120: Chapter 120 Perilous Ambush! Remnants of the Enemy Block the Road with Tricks, Feigning Weakness to Subdue the Enemy and Reveal Brilliance (1)

The golden glow of the setting sun draped over the mountains like shredded gauze, stretching Mu Li's figure long and straight. With his canvas travel bag containing his change of clothes and travel itinerary slung over his neat work clothes, his steps were light but unhurried, landing firmly as he walked along the winding mountain road away from the project site. According to his plan, he was to walk to the bus stop at the foot of the mountain, take a local bus to the high-speed railway station in the county, and then head to the seaside town he had been dreaming of—Qinglan Bay. The evening breeze in the mountains carried the crisp scent of vegetation and a hint of evening chill, brushing gently against his cheeks and blowing away the fatigue of days spent staying up late to investigate and struggling through dangerous situations. Mu Li tilted his head slightly, taking a deep breath of the refreshing, invigorating air. His chest rose and fell slowly, and the suppressed feeling dissipated instantly. In his mind, the warm sun by the sea, the white sandy beach, and the clear blue sea clearly emerged, making his steps even lighter. At this moment, he felt a rare sense of relaxation, hoping to use this trip to temporarily unload the heavy burden of guarding the project and let his tense nerves have a moment of respite.

However, just as he reached a bend built along the mountain, his peripheral vision suddenly caught two black shadows flickering past in the dense woods on the right. Although the movement of the branches and leaves was slight, it did not escape Mu Li's eyes, which had been vigilant for years. Mu Li's steps paused subconsciously for half a second, then slowed down. He pressed his soles firmly against the ground to steady himself, the relaxed smile on his face instantly fading. His expression immediately became solemn and alert, and the aura around him quietly tightened. Chen Tian and Li Mo had already been captured, and the mole Sun Qiang had also been successfully controlled, but deep down, he had never relaxed for a moment—the "Dark Web Phantom" had been entrenched for many years with deep roots and would definitely not be completely wiped out just because a few leaders were captured. There must be remnants lurking around the project, and as the core figure who had repeatedly sabotaged the organization's plans and shattered their conspiracies, he was bound to be their primary target for retaliation. A chill brushed past his heart; he secretly warned himself not to be careless. The closer he was to a moment of relaxation, the more he needed to keep his guard up.

He forced himself to calm down, straightened his upper body slightly, and continued walking nonchalantly. His fingertips brushed against the fabric inside his jacket, quietly reaching into his pocket. His fingertips precisely felt the cold, small miniature signal transmitter and pressed it gently to confirm the device was normal—this was something he carried with him before setting out. Being prepared for anything was an instinct he had developed over years of guarding the project's security, and it was also caution carved into his bones. At this moment, this small device became his most solid backing. At the same time, a thought quickly formed in his mind: it was better to turn the tables. He deliberately slowed his pace, let his shoulders slump slightly, relaxed his back so it was no longer straight, bent his legs, and walked with a slight limp, looking like someone exhausted physically and mentally from days of high-intensity work. He even frowned slightly, raised his right hand, rubbed his temples with his fingertips, and let out a few deliberately disguised hoarse coughs, his voice carrying a hint of weakness, perfectly feigning a state of physical collapse. He wanted to gamble—to bet that these two shadows were coming for him. If he won the bet, he would take advantage of this remote location to completely eliminate these hidden remnants. This would not only clear away any worries for his trip but also add another layer of stability to the project, living up to the responsibility on his shoulders.

Sure enough, just a few steps after he feigned a stumbling gait, rapid and heavy footsteps came from behind. The footsteps were chaotic but deliberately light, as if the other party was also trying to hide their tracks, yet they could not hide their inner urgency. Immediately after, two men wearing black hoodies and black masks rushed out from the woods like hungry wolves. Their figures were agile but slightly crude. They stepped forward from left and right, their feet stomping heavily on the ground to firmly block his path, trapping him in a dead corner of the bend. Both men held a short stick as thick as an arm, their knuckles turning white from the force. The short sticks hung slightly but pointed directly at Mu Li. Through the gaps in their masks, their eyes stared fiercely at Mu Li, filled with resentment and greed. Their tone was cold and bone-chilling, without a trace of warmth: "Mu Li, didn't expect this, did you? We're still here waiting for you!"

Mu Li understood immediately. They were indeed people from the "Dark Web Phantom." His vigilance increased, but on the surface, an expression of just the right amount of panic appeared. He took a small step back with his left foot, slid slightly, and deliberately made a staggering motion, as if he had been severely intimidated by their momentum. His right hand subconsciously gripped the strap of his travel bag, holding it tightly to his chest as if looking for a sense of security. His body trembled slightly, and his voice also carried a hint of deliberately disguised trembling. His eyes were filled with "fear": "Who... who are you? I don't know you! I'm just an ordinary engineer passing by here, don't stop me!" His actions were humble and cowardly, perfectly playing the role of a timid and vulnerable ordinary person. He knew that this "showing weakness" was not cowardice, but the best way to paralyze them. Only by letting them lower their guard could he find the most decisive moment to counterattack.

"Who we are doesn't matter!" The man on the left sneered, his voice full of mockery. He stepped forward, his feet crushing heavily on the ground. The short stick in his hand tapped "bang, bang" against his other palm. The dull sound was particularly harsh in the quiet mountains, carrying a naked threat. "What's important is that you ruined the big plans of our 'Dark Web Phantom,' killed our brothers, and captured our boss. Today, you will pay for what you've done! Although Boss Chen Tian has been caught, dealing with a small chief engineer like you is more than enough for us!" His tone was extremely arrogant, clearly not putting this "cowardly" Mu Li in his eyes.

The fingers Mu Li had hanging by his side tightened slightly, his knuckles turning pale. He was now completely certain that these two were remnants of the "Dark Web Phantom." A chill grew quietly, but it did not disrupt his composure. He continued to maintain the appearance of being afraid, his body trembling uncontrollably, his shoulders shrinking slightly, and his voice growing even humbler. His eyes were filled with "pleading": "What... what do you want? I really am just an ordinary engineer. I don't know anything, and I haven't ruined any of your business... As for the Nuclear Fusion Power Station project, I was just following orders. Please, let me go!" He deliberately lowered his stance, step by step paralyzing the other party's vigilance, while in his mind, he was rapidly calculating countermeasures—these two men looked average in their skills, only arrogant because there were more of them and they had weapons. Moreover, his current location was very remote. There were few vehicles or pedestrians on the mountain road, and there were no unrelated people around. It was the perfect time to act. It had to be a quick battle; he had to avoid getting injured, not delay his high-speed train, and not attract more remnant enemies, which would only add trouble. Guarding the project's safety was a responsibility, and protecting himself was the only way to better uphold that responsibility.

"Stop playing dumb!" The man on the right scolded impatiently, the ferocity in his eyes intensifying. He stepped forward, the short stick in his hand raised abruptly, pointing directly at Mu Li's chest. The tip of the stick was almost touching Mu Li's clothes, and his tone was fierce: "The Nuclear Fusion Power Station project and Boss Chen Tian's plans were all ruined by you! Today, we're going to cripple you, throw your project into complete chaos, and make all of you pay for it! If you're smart, come with us obediently; maybe you'll suffer a little less. If you dare to resist, we'll make sure you leave here horizontally today!"

Mu Li slowly lowered his head, his eyelids drooping slightly to hide the look in his eyes. He deliberately frowned, his lips pressed into a straight line, and his shoulders tensed slightly, putting on a show of hesitation and being caught in a dilemma. However, deep in his eyes, there was clarity and calmness; he was already prepared to act. He quietly rolled his eyes, using his peripheral vision to quickly size up their positioning. His left-hand fingers moved subtly, storing power—the man on the left had thick wrists but looked slightly clumsy, and his footing was not steady. The man on the right had a thin build, but his movements were relatively agile, and his attention was entirely focused on his face. The two of them had no idea that the aura on him had quietly changed. Beneath that cowardice and humility hid the sharpness and composure of a veteran of many battles, the confidence accumulated from facing danger countless times, and the determination to guard the project and never retreat. He counted down silently in his heart, waiting for that optimal moment for a counterattack.

"I... I can go with you, but you can't hurt me." Mu Li slowly raised his head, his eyes carrying just the right amount of "submission" and "fear." His voice was humble to the extreme, and he deliberately slowed down his speaking speed to delay time. His left hand quietly moved to his side, his fingertips bending slightly, while in his heart, he had already locked onto the man on the left—the other party was too impatient, his vigilance was the lowest, and he was the perfect breakthrough point.

"Cut the crap! Where do you get off demanding conditions? Come with us now!" The man on the left, completely paralyzed by Mu Li's "cowardice," reached out his right hand impatiently, palm inward, and lunged toward Mu Li's arm. The movement was rough and casual, with the wind created by his fingers, clearly having completely relaxed his vigilance, having no idea what was about to happen.

Just as his hand was about to touch Mu Li's sleeve, the "fear" in Mu Li's eyes instantly faded, replaced by cold sharpness and decisiveness. The aura around him erupted suddenly, a completely different person from the cowardly and humble figure just a moment ago. All disguises were stripped away instantly, and the vigilance and determination accumulated in his heart transformed into swift, clean actions—his body leaned violently to the left, his figure as light as a cheetah. His soles tapped lightly on the ground, his center of gravity shifted rapidly, and he easily avoided the man's hand. At the same time, his right hand reached out like lightning, his fingertips precisely locking onto the man's wrist, his fingertips pressing hard against the other party's pulse, and his palm exerting force. Immediately following, he twisted his wrist inward violently, the movement crisp and clean, with just the right amount of force—only a crisp "crack" of a bone fracture was heard, accompanied by the man's heart-wrenching scream. The short stick in his hand fell to the ground with a "clatter," rolling down the slope of the road into the bushes on the side. Mu Li used a slight force on his wrist, pinning the man's arm to prevent him from struggling. There was not a shred of pity in his heart. These people had committed many evils and attempted to destroy a key national project. Subduing them today was both self-preservation and the elimination of hidden dangers, upholding his original intention and responsibility.

The man on the right was shocked, his body stiffening suddenly, his face instantly turning pale, and his eyes filled with disbelief—he never expected that Mu Li, who had just looked timid and vulnerable, would suddenly become so formidable, attacking so fast and ruthlessly, subduing his accomplice in one move. He froze for a second before reacting, the arrogance in his heart instantly replaced by fear. However, he refused to give up. Gripping the short stick with both hands, he raised it high, and while Mu Li was still controlling the man on the left, he lunged forward, brandishing the short stick and smashing it fiercely at Mu Li's back, wanting to catch Mu Li off guard.

Mu Li had been prepared. His years of security work had given him the habit of always paying attention to movements behind him. Hearing the sound of wind from behind, he felt no panic, having already anticipated the opponent's counterattack. He kicked his left foot backward violently, his sole straight and full of force, kicking exactly into the man's lower abdomen. He exerted a little force with his toes and pressed down hard. With a muffled grunt, the man bent over in pain, curling into a ball. The short stick in his hand flew out, and his face turned deathly pale. Cold sweat instantly soaked the clothes on his back, and he staggered back a few steps. Mu Li took the opportunity to release the wrist of the man on the left, flashed, and quickly turned around. With his right foot firmly rooted on the ground, he clenched his right fist and, with the sound of wind, smashed it fiercely into the man's cheek—"bang," a muffled sound. The man screamed and fell backward, crashing heavily onto the cold road. His head hit the gravel on the road, and he instantly fainted, moving no more. The series of movements was smooth and flowing, without any hesitation. Every action was precise and ruthless, with only one thought in his heart: quick battle, eliminate the threat.

The man on the left had his wrist twisted, the pain piercing and bone-deep. Cold sweat slid down his cheeks, soaking his mask. He looked down at his deformed wrist, then raised his eyes to see his accomplice, who had been knocked to the ground and was unconscious. Terrified out of his wits, his face turned pale as paper. The earlier arrogance was gone, and only endless fear remained in his heart. Ignoring the excruciating pain in his wrist, he propped himself up on the ground, struggled to stand, and turned to run into the woods, his steps staggering, his figure unstable, wanting to take the opportunity to escape Mu Li's pursuit and save his life.

How could Mu Li give him a chance to escape? He snorted coldly, watching the man's pathetic back with icy eyes. His steps were light as he chased after him, his soles pushing off the ground powerfully, his movements swift as the wind. In just a few steps, he caught up to the man. He leaned slightly to the side, extended his right foot, and hooked his toes lightly, precisely tripping the man's ankle. The movement looked gentle, but it carried an irresistible force.