Blazing Armor

“The old captain’s report was extremely important, saving the Bali Fire Brigade at least three to five precious minutes.”kQQegVfIpftFjRPpsvIBqkcApueHxk

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“In a situation where most of the trapped individuals are elderly and have limited mobility, not causing significant casualties is a blessing in disguise.”YGaPTXJUIFBpJqHOgMGxnBdqmPOrUd

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“The old captain dedicated his life to the fire service, and even in his final moments, he thought of saving others. He is a role model for all of us in the fire service. The headquarters has decided to award the old captain a first-class martyr honor.”XWjdAiLHPJQoUkfFkiHgeViFOHJJtY

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“Ren Yi, you must take care of yourself and pull yourself together. Your father’s love for the fire service is something you will inherit.”cRXZpoCmzXAAPUjHeHkccipeSsoneC

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The words of these somewhat blurred leaders reached Ren Yi’s ears, but he hardly took any of it to heart.IVujuMmuajoAbDMxeFKNPIzdwNXWZf

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After seeing off the leaders, Ren Yi slowly returned to his seat and took a sip of the now cold tea.IrgZcAPUVSfEcLIVWWetBrBFXSYjEp

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The bitterness slid down his throat, leaving no sweetness in its wake.MVbYpYRCNZKJXFUnrUvKqbyXjOMShJ

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It had been two days, and it felt like he had been trapped in an endless nightmare, still unsure if he was in reality.UZGuRlpVzCoQjiSpJiHjAqeFNoqzgP

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He couldn’t believe his father was gone. He always felt that if he picked up the phone, he could still chat with him, and during his time off, he could bring some good food to see his dad.jdotdAvwZCJvHIdwlfHCJJQhTkhsla

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How could everything change overnight?gaOaFKOgesKANAPjyIHZUPtKXDEktH

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How could he suddenly be without a father?oniCMQfrQfHhAshoPYWuGbZUwrRzWT

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He kept recalling the last time he saw his dad. They had argued fiercely and parted on bad terms. In fact, he regretted it that very day; he had already planned to apologize in person, to coax this stubborn old man, and to share a couple of drinks together to smooth things over.FgWSxzBxpTKqMSCKdYtUkjxmsgogNE

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Why didn’t he even get that chance?NrxjQZBqvSSGqehMVWHhmsXLHcAOLK

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Before his mother passed, she had asked him to take care of his dad. Had he done a good job? His father had survived the most dangerous career, only to die after retirement, a time when he should have been enjoying his life.rbKqGmkoinNBLYPcizsdhxtJesdQvI

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His father had saved so many people from the fire, yet he couldn’t save himself.kiXuRSITxCqtjLlAkpHhuZQhsUSsNU

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It was so unfair.lUbbveonuTTmlWAYJeyUVhrQrWXmce

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So unfair!BIseWPQfqEnIqeDfazWpRbrszQiudv

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Yes, there is no fairness in this world. Why is there no reward for good deeds, no punishment for evil? Why is destruction so easy, yet protection so difficult?tUsDvIkagGdzNhURTPPvnYvPpyuAwF

lzcMttPfZFIIncm

Ren Yi sat in a daze for a long time before rubbing his face and standing up to leave the room.CUkqABzUPKDxlQwNpGBDmYNyfaCeTZ

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He was now in the hospital. He had been in and out of hospitals frequently over the past few months, but this time, he was not the one lying in the hospital bed being visited; it was the exact opposite.LYvPqdALszMlYemOjydPMuOVhExSTf

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The leaders from the headquarters came to the hospital not just to see Ren Yi, but also to visit Chen Xiaofei, who was injured and unconscious from the explosion.QYFKRDWCnvHMjmBTivqMuKmRpBTXjA

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As for Ren Yi, aside from dealing with his father’s aftermath, he spent the rest of his time at the hospital keeping vigil over Gong Yingxian.ptvMqZySHQcvHiNiIjiaHYmYUVnaUq

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Ren Yi gently pushed open the door and stepped into the ward.tqkOUjPuipBAcKWaCrfomfxhuePUMs

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Gong Yingxian lay on the pristine white hospital bed, breathing steadily.dxtcjivbKeKhdblSFwVwcmpnxdcULF

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Ren Yi sat by the bed, gazing intently at Gong Yingxian.HkqMenlaiNtQYKynQwqHeAhYhnMGKb

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His bangs softly fell over his forehead, his skin was as translucent as jade, and his lips resembled delicate flower petals. The most prominent colors on his face came from his sharply defined brows and feather-like eyelashes.bbkSOLdZYbeWMqfflwHDevYWizfSbA

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He looked so peaceful in his sleep, his expression as beautiful as a painting. Who would have thought what he had gone through just two days ago?YXZMzxMxQFacBdbbduwCjkhOrlypUy

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The doctor had told Ren Yi that aside from inhaling toxic smoke and suffering burns on his legs, Gong Yingxian had also gone into shock due to stress. If he had been sent to the hospital any later, he would have suffered organ failure and could not have been saved.QsfWjXmKqaytRpXTMeBdHXDIAIHFGW

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Ren Yi couldn’t bear to imagine Gong Yingxian’s feelings at that moment. Gong Yingxian was so afraid of fire, to the point that he even rejected hot meals, and he would vomit at the sight of a fire scene. Fire was the nightmare that had haunted him for nineteen years, the demon that tormented him throughout his life, bringing him the deepest fear and despair.CPPHZUubmjCmZxWuINgmvlfHeKdkFD

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Yet, he had rushed into the flames without hesitation to save his father, even giving away his gas mask and fire blanket.MgLJQCbHWpljTUUqbwyrRuuMFHagAe

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How terrified and helpless must he have been at that moment? It must have been unbearable when he inhaled the toxic smoke, and it must have hurt terribly when the fire burned him. Was he thinking about when he could save him? Did he regret recklessly charging into hell?IAGkItxoQsWiKHgbpNMtdnTqXvIarz

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Ren Yi thought of Gong Yingxian, who was suffering in the raging fire, recalling the words he had said in a daze, “Uncle, save me,” and felt his heart shatter.bBvUcYPkqcIzdOUFmlhhLBbwKkmFkm

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Nineteen years ago, Gong Yingxian; nineteen years later, Gong Yingxian. Why must one person endure so much suffering? He had once been a child, and now he was a good police officer. What had he done wrong?MHBFvuyUQynVoTuLWtubDIXYLWbNIu

ChhtHUDYggtWUkL

Ren Yi trembled as he caressed Gong Yingxian’s face, drawing warmth from his fingertips to fend off the pain that felt like an army trampling over him. His eyes, already dry from the pain, could no longer shed tears; it felt as if he was bleeding inside. He slowly leaned over Gong Yingxian but dared not apply too much pressure, as if the person on the bed was made of fragile glass, and any misstep would turn him to dust, disappearing forever.UDcIKCBTppJctCWSROgIxRQgTyEPIW

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“Yingxian…” Ren Yi softly called, “Please wake up.”oWPFPqqQfYwYWFGIGOdvnKWAyeGURK

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The surroundings were silent, and the only response to Ren Yi was the beating of Gong Yingxian’s heart.gkMwAzlWBkUtzYZjNWaBgVHpBUOwHD

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“Please wake up. I no longer have a father; I can’t lose you too.”GdkoCzgOSrMfsaTqbNiwQKMJfnGMFV

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—-cdxNmJlXfTSHWtaLOcHmlNJAIKPPsQ

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Ren Yi couldn’t sleep. He felt neither tired nor hungry; all the warning signals from his body were ignored, and only under Qu Yangbo’s insistence did he eat a little.YOmpVKpMpSHQlSVrxnWJTPiYcQBrvn

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At that moment, the two stood outside the intensive care unit, watching Chen Xiaofei inside, silent for a long time.XjUliayfkZQaABhoaqplvcHUmoxRmp

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“I was just looking for you,” someone said from behind.ZwnnQlhiLMuykBqBbllVBGUTcPgGPu

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Qu Yangbo turned around and sighed, “You’re here.”XtMuGEhlicnMCNEpyiBwuRXMFpcUOe

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The newcomer was Qiu Yan. She glanced at Qu Yangbo, and in her usually sharp and astute eyes, there was an unmasked weariness.XtJwQFeSMxyEOuDCfvQuilYguhMEQe

uFJhKRHLrCVvEDF

Ren Yi didn’t turn around; he whispered, “Is there any news?” Any news at all. About the murderer or about Chen Xiaofei. It had been three days, and his rationality had finally lifted its head from the immense pain, beginning to feel hatred.IZjTWdJMhjjhRuxhNTJcZJXrhihQas

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“Yes, Zhang Wen has been apprehended.”QoaPhQjUxlugnCffQNxvAEQkUDpTHa

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Ren Yi turned around.XpZUnaeCjeguxkFBcgdgHFCjTxZiZD

iRkfkSarrpJcbaC

“Actually, we almost caught him that day. We found the temporary hiding place he was using. But after the incident with Cai Qiang, we didn’t dare to act rashly, and in the end, he got away. But just now, he turned himself in.”UmABgaIWfiiRDuGCKulAbWvBPSLDMq

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“Turned himself in?” Ren Yi clenched his fists. “What about Purple Flame? Where is Purple Flame? Who was behind this explosion?”lwQudzvYtjqrEGIsrTwvVpaHfyVCcO

JHtTmzkqAWENCsn

“Zhang Wen doesn’t know the whereabouts of Purple Flame. He feels he can’t escape and was forced to turn himself in. The bomb in the tea room was a timed bomb, and we still can’t determine who the murderer is.” Qiu Yan handed Ren Yi a folder. “However, we found this at Zhang Wen’s temporary residence.”PfDCAIHihYuAZHIBBclVpOUhSXtDpR

lSAQwivqEbLUXbZ

Ren Yi opened it to find a stack of evidence photos. The yellowed, old documents looked familiar; they were incident reports from his father’s era, including several from other firefighters and Chen Xiaofei.AAwLPkcrehofDYAzmMFoKFSzhLBcTS

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Qu Yangbo leaned in to take a look, but since he hadn’t participated in the case investigation, he didn’t understand what these documents meant. He anxiously asked, “What does this mean? Is it evidence against Captain Chen?”mQFahDQVIFcXAHqZwTbovyjrmETYrO

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Qiu Yan nodded. “This missing incident report proves that Chen Xiaofei was the first to enter the underground garage. In his report, he stated that the lock on the door leading from the garage to the interior was damaged by him to check the fire situation because the door was locked at the time. If we follow our deduction that the murderer entered through the underground garage to set the fire, then Chen Xiaofei has a significant suspicion of helping the murderer cover up the traces of the crime.”mPAuJOFOKCzZzRNnUZmuLXvPYnTxXD

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Ren Yi gasped, still feeling short of breath. After a long pause, he finally spoke, “Is it possible that it was forged?”IUlgVrkiIqhChttOKyhIeMjfnqcbhF

vNcDrajyJcupkmY

“It has been verified; it’s real.”sHTdNFZnoLvbhyzHKRZSghKSTVOPvd

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Qu Yangbo frowned. “Qiu Yan, I believe in Captain Chen’s character. This evidence isn’t enough, is it?”XaWJpmeXucZNfYCslslwDWYKikdOUB

QdgdSFtylGyYCMw

“That’s why we are still investigating his recent movements. There are many things we need to wait for him to wake up to cooperate with the investigation.” Qiu Yan glanced at the ICU door. “I hope he can recover soon.”vlqraySFRTtoxJcYVuNmAlHfBHlJcZ

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Ren Yi’s mind was in chaos. “Are you saying that the explosion case might be related to him? To silence him?”QVpMOwPVMmpIzpFaJqpdTUWgDnTwZm

IsqvSUrIWjlgRSN

Qiu Yan replied coldly, “And it could also be a way to retaliate against you, killing two birds with one stone, extremely malicious.”nsUyJMGscelNBXQlFFkhhhrAmyYAaP

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Ren Yi slowly shook his head. He instinctively resisted their suspicion of Chen Xiaofei, but he also didn’t know what he should believe or doubt now.rqKCxsVYCJEdKNIFdrKoIVUaQRauaG

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“Right now, there are still two key figures in the organization that haven’t been captured: Purple Flame and Blue Flame. One is the mastermind behind the scenes, and the other is the source of funding.” Qiu Yan paused before continuing, “Or I might have said it the other way around; the one providing the funds is the mastermind.”ogLZeNQAuomlULqnmCHHNsbsBEUfkn

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“This person, last time Gong Yingxian had a guess about.”FqIYfZrjYIdGrNQIsXCdiybhKKejPk

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Qiu Yan’s expression became strange, her gaze darkening further. “Now we can’t act rashly.”YHntfdvRSJUJbjODsGBxTYqGAXWRCf

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“Why?”ZSXuxPrTZfbqhDzRxZDgJdCoMWjcmI

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“There are unavoidable reasons.”kIFuThftppkSBqySMRBqkeABfiYiGg

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“By the way, Feilan’s phone!” Ren Yi suddenly thought of something. “What about that lead?”KaBcsGRINkaUYKYeZjseKoFzZedgvL

TpossGxKdxCCGec

“It’s lost. There were about twenty people who entered her house that day, from the party company, flower delivery, express delivery, cake delivery, dress delivery, makeup artists; it’s very hard to trace.”hdzDtWKorKoQfrTckMHCsNYbOdClwE

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Ren Yi turned his face away in disappointment.tzatKLHnwGgnyoBnnovWvuSBLzMYdO

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Qiu Yan stared at Ren Yi. “Captain Ren, I guess you’re tired of hearing comforting words. What you might need to hear now is that we will definitely catch this organization, leaving not a single one behind.”WOmduzCsRilOtCvLSGlIMGHnUbNZjn

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Ren Yi softly replied, “Mm.”SplhLLkOLTrkynQgcmJwTJXVfnXxth

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“I just went to see Yingxian. The doctor said his condition is stable and he might wake up soon.” Qiu Yan glanced at her watch. “I came over during a break, and I have to leave soon. If he wakes up, please notify me immediately.”HWeEfDkNlribNhvkHzqHaTNiaTSdVm

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Qu Yangbo gently squeezed her shoulder, helplessly saying, “Don’t tire yourself out too much.”nXqCjwDOzlGFqxzXSqVwgaUHFZmeHr

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Qiu Yan smiled slightly. “I’m leaving. Wait for my news.”qXZQNoKIPfsvtZMgFkrTKQbaKyiCek

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Ren Yi leaned against the wall, feeling drained of energy.uUHaoopkLxxKblVPvmOLETguGOYZEA

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Qu Yangbo’s expression was also grim. “Are they really going to suspect Captain Chen? I can’t believe it.”ghWrHlctdSAnOOFOnhhYpXgXCzKPnN

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“I also… don’t want to believe it.”CJhpBoLqoEwMcwIcbhtKAWjdRHZFRE

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Qu Yangbo looked at Ren Yi’s unshaven appearance. “Let me take you home to get some sleep, or back to the station. You shouldn’t stay here all the time.”HevOBpVlpTykvytabFtSAfFCvPxRff

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Ren Yi shook his head. “I feel better here.” Only in a place so close to Gong Yingxian could he feel hope, and hope was the warmth that seeped into his frozen body.SwzYxMfKPPfFwVLXmeqAekkiYwyiUx

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“Then at least get some good sleep and eat well. If you keep torturing yourself like this, I…”eDUUjwvRZieasRiATAuLIuYcaLrLvN

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“Captain Ren!” A nurse rushed over. “Dr. Gong is awake.”oqmeSPLPOnmBNHFxLnhlIfuzlJeXMD

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