Blazing Armor

From the perspective of pure sensation, this was the worst kiss Ren Yi had ever experienced.SRfazBsijbsLnzLKCYrSzXzCgyIfQo

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Gong Yingxian, with no experience and fueled by frustration, misjudged his strength and practically crashed into him, making Ren Yi’s teeth ache and filling his vision with stars.qozZnOoblKqiAMqTapstgylWzhUhgl

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Yet, in terms of meaning, it was the most unforgettable, the single most important kiss of Ren Yi’s life.vEkoKaXtuRJxNbPYjSxBXNjREqNEXK

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His heartbeat seemed to stop, as though a glowing seed had taken root deep within his soul, sprouting and expanding until it filled his entire consciousness. In that moment, there was nothing else but this kiss—nothing else mattered.bZrjeUhcjVsIFlwrNRmKkLYQQeUTaK

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Gong Yingxian’s initial surge of impulse faded into shock, and then, as Ren Yi responded, he was lost completely.ObIqsbFrcaHmmxXnVRJrkbiMCmXPHF

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Before, he’d believed that any human intimacy beyond reproduction was redundant, serving only to spread germs without any real purpose. Ren Yi made him realize that existence itself could be beautiful, needing no justification—like this kiss.EuFGRtNIQxYuYboOgWadhVzGlxiVxV

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Without realizing it, Gong Yingxian placed a large hand on the back of Ren Yi’s head, as though determined to keep him there, unwilling to let go.LvvZOmuhxzNAPSgnHKtfnYbKxyuqFG

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Suddenly, a knock on the door shattered the spell.HFSVGjCkhORIzMsNUYOaOVAUVkRnIw

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They were lost in the moment, and the knocking, like a steady beat, struck at their nerves, jolting them back to reality.KziWBqqvgFfeLifaynzlDqrMZzQrIv

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Through the door, Sheng Bo’s voice came, gentle and polite, “Young master, Captain Ren, it’s quite late. I’ve prepared a midnight snack; would you like to have a little something?”KMrjwKwwupxzJLkfoyQCgdApAnWJot

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They felt like teenagers caught red-handed by an adult, frozen in place, neither daring to move nor make a sound.OfjgsqyLMEtNJlAbPQeXTFuhtpSOUP

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“Young master?”MEgWKMLCeDQnShmgWlRBSUPuQbuQId

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“N-No, maybe later,” Gong Yingxian replied, voice tight with tension.ydKuRHpMnGkuDkfuDffrwZPecOcRCI

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“Alright, don’t tire yourselves out too much.”jXCuzudvvwzoNoyKpuhivysYGCPDXA

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As Sheng Bo’s footsteps receded, Gong Yingxian looked down at Ren Yi, his breathing quickened from the tension, but he didn’t release him.dFGAZbclfBjRZjjpcxjjwonnPFaFQA

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Ren Yi leaned close to his ear. “I believe you now. You really are… curious.”RitHjEQrWAbXSGdEhMBvTzvGzzhGnM

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“A moment ago, didn’t you ask if I dared?” Gong Yingxian’s voice had a slight tremor, though he didn’t back down. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t dare.”JhTHQMrBTPsqNGvSutxQKIXxUGdmzD

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Ren Yi slowly pushed him back, locking his gaze on those deep, unfathomable eyes. “Next time… let’s go to my place. No one will interrupt us there.”YJcYhJtvSVJMSutAElEItfftHkfyAl

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Gong Yingxian didn’t answer. He simply gazed at Ren Yi, unblinking, as though wanting to memorize every detail of his face.APQNgipMhokqbSIUzAQrbwffEQfOTq

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Ren Yi took a few steps back. “I’m going to rest.”MaITXYZqhAqpFKhNVUzfYUfzxrsrIK

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This time, Gong Yingxian didn’t try to stop him, allowing him to leave the room smoothly.bleEvEYYcfgVZLOcenbqvclAOvTGca

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Once separated by the door, the composure they had barely held onto shattered instantly. Gong Yingxian’s face was flushed deep red as he held his hand over his heart, trying to calm its wild beating, while Ren Yi felt drained, leaning against the wall for support, taking a long moment to recover.pVCoBxddygVRcxxVXzUaAbMTAzOBOo

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That kiss had been like a deep-sea bomb dropped into the lake of their hearts, unleashing waves that would take a long time to settle.AWKGCrTSBPwciYaxiFDcMGNpItwBmQ

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—XnBjWfbhhnZaEgquCVlxXcszetxubw

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Back in the guest room, Ren Yi took a cold shower for twenty minutes, finally cooling down the heat surging through him. He collapsed onto the bed, his mind replaying each moment from earlier. The vivid sensations lingered, still fresh on his lips and mind, making it impossible for his heart to find peace.GPbYCWdlLQDhlYcplHLwQbEVbEEHiB

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Had that really happened between him and Gong Yingxian? Was it real? Everything from the past few days felt like a dream, and what just happened even more so, wrapped in an overwhelming sense of unreality.tTMmwlKngQoBuWIYnMiScBYUfMOzde

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But this was real—he wasn’t dreaming; no dream could feel this vivid.CIWsmAiPgRmtitkFOQcXhmkudcbzBr

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What had Gong Yingxian been thinking in that moment? Was he feeling the same rush of excitement and joy, or was it simply a response to the sensory thrill?edXNLOnxWtcZgXeajtDbCEKPhajkBi

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No, how could Gong Yingxian possibly feel what he felt, or understand his love and his fears?dWlbrlisOkAbCNtydxQEDHGMesetkB

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Ren Yi rolled over, calming down little by little as his eyes lost their earlier shine.jcXthIAqpnlkDVpnTVLlDIJIQtjPhn

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Gong Yingxian had been clear enough—what he wanted was an experience no one else had managed to give him, unrelated to love. It just so happened that Ren Yi was someone he didn’t reject. That was it. Nothing more.djXnsjBxWBtxYnoafraePdnPcXKKhK

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Should he feel grateful or sad?nnwDVIqiFeGwOspgJSgjQCvaibFEgn

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He’d always wished to be the one person who could connect with Gong Yingxian in both soul and body. Now, that wish was halfway fulfilled—but the other half, the most important half, felt hopelessly out of reach.hwMkBfNJNbTGkQUaBYQoApcHSXuyif

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Ren Yi let out a faint, bitter smile. Tonight would be another sleepless night.qXchskvywFvuyudQHAvxclIxFjXUbK

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The next morning, the three of them set out together. Gong Yingxian first dropped Ren Yi off at his unit before heading back to the precinct with Qiu Yan.HZbUdOqcHjJAviHGZLtwrrDLHnJTAb

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With Qiu Yan in the car, the atmosphere between them didn’t feel as tense. They spent the entire drive discussing the case, and on the surface, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. But both men knew that things between them had changed irreversibly.YcyyZNCKZtKZgscjRZXJcYnNTxLtUX

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Back at his unit, Ren Yi asked Gao Ge to cover morning drills, then locked himself in his dorm. He pulled out a large stack of unfinished reports and got down to work.zaCBewwDZrEghLUHWucwxramIIzwFh

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He’d barely had a moment to catch up with paperwork, constantly occupied with either hospital stays, field operations, or assisting the police investigation. Right now, he didn’t want to see anyone or let his mind wander. The paperwork, something he usually dreaded, became his mental refuge.DTipBhrlBmRisPqXJGNafmKcsdtDER

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He worked for hours until Ding Qing came to fetch him, and only then did he realize it was already lunchtime.hFoyOoUOiNCcPMGIXHVIOaaawjxuxp

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As he sat eating in the mess hall, a soldier on duty approached him with a package. “Captain Ren, this is for you.”pVjNTUgbIWajYgUnmaOljcbdmccYsg

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Ren Yi hadn’t ordered anything recently, so he had no idea who sent it. Without much thought, he took the package, slicing the tape open with his key.mpFKvdDCMtIGlFclDIdLgDyESflWea

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Inside, a charred bird lay in stark contrast to the box’s emptiness.AFYcxFBuhmJoBbwCOlbNvKNSUMmTnC

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Ren Yi shot to his feet, face pale with fury, heart pounding uncontrollably.TNPAXFIidmSRIbrqPtSstIosxqKeSh

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“What is that?” Qu Yangbo, sitting beside him, leaned over for a glance, and his expression darkened as well. “What the hell is this?”vBXFuWCPCNobVnTdeMwmWGTtVcgECX

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“What’s wrong?”ohtDDjqOOSaUlzEEaARlMSTPgNVKLi

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“Is it something important, Captain?”ZtDigpUICdArmxhkXAxzdLCQMMFKOC

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The other soldiers glanced over, curious.QdherUYMEyvQLSNMhwiLTRHAxmEret

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Qu Yangbo quickly covered the box. “Nothing. Get back to your meals.”yPlfOPooedAacbnNMYiTFximrUGLrT

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Ren Yi grabbed the box, striding out of the mess hall with Qu Yangbo following close behind.RYsUXgzZyRRaPPKdWTwjSXpgZbFKWb

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Once they were in the conference room, Ren Yi took a deep breath, pulled out his phone, and snapped a picture, which he sent to Gong Yingxian.LkBewAHndlCtZwVgeLbPcveTWQZckV

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Qu Yangbo examined the box carefully. “There’s nothing else inside.”LMVMXSgyrFzrXWQMqOKgYYIBSzebur

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“This has to be Ziyan,” Ren Yi muttered through gritted teeth. “What is this, a declaration of war? These twisted bastards.”rAbnlFsTuRQghePIaqtPSgrqMWmauu

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“Could just be psychological warfare,” Qu Yangbo suggested, “like something out of a horror show. Ren Yi, I recommend you avoid field operations for a while, or better yet, don’t go out at all. You may already be one of their targets.”LImLiXLWsEwNmDlxrFjoPSdLuVBPfI

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“I’m the captain of the Phoenix Unit. How could I sit back and refuse a call? I won’t be intimidated by scum like this.” Ren Yi clenched his fists. “They probably want us to be scared, to back down. We can’t let them get what they want.”XfXstZBzYzYvXGWVtBBhmINUEPPJSw

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Qu Yangbo frowned. “I’m really worried about your safety.”bKKpBrIZyAbhaRMODGLUbYRkWVrprn

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“I’ll be more cautious than ever.”BhojrffPXILfUOxoTiCOFrwvnWjlRX

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Just then, Ren Yi’s phone rang—it was Gong Yingxian.YDgEIqiSDPYVFtlVZRHwfpFMnOGskN

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“Hello, did you see…”qACNQnfTKokYTVKhfsesssmlTZXYjP

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“I got one too,” Gong Yingxian’s voice was icy. “It was delivered straight to the precinct, and it wasn’t a mailed package. The shipping label was fake; someone from the organization dropped it off themselves.”GIUNbRojWKoNDtCvazWIujrpXCuMwS

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“What?” Ren Yi turned to Qu Yangbo. “Go check the security footage.”XbMUYflkQMnasJvjkEuMRrkhzeRHFB

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“It’s no use. If they dared to deliver it in person, they’ve ensured we wouldn’t catch them,” Gong Yingxian replied, his tone tinged with restrained anger. “If this had been a bomb instead of a package, people could’ve been injured. They want us to know they can harm us anytime. It’s a psychological trap—once we’re afraid, that’s when we start making mistakes.”pYcspwGYwXtRuPDPMoAWRVoKVjrrmh

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“So what do we do now?”yiuxYRYGmlAwzbDSsJupYjgWBWvIad

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“I’ll send an officer over to retrieve the package. From now on, be vigilant with every unknown person. And be doubly careful with every operation. They failed at the Honglin Stadium, and they’re sure to try finding another way to regain the upper hand.”MLxdOseDQoNdwchqfKUOBQZgNULjXv

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