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.DrFgZKwYCvfwDjNipaQzquaeOccFcB
zCGdHPfgiwUQBtGRen 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.”TSzBAEpAyGiiNRmLMzIGhmRtFisThJ
SOlDSUCyFwdvlZg“I think those people were sent by Purple Flame, and it’s very likely that even Huang Yan himself doesn’t know about it.”XjnPHCzyvZYLKgEjKLvEbRcuzpBUlq
yoLwhSXSGfhOVXk“Oh?”PhCndgntftIyjIDevFccdJYGhxdxCr
kYSmbPwFcVSWFRx“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.”pWlNbxvSyHHPMYYVZokXgIjYiOSfJz
TvlQQeDidfiiApQ“Purple Flame specifically hired assassins to kill us, really…” Ren Yi joked bitterly, “That’s quite a show of power.”eUaGYNlduRkYLFAHDTxVmRwJLoGAaX
opjRicKBbFrFkBAGong 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.”XtfwdHokRTZjLUULRnjQasHRzuxAfX
EyDvSlJiLDRNEKv“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?”KYDGYGuyUvWpgUzcqyCjLjRUJxDZZi
msyloQfLkuAYCen“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.”GmIEhsmazAMvNhmfbBCbdHkmXRpHvv
YwHpLqqqZCQnPfu“Then Bai Yan is just not thoroughly brainwashed.” Ren Yi frowned, “But what he’s doing is the most insane.”xAVhRDeiqeGWYEzEbdQnUmDaRfdzJh
WiXhEEOAJCNZmjA“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.oaeGzJktJgjFoGDlQIUIdwGvSrCcni
XsJmcFjNDMyNmGPThe 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.IaQKwCHNfAyvfnaPczSEwNrJikDsfM
ryEhyexctLosKGIGong Yingxian pointed above, signaling them to go up.dunHQdXxzGOJYUIAuYHdOhWDrVmyeb
TuOhQrddhMxzRxFThey 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.”fxIrCgkhdYUAIRjVrEPZwywhpSGtWa
yvPWvEOUAZzEQqyRen 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.”nMkdCMKOOKGuxOpAkfEUnEPjzfnpNC
wshFXWUWLwUoaNYGong Yingxian gently squeezed the back of his neck: “Be careful.”ZQryLpIwiwvtulJWNileymyWvhZSbr
FERxQZiBKgAEZyg“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.eVTQbXOSslyKxXxYAKLvbofLqflvtH
JOpTkhGyfwhsxWvWith 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.QihQmxZhfvvMFHictfaGtEPioGbsHz
HqWbPagwPhjrzfaUnexpectedly, 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.qfXsPsIPmkxbvMvitdzgFrcFhVvbku
RVTQJlfcpHYMkMjNot 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.qYqLyovAToqQnrEIaOJczslBkdWLWT
PPBUaotrdJyIajAThis 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.GqxhKxroRHEVYUHNSISBltAnGjfJOw
DxAiObyHHZnHkQJAs 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.KXThvURKxCEUVDWWaavPUlIjSUchHv
ejCURNKjwvbvlKIOnce 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.tXndKTmCOxkIxanuLQLdGHtwpwaqJG
JWPUkdPVNgpGmSFHe heard urgent footsteps behind him, but before they entered the office, gunfire erupted. The footsteps hesitated for a moment and then retreated quickly.JYmhuuSQvHghRWogikEmNWLoDuSFMc
RnlkknYgvpMMYEfRen 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?”fpBLiHPxjFQnoKIoQQOpRlejBOEnwj
FbDLelRfEzTHbgK“I’m fine. Did he miss?”BwktKSTrkVRCttdTbEmCjdGECYOIzi
zLaSkqnrHRNrZnJ“No.” Gong Yingxian said reluctantly, “He should be in the office around the corner.”jnldoafavnXuRMXFMGQqBkbMGdEkHB
mqImKyshoYauKsS“What do we do now?”XdipiFaQklcPnDVONGVPIeCsHcBTWM
wPCYQgogOmAQmzRGong Yingxian picked up a thick tool book from the desk and stretched it out the window.EajMeThqWZOohRzIaZrMKoVkilKPKN
wsjdrkaUHnTPbPuA 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.cSwGhSRcbPVHkmirenYVWPdzKwCPcN
BjJyhsPtTsEgSWFGong Yingxian threw the book on the ground, his face serious: “Fortunately, he doesn’t know we only have one bullet left.”AelrdLEgpGMgaDQSkBNhCKUyYciihL
dfzECXoiOtELwrFRen 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.rFBrybMJKqCARPIhGnysjaaBabeGZz
EcpINIyswEGTYdtGong 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.”cpKKYCRyJLRHxjIKMedEqAtTtsdndM
QaMofbBSIafcNMX“Okay, I’ll cover you.” Ren Yi took the grenade, unsure of its effectiveness since he had never really used one before.LadhpauxCfPyVOMrHJEWpTfslvQaWe
vuBVPCWUBFPfmymGong Yingxian noticed his concern: “Just throw it hard at him; it should scare him.”xjJzOMFNhgsvppjvcVwvDyQpeLUwbq
UNhtfaaCwmjXxmsRen Yi nodded: “You be careful.”kdrVtFPdEzKCYdQbUvRlncairriNGm
MJJjUSKqffzJfXFGong Yingxian returned a determined and fearless look, the kind that belonged to a man of great courage, as if nothing could bring him down.SuTzlGJgyNbrNMzEPfehADjaUOcrYj
ulyuCRdpNwTMGedRen Yi placed his hand on Gong Yingxian’s face, saying earnestly, “I like every part of you so much; you mustn’t get hurt.”oOGIiUlgLrOSrjDaETqbdPkGhJbzrC
ydDSCiRvGyWDfxsGong 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.”CRCBvpuUOqFUgRkGqgbCUSRYEGJJqO
toWSuejDUiLMVqaRen Yi looked into Gong Yingxian’s eyes, filled with boundless affection: “Go, take down the bad person, and then bring us home.”MPQfFrfjljPzLuwgLdfoPLijDySmZN
aEucZCzaeBZuamXGong 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.AyXoSPlleinVMdFPsthSuyQmryTFjp
FsakVxjCyOuaoNK“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.”sTxQkJpTcyoxlUFCzcFGUNJzWKTPSs
ZGJHKCqZrRWETwF“Understood.”queQMMKoIlcFXQqbKlOHhOcSBwXlAc
CPNYiEsMOKFhAdH“Light it.”CZUOgGQxsKlOXRVAruReiBXEETXiHQ
JNmOiFaEIlAJWVrRen 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…yznAKFaQlzmwVrEFpAuYnBGqxlbzEx
UUrSTSKdwEUYwbn“Throw!”zByEmKzNqkncQjliTRiuakDwaMfQVI
KiLxasDEjQwOCDYRen 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.CtMagmfApJUnHLAuQBeWPOiLYiNZYJ
iyrtpPAdRBcktXWRen Yi was momentarily stunned, not expecting such a small bulb to have such great power.OUADMcFTFUUulAULGassaIArjcWgPz
miYvphOAGaqKtbpThe 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.QXjelzzsVmLTBhoNrkVjaRsuEZKmoV
mjnEKmCnKYBbpfMRen Yi continued to throw bombs, confusing the criminals, making them too afraid to advance or retreat.SCUBnpsOADWBryFpUbIbFDYhtIAGQy
fVDHLAlxxjvpivSBefore long, several gunshots rang out nearby, accompanied by the sound of a person roaring.NxfuqieTiCZKGiQtRTaVtDHBaOsNUP
IFUvKxIaIYYwCXyRen 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.PEmWUbIgPoEkjYErBPHOKHFEjZONPZ
FKjFwnVvmVXfxbUSuddenly, Gong Yingxian and a criminal tumbled out of the office door, both crashing to the ground.AYPvUTAbryqZXUUYqjmGmNCCAmrBJP
irvcKoprXUkWaKoThe 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.HUOLYmUXghmifcsWGuEfkjgNxyunhG
nFFtqgsAOlJEqkHAfter 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.juDHHLvxzokIdjhXLgkzUeDbxchflp
qRphQuxCNwghPkzIf 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.tztIjPqoeZfQBeXAuGTfQrmVgGYNSp
gFTeifgZZSVhNrEGong Yingxian was injured!ULeWnknKwwqEdrNrZtGrVxezgLpzyw
jVduqXbUuAcOsoFRen 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.uwdvRkWGILhOQvuOzYHjsJTKObXcOv
MBhfiOFYlILHAoyThe criminal raised his hand to block, but he couldn’t stop the omnipresent dry powder, instantly blinding him.VUtaYapGpvrgRvqlJqNsRyqGYUROJw
ejROUGvDSWgeVTfGong Yingxian seized the opportunity to deliver a powerful kick to the criminal’s chest, knocking him down to the ground.nGOVXFQlBBQMkrjsLdlibhcmhfXjrp
ltXeFlQvFOUlaCmRen 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.wEoykFMVIQZtXfEVJeXrnqtASWwbgQ
vwefpvWOEcIKTFURen Yi threw the extinguisher on the ground: “What do we do? If we don’t help him, he’ll suffocate.”qfkgmQKUfDMUhiaVbYhhHYfLhKSBrq
rOPxKfBGgHehbtM“Leave him alive, tie him up.”uZFrxgzhyWyCOqQlgBxPHIyeLJbvez
EljPbPlXHKygJbXRen 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.BEOqURpgvXkbawcTwDNVjdmbrVRdsa
hSHtXKxflsWhOkXSeeing that he wouldn’t die, Ren Yi turned his attention back to Gong Yingxian, anxiously asking, “Are you shot?”RxchKLBuqViOfFBsBCEqhNpGLsdwHJ
RhhDChLlJNkvqgGGong Yingxian replied, “First, strip off his jacket and tie him up.”tOPLMmIXlDeEpeazjTSwgvKvRLdmii
kuqcgOrTqxtnwnZRen Yi had no choice but to remove the criminal’s jacket, binding his hands behind the railing with several tight knots.LoczqJQGwVOdvUuWgUySjerzuzfkBs
vfcmqjgbULpmBcnGong 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.uZOdJyajBWeesEntdYrdyrHnPHsGFL
uDQTbbeZEmKHmQzRen Yi quickly supported him, his eyes turning red: “How’s your injury? We need to get to the hospital!”QysdeqnEWnZEgaYzfYfHlNvhioqVei
hOFiAjRishFKgqRGong 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.”WvaWDDLzkgoAioeSNYxlikkBjyPFAN
cJGvSicfmKlCqstRen Yi complied, but Gong Yingxian’s blood made it hard for him to keep his eyes open.ysHNeMfGtxazmMPKWOWUjythRFnBgU
XcXdgPAryHrnrYNSuddenly, 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…QFBowPAsdUHGpJAFyQSEDNAFmejoFr
TEdkhpgXWzWpmXH“Is it Yan Jie?” Gong Yingxian asked urgently.YYQROqPpOUdXNMYnezsVwnBShrdKMa
qjQCZCUqaiFKTGdRen Yi handed the phone to Gong Yingxian with a serious face.PxPEeoYeudIzSvhaCxPMboSSnIEGxI
JIsArITzKDlkoMYThe message read: She is in my hands. Exchange Bai Chicheng for her in the first conference room.BglWgiqGexwzdbBVIaIlhbRozxKUrq
PDDplnHVXzvLDeYTZPjwsBkvqnufbbAuGRBAvPpKEEVDL