Years turn into wind

Chapter 120 The traces of the night owl

After the battle, a sense of solemnity and lingering oppression hung in the air. Ling Xiaotian looked at the collapsed Lin Chuan, contemplating for a moment before signaling the soldiers to carry him back to the mansion for treatment. Although Lin Chuan's actions had betrayed them, the information he had revealed was crucial. Ling Xiaotian knew that Lin Chuan might be the key to finding Night Owl.

Cheng Yuwei walked beside Ling Xiaotian, feeling a little tired. The brutality of the battle and the uncertainty surrounding the truth left her uneasy. She whispered, "Night Owl has set up so many schemes. What is his purpose behind this? Are we being led around by the nose?"

Ling Xiaotian narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing in them. "Night Owl's true goal must be much more complex than this minor skirmish. What we need is to find his lair in one fell swoop and eradicate this threat completely."

At the mansion, Lin Chuan was placed in a guest room to recuperate. Cheng Yuwei personally prepared a dose of painkillers and had the doctor administer them to him. Lin Chuan's brows twitched slightly, and he opened his eyes, looking at her with a guilty look: "Miss Cheng, Marshal, I... I'm so sorry."

Ling Xiaotian stood at the door and looked at him coldly: "Lin Chuan, you have a chance to clear your name. Explain everything clearly."

Lin Chuan nodded with all his might, his voice weak. "The Night Owl's true base is in an abandoned temple west of the city. They've transformed it into a hidden command center, with a secret passage leading out of the city, allowing them to retreat at any time. Liu Meiqiu is just a pawn. The real man behind the scenes is called 'Shadow'. He never appears in public, but he controls everything."

Hearing this, Cheng Yuwei was shocked: "Shadow? He has never shown up? Who is he?"

Lin Chuan took a breath and continued, "Shadow is proficient in intelligence and disguise. He can control people's hearts and use fear to manipulate others. I don't know his true identity, but he must be around us..."

Ling Xiaotian clenched his fists, clearly deeply moved by this information. He looked out the window. The night was as dark as ink, and the west side of the city seemed to conceal an even deeper darkness.

The next morning, a tense atmosphere permeated the Marshal's Mansion. After discussing with Ling Xiaotian, Cheng Yuwei decided to take action and quietly dispatched an elite team to investigate west of the city.

"We must be careful this time. The fact that Shadow has infiltrated our ranks shows he's omnipresent," Ling Xiaotian warned. He turned to look at Cheng Yuwei, his eyes softening for a moment. "Wei'er, I'll go there in person this time. You stay at the mansion and handle the liaison."

Cheng Yuwei was stunned and nervously grabbed his hand: "Xiaotian, it's too dangerous for you to go alone. I will go with you. At least I can assist you in case of emergency."

Ling Xiaotian patted her hand gently, his eyes full of determination: "I can't take this risk. You staying in the mansion is also a guarantee. If anything unexpected happens, I know you can handle it."

The two looked at each other, speechless for a moment. There seemed to be a heavy sense of separation in the air. Cheng Yuwei finally nodded: "Okay, but you must be careful. I'll wait for you to come back."

On a cold winter night, the moonlight was obscured by dark clouds, and the abandoned temple west of the city was shrouded in silence. Ling Xiaotian led an elite squad through the dense forest, their footsteps light and silent. Each soldier clutched their weapon, their expressions solemn.

The night was dark, and the temple emanated an eerie atmosphere in the darkness. Ling Xiaotian led his team quietly approaching, his black armor gleaming coldly in the faint moonlight. The soldiers held their breath, each step like a step on a war drum, making the air even more tense.