Blazing Armor

Ren Yi looked at Gong Yingxian, speechless from shock and surprise, when he saw Huang Yan struggling to get up beside him, cursing, “Damn, you scared the hell out of me.”VqcJIzsIwyiAZfIXFSYTISYblzUXIh

Gong Yingxian put away his gun, moved aside a pile of ceiling materials with one hand, and helped Ren Yi up. He nervously patted Ren Yi’s chest and back, asking urgently, “Are you hurt? Where does it hurt?”WTTnsmPyTutpgvVLDDPaipzZELrfSK

Ren Yi glanced at Gong Yingxian, then at Huang Yan, still dazed and unable to process what was happening.pFkUcCRbJpXxWKoUcCJecqhcggSGbF

“How did Purple Flame find out, and when did he find out?” Huang Yan said as he walked over to Qing Yan, squatting down to check his pulse with two fingers. “He’s dead.”lmArQZlebBpLmWnidcqNwzBukNfoBK

Gong Yingxian looked at Ren Yi’s stiff demeanor, growing more worried. He touched Ren Yi’s face, saying, “What’s wrong? Don’t scare me.”wXoLYrwChAgfKXulGnpOldYTqifaRo

Ren Yi seemed to understand.vWgqqVpalGNOTcZdoUYOchIQokrLTR

“Huang Yan” walked over to Ren Yi, teasing, “Bro, you really know how to make a scene. If I were really Huang Yan, you’d either be dead or crippled.” Saying this, he used a dagger to cut the ropes binding Ren Yi.GxkXMgZJeFGXZhZHufPRBiPNpCsnOi

Gong Yingxian’s gaze flickered, unable to look directly at Ren Yi. He whispered, “The real Huang Yan has already been captured. We set this trap to lure out Purple Flame using Bai Yan.”zLypVZSPyptNwSWteSDLhyXBuzILVw

Ren Yi’s mind went blank for a moment, and after a long while, he finally came to his senses, hearing the approaching sounds of police cars and voices. Everything had happened so suddenly that he felt lost, and he trembled as he said, “Qiu Yan…”eXpbEOJIGCOPmBpeIYvROknVNklqKn

Gong Yingxian was about to speak when several plainclothes officers strode into the room. The leading woman, striking and radiant, had the very name that had just been swirling in his mind and on his lips, and he had thought she was dead, mourning her loss deeply.HsilNsyZuBQoxIFAFLAuIGKZNRrQLU

Qiu Yan saw Ren Yi and felt a mix of embarrassment and shame. “Captain Ren, I’m sorry. The whole situation is very complicated.”uCQGmLSSCpLUZfmMMuZFgGRTTDJOlz

Gong Yingxian grabbed Ren Yi’s arm. “I’ll take you back to the hospital. Your health…”CBnCMAzomhXhtshcLxoamKqOHdMFHU

Ren Yi suddenly felt like a robot that had just been powered on, the transition from stillness to movement was awkward. He violently shook off Gong Yingxian’s arm, his fist reacting before his brain, swinging towards Gong Yingxian’s face.mUCbpSGAStGAbHVbGmbdIxPumLAfEY

Perhaps it was shock, or perhaps he simply didn’t want to dodge; Ren Yi’s punch wasn’t fast, but it landed squarely on Gong Yingxian’s face.GbDXrDXgAWTqLGgRLFShXWKbNlRTqz

Gong Yingxian staggered back a few steps, slipping on the slick gasoline and dirt, falling clumsily into the mess, his disheveled bangs covering his eyes, making it impossible to discern his emotions.isinRRclGBVPpFLOgVyaGjlxeeaLOg

Ren Yi trembled all over, his hands shaking especially hard. He had never imagined that one day he would throw a punch at Gong Yingxian. In the past, he could never have brought himself to do such a thing. But he also never thought Gong Yingxian would treat him this way.mUgezAadvJCmRVKpDFozjJSjjCjXNJ

Ren Yi couldn’t bear to look at Gong Yingxian; he simply stepped over him and walked out.ISgQfwpCJwjOSFNIaeQpyDkOxYEBDF

After the tense moment passed, Ren Yi finally felt the warning signals from his body—pain. A sharp pain pierced through his chest and abdomen, and he couldn’t tell if it was heartache or rib pain, or perhaps both were torturing him simultaneously. The pain accompanied each breath, reminding him of everything he had gone through during this time.UxpAEzRxZRcDrqHthTJrWqRJgKmORP

His legs felt weak, and he nearly collapsed, having to sit down on the edge of a discarded flower bed, breathing heavily.IsNYFLDRUVBycQSshKdMNZFYBscCtD

A jumble of thoughts swirled in Ren Yi’s mind, still chaotic. Many questions that had previously puzzled him now had reasonable explanations, but new questions arose that he couldn’t comprehend. The only clear and definite emotion left was—anger.aVTUwbMWqNdsLUXvbsdfUJroELHAhs

Extreme anger.YsROlMkUjQprVTKuKnTbvbIdbFYhRi

He felt like a fool, being toyed with by these people. He thought he was experiencing the darkest moment of his life. He had never felt this despondent, and in the end, all his sadness, pain, confusion, guilt, regret, and the previous tension, worry, and heartache for Gong Yingxian were all meaningless jokes.YUkDOQAKXoyCfqFpkYwNXZzzmnGmDI

What the hell was he? His feelings of sorrow and joy were nothing compared to the importance of the police case, nothing compared to Gong Yingxian’s pursuit of justice. His pain, self-blame, and fear were merely the result of his own foolishness.ZHNnCiJvhgXMzVNPSmbnKIRONSxhZK

Just as Zheng Pei said, he was foolish.SbIDfpIihBtRxgmxkkXDEFpNJwZBJs

Footsteps sounded behind him, and Ren Yi recognized who it was. He took the initiative, coldly saying, “Don’t talk to me.”iCLPVyWoQDMFejCuvFGYhzZGScRJXb

Qiu Yan said apologetically, “Captain Ren, I’m really sorry.”GCteFhdVFfRTrqaXxqNNWOWWxyHyVv

“…”NmjcBhqEKiJnJcuJInPTXEnbwDCnCV

“We didn’t expect you to follow Ying Xian. We only prepared two bulletproof vests. Because you really are someone who can’t lie, your emotions are all written on your face, and this plan was too important; we had to ensure it was foolproof.”nOFuxdSWcGlsMOHOZnfrVGRpimPmWf

“Foolproof?” Ren Yi scoffed. “Did you catch Purple Flame? He found out, didn’t he?”RzmJVNVMVCByhFpoZBRCagnCYeihWb

“We managed to deceive him at first, but we don’t know which part he caught on to in the end. But now, Qing Yan, Bai Yan, and several of his hideouts have all been taken down. Among his core members, only Cheng Yan, that is, Zhang Wen, and Lan Yan are still at large, and we already have leads on Lan Yan’s identity. Purple Flame is now practically a lone commander; he can only flee from here on out.” Qiu Yan added, “This trap we set up for three months has achieved a significant victory.”JpBiNSpWLIwavBreDUcZnRkqscCDkq

“Three months.” Ren Yi murmured. “So you caught Huang Yan long ago but never told me.” He had prayed every day for the capture of the murderer who killed Sun Dingyi, to give an account to the team, to Sun Dingyi’s parents and fiancée, yet the person most concerned was the last to know.fjCVCHUEIFGMJPuMnKwnQMiSanXlks

“Captain Ren, you have every reason to be angry. We all feel very sorry for you. But… we really had our reasons. On one hand, there was the pressure to solve the case, and on the other, there was obstruction from above regarding our investigation. We had no choice but to act in secret; the fewer people who knew, the better.”jVNLYkNthffIrREdBCdaDchqQOLExB

“Enough. You all did the right thing; I have nothing to say.” Ren Yi said quietly, “Don’t bother me anymore.”gUoaKpqFWuSodxlQnSakBURttmhjXn

Qiu Yan looked at Ren Yi’s back, filled with rejection, wanting to say something but ultimately turned and left.wOjMbgARBInDEwMRpeRjDirIJURgPF

Gradually, more police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances arrived.uhsWBzcnRQgmtbbgdvJbhUmyXxrnPE

Paramedics helped Ren Yi onto a stretcher, securing a neck brace and using a stethoscope to listen to his insides. “Captain Ren, do you still want to be discharged?”LoKLAFYItdBknClJejhBTreWATtLcI

“I’ve already been out several times.” Ren Yi couldn’t help but self-deprecate. Looking back, everything he had done was just him making things difficult for himself, while Gong Yingxian coldly observed.UzBGcXWcSWMSCXXHNGWGIfQfeawEzW

“We really have to tie you down.”DuMCnXFyMRdJKaZXFvSqJULCdDTGnb

From a distance, Ren Yi saw Gong Yingxian walking towards him. Even from this distance, he could see the swollen side of Gong Yingxian’s face. He said, “Let me get in the car.”uMyqJKkfMAqekIWrzuRNiDtVTERpgk

“Ah? Oh.”yZmBwOLggVoyfKwPIGsOEaQNtISDXw

“Ren Yi.” A tall man in rescue gear rushed to him.TsgjScxGvdXHCdOkXJJjABncBnIXfB

“Yan Jue?” Seeing Yan Jue’s familiar gear, Ren Yi felt a warmth in his heart, unrelated to who it was; just that outfit was enough to make him feel at ease, nostalgic, and emotional. He realized how much he missed that uniform. He once thought he would never take it off, but now he felt it would be hard to wear it again. Thinking of this made his nose tingle.qJDVviFaduyDtXNtGbTvLzIceAdRVq

Seeing Ren Yi’s reddened eyes, Yan Jue assumed it was due to his injuries. “Is it serious? If something’s wrong, tell the paramedics. Why are you risking your life, running out of the hospital twice?”LIgdAlWIzTnpLNiTFcRNJuYuMMdBjd

Ren Yi shook his head. “It’s nothing serious.”hFoYsKqpDAodDIFbyXAWmgrDbmdCID

“Don’t talk nonsense; do you know how thin you’ve become?” Yan Jue took off his gloves, ruffled Ren Yi’s hair, and sighed, “We really worry about you.”SesfXsZOFjVicYhPDfuZxPoWSTSdiU

Ren Yi said listlessly, “Sorry, you don’t have to worry about me anymore. I won’t die.”SQJeUInVmxqrFRDWBdojiyywhzXiji

Gong Yingxian, seeing Ren Yi and Yan Jue getting along from a distance, already lacking the courage he once had, now found it even harder to move. But he was burning with jealousy and anxiety, hesitating in place.wVtDpYgkaxqrBpKrclbasDGhHOsQuq

Yan Jue also noticed Gong Yingxian in the distance and immediately sensed that there was definitely some issue between the two; otherwise, Gong Yingxian would have rushed over, eager to push him aside. So he deliberately lowered his head, blocking Gong Yingxian’s view, and whispered to Ren Yi, “What’s up? Did you have a fight?”PhKFjWnupRvNKKiEzOYXDDjYcvxEPR

From Gong Yingxian’s perspective, Yan Jue seemed to be getting too close to Ren Yi. He could no longer hold back and strode over.OGXNWbrtkGGpntGtUTpCfXwRPTJOLC

Ren Yi shook his head, not wanting to answer. They hadn’t fought; the issues between them didn’t need an argument to erupt, nor could they be resolved through one.kMFXxKTlZkahGrrEDtDTLcWPOtTzjR

The problems between them seemed unsolvable.XXEujEnkmSVhFXtyplyjCpbMRQeAlo

For the first time, he was forced to confront the vast differences in character between him and Gong Yingxian. When love was passionate, he thought love could bridge all gaps in the world; that notion was ultimately too idealistic, too naive.llbBtVOTCJflfRpHYfdhnIZXgzfwOL

“Ren Yi.” Gong Yingxian walked up to the ambulance, calling softly, “I’ll accompany you to the hospital.”MXNTvOJOlKZSlemQeDfAvcGejzelNk

Ren Yi didn’t look at him or respond, only urging the paramedics, “Let’s go.”NIOBjXvNqjVkPueWVHJlyGBiVfgWLy

The paramedics pushed Ren Yi onto the ambulance.TVQZmzmqndHKIXrpNokVWUtQGeZOoz

Yan Jue patted Ren Yi’s leg. “I’ll take a day off tomorrow to see you.”qDsZWlEmEsktQIIoWNVPfvfrcOSXUH

The paramedic was about to close the door when Gong Yingxian grabbed it. “Ren Yi, I…”WBQOwyYPjpoVYhFYMSlfUUrREKPwdv

“Officer Gong.” Yan Jue snatched the ambulance door from Gong Yingxian’s hand and slammed it shut. “He’s a patient now; no matter what, it’s not the time to provoke him, right?”kGskyuqVKQLtfVTRXqIiIurUeYngGa

Gong Yingxian glared at Yan Jue.rTQnbgxqSKmclrBuCokHESPqLQRYjC

Yan Jue sneered, “Staring at me won’t help.” He closed the other door of the ambulance, patted the door, and called out, “Let’s go.”nHsacAcVDPwtDWinCvrlXtSmaatKft

Gong Yingxian restrained his impulse to chase after them, watching the ambulance drive away. He felt powerless to deal with Yan Jue’s hostility and mockery, as his mind was filled with the image of Ren Yi, who was even unwilling to look at him coldly.EPjtoVlSlnPeQsyoqtyPNQUuZKecwb