r18novel Chapter 903 Anti-tracking
Chapter 903 Anti-tracking
Hu Han's mind was as clear as a mirror; he'd long seen through Li Sheng's subtle motives—he simply felt he had no chance of advancement by following him around, and he harbored a simmering resentment. He also knew the director's intention in assigning them this mission was clear: he wanted the impulsive Li Sheng to learn some sense of propriety, temper his temper, and gain some practical experience.
Hu Han didn't say anything more. After all, saying too much would make it seem deliberate. He nodded at Li Sheng, then followed one of the people monitoring Gu Nan and left first.
Li Sheng, looking over at the men assigned to monitor Gu Nan, was clearly reluctant. He felt the job was dull and unchallenging, unlike the exhilaration of rushing in and arresting people. But this was a direct order from his superiors, a military order like a mountain. He could only suppress his impatience and patiently instructed his men, "Keep your spirits up, keep a close eye, and make sure nothing goes wrong." He then found a secluded corner and stood guard.
The two men tasked with tracking Gu Nan were: one nicknamed Monkey, slight but more agile than anyone else; the other, Ma Zi, with a few light moles on his face, looked unremarkable, yet his eyes were exceptionally sharp. Ma Zi was currently crouching under a locust tree across from Gu Nan's courtyard, his eyes fixed intently on the gate, afraid to miss a single movement. He had specifically asked Monkey to report back first—after all, when it came to running errands and delivering information, no one on the team could match Monkey, and he felt most confident handing this job to him.
Monkey, clutching the newly memorized note, hurried toward the tavern they'd agreed to meet. His steps were brisk, his gaze seemingly casual, yet in reality, he was vigilant. As he walked, the hairs on the back of his neck suddenly stood up: something was amiss. It felt like a pair of eyes were staring back at him. The gaze wasn't sharp, but it carried a lingering, sticky quality.
But Monkey had been in this business for years, having worked his way through the streets and alleys, and his anti-reconnaissance skills had long been honed. Although he was frightened, his face didn't show it at all. He continued to walk slowly forward, even turning into the grocery store next door, pretending to pick something up. He glanced back in the reflection of the glass counter - and sure enough, a man in a gray cloth coat was standing at the alley entrance. His eyes seemed distracted, but his peripheral vision was fixed firmly on the shop door.
Hu Han, following behind, had no idea he'd been spotted. He thought to himself that his footsteps were light and his distance was just right, completely unnoticed. He continued to follow him closely, thinking: This monkey may look inconspicuous, but it's quite alert. I need to follow it for a while to see where he's going with his message.
As Monkey emerged from the grocery store, the more he walked, the more certain he became: This guy is definitely coming for him. He gritted his teeth, a glint of ruthlessness in his eyes—he must be tired of living to have dared to follow him. He had to find a chance to catch this guy and finish him off quickly and easily, so he wouldn't be a hindrance. He kept walking, already thinking about the cluttered dead end ahead: right there, he'd go in and make sure he never came back.
As he spoke, the man in front suddenly quickened his pace. He was as agile as a civet cat, turning left and right in the alleys. The stone slabs under his feet made a "thump thump" sound, and his speed was obviously much faster than before.
Hu Han's heart tightened behind him, and his pupils contracted slightly. This reaction was too obvious. The other party had clearly discovered him! He subconsciously tried to catch up, but just as he raised his foot, he stopped abruptly.
Hu Han thought to himself: Now that he's been discovered, there's no point in pursuing him relentlessly. He must be extremely wary now. If I pursue him relentlessly, he might become desperate and startle them. Then, alerting them, I could ruin the bureau's plans, which would be troublesome. He slowly stopped, retreating into the shadows of a corner, and watched the man disappear at the end of the alley.
Elsewhere, the man known as "Monkey" suddenly dodged, nimbly hiding behind a mottled stone wall. He leaned against the cold wall, holding his breath and listening intently, his palms sweating slightly. After waiting for about half a minute, figuring the other party would catch up, he spun around, fists clenched, poised to strike at any moment—but there was no one behind him. Not even a shadow of a figure could be heard, even the sound of the wind was remarkably clear.
Monkey's brow knitted into a knot, his eyes filled with confusion. He took two hesitant steps forward, glancing left and right. Was he being too sensitive? That little noise just now might have been just a minor disturbance, and no one was following him at all? He scratched his head, grumbling to himself, but he remained cautious and walked deeper into the cave at a faster pace.
Hu Han could see clearly from the corner, and his heart grew increasingly tense. He briefly considered changing his route and circling forward to continue following, but the thought of the man's alertness and skill suppressed the thought. His tracking skills were considered excellent within the bureau, but this time he had been spotted so easily. This was something no ordinary person could achieve.
He made a quick decision: no more reckless action, I had to report back to the police station. This matter was probably more serious than I had imagined—anyone with such anti-detection capabilities couldn't be some idle street thug, but most likely an organized, trained gang.
Hu Han didn't dare to delay, turned around and hurried to the Public Security Bureau, his footsteps so hurried that they raised a gust of wind.
At this time, at the entrance of the Public Security Bureau, Tong Ren was carrying his briefcase and preparing to leave work. As he reached the bottom of the stairs, he saw Hu Han running towards him. He couldn't help but feel a little surprised. He stopped and asked, "Hu Han? Why are you back? Didn't I ask you to keep an eye on those who were monitoring Gu Nan? What happened?"
Hu Han took a breath and quickly recounted the incident of being discovered while following the other party and how agile he was. He said in a serious tone, "Director Tong, I think this is not a simple matter. Those people's anti-reconnaissance capabilities are too strong. They are definitely not ordinary thugs. Should we ask Gu Nan to see if he has offended any powerful people recently?"
Tong Ren frowned after hearing this, nodded, and said solemnly, "Alright, I understand. Leave it to me. I'll arrange for someone to investigate." He paused, as if suddenly remembering something, and asked, "By the way, how did Li Sheng perform this time? Did he get upset like last time?"
Hu Han knew that this mission was meant to train Li Sheng, so he replied truthfully, "Director Tong, Li Sheng is indeed a bit impatient and impulsive, but he was relatively steady this time and didn't act rashly. After all, he's young and inexperienced, so we need to give him more encouragement and guidance."