Blazing Armor

Once in the car, Ren Yi sat behind Bai Chicheng.LuQQOhMqPBjNLdJRLCiXmwvEjvlQtA

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Bai Chicheng turned his head to glance at Ren Yi. He looked even more emaciated and haggard than last time, his eyes dark and devoid of any emotion.uIXFbBdWJYNMBvMtYJyixaKNwkDebg

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Ren Yi unconsciously leaned back a bit. He wasn’t afraid of this person; rather, he felt disgust. How to describe Bai Chicheng’s aura? It was like a stagnant swamp, trying to expand its territory and drag all the vibrant things around it into its depths.jtchlJDVPEZqlrlgEyImDeqTLEeJwH

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Qiu Yan was about to say something when Bai Chicheng spoke first. He said to Gong Yingxian, “Huang Yan let you go alone.”yLrrQKzgPcLwLideOeeHKgfASNomjo

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Gong Yingxian replied, “Are you worried about him, or are you worried about yourself?”CuiufeUcIXfhZLMUfwSwbhrOTbizVP

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Bai Chicheng coldly said, “I’m worried about you. If you die, I won’t survive either.”GNQRMAmfRDfbdsuAZINtXTDovmTIkw

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“Do you think Huang Yan will kill you?” Qiu Yan asked.JveRycjTByLLrwJQymnCyhRdzZlDcv

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Bai Chicheng did not answer this question, clearly implying agreement.TAjEYgkhWkaUmaGCbhDduIJwfRkodL

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Qiu Yan changed the subject: “Are you afraid of death?”yiXADNXptHehlsSUnHGseXnbkSANOa

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“Is there anyone who isn’t afraid of death?” Bai Chicheng retorted.fMWdcjMwLXORZnZfOpseEQjtLUhxNw

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“I think you’re not afraid,” Qiu Yan said coldly, staring at the back of Bai Chicheng’s head. “A person who can kill his own wife and children must not value life at all. With so much evil done, you shouldn’t be afraid of death, right?”dRlIGNvZiXvFdzBbggldGTpeOqQNsL

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“I’m not afraid of death, but I also don’t want to die.”QKFpMwzCkajPjbSIrsAtnsYZbXZVQe

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Ren Yi snorted softly, “I thought you were loyal to the God of Light, but now it seems you’ve betrayed the organization, right?”XggfpzcFmUDEoksWErOsMQhYmTNGSN

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“My loyalty to the God of Light doesn’t mean I have to be loyal to Purple Flame,” Bai Chicheng’s tone was full of sarcasm. “These are two different matters.”HUAkXmJAqvFkOVsnwSIwuhMlIlSQGH

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Gong Yingxian shot Bai Chicheng a sideways glance: “Yes, after all, Purple Flame is just the messenger of the God of Light. But isn’t what Purple Flame conveys precisely the will of the God of Light?”tGsgOQEVQBEinlsOBmhBoczWDHFzZu

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“At first, I thought so, but later I realized he was using us for his own gain,” Bai Chicheng’s tone grew colder.qSfIPycoMfbnHuqqWrzeRZTfvostQt

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“What gain did he seek?” Gong Yingxian pressed, “Is it related to my family’s case?”uOvgwRHCUQghgQJAAKVwqOFUajCYMN

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Bai Chicheng chuckled softly, “Dr. Gong, if you don’t agree to my terms, don’t expect to pry anything out of me. Or do you want to try torture? After all, you’re a wanted criminal now.”IKJaJriiyHPJBrCUnALSiypEcqfjbY

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Gong Yingxian pressed the accelerator, stopping at a red light. He slowly turned his face, glaring at Bai Chicheng with a cold gaze: “Once I capture Huang Yan, I have plenty of ways to make you talk.”oxCdfRXfUfKMdIdsKpcpRrdNnfXlmr

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The malicious smile on Bai Chicheng’s face slowly faded.nCwhuqIkSAnEKSgppBXkVnxYVKAKJq

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“If you were me, what would you use to force someone to speak without taking their life?” Gong Yingxian lightly curled his lips, looking at Bai Chicheng as if he were a dying beast, cold and disdainful. “You wanted to compete with me, right? Then let’s see, guess what I would use to make you wish you were dead, suffer endlessly, but still be able to live on, albeit half-alive?”QQTuSGEjQCacESbrDEnXjlFpRAOqVB

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“Yingxian, stop talking,” Qiu Yan lightly scolded. Even though there was no one else around, she didn’t want to hear Gong Yingxian say something unprofessional.PaKOqaPlOauqfXuCYvHmuFFNMWTvjf

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Ren Yi stared blankly at Gong Yingxian’s face, which was particularly cold in the dim backlight, feeling a chill run down his spine.WVCfgMFfPXKSGZSugwAoQtkGuyHyqp

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Bai Chicheng glared back at Gong Yingxian, silent, but his throat moved slightly.gceFlaPpKvrIUfQrCVckDdAiTMOkbe

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The red light turned green, and Gong Yingxian turned away, continuing to drive.dKKOPmnLvhwuqhosxJdSdmaeEOjjrr

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Ren Yi shifted slightly, stealing a glance at Gong Yingxian in the rearview mirror, but when Gong Yingxian seemed to sense it and turned his gaze to the mirror, he quickly shrank back.dxIkXBhPFkVrTJHqUKlXkSUyyiNsHZ

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Sometimes he felt he understood Gong Yingxian very well, and other times he felt he understood too little. This feeling had repeated itself since they met; no matter how close they were, it seemed there was always a part of Gong Yingxian’s world that was too deep for him to glimpse.NQulVpvEcnvLwoZFXxhrpjGvkNxcii

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After exiting the highway, Gong Yingxian stopped the car by the roadside and turned to the two of them, saying, “Get out of the car with me.”JnQsNGXzlRiqEFWXpBBrvPcMborJAU

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It was nearly midnight, and the area was remote, making it hard to see other vehicles. It was practically a lawless place.FWrrjxAvCOEgLAMAGMUqDUzOINlhKu

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Gong Yingxian opened the trunk, revealing a backpack and a woven bag.luRMqPPsYfBCwpZGOvoPwAuncIiPwb

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“Your gun was confiscated, right?” Gong Yingxian asked Qiu Yan.lqcacjNpoKSFBlpGZvDqcxuVTLKwSz

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Qiu Yan nodded in frustration.BZNotBmtmjshTVHnSvrbIjjwAKJVoN

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Gong Yingxian pulled out three flashlights from the woven bag: “I learned this from a movie. These are filled with gunpowder and steel balls, and the switch is the flashlight’s button. Aim it and press the button, and it becomes a weakened version of a shotgun, though it’s single-use.”BnDxfHKalySteafpmUeVLOnOlPBXjC

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Ren Yi took the flashlight, feeling its weight. The thought of holding a modified weapon made him uneasy.yeJUpntZgWmJYYzpLONFTjZtPuEgYr

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Gong Yingxian then picked up a light bulb, which had been hollowed out and filled with an unknown chemical liquid, with a cotton wick sticking out from the base: “This is a makeshift grenade. Light it, throw it within five seconds, and take a few more.”eiLYgUiAlCRwYCFCtzJVbNjGoAXYyG

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Ren Yi watched as Gong Yingxian pulled out a bag containing several transparent small bottles filled with a light blue liquid, which were the throwing bombs commonly used by Bai Chicheng.itrxveFzFYDWAtFZZmXvkmJDIkCpox

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Gong Yingxian explained, “You all recognize this. Its chemical properties are very unstable; it will explode with a strong impact, so be careful when carrying it. Just throw it hard when you use it. Although its power isn’t great, it’s very practical. Also, take a night vision device each.”BukkfoLwmRqsAsDNAgBFNsgIhrLfsE

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Looking at this pile of dangerous “gear,” Ren Yi couldn’t help but ask, “Does Huang Yan have a gun?”kwtmyEBKSkGEYyfFyHaJpwXfQXYqyn

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Gong Yingxian nodded without hesitation.FctDkMdBDjvYXJwFuaTPypUPUgRdnQ

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Ren Yi gasped. The Chinese government has the strictest gun control in the world, not to mention this was right under the imperial city; these X cultists were truly lawless.DwqZKDdvWciQhssZWVECoihFxhXdOu

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As Qiu Yan stuffed items into her pockets, she said, “This mission is too dangerous. Are you really not going to inform the bureau?”ndFxNZXaDrNkbCiyMTVVpJUVhHsPlw

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“If I inform the bureau, the hostages will most likely not be rescued, and we might end up in trouble too,” Gong Yingxian said firmly. “Once I capture Huang Yan, I’ll return to the precinct.”eZJOjhuxyblECEXzIzjkCBdSQlOKAB

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Qiu Yan sighed, “Alright then.”xITJzClBlckbuHYEFBWXEhFlnBUtTT

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Gong Yingxian said, “We’re not far from the agreed location. I’ll drop you off a bit ahead, and I’ll take Bai Yan to exchange the hostages. You two will go around from a concealed place.”NfcsXhCpZuXHkxaeaWCcPoRNJKnSon

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“Okay.”vVxHbOjvKXKpXSZZeyMKScmgitonId

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Gong Yingxian looked at Ren Yi, hesitating to say something.krXSYliDYLoGTOdveZfHDzFbEtquMd

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Qiu Yan said, “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of him.”PeLCSLcNWYGbrwSSPXZfHhvNdmbnmn

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Ren Yi said, “I don’t need anyone to take care of me.”okwpgdiOAZciEEJZgWCePoIqngLAQy

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“You have to listen to Yan Jie,” Gong Yingxian said seriously. “You have no experience in rescuing hostages or facing criminals. This isn’t a situation you can handle just because you’re physically fit. Listen to Yan Jie, assist her, assist me, and together we’ll rescue the people and capture Huang Yan.”vMDPzbKfYNxGIrEKVKVeagDNPXNvzT

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Ren Yi muttered, “Got it.”tbmyIEKPFrciWjDiTwPdyvAVFWBiaD

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“Let’s go.”nXTDCqGLAIAvmVPUJBJeSKFlOoqYJL

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“Gong Yingxian.” Ren Yi suddenly called out to him.xGKuIajPUmdHHISZPUcOMPEeWRuSmV

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Gong Yingxian turned to look at him.PJpFRZMWHfJaXNbWtkBLidrilpOtLf

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“If I hadn’t placed the tracker, if we hadn’t followed you,” Ren Yi said solemnly, “were you really planning to face a retired special forces soldier with a gun all by yourself?” He felt a tightness in his chest, as if he was constantly considering Gong Yingxian, but when Gong Yingxian was about to take a life-threatening risk, he didn’t think of him.xRLjtVKJfSUeSRFTjoGkxYcmuhjhTz

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Gong Yingxian nodded, “I have to go.”CrDXUrBeqkyNKdJpbbbWUUZpultLoF

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“‘Have to go.’ Have you thought about me… us?” As his breathing quickened, Ren Yi’s chest began to rise and fall heavily. “Have you considered how important your safety is to us? You seem not to worry at all about the possibility of getting hurt, or even…”RwITMqiPbfYZKhCDQkywxAfIxFcBir

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Qiu Yan also looked at Gong Yingxian with a stern face.UMmsusWnBRDWnDgVOanfpKdAnzCUqT

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Gong Yingxian blinked, softly saying, “Ren Yi, now you can understand how I felt watching you go into the fire, right?”qZiiOzvwYOiyWnFsXErgJvvXLOMuaF

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Ren Yi was taken aback.ZKhdPvWLheexHQNamZfhtYLRyWyBfb

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“I’ve made so many preparations to protect myself. I… thought about it, thought about how you would worry about me, but I have to go.”sbMhqBBbkYwVwPeqpUKyRfaOQXusaR

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Ren Yi lowered his head in disappointment. He couldn’t refute Gong Yingxian because they both had things they “had to” do and reasons they “had to” go: “Then… you must come back safely.”kNBxdbSYStZVOUQqeAAsJxREMFqbEq

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“You too.”UJuyMaMABZGcCVjYjAIzEFxmVVNLvq

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Once in the car, Gong Yingxian continued driving for a while.oBPlcXBymfnRwEhVfZvcaQMCkTFoxN

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A rusty sign flashed by in the darkness, and ahead was the location where Huang Yan had agreed to exchange hostages—a deserted factory.xQyDtQfgPOSteSuDeQhkdmUTGnslgF

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As they approached the factory, Gong Yingxian dropped the two off and drove straight toward the factory gate with Bai Chicheng.KJQiPRYFwyrLeGWltvWKFgSYDzCoGn

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Ren Yi and Qiu Yan hurried toward the factory.BhOwZczXeVOWcZeqsJDaxNzElhwugK

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On the way, Ren Yi said anxiously, “Do you think Bai Chicheng will betray us?”jTDNetGMjvieKGJGYvIwvfRozQMEZY

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“If what he said is true, then he is safer with us than with Huang Yan, so he wouldn’t say anything,” Qiu Yan replied.rmAmiqARvTSoKrlUKRFbQXIenVndjn

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“Do you think what he said is true?”jzyDOVgBgfnTkeifzUzVtfDhYhldQq

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“Hard to say. I always feel…” Qiu Yan thought for a moment, “My analysis and intuition tell me he spoke the truth, but he also concealed some truths.”ccWJzijmClgBcuelsjByopLmecuRCk

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“I feel the same way. He might have really had some disagreements with Purple Flame. At least during his capture and being wanted, Purple Flame couldn’t help him escape, but instead hoped he would use himself as bait to lure us into the hotel and kill us and Yue Xingu.”VkeizTCGLlAEXhjPmwxAzhgBiKOOSt

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“So he turned traitor,” Qiu Yan nodded. “That makes sense.”HNOGxnrTrYiKCKBRWwiKvOkiLFkvFk

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The two quickly ran to the vicinity of the factory. It was unclear how long this place had been abandoned; the grass in the yard had grown taller than a person. In the pitch-black surroundings, the wild grass swayed with the wind, like clusters of ghostly figures, eerie and foreboding.hgSZXGqosZfvWPIhJjRjnaGnrzuXOf

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Inside the factory, only one warehouse had its lights on, and the two took a detour toward the back door of the warehouse.HKFIqErbfQMNZBWMAXFZumPerLsqkX

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