Chapter 167
Back in the functional area, the surroundings plunged into darkness again. Ren Yi pressed himself against the wall, a flashlight clutched tightly in his hand, his palm slick with sweat. Despite having the lighting device in his grasp, he dared not press the switch. It wasn’t an ordinary flashlight; it was a low-spec shotgun, with only one shot available – perhaps his only lifeline.tNKHhSCrUHOvIITxpIicQluXTIzytD
zRxnqPshoreVfloIn the darkness, only sounds were discernible. Ren Yi pricked up his ears, listening intently. He dreaded hearing gunshots, yet he needed them for guidance.IFGcuOmaCostBOVpkFUsvIHrTUhjAO
YzyxZYnXScyyHAnAfter walking along the wall for a while, gunshots rang out again, this time from above!xhtBhrrawGqiOhzBEPrjPRKpJjfvgX
tBtNAbkOMeAJThcRen Yi turned and ran back, as he had just passed a staircase.dfJbaxAdWTsPlEbkIxeAvPHoFKSbuu
ociOxkGTwWUuCYNAscending the stairs, Ren Yi lightened his footsteps. The gunshots were close, indicating the shooter’s proximity, and there was a fifty-fifty chance it was his enemy. Darkness coupled with the unknown fueled fear, its tendrils of black spreading from his feet to his head. He trembled slightly, his hand trailing along the wall as he continued forward.fhCMdcVdBcbTCQZoAOCQzbkvFhlxFB
fVTxWmWKgLwmbnHSuddenly, a rustling sound of fabric came from behind, faint and fleeting, yet Ren Yi heard it. Before he could turn, he felt a rush of air behind him. A thud – a heavy object hitting the ground – followed by a gunshot!mSLCjQaxdsIDkTlMhyaMpNznclDRSe
PglPvUwFypKVFTgSince graduating from the People’s Armed Police University, Ren Yi hadn’t touched a gun, let alone been this close to a bullet. He distinctly felt the bullet whiz past his ear, its trajectory creating a gust of wind that stirred his hair.vfofrgLaCxYGweSGkkKwyPHiVOeBou
QdnREpxHdHaseIAHis blood ran cold.pMjVaZLbtlFNrubLolYfGtXpXMmDlX
PdmvhcsHZIQhIVM“Ren Yi, run!” Gong Yingxian yelled.rEuCwhQQgAWXAQexcgBpmGCctBVoeD
yocLjSabejAQXouRen Yi turned his head. In the faint moonlight, he saw Gong Yingxian tackling a man to the ground. It wasn’t Huang Yan, nor the fake hostage, but an unfamiliar man in black.fUePRisYmmcXbiHwbQiCuxahwoYfOt
gwQlpRdAfhyymAnMore people?!JDIFhfInQNidKIXHibXQIKEdDaTlfk
CqaVUUSlpxKFjWiGong Yingxian pinned the man down, one hand gripping his wrist, slamming it repeatedly against the ground, attempting to dislodge his gun.UwkYNObheUGRGTwjsffJemnmdaAKrd
mgrICuPaFSaUcooBut the man clung to his weapon, and in his panic, fired again, the bullet landing near Ren Yi.gtZHqbKjaURZUNXVCCqFLrpfAiBAcN
FGFcyKijONBNuJh“Run!” Gong Yingxian roared at Ren Yi.SXjbKEqwJAGEMvRpdJmvZhHlXUjXYd
eJFDLDsVPaCQijERen Yi wanted to help Gong Yingxian, but with the two men grappling, all his “weapons” were useless. Close combat risked a bullet, so he could only hide around a nearby corner, at least to prevent Gong Yingxian from being distracted.ClnmyVZEtoghKmpQtXgJXOoMUjmqvJ
HGwxJXnqKisVRrmGong Yingxian flipped, straddling the man’s back, one hand yanking his arm, twisting it viciously.uIMNXJDRjosOtsWbAlOHoKCOCyZQuY
uBMFhRfxFGajIXDA scream ripped through the night. The gun finally fell to the ground.GgfHJsQGGnNVDVSpkHVxeyPdHYSKQF
aZZbZMojeuTAGwpThe man kicked Gong Yingxian in the head with a powerful back kick. Gong Yingxian fell, and the man took the opportunity to push him off, scrambling to his feet, aiming a punch at Gong Yingxian’s face.fuIHIXlptjentvxDjYsTpkItACyHgn
OkseuAEEXeQwsTQGong Yingxian dodged, the fist grazing his temple, burning with pain.POOQIObGgMxSGWtAxuRDawQgBgqViO
SjpxLbnNOIiUJzXThe man turned to retrieve his gun, but Gong Yingxian grabbed his ankle, pulling him back, his elbow striking the man’s kneecap with brutal force.flxWqoODxnVfFHKipZCTYwVjeaPNyR
GseIVuIgZCrfMFWThe man screamed again, his legs kicking wildly. Gong Yingxian protected his head and face with his arms, backing away as the man again tried to reach his gun.YsExaZTRDATkOhXkKKuyygjNZfLLPu
nPgKCJarODoFkpyGong Yingxian lunged forward, tackling the man. He grabbed the man’s collar with one hand, and punched his temple with the other.WbKejXdcNfGMTxNgbqVUMsANYMzMlh
pNGVeUhgIDjFSDeThe man ducked, twisting his body, turning halfway around. A knife appeared in his hand, aimed at Gong Yingxian’s eyes.DwEeEaEroyLSxFavaQdRRWacTvpDHi
phrCYtjsMIWlFYNJust inches from Gong Yingxian’s eyes, Gong Yingxian seized the man’s wrist, his other hand grabbing the man’s thumb, breaking it with a swift, decisive snap.dkhxMMCYUsyAzXlWgZZGJZPMjpuimO
xLHfkEFWgGaZkrZThe sound of breaking bone and the man’s scream intertwined in the night’s symphony of terror.TGoxOpRDJnezHdfJJCEmPKgLlUFbvB
kCsYSLfXDnLDfyZGong Yingxian snatched the knife, his arm extending in an arc as elegant as a soaring bird, slicing the man’s throat.TQvIeuEWWxceuKkzgkYYmTJZrKWFzW
vNFrpeCjsHfmjSZBlood gushed from the severed artery, forming a geyser a meter high.dUmEMqUQUjgTDsAglvjgNAmsiKbsrv
KujjTmcFmIuWuVYRen Yi watched the blood surging from the dying man’s body, realizing that despite having witnessed countless terrifying scenes, this one ranked among the top five.RtpSfwPvzeryhUAUtzjQHydoIKPBtG
tsCiIkBkElFAyCLThe man’s body went limp.tQvwcaScyDTTOnZffJeLegwhrMZFLd
dnutTEifTrRywhoGong Yingxian, clutching the knife, slowly stood up.SEqDMdnrjaCnpwcTcrUsTvVxylauqx
EgeVzrluaSXDkQw“Ying…Yingxian,” Ren Yi whispered.xlgsQsletOsQCXRvXfpyqDMaAhrFAw
MFQvUBLKalVYnGpGong Yingxian slowly turned around. His chest was covered in blood, his usually fair face splattered with crimson, like a beast that had just torn its prey apart.rzJdsvyUkMYEmHdsXPGzHHQmqhGbzT
CVEWtWtjrdBMtWwRen Yi dared not breathe.yOgcBzlnnPMybEEpUNpHsnFkKuGcRq
PAwtKgCoEhkpoPlGong Yingxian said softly, “Do you have any paper?”IpfrOVEZYOSWLnRwJwSOSAsroGKKrc
fRaCrvodAXIZBdk“…What?”rxxKVBQbvLXfWkEBfjymsJvDkCHhGu
EToAvhAQiptOAbY“It’s so messy,” Gong Yingxian looked down at his clothes.DwJOzxdsbkMJdgtPrCXzgGuXHbzLie
cPaFfeVTvJVAjkZRen Yi snapped back to reality, patting his pockets. He found two napkins, not knowing when he’d put them there. He walked over and wiped the blood from Gong Yingxian’s face.dvcGXuUcWgchtTYRtOplJqMsqpcYFs
uVeELsEntuEeRtPGong Yingxian stared intently at Ren Yi. In the darkness, his pupils shone with a faint, orchid-like light. “Why didn’t you run?” Gong Yingxian said expressionlessly. “Why did you come back?”JZuSBACUwaiwVBSZNyPAWssZjyOVpf
jPAEWGlFhyOHTkg“Could I have left you both and run? Where’s Captain Qiu?”yakRFHEhYGWQQXEfMKMfotKkrKBKlC
UZykrlBJSjBinvH“I don’t know. Weren’t you together? What about Bai Chicheng?”EhCISHmqlDlIVUmytdXwjvoXxTAmpE
xkGKIMvUleaIaAm“Captain Qiu went after Huang Yan. Bai Chicheng tried to run, but I caught him, knocked him out, and tied him to the gate.”XfLEUpPMikxnFpozdvqbdSOypumHtX
EpmLnQdiCmmlDjb“You shouldn’t have come back!” Gong Yingxian said coldly. “You should have either waited for us in a safe place, or taken him away. We agreed to follow orders, where did that go?”fzSMmSuQhMwvvcOSlNEkvtRsQfJDnK
iFjoCsumQAcmhYdNormally, Ren Yi would have retorted, but catching sight of the still-bleeding man on the ground, he couldn’t utter a word. He pursed his lips. “Let’s go together.”PzbXhZQXdeStewqudJdSgDckMBqHTF
blBdLfDLehvKrVD“We can’t leave now.”eQtyHYeSsyRoramswHfbDBtiAoXeQP
FcDfhqlzqvRbLci“Why?”JNdZJvnOpWOUAsCFiLSgCjpfwRGNvm
vvlyCGbTiLhABlY“There are others, and we don’t know how many.”WRbvWvXmuPnjdbRztVRjNaZXovyRkQ
KoMeLZrQZFtgsjD“What? Who was that man?”LiIsplNVNowcHWfEZHANupvvaKTBDU
ASUsJPzLTAElwbE“Besides Huang Yan, those two ‘hostages’ were their people. Purple Flame arranged for others, each with a gun, each trained, to ensure we die here.” Gong Yingxian gritted his teeth. “We won’t get out unless we kill them all.”YRrppLHBfULszchsUlSYgrZuFZFPlq
npfvAHGWQHQoHYJRen Yi was stunned.mGxnPCSvFUrcNUBudjaGzIYfsBTOSx
MqGiWzMFTRMtISHGong Yingxian glared at him: “That’s why you shouldn’t have come back!”bEmCBsLNeGPydqwsaMelRxzwwAuPXy
WYHSxPFahiKmJoy“But I should have come back, at least for an extra hand. No, we need to find Captain Qiu quickly, she’s a woman alone, it’s too dangerous.”AVvcfGlLyiRDiwRtItjIvrAqnNIaqa
ntvhgOYrtrJEMWY“She can protect herself better than you.” Gong Yingxian picked up the man’s gun, checked the magazine, then patted the body, disappointed. “Only two bullets left.”fvExccQcSXPgPWUOYiSQFRSkEcvRLu
SdBYiuIEYXXOhvS“Your gun’s out of bullets too?”dRHkbinEDkUgRBFNppflhrmjZdFmBC
aqzKhZnZtWpfjdQGong Yingxian shook his head.BdXCSpVspNDOFbUGvvQHGhSilbhTDf
wzOqjqCQUPKuNwn“Captain Qiu took the gun from the man dressed as a woman, to chase Huang Yan. Huang Yan is extremely dangerous, I’m really worried about her.”vWyWFskNrwMLwdrDXNBZgaXgkjZOnd
EfZFGuMcuFclGrx“I’m worried too, but there’s no other way. I don’t know how many people Purple Flame sent, these guys seem like hired killers.” Gong Yingxian gritted his teeth. “Here, we at least have cover. If we leave, if there are snipers, we’ll be sitting ducks in the open.”goWFWjkfwqNyxrmDCzLvzUbWTOrevE
fbSVMWExQrpKoQDRen Yi was speechless. Their situation was dire, but at least they had each other. But what about Qiu Yan? Could a woman really protect herself against such a dangerous fugitive?eqdGWoRKsOnVQnmhUhJNKBcuPiQpQT
TezSwcMSSsTjxbj“We need to find her…” Gong Yingxian said. “Let’s count what we have. I don’t know how many enemies we have.”sIdwFXViiSWSPocfocbERdLInQKgej
gEskwqxOUCcznwsThey counted their “weapons”: two bullets, one flashlight, seven lightbulb grenades, over thirty small bottle bombs, and two knives.qQHfDiPBEfOkdSpfyNgAbtTPRXFrjR
RXUmiiHLksHfBkPGong Yingxian gave Ren Yi the flashlight and most of the small bottle bombs. “The lightbulbs are a bit dangerous, the cotton wicks burn unevenly, and the wind can cause premature detonation, so I’ll use them. You take the rest.”TMRvdhniUeNbESuoQcqXgZWzdUmsbP
qzHHXhVyjwzBdYy“Okay.”SphBMZcbgHPblgUKottyjEyLFupGGY
NMhCCzsOmGodpywGong Yingxian started taking off his jacket.dhGGFotYKJQoDzAnDqfhgGtMPaUUFJ
XxYDAnEYmDMvPpM“What are you doing?”oUHrRcqlIfVAmHwxoSfFabrinoavDJ
ceKghYxXPDZiEdeGong Yingxian was wearing a bulletproof vest under his sweatshirt. He was taking it off.goiVgXJXDuopLNqPuTPjesAGtakKOm
FahcjlQnmwWAOWXRen Yi understood his intention and pressed his hand. “Don’t give it to me, you’re much more dangerous than I am.”ADWfTVgwIfHPmmUNITBSUoQAZAqaMH
RyzPxxRMwbNLAmYGong Yingxian pulled his hand away, took off the vest, and ordered, “Put it on.”PYeXUCwcdqtRdhSuNGGZZRRNDMMRym
omCHrPFAOFZNRXM“I won’t wear it, you need it more. This thing is like my protective gear, whoever goes to war wears it, whoever wears it goes to war.” Ren Yi glared at Gong Yingxian. “Are you making me the main force?”iLcuVuDEjGaYfYQcHNMWqEHmLnhJUi
wnTPiuUIJAmpoJhGong Yingxian’s tone was cold and uncompromising: “Put it on, or I’ll put it on for you.”fIiCBHkaJRgeoBvUgWGlImnGdMQGfa
yxhWYhxZwZLSwXKRen Yi pursed his lips.nFcKGRjWStVomVoxOYQUTfqhjluWjl
vLWHKQLquqGBpyYGong Yingxian grabbed Ren Yi’s arm and started putting the vest on him. Ren Yi struggled, and Gong Yingxian grabbed his chin, roughly kissing his lips, even lightly biting his lip.piHWFcvHkUzcKHKAqKiQZHVNYRwJUO
djEIqNhBBeitskNRen Yi let out a soft hum, trying to push Gong Yingxian away, but Gong Yingxian seized his arm, slipping it into one sleeve of the vest, then his other arm into the other sleeve.rFoBzGiiJABTojkncYzarpcSLURXtZ
PGpCGHOiJgjIdEcRen Yi protested, tugging at the front of the vest to take it off, but Gong Yingxian seized both his wrists, pinning them against his chest, his other hand on Ren Yi’s head, deepening the kiss, leaving Ren Yi no escape, kissing him thoroughly and completely.GEpWStXaQGQEFQWEpJpQDSDYMvQBzy
VPaJbmHGhwEXJruGong Yingxian kissed Ren Yi until his head swam, then zipped up the vest before releasing him.fIBUqoARdehLSQiTSczfOBpoQMmQTo
eOvBRPTvQKLdKvwRen Yi gasped for breath, glaring at Gong Yingxian, but his glare lacked any intimidation, even softened by the lingering intimacy, the corners of his eyes still holding a trace of warmth, which to Gong Yingxian, seemed more like a provocation.lKtuIEJPwVwmobMXRLljpxOeNtxZEB
PgNfnAKkEVErEElAt that moment, Gong Yingxian dared not think too much, snapping, “Get it on.”BOmkZXUVCgwJNAJciqCxfQjdFoLube
fUypUdHpOwubsZQRen Yi tugged at the bulletproof vest and had to accept it.QkusdgYBezSUqJncfBnkEWfLnqQCll
iSbFyQEmTYtYUWPGong Yingxian stuffed various homemade weapons into his pockets, saying, “Don’t worry, I’ll get you out of here. No matter how many enemies there are, even if we have to fight our way out, I’ll get you home safely.”OhHdYiqvttcmlEczojirIHKkhGNBlM
WIgzWrYsEgimMlDRen Yi silently gazed at Gong Yingxian, as if no matter what danger they faced, no matter what enemies they encountered, Gong Yingxian could protect him – a thought he shouldn’t have – but even if he died here with Gong Yingxian, he would have no regrets.GleFcXEqcjLKrIbFdAbgMOIYQfGfJU
OsFEOQbyDzSJMtSYNKMqTtaXMUCjNCKPxzsCSZdwMgGJo