EM 46. Weakness

The weather grew colder by the day. Winter had arrived quietly, and the strength of Team 2 was now beyond question. What came next was the moment they had been preparing for—being thrown into real combat. Their role dictated that they would eventually be deployed to the front lines. If they hesitated to pull the trigger when facing an armed criminal, they might as well be signing their own death warrant.

The first time drawing blood had to be handled carefully. Ideally, the mission would be simple and not overly gruesome, to avoid excessive psychological trauma. Typically, an experienced soldier would take a rookie into the field. Though the unit was now divided into Team 1 and Team 2, everyone trained together, and they had long since grown familiar with one another. Xiao Mingxuan had too much on his plate as team leader, so he handed the responsibility to Team 1. Each time, a veteran would take a new recruit into the field, and afterward, the rookie would undergo psychological evaluation.

This special force unit was already unique to begin with, and actual deployments were rare. When missions did come through, they tended to be messy. Brutal, high-pressure, and far more graphic than standard fieldwork. Thankfully, command had given advance notice. Whenever something potentially traumatic was on the docket, they would flag it for Xiao Mingxuan to help train the newcomers. That arrangement kept things from spiraling out of control.

Song Feng could have taken the recruits out himself, but he was far too lazy for that. The only time he agreed to go was when Bai Xuyao was assigned. That mission was straightforward. It required a two-hundred-meter sniper shot, simple and direct. After the shot was fired, Bai Xuyao saw the corpse with a gaping hole torn through it by the bullet. His face went rigid, and a moment later, he turned aside and vomited violently.

Song Feng ran over and patted his back in a show of comfort. “It’s alright. This kind of thing just takes practice.”

Bai Xuyao paused mid-retch, then bent over and threw up even more.

The veterans nearby turned to stare in silence at the culprit. Song Feng slowly backed up and shut his mouth.

A long while passed before Bai Xuyao could drag himself to his feet, pale and shaky. “Bro… What was your first time like?”

“Already forgot,” Song Feng replied after a pause. “Oh, wait, I remember now. I hit the head. Brains flew everywhere. Red and white.”

“Urgh—” Bai Xuyao doubled over again and retched like he was about to cough up his intestines.

The veterans turned to stare at Song Feng again, this time in unison.

Song Feng looked genuinely aggrieved. “What? He asked me, alright? I’ve always been an honest person. Of course I told him the truth.”

He left them behind and strolled over to his disciple with a cheerful grin, nudging him with his foot.

“Still throwing up?”

Bai Xuyao gave a weak shake of the head. He had nothing left to throw up.

“Yeah, trust me. Get all the puking out of your system now, and it won’t be as bad next time.” Song Feng hauled him to his feet, dragged him onto the helicopter, and tossed him in front of the base psychiatrist. With that, his job was done.

Training had just wrapped up for the day, but it was already dark outside. The nights were coming earlier now. Song Feng went to the cafeteria for a proper meal, then made his way back to the dorms at a leisurely pace. After changing into a clean set of clothes, he climbed into bed and pulled out the newest issue of a weapons magazine from under his pillow. He flipped it open and began reading in comfort.

Xiao Mingxuan had been finishing a report. When he saw Song Feng return, he got up to brew some tea, placed the cup on the bedside table, and asked casually, “How’s Bai doing?”

“Typical reaction. He’ll be fine in a few days.” Song Feng picked up the cup and warmed his hands on it. “There are only two left who haven’t gone out. Xiaoyan and I are already out of the running since we’ve both killed before. That means, all this time, you’ve only taken three?”

“Be grateful. You think the world is that chaotic?” Xiao Mingxuan typed the last few lines of his report without looking back. “But it’s almost the new year. Things get busy around now, and crime rates spike. The rest of them should get their turn before the month is over.”

Song Feng gave a soft grunt and took a slow sip of tea, exhaling as the heat spread through his chest.

Xiao Mingxuan finished printing the report, shut down the computer, and climbed into bed. He pulled Song Feng into his arms from behind and pressed a kiss to his cheek. Song Feng was wearing a light-colored thermal, the neckline wide enough to reveal a stretch of his collarbone. Xiao Mingxuan couldn’t help but reach out and trace it with his fingers.

Song Feng leaned back against him, completely relaxed, flipping lazily through the magazine. His eyes landed on a familiar image, and he pointed. “I’ve seen this Barrett model before.”

Xiao Mingxuan glanced at it. “That’s an older version. Most likely just for display.”

“Shame. A good weapon like that locked up in a glass case. What a waste.” Song Feng turned the page. After scanning through the final few, he clicked his tongue. “That’s it?”

“Buy the next issue next month.” Xiao Mingxuan rubbed his head. Everything the man was wearing, down to his underwear, had been arranged by him. He had also bought plenty of other things to keep him distracted. Thanks to that effort, the sweater Shao Xiujie had sent, along with the rest of the parcel, remained stuffed away in the closet, never to see daylight again.

Song Feng made a noise of agreement and tossed the magazine aside. He shifted in closer with a languid stretch. “I read through that too fast. Maybe next time I should get some novels too. What about the Four Classics?”

Xiao Mingxuan stayed silent.

Song Feng turned his head. “What? Do I not look like someone who reads literature?”

Xiao Mingxuan gave him a very honest nod.

“I kind of agree,” Song Feng said without shame. “Buy them anyway. I’ve never read them.”

“…Alright.”

Satisfied, Song Feng took another sip of tea, then set the cup down and curled back into his arms like a lazy cat.

Xiao Mingxuan adjusted the blanket and held him steady. It was something he had only recently noticed. Even though Song Feng had outperformed the others during last winter’s training, he seemed oddly sensitive to the cold. Lately, he took every opportunity to stay holed up in the dorm. When asked, he brushed it off by saying he was too lazy to move.

To test his theory, Xiao Mingxuan deliberately created a bit of distance one night while they were sleeping. Before long, he felt the man scoot over and start pawing at him. He kept his composure and asked what was wrong. He had expected to hear the word cold, but after a moment, he heard a pitiful murmur instead: “Hold me.”

His blood surged on the spot. He flipped the man over and thoroughly devoured him, satisfied to the core.

Song Feng sensed the rising heat behind him and instinctively curled up again. But he still muttered, “Let’s go to the pet clinic.”

Xiao Mingxuan gave a soft laugh and leaned in to kiss the nape of his neck. “You finished the magazine, it’s still early, and we have nothing else to do. Why don’t we find something more exciting?” As he spoke, his hand slipped beneath Song Feng’s thermal shirt, moving across his skin.

Song Feng turned to kiss him back, breath already growing ragged from the heat pouring off Xiao Mingxuan’s body. Since that first time, they had hooked up several more times, and were already used to each other’s pace. Xiao Mingxuan worked him open fast, hauled him onto his lap, and shoved him down hard.

Song Feng’s full weight sank against him. The thick length pierced frighteningly deep. He gasped aloud, head thrown back, and sweat glistened along the curve of his neck.

Xiao Mingxuan leaned in to kiss him, holding him close as they stayed wrapped around each other in the chill of winter night. He took his time with him, inch by inch, until the heat between them finally spilled over and left them both trembling, sated in each other’s arms.

Thanks to that, Song Feng found an excuse the next day to hole up in the dorm again. He dragged Wei Xiaoyan with him for company.

Bai Xuyao watched them longingly. “Bro, why aren’t you taking me?”

Song Feng pinched his face. “Take you for what? You think you’re tougher than your senior? Hm? You think the training will kill you? Hm? Look at you, you’ve got no backbone.”

Bai Xuyao flushed bright red, let out a howl, and shot up from his seat, charging back toward the training field.

Song Feng returned to the dorm with Wei Xiaoyan, and the two of them sat on the bed playing cards. Neither of them had the upper hand, trading wins back and forth. Soon their faces were covered in sticky note strips. The paper was unusually long. Instead of looking ridiculous, it gave off a strangely sinister feel.

When Duan Qing came back around noon, this was the scene he walked in on. It was like seeing a ghost in broad daylight. He nearly dropped his lunch tray. After a deep breath, he set it down on the table. “Come eat.”

They ripped the paper off their faces and ran over to fuel up. Song Feng rolled up his sleeves and dug in. Wei Xiaoyan glanced over and grabbed his arm. “Well, well. Look who’s got hickeys.”

Song Feng shrugged. He didn’t care.

Wei Xiaoyan asked curiously, “Boss, is it really that good?”

“It’s alright. You should give it a shot.”

Wei Xiaoyan lowered his head to eat. “Maybe later.”

Duan Qing had already finished eating, and happened to catch that last sentence. He found it unbelievable. After returning to the dorm, he waited patiently, and before long, Wei Xiaoyan came back. Duan Qing held back for a moment, then asked, “After everything you pulled with Song Feng, how can you still sit there talking about it like it’s nothing?”

“How is that even ‘pulling’ anything? It was just sex. Nobody died, nobody starved, no one got thrown into a pit of knives or set on fire,” Wei Xiaoyan shot back. “You don’t know what he’s put me through before. He’s nearly gotten me killed a few times. Besides, this was the first time I ever got him to take the bait,” he clenched his fists and looked genuinely emotional. “I mean yeah, it was a moment of stupidity, but still, I finally got him. That’s huge!”

Duan Qing was silent for a moment. “And this… doesn’t count as messing with him?”

“What doesn’t?”

“I mean… you don’t care about being on the receiving end?”

“Oh, that?” Wei Xiaoyan shrugged. “Not a big deal. As long as it feels good.”

Duan Qing fell silent again. What were these two even made of?

Wei Xiaoyan caught the look he gave him and got annoyed. “What the hell is that expression? Sure, I don’t have much shame, but I’m not as far gone as our dear team leader, okay? I want a proper relationship someday. If that person happens to be a guy and he makes me feel good, I won’t care. But it’s not like I’d just let anyone touch me. I mean, even Song Feng probably wouldn’t go that far.”

Duan Qing thought for a moment. “Didn’t you say there were two others in your unit that Song Feng mentored before? They don’t care either?”

Wei Xiaoyan nodded and let out a sigh. “Life’s short. You might as well enjoy it.”

Duan Qing thought it had to be because of Song Feng. That man was seriously one of a kind. On the surface, he looked easygoing, even carefree, but deep down he was impossible to read. “Does someone like Song Feng even have a weakness?” he asked curiously.

Wei Xiaoyan raised a brow. “Why do you ask?”

“No reason. Just wondering. It’s like… he doesn’t really care about anything. He used to flirt around, but ever since he got here, he hasn’t touched anyone. And you said he’s into dangerous shit, but the past few months have been peaceful, and he’s been totally fine with that.”

Wei Xiaoyan nodded. “Yeah, he really doesn’t care much.”

“So he has no weak spots?”

Wei Xiaoyan smiled faintly. “Everyone has weaknesses. Even people who are not afraid of death. For boss, his weakness is his family and his apprentice. That includes the newest one, Bai Xuyao. The four of us all know this. But no one wants to be a burden, so during training, we all give it our best. We need enough strength to protect ourselves. As for Bai Xuyao, his combat experience is basically zero. He still has a long way to go. But if you strip everything else away and just think about Song Feng as a person…”

He lowered his voice. “As long as he stays alive, that’s all that really matters to him.”

---

With the New Year approaching, everything grew even busier. Xiao Mingxuan was swamped with work, and most nights he did not return to the dorm until very late. But tonight, he came back before eight.

Song Feng was lounging on the bed, watching a movie with a cup of hot tea in his hands. Steam curled lazily from the rim of the cup. He looked up and raised his eyebrows. “You’re early.”

Xiao Mingxuan replied, “Take a look at this.”

Song Feng opened the folder and scanned the contents. “Oh, that guy. I’ve heard of him. Supposed to be a medical genius, insanely talented. But he’s twisted. Loves experimenting on live people. My grandpa led a raid on him years ago, but he escaped. No word since then. What, he’s still alive?”

“He is. You know I spent two years undercover with the cartels. Back then, the higher-ups gave me an assignment to track him down. That task was never withdrawn. Which means it’s still mine, and it has been for three years.”

Song Feng’s expression turned serious. “You have a lead now?”

“Yes. And according to a reliable source, your brother Song Zhe has already been held captive by him for more than two months.”

The cup slipped from Song Feng’s hands and shattered on the floor. He shot to his feet. “What did you just say?”