<h4>Chapter 1217: Chapter 1224: Hong Wei’s Downfall (1)</h4>


    Before long, Ling Chen returned the same way, driving a Land Rover SUV and stopped outside Hong Wei’s vi. Gear engaged, elerator pressed, apanied by a roar, the Land Rover’s front surged forward, breaking through the vi gates and charging into the crowd. Hearing the impact behind them, security personnel around the vi turned to look.


    Seeing the Land Rover rushing in, the crowd was startled and quickly scattered to both sides.


    Bam! A loud noise echoed as the Land Rover’s front mmed into the wall, instantly deforming, and a thick white smoke billowed from the engine hood.


    "Who is it?"


    "Quick, go inside and check."


    Surrounding security personnel buzzed with discussion and quickly encircled the Land Rover. But when the door opened, they were shocked to find the vehicle empty.


    At this moment, less than ten meters away from the Land Rover, Ling Chen stealthily moved toward the living room window. All the security personnel’s attention was fixed on the Land Rover, and no one noticed Ling Chen’s presence.


    Carefully pushing open the window, Ling Chen leapt silently into the vi.


    Closing the window, Ling Chen looked around, seeing the spacious and luxurious living room devoid of people, but intense sounds of fighting asionally came from upstairs. No need to look to know, it’s surely Zhu Qing and the Skyhawk Pavilion members shing.


    Zhu Qing and the others had already secured time and opportunity for him, so Ling Chen dared not waste time, hurriedly searching for the entrance to the basement. Before taking action, Ling Chen had studied this vi’s architectural blueprint and understood the structuralyout.


    Ling Chen found the entrance to the basement without spending much time.


    Opening the door and looking at the stairs below, Ling Chen didn’t go down directly; who knows if traps were set below.


    Taking a shbang from his pocket, Ling Chen tossed it down the stairs. Meanwhile, Ling Chen quickly shut the door. A ’bang’ echoed, followed by screams from behind the door.


    Seizing the moment, Ling Chen dashed down, seeing several men on both sides of the stairs, each covering their eyes and wailing incessantly. Taking down four men, Ling Chen moved swiftly, continuing deeper into the basement.


    Whizz!


    Suddenly, a sound pierced the air, quickly nearing Ling Chen. Alert and prepared, Ling Chen slightly shifted left, the projectile skimming past his clothes, hitting the wall beside him.


    Looking at the knife embedded in the wall, Ling Chen’s gaze swept around, intending to see who had attacked. But just then, the surrounding light dimmed, the entire basement plunged into darkness, rendering visibility impossible.


    "Skyhawk Pavilion members?" Ling Chen calmly said.


    No response came, not even a breath, yet Ling Chen could sense their presence, a scent of danger. Moreover, his intuition told Ling Chen there were more than one assassin from Skyhawk Pavilion hidden in the darkness.


    Hmph! Skyhawk Pavilion really spared no expense this time, deploying so many to protect Hong Wei.


    In darkness, vision is the most useless sense. Ling Chen closed his eyes, focusing entirely on hearing. When Zhu Qing attempted to assassinate him, he experienced the same scenario. Thus, encountering suchbat again was familiar, quickly adapting to the surroundings.


    Now, just wait for Skyhawk Pavilion assassins to reveal themselves.


    However, Ling Chen underestimated the assassins from Skyhawk Pavilion. Several minutes passed with no movement from them, like beasts lurking in the dark, staring at their prey, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.


    What do assassins value most? Patience! Only those who can remain calm can bepetent assassins.


    Ling Chen remained still, and so did the assassins, silently waiting. With time, Ling Chen’s expression turned serious. These assassins were not onlyplex but also highly skilled.


    In such a favorable environment and with numerical advantage, most assassins would choose to attack rather than endure. But these assassins didn’t act so. Even when Ling Chen deliberately exposed a w, they didn’t seize the chance. What does this indicate? It shows they saw through Ling Chen’s intentions.


    Moreover, they acted cautiously, likely aware of Ling Chen’s capability, which is why they held back.


    Still won’t attack?


    As several minutes more psed, Ling Chen became somewhat impatient. In another location, he could wait against them. But now, that’s not possible; Zhu Qing and others couldn’t secure much time for him; swift resolution was needed.


    Ten minutes had passed already, the longer it dragged, the more perilous Zhu Qing’s situation became. Once Zhu Qing and others failed to fight on, all Skyhawk Pavilion assassins woulde for him. At that point, escape wouldn’t be an option. Considering this, Ling Chen didn’t hesitate any longer, opting for a preemptive strike.


    Boom!


    With a loud noise, smoke erupted around Ling Chen’s feet. These were ready-prepared gear, smoke bombs, and shbangs provided by Pang Jiulin. This time with military backing, obtaining equipment was easy.


    Assassins thrive in darkness, but adding smoke destroys such advantages. Though darkness obscures vision, smoke equally does so. In this situation, both sides be blind, relying solely on acute hearing to deduce each other’s location.


    As thick smoke enveloped the scene, Ling Chen reached into his pocket, pulling out a handful of steel nails.


    With a flick of the wrist, dozens of steel nails hurled outwards, scattering around. At the moment ofunch, Ling Chen finally heard subtle sounds from three positions.


    Three people!


    Ling Chen’s lips slightly curved; the effect was satisfactory, finally confirming their numbers. This barrage of nails wasn’t meant to harm, but to force movement, causing them to make a sound, thus determining their count and positions.


    Knowing the count, as for their positions... Ling Chen listened closely, suddenly furrowing his brow. At the moment, his ears detected multiple sounds from the ground.


    This... was his count incorrect? Impossible! Ling Chen immediately dismissed this possibility. Given such a confined space, it wasn’t feasible to host over ten people without being noticed.


    Moving carefully, Ling Chen’s foot suddenly stepped on something round. Applying slight pressure, it instantly crushed. This is... Ling Chenughed aloud.


    Beans! So that’s it. Never seen this tactic before, today’s an eye-opener.


    The opponents used beans, dropped on the ground, to create faint sounds, thereby misleading or attracting enemy attention. Besides, these beans served another purpose – locating opponents.