Chapter 138: Green Mountain Study

"That gunshot led the police station to our safe house. Given that it involves Hynes, the police won't give up the search easily. We cannot return to the safe house; we must kidnap Chen Wennan right now."

Listening to Chen Wenqi, Li Wensheng, who was wiping blood from his face with a tissue, glanced at his watch. "At this hour, Chen Wennan should be at the Qingyan Study. I need to change my clothes, or it won't be easy to get in."

The Qingyan Study was a cultural exchange venue established by the Iwai Mansion, specifically designed to attract the literati and refined scholars of Shanghai. Although it wasn't heavily fortified, it still had over a dozen armed agents.

"No need to change. We're changing the plan. We originally intended to kidnap him for ransom, but now we must be swift and decisive. Let's treat it as a liquidation of a traitor. You walk to the entrance of the study, and I will fire a shot. You act as if you're a Japanese agent being hunted; kill the guards at the door and charge straight in. Remember, except for Chen Wennan, everyone must die. Do not leave a single survivor."

"Understood," Li Wensheng nodded slightly.

Shortly after eleven in the morning, the car arrived at the second branch road of Fuxing West Road. The area was steeped in cultural atmosphere; the shops on both sides of the street sold nothing but books, calligraphy, antique paintings, or brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.

When they were about a hundred meters from the Qingyan Study, the car pulled over. Chen Wenqi drew her pistol and turned to look at Li Wensheng. "Be careful. As soon as you reach the entrance, I will fire."

"Understood!"

Li Wensheng drew his pistol, stepped out of the car, and walked toward the Qingyan Study ahead.

Those who frequented this street were either scholars or merchants buying gifts. In the summer heat, with the sun at its most blistering at noon, no one would be out. The street was as desolate as a ghost town.

When he was about twenty meters away from the Qingyan Study, Li Wensheng flexed his jaw to loosen his face, then clutched his stomach with his left hand, put on a look of terror, and staggered toward the study.

The Qingyan Study was decorated in a Japanese style, with sliding doors that added to its classical aesthetic. As Li Wensheng reached the entrance, *bang!* Chen Wenqi fired a shot into the air from the car.

The gunshot served as a signal. Li Wensheng shoved the doors open and shouted in Japanese, panic in his voice, "Save me!"

Inside the entrance was a small vestibule, where two men in Japanese attire immediately drew their pistols and aimed them at Li Wensheng.

*Thump!* Li Wensheng collapsed to the ground as if gravely wounded.

"Save me! There are Chinese agents outside hunting me!" Li Wensheng cried out in a weak tone.

The two men exchanged glances and slowly lowered their weapons.

"Watch him. I’ll go find Mr. Aoyama," one said to the other.

The second man nodded and walked toward Li Wensheng.

"What is your name?" the man asked, eager to assist, as he reached out to help Li Wensheng up.

The next second, his pupils dilated, his face filled with shock.

Li Wensheng pulled the dagger he had plunged into the man's heart, then flicked his left hand, sending the blade flying toward the other man. The second man had just opened the sliding door leading further inside; unaware of what was happening, the dagger pierced his neck, killing him instantly.

*Thump, thump.* Two bodies hit the floor, one after the other.

Li Wensheng stepped forward to retrieve his dagger, stepped over the corpses, and entered the main hall of the Qingyan Study. The hall was empty save for a few low tables. Li Wensheng scanned the room and headed for the stairs.

On the second floor, the corridor was lined with private rooms on both sides. They were in a Japanese style, with no solid walls, only sliding doors made of wood and paper. Several guards stood in the hallway; as soon as Li Wensheng appeared, they reached for their guns.

*Bang, bang...*

They were too slow. Before they could draw their weapons, Li Wensheng raised his right hand and fired rapidly.

After clearing them, Li Wensheng strode toward the third room on the left. When the first shot rang out, he had clearly heard a panicked cry of "Ah!" from that room.

Just as he reached the door and reached out to slide it open, Li Wensheng threw himself to the side.

*Bang, bang...*

Several bullets tore through the paper-and-wood door, leaving holes. After landing, Li Wensheng immediately rose, grabbing one of the corpses and hurling it into the third room on the left.

*Bang!* The body shattered the sliding door and crashed inside, triggering screams of terror.

Then, *bang!*

The moment he threw the body, Li Wensheng dashed to the doorway. As the screams echoed from within, he kicked the door open.

Entering the room, Li Wensheng flicked his left hand, driving his dagger into the heart of a middle-aged man holding a pistol.

*Bang, bang...*

As he withdrew the blade, his right hand fired, killing the other three men in the room, leaving only Chen Wennan, who wore thick glasses.

"Don't kill me, don't kill me! I was just looking at calligraphy! Please, don't kill me!"

Seeing Li Wensheng, covered in blood, stepping over the corpses toward him, Chen Wennan wept and begged for his life.

*Bang!*

Amidst Chen Wennan’s pleas, Li Wensheng stepped forward and knocked him unconscious with a sharp blow to the neck.

After knocking him out, Li Wensheng did not leave immediately but checked the other rooms. Most were empty, but one contained several middle-aged men with the air of scholars. After dealing with them, Li Wensheng returned and hoisted Chen Wennan over his shoulder.

There were more agents in the Qingyan Study than just those few. As Li Wensheng carried Chen Wennan out of the room, several more appeared at the top of the stairs.

*Bang, bang...*

Li Wensheng fired rapidly, taking them down before they could even raise their weapons.

He reached the ground floor and walked toward the back of the building. Passing through a small corridor, he entered the courtyard. The backyard followed a classical Chinese layout, with the courtyard, kitchen, and several utility rooms all single-story.

*Bang!*

Hearing faint whimpering from a utility room, Li Wensheng fired in the direction of the sound. The crying stopped. Li Wensheng then entered the kitchen.

It was nearly noon, the time for cooking. The chefs and servants were hiding in various corners. Listening to their breathing, Li Wensheng fired five shots into cabinets and wooden partitions.

He listened again, and once he was certain the breathing had stopped, he left the kitchen. After checking the other utility rooms and confirming they were empty, he fired a random shot into a large water vat in the yard and walked out.

When the gunshots erupted inside the Qingyan Study, Chen Wenqi had already started the car and pulled up to the entrance.

After Li Wensheng emerged, he opened the back door, tossed Chen Wennan onto Liu Liping, closed the door, opened the front passenger door, and sat down.