Blazing Armor

Under Qu Yangbo’s coordination, the West District team quickly arrived at the scene, with an exhaust fan borrowed from the nearest division, which was promptly put into use.QapzQPtnrCzYcRFIcQSrnGgzspJxpE

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The West District team’s captain, Yan Jue, was tall, muscular, with bronzed skin and a rugged, masculine face—a classic handsome man from the Northwest.BHnrHEsfvzWRUCkNzXHpjwdTVWzGmm

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Ren Yi went over to greet him, and Yan Jue grinned, “Oh, so it’s Captain Ren from the Phoenix team. I was wondering who had the clout to come into my district to work and told me not to meddle.”DBVWLdFGWejUcJvEasGGDxNDwOSprX

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Ren Yi, also a captain, understood it was rude to encroach on another district’s territory without orders from headquarters. He would’ve been annoyed too. Smiling, he said, “Captain Yan, apologies. This matter is tied to a critical police case. I’ll explain it to you later; for now, could you help us out?”vsSwBZPTYIoxnoIsIMMvtmjlZDLHSS

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Yan Jue’s expression softened. “Alright, let’s go check out that well.”MMPUErrQAgMhytyjlhgDCNqqqQegZe

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The group headed back to the foundation well, and Yan Jue began examining it carefully.LQpRhffHBZOFpQApGaTwHEeNxauxVm

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Ren Yi sneezed and tightened his collar.UYamZSkDbKDmMQlAtBDUEQKvIgiePU

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“Catching a cold?” Gong Yingxian asked. “Go warm up in the car for a bit.”wJfSYPicPpPKZAhvpsXoElHhrRjmlh

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Ren Yi waved him off. “I just took a 999 ¹, I’m fine.”BuePvJLoyqlTTimyetOxAFylgDsrcj

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Yan Jue pulled out a cigarette and handed it to Ren Yi. “Cold, huh? This is dry tobacco; it’ll warm you up and keep you alert.”LOVGkohkPcoBKsNjltNqEXUESUMntO

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“Thanks,” Ren Yi took it.JmLQtKpOXLYeQiNDoxAIzMdmElDxDB

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Yan Jue lit it for him. Ren Yi took an unsuspecting puff, only to be hit by a strong, burnt-grass flavor that shot up his nose, making him cough.hRByzPrHKKmdRCPktjfJbeWrftGFMc

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Yan Jue chuckled, patting him on the back. “How’s that? Packs a punch, right?”ATEKAMFsyRpKKDlIsihXKohbnoFFmf

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“Sure does…cough, cough…” Ren Yi, who had never smoked anything this intense, found it incredibly invigorating.fTfRlmPUrxWgaJMvDifEfnSTglDDfw

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“This is a local thing from back home. I only smoke it when I’m out on midnight calls.” Yan Jue patted his pockets. “Ah, it was my last one—mind sharing?”NMRwfCybUtOnRgssXfXJMXPWIQsViR

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Yan Jue leaned in close to Ren Yi, taking a drag.ZyYrwLoOvduxXOTlnQsbTkAbhtqvzv

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Gong Yingxian frowned deeply, glaring at Yan Jue’s hand on Ren Yi’s back, looking more and more displeased. He snatched the cigarette from Ren Yi’s hand. “Don’t smoke these things without filters.”SfncrBflmAnYijiqXdvPHdoaaLkjWc

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“A couple of puffs won’t kill me.” Yan Jue reached for it, only to watch Gong Yingxian toss it into the well.YdWReBdyaYlCVogDvGBUosJkuuemge

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Ren Yi immediately felt awkward.aYZxRqbevBtxosAyWFqWEJNHJxUKTs

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Yan Jue narrowed his eyes, while Gong Yingxian, expressionless, said, “Testing the oxygen concentration.” There was no way he was letting Ren Yi touch that stuff again.FECrBOHEYTgaqEFAnzxqzjIquJuLkO

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Qu Yangbo watched with great interest from the side, adjusting his glasses as a sharp glint flickered in his eyes.JqxicaDFaPfThaLlIgDZLAnCqyaFpQ

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“And who are you?” Yan Jue asked.okQyBPJBnvPfePzLhCsiITbaDhhlJw

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“He’s a detective from Hongwu District,” Ren Yi quickly interjected. “Captain Yan, the air replacement should be sufficient now. Let’s go over our plan.”dNhSaZvMWRZwGwlzziffNQPEiwZfyt

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Yan Jue snorted, ignoring Gong Yingxian and starting a discussion with Ren Yi on the descent strategy, crew rotations, ice-breaking tools, and safety measures—all carefully considered.aYAPWMLAVgNDZqjlXPtmuoIJAfwVMM

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Once the plan was set, Yan Jue exhaled a long breath. “Captain Ren, you owe me a big meal for this dirty, exhausting, dangerous job with no glory.”NvCZxeOiXHyAVhcFwlvmGrVITOkGri

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Ren Yi laughed, “It’s a deal.”byLdMIzPsoPkLAkXMjuwcyndUqaGVF

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“Alright, let’s get to work.”FfGznuUAEnsRoRngFGbbcIlmMeVkGe

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With everything ready, it was nearly ten o’clock. The later it got, the colder it became. The open construction site offered no shelter, and the howling wind made them shiver even in thick down jackets.mfODrdcAPerEqIPSctNtAeuXEcIgaL

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Ren Yi decided he’d be the first to descend. First, he’d recovered his strength, and second, Yan Jue’s large build made it impossible for him to fit down there. If he didn’t go, who else would lead by example?OKrpQPGRVJpVlhYcQIlZVPpFqBlmiI

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Given the well’s cramped space, there was no room to bend; he’d have to go down headfirst, a position prone to oxygen deprivation and blood rushing to the head, making it even more challenging than before. Not only that, but he’d need to break ice while down there, accelerating the consumption of what little oxygen there was. At most, even a fully fit adult male could only last about ten minutes in that well.UCLjzkLcAfTsNbcAEEHKJDFpQmtopv

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Ren Yi, fully geared up and plastered with heat patches from head to toe, felt as ready as he could be.fBEhGhZrLlVBAHgdBHUFkNpetwIvps

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Qu Yangbo fished out a bottle of yellow wine from who knows where and held it to Ren Yi’s lips. “Take a swig. I swear I won’t report you for drinking on duty.”ZpJtWcyDMrIRNeqCHQaCruJqZXoUSU

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Ren Yi grinned and took a deep gulp. The sharp burn slid down his throat like a fiery river, warming him from the inside out. He bounced on his feet a few times, growling, “Let’s go!”hHHSWbLqCsAgnuyUWbkyiQDUEZTcJr

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Gong Yingxian looked at him intently. His chiseled face had turned pale and almost translucent from the cold, and his eyes shone brightly in the dim light.KQxHGfNtjYujYuKNuYnyWvLBGnPXLa

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Ren Yi pretended not to notice Gong Yingxian’s gaze. He knew Gong Yingxian cared about him, and he knew he was a true friend. But that didn’t change the awkwardness between them. Sometimes, avoidance was the only way out—the only way to deal with what couldn’t be fixed.mCJAFJofSlKoaBXgQcRZlDsucQWKkp

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He secured the rope, grabbed his tools, and lowered himself headfirst down the well.FUuEJLxsovTgDXOltKsuCIxGHIfDTZ

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Ren Yi was equipped with a chainsaw, ice pick, crowbar, and other tools. This trip wasn’t to break through the ice just yet; his job was to set up the equipment and lighting for the next team.ShJCkaDyHmjvyxoVfwWYTLHyeWWKRf

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At the bottom, he used his ice pick to carve a couple of small holes into the wall, securing a rechargeable light within them. He brushed aside the layer of dirt coating the ice’s surface.qUqxjNvLxmfRldoUAKzPJHInedmWIp

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When the objects beneath the surface started to become clearer, Ren Yi leaned closer to get a better look. His face was so close he could almost kiss the frozen skull beneath. Even though it made his skin crawl, he forced himself to get closer for a better view.BXSmwaUBRXApWlULjPgVYqXoINhsde

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“Shit…” Ren Yi muttered under his breath.NXdnjgYjkfZbfZWsIiSBBFdGpBQoSy

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Yan Jue’s voice crackled over the intercom, “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”BzGuhYCuXMGyAiWlKxmLuQVEDNpOHd

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“There’s more than one body,” Ren Yi took a deep breath. “Conservatively, I’d say there are two. I can see two differently sized hand bones; one of them might belong to a child or a smaller woman.”PZnayWYNfYWTWLLIeXcRfIoaGAMPUn

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“What’s the state of decomposition?” Gong Yingxian asked.bsYKaNczpRvOyRpheGjPvdIVKAMpZd

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“Not fully decomposed. They’ve been burned.” After all the work, Ren Yi’s breathing grew labored, and he felt lightheaded.SStZhVUcuaulsYvzEutGZeMXmOKJTB

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“Four Flames, it’s been nearly ten minutes. You need to come up,” Qu Yangbo reminded him.dqVgBEzZdtJrGGfTNLsUPMUmSYETQQ

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“Hold on. I want to check a bit more.” Ren Yi ran his hands over the icy walls, surveying the surroundings. He took out the chainsaw to cut into the ice, watching how the walls reacted.NjwNCzDaNJMQJctiUbCTztJjyzMCsf

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Only after he confirmed that the walls were solid enough to handle the vibrations did he signal for the others to pull him back up.rVpjAYpoAqYXFhXhylZHBKkSbmeqjV

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Back on the surface, Ren Yi’s fingers were so frozen he could barely feel them. He pulled off his gloves, clutching the thermos Qu Yangbo handed him, and took a shaky sip of hot water.OPqEqHMHTTCNkfPjDVaRNYGXcrqHbA

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Yan Jue clapped his hands. “Alright, let’s go, one at a time.”XxogoYbTaCGxwfXnipkTlurbKdvyJV

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Sun Dingyi was next in line. Ren Yi warned him, “Remember two things while you’re cutting: first, try not to damage the bodies; second, keep an eye on the surroundings. If you see any sign of the walls loosening, report immediately.”TLTtXnNFOUNMFStnliPPCfuLLFkGgf

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“Got it.”NBkXhegyFSOpDTNqXgVGryPSljWrDz

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Throughout the night, over thirty soldiers from two squads, dressed in clothing far too light to withstand the brutal subzero temperatures, took turns diving headfirst into the eight-story-deep well, chipping away at the ice bit by bit.gLhYzwkXKUaITkUKYaXoknkhUCynsf

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They worked tirelessly through the entire night, and just before dawn, they managed to extract the bodies from the ice—just as Ren Yi had suspected, there were two, one of whom was a child.wJFVzvATMxwChSDQugXwrhCGPjhazU

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The bodies were immediately bagged and loaded into the police car.IhsXTAYUjomBbzWLvQybqhDuBFPTYY

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The soldiers, exhausted, collapsed wherever they could, some dozing off in the fire trucks. Ren Yi was just as weary, his head spinning from fatigue, but he pushed through to keep directing until the last task was done. Only then did he finally sink into the seat of the fire truck, leaning back, and drift into a deep, well-earned sleep.LxPkiLHbtRYrCJhZBZwuJjiBSsOxFk

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After handling the evidence, Gong Yingxian began searching for Ren Yi, finally spotting him slumped in the fire truck.vQNODoFJBOYshyGPgXBoOzbGnxcnaG

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“Ren Yi?” As he got closer, he noticed something was off. Ren Yi’s cheeks were flushed, his breathing heavy.mPYsOIyXLeRVsEDenevQxIHtOrATpY

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There was no response from Ren Yi.BICDvqJEhhGsdKdXoMaaXCRWFixccq

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Gong Yingxian placed his hand on Ren Yi’s forehead—it was burning.beYeEhUjkqMZEqgYksKsOnmsWLzeLS

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“…Hmm?” Ren Yi groggily opened his eyes, feeling like his whole body was weighed down with lead, unwilling to move an inch.xsNBSGCsTRigAnNhZUMmCPEeYGesOX

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“You’ve got a fever.” Gong Yingxian’s voice was laced with concern as he took in Ren Yi’s worn-out appearance. “I’m taking you to the hospital.”sqExZOEyGqUFJrttrvtDjNXljklnAo

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“No,” Ren Yi mumbled. “Dr. Qian said… I’m practically a VIP at their hospital now. I’m not going.”GzQQnmkzenNwsuAmohXUxoCaOZZUSm

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“Then come to my place. There’s a doctor at my place.”IPchAJtuyPQOPQjqEyKdcZgWlvzHKf

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Ren Yi shook his head slowly, his brain too foggy to think straight. In a faint voice, he murmured, “I want to go home.”LsDveEVXaPLWPCkqpyvorPfKsWJiVo

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Qu Yangbo came over too. “What’s going on? Are you not feeling well?”GeuqkycdXDryidBmzucronSNiewFiY

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“He has a fever,” Gong Yingxian replied, already preparing to help Ren Yi out of the truck. “I’ll take him home and get him a doctor.”DeQjBswrehwAthLMOEmTCunNzyZYTO

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“Hey,” Qu Yangbo held Ren Yi back, “we have public healthcare. If he’s unwell, the hospital is fine—no need to trouble you, Dr. Gong.”dRmyjRSaxcNvzxbIUSmRaOsXRmQlxo

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“He doesn’t want to go to the hospital. He wants to go home.”QzQyCYVwTXTwEKAxUlGbeyLQApbSIY

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“He’s out of his mind with fever; there’s no need to listen to him.”wMoCYNqbAPsIOWbzoNpkFCVrlWCXuM

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Gong Yingxian narrowed his eyes, glaring icily at Qu Yangbo, clearly not backing down. Qu Yangbo met his gaze with a smirk, unbothered.dOYIufMNFqJtRqlbeBqiUFDHaixijG

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The two stood locked in silent confrontation for a while, the tension thickening. Finally, Qu Yangbo sighed with a reluctant smile. “Fine, fine, take him.”JAjnUgLMkuFZRWfTJJIFVBiQlOCIVE

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Gong Yingxian helped Ren Yi out of the fire truck and headed toward his own car.KqoZMhmOLywDRYSgorxyPaEUTbjEEF

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Qu Yangbo called after him with a playful tone, “Dr. Gong, just a heads-up—if ‘Four Flames’ here does anything inappropriate in his feverish delirium, try to be understanding. After all, you’re the one insisting on taking him.”NOtYhmFADnkUYkTrRvzgOHiQeIdUmD

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Gong Yingxian ignored him, focused solely on getting Ren Yi somewhere he could see and care for him alone.OGkjpRPmpLxaRypOnfqsoZeDaSGwpi

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