Chapter 104

Chapter 104: Ran into an Acquaintance.

Hiding in the dark was something Gu Ning excelled at. Even a cat might not tread more lightly than her. She moved swiftly in the shadows, within ten meters of the villa, where the streetlights illuminated the area brightly. Gu Ning darted quickly behind a row of crabapple trees.

As a flashlight swept past the tree she was hiding behind, Gu Ning crouched and dashed towards the wall, pressing her back tightly against it. To avoid making noise, she kicked off her shoes into the grass thicket. After ensuring no one was around, she lightly stepped forward, and vines sprouted from the ground on the other side of the wall, rapidly climbing and spreading over it.

Gu Ning grabbed one end of the vine, quickly wrapped it around her hand, and swiftly scaled the wall. In a blink, she was over the wall, landing softly on the grass. Without hesitation, she dashed off like a shadow in one direction.

As she ran, a clear mental map of the villa’s layout appeared in her mind.

Gu Ning avoided the patrolling guards and circled to the back of the villa, where a large swimming pool was located. Above it was an open balcony on the second floor. Gu Ning planned to enter the villa through this balcony. However, two men were currently standing there, chatting.

Fortunately, the villa’s landscaping was well-maintained. Gu Ning hid behind an unnamed shrub and glanced at her watch. Thirteen minutes had passed since Ji Jiuzhe’s twenty-minute deadline, leaving her seven minutes to infiltrate the villa.

She waited patiently behind the shrub, hoping the two men on the balcony would finish their conversation and leave soon.

However, the two seemed to be enjoying their chat. Time ticked by, and seven minutes passed with no sign of them leaving. Gu Ning grew anxious, staring intently at the two figures on the balcony. Another three minutes passed, and just as she was about to seek another route, the two men finally walked inside.

Without wasting any more time, Gu Ning quickly ran to the base of the balcony. A coconut tree stood about a meter away from the balcony. She climbed it swiftly, using both hands and feet. After reaching the top, she listened carefully to ensure no one was nearby before leaping onto the balcony.

By now, four of the ten minutes Ji Jiuzhe had given her had passed. Time was running short. She recalled the villa’s layout once more, confirmed her direction, and began running barefoot on the cold marble floor.

Gu Ning moved like a shadow along the walls, avoiding people as she navigated through the corridors. Every pore on her body was alert, sensing her surroundings. Her tense nerves and sharp ears captured every sound around her.

Hearing voices from the left corridor, Gu Ning’s forward momentum halted abruptly. She sprang back like a coiled spring, retreating to the corridor she had come from. When the footsteps headed in the opposite direction, she sighed in relief and prepared to move forward again. Suddenly, a hand gripped her shoulder, forcefully turning her around!

Gu Ning’s heart skipped a beat, but her face remained calm. She allowed herself to be turned, then suddenly crouched, slipping out of the man’s grasp. Her reaction speed and agility had once astonished everyone in the Five-Star Brigade except Ji Jiuzhe. Now, she unleashed her full potential, moving with blinding speed to the tall man’s back. With a swift chop, she targeted the spot Ji Jiuzhe had told her was most effective for knocking someone out.

The man was caught off guard by Gu Ning’s speed. He had thought he had her, but she slipped away like a slippery eel. A sharp pain shot through the back of his neck, and everything went black as he collapsed.

Gu Ning caught him just before he hit the ground, opened a nearby door, and dragged him inside, shoving him under the bed. She then quickly exited and continued towards her target.

Carefully opening another door, she slipped inside. The room was dark, but it didn’t hinder Gu Ning’s vision. She quickly scanned the spacious room and located the massive bookshelf Ji Jiuzhe had mentioned, which covered almost an entire wall. The floor was covered with a plush carpet. Gu Ning approached the bookshelf, but the top shelf was nearly at the ceiling. Spotting a small ladder on the other side, she quickly moved it over and climbed up to retrieve the seventh book from the right.

Just as her hand touched the book, a click sounded—the door lock was being turned! Someone was coming!

With a snap, the lights turned on, flooding the room with brightness.

Simultaneously, Gu Ning rolled under the desk in front of the bookshelf, holding her breath. The book had already entered her space. She glanced at her watch and cursed silently—thirteen minutes had passed. She had lost time dealing with the man under the bed. As she fumed, a pair of shiny black leather shoes appeared in front of her. The person had walked over and sat down at the desk.

Gu Ning froze, barely daring to breathe.

This wasn’t the apocalypse; she couldn’t risk entering her space. If someone saw her reappear, the consequences would be dire.

Where was Ji Jiuzhe now? Had he already left?

A loud bang!

Before Gu Ning could react, the desk above her was flung aside!

As the light hit her golden hair, Gu Ning sprang up, ready to subdue the man. But when she saw his face, she was stunned. Who else could that shock of silver hair belong to but White Wolf? However, her shock lasted only a moment before her hand shot towards White Wolf’s face!

White Wolf seemed equally surprised to see Gu Ning but quickly recovered. He kicked off the ground, sending the office chair rolling back as he blocked Gu Ning’s incoming strike with his leg.

Gu Ning missed twice, her anxiety growing. She was worried the commotion would attract the guards outside. She had no intention of engaging White Wolf in a prolonged fight. After a feint, she dashed towards the door.

“Trying to leave?” White Wolf caught up in a few strides, reaching for Gu Ning’s shoulder. Gu Ning saw it out of the corner of her eye and quickly turned off the lights, plunging the room into darkness again. She then bent and twisted, nimbly circling behind White Wolf, aiming to knock him out as she had done before. But White Wolf was faster! He turned and blocked her chop, then relentlessly reached for her again! Gu Ning sidestepped, driving her elbow hard towards White Wolf’s armpit!

White Wolf was slightly taken aback by Gu Ning’s quick reflexes and had to step back half a step. But this retreat only ignited a fierce determination in his eyes. Instead of trying to grab her, he launched a direct attack!

Gu Ning felt the pressure mount. She struggled to block White Wolf’s relentless assault while inwardly marveling at his combat skills, which were almost on par with Ji Jiuzhe’s!

She couldn’t beat Ji Jiuzhe, and naturally, she couldn’t beat White Wolf either. Thanks to her daily rigorous training, she managed to hold her own against White Wolf for several moves. She also noticed that the darkness didn’t hinder him much.

Finally, White Wolf found an opening and twisted her arm behind her back, slamming her against the wall. Just as Gu Ning braced for impact, White Wolf suddenly eased his force. She felt only a slight pain, not severe, and was firmly pinned against the wall.

She tried to kick, but White Wolf’s leg intercepted, her knee hitting the wall painfully.

White Wolf leaned in closer, one hand still firmly holding Gu Ning’s arm against the wall while the other covered her mouth.

A strange feeling washed over Gu Ning, accompanied by a sense of déjà vu regarding her current predicament—

Just as this feeling surfaced, White Wolf spoke behind her, his tone a mix of triumph and disbelief, “It really is you!”

It really is you? What did he mean by that?

A sudden realization hit Gu Ning. She remembered the dark alley where she had been inexplicably “kidnapped” and used as a cover. Could it be that the person that day was White Wolf? Gu Ning was both shocked and uncertain.

Suddenly, a loud bang! The tightly shut door beside them was violently kicked open!

Both Gu Ning and White Wolf turned their heads in surprise to see Ji Jiuzhe, dressed in a sharp suit, striding in. Behind him, five or six men seemed cowed by his presence, not daring to step forward.