brother Leopard strained his ears. His most prominent features were his large, protruding ears, a clear sign of specialized training. His hearing was exceptionally keen, allowing him to pick up the faint whispers of Shen Anyu and Zhang Yaqian's conversation from seventy or eighty meters away.
"Brother Shen, you brought me all the way out here for a private meeting. Won't Ling Qingcheng be upset if she finds out?" Zhang Yaqian's eyes twinkled as she spoke, her tone coy and teasing.
Shen Anyu raised an eyebrow, feeling his arm sink into the full, soft curve of her chest as she leaned against him. He smiled and playfully flicked the tip of her delicate nose. "Naughty," he said, his voice dripping with affection. "You're the one who's been flirting, seducing me behind your dear Ling Qingcheng's back. How has this suddenly become my fault?"
A passing waiter shot them a strange look.
Meanwhile, Brother Leopard, who had overheard every word, was filled with a potent mix of envy and disdain.
"Brother Leopard, what'd you hear?" Skinny Monkey asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Heh, looks like they really are here for an affair. A brother-in-law and sister-in-law, from the sounds of it," Brother Leopard said, spitting on the ground in contempt.
Why couldn't something this good ever happen to him?
Damn it all. These pretty boys always had it so easy with women.
Brother Leopard's expression twisted, some painful memory from his past surfacing.
"The upper class is just depraved, Brother Leopard. Later, after we take down this rich young master and his little miss, we can have some fun ourselves. We can even stay at this farmhouse for a few days while we wait for news on the Goddess Doctor Murong Jieyu and Heavenly Queen Zhong Lingyin."
"That's a fine idea," Brother Leopard agreed, his greed overriding his caution. "Let's do it."
…
Led by a waiter, Shen Anyu and Zhang Yaqian arrived at an elevator inside the farmhouse—the gateway to the underground base.
The elevator doors slid open to reveal a sleek, silver-white cabin that pulsed with a futuristic, sci-fi aesthetic. In a flash of light, it plunged hundreds of meters deep into the earth.
When the doors opened again, they stepped out into a vast subterranean plaza. Hundreds of people stood waiting in silent, perfectly ordered formations. Aside from those out on missions, nearly the entire force was present. A glance around revealed a sea of powerful experts.
At their head stood An Zhiyue, the legendary Yanxia Female War God, who now held the prestigious position of Jiangnan Inspector for the Special Department.
An Zhiyue was clad in a tight-fitting black combat suit that hugged her slender, powerful, and graceful figure. Her long legs, in particular, seemed to hold a coiled energy, moving with the lithe grace of a female leopard, yet looking as if they could easily crush alloy steel. Her hair was cut short and neat, framing delicate features. Her phoenix eyes were sharp and heroic, and a vigorous aura of life force emanated from her very being.
At this moment, An Zhiyue's typically stern face held a faint trace of joy, which blossomed into a genuine smile the moment Shen Anyu appeared. She strode forward to greet him.
"Shen Anyu, the old man praised you for a job well done. Your appointment as a Special Consultant for the department is thoroughly deserved. I hope you continue to strive like this. In the future, you might even be the one to take over the Special Department."
Elder Ling, the head of the Hangzhou Special Department, stepped forward as well, chuckling warmly. "That scoundrel Yao Qi escaped from prison and killed many of our people. We have you to thank, Shen Anyu, for helping us apprehend him. If you hadn't, the consequences would have been unimaginable. All of us here in Hangzhou owe you a great favor!"
As his words fell, Elder Ling turned and led the hundreds of assembled elites from the Hangzhou Base in a collective, formal salute directed at Shen Anyu.
Faced with a personal welcome from his Aunt An Zhiyue and the overwhelming enthusiasm of the entire Hangzhou Base, Shen Anyu put on a flattered expression and offered a few humble words in return.
Beside him, Zhang Yaqian held tightly to his arm, her starry eyes shining with pure admiration and adoration as she watched the scene unfold. She looked at her man, her heart swelling with pride. She had no idea Brother Shen had been involved in so many incredible things behind the scenes. Apprehending a major wanted criminal? She would definitely have to make him tell her the whole story later.
"There's no need to be modest. You've earned it," An Zhiyue said crisply, her gaze then falling upon Zhang Yaqian.
Before An Zhiyue could even ask, Zhang Yaqian curtsied sweetly and said, "Hello, Auntie. I'm Zhang Yaqian, Brother Shen's girlfriend."
For Shen Anyu to bring an outsider into the Special Department Base without prior authorization was, strictly speaking, a breach of protocol. However, given his background and the immense help he had just provided, everyone was willing to turn a blind eye.
Hearing Zhang Yaqian address her as "Auntie," An Zhiyue simply smiled and nodded. She then shot Shen Anyu a meaningful glance, her red lips moving slightly as she sent him a private sound transmission. 'You… you're good at everything, but you're just too much of a playboy. I really don't know if it's a good or a bad thing for Ruyan to be with you.'
The thought gave An Zhiyue a headache.
From what she knew, Shen Anyu already had a flock of women: her own best friend Liu Ruyan, Susan, Ruan Lingshan, Su Hongmian, Qin Ningbing… more than she could count on one hand.
'At least they'll be very happy with me,' Shen Anyu replied with a mental shrug.
An Zhiyue didn't press the issue. After all, her best friend Liu Ruyan did seem to be enjoying herself. It was just that she frequently called An Zhiyue to complain about her back and knees being sore, a complaint that had earned her countless eye-rolls from the Female War God.
[Ding! The Child of Destiny, Xiao Fan, is filled with envy. Plundering +9999 Destiny Value!]
[Ding! The Child of Destiny, Xiao Fan, feels a bitter taste in his heart. Plundering +9999 Destiny Value!]
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