Xia Lei, I hate you!
Xia Lei, I want to slit off your throat!
Xia Lei, I want to kill you!
Xia Lei, don’t you know that you’re the sole reason that I’m alive?
Xia Lei, today is my birthday. I want to tear your heart out as my birthday present!
Xia Lei, I swear I’ll make you remember me for life!
Xia Lei…
Every word carved on the wall was laced with hatred. Although the name of its carver was nowhere to be found, Xia Lei had already figured out who it was without giving it much thought. These words on the wall were left behind by Gu Kewen.
A vision popped out in his mind. Amid the bone-chilling wind and heavy flying snow, Gu Kewen was laid peacefully on the snow, as if it was a wonderful dream which she could not bring herself to leave.
Gu Kewen was dead. Though she was not done with her revenge, she had managed to achieve a little bit of it by imprinting herself into his memory for life. Xia Lei wanted to deny the fact but that was the harsh reality.
“Mister Xia?” It was Arthur’s voice.
Xia Lei snapped out of his thoughts and asked, “What?”
“You were spacing out.” Arthur shifted his gaze to the words carved on the wall. “I have seen those Chinese characters before. I even sought help from others to translate the words. The person who carved those words must have hated you so much. You probably already figured out who left these, right?”
“There’s no point assuming things. Who she was is no longer important. I have already killed her with my own hands.” Xia Lei sighed and placed a piece of gum into his mouth.
Arthur shrugged. “Fine, let’s plan our operation.”
“How many people do you approximately have?”
“Over a hundred.”
“I need an exact figure.” Xia Lei insisted.
“No problem,” Arthur replied nonchalantly. “In this operation, we had one hundred and forty people. We lost thirty-eight of them so we’re now left with another one hundred and two people.”
“The figure you mentioned covers the overall figure or merely the figure of Knights Hospitaller?”
“Of course the overall figure.” Arthur seemed displeased.
Xia Lei wanted to ask further, but he decided against it when he read Arthur’s expression. However, he was certain that the manpower sent by the Knights Hospitaller was significantly high based on his observation. There was at least more than half of the whole organization there.
“Have you searched that area?” asked Xia Lei.
“Of course we have.”
“How did you confirm that Dark Mona has been hiding in that area?”
“Corpses. We had conducted a search in that area thrice, three people were sacrificed in the first, two people in the second and another two in the last. Which was why we believe that she is still in that area.”
“When was the last search conducted?”
“The operation was done yesterday from two in the afternoon till six in the evening. We decided to stop for the night. Dark Mona did the same because she was only left with the choice to hide at night or else she’ll freeze to death,” answered Arthur.
“We will start the operation tomorrow morning. You lead your team and I will lead mine.” Xia Lei pointed to a GPS map displayed on his military tablet and continued, “My team and I will enter the area from the three o’clock direction. Since you have more manpower, try to divide your people into three teams and instruct them to enter the area from the six o’clock, nine o’clock and twelve o’clock direction respectively. With this arrangement, we can expand our search area.”
“No problem.”
“As soon as you found their tracks, start shooting to alert everyone immediately. The rest of the teams shall rush to back the team up and surround the target, okay?”
“Sure, no problem.” Arthur continued, “There’s still a little time left before dawn. How about you and your team take a rest in the tent we prepared for you by the lakeside?”
“It’s fine, we have our own equipment. Thank you, Mister Arthur.” Xia Lei leaned towards Arthur with his arms stretched.
Without hesitation, Arthur responded with a hug.
While enveloped in each other’s arms, Arthur snuck something into Xia Lei’s shirt pocket stealthily. At the same time, Xia Lei stuck his tongue out, and the piece of gum fell onto his palm. A micro-sized electronic device was already laid quietly on his palm and the gum he spat out fell just right on the device within a split second. It wrapped the device without covering its receiver. His finger then sprung it upwards. The gum flew and stuck itself firmly on the wall surface above the fireplace.
Swiftly, Xia Lei left the wooden house after the hug.
“What’s going on, Boss?” Yelena approached.
Xia Lei said, “The operation will begin at dawn. Let’s find a place to set up our tent and take a rest.”
Sa’im called out, “Boss…”
Before Sa’im finished his words, Xia Lei gave him a look. Xia Lei uttered, “What do you want to say?”
Sa’im, who was the core intel source for the Chinese Zodiac Battle Team, quickly understood Xia Lei’s intention. He quickly changed his mind and replied, “I was wondering where we should set up our tent. This place is freezing!”
Xia Lei said, “Let’s set it up in the forest over there, perhaps the trees could shield us from the wind.”
While he led the Chinese Zodiac Battle Team to the forest, he dug out the spy bug which Arthur had hid in his pocket and examined it before pocketing it again.
The members of the Chinese Zodiac Battle Team saw the bug and realized that they were being spied on.
Xia Lei initiated a conversation. “The Knight Hospitallers are really useless. They couldn’t even hunt down a single person with the strength of one hundred over people. I can’t believe that they’re actually relying on me to help them.”
“We must show them what we’re capable of!” Alessio bragged loudly.
“Where would that bitch Dark Mona be? I can’t wait to hunt her down, and feed her to the dogs after slicing her into pieces,” said Yelena.
They travelled further as they conversed.
Back in the wooden house, Arthur was checking his pockets and collar warily and found nothing. The speakers of his military tablet on the table were playing the conversation between Xia Lei and his team very clearly.
With a curl of his lips, a cold grin appeared on Arthur’s face. “The intel was accurate. Women truly are your greatest weaknesses.”
The Grey and Russo sisters walked in.
Giovanna voiced out, “Lieutenant, we saw Xia Lei and his subordinates heading to somewhere else. Are they not staying in the tent we prepared?”
“I’ve already seen this coming. He’s a very cautious man.” Arthur continued, “Well, as long as they’re here, our goal is met. Let them fight ferociously with the FA Organization and we’ll wait till when they’re beaten down before we swoop in!”
“Is he aware that Dark Mona is not the only FA member hiding in that area?” asked Stella.
“What do you think? Even if Dark Mona was the God of War, she wouldn’t be able to withstand a hundred of our guns, right?” replied Arthur.
“Hopefully we can make it this time.” Theresa scowled. “Things will become difficult if he does make it back to China,” Arthur responded with a cold smile. “Both of you have done well by coaxing Xia Lei to Siberia. God will remember your deeds.”
“Tuitio fidei et obsequium pauperum.” The Grey and Russo sisters replied simultaneously as they drew the cross.
“Go and stay by Xia Lei’s side,” Arthur said. “It isn’t enough to eavesdrop Xia Lei and his folks, I need you to keep an eye on them.”
“He is…” Theresa bit her lips but finally spat it out. “He is lustful and despicable, he disgusts me.”
Arthur glared at her. “Women are his sole weakness. I hope you do know that you’re an esteemed knight of the Knight Hospitaller. Have you forgotten the oath that you swore to?”
“Right away, sir.” Giovanna left.
The other three ladies followed suit to leave the wooden house. The four of them headed towards the direction where Xia Lei left.
Xia Lei held his earplugs in place while eavesdropping them from fifty meters ahead with a faint smirk.
The Grey and Russo sisters were not the reasons behind his journey to Siberia. It was ridiculous that Arthur had assumed that he was tempted by them. It seemed that his deliberate
lewd act of sliding his hand into Theresa’s skirt in front of Arthur was successful. Xia Lei had successfully led Arthur into believing that women were his sole weakness.
Arthur’s plan was not the least bit complicated. He was using Dark Mona to lure Xia Lei to Siberia. The man had planned to weaken his force by taking advantage of the FA Organization. After that, they would capture him and trade him in exchange for their sacred relic. Their desire to possess the sacred relic had prevailed the honour and credibility of the knights.
As the wind struck his face, Xia Lei thought to himself. “You are not the only one who’s counting on dismantling the opponent with the FA group’s force. Wait till I kill Dark Mona and you will get what you deserved. Like they always say, an eye for an eye. Since you wanted to use me in exchange for your sacred relic, I will force the answers I want from your mouth!”
Though it was very risky to be in Siberia, it was strategically wise to be here. Four of the members of the Chinese Zodiac Battle Team were killed by Dark Mona. Tsukino Kyoko, Sa’im and Anjum Khan had appeared to him with the intention of bringing them along to Siberia to avenge their comrades. This would further polish his integrity which would later enable him to have a powerful grip over the Chinese Zodiac Battle Team. Another motive of this Siberia operation was to weaken the strength of the Knights Hospitaller and of course, to make Arthur spill the beans.
That was why he was here despite knowing that this operation would be extremely dangerous.
The risk was oftentimes proportional to its outcome. The greater the risk, the better the outcome would.
“Wait for us, Mister Xia!” Giovanna’s voice echoed from behind them.
Xia Lei sent a look to his folks then faked a smirk. “Sigh, women are so troublesome. There are four of them, but I only have one cock. Do you know that I have to sleep with them one by one every night? It’s physically taxing.”
“Haha! Boss, I hope you brought some Viagra,” Alessio joked.
“You men are really disgusting,” complained Tsukino Kyoko though her amusement was obvious.
Yelena spat on the floor. “I need to stay away from you guys tonight. Their moans are so irritating! The last time you had fun with them all night, I didn’t get a single wink of sleep!”
“Oh, my bad. I guess I’m just better than I thought, haha!” Xia Lei grin was incredibly lewd.
He suddenly came to a realization that every member of the Chinese Zodiac Battle Team were naturally gifted actors.