Chapter 168
Ren Yi didn’t dare to make a phone call. He sent several messages to Qiu Yan, but received no response. Every passing second filled him with increasing worry.ROChzUPFtfaZNEUMnsstGUXThMmite
aLyGiRXEGSDKFowRen Yi wondered, “Where were those people hiding before? Why didn’t they show up at the beginning? If they were there from the start, you would be outnumbered and have no chance of winning.”EvtfpCgPephjQgbLNrIXjndrRqgjiY
JwtgkswAUQLhzph“I think those people were sent by Purple Flame, and it’s very likely that even Huang Yan himself doesn’t know about it.”jWRefTPMKqkZsHFjryLAxPPdKGnZMo
uhVtxAvMvSwuSOn“Oh?”cprHaaikdYFsVNwHxYjdOiTJipuyPg
EfWHpNIetCTgVHX“Just like you said, if Huang Yan had help, what reason would he have to hide? Clearly, that would give him an absolute advantage.” Gong Yingxian analyzed, “I guess either Purple Flame doesn’t trust Huang Yan, or after so many attempts to kill us and failing, they had to keep this backup plan. Those people look like hired guns, not members of the organization.”cJQRUBCtCPWOZEihUhchdkXFxKpUVZ
VSMVdxMaEKzWAoE“Purple Flame specifically hired assassins to kill us, really…” Ren Yi joked bitterly, “That’s quite a show of power.”OUBLdVoEWBDWcyRgayBHXWMGAUDUjv
VzjCybTnqcqBDIJGong Yingxian’s eyes turned cold: “He’s tried all sorts of methods and still hasn’t succeeded, so naturally, he’s becoming more and more desperate.”uORnOATnYlQIIskbXajvhOLorJrhNR
uVTNTfgWiweQMEj“He keeps talking about purifying some evil with fire, but now he’s willing to go to any lengths to kill and silence people. Isn’t he afraid his followers will question him?”UBXtFgdCPTMIHolcYYAwRvaedOUqNF
vgSaTsmecqRWDtT“Once those people see him as a spiritual leader, most will unconditionally support every decision he makes, every word he says. He always finds a way to justify himself.”cmjDHorRUkNWtBJaQdCdhEszUMqNMY
WNpkNROhJggHoNG“Then Bai Yan is just not thoroughly brainwashed.” Ren Yi frowned, “But what he’s doing is the most insane.”EPmlmCGFHSzgCKweYqJnNBRVNYGgQC
yNJsZeNQhtaNbjI“People like him are bound to commit crimes, whether or not Purple Flame guides them…” Gong Yingxian suddenly pressed down on Ren Yi’s chest and quietly shushed him.RRbBjUOOlDZOskWZvKBUCynxmcZoVG
NEntguTUihWcoqoThe two stopped in their tracks and hid in a doorway, where they saw a shadow flash past the railing on the third floor of the storage area.YxHYIuMsKkowDRwpfPokeYofLXdBsm
cdfPhjqMRxeBbIFGong Yingxian pointed above, signaling them to go up.HQCseuhTtRBCWBouIgXUSlvzUccMMG
HRaQpKZKVelGLHdThey crept upstairs, and Gong Yingxian whispered, “We’ll flank him from both sides. If you encounter him first, try to divert his attention and make a noise to alert me. Don’t confront him head-on.”pjLfTWvhPeqmzQMEyuSXQmvMWUYDTF
LWiAiZwsEwklNaGRen Yi nodded. Just as he was about to move, he caught a glimpse of a fire extinguisher on the wall. He opened the box, pulled out the extinguisher, and muttered, “I wonder if it still works.”eepBClElzPKuBiiUYautxLlNauwnKM
PjhOLxMczPVIZcUGong Yingxian gently squeezed the back of his neck: “Be careful.”iduwPPHpGFXUQgjJdeAvOdPNXakHrg
zhqZcIicyBAPbSH“Don’t worry.” Ren Yi held the extinguisher and moved forward along the wall. As he felt the familiar weight, he imagined himself walking into a fire scene. In that moment, all his worries and fears transformed into the courage to fight. He regained his calm; even facing an unknown enemy, there was no reason to be afraid, because every time he responded to an emergency, he faced unknown dangers.wtNAfQhFMscZSfqPtFMBqWRdJuHoCO
hUSiqaKyNSzyIwEWith his mind focused, Ren Yi felt that he could see things more clearly—perhaps his eyes had fully adapted to the darkness. He seemed to sense something and gently pulled the safety pin from the extinguisher.OkHVnStMZDBdtjgJzGCnjsNhdPERfp
TyBbCgQzsCTzbVaUnexpectedly, the pin was rusted badly, and as he pulled it out, it fell apart, clattering to the ground. That tiny, crisp sound, which would normally go unnoticed, became a beacon in the eerie silence.LnoiMvDqAjbDYtImvAlIKrsGdWVexS
AMnrNbiZYIHLVHBNot far ahead, the door to an office was suddenly pushed open violently, and a shadow rushed out. Ren Yi, startled, quickly made a decision—he hurled the extinguisher at the person.gwFhRozzbRrFODmdAZXxFWevhNJOKG
PYtsKGwYLPmauUUThis type of dry powder extinguisher, if not used for a long time, could clump together. It needed to be shaken before use, and with winter just passing, even shaking it might not disperse the powder. It was unlikely to spray effectively, but its weight could easily knock someone out.oxvoIWctcmhwaZSBQVrsaGMcpazzVv
mbGWvSfaKweaKKaAs soon as the extinguisher left his hand, Ren Yi turned and ran. The corridor he was in was built around the hollow storage area, only two meters wide, with no space to hide. He couldn’t outrun a bullet, so before the gunfire started chasing him, he shouldered open the door to an office and stumbled inside.tJJORSFgYyYNXwCKwDweWAOOilmrae
GYQbGLTPyTdxIwjOnce inside, Ren Yi regretted it. The office was very small, offering no place to hide. He had essentially walked into a trap and could only crawl under the desk.gMFPswYuxkiAvyEVaQAfSugRCjvjJA
pGbXeaRRGBWrvuIHe heard urgent footsteps behind him, but before they entered the office, gunfire erupted. The footsteps hesitated for a moment and then retreated quickly.eGcTfBLHxeZDUUjwennpDLswcRFuax
OOeHhSrtnhyjEIERen Yi knew Gong Yingxian had arrived. He crawled out from under the desk just in time to see Gong Yingxian slip into the office, anxiously asking, “Are you okay?”jGETDrYttoucaXRLSnOKMEOqWbVHkl
hClGIIQwutSMVxu“I’m fine. Did he miss?”mJhoZLSmcZsjyyQuvvfoSiYbpoeVGk
gZjjbnhGkSawjGy“No.” Gong Yingxian said reluctantly, “He should be in the office around the corner.”bQmtmzMdBTJanomclLdkeZoZYTcHVy
gFsHKBgyNxGKcMX“What do we do now?”IFLDzjQtydXwJCVBkLQNttCuLkIDLy
QoPEblzKYqNkprBGong Yingxian picked up a thick tool book from the desk and stretched it out the window.kXEcVcQxVFszqiDoeAUzLAUWCjZCPF
AyGhIxNoOOWhdkqA gunshot rang out, and the tool book, which had only just poked its head out, was pierced through, the singed edges still emitting wisps of smoke.lpNfQXBrkdqZmcoRxylfsDuarnzvOF
WtJluDLpfCmghJfGong Yingxian threw the book on the ground, his face serious: “Fortunately, he doesn’t know we only have one bullet left.”nJTwSoNqlknYjYOMIIWkdLNvMLUoPZ
SLlTFBArjbNHnbNRen Yi felt a tightness in his scalp. Now both sides were afraid to go out, each testing the other’s patience and resolve, but in this regard, they couldn’t compete, as the other side surely had more bullets.VpUVUnKsCwvUjcNMFJcgLpKqINwiWN
hKbKnBALGHuBpXfGong Yingxian pulled out a light bulb grenade from his pocket: “We can only use this for cover. I need to jump to the second floor from here and circle around to take him out.”QBUxwDbKDzunCfQiCHarWNptcahAPM
BoLIrXSJrfHydXQ“Okay, I’ll cover you.” Ren Yi took the grenade, unsure of its effectiveness since he had never really used one before.MUsiyPgHOzXQXXzSMVNNQrWJXrXKoP
kIzrzqFArPQMPwWGong Yingxian noticed his concern: “Just throw it hard at him; it should scare him.”FvfVLsHQXenIpxMZOYkKjMamwzkhUQ
yfwClhZxmuCRsvLRen Yi nodded: “You be careful.”tGuSWMvpxYuQhCFpWrzulXoQBTScjT
ArfFwcUywsITTdaGong Yingxian returned a determined and fearless look, the kind that belonged to a man of great courage, as if nothing could bring him down.msTKFnLzijpxkwTCWcgHTXoOanVAjX
IthmeaXfaHavoRNRen Yi placed his hand on Gong Yingxian’s face, saying earnestly, “I like every part of you so much; you mustn’t get hurt.”TuBdzRbUKuYWiWlkjIdBKkeJkFsYpT
ZrzaAFQIzjyttPkGong Yingxian’s heart trembled uncontrollably. He grasped Ren Yi’s hand: “You too, you’re perfect in every way; I like every part of you.”xsyWgRerLdaXGitJmLZpzDAlRUoEQr
EBrjqGARkdpDWXIRen Yi looked into Gong Yingxian’s eyes, filled with boundless affection: “Go, take down the bad person, and then bring us home.”WfmVksgFmoshRqvFPMSEhjGcrBRRvY
pxfaMfQlPPtMVRVGong Yingxian moved Ren Yi’s hand to his lips and kissed the warm palm: “Follow my orders.” He first threw a small bomb to test the waters down the corridor. That little thing might not have much killing power, but it made a significant noise. In the tense danger of the night, it was like setting off firecrackers right in someone’s face, and gunfire immediately followed, revealing the urgency of the situation.XVabIzBCBAQWaGaFXcvOZgTMKegNhn
UOJVXBbGcHPqJdk“The second to last room in this row is where he’s hiding. I’ll jump to the second floor as quickly as possible and come up the west staircase to subdue him. You need to keep throwing bombs to draw his attention.”pQXdTEGYPnuahDJwOygQYEecWMkykW
krPMNClDmwHZBJL“Understood.”zKEccpeylLOJKMgXwmZYbZhNntoKnx
jCeyipxBxlEjHaB“Light it.”DtemDVbKAaPGOxrYnqodPUoawOBKMc
oZDhZjqokyxhXrkRen Yi used a lighter to ignite the fuse on the grenade. The fuse burned quickly, visibly shortening, and just as the fire was about to reach the bulb’s original screw base…ZVYOGhERsGtCzhOCxjnerNBASghsjM
DpDNpKkWExrbrik“Throw!”EbBTkhfJIquCyUIOfVpCgvXwTPLbtP
pxEqpldIvaasSlWRen Yi threw the homemade grenade out the window with all his might. There was a loud bang, and a fireball shot up, towering over a person’s height, shaking the floor beneath him.UCKEAikzHIEyPAOPDJJATqAYNLwHWP
yAbvemQGiJkNCurRen Yi was momentarily stunned, not expecting such a small bulb to have such great power.wzTufStuDKMrVibZYdqzrhLWDwrrMr
IogyFrycEvBTulrThe criminals facing them likely didn’t anticipate they had so many bombs. Uncertain of the situation, they dared not recklessly come out to shoot. Taking advantage of the cover of the flames, Gong Yingxian leaped out the window, vaulted over the railing, and directly jumped into the corridor on the second floor.bLoLVIJdYkZLoaPbJUeAcqAvLvCULG
WeZKWLleOPTbfBVRen Yi continued to throw bombs, confusing the criminals, making them too afraid to advance or retreat.PhcTkoyTrLIiotBfnEexMzbmQVQeUb
lBZXibGwEWyqQmjBefore long, several gunshots rang out nearby, accompanied by the sound of a person roaring.rAQsLRFgLkSpBWJcGQRVAsWcpcjtxx
jpuGbsfithOfIvDRen Yi’s heart raced. He cautiously leaned out to confirm there was indeed a struggle. He glanced at the fire extinguisher not far away, grabbed it, and ran toward the source of the noise.zDXzLDMwwkneoNNeRdMhwtdvSCXlcT
dKjKaGlKphBbeoYSuddenly, Gong Yingxian and a criminal tumbled out of the office door, both crashing to the ground.ziUSimWVcCkGRMQDXzgtWnbVqestSS
yTRNPVAGqgxRzVyThe criminal pushed Gong Yingxian away, using his feet to spring up, his movements both flexible and powerful. But Gong Yingxian naturally wouldn’t let him succeed. He stabilized himself by grabbing the railing with his left hand and swept his long leg toward the opponent’s still unsteady lower body.iITMQTiUwfWBaJFpLBFaEMZQNFGZWF
dcGEuFhpDpPRCTJAfter being knocked down, the criminal rolled to the side and quickly got back up. Gong Yingxian also stood up, and the two exchanged blows in the narrow corridor.vukGZWmqfmVizAVGDKnfqpvsoGHOmv
QRtdEHePoTGKsfgIf one didn’t look closely, they wouldn’t notice the blood splattered on the ground—but Ren Yi did. The blood clearly came from Gong Yingxian’s noticeably sluggish right arm. The criminal also noticed this, targeting Gong Yingxian’s right side with every strike, making Gong Yingxian’s defense difficult and forcing him to struggle to counterattack. For a moment, neither could gain the upper hand.HEwoUaHEOGBZaSVDIgfEDukThILHTp
AetXhjWvGbtsbOqGong Yingxian was injured!JkyUchbnMcYbRyRNAhJNFyORSdTmyL
XPeAkQWFIBKPXTORen Yi’s heart ached, filled with a murderous rage. He shook the fire extinguisher desperately, hearing the sound of the solidified dry powder shifting inside. Without a second thought, he charged forward and sprayed it at the criminal.AILkwmSFcGdNKXPNTKzaWxofBzDcFN
OuPQcXegdfNgtnPThe criminal raised his hand to block, but he couldn’t stop the omnipresent dry powder, instantly blinding him.zUfKFhrxbLhCDrxabuPkVdlByUnPLw
pxFRIjDrWqLtxzRGong Yingxian seized the opportunity to deliver a powerful kick to the criminal’s chest, knocking him down to the ground.sNaHvBaquyKAEgfKbUEyVYRdpiHYSQ
bniYwGqQEWowkWaRen Yi stepped on the criminal’s chest, aiming the extinguisher at his face, and sprayed dry powder furiously. At first, the criminal struggled and tried to dodge, but soon it became futile. He began to roll helplessly, finally curling up, gasping for breath, as if poisoned.JMNuKUfrGnbXEqrxPwncPKmhgzHPhj
rtNANkKMjILnzYaRen Yi threw the extinguisher on the ground: “What do we do? If we don’t help him, he’ll suffocate.”qPIMNfrDlXFCXsgRFuRXTCNUbnlDiH
zQNaVsCMbpVSSPk“Leave him alive, tie him up.”LcooxvyREbjlIGpHrOzCQDKCjeXcgH
vfUpsIfZdbxfNyBRen Yi crouched down, flipped the criminal over, cleared the large amount of dry powder clogging his mouth and nose, and then patted his back to bring him back from the brink of suffocation. He looked like he had no strength left.TYnbrxMvPLbgaCfBvypyTjRiefaAhp
QKGJpqrSZYlDxmDSeeing that he wouldn’t die, Ren Yi turned his attention back to Gong Yingxian, anxiously asking, “Are you shot?”wTwdHfFwkhokHvxggSJAadJxQzNjdD
GhRlHTNRKmSgJLTGong Yingxian replied, “First, strip off his jacket and tie him up.”JbzXXyTqHXaOLXdqxBuDARBJoNGxER
NmriLOIVyiBwpWMRen Yi had no choice but to remove the criminal’s jacket, binding his hands behind the railing with several tight knots.ujFokYKZCcoCzVxtXAMDljCNYbFuTa
cjUCQjeyyjqwfIwGong Yingxian crouched down and delivered a heavy punch to the criminal’s temple, knocking him out completely. He then tiredly sat down on the ground.nzbeeeqldjrifhtzjScamGyYZJSfBR
wcJLpAAGKKZMlTyRen Yi quickly supported him, his eyes turning red: “How’s your injury? We need to get to the hospital!”uxYUMBojZFmWpqWzLzmQHbzgrLjQjE
XORPqUXFiOhxXFjGong Yingxian glanced at his sleeve, soaked in blood, and said softly, “It didn’t hit the bone or artery. Tear off my sleeve and help me tie it up.”uAqtfYtGfvjAhmskUYSDDizFhHyZIq
zvEbejsQMkMCvitRen Yi complied, but Gong Yingxian’s blood made it hard for him to keep his eyes open.FkvupvqdXKtgfxvSaEKhbtGIfEqoUw
nZrdTclfDhbTyHISuddenly, Ren Yi’s phone vibrated in his pocket. He froze for a moment, hurriedly pulling it out. It was a new phone, and the only people who knew the number were Qu Yangbo and Qiu Yan. It was very likely…kkfBimXadEIDBWMJDoPAjBHZmSfenP
SYApUFBuJZOxPeo“Is it Yan Jie?” Gong Yingxian asked urgently.EwNZvXdETZwKUusNsggfmBLtlppFhC
OzasDzPEUZqQcGNRen Yi handed the phone to Gong Yingxian with a serious face.pQnuxeIzzrDhwdVUyCEfcPmlHJIXxa
dtvktxyBKjsYDWlThe message read: She is in my hands. Exchange Bai Chicheng for her in the first conference room.cGssnhzBCVfqupAutRXeGmPksQZTrb
ZVzOzQBOUGpBGBCOqxCfCUNDwJSWpSWlcbCOhuhgLaWkw