Blazing Armor

Gong Yingxian’s car slowly came to a stop at the squad entrance.WnOsPygTGjbnHxruRGREelqVRrSCMu

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Ren Yi lazily unbuckled his seatbelt. The two of them stole a glance at each other, neither saying a word.ANikKFTVkjlfNZAkOnJSZVbjARKqMP

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The silence inside the car felt a bit awkward, so Ren Yi finally broke it: “So… should I head up?”iUVqFYzyGsampZYgtQheHqJBQsBFOs

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Gong Yingxian still didn’t say a word, but his hand, resting by his side, quietly tugged at the corner of Ren Yi’s coat draped over his lap.UfCOKqyjKmZGcLvKDXYgDqrWWeyFMb

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With his hand on the door handle, Ren Yi hesitated a few times before he couldn’t hold back and asked, “Wanna come up and check on Miaomiao?”iJJqkeXkyJNpCsCLVKHzfexiLcRQJt

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“Yes.” Gong Yingxian replied immediately.ulgxazStzwpIPKiJyhtnHnyErVTEho

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It was past lights-out for the squad, so apart from the guard at the entrance, they didn’t run into anyone on their way. As they entered the dorm building, a dog named Phoenix suddenly darted out from under the stairs, shaking its fur, eyes shining as it looked at the two of them.GyUHcvGYHwQZdwFAozGVZSpwiVMtxV

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Ren Yi made a “shh” gesture: “Go back to sleep.”AiHsxrcQrahidoCpWblKvRjPQzYOlz

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Just as they were about to head upstairs, they heard a meow from under the stairs.lVnQMrPFAZeLftYGQeMogdUjbrfAkC

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They had set up Phoenix’s bed there, and over the past few days, it had gotten familiar with Miaomiao.PNJauRQIEMFqQRyqLtbgPGSzdNeQsF

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Ren Yi leaned over for a look and saw Miaomiao sprawled lazily in the bed, stretching a paw. He grinned, “Found yourself a new spot to sleep, huh?”bwVQmPdfIWGUThzjzTewyUpIRPYYlv

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Gong Yingxian asked, “When did you start keeping a dog?”hMaUhZjZJhHySgtWIPuidfQkZgNvLR

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“After that last package arrived, Yang Bo went to the training base and applied for one. Its name’s Phoenix—coincidence, right? Just like our squad. And it’s pretty smart, seems to understand everything.”eKxQgpqagsmofNDFKqvfqqaxYRyIcD

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Gong Yingxian looked down at Phoenix. “It doesn’t look like an ordinary dog.”fPdsaJuZxoWeQiNNqQCCYssgJasiLF

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Ren Yi laughed, “What does an ordinary dog look like?”QFFXRKmXZKIEcDBrNFhYsGgbxYEmhA

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“Most dogs raised by people love humans; this one isn’t as enthusiastic as other dogs.”uqxBMZuhMLmZpnmKjQmzRlLCWifxnq

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“It likes people too; it’s just calm.” Ren Yi rubbed Phoenix’s cheeks. “You’re one especially cool, calm dog, aren’t you?”oSdWAAABNrBKKaCXMhhFJiXGFKvOtr

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Miaomiao crawled out from its bed and rubbed its head against Phoenix’s leg.erGlcQdJwNpxNbwydOzQtuPWjpzdzd

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Phoenix glanced down and nudged Miaomiao’s head with its nose.riMzAjchurLCIcrngAAlAzjUUzOTsx

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“Alright, you two, go back to sleep.”ojLpBpDZXwwfmsNZdbqRNPegyEhtul

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Hearing this, Phoenix obediently returned to its bed, and Miaomiao trotted over, curling up against Phoenix’s warm belly.WCbpilzuWNbNDmGcXGJDxbHzUUjyTp

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Well, Miaomiao’s been checked on, so now there’s no reason to go upstairs, Gong Yingxian thought irritably.kBqxGPSQCCaUeUXvnkvGVyrkvGektM

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But without saying anything, Ren Yi suddenly took Gong Yingxian’s hand and led him upstairs.kqduPoxpMFkFEqNbxzwFyFePGNVyDl

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Gong Yingxian’s heart pounded, his cheeks warming. For once, he felt regret over his habit of wearing gloves all year round—this was the first time he and Ren Yi held hands, and he should have been able to feel the warmth of Ren Yi’s palm.ZWdIPcZKYOUGaTJgnwNxJqiVxGYscP

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Once inside the dorm, Ren Yi turned around, pressed Gong Yingxian against the wall, and kissed him passionately.cvdxWTsICWycMiwfmNxIzoVRUVWhbP

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Gong Yingxian, slowly catching on, tried his best to respond.mQyfvVDZyVNTvuVQQGKUZJHPwiAeEF

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Resting his forehead against Gong Yingxian’s, Ren Yi whispered, “Did you miss me these past few days?”CeldOiSOOaKbKdKMsHxPfyZndmkOzk

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Gong Yingxian nodded.UMJUTzImDJoxyqIeaoyXPeBkrJsKhg

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“I missed you too,” Ren Yi said, gently bumping their foreheads together. “So, what did you miss about me?”aorcDRQSWCfCDNyMUrdlzTPPavkYmf

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Gong Yingxian opened his mouth. “I… missed your safety.”mzOMoQVVXODSBQUCDvPGjFvyyAQqcn

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Ren Yi chuckled. “That’s it? Nothing else?”SgMIWajaMHetlbXPGjuhIgFpuMoVLL

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Gong Yingxian couldn’t bring himself to meet Ren Yi’s shining eyes.iaJPkUeBXHeiBFRefaxrFcvjahNXSw

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Ren Yi leaned close to Gong Yingxian’s ear. “Didn’t think of anything… not suitable for children?”AsQtidXQyaMDRCWbzyNnEXqFvJpGsW

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Gong Yingxian’s breathing noticeably changed. He thought about it—he just couldn’t say it aloud.SYzXIBltOQJMEraBCgrybcmXsZcvOx

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“I did.” Ren Yi pulled Gong Yingxian into the room—EgZNrfvNzLDIMjJRDgxCYiKDVNgMtD

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In the middle of the night, Ren Yi woke up.fWpEHZQOqAuGLqVQNgHMVAKItrcDAH

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The events of last night hung over him like a heavy, dark cloud. Gong Yingxian’s warm embrace had managed to fend off the chill the cloud brought, but its massive shadow remained, lingering and unshakable.SnvvTcHhIapsJtEZZphyqeeHDYlJWB

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Ren Yi glanced at the peacefully sleeping Gong Yingxian. Not wanting to wake him with his restless tossing and turning, he quietly got out of bed, threw on a jacket, and left the bedroom, heading into the office next door.zfSbEoiyzCtkeiQewvfAtBmNDhgUrr

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From the desk drawer, he dug out a pack of cigarettes. He stared at the spread-out case files on the Gong family arson, silently inhaling and exhaling the smoke.yUzPNqhgqvyqZFdeLslPYTCBKMwBJH

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He had quit smoking years ago, so there was no real craving, but a cigarette in times of agitation helped to calm his mind.FlmmBIAROMeDQhicKnAQVdvoWCAxYD

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He didn’t know how much time had passed when he heard someone calling him. Startled, he snapped back to reality and turned around. At some point, Gong Yingxian had come to stand behind him. He’d been so absorbed in thought that he hadn’t heard the door or footsteps at all.PtayHflirbVpxnmbdZSZTbDmekzPNF

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“What’s wrong?” Gong Yingxian asked, a hint of worry in his voice. “Are you feeling unwell?”iLCQXSdVmwvPacFHkiCwqFMrTbqmgJ

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Not wanting to worry him, Ren Yi flashed a sly, mischievous smile. “I feel great.”wgSlzbXqDrFlilUUdTLDkTEwWzuTvA

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Gong Yingxian’s face immediately flushed. “You… I meant, why are you up in the middle of the night?”VECQssnikRecqMvyMKYAQwDyDNqyPD

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“Just couldn’t sleep.” Ren Yi flicked the cold cigarette into the trash. “Go back to bed; you’re seriously sleep-deprived.”ndzmxZLHNcYjMzibnPPLOtbfrtSpqb

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Gong Yingxian came over, sat beside Ren Yi, and looked at the familiar documents on the desk. “You’re still looking at these.”OtvaSvxhnTBmFtISJORSPFAlKzSSAS

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“Going over them again might lead to new discoveries.”PPkCBeJGohheoIBWxyiMfHurorQZND

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“The photos are too blurry; even after enhancement, they’re not clear. And too much evidence from back then is missing. You’ve already uncovered a lot,” Gong Yingxian sighed.OanMpMYOkQGlOqhLdJrMMDwAYJBqRF

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“Did your investigation into the people who handled the case back then yield anything?”ywcGAmEyjHQdQkPhYXmlmWwiQbPHSq

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“There’s a former subordinate of my father’s and an investigator who are both suspicious, but even if we find evidence, overturning the case is tough. Due to the passage of time, the evidence chain is extremely hard to link and form a logical sequence. Plus, reopening a case requires layer upon layer of approval; after all, it means overturning the judicial decision made back then. Either we have undeniable, ironclad evidence, or we need a witness.”jXfaisQQILRdascGjnhnJpJezpgIHk

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“You’re talking about Ziyan.”BJawMAmCtCaHuNLXaBfKAZuTSfxJmN

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Gong Yingxian nodded. “Catching Ziyan, finding his connection to this matter, and getting him to confess with his own mouth.”GYMLLjhBuhwmYxiJYXnyTZZUOvjWJa

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“Have you thought about what relationship Ziyan might have with the killer from back then? You mentioned that, according to your analysis, Ziyan isn’t the killer.”BSNdYwsXJdbrKEWyWsidlBbygOudUH

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“I’ve considered three possibilities. First, the killer once boasted about it to members within the Angel’s Claw; second, Ziyan is a successor—the Church of the Holy Light wasn’t founded recently; we only discovered it in recent years, but the killer may have been a member once; third, Ziyan and the killer had a personal relationship, and he was groomed by the killer to become an arsonist.”ZICuJihpVzbTqAaYvYuqcYVrsQQeeF

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“So, which possibility do you think is more likely?” Ren Yi asked.cHycfJupkUaSLiPJWqlQXQTMFbNZMr

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“I’d like to hear your thoughts.”nJBdYjODKlZCbiRTtuSRMFXJrqPZpM

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Ren Yi thought for a moment. “Based on your profile, Ziyan is under 35, possibly even younger. How did he brainwash such a large group of people to follow him so loyally? Usually, cult leaders have a bit of age on them to make it convincing, don’t they?”BtRTyxtzIyucVuiOCcNGcBbJFWhrWx

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“So, you lean toward the third possibility?”BTTUEenZUjZwVJqXwzTfuJgkLNcJxC

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“It’s just a guess. But if Ziyan really had a personal relationship with the killer, it would better explain how he could achieve all this at such a young age, and why he even knows the exact design of that bird mask. You recognized it at a glance back then, didn’t you?”vjckdMrExgGkENlYDMpVvLUKWJvVUG

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Gong Yingxian frowned slightly, hesitating with a long, drawn-out “hmm.”GRisWmOrbiynbzhcXTbtIRowEoTJHH

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“What is it? Didn’t you say the mask he wore was the same as the one back then, or at least looked identical?”SQdgahkyZFjChHocMjXgIivOQnIpBO

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“In truth, I don’t remember exactly what the mask looked like. It’s just a vague impression. But when I saw that mask, I just felt it was the one.” Gong Yingxian shook his head. “This isn’t a good sign. Psychologically speaking, this kind of reaction likely comes from self-suggestion.”JsZIphAJKQelqvxezSekwfRcmJoepp

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“Self-suggestion?”VvVZNLGOoGPnkBSUPHlFpZXaodXSkp

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“Exactly. For example, a car drives past you, and someone asks how many tires it has. You didn’t actually see them clearly, but based on common sense, you assume it has four. The more you recall, the more certain you are that the car had four tires, but it could’ve been a three-wheeler.” Gong Yingxian explained, “The mask is similar. I never actually recalled the mask’s design or color; I only have a rough idea based on assumptions and imagination. When Ziyan appeared wearing the mask, his identity, the atmosphere he created, what he said, and all the connections to the case merged together, making that mask seem like a match with what I remembered. In such a tense, shocking moment without time to think, I immediately believed it was the same mask. But after calming down and analyzing it repeatedly, I’ve started to doubt it.”WriooTWTcOXfVnCCvtMJJycPrLGmPI

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Ren Yi was surprised. “The mask Ziyan wore might not be the one from back then? You think you might’ve been psychologically influenced?”rlUiQCVfeNXtWJIdFtgaDSlGOLlEPf

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Gong Yingxian replied in a low voice, “I can’t be certain. Throughout my life, I’ve seen, and even specifically looked up, bird masks, but none ever gave me that sense of shock. I keep wondering if Ziyan really wore that same mask or if the atmosphere he created made me believe he did. The trouble now is that Ziyan’s mask left such a strong impact that my subconscious has already accepted it and merged it with the mask in my memory, to the point that I can’t even be certain myself.”MKytNiCfTLnVAuflQytNHPMyncyTYk

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“But Ziyan never once mentioned the mask he was wearing. If it were fake, wouldn’t you have noticed?”HxtKnpnlemuszjUPIYEpRqOCXRAvSx

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“That’s precisely his brilliance. He wore the mask, brought up the fire from back then, and hinted at a bond between us, but he didn’t reveal anything crucial. If the mask is real, he succeeded in planting fear in me. If it’s fake, it’s still highly effective because, to me, the ‘bird mask’ has symbolic significance. It doesn’t need to look identical.”ngafepiMiIZHMfbjEkQiIXlZxvJfJL

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Ren Yi took a deep breath. “This guy has such a sharp mind; why not use it for something good?”fWUieBbhfMreqXxRlUwRiolImpblMp

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Gong Yingxian replied gravely, “He’s extremely intelligent, with both his IQ and EQ far above average. In real life, he must be incredibly charismatic, yet he’s also skilled at making himself appear completely unremarkable.”lKPvgwlGWIWVbWvXketTnNwksCanFI

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“So, how will you determine if that mask is truly the one from your memory?”ZlpLiZFGzmeigpByvbJNUEfmFJiTwo

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“This is a deeply ingrained psychological suggestion. Even being aware of it doesn’t mean I can fix it myself. I’ve already asked my primary therapist to return to the country; he should be able to help me.”RvpOexRoyTRsrBmGGeFdwCGpVCFEzk

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Ren Yi held Gong Yingxian’s face in his hands, his gaze steady. “No matter what difficulties come, we’ll face them together.”XJPMuIXtAPpCxvfAspOwRBRTcHxjib

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Gong Yingxian looked back at Ren Yi, filled with deep emotion, and nodded solemnly.JcXIQpvdaONOThnSJDZasMKmBtOJRz

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