Chapter 21
Ren Yi grabbed him, struggling under Sun Dingyi’s weight, which was at least 170 to 180 pounds. He almost sank down with him. Ren Yi quickly swapped the mask back onto his own head and began to strip off Sun Dingyi’s gear, all the while shouting, “Gao Ge, send three people down for backup. Bring an air supply unit. Hurry!”KeFeXxniTvytBJbQXzYgLnkxngmfOP
ojoHAXckSvaSVKzSweat poured down Gao Ge’s face as he ordered, “Cui Yisheng, take these two down into the pit. Hold your breath and go first. We’ll send the gear down after.”iIsOvyczjUaySfkCtGHDUWEToGRoVw
rcKnLCyfvbJVZWl“Yes, sir!”cmBETahlREoNloKpKarpmDpaLDCuGW
KULfGbcNVHTKWlDRen Yi lifted Sun Dingyi, wading with difficulty through the deep water, struggling to move forward while occasionally switching masks with him. Li Sa was supporting the repair worker behind them. Thankfully, the worker was small in stature; otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to move an inch in such conditions.iyhgUgqwYTGjKhEnhPcaMfrrUrOmSK
nrKxIOiXPzWHeDOThey hadn’t gone far when Liu Hui rushed over first.GrieRkmtyluyFkXVdTmcIOOmmuupOW
MeaQfQQpMSrsWjoRen Yi cursed, “I told you to watch over Xiao Tao!”LVjOFPrTkjYckxIFHOjNCwvskozVQg
PevoMCWBVMViTKK“Xiao Tao told me to come,” Liu Hui said, trying to take over for Sun Dingyi.kNfjRqiCbITrorJFKWSvuoRqstrzuD
xJTtQjUrvzuOAJo“Help Li Sa instead. I can manage alone.”sfEJjiveURpjNTtOeSacoXlMeKWZSs
blHlQfAmNrnUPrVLiu Hui took the repair worker from Li Sa. “Li Sa, go assist Captain Ren. I can handle this.”WnejKrDwodfIsXNuDqSOYHEkfDsDKn
bvGDisxKbsLLuMJLi Sa ran over. “Captain Ren, Lieutenant Sun is unconscious and can’t control his breathing. I’ll give him the mask. We’ll share one.”rKMCALpDpdFqRpOiFeUgpkONSYvRxt
etDBeTSRPFTBBRiRen Yi took off his own air mask and put it on Sun Dingyi’s head, giving Li Sa an OK sign.pWvSjZGIiuWgHiDydCGyMVRRXHktyf
VNxzwMoteRFHDtLLi Sa nodded, and the two of them supported Sun Dingyi from either side, continuously exchanging the mask until Gao Ge’s rescue team arrived.EPLZLkMmDayNuclQuCWruNyTIPPcCd
qTAsyKhlVKklpwTThe water pump kept draining the sewage pit, making the water shallower as they moved, until they successfully carried both Sun Dingyi and the repair worker out. Xiao Tao was also rescued.oKTIpmlYncrsKFCSpYlompitjquufS
XnYIWcCEdSenIpwRen Yi placed Sun Dingyi onto the stretcher, his eyes red as he stared at the paramedics, lips trembling but unable to speak.jyprtvfIkNPqkmfmIPOTBnhoxzEeMF
LRSOdUBKmRoMvxQThe paramedic said, “Captain Ren, you need to step aside and let us work.” She pried open Sun Dingyi’s eyelids for a look, then opened his mouth and said to her colleague, “Prepare for intubation.”PmiKWPfvqwRSYxvmAaOZiSLjJhHrGF
vTVXQxXvmTFNwBxRen Yi rasped, “Will he be okay?”XSxYmbtXQxLOpClRbdmrZBYMVPNCoT
NCsXOwcDJPmQnynAll the soldiers stood nearby, watching Sun Dingyi’s unconscious form with worry and helplessness.lzBEEKlTokeNParkroQRDoFEDCgHGC
kjhYgVQCGaDrFiVThe paramedic, remaining calm, said, “We’ll do our best.”zbWarukhbxuKsKVmfyTRoeaoKCotlY
EWIXdjawEJmoTnROne by one, the injured were loaded into ambulances.JAaXzUYyCrnuwLNZoeZKCpFEDgQHPe
bqWdSYgGSMGAekvXiao Tao refused to get on the stretcher. “I only twisted my leg. It’s no big deal, no need for the hospital.”wlQHwotTnKjhutGbtsscwpfgVykDgI
smlcowfXugBfaTV“Just to be safe, we need to get an X-ray,” the paramedic insisted.ZCAlEDwiVSNRKgNzfZhsGkkiZDQnZm
ZfliZpfXsrJHwHb“I really don’t—”czrAOBOZFmCHXTNBMUeAUJQSJGeJll
JDOuzEMqNGwhjmv“Go to the hospital!” Ren Yi glared at him and growled.FrGOzkSYXopnoyIpVvaUdOKzLZXGOy
HTNFvaNHAsTZTWAXiao Tao lowered his head in defeat.PnsGiAJcHBNYtVrvHmRccBJdiLMimz
AcJcBsSFjchjADKSuddenly, a wave of panic surged through Ren Yi. His breathing quickened, and his body swayed.ngVEsOEBcxwkHvjvPqqfgNztFgJpKh
xeMPfXsBtDysYLj“Captain Ren!” Gao Ge caught him as he stumbled.mHpAAvBgTUXoeYFMWWCEYplcTEBddc
IEDDlOaDPOitNXvLi Sa and Liu Hui also slowly crouched down, their faces unusually pale.DdfYHsxwkCafYNOCHlUUqHkdgVvWtt
SOZtuonEpyCIrQm“They took off their masks down there!” Gao Ge shouted.tPunquXDOOXJQSbEetXXFLVyPpFzOS
fVmAbUmXDTtYCpeThe paramedic pressed her radio button. “Control, we need two more ambulances here. Get their outer clothing off, lay them flat on the ground, and spread them out. Make sure their airways are clear.”NjfHTrCWDOHuWuVcUkwUGmrsOsJluu
FYkbAqvFnkokmni“Captain Ren, Captain Ren!” Gao Ge frantically stripped Ren Yi of his gear, unzipping his jacket and gently laying him down.tHKzQRyJapvfdLQRTbUeISIVsGjhTa
zayGEXSPzPRXxfyThe balconies around the entire complex were packed with residents, and a crowd had gathered around the sewage pit. Fire trucks, ambulances, and police vehicles clogged the entrance to the neighborhood.URJmHYZOWoSQboMzKPJSJeHgPUOtgE
nXHJBkPwwkjbgAXBut Ren Yi could no longer hear the voices, the shouting, or the clicks of camera shutters. A faint dizziness crept in, but he refused to let himself pass out, forcing himself to stay conscious, struggling to keep his eyes open.kdAASALKkoyfFJwfwqEzWmHkHYDrcF
kUyhjeAvnejuetXSuddenly, a face appeared in his blurry vision—a face so pale, delicate, and unrealistically beautiful, looking down at him. The lips moved, calling his name.HhNXkjjwijykaLmZpsDKelMHQFrPkJ
rCyiCpqezjKPCmQGong Yingxian? Why was he here?HmnJTkSZRPoLbqKZYJWEhmtJfOUwmo
PLmXrfTnLXcZLwHOh, right, he’s with the police.IgMbYnyTFKPCpfpgQQckKndQBzSGUw
JPlQhWTrUrWAcUaGong Yingxian’s voice pierced through the fog, cutting through mountains, rivers, and layers of thick mist until it finally reached his eardrums. With that single call of “Ren Yi,” his hearing returned.BpPhnHbgWLbcULEpCwUwhpcgDccJZE
UyfZxOXopIZTbJtRen Yi forced his eyes open and looked weakly at Gong Yingxian. “You…”nHfanhxuKFyIsYOhegGZZBWbRkMZdp
SEFXwnQxlGEhFiWGong Yingxian crouched down and said firmly, “Don’t talk. The ambulance will be here soon.”utsbppfPQICSBEuLOwwPATTzjPMYVJ
XTkBxwjgqQRViQRRen Yi managed a faint smile. “I… I smell like a sewer. Aren’t you afraid?”RLjnFxudgfDKPHNlMOIwYkwcNLqNoz
dZgkCpOjdUZKEdf“Stop talking.” Gong Yingxian pulled out a pristine white handkerchief from his pocket and gently wiped the dirt, sweat, and sewage from Ren Yi’s face.KVLOwaoFcNsTVqFgUFWTXvIDCkpRBU
lGfrjFiYcbIBRGtRen Yi took a deep breath, but still felt short of air, his lungs like a deflated balloon, starved for oxygen. “Li Sa and Liu Hui…”kMNamIjjgjnygUMtQlCfqnmxyWSIav
vCdjkjpwznOuTto“They’re fine. Both are waiting for the ambulance,” Gong Yingxian reassured him.aPYrmmAFLsHlGywuEGMhEgUrskqyCE
uJRSIjqUOFsHPLfFinally, the backup ambulances arrived. Ren Yi was lifted onto a stretcher, an oxygen mask secured over his face. He blinked slowly, waiting to be loaded into the ambulance. Once it was done, he let go of the tension that had kept him conscious and allowed himself to drift into sleep.lkoHxKtbythevwzWrTLTuMfFPBtfZX
piAHtLpeDeMGXqe—xQKcJTBZuzvvPmeCVKKmZXEdRbCZRN
DrfknyxfAGrlktFWhen Ren Yi woke up, he wasn’t surprised to find himself lying in a hospital bed.tGkVbYSPUbupeJNSzvYaJBvHBRsPwu
oGIKbqhqrzLmSoyHe felt awful—dizzy, weak, and nauseous, as if he hadn’t fully recovered from a fever.zYWaFmssfJziFaIQLdJEcYSvDCnDqw
VjXWCBeZeFwrAqJ“Ren Yi.” Qu Yangbo leaned in as he saw him wake up. “How are you feeling?”XPyrToiyFKynbGFgkUiFqrOvFMIkfP
naVvedYvUBoGVNdFor a brief moment, Ren Yi’s mind was blank, but he quickly snapped back to awareness. He asked urgently, “What about Sun Dingyi? How is he?” He tried to get up.KXjLdXFqjxKVkEKXZFejWlzkMBWniY
feXpiFblODjlFjD“He’s fine. He’s out of danger,” Qu Yangbo said, gently pushing Ren Yi back down onto the bed.cxnXAkphWuFZjbmFdzBcFXACQblJjI
dGOWmpUwXOmhbrkRen Yi let out a heavy sigh, his nose stinging with emotion, almost bringing him to tears. His voice was hoarse as he asked, “What about the others?”BbCvDslboHdymIfAqgIFsrPCCkPLMq
yFrnUbruOPwziue“They’re all doing okay, and so are you. You three inhaled less, so you don’t need lung lavage, but you’ll still need to stay here for observation for a few days.”vNyQochXQWOWaAXMYqsngqkkFnXujy
sQGdmEKHWlMpAODRen Yi nodded. “And the people we rescued?”dTgFCHomrYdXikBqjYipVgPxqCwARx
apIkvPzPVYxpVhcQu Yangbo sighed. “Two died at the scene, one didn’t make it after reaching the hospital, and three are in critical condition. It’s not looking good.”upUVksfDosxJJSaMrRfjCXmQdWZytl
HACpzPnXmHOBQZFRen Yi clenched his weak fists. “Yangbo, do you know what’s the hardest part of this job?”kHxPergyauniYHxQKuAZhrKTAKgVjC
pNzwRbRCKOYtNoHQu Yangbo remained silent.kyAdmHKVhgDSZBDdmcSahctuVuwsvk
fdtBnwQijyvcbrBRen Yi stared blankly ahead. “It’s knowing that some tragedies didn’t have to happen.”YAdNBpruqUUZZbeDLryJMzsnHWShkV
xWxSoaqTbfOAgOVQu Yangbo spoke solemnly, “The responsible parties in property management have already been taken into custody.”PdcnEOmeKWnwIsHNYNIGFVLsYZaNba
dcUxsKZGqCSpJAT“Yeah, they’ve been taken in. Tomorrow, the news will blow up, and it’ll be all about how many people died because of their negligence. This kind of story repeats year after year, again and again!” Ren Yi’s lips trembled. “But it still doesn’t stop.”SETUdUrHBPiFWTzplHXDxnvFgMGPSt
oOmBLaGtLbeWmlgQu Yangbo placed a reassuring hand on Ren Yi’s shoulder. “All we can do is do our jobs as best as we can and hope others do theirs, so we can avoid these kinds of accidents.”LdRPXrcSgBTfcVBkWMPRGBKnzaeZrN
rsfEVrfXZmlmWhCAt that moment, a knock sounded at the door.RoPyYMWouZlrJMYyqRPhgZELlEjOSt
mJUeJyGeTpIbmHa“Come in.”qILFuTzSkDUCoKLuURcUkcykEmQDDB
tmKYAnxruDCwEaLThe door opened, and Gong Yingxian entered the room—wearing a mask.TdZgiXoYZTGvchgzRcPiwTQMAlYPQs
zBdtYpcWKzNGSjcRen Yi blinked in surprise and instinctively lowered his head, subtly sniffing himself. He had been bathed and changed while unconscious, and now it seemed like the stench was gone. But that foul odor had taken residence in his memory, and he could still recall it vividly.CPtcmSqKBBEiWMnIqrtXweVdMtBHPP
ovCNFHMpBVFBKGW“You’re awake,” Gong Yingxian nodded toward Qu Yangbo.fFZarLlFiuxSIuNWllhYdnooqKLzTt
bPLRFGcPjWpkamlQu Yangbo asked, “Dr. Gong, are you here to question him?”MapXxGGrxDlCdmgWDeKtaybpHuoFhW
KbLHSACOnTeuQUw“Can you handle it?” Gong Yingxian looked at Ren Yi.tllIOvGgSrJqoRjpnEvHDlrbhPkwZN
jpZzmTMhyFbDEDURen Yi shrugged, trying to sound casual. “I’m fine, strong as ever.”ocFHCyRMroBeYlbgEcslXvMtGsQkyV
ULlsNxzFjKTzPhu“Alright, then I’ll leave you two to chat. I’ll get you something to eat. What do you want, Si Huo?”xkhOpUyWtQutwrAeLzkxbuffRabwhp
bXqgQlfRvjigOlw“Anything with the highest calories—fried chicken, BBQ, skewers. I’m starving!”akgykDWmjYhvwNyfzdgaiZBpTNZIMd
ZYutRGUuLCNhWhVQu Yangbo scoffed coldly. “In your dreams. Your throat’s still swollen. You can only have plain congee.”VbHRrcSFELdTUtGkvaAJkOLFbSOxQN
XewKOcTEKYBPRSg“Then why even ask me?”bQNZyLciQtrLWoFwmuXQNtMyfKpbIq
uuPIcbgfOrQjWWA“You can have pickles as a side.”cSPycjOPgwHjZNnRPMHefFdCMkKkAS
WsumLfUdFNaMmhn“Whatever you say.” Ren Yi waved him off.IBlNfmivZFwaQCsEjchjOIhNzIqPGG
pCIsaPliVSQiDxwOnce Qu Yangbo left, Gong Yingxian stood at the bedside, staring intently at Ren Yi without blinking.UlKhNqyoZNMVlVNZBNbyPvKOByufAL
wAbNPmPglBPIpSbRen Yi felt a bit creeped out by the stare. “What are you looking at?”didhPcmsvvhClheMciySWitJYPxDFC
WyvzzXpZnEFFOeP“Making sure you’re fit to talk.”YWYBUOodfcvaQIqMqBnPeDaXvMRSZN
nAkWXatCqhIeDkh“And you can tell just by staring at me like that?”CKlEEONmaNcEJxyEFDyErqUOMVozRE
PsSRsOFfSmDDkpq“I think so. You seem alert enough,” Gong Yingxian replied. “You—”HGpOkDYqhYOUJsvVizmVmbIhSbMdvb
eHTOsWnMChbJpmt“Can you take off your mask?” Ren Yi interrupted with a frown. “This is a hospital, and I’m lying in a bed. It feels ominous for you to be wearing a mask.”ggKNzJHRZZRkuXRDowtMRWUfKbOSDm
AQPpaIdbVWVdWBxAfter a brief hesitation, Gong Yingxian pulled the mask down, tucking it under his sharp chin.OquHzWMNUpKvKSCpoovlxYMDKuXhqf
EyYBTdziMceFoNHRen Yi couldn’t help but ask, “Do you hate hospitals?”BNVeYflmZbdkBDvvxXBOemqnzrsKyG
UUxCvRjQrZVLgtC“Of course. Who likes hospitals?”LJRwSepvTVChYeSVnAiMCJWhmNCKwt
tHhTGzXHiXSTElU“I mean, do you hate them as much as you’d hate fire? Do they make you want to puke?”MRUjymQnSOacKDsySFonMguVqtdzxd
nnZyVUSFKfALWaD“…I try my best to hold it in,” Gong Yingxian replied after a pause.AdJgehiqVJEvpTGGxSVLIwHQlIscjC
BqROTGHtQeKZaSj“Then why did you bother coming?”cKUeOZHSVKezWfdJkiAlSNifvYrwoY
ocOZMMkPMQBAGgB“I need to ask you about the sewage pit incident.”WHWORYVIgTJcFVqdfpUQNOWYdogihX
ISwltuskDEsMhwGRen Yi blinked, then smiled faintly. “You’re here to visit me, aren’t you?”LeXdBretMGppFddazcTctXRtDypnIB
VQOPYYKCvuocAWlGong Yingxian froze for a moment.DuClfPbbojhIHFIIwyQPBJcLDeBdBx
tOHtYolDfDaZtidRen Yi laughed. “Just admit you’re here to check on me. There’s no shame in it. That incident was straightforward—people have already been arrested, and there are plenty of witnesses. You didn’t need to rush to the hospital to question me, right? You came to visit me.”nzghGUumnWapIdDjZmqmJnyorIXByI
JYObYIqDnVQhBooGong Yingxian crossed his arms. “How you interpret it is up to you. It has nothing to do with me. I’m here to get your cooperation with the authorities. Can you help?”TEsvhvvbZHEvBboWDKfBYpURfjhBfs
jQFUodExVjKikSF“Sure,” Ren Yi said, suddenly recalling something. “Hey, are you like a little girl? Do you always carry a handkerchief? Did you bring one today?”LtAlqdwOBCXFdazWQUPFJPZWWynTxo
XzKgDaCzXpwuXgNGong Yingxian narrowed his eyes. “That’s a handkerchief, not a rag.”vAsSYxNPbCRySQofGajhuXJBtOoJGx
tcoAKcmomuWpSZkRen Yi suppressed a laugh. “What’s the difference?”VDSfuMdDWQkZXzwkQEpLxKLhyguXpj
LWUGVzBFmWltsGQ“After wiping your face with it, not much of one,” Gong Yingxian replied coolly. “It’s basically trash now.”ZfhUCdDARCHleelbqhhZHPSdCVThlx
qNOsGNQQBjuoMciRen Yi smirked. “I’ll buy you a new one.”gZpxkjtERTLRWkjeXukOzdZFauANFE
TlprCRXhqzabXpsGong Yingxian pulled out a notebook and a recorder. “Stop joking. Describe what you heard and saw when you arrived at the scene.”RHiImdmyeSZTlJNGROSEIkEdrqIPPA
SflKagumHIGhQNWRen Yi recounted the entire rescue process. Often, their missions involved criminal incidents, and rescues like these could sometimes disturb crime scenes. Providing first-hand information to the police was a regular part of his job. Though this incident wasn’t a malicious crime, the consequences and impact were severe.XchtSAYbIRKbkzPzudMKOnbVNQqnFV
pQOawRwihICcEupAfter finishing his account, Ren Yi stretched, and Gong Yingxian put away his notebook. Then, out of nowhere, Gong Yingxian asked, “What does it feel like?”SMLVuaDvVgxmaAwFyYxUTAorxqUyrQ
cVIZZlPHHgjFqji“What?”hHxlrBhnPDEcigJAzhnBCTOvHyfojm
qyHVlEEsWzhvWbx“…The rescue,” Gong Yingxian said, lowering his gaze. His long eyelashes cast a fan-shaped shadow over his eyes. “Especially during firefighting.”UCBTiLeMcMuIZyreBQkIhgBeQkRdPu
KXyHKDMhzAnvUnfRen Yi thought for a moment. “It’s nerve-wracking, terrifying. All you can think about is wanting it to end as soon as possible.”EkvjCyUUhjjhnfCBOpUJOOionzrUtj
KFqSwbGBrhvAGQu“Have you ever thought about dying?” Gong Yingxian asked, his gaze distant.zSwtuXislsYpQGawHICLBzIWOwXFTP
otaqfdOtlcMzTas“Of course. When you’re constantly in dangerous places, it’s always in the back of your mind.” Ren Yi shrugged. “But thinking about it doesn’t help. After doing this for so long, I’ve come to understand something—something everyone knows, but few truly grasp.”qqjkNgNSVsFVsuKxmHotnMYcojpcTK
fbMmSCGxecXdjtv“What’s that?”dPYchVbQVIepbKGyXlBJQOQfPVhCWK
QmefrpUBzARkLYXRen Yi pointed upward. “Fate is out of our hands.”srftJUuDcixvmwptQMzyBjYeUwHuxt
lbFCbaMxTkldaHqGong Yingxian didn’t say anything.myErVMurHTsBffJTnFtHyKzYKYJjnJ
aPHvBHdIVvxBvcv“I’ve seen countless accidents—some so bizarre you couldn’t make them up if you tried. It’s like being on the battlefield: maybe you’re well-hidden, but you still get hit by a stray bullet, or maybe you charge straight into danger and come out without a scratch. Who knows why? So, people,” Ren Yi chuckled lightly, “first, don’t go looking for death. If something happens, do your best to save yourself, and the rest… is just fate. If I’m not meant to die, I won’t die.”RUGwMqNrPQSsSYRKZYzbsczaFcMSmV
ZbhPUyyidxjUMnmGong Yingxian murmured softly, “Then who decides whether or not you should die?”zBehkrjsdkGLTIHAenwkshvOgKQcYF
ffYoYxrufzbFHwr“What?”DDpJNROsopsrQGqWZASllIaNEuStSE
VsxENtrnZfCcTye“Why did you choose this name?”TAdlumbqNGGcBkbpcbTiZhyzKdrbTi
XiNhCLIpgVjcreIRen Yi laughed. “When I was born, some master said I was missing the element of fire in my Five Elements. They told my dad I needed to make up for it in my name. He scoured the dictionary and found this ridiculous character. Damn, did he overdo it.”gLnrKGzbMpmHSanDgLWOpprzLXIASk
ppoLFJcoKwmgfRW“It sounds terrible,” Gong Yingxian said bluntly.uTpmdZqGmyfoYwJZxZuICCPjukCxvx
olBPlUNXDAEKkBb“Not like I wanted this name. I’ve always wanted to change it but was too lazy,” Ren Yi said, glancing at him sideways. “So, is your issue with me because of my name?”PkLYBYQcXWofRLdzNHPoDEOtxhXjKu
nRFjDKyKOgLuLFDGong Yingxian didn’t answer directly. “Get some rest. I should go.”lhzxWulbYIBoFHatAhCbDOjkArtVJk
nEXNtzYZIIymZZj“Wait, any updates on Cai Wan?”EhMEsHtOGQRADEZmwQHMufFfWdAgvc
QfvMHbUSRmHcHed“Yes. I’ve mapped out the social connections, networks, and communications of that father and daughter. The anti-narcotics team has also given me a lot of information on Tao Zhen. I’m convinced they took far more than just 300,000 from him. There’s now a lead pointing to someone who might know where the rest of the money went.”WUVSGeeJIGprvNTSrZcHmSezLiQqrH
dkTNpHwnsjBvGuI“Who?”CXogPwHVaILNkzONOwqYmXGLYKXcOb
hCJwuDdhKPLxlLt“It’s a bit complicated. I’ll explain when you’re out of the hospital.”WrbNVpaCAvaCyErciqWHwFxJmGjBCV
VqguJQxqtVWFUMCRen Yi nodded. “I’ll come find you at the station later.”kxWxozUWBYfbIMMScGDhTPjDhQVNzn
lcFtDnGknjezDIlAs Gong Yingxian put his mask back on and turned to leave, he paused at the door and looked back. “Send me the time and location of the martial arts competition.”KVEegSuUOpfIwEVOuIrOOVyRRYHBwK
qCtJnydtimiobZmRen Yi, caught off guard, watched as Gong Yingxian opened the door and left.VfIFuYrPQyYdmdyLcahNbvLkdEtDqZ
ZcSpEZkRvqVmSRQComing back to his senses, a wide smile spread across Ren Yi’s face.qdUKgvyanBtNJqHhOicnfaipCbrBju
WzhcMBywPSprVWWNWtAtKjFnbvlrGFmIUEERCoqJVPWgn