122: Chapter 122 Perilous Ambush! Remnants of the Enemy Block the Road with Tricks, Feigning Weakness to Subdue the Enemy and Reveal Brilliance (3)

Gao Kun was shocked. Subconsciously, he stopped his movements, his body stiffened slightly, and his footsteps halted in place. His eyes were filled with disbelief—he never expected that Mu Li hadn't actually fallen asleep, but had instead remained vigilant the entire time, perceiving his every move.

He knew that he had been completely exposed and could no longer hide, so he stopped pretending. He abruptly raised his hand, holding the fruit knife before him with the tip pointing directly at Mu Li's chest. His arm trembled slightly, his eyes were fierce, and his voice was hoarse and venomous: "Mu Li, die! I will avenge Boss Chen Tian! I will avenge the brothers of 'Dark Web Phantom'! You ruined all our plans and killed so many of our brothers. Today, I will make you pay in blood!"

The surrounding passengers saw this scene and were immediately terrified, gasping in alarm and scrambling backward with expressions of fear. Some passengers even took out their phones, preparing to call the police. The carriage was instantly plunged into chaos, with screams and murmurs rising one after another.

The attendant on the high-speed train heard the commotion and immediately hurried over with an anxious look on their face. While raising a hand to calm the surrounding passengers, they gently persuaded Gao Kun: "Sir, please calm down! Put down the knife. We can talk about whatever the issue is slowly. Please don't be impulsive; hurting someone is against the law and you will face legal consequences!"

"Get lost! This has nothing to do with you!" Gao Kun roared impatiently, his eyes still fixed fiercely on Mu Li. He was not moved in the slightest by the attendant's words, nor did he hesitate. With a sudden burst of strength, he swung the fruit knife and stabbed toward Mu Li's chest. His movements were vicious, every strike lethal; he was clearly prepared to go down with him.

Mu Li slowly stood up and shifted his body slightly to the side, avoiding the edge of the attack. There was no trace of fear on his face; instead, he wore a faint mockery. He looked at Gao Kun with cold eyes and said in a disdainful tone: "Just you? You think you're worthy of avenging Chen Tian? You think you're worthy of mentioning 'Dark Web Phantom'? You are just like those two pieces of trash from earlier—overestimating your own abilities and indulging in wishful thinking. Even someone as powerful as Chen Tian was subdued by us, let alone a clown like you?"

There was not a shred of panic in his heart; instead, a flicker of anger emerged—these people were truly incorrigible. Even though they were at a dead end, they still attempted to commit evil and wanted to destroy everything. He would never let their conspiracy succeed. Whether for himself or for the project, he had to completely subdue this madman.

"You're courting death!" Gao Kun was completely enraged by Mu Li's words. His eyes were bloodshot as he roared and swung the fruit knife again, stabbing at Mu Li. The force was greater than before, and the speed was faster; the blade cut through the air, aiming directly at Mu Li's vital points.

Mu Li's expression remained unchanged; he was still calm and composed. With a light slide of his feet, he sidestepped Gao Kun's attack. His movements were swift and fluid, as if he had long anticipated his attack trajectory. The moment Gao Kun's arm swept past him, Mu Li reached out, his fingertips precisely grabbing Gao Kun's wrist. He pressed his fingertips firmly against his pulse and exerted force with his palm, then immediately twisted his wrist—with a soft "snap," Gao Kun let out a shrill scream of pain. The fruit knife in his hand clattered to the floor and rolled under the seat through the gap in the carriage.

Mu Li applied a little more pressure to his fingers, pinning Gao Kun's wrist to prevent him from struggling. His inner resolve grew even firmer. When dealing with such vicious criminals, there was no need for mercy. Only by completely subduing them could he protect himself and the surrounding passengers, and uphold that sense of responsibility and duty carved into his bones.

Mu Li took advantage of the moment to lift his left foot, knees slightly bent, and kicked hard into Gao Kun's knee with full force. Gao Kun's knee gave way, and with a "thud," he fell to his knees, hitting the carriage floor heavily with a dull sound. He trembled all over from the pain, cold sweat instantly soaking through the clothes on his back, and the previous fierce look was gone.

Mu Li stepped forward and pressed his right hand onto his shoulder. The force wasn't great, but it was enough to prevent him from getting up. He applied a little pressure with his palm, looked at him with cold eyes, and spoke with authority: "Surrender. You have no chance. 'Dark Web Phantom' is completely finished. No matter how much you struggle, it's all in vain." He sighed inwardly. 'Dark Web Phantom' was obsessed and refused to repent; in the end, they would only meet their doom. As for him, he would always hold his post, protect the project well, and not let any people with ulterior motives take advantage of the situation.

The surrounding passengers saw Mu Li easily subdue the criminal and all breathed a sigh of relief. They immediately burst into warm applause, praising Mu Li repeatedly, their eyes filled with admiration and gratitude. "Young man, you're amazing!" "Thank you, young man. Thanks to you, otherwise we would all have been in trouble today!" "That was so brave, your skills are excellent!" Various sounds of praise rose one after another, and the chaos in the carriage gradually subsided.

The attendant also hurried forward, took out the rope prepared in advance from their pocket, and together with a few helpful male passengers, carefully tied Gao Kun up to ensure he couldn't struggle or escape.

"Thank you, sir. Thanks to you, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable," the attendant walked up to Mu Li, their face full of a grateful smile, their tone sincere. "If it weren't for your quick reaction and excellent skills in subduing this criminal, I'm afraid some passengers would have been hurt. Thank you so much."

"You're welcome, it was the right thing to do," Mu Li smiled, his tone softening a bit. The coldness on his face gradually faded, and he returned to his usual gentle demeanor. "This person is with the people who intercepted me on the mountain road earlier; they are all remnant members of 'Dark Web Phantom'. Their goal is to kill me to avenge their boss. Please hand him over to the Huaguo Public Security General Administration at the next station. When interrogating him, focus on asking whether there are any other remnant members of 'Dark Web Phantom' to avoid any fish slipping through the net and endangering the safety of other passengers." He still worried about hidden dangers in his heart. Even while on the high-speed train, he did not forget his responsibility to clear out the remnants of 'Dark Web Phantom'. Only by completely figuring out the other side's background could he truly ensure there were no mistakes.

"Alright, sir, thank you so much," the attendant nodded quickly, their tone respectful. "We have already contacted the Huaguo Public Security General Administration at the station ahead. They will be waiting at the station and will certainly handle this matter properly. They will also carefully interrogate this criminal and will not let any hidden danger go."

Mu Li nodded, bent down, and reached out his right hand. His fingertips picked up the fruit knife from the ground. He gently rubbed the blade with his thumb and checked it carefully. After confirming there were no issues, he handed it to the attendant, then turned around, returned to his seat, sat down, and reached out to fasten his seatbelt again.

The surrounding passengers still cast admiring glances at him, and a few passengers even stepped forward to greet him, praising his bravery and prowess. Mu Li responded to them one by one with a smile, a gentle expression on his face. However, he tapped his fingers lightly on the table, inwardly pondering—it seems the remnant forces of 'Dark Web Phantom' haven't been completely wiped out; there are still fish that slipped through the net lurking in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to strike back. This trip, I'm afraid, won't be as peaceful as I imagined. However, he wasn't afraid. He had survived so many dangers; this little trouble meant nothing to him. His inner vigilance was raised once again, and he secretly warned himself that he could not lower his guard for the rest of the trip. He had to enjoy the trip while also protecting himself at all times. After all, only by staying alive could he continue to protect everything he wanted to protect and fulfill his mission.

The high-speed train continued to move forward, and before long, it arrived at the next station. The doors opened slowly, and officers from the Huaguo Public Security General Administration were already waiting on the platform. They hurried onto the train, showed their credentials, then bent down to help up the tightly bound Gao Kun and took him away. Before leaving, they specifically nodded at Mu Li to express their gratitude.

After Gao Kun was taken away, order in the carriage was completely restored. The passengers gradually relaxed and continued their journeys, occasionally whispering about the thrilling scene just now, full of praise for Mu Li's bravery and skills.

Mu Li leaned back in his seat, slowly closed his eyes, and slightly adjusted his sitting posture to continue resting. In his mind, however, he was sorting through these two unexpected situations—the two remnant members on the mountain road and Gao Kun on the high-speed train. This showed that the remnant forces of 'Dark Web Phantom' were even more stubborn than he had imagined. Although they had suffered heavy losses, they still hadn't given up on revenge. He secretly made up his mind that when he returned from his trip, he would definitely work with Zhang Hongyuan, Lin Wei, and others to conduct a thorough investigation, leaving no blind spots, and completely clear out the remnants of 'Dark Web Phantom'. He would ensure the safety of the nuclear fusion power station project, as well as the safety of himself and his team members, and never let these people take advantage of the situation again. This determination was carved into his heart and had never wavered; protecting the project and safeguarding the nation's vital assets was his original intention and his lifelong responsibility. However, for now, he just wanted to temporarily put aside these troubles and worries, enjoy this long-awaited trip, feel the vastness and tranquility of the sea, and let his exhausted body and mind be completely relaxed. He knew that only by recharging his energy could he better meet future challenges and better uphold that responsibility.

The high-speed train continued to move forward, its speed steady and swift. The scenery outside the window gradually changed; the rolling mountains and forests were gradually replaced by vast plains. The distant sky also became increasingly azure, intertwining with the white clouds on the horizon, forming a beautiful picture.

Mu Li slowly opened his eyes, looking at the blue sky and white clouds outside the window. He leaned back slightly, a faint smile curling at the corners of his mouth. His mood gradually became relaxed, and the worry and vigilance in his heart were temporarily replaced by joy and anticipation. He reached out, took out his phone, and with a light swipe of his fingertips, opened the Qinglan Bay travel guide he had previously downloaded and began to look through it carefully—the beautiful seaside scenery, the local seafood delicacies, leisurely beach strolls, quiet seaside homestays... Every image filled him with yearning. He wished he could arrive at his destination immediately and embrace that piece of tranquility and beauty that belonged to him. The fatigue in his heart gradually dissipated in this anticipation.

Unknowingly, the high-speed train arrived at the final stop—Qinglan Bay High-Speed Railway Station. Mu Li raised his hand, took down his travel bag from overhead, and slowly stood up. He followed the flow of people and walked out of the high-speed railway station in an orderly manner, his steps light, his palms gently gripping the strap of his travel bag. At the exit, people were coming and going, very lively. The air was mixed with a faint salty scent of seawater, fresh and moist. After inhaling it into his nose, it made people feel refreshed, and all fatigue and worries seemed to have been carried away by this sea breeze. Mu Li tilted his head slightly, took a deep breath, and a relaxed smile appeared on his face. He knew that he had finally arrived at this long-awaited seaside town and could finally temporarily put down all his defenses and enjoy his own leisurely time. The anticipation in his heart blossomed completely at this moment.

He opened the map on his phone and searched for the address of the homestay he had booked in advance—the homestay was right by the sea, not far from the high-speed railway station. It would take about ten minutes to walk there, or a few minutes by taxi. Mu Li didn't choose to walk; after all, he was carrying a travel bag and had gone through two unexpected situations, so his body was inevitably a bit tired. He raised his hand to signal, hailed a taxi, bent over and sat in the car. After reporting the address of the homestay, the taxi slowly started and drove toward the sea. The tension in his heart gradually eased on the way to the sea.

The taxi drove along the seaside road. Outside the window was the blue, boundless sea. The sea breeze blew across the surface of the sea, creating layers of ripples. The sunlight shone on the sea, refracting into fine, shimmering golden light, dazzling and beautiful. In the distance on the sea, a few fishing boats were sailing slowly. Fishermen were working at sea, and seagulls were circling and flying in the air, making crisp chirping sounds, forming a seaside picture full of the atmosphere of life. This beautiful scenery made Mu Li's mood completely relax, and the smile on his face became more and more brilliant. He tilted his head slightly, looking at the sea outside the window, his fingers tapping lightly on the car window. All the fatigue, tension, and worry in his heart vanished at this moment. He sighed silently in his heart that such a peaceful and beautiful time was too rare, and it also made him more determined to protect this beauty—only by clearing out all hidden dangers, safeguarding the safety of the project, and maintaining the nation's peace could more people enjoy such a calm and beautiful life.

Ten minutes later, the taxi slowly arrived at the entrance of the homestay. The homestay was a small courtyard, planted with all kinds of flowers and green plants, fresh and elegant. The house with green tiles and white walls blended perfectly with the seaside scenery, appearing exceptionally warm. Mu Li paid the fare, pushed open the car door, got out, and walked into the homestay. In the courtyard, a middle-aged couple was tending to the flowers and plants. Seeing Mu Li come in, they immediately stopped their work, their faces showing enthusiastic smiles, and they hurried forward to greet him: "Young man, welcome to our homestay! It must have been a hard journey, right? Seeing you carrying a travel bag, you must have been on the train for a long time. Come in and rest your feet."

"Thank you, boss, it wasn't hard," Mu Li replied with a smile, his face wearing a gentle expression. He raised his hand and patted his travel bag lightly, feeling warm inside—a strange small town, strange people, yet they offered such an enthusiastic reception, making him feel a long-lost warmth. This warmth dispelled the lingering coldness in his heart and made him relax even more.

The boss nodded with a smile, enthusiastically reached out to take the travel bag from Mu Li, and while leading him into the courtyard, smiled and introduced: "Young man, our homestay is right by the sea, and the view is exceptionally good. The room you booked allows you to see the sea as soon as you open the window. At night, you can also see the night view of the sea and hear the sound of the waves; it's especially comfortable. The room has already been cleaned for you, and the bedding on the bed has been newly changed, so you can stay with peace of mind. If you have any needs, such as wanting to eat some local specialties or wanting to visit some scenic spots, you can call us at any time. We will recommend them to you, ensuring you have a fun time and a comfortable stay."