★ Brand-new suspense thriller by Ding Yihe, acclaimed author of the "Golden Shield Literary Award"!
A gripping fusion of crime investigation, corporate warfare, espionage, social exposé, cutting-edge cyber knowledge, and criminal psychology!

★ Real-world cases reimagined into high-stakes fiction:
Trade secrets heists & cutthroat battles for online dominance, Scandals of viral influencers, Subway terror attacks, Dark web arms trafficking, Contract killings orchestrated in shadowy forums...

★ The author delves deep into criminal motives, traces the anatomy of malice, then reconstructs truth with blazing prose. Through firsthand investigative interviews transformed into narrative, the story achieves chilling authenticity—you’ll feel the danger firsthand.

★ What if a single text message could turn you into the internet’s most hunted target?

Behind the bustling facade of the internet, there exists a group of unsung guardians—ethical hackers known as "white hats." Working tirelessly day and night, they wage war against cybercriminals, fending off malicious hacker attacks, cutthroat corporate competition, and technological blockades imposed by foreign giants. Hailing from all corners of the world, these defenders operate in the shadows of an invisible battlefield. Though 99% of people remain unaware of their existence, they are, without a doubt, the unseen heroes safeguarding our digital lives.

Cheng Yunhe, a pioneer of China's early internet era, founded the cybersecurity firm Xuntian. Initially branded as purveyors of "malware," Cheng and his team were determined to clear their name. Driven by a vision for a safer internet, they made the bold decision to pivot to antivirus software. Yet, they were not alone—several other tech giants had already staked their claim in the burgeoning cybersecurity market. What followed was an all-out war for dominance, marked by ruthless competition and relentless innovation. Meanwhile, a new breed of hackers emerged, exploiting computer viruses for profit and chaos. Xuntian and its peers found themselves locked in a protracted, grueling battle against these digital outlaws—a fight that would test their skills, ethics, and resolve to the limit...

Ding Yihe

Writer, calligrapher, epigrapher. He has published over 8 million words of works and won more than 60 awards, including the Golden Shield Literature Award, Three Hundred Original Works Award, and Excellent Bestseller Award. His works have been selected multiple times for the latest Chinese contemporary literature rankings and the Chinese reportage literature rankings.
He has written over 30 works, including "Clean Net Action", "Hurricane Action", "Thick Soil China", and "Brother China". Among them, "Eastern Hacker" and "Hunting" have been adapted into film and television works.

Chapter 1: Shock 001
Chapter 2: Walking Into the Trap 052
Chapter 3: Black Cat’s Ambush 101
Chapter 4: Taking Command of Yingyang 135
Chapter 5: Security Reshuffle 177
Chapter 6: Law of the Jungle 213
Chapter 7: The Path of Justice 262
Afterword 314

It was a late night on the eve of the Olympic Games.
At Sihui East Station, located at the junction of Line 1 and Jiuling Line on Dongsi Ring Road in Donghe City, the subway platform remained brightly lit. The tunnel wind howled as trains rushed past, and the once-jostling crowds of the evening commute had gradually thinned.
The eastbound Line 1 train emerged from underground after passing Sihui Station, speeding toward Sihui East Station. Outside the windows, the pitch-black darkness gave way to neon lights in a blink—yet few passengers paid attention. Some dozed off, while others fixated on the subway TV screens broadcasting updates about athletes arriving at the Olympic Village.
With the event approaching, Olympic news dominated every channel, captivating the entire city.
For most Donghe residents, life revolved around the subway. Like cogs in a vast machine, they spun and scurried through the city’s arteries, obedient to its relentless rhythm.
Almost no one noticed the young man in a hoodie crouched beneath a restroom sign at the corner of the platform, his fingers dancing across a sleek laptop. With every arriving and departing train, his keystrokes never ceased. Only when a train pulled away would he glance up, rub his eyes, and wait for the next one.
When he lifted his head, passersby might catch a glimpse of his delicate features. His slightly disdainful eyes always carried a trace of an imperceptible smirk.
This young man never lingered for more than half an hour at any station. After packing up his laptop, he’d move to the next stop and find another corner to resume his work. A USB drive plugged into his computer flickered rapidly between green and red.
Of course, no one knew that this young man possessed an almost supernatural gift: he could visualize a colossal, high-speed network through radio signals—and within it, pinpoint the exact nodes and vulnerabilities he needed.
This sprawling web existed only in his mind’s eye.
The train’s announcement echoed overhead: “Next stop, Sihui East Station. This is the terminal station. Passengers transferring to Jiuling Line, please…”