Although they didn't understand why Sen Lang suddenly wanted to do this, they all chose to believe him and didn't ask questions upfront.
This was exactly the effect Li Chonglou wanted.
In fact, the group didn't know that compared to the surprise they were enthusiastically preparing, Li Chonglou would have preferred to see the scene from just now!
After all, from the very beginning, he had mentally prepared for the possibility of them failing the mission. What he wanted this time was to hone their teamwork!
Meanwhile, Li Chonglou's own actions encountered an unexpected variable.
After soul fusion, Ma San's strength instantly returned to its peak. Facing the ordinary patrol teams in Third Master's courtyard, he moved as freely as a fish in water, unimpeded.
Although he lacked Li Chonglou's heavenly eye for clairvoyance, he had to resort to the most direct methods of capturing and interrogating people. After questioning just a few individuals, he successfully learned the location where Second Master was being held.
Before he set out, Li Chonglou had instructed him that if he found the person alive, he should rescue them using the simplest and fastest means, without overthinking it.
Therefore, after confirming the veracity of the information and the location, Ma San immediately took action, charging directly into the secret chamber of Third Master's courtyard!
The moment he made his move, Li Chonglou understood that Second Master was alive, and his face lit up with joy. However, at that very moment, two figures suddenly appeared in his vision.
They were a few kilometers away from Third Master's courtyard. Li Chonglou's vision had greatly improved after breaking through his limits, and now, even without the heavenly eye clairvoyance, he could clearly see the attire of the three people.
The character "总" on their chests was exceptionally conspicuous.
"Uh, so unlucky?"
Li Chonglou narrowed his eyes. Without needing to guess, he knew these three were the people from headquarters that Chen Pao had mentioned. But arriving at this moment, Ma San in the courtyard was caught red-handed!
The most crucial point was that, even now, he couldn't determine if there were any grey-clothed individuals in Third Master's courtyard. If there weren't, and Ma San was caught by them, things would become very troublesome.
From Chen Pao's description, he had heard of an incorruptible law enforcer who adhered strictly to rules and disregarded personal feelings!
"No, I can't let Ma San get caught by them!"
Li Chonglou made a decision in an instant, his figure flashing as he disappeared from his original spot.
Because Ma San was using the power of soul fusion, the leaking internal energy aura was not significant. The three people from headquarters, proceeding according to plan, had not yet sensed what was happening ahead.
"Captain Ye, where are you planning to relax tonight after your shift?"
As they walked, the three were not using their internal energy, and their attire was that of ordinary travelers. The person speaking was a refined young man, and the Captain Ye he referred to was a burly man walking in the center.
Ye Ziying, although only thirty-five years old, had been working in patrol for nearly ten years and was known as a veteran and seasoned hand in headquarters.
The two beside him were his recently recruited team members, both around twenty-two years old. Therefore, unlike his taciturn veteran teammates, the three of them got along very well.
The biggest reason for this was the admiration the two young men had for Ye Ziying.
In the headquarters, individuals with his status were generally no younger than forty. Ye Ziying, however, had become the deputy captain of the patrol team eight years ago, practically second-in-command in this area!
Being so young yet holding such a position gave these newcomers full of encouragement. Many actively applied to join the patrol team specifically to work with him and learn from him.
The two youngsters beside him were precisely such individuals.
Thus, Ye Ziying replied in a calm tone, "Don't always think about relaxing. People are not machines; the more you train, the better they become. For humans, it's the opposite; you'll start to decline if you stop training."
Another man with a crew cut quickly chimed in, "Yes, yes, Xiao Ping, don't always think about going out to relax as soon as your shift ends."
As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Ziying added, "Tonight, I'll give you both some extra training. I'll join you."
The two immediately showed faces like bitter gourds.
"Captain Ye, how can we compare to you? Our usual training is already grueling enough, and only you think it's mere scratching the surface."
Ye Ziying most enjoyed this kind of indirect praise, and a smile involuntarily creased his cheeks. "If you want to become stronger, how can you do so without putting in the effort?"
"Let me tell you, when I was your age, my training volume was at least twice yours!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a figure suddenly leaped in front of the three.
Dressed in casual clothes, wearing a face mask picked up from somewhere.
Anyone who could appear so suddenly was definitely someone from within the circles. The two immediately adopted defensive postures, while only Ye Ziying's reaction was relatively calm.
"Whose?"
Li Chonglou didn't reply, just stood there silently.
Ye Ziying's brows furrowed immediately. "What is it?"
Still no reply. This time, the refined young man from before couldn't hold back.
"State your name! Otherwise, you'll be treated as a suspect!"
Li Chonglou glanced at him but still said nothing. Ma San had only just started his action, and even at his fastest, it would take at least five to ten minutes.
This was even assuming there were no grey-clothed individuals. Therefore, he had to stall these three for fifteen minutes.
Fifteen minutes, which might pass in a few casual chats normally, felt exceedingly long in this quiet environment.
Within just one minute, the two younger members couldn't resist.
"Captain Ye, let us handle it!"
Ye Ziying didn't respond immediately but stared intently into Li Chonglou's eyes.
Such sudden obstruction was not uncommon in his professional career. Almost all of them were due to relatives or friends of past mission targets seeking revenge, their eyes filled with intense hatred.
However, in Li Chonglou's eyes, he saw only calmness!
This was why he dared not act rashly.
After a long pause, Ye Ziying finally spoke in a low voice, "Be careful. Prioritize defense."
As he spoke, Ye Ziying reached into his pocket, where he had an emergency button to contact headquarters. As soon as he pressed it, headquarters would dispatch personnel for support, regardless of the situation.
The status their patrol team held within the circles was largely due to this button.
The two youngsters' faces lit up with joy upon receiving permission. The chance to perform in front of their idol was incredibly motivating for anyone!
Li Chonglou watched as the two assumed their positions and moved to surround him. He still didn't speak and made no move.
This reaction left the two somewhat bewildered. Based on their usual training, the opponent should have already taken corresponding countermeasures at this point! Whether it was defense or offense, only with a reaction could they take the next step.
But this stillness was something they had never encountered before!
The two suddenly felt like they were facing a situation where a novice could defeat a seasoned master with random blows…