Blazing Armor

Running back to the car, Ren Yi slammed the door and was about to drive away, even forgetting that Qu Yangbo was still there, until Qu Yangbo knocked on the car window. It was as if he had awakened from a dream; he suddenly slammed on the brakes and stared blankly at Qu Yangbo through the window, his sharp eyes now filled with panic and fear.UHqMqYUdLZIkmYEFnUhKkhYhnYVJee

Qu Yangbo yanked the car door open and ordered, “Get out, I’ll drive.”EOaKQdLPGIKGnuMjfpiqWXXJawpUjF

“I…”HXwdfRSBQPaeItDrwZOAbpthbmwIlg

“Get out!” Qu Yangbo pulled Ren Yi out without giving him a chance to argue, “Can you drive in this state?”LvmeNceJlFVrcIJczxxNiDmzWNytxk

Ren Yi stumbled two steps as he was pulled, his chaotic mind finally regaining a bit of clarity.nAtrJfCHQoyLpcRoIMeUNBKrNEisyc

He had always been confident in his calmness and decisiveness in the face of crises. He was well-trained; no matter how dangerous the situation, he allowed himself to feel fear and worry, but he could also face it with composure. Now he realized that caring leads to chaos.FAfRHdmVhGySbENPdPckqhAMKQylqu

He went around to the passenger seat and got in, his long eyelashes trembling anxiously.GelGeNDEtOtNHgtUXLHEOgPHxDaoIx

Qu Yangbo started the car and heavily patted Ren Yi’s chest, “You call first. I’ll get there as fast as I can. Captain Chen should be with the old captain; nothing will happen.”offfjqThPcTyJbKrbIpEuUCOcIUolr

Ren Yi clutched his phone, dialed Ren Xiangrong’s number, but no one answered. He then called Chen Xiaofei, but again, there was no answer. His heart sank, and his face turned pale, “Yangbo, do you have Aunt Xu’s number?”EGkpnjydltuHvxmepjYAPMMAfksbUu

“I do.” Qu Yangbo pulled out his phone and dialed. The call connected quickly, and he said, “Aunt Xu, did you go to dinner with Captain Chen? What? Hmm… I, I understand.”whfhiedfJzbTwaWJmCMpPpEdQGRMnH

After hanging up, Qu Yangbo’s expression was also grim: “She didn’t go.”zjNqniEDyBXXEbOmbTnuQwXKHmToxW

“What?”zYQwScNcesJmDZgegmFVnmOlIIfdrj

“She said Captain Chen only mentioned there was a dinner today but didn’t tell her where.”WjdsnguZquqyvZrSGyVuRLiZoINmJn

Ren Yi gasped, “Captain Chen clearly said that he would take her to see my dad that day. Why did he change his mind at the last minute? Now they aren’t answering their phones; what on earth is happening!” Chen Xiaofei had arrived at four o’clock and was now alone with his dad. Given the police’s suspicions about Chen Xiaofei, how could he not think more? He was burning with anxiety.qKMxpToTgNPdmQomyNaEittqalZoFp

Qu Yangbo naturally thought of this too, but he hadn’t been involved in the investigation of the case back then and didn’t know how much suspicion surrounded Chen Xiaofei. He comforted, “Don’t be too nervous; not answering the phone doesn’t necessarily mean something’s wrong. Feilan is fine, and now that the traffic is clear, we’ll get there soon.”wiubighydUIdnKBMyzrvSltjHtpyXI

Ren Yi nodded stiffly like a mechanical puppet, as if by continuously giving affirmative responses, what Qu Yangbo said would come true.XVZizzOdafaBdgNIxumztbIYZfvLgB

The car sped along the road.zxMqVhBSyACLHslGDkxyLESNDELFmW

Twilight descended from the horizon, the setting sun like blood, struggling to release its last warmth at the horizon. Everywhere in sight was its afterglow, but even this radiant energy would fade into silence in just a few minutes under their gaze.veSkQSJcBzgcyWPpYQusdltSKJwxAm

The sky turned completely dark.usMIotFOJUOUEwomWbJvxyxXofWuAB

As Qu Yangbo had said, they rushed to the nursing home at the fastest speed.ZPFlWwXnePXtYshCqffhvWsLggsboJ

Just as they were nearing, they suddenly heard a familiar sound behind them—the siren of a fire truck.aMnnlNjBzmyFGsyAwoAEljYktnwQpT

The two of them instinctively looked in the rearview mirror, but the view was limited. Ren Yi simply rolled down the window and leaned out to see that indeed, there was a fire truck behind them, and the vehicles in front were all trying to make way.wwwNYgxLVkElqonlwjdYpaYxRMKurM

Qu Yangbo pulled Ren Yi back, his hand trembling slightly: “We’re almost there, just turn this corner.”VQMMthXDiNjAGugGqQSdkrxvFBBhev

Turning the corner, without the obstruction of several tall buildings, the large nursing home at the end of the road was faintly visible. They could clearly see black smoke rising in the distance; no further evidence was needed; all their worst fears had come true.ZohSmcMgDuEJznCuqfziQfIDkuvCks

Ren Yi felt his blood turn to ice in an instant.NKTEmxqgplmMmziEOlcacaXvytWevi

They had indeed targeted his father. Was it revenge, ulterior motives, or both?jPOiDcfmgArLpkNVahwNaWlOEAnPAe

Qu Yangbo was panting heavily; this long street seemed endless. Why couldn’t they arrive in an instant?!BdWOziACCLaQAkhqXwYybdQURtabOo

They rushed through the entrance of the nursing home, where two police cars were already parked in front of the main office building. The scene was chaotic, with several police officers helping doctors and nurses evacuate the elderly, and the sound of the fire truck grew closer behind them.RZcVYAxdyDbshFHzkqTJrNSepqtzSq

Ren Yi jumped out of the car and immediately spotted Gong Yingxian’s car parked next to the police car, as well as Qiu Yan, who was anxiously making a phone call.YeqqwKABiBUHbaZKnxMuEbUoqMZKLB

“Captain Ren!” Qiu Yan saw him and hung up, “You…”EPfeDpgVmUpumveuLmvkdclWSPSxlL

“Where’s my dad?” The only color on Ren Yi’s face came from his bloodshot eyes.HQatIcINBrDtZARBMpjApTFPmTpZBn

“Captain Ren, please calm down…”gwoUldXyuiNkFwatyltkqHlqEkORkQ

“Where’s my dad?!” Ren Yi had already deduced from the building’s exterior that his father’s room was in the area engulfed in flames and smoke!UdNKXYDYNSoiIUNxKCXQnCIuWubnjO

“Yingxian went to find him.” Qiu Yan’s face was drenched in sweat, “He… he just put on a fire blanket and a gas mask, and…”cQnSaZFPKdvmsIzbyiQaOdYxhtjUAt

It was simply adding insult to injury.xGVwJWzpKBRmybIlNktuwpSTjitQaT

Before Qiu Yan could finish, Ren Yi was about to rush inside.jtGjaZjewBLzqBAQblHGRNCNLlgTMw

Qu Yangbo hugged him from behind and shouted, “The fire truck is almost here, it’s almost here.”ytsJnnJwLuRoQuzMWgnlwtlNPKmXMS

“Let go of me!” Ren Yi struggled like a trapped beast, his elbow crashing into Qu Yangbo’s chest.HfXFwyRQhhKbLQzcuytYVLtrPtzTTE

Qu Yangbo’s face contorted in pain, and he cursed, “Are you still a firefighter or not?! You have nothing right now; do you want to save people or go to your death?! If you act like this, no one will let you in!” He held Ren Yi’s waist tightly, forcefully pushing him down to the ground.eJXppIkFBEhoLUwUjCfXsGKTKRLrqe

Both of them fell to the ground, and Qu Yangbo held onto Ren Yi tightly, his voice already choked with emotion: “The fire truck has arrived; put on your gear, and I’ll go with you.”iVVAGKglcPhaUfNOYFGyqRogMczvMN

Ren Yi let out a mournful cry, his heart feeling like it was being fried in oil, unbearable pain.yliYTPLElcmAYYWXtNyrbappxLWLDy

The two most important people in his life were both in the fire.GQwlYkCHxOyXLCUZGKyYVPcNKjAwxZ

The fire truck stopped behind them, and fully equipped firefighters jumped out of the vehicle.TyvWQPGWaqlTYollyifintuhGtNoGZ

Qu Yangbo got up and pulled Ren Yi up from the ground: “Mao Ge, give us two sets of gear.”BqwzjqQJOsaoUpPNPXoqlLoWUmBNjS

Captain Cheng Mao of the Eight Li Fire Brigade looked at the two of them in surprise: “What are you doing here?”PGCflaGHJyzaQfQkwhyggQDBDfbPyN

Qu Yangbo urged, “Ren Yi’s dad is in there; hurry, give us two sets of gear!”kaybcaiYwGprsSLsxueUUaWMaWwnLO

Cheng Mao widened his eyes, looking at the dazed Ren Yi, and shook his head firmly: “In this state, he can’t go into the fire.”xOmoCKCNCwPCdkuPiGciUDhCnwwPXy

Ren Yi forced himself to take a breath under the immense pressure. He rubbed his face vigorously, trying to calm down: “Brother Cheng, let me in; my dad is inside.”CpqixDVCTwCygVfhOMPCgEAnzTZjLI

“I know, but you’re not in a good state. If something happens once you go in, it’s my responsibility.” Cheng Mao began directing the firefighters to set up ladders and prepare water hoses for rescue.PKZrLcvcPiRJEBPDFxeoCTWPgvEkWM

Ren Yi followed Cheng Mao closely: “I promise to follow your orders.”dLiPJaWsNrWUvsIbryFomNMqXZxBxc

“We will get your dad out.”QWMboggRBFHSoVGUEvoMFrFemHebcd

“Brother Cheng!” Ren Yi grabbed Cheng Mao’s collar, pleading, “I’m begging you; this is the only time in my life I’m asking you for this, I’m begging you.”uEgEFWWLbsRbgEaiySwnsEAjNsnjyv

Cheng Mao sighed, hesitated for a moment, and ordered the nearby firefighters: “Get two sets of gear from the truck.” He sternly told Ren Yi, “You better keep your word; otherwise, I won’t let you off the hook.”dFVhBKspGhzmoUSwAcWKFQZJoSnaTH

Ren Yi picked up the gear handed to him by a firefighter and quickly put it on. Since his negative news had been exposed online, he hadn’t worn rescue gear for almost three months, but this set of actions he had performed thousands of times, already ingrained in his bones, forming muscle memory. One day he might forget how to run like his dad, but he would never forget how to put on firefighting gear.BzyzTbpcQyaaHKCRFnczvECvIAGZRw

Cheng Mao divided the team into three groups: one to set up the ladder, one to prepare the water hoses, and one to enter the inpatient department for search and rescue, with two more teams on the way.JseAushRxPmewNMsZoYfUbwgYRiBER

“What caused the fire?” Qu Yangbo asked Cheng Mao.OBHmAWxznsmDbXLHiuGKUnyiJPPAaN

“We don’t know yet, but the fire is spreading quickly; we can’t rule out the possibility of arson with accelerants.”kpvjwEwfXfpSxHESApHvjCAivzThCc

“It must be arson.” Ren Yi was so angry he could almost bite his teeth to pieces. If Purple Flame were right in front of him, he could swallow him alive.xLgRKsxObmWFbjvxOQrOHFJRSVbEJT

“How are you so sure?” Cheng Mao seemed to remember something, “Is it related to the criminal organization that the police and firefighters collaborated with in your Hongwu District last year?”iDohSphEntwZVgIekDjePUJzRuvPgy

Before Ren Yi could respond, a loud explosion suddenly echoed above them as they were running toward the entrance of the inpatient department. The explosion occurred right above them, and the ground trembled beneath their feet, with windows shattering in response to the shockwave.qcLQFYjpCAXIzyXSgaVSdLhvMIiSCV

“Run!” Cheng Mao shouted and dashed toward the inpatient department.hmrXcSSqfSqehYqqlCAnpeUexhENev

Glass shards rained down like sharp knives, and some fell in whole sheets, more dangerous than knives. A group of people covered their heads and ran wildly. In those few seconds, adrenaline surged, and the sound of shattering glass echoed behind them as they almost dove into cover.VruAkgLSleFNszWYBadsTuNFoexzyj

Cheng Mao got up from the ground and turned to check on his firefighters: “Is anyone hurt? Speak up.”uKLPFsjGvvGNhVvnVwjooXQXyMiHwB

Everyone reported they were safe, but they looked at the area they had just passed, littered with broken glass, feeling a lingering fear.RxuXdqGVqwfhsQoOIGjedrTcQQWIqy

“The gas valve has been shut off; it might be the residual gas in the pipes that was ignited. Be careful once you go in.”oyWRpIodUyDvqJZTeEEPaJZqzUEKNC

Ren Yi couldn’t wait another second, but he forced himself to stop with reason.ebMzglknuQCVpRygROmypdEFJTsWjS

Cheng Mao said, “There are four floors in total; three people per floor. Ren Yi, Yangbo, you come with me to the third floor.”auqOYRFsocFDhsCOyRMKurBjxsmqwF

The third floor was where his dad’s room was located, and it was also the floor where the fire had started.oLsTNrgUzeOhFFpEwyEEYwsOGXAZCz

The three of them ran upstairs, each wearing an air supply mask for safety as they entered the fire scene.fDuNrIaUtXiZkVsHCONWLNCaFpkyuT

Ren Yi knew that Gong Yingxian’s trunk was always stocked with fire-fighting equipment: fire extinguishers, gas masks, fire blankets, insulated gloves, and so on, but those things could only last for a while. What worried him the most was that this was a fire scene, a real fire scene.hJPnsoXPNwXRkvMoLoOfvPZnouqBLd

Gong Yingxian, who wouldn’t even dare to approach a stove, how could he have the courage to enter a fire scene?!swBnBacBwdoUtTcYHrjeaqjcVNFTHL