Courtyard House: A Veteran Returns Home and Becomes a Father

On the dirt road leading to Tianjin, an inconspicuous gray jeep was bumping along.

Outside the car window lay the monotonous, bleak North China Plain in winter.

Inside the car, however, there was a cold, deathly silence.

Su Mo leaned back in the passenger seat, his eyes closed, as if he were dozing. He had changed back into ordinary black civilian clothes, and the commanding presence that could have shaken the heavens and earth had been perfectly concealed in his bones, transforming him back into the languid traveler he once was.

Wang Erniu gripped the steering wheel, his gaze fixed intently on the road ahead, but the barely suppressed murderous aura emanating from him made the temperature inside the car drop several degrees.

"Boss," Wang Erniu's voice broke the silence, "we've found the information on Tianjin."

"Yuan Tianlong, 63 years old. In his early years, he was a laborer carrying heavy loads at the Tianjin docks. Later, he joined the Green Gang and, relying on his ruthlessness, climbed from a lowly 49-year-old to the head of the Tianjin Green Gang branch in 20 years."

"Now, he controls 70% of the docks, canal transport, and freight stations in Tianjin. Both the legitimate and criminal worlds have to give him some face. In Tianjin, he is the undisputed local emperor."

Su Mo's eyelids didn't twitch at all.

"Lin Wanyuan's superior, the guy codenamed 'Number One,' is named Chen Shou. He used to be the deputy station chief of the Military Intelligence Bureau in Tianjin. Now, he's hiding in Yuan Tianlong's villa."

Wang Erniu paused, his voice filled with even more murderous intent.

"Boss, this banquet is a trap. That old dog Yuan Tianlong is definitely up to no good. How about... we just sneak over and take him out!"

"No rush."

Su Mo finally opened his eyes, his calm, still eyes devoid of any emotion.

"He hosted a banquet and invited guests."

"We have to let him finish his act."

The jeep drove into Tianjin territory.

This port city at the confluence of nine rivers is filled with a salty, complex atmosphere completely different from that of Beijing. It is the smell of the sea, the smell of coal dust from the docks, and the mixture of sin and desire that breeds in countless dark corners.

The car didn't stop anywhere, but instead made several turns and drove into the former Italian concession.

The area is dotted with various Baroque-style villas, but most of them have become dilapidated after being ravaged by war and the passage of time.

The jeep eventually stopped in front of an inconspicuous three-story gray building.

This is the "Ghost's" secret stronghold in Tianjin.

Su Mo pushed open the car door and got out. The other five team members, who had arrived earlier, appeared from the shadows inside the building like ghosts and bowed to him silently.

"Boss."

"How's the situation?" Su Mo walked into the small building and looked around. The interior was simply furnished, but all kinds of weapons and equipment had been wiped clean and neatly arranged.

One of the reconnaissance team members stepped forward and whispered to his superior, "We were spotted as soon as we entered the city. At least four groups of people are monitoring us outside 24 hours a day. They're experts."

Su Mo nodded, showing no surprise on his face.

Even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake.

In this small territory of Tianjin, Yuan Tianlong was the most vicious and venomous local tyrant. Their every move was naturally under his control.

However, at that moment...

"Thump, thump thump".

There was a light knock on the courtyard gate.

Everyone's gaze instantly turned sharp as knives.

Wang Erniu gave a wink to his brothers, and the two of them swiftly drew their military daggers from their waists, one on each side, and stuck them to the wall behind the door.

Wang Erniu took a deep breath and suddenly pulled open the courtyard gate.

There was no one outside the door.

Only on the ground, there was a wooden box, about half a person's height, bound with thick hemp rope, sitting quietly.

Wang Erniu and another team member exchanged a glance and slowly carried the box in.

There were no traps or explosives.

In front of everyone, Wang Erniu used a military dagger to pry open the box lid.

The box was lined with a thick layer of ice.

On the ice block lay a bloody, lifeless human head with its eyes wide open in death!

Beside the human head was an exquisitely crafted invitation written in gold powder.

The invitation card contained only one line of unrestrained calligraphy.

"The No. 1 restaurant in Tianjin awaits General Su's arrival."

A nauseating smell of blood, mixed with the chill of ice, filled the room.

"Hold!"

One of the young team members couldn't help but curse under his breath, his eyes blazing with anger.

This is a provocation!

This is the most blatant and bloodiest show of force!

Wang Erniu's fists clenched so tightly they cracked. He stared at the severed head, wishing he could rush out immediately and twist Yuan Tianlong's head off as well.

Only Su Mo remained calm.

He walked up to the box and looked down at the human head.

"It's our informant at the dock," a member of the intelligence team said in a hoarse voice. "We just made contact yesterday..."

Su Mo didn't speak. He reached out and picked up the golden invitation from beside the human head.

His fingers slowly traced the wild handwriting.

"He wants to provoke us." Su Mo's voice was icy cold, devoid of any warmth. "He wants us to panic like headless flies, lose our composure, and then fall into the trap he has dug."

"Boss, what do we do? Just endure it like this?" Wang Erniu asked unwillingly.

"Tolerate?"

Su Mo smiled.

That smile made the temperature in the room seem to drop a few degrees.

"He gave us such a generous gift, of course we should reciprocate."

Su Mo turned around and looked at the team members who were responsible for reconnaissance and surveillance on the perimeter.

"Aren't they watching us?"

"very good."

"From now on, find out the location, shift change patterns, and contact information of all of them."

Su Mo's gaze fell on the Tianjin map spread out on the table, and his fingers tapped lightly on the map.

"I need to know before dark where all the managers under Yuan Tianlong live, how many wives they have, and which theaters they go to to watch operas every day."

"He gave us a taste of our own medicine."

A cruel smile curled at the corners of Su Mo's lips.

"Then let's present him with a bell at his birthday banquet."