Blazing Armor

Ren Yi arrived at the navigation point, a small alley where no surveillance could be found. At this moment, dawn was just breaking, and naturally, there was no one around.lMHiMCAjavLNsTsnguzOTLoLEaJkta

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He sat in the car, hesitating whether to get out, when suddenly, his phone rang. He answered the call, and a strange voice processed by a voice changer came from the receiver: “You’re quick, Captain Ren.”byksgYSyGYIGkGtoOoMAGTnmxHbUoX

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“I’ve brought everything.”ExJgORgkILUSyIzNXijLGKTAwBFfDG

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“All of it?”ujBeZWMVeqCpGFbFQGrTOpPaZigcNZ

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“I’ve packed everything that was in that room, but there are definitely more than one backup of the photos and videos of these pieces of evidence. I can’t possibly find them all; you should know that.”risIJhStSSqKQrrNNZbVHKDHsQCOsy

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“After all, these are things from nearly twenty years ago. The evidence itself is barely useful, let alone the backups. It’s enough,” Purple Flame said. “In five minutes, you need to switch to another car. For now, drive this one deep into the alley on your left and take the things out of the car.”wblhmHZcTLiChqvxwtOFwJhpnYgpzD

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“I want to see the live video. I want to see him.”ONjpgNzXTlwGqKafBZdJECDWKRpZuI

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Purple Flame was silent for a moment: “Alright.”vPFzgmzOhHhspFZGMgbZmrNddwmNNY

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Purple Flame hung up the phone, and after half a minute, a video arrived on his phone. It was still less than ten seconds long; Gong Yingxian lay on the ground, the food and water beside him seemingly untouched. He was lifeless, only his chest faintly rising and falling.ttSwFGCRDlreBLgJrLOEbsmyQvWkXv

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Ren Yi’s heart ached sharply. He gripped his phone tightly, so hard that the veins on the back of his hand bulged, and his eyes were filled with bloodshot veins.EXmRrgcuYZkeuOrLlcnwsEOWFqjeWy

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Ren Yi started the car, turned into the depths of the alley, parked, and then moved the two large boxes out of the trunk. Just as he was about to go out, suddenly, a hard object pressed against the back of his head.hvPxjExUuNVdnAhQeDnWVrEfoaILJV

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Ren Yi shivered all over. How had this person approached him so silently?XSVGjQtSeYArJGofsigYNqjzYSZRrK

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“Put this on.” A hand reached over from behind, holding a black cloth strip.xJgPFjWofIEoQOhUCJzOaOZBbpUIJq

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That voice—Huang Yan!YuLqLTBKyBzvzifEgQjGzlbjwYYiJT

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Ren Yi was filled with hatred, his killing intent boiling. It was this person, this person! He had caused Sun Dingyi’s death, he had killed Qiu Yan! It was this person!TGiGuYOMdYTnuNIFjZYrDCzDXEtJAh

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And Gong Yingxian, knowing full well that Huang Yan was the one he hated the most, the one he wanted to kill the most, still allowed Huang Yan to shoot at him…ieVIjWzokvKyKyKvvlNATfWFOUJtit

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How tragic, how hateful, how ridiculous!MnUnKLrGADnwfVniAEtnkziWixlDej

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Huang Yan spoke in a commanding tone: “Put it on!”IZeVWZKCdIfKBKNTgTyBwbWkPqcZyL

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Ren Yi trembled as he took the cloth strip and tied it over his eyes.ZwSqGGHmRGPeRiPAUDJbSubGMVQeYB

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“Drag the boxes out.” Huang Yan pressed the gun against Ren Yi’s head.LRwbVKiAubSPhqndpWyqPHWkHfIwXX

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Ren Yi gritted his teeth and dragged the boxes outside.JRrFAVmJKGTqZbLqivUmXupAjRbWNt

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Ren Yi heard Huang Yan open the car door, bind his hands behind his back, shove him into the passenger seat, then place the two boxes in the trunk, and finally, open the driver’s door.XyDDUfeclPxiJOrCsTpabQxeQXtelQ

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After his vision was deprived, his other senses became sharper. Ren Yi felt he could smell gunpowder on Huang Yan, though he wasn’t sure if it was just his self-suggestion at work.kPMntQCHnnqIZGNxYgQAnUtDKMtvmS

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Huang Yan started the car and turned it around.smCGMSBPWOihwVxaWrvHsAhcYrfGAt

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Ren Yi tried to remember the route they took, like in the movies he had seen, using his body to sense the direction and distinguish sounds. In reality, an untrained person couldn’t do this at all; he gave up after remembering two streets.DRFZVRQtAIpKsMuhpfQpfzvUzHQbRx

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The car was silent, only the sound of their restrained breathing could be heard.aNvytybJZzMixXtFNtpdJbMYveXYcN

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After a long while, Ren Yi spoke: “Why are you helping Purple Flame kill people? Is it for money?”kGqsXuThjzeBmuqQLmSfEZBCLhNlsP

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Huang Yan did not answer.tlsSXkMhhOutgIoBqJtROkRRFlrMIR

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“You were once a soldier. Don’t you have a sense of honor? Don’t you have a sense of justice? If your comrades knew what you were doing, how would they despise you?”igllCRCgKlIXvaKJMotIcAxeJooSPN

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“Shut up,” Huang Yan said coldly.tltOMIsRuxdKawclRQZiJayTVhDbak

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“You’re nothing but a beast worse than a pig or a dog,” Ren Yi spat hatefully.mKXVTrPwqxljOTcYMZbuKDiJzErytE

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Huang Yan grabbed Ren Yi’s neck with one hand, his thumb pressing against his carotid artery: “If I press here for a while, you’ll either faint or die. Try saying another word.”tVjWJkAlEYyIvczMFvmrYQRXmUyohd

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Ren Yi soon found it hard to breathe, his face slowly turning red.neWhDpWeJhToJidYSoFBtzpXbmVgot

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Huang Yan was extremely precise with his strength; just before Ren Yi was about to pass out, he released his grip.QCiuyWaycvXDBybKlOPvKiUhlEZVaG

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Ren Yi gasped for air, his entire heart and lungs trembling violently.EEvhVPFvpzhTPBJvtNSfPYRrPOtOXz

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“You’re so bold; think about how to save your own life,” Huang Yan said disdainfully.cCtDTCzBjKxfkUivdVunMacpDEHjkp

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The car drove for over two hours. During the journey, Ren Yi quietly felt the ropes binding him from behind. He sensed that the knots weren’t very tight, and after struggling a bit, he found that his hands had a little room to move. If Huang Yan wasn’t watching him, he might be able to pull out a dagger from his pocket.wWELeJzwUFawiCxxIYdiVyqXXHDuNY

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After a bumpy uphill stretch, the car finally stopped.blvSARhVtbqEeWflornBpWsuvdvgnB

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Huang Yan said, “Wait here.” He got out first and moved the things from the trunk.vpOuJYJwByYcDXJXRBOKzvIlmcjfpO

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Ren Yi quickly shifted his body, using his fingers to reach for the short knife in his pocket. After a struggle, he finally managed to pinch the handle with his fingertips and slowly pulled it out.DVFjeKqWVFYHKYEDZNOkibAiWjrJkS

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The dagger, packed in an envelope, was naturally small. He held it in his hand, cutting at the ropes bit by bit. Since his hands were bound, he had to grip the knife backward, making it difficult to apply force, so he was almost just grinding away.EYCAMgOGeCQRHqteBHnZTfAWniNOUF

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After grinding for a while, he heard footsteps approaching and quickly stuffed the dagger into his sleeve, using his hand to cover the worn ropes, leaning back against the seat.nFYVHCFQSfIgxcDOLXctaEUEiVBYEj

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The car door opened, and Ren Yi was roughly yanked out, directly thrown to the ground.bVPMuhbUufHPqJcBucllRflkHaRfLf

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“Where is Gong Yingxian?” Ren Yi stood up on his legs and asked.sIMMiuPuTpFKkZFgaomBRdtfUtItPg

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“Where are the things?” Huang Yan shouted angrily. “There’s still a box of stuff! Did you swap it out?”VYPLcINOkKWXGznHACkKahaiiiDglX

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Ren Yi sneered: “Do you think I would hand everything over to you without leaving any leverage?”nJsOTTGXvhADKrjkhyLoNjkToDjsvX

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Huang Yan kicked Ren Yi in the knee pit, forcing him to kneel down, then ripped off his blindfold.vfOZCiFAYZMiZDThasoPiikPAUIwxL

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Ren Yi’s eyes couldn’t adjust to the light for a moment, and he squinted uncomfortably.VtOKyReGjBvzYZBwZqzjdhQKFqeqjY

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Huang Yan grabbed his collar, coldly saying: “Where are the things?”jMePmRQixDrBPNTUMNAUqlPJvdFhMw

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“Where is Gong Yingxian?” Ren Yi stared defiantly at Huang Yan. “I gave you one box; the other box is hidden in a place only my friend and I know. Killing me won’t help you; unless you release me and Gong Yingxian, I’ll give you the remaining box.”pQFgkbbwJnuafSpCamFJCkAWUaLZGc

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“You dare negotiate terms when death is imminent?” Huang Yan tightened his grip on Ren Yi’s neck. “I can make you wish you were dead.”SpyCrnOzXEufGkFICbkqUMmzgagGes

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Ren Yi shouted: “Giving you the things means death; not giving means death too. I won’t let you, this beast, have your way.”KVZXFryCGcrEvGNEuNhUIlonllrUqK

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Huang Yan punched Ren Yi in the face, and Ren Yi fell to the ground, stars dancing in his vision.hqrAULbrOcZuiMWZPJJbkAJbMSTRbC

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Huang Yan stood up, walked aside, took out his phone, and dialed a number, speaking in a low voice.jLVUfBQmNITdHxgfHgyNiNhqMBcHzd

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After a while, he returned and lifted Ren Yi off the ground.XNxCsxKaZpIDtPriLufzvczjNQexuu

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Only then did Ren Yi have time to observe where they were. He was in a garage; judging by the decor, it should be a private villa. When Huang Yan dragged him into the house, he was even more certain of his guess. Looking out the living room window, he could only see a mountain view.DSDZtEbrkqRPalicLubtygOSdKXLcn

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They were on a mountain?hrvxOdghNKRoUqVSZLDLzhvsniDMqh

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Ren Yi asked again: “Where is Gong Yingxian?”REfpmnqhlZzxeIRCZCgDNXtGWRjmQm

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“You’ll see him soon.”XbOpwwZLleGdpMdQbytMHRPIgNmfaj

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Ren Yi didn’t dare to relax at all; he knew Huang Yan wouldn’t let him see Gong Yingxian so easily.FnXODmdHFhVgqwcfgOeGBlcdrJJYjR

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Ren Yi was pushed into a room, and Huang Yan took out his phone, opened the surveillance video app. The homepage displayed several surveillance screens. Ren Yi saw the room they were in, and on another page, it was clearly Gong Yingxian. Gong Yingxian was also in this villa?!oSNRxnBEYTnCUYHCqrTmxtahNrCQVR

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However, the background of Gong Yingxian’s video was a dull gray wall, completely different from the villa’s luxurious European decor.NMlOAtlJaEuzeZYMfXJifGMZMfvDwk

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Huang Yan pointed at the screen: “See, you’ve met him.”eJpdhgexYPNWHvUUpOJfgIcBSnoGDi

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“Let me see him.”XJOVVElwCwWcfoQYVIqSwJkjdgDmQD

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“Before you give me what I want, you can forget about seeing him until you die.” Huang Yan revealed a cruel smile. “Next, I’ll let you know the consequences of playing tricks on me.”cwUXSRVdeTPzqRmkfUOyJPKlXLvmQj

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Ren Yi stared fiercely at Huang Yan.uHfwzrOkuZBKzSngOocsOVTUUDMWuh

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“Bai Yan is currently with Dr. Gong. You two can see each other’s live footage through your phones. We’re ready to ‘entertain’ you well. You have guts; let’s see who can’t take it first.”RzHbMMAliwCkOeQGAdermlLxIQReRT

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Ren Yi bared his teeth, wishing he could bite Huang Yan to death.KZsLOFYRlyhBicIUBqMYQyBaPdVkzw

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“I heard that last time, that shot only cracked your rib.” Huang Yan looked Ren Yi up and down. “I can break every one of your ribs.”evORryKKBxWOggYYHBtpgyfWpwUfMu

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Ren Yi clenched his fists, tightly pursing his lips.LuipeFAVPFNAPDQHXbBIjwZILDxmIu

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“To deal with Gong Yingxian, we need a different approach. He’s not afraid of pain, but he’s afraid of fire. Tell me, where should I burn him first? I’ll let you decide.”LlpFVabQJdlUjMJCIYfDFxFKKIouzs

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Ren Yi paused for a moment, then suddenly asked: “Why do you know so much about us?”OwTQlcMCUsvZVdNzBPGamfoFAUcayL

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Huang Yan frowned slightly.zaIBGlHOYjqJhDQYpKsOydduZADrhQ

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“Gong Yingxian’s fear of fire may not be a secret, but how do you know about my injuries? From the moment I was admitted to the hospital until today, I’ve been under police watch in the ICU.” Ren Yi stared intently at Huang Yan. “How do you know? Who told you?”ftYfClVDCGXPvesrlIMMlUochomzhj

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“Even if you know, it won’t help.”khsOyCtqDpWcbFYiMhhSWuzBcYghhN

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“It was Purple Flame who told you, of course. You’ve always obeyed him. But how did Purple Flame know?” Ren Yi shouted, “Purple Flame, I know you’ve bugged the phone you gave me. You’ve been listening in, right? Did you plant someone in the hospital? Or did you plant someone in the Hongwu branch? Is it Zheng Pei?”yBpDpGXjkkDQnUgyxNpeFuveKkXiJl

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Huang Yan coldly replied: “I told you, even if you know, what’s the use?”zpDCTVrTjBDalwTQDIkTkSwMxhmwRR

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“Because I’m definitely going to die this time, and the dead won’t question or speak, right?” Ren Yi sneered. “I’m not foolish enough to throw myself into a trap without leaving a way out. If you kill us, everything will be exposed online, including the evidence you want. You know how powerful public opinion is now; our deaths will become a force pushing for a retrial.”JCXibTmwpGDIuJZwOYRCnVISxkdatb

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Ren Yi’s phone rang. Huang Yan pulled the phone from Ren Yi’s pocket and pressed the speakerphone button.IqxGkWQhotCjxcvYFFKyXpPKypVckS

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Purple Flame’s voice was filled with impatience: “What will it take for you to hand it over?”HSLMsuBFbuJpjNnAmsQqvcPzrKhUIg

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“Let me and Gong Yingxian go, and I’ll take your people to get the things.”YnRqHCAgdqlzjUBoNAcfxhzPEWthWO

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“You two can only leave one. If you give me the things, I’ll let the other one go.”mlCTcfXIOwBemcaKGXINwSISHaLSbL

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Ren Yi paused: “Let me see Gong Yingxian.”QJFtBghRiBgBaxTLlSRXJMQLfDgrkO

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This time, it was Purple Flame who hesitated. Huang Yan said: “I’ll be watching them.”MUDyMozmVyYEelArNRQAlDFLurYhJB

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“Alright.”OXMLzYvrDrslKyopUzBLzbGlnFfVrn

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Huang Yan pointed at Ren Yi’s nose: “No tricks.” He grabbed Ren Yi and led him out of the room, down the stairs to the basement.JoeHycPqUgqCoVRpapxJihSffRFagz

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Ren Yi gradually felt a humid, warm steam, and he quickly realized what it was—it was a hot spring. This was a hot spring resort villa. The dull gray wall he saw in the video was the volcanic rock background wall of the underground hot spring area.IkKrnEwNUGEcbxCiLtYNKkRbrflqqF

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At the base of the wall, the person bound hand and foot was none other than Gong Yingxian, whom he hadn’t seen for several days.pFyYmMZRwsjUmKiKiMSvbrOoZRImYL

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Gong Yingxian’s actual condition was even worse than what was shown in the low-resolution surveillance footage. He was covered in blood, his hair disheveled and obscuring his face, his lips devoid of color, weakly collapsed on the ground, not knowing what kind of torment he had endured before.fhFwYFeedeEbZalzlGSmqdTXNeydhz

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Ren Yi felt a warmth in his eyes, trembling and unable to make a sound.fUpPaqGislyorxQUJzsEgUwatDhRVo

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As if hearing footsteps, Gong Yingxian slowly opened a slit in his eyes. Upon seeing Ren Yi, he suddenly widened them in shock.FmtvrldKYKRsNdhtZtwNIIdOkMteiK

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