Cannon Fodder in an Era Drama — I Survive with Acting-Chapter 148: Applying Pressure

Fei Jin’s expression was as dark as iron.

"Cheng Peng, take your men and organize an evacuation immediately! Move fast!"

"Yes, sir!"

Cheng Peng spun around and charged into the smoke-choked street.

Fei Jin stood alone, gazing at the devastation before him, a feeling of pain and helplessness washing over him.

Beside a ruined wall, a tattered rag doll lay forlornly in the mud, surrounded by a few half-burnt textbooks.

An old man crouched before the ruins, his trembling hands trying to claw through the rubble. He muttered something under his breath, his words dissolving into choked sobs.

Whenever the flames of war ignited, it was always the most ordinary people who suffered first.

Unarmed and with nowhere to run, they could only watch helplessly as the sudden catastrophe destroyed their homes and tore their families apart.

"Hurry! Get the tents up! We need to get these people settled!"

The rescue team members heard the command and sprang into action.

Some unloaded emergency tents from the trucks, others carried stretchers toward the wounded, and still others distributed water and food.

A sense of order began to emerge at the temporary settlement camp.

Inside Jing City’s temporary command post, the atmosphere was even more oppressive than it was outside.

Inside, several captains were seated, discussing their next move.

A man hunched over and sidled up to Fei Jin, his tone sycophantic. "Fei Village Chief, you’re a leader sent from on high. You have to stand up for poor souls like us! We really can’t take it anymore!"

Fei Jin was looking down at a map, his gaze fixed on the terrain surrounding Jing City.

He didn’t even look up, merely offering a flat "Mm" in response.

Thinking he had an in, the man’s smile widened. "Fei Village Chief, you don’t know, but there’s another faction in the city, one that’s working against us! They burn our warehouses and steal our supplies, spreading panic everywhere! You have to help us take care of them. Only then will this place be safe, right?"

This time, Fei Jin finally looked up.

The man’s skin crawled under that gaze, and his smile froze on his face. "Fei Village Chief, don’t you worry. Once this is done, there’ll be plenty in it for you! Our local specialties... mountain delicacies, cured meats, tea... take your pick! I guarantee you’ll be satisfied!"

"Cheng Peng."

Fei Jin’s voice was like ice.

"Here!"

Cheng Peng shot in from the doorway.

"Show this gentleman out."

Fei Jin still didn’t look up.

"He’s a very busy man. Don’t keep him from ’serving the people.’"

Cheng Peng understood immediately.

’This wasn’t "serving the people" at all. It was just some unreasonable man throwing his weight around under the guise of official business.’

He scoffed internally, but his expression remained respectful. "This way, sir. Let’s not trouble the Fei Village Chief any further."

The man clearly hadn’t expected to be treated this way.

He took a sharp step back, pointing a finger at Fei Jin. "Fei Village Chief, what’s the meaning of this? Don’t be so shameless! I’m telling you, if you don’t help me, I’ll make your life in Jing City impossible! When our superiors come looking for someone to blame, can you bear that responsibility? I’m not afraid to spell it out for you!"

Fei Jin slowly rose to his feet.

His shoulders were broad, his back straight, and his military uniform was immaculate. He was an intimidating presence.

"You... Don’t you dare lay a hand on me!"

The man instinctively shrank back, his voice trembling. "Even if you are the village chief, you can’t just go around hitting people! That’s against the law! I’m a man of status!"

"Out."

Fei Jin uttered only a single word.

The man was long past caring about his dignity.

He stumbled around and fled, not daring to look back, just running for his life.

’What kind of village chief acts like that?’

’He’s practically King Yan reincarnated!’

He trembled as he ran, thinking, ’How did I ever cross paths with such a monster!’

"Village Chief, that..." Cheng Peng watched the man’s hasty retreat, his brow furrowed.

He looked back at Fei Jin. "Won’t this... cause some kind of trouble?"

"Ignore him."

Fei Jin had already sat back down, his expression impassive, as if nothing had happened.

"He’s just a buffoon. People like him can’t accomplish anything significant, nor can they disrupt our larger plans."

He paused, his eyes flashing with a sharp light. "The ones we really need to watch out for are those pulling the strings from behind the scenes. For an errand boy to jump out and act so brazenly means someone is testing our limits."

"Go check on the progress of the civilian evacuation."

Fei Jin looked up, his tone calm but leaving no room for argument.

Cheng Peng immediately pushed aside his distracting thoughts and answered grimly, "Yes, Village Chief!"

He turned and strode away, his steps firm, and quickly disappeared out the door.

A moment later, Cheng Peng ran back in a panic, his military cap askew.

"Village Chief, there’s a problem!"

"The people in the city... they won’t listen to our explanations, and they’re being extremely hostile! They kicked out the team members we sent to coordinate with them! Someone threw water on them, and others threatened them with clubs. They almost came to blows!"

"What happened?"

Fei Jin’s brow furrowed. His calm expression vanished, replaced by a dark glower. His eyes were as cold as a frozen cavern, and his low voice was filled with an oppressive weight. "Explain. Clearly."

Cheng Peng avoided his gaze, a vein throbbing on his temple. He was clearly hesitating, unsure how to begin.

He swallowed hard and finally forced himself to speak. "They said...

...that we’re here to arrest people, not to provide disaster relief... They also said..."

His voice trailed off, becoming little more than a mumble.

"Go on."

Fei Jin’s voice was ice-cold, each word seemingly forced through gritted teeth.

"They said we’re in cahoots with that man from before, that we’re here specifically to trap them!"

Cheng Peng gritted his teeth and finally blurted it all out.

His hands were clenched tightly at his sides, and fine beads of sweat broke out on his forehead.

He didn’t dare look up at Fei Jin. He just kept his head down, his voice trembling with regret. "Actually... I didn’t know who he was at first. I just thought he was a passing merchant. But then he pulled a gun on me. He said I either cooperate with him or he’d kill me on the spot... I was terrified. I could only do what he said... I’m sorry, Village Chief. I really didn’t mean to lie to you..."

Fei Jin’s eyes narrowed, his gaze turning razor-sharp.

’That man works fast.’

’Someone’s already impersonating our men and setting traps?’

’And at a critical time like this, no less.’

’The hospital has just gotten the wounded settled, and our perimeter isn’t fully secure. This is exactly when we’re most vulnerable.’

"Let’s go take a look."

He uttered the words coldly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

He was already on his feet before the words were out of his mouth.

Cheng Peng hurried to keep up, practically jogging to match Fei Jin’s long strides.

His face was pale and his heart was in turmoil, terrified that Fei Jin would punish him in a fit of rage.

"Village Chief, I’ll go with you! I’ll take the lead!"

He said this while trying to move in front of Fei Jin, as if to shield him from any potential danger with his own body.

His voice was rushed but sincere. "I know a shortcut, and I have an idea where that group might be hiding! Let me take point, I’ll recognize them!"

In a hospital room, Guo Ying lay weakly on the bed, her face pale.

On the bedside table sat an untouched bowl of congee, long since gone cold.