The prop backpack that Fan Tianlei had placed for the test was gone.
He froze for a moment, staring at the empty space where it should've been. "Who the hell took this?" he muttered.
Then, slapping a hand over his earpiece, he barked into the comms. "Didn't I tell you to put the damn backpack in position?"
"Report, instructor — we did! It was there before! "The soldier's panicked voice crackled back.
Fan Tianlei frowned. "Then where the hell is it now?!"He ground his teeth, rubbing his temples. "Shit. How the hell am I supposed to test the kid without it?"
He took a breath, forcing his frustration down. "Pull the surveillance feed. Now. Find whoever took the bag."
Across the street, Cole and Yin Yang stood at the edge of the crowd, watching the confusion unfold.
He Chenguang looked lost, scanning around after the strange phone call. A bomb? A missing backpack? It was obvious he had no idea what was going on.
He's starting to suspect a setup, Cole thought, amused. Not bad instincts for a rookie.
Yin Yang chuckled beside him. "Arthur, how the hell did you know that kid would move that way?"
"The kid's being tested," Cole said, nodding toward the upper floor. "Look up there — second level, left side."
Yin Yang turned his head — and froze. "Fan Tianlei?"
"You know him?" Cole asked.
"Unfortunately," Yin Yang said flatly. His tone carried the bite of old memories. "I don't like that guy."
Cole's eyes narrowed slightly. "Old acquaintance?"
"Let's just say… I trained men like him," Yin Yang replied, his voice tight. "He's the kind who plays soldiers like chess pieces."
Cole nodded, piecing it together. So Yin Yang really was Wolf Fang before he walked away. And Fan Tianlei? That explains the arrogance.
Yin Yang's attention shifted back to He Chenguang. "Who's the kid?"
"He Chenguang," Cole said quietly. "Son of He Weidong."
Yin Yang's brows rose. "No shit. The Falcon's boy."
He looked down at the young man with a faint note of respect. "No wonder he's got that stance. The kid's got his father's fire."
He Weidong — the Falcon — had been one of the Wolf Fang Special Forces' deadliest snipers. His precision was legend, and his instincts unmatched. He Chenguang clearly inherited both.
Still, compared to Cole… the gulf was massive. If He Chenguang was a prodigy, Cole was something else entirely — a weapon forged by a different set of rules.
Meanwhile, upstairs, Fan Tianlei received an update through his headset.
"Report, instructor — surveillance shows a man in a black coat took the backpack. He's behind the recruit right now. We found the bag in a restroom."
"What?" Fan Tianlei snatched up his binoculars, scanning the crowd. The moment he spotted Yin Yang, his expression froze.
For a long second, he didn't even breathe. Then he rubbed his eyes hard, as if trying to banish a ghost.
No mistake. It was him.
"Instructor, do you want us to move in?" came the soldier's voice.
"Negative!" Fan Tianlei snapped. "Nobody moves without my order!"
He lowered the binoculars slowly, a grin creeping across his face. "Well… this just got interesting."
He reached for his phone and redialed Wang Yanbing's number.
Down below, Wang answered. "Hello?"
"He Chenguang," Fan Tianlei's voice came through, calm but deliberate, "the man in the black coat behind you — he's an internationally wanted fugitive. He's planted a bomb inside the mall. Take him down. Now."
He Chenguang froze. Then, slowly, he turned.
His eyes locked on Cole and Yin Yang standing nearby.
He didn't actually believe it — the words were clearly part of some test. But that didn't matter. The test had to be played out. Fine, he thought. If this is what they want, I'll play along.
He clenched his jaw. And when I find out who's behind this bullshit, I'll knock his teeth in myself.
Straightening his back, he walked toward them. "Sir," he said sharply to Yin Yang, "I'm going to have to ask you to come with me."
Yin Yang blinked, confused for half a second — then followed his line of sight to the mall's upper level.He spotted Fan Tianlei watching. His expression darkened.
Cole folded his arms, quietly observing. He didn't interfere — just watched the dynamic unfold, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
"Kid," Yin Yang said evenly, "you want me to come with you? Fine. Beat me, and I'll go."
He Chenguang smirked. "Deal."
The moment he swung, Yin Yang moved — lightning fast. He caught He Chenguang's wrist mid-strike, twisted hard, and flipped him clean over onto the pavement.
"Lesson one, boy," Yin Yang said coldly. "Respect your elders."
He struck again — a blur of precise, punishing motion. A kick to the ribs. A shoulder strike. Two clean body blows.
He Chenguang hit the ground hard, breath torn from his lungs. He tried to roll, but Yin Yang was relentless — methodical, exact.
A crowd began to form. Lin Xiaoxiao, standing nearby, gasped, hands clutched to her chest. "Stop it!"
Cole stepped in front of her. "He's fine," he said calmly. "The old man's just reminding the kid what real combat feels like."
Lin bit her lip but stayed silent, worry etched across her face.
Within minutes, it was over. He Chenguang lay on the ground, dazed, breathing hard. His face was intact, but his body bore the marks of the lesson — bruised, rattled, and humbled.
Yin Yang straightened, brushing dust from his jacket. "Not bad," he said. "But it's all flash. You fight like a performer, not a soldier."
He Chenguang stayed silent. He didn't argue — he knew the man was right. His sparring style was technical, predictable. This was the first time he'd been dismantled in seconds.
So this is what real combat feels like.
A slow clap echoed nearby.
Fan Tianlei walked up, smiling faintly. "Impressive," he said. Then, turning to Yin Yang: "Instructor."
Yin Yang's eyes flared. "Don't call me that. I'm not your instructor anymore. "His tone cut through the air. "You set this whole thing up — had this kid attack me? You trying to settle an old score, Fan Tianlei?"
The younger man raised his hands in mock defence. "Of course not. You just happened to be here."
Cole watched silently, connecting the dots. Yin Yang wasn't just a Wolf Fang veteran… he trained them. He trained Tianlei. Hell, maybe even the Falcon himself.
For the first time, Cole saw Yin Yang not just as an ally — but as a man who had once built warriors.
The silence hung thick between them, the past pressing down on the table like a loaded weapon.
To be continued.