Chapter 170
Huang Yan pressed the gun barrel against Qiu Yan’s back and said fiercely, “You don’t want her life anymore, do you?”OXgOCTBoDBefAoWHUfigyEPMUGAaqf
SSwgHedipKTuZJU“If I hand Bai Yan over to you, will you let us go?” Gong Yingxian glanced at Bai Chicheng. “Besides, what does Purple Flame want with someone who has already betrayed him? Why not just kill him directly?”jBpnUggwfGCGRhrPJmNXtqeFLxwSSH
bkrHrjSqCiDHMNy“I only care about what I want, not why.”phwwCMolTQklSIPXFEcutiyGOLYYSg
EzmNfMolVTUgzNR“Do you think you can escape with him?” Ren Yi retorted, “You are wanted all over the city; where can you run to?”pniavrUhoWXfjwvrsDqRfblcUzzdKP
TbAMCkAhdqxtAmH“That’s not for you to worry about.” Huang Yan sneered coldly, “What, trying to buy time?”bogTpllLHSOeSdIGlSwIOWXBrAtqza
FPEJjAFsbtmLyRl“The task Purple Flame gave you should not be to rescue him, but to kill us. At least killing us is the priority, so who knows if you really want to exchange hostages.” Gong Yingxian glared at him, “You already broke your promise in the last hostage exchange; why should we trust you a second time?”ywzSwxbiYSOSbWMUjUrksTlZJpGcOX
TqywFqytdxPcmoo“The last time was according to my rules; this time, we do it your way.” Huang Yan lifted Qiu Yan from the chair, the gun still pressed against her back.wwcCdgKGdlcHtHpZRGQamHSYhGdLgU
wOCdWQFuegMidHyQiu Yan suddenly spoke up, “You can’t escape; I’ve already called the police.”sgnYZyzUyMFPgFAvPplQHkYhcZCGOB
cQSwoXbEdfmoOKGHuang Yan was taken aback and shouted, “When!”CbGXHdLBqGhfrgELubnOnVcQytWkAd
KiqKjIytLXOZfMhBai Yan’s expression also changed.ByIZYCGUCJWmPyVmQFsyPaKHAysPjS
WcqhVAMpFqdmLihQiu Yan sneered, “Are you asking when the police will arrive? Soon.”VaPDvmZOPASBqwjlwfKDgeiMSWeczX
jcuVDGQViojxQAkGong Yingxian frowned, “Sister Yan, why did you call the police? If they fall into the hands of the police, all our efforts will be in vain.”OdhTTqvxNsFAreVuQzkHcGUuUDdnHo
pSBKqyUsylFPyQW“We’re the ones who will be in vain if we die.” Qiu Yan’s tone became stern.qihEgcGLsbuyRZicQNKuRkNFYQUqSm
gzRiEzFLEAVnoUVHuang Yan shouted angrily, “Hurry up and give me the person!” He yelled harshly in Qiu Yan’s ear, “I really will kill her; I will smash this pretty face into a bloody hole!”qioseTfzfxoOgIXLaaepqmENzxJhiS
ySUoLeagbrMvWdpBai Chicheng was also anxious, “The police are coming…”rjMfyKjsFZynkwycUUERTnvaZnwctF
CzgfxhCGSVVsuetBut Gong Yingxian remained calm, “You want me to give you the person? Fine, but I want to hear Purple Flame say it himself.”WcVENMDBIdiCtPhjLNtSvqZtoOmpaK
ywmhQUqouLxMdWZHuang Yan was taken aback, “What do you mean?”xvXTAGwRVfDRnVDcSzWcLYdaLHmKpX
shEkiMJhkDfyDUA“Call Purple Flame; I want to speak to him.”nHjbAJqAuMjdPbbpgScdwCGqFpqOfX
tRuCpdSiyhyQUaG“Impossible.” Huang Yan decisively refused, “Only Purple Flame can contact me; I can’t reach him.”oNphznRVDKDcQOeJrJRHJkxLXCkRZU
jywbozHXuIMfoJK“Every time we have to passively receive his messages—videos, calls, provocations—this time I want to take the initiative. If he wants to redeem his person, he should say it to me in person!” Gong Yingxian glared at Huang Yan, her eyes sharp as knives.qScCWUsuVZRvAmwFAFxhAWNLJsuQKM
nBCwSwRDneQamyF“I told you, I don’t have Purple Flame’s contact information. I’ve never met him or looked for him; he always contacts me.” Huang Yan said impatiently, “Do you really think I wouldn’t dare to kill her?”EeQzDRjyqmeawgVDgqFFlLRsPSSEqi
FMOthjihkxevrqCGong Yingxian’s expression turned sinister: “You can kill her. When you pull the trigger, I will too. In the end, among the five of us here, who can survive will depend on fate.”YjVgNkeCnvhiPInnuNRxuDrzCjcvTQ
NjnAAEPXbioUUQPHuang Yan’s face twisted into a grimace, his features contorting.VVCrHziyzPXXwRDIMjqqYDvklNefFg
iHszWfMPmKYUWHD“Or we can wait for the police to come and catch us all.”nhTQTWZOFKbuIboSATWjWcfxjVLuzj
VmXojHyjelYLSgb“Do you not understand human language? I can’t contact Purple Flame!” Huang Yan growled.xfqcRqrHLWSVXzQjrUOlZfmYjRmOPy
CfWSlxpvgYmousf“Is that so?” Gong Yingxian mocked, “Maybe what you said is true. The few assassins that appeared later, you probably don’t even know about them, right? It seems Purple Flame doesn’t trust you at all.”QlxhtCoJDZfXIlEsjGlNfTxOeuIekj
UuUDihDIpPqYJYjHuang Yan glared at her.QIhyfWaKYtBOqaJaFfVycIAGkIypTC
nkcyFpzOemKEySt“…I can contact him.” Bai Chicheng suddenly said softly.DJMAmdVttangssDsVaXMooQKlOpVwB
FhydDoziAlsGWbvEveryone’s gaze turned to him.BohzEFAXsylxZPJdijiRRCxWkaqnEc
hxVczsaPMmvHLMnBai Chicheng gritted his teeth, “Give me the phone.”eFFIzNISpRRsUEZGHDtfrCpZAmmGEi
ZtVVyZnqADmczGGGong Yingxian took out her phone, “The number.”dhTCiAxKMzvPChXTgVCefwxWYHbEqT
QMCxFxlkmCTqsvDBut Bai Chicheng hesitated, seeming to be in doubt.PMppqubIcHlqgETgOmgvrgNDUsgxEe
vtYbXGOrPWNjQmA“The number!” Gong Yingxian emphasized.ThcrUaGDvvJiTgkIeCLlMqhDhSirDK
FIzrTFXWGkvxUqOBai Chicheng reported a string of numbers and then added, “He won’t answer unknown calls; you must send a message first.”HejAePDejgObVwMpwqyeIHZROxACVX
kQWISIXeInVLKvtGong Yingxian edited a message and sent it.aFNCtTMXodjZeRNIfiYvENUFWVJTeS
OpYEtkeqlwGNwusNot long after, the phone rang, displaying an “unknown” number.vaORHQHohWeUWwUCNtGAYyjQYUCVhn
LGwavfoyUjwjGzQGong Yingxian answered the call and put it on speaker.lOXLrDtuYrkhFvvZvuErCotYvNwQAg
OBqkGfmYArvbIDF“…Purple Flame.”infDrnfUmkSwrrkxJlyGuDvtKERQFj
VxqUvrvIUriysAv“Dr. Gong.” That familiar voice, altered by a voice changer, evoked many unpleasant memories for everyone present, making them feel uncomfortable all over.BKDEofYVyUHrfKdulZozaWpzIKRVYS
SgWQTiQPcDjjJUg“Disappointed again.” Gong Yingxian said coldly, “You specifically hired assassins, but unfortunately, you still failed.”McQwPoVjBcVUlCaVdOFYMFmVPeYJZx
nONPPiqYcpChqXkPurple Flame took a breath, slowly exhaling, and said softly, “Is Huang Yan dead too?”NeXYfGKKodLXXDjBMErOofVuWquerH
GvADWnYOyFEOYCe“He’s still alive. He wants to use Captain Qiu to exchange for Bai Yan. What do you want with this traitor?” Gong Yingxian said, “Killing him not only silences him but also saves you trouble, doesn’t it?”aonvzUQwTAoWgSCKpuGAoYvjFfohWo
MlZJScXUkYTnRWj“That’s true.” Purple Flame laughed, “Then go ahead and kill him.”brpdWHFnEiyHjUciEOejROntZUvmXV
aEeFZUTgzlFIyyr“……”WMGLGdemPBLzJuOAKqseDSVrBllVbo
thklXIdozyYeSAX“Do you dare to kill him? If you kill him, Captain Qiu will die too, and you all might die.”yQljiVHbiGYvVCLUYLUlNDyknaoQjU
iTXTQbMHihIgUCO“Purple Flame, I’m curious. If you still can’t kill us today, what do you plan to do next?” Gong Yingxian said in a deep voice, “You keep killing people related to the case from years ago, trying to cover up the truth, but we are already prepared with the materials to apply for a retrial. Nothing can stop us.”CbLnYOYiUSjqGOHtrhTZUBRFdZpcWQ
RmdIQCYcQKwYpvZ“Is that so? Heh, the three of you, two are suspended, one is wanted. Much of the evidence you’ve gathered doesn’t conform to the principles of procedural justice. You should know that this evidence is far less valuable than you expect.”VVAiewYIBCRLePbCBtEaSgjCNAOeGV
JkFjpvzZDLWwcRN“But you’re still very afraid.”mSHhmbqxVrBPAHjFAutnjvDGoSgECn
YiTzAwsuyuFBJes“I’m just being cautious. The ones who should be afraid are you.”ElNPAnGfxAlQHAONIYKSiHUlAIhNoi
oDlYKzDFXmnVTxMGong Yingxian fell silent for a moment, then changed the subject, asking, “Lan Yan, the one who provided funding to the organization is the mastermind behind the case from nineteen years ago, right?”ierokTlgTVmcCrrTREtCnViLTySUWg
ygAkaZdTgAFZvPUPurple Flame chuckled softly, remaining silent.oYlxlSONxHsssegtMVSFUVFGrCFypm
UoQqcwKybWoQfJQ“Everything you’ve done is to cover up his crimes. Why? Is it just for money, or do you have a personal relationship with him?”nAItQdhjuEiYoJNmzaeuFwGTNVlQOk
TxcwsNQjhiaYOcr“I disdain to answer such crude speculation.”jQmkwcRiIMyWJDMIrhkjBlNtTWxvkt
rgRvfbykGhslnYE“The flow of your funds has already been investigated by the police. Do you think it’s safe just because the source is an offshore account? You will eventually have to spend it domestically. Sooner or later, we will strip you clean, leaving you nowhere to escape.”DzLWMepoLdhxvnBmIxwsKBdUVTqThy
AtHcMDNhUpvVIvIPurple Flame sneered coldly, “Dr. Gong, you will regret this. Remember this: you will definitely regret it.”kMWTOEuXLxdQszhmJMrrLQwXHSUOyH
fTpZbdQjLBCmzbi“I have many regrets, like not being able to catch you sooner.” Gong Yingxian said, “Now we have an opportunity to achieve our mutual goals. Do you want to give it a try?”DmicChIgjMOnniLxDJwVscqtjQxPmJ
EdsMCzeQQaiwQRB“…What do you want to say?”ONyRlqSOrBnmMbhuKOCSGNBbEDbfqz
eKkaPgkOLrjzBsC“Let me see you.” Gong Yingxian said calmly, “I have the chance to know who you are, and you have the chance to kill me with your own hands.”alXNmyKECnMtXSyBzsMyDunLpVznpQ
GbKoNBofGANLAWA“Gong Yingxian!” Ren Yi looked at Gong Yingxian in disbelief, “What are you talking about?”jHlzoWSLnDYYwBZWVwyLlGkAVIrwuZ
lCASTbXBSfTsmIUBut Gong Yingxian ignored him, not even turning to look at Ren Yi.AHCBPMownyKLMXKvtkqhDHrlkvWoDc
TmwFUsHzMBDzlLNA low laugh came from the other end of the phone: “You want to see me? You think just because you’ve escaped from my hands a few times, you dare to throw yourself into the net? Or do you have some kind of scheme?”wAkOvtNOaPAmReadZERGjTeuvTsmnh
SvWCxFlNdzNSmFD“If I have a scheme, I won’t tell you.” Gong Yingxian said, “If you want Bai Yan alive, then come see me in person.”YuiAigMTXLKiTEGHGLZEwBczEJfFPT
AUxvueZNijmrXbtRen Yi stared at Gong Yingxian, unsure of what she was trying to do. Could she really be serious? Would she really throw herself into the net?GpxchFirfVhjESvjBTghhkpBHbvWFa
MEFjyDZgeDdAjwOPurple Flame stopped laughing and said in a meaningful tone, “Alright, as long as you agree to one condition, I will come to see you in person.”BcoygnpgAzFKNRlwbSoguyeOiDEgZP
fsokKUGFvQKlLUC“Say it.”neBJKJldLSGgTYSlYPqvrmcWiwhnWG
McvhylCRXXUtgXZ“Kill Captain Qiu and Captain Ren.”yQCmXBbWumqvXZkZCJIlnoropfboBa
tvkjJNMIJGctTfQ“You…”DQTxiBqpnxenZkWVxhyEUJrNvkdzwU
uxlXqtoZMyUMOmTBefore Gong Yingxian could speak, everyone suddenly heard a familiar sound—the sound of police sirens.RbphNifouYRkAGwwqxHvDrQpqYmsjk
regyRitMkzQwyCxEvery nerve in the room tensed up.zNqbjnKjIuHrJYNeheUpiXcKDrQAaj
qPVvoWJxukNSeVZPurple Flame urged, “The police are coming; if you don’t leave now, you will never be able to. So, what do you think? If you want to see me, if you want to know the truth, then pay the price.”dgvQqzhYGTKadHxOQXnDkEPRgiXXQW
bfgTSJrjihwWFNMRen Yi cursed angrily, “Fuck you, you pervert! You will pay the price sooner or later!” He turned to Gong Yingxian, “With these two criminals, you can completely absolve yourself. You just need to…” Halfway through, Ren Yi found it hard to continue because he clearly saw hesitation and struggle in Gong Yingxian’s eyes.lilJTXswOlhSBZdYcMAvTlISczhpot
GuonvFlRwynfmoDHesitation? Struggle?JWQLRpACtRvUZuFQjxrUHmrcwJsSev
vGwIjBNCLIeWFvCThe sirens grew louder, and it was likely that the police had already entered the warehouse; they could faintly hear the sound of heavy footsteps.syAkrNWFgrJNipJRTRSmTVSdOHssfO
qzKBxKDGQZiRkhVPurple Flame shouted, “Gong Yingxian, don’t you want to catch me? Don’t you want to know who the mastermind behind the scenes was back then?!”vyFUvRGNpvbHJmSShqkIunvSubnKCH
lbPkmrmOjqhdMAQHuang Yan roared, “Give me the person, now, immediately!” He roughly grabbed Qiu Yan’s hair, looking ferocious.PTQYliQgoEZdQaNsIyscobtaILoDGc
CNoaqeWZGrtCdlcGong Yingxian held Bai Chicheng’s arm, her lips trembling slightly.kRYzsBdnUpfqjKtHebIyuPBTSpFYyp
RmXvvvvGhfPPZhORen Yi urged, “Yingxian, give him the person! What are you waiting for!”nPxJHLymzDiSPDMfRsZFmjblYpvJSm
FOitTKBDYxIPiIXPurple Flame suddenly burst into wild laughter: “Hahaha, can’t bring yourself to do it, Dr. Gong? No wonder, one is like a sister to you, and the other is your best friend. But unfortunately, there are always sacrifices on the road to seeking the truth, whether as a police officer or as a scientist; you should understand this principle. If you can’t bring yourself to do it, that’s fine. Huang Yan, why not help Dr. Gong out?”dIUfzvpIjSApoBAamhDbmrmzREzdex
nxkWFxhJmhdwqdGGong Yingxian finally turned to look at Ren Yi, her gaze filled with unspoken words, and she mouthed, “I’m sorry.”bKpTWSpoMvLVFguthxNcfabSnYvTHK
bsIADiQllbvaNRkBefore Ren Yi could react, a loud bang exploded in his eardrums, and his chest felt as if it had been struck by a thousand-pound hammer, instantly knocking him to the ground. The air in his chest seemed to be squeezed out by that bullet; he couldn’t even catch his breath, the pain making his vision blur, and his entire upper body went numb.CJExxGufseQcUoXIxTgElMtRSATkSX
RfohyQyBblHAyskSo this is what it feels like to be shot…FXLFUGAbrdxBrWElZZzJtJOqGAeVAT
TJNpmhFSgkDVStjAfter Huang Yan shot at him, he fired again. In Ren Yi’s blurred vision, Qiu Yan fell to the ground in response, her long, flowing ponytail becoming the last glimmer of life in his sight.DolcQlyibRifJHuKMmvIpqLzBWSCgK
DozhkKUqsuYQcYMRen Yi collapsed to the ground, unable to think or move, only able to listen to the sound of footsteps fading away…aFRyGkGzUfQAfLbucyCJKAvzWgZkQR
gPhkoiGIMdULvjUHOTvDPKrTIRShBEwbptMJNKsPUxfql