The situation was at a stalemate.
You Mingxu had Chen Zhaoci in a chokehold. The latter struggled but couldn’t break free, panting heavily, his neck already bleeding. He let out a twisted, breathy laugh, like a complete psychopath. Gu Tiancheng aimed his gun at them, but with You Mingxu using a meat shield, it was uncertain whether he could land a shot.
Yin Feng had his gun pointed at the back of Gu Tiancheng’s head.
Since the situation wasn’t in their favor, every passing second put Gu Tiancheng and Chen Zhaoci at a greater disadvantage. In the distance, the footsteps of police officers seemed to be approaching.
Suddenly, Gu Tiancheng burst into loud, unrestrained laughter, tinged with despair. He lowered his gun, his body swaying slightly from the force of his laughter. You Mingxu watched him warily while shooting Yin Feng a meaningful glance. To her surprise, Yin Feng’s gun was lowered, its aim unclear, and his head was bowed, his expression hidden. Alarmed but careful not to show it, You Mingxu tightened her grip on Chen Zhaoci, keeping her eyes fixed on both men.
What’s wrong with him? You Mingxu scrutinized Yin Feng and noticed his body was also swaying slightly. Her heart tightened. Did Gu Tiancheng do something to him? Or is his headache acting up again?
“Do you really think…” Gu Tiancheng spoke slowly, “…that the three of us—you, me, and Yin Feng—meeting in Tibet was a coincidence?”
He stared at her, his eyes filled with icy mockery.
In You Mingxu’s heart, it felt as though a sheet of ice had suddenly cracked, revealing a long-buried truth. She stared back at him intently, her peripheral vision fixed on Yin Feng. His gun was now completely lowered, and he had one hand pressed to his forehead. All she could hear was her own ragged breathing echoing in her ears.
“Do you really think!” Gu Tiancheng’s voice dripped with even more sarcasm, wild and unrestrained, “that the cases you two solved uncovered the whole truth? What do you cops even amount to?”
Chen Zhaoci let out a guttural laugh and suddenly grabbed You Mingxu’s arm, trying to catch her off guard. But she was prepared. She drove her knee hard into his leg, and he crumpled in pain.
Bang.
You Mingxu flinched, watching in horror as a bloody hole appeared in Chen Zhaoci’s forehead. His eyes widened, and he died instantly. Gu Tiancheng stood with his gun raised, his face expressionless.
“You!” Enraged, You Mingxu hoisted Chen Zhaoci’s corpse, using it as a shield. But Gu Tiancheng showed no intention of firing again. He smirked and said calmly, “Since we can’t take him with us, it’s up to us to judge and execute. No need to thank me.”
You Mingxu gritted her teeth, her entire body tense. Looking past Gu Tiancheng, she stared at the man behind him, her heart sinking slowly.
Gu Tiancheng was also taken aback.
He hadn’t expected You Mingxu and Yin Feng to arrive with a large police force today. Yin Feng, that fool, had managed to stay patient, lying in wait for so long before striking. Gu Tiancheng’s attention had been entirely on You Mingxu, and he had miscalculated, ending up at their mercy.
Now, truly cornered by the police, he had long accepted living day by day and held no hope of escape. He had spoken those words to distract You Mingxu, seizing the chance to shoot Chen Zhaoci and prevent him from falling into police hands.
As for himself…
He had thought Yin Feng would surely shoot him dead.
Somehow, he knew—even if You Mingxu might not be capable of it—this fool would have no qualms pulling the trigger.
If he died by Yin Feng’s hand, wouldn’t it be interesting to have this Teacher Yin’s hands stained with blood? Hah.You should know that once killing begins, it's like opening a door to dark undercurrents. For the rest of your life, those undercurrents will flow through your existence.
Yet, Yin Feng didn't act.
There wasn't even a sound behind him, only faint, weak breathing.
Even Gu Tiancheng, who had believed death was inevitable, sensed something unusual.
"A Xu."
Both Gu Tiancheng and You Mingxu heard that soft, hoarse voice, seemingly filled with pain.
"A Xu!" Yin Feng cried out through tears.
Gu Tiancheng spun around sharply, gun aimed at Yin Feng's head. You Mingxu released Chen Zhaoci and lunged forward.
But with a "clatter," the gun slipped from Yin Feng's hand. He could no longer perceive Gu Tiancheng's threat, straining instead to look toward You Mingxu. His face was deathly pale, his gaze dazed as he watched the figure rushing toward him. He reached out foolishly and called again, "A Xu ah..."
A Xu, I'm sorry.
You Yingjun might need to lie down and rest for a while.
I will wake up.
But I'm also afraid of waking up.
I've only just gotten you—after exhausting all my strength, waiting so long and so humbly. I'm afraid the self that wakes up won't be to your liking again.
And I'm afraid that self might feel even the slightest change toward you.
Don't give up on me.
Please, never give up on me.
Maybe I'm just a part of that person's Soul, but I love you deeply.
No matter what face or personality appears before you in the future, my Soul—he has fallen in love with you.
He will never forget.
"Yin Feng!" You Mingxu watched helplessly as he collapsed like a tower of blocks losing its support. But Gu Tiancheng was closer and faster, grabbing Yin Feng's upper body and pressing the gun against him.
You Mingxu fell to the ground before them, feeling as if her heart and soul were being torn apart. She scrambled up, but it was too late.
Gu Tiancheng, having stumbled upon such a windfall, dragged Yin Feng backward while laughing, nearly half-mad.
"Back off! Back off!" he snarled.
You Mingxu stared fixedly at the man in his grasp—limp and silent, as if already dead, being dragged along the ground. Her heart felt twisted into knots, aching dully. Gu Tiancheng was now a cornered dog, capable of anything. She retreated slowly, her concerned and emotional expression clear to Gu Tiancheng, fueling his jealousy until he could no longer contain it. Coldly, he said, "Do you really think... this thing you've been keeping is an angel? And not a beast like me?"
You Mingxu bit her lip until it nearly bled, her voice raspy as she replied, "Don't touch him. If you want a hostage to get out, take me instead. He's unconscious—I'd be more convenient."
Gu Tiancheng roared, "Even now, you're only thinking of him? You Mingxu, I won't kill him, because one day you'll regret loving him. Now, turn around and run. Run for your life. If you're too slow, I'll shoot one of his legs. Slower still, and I'll take the other. Run!"
He aimed the gun at Yin Feng's calf.
You Mingxu's eyes blazed with fury. She bit her lip, turned, and ran, leaving her entire back completely exposed to the killer.The biting cold wind whipped against her cheeks. In the distance, several flickering beams of light were already visible. She ran desperately, her entire heart as cold as if it had fallen into an ice cellar, yet the blood throughout her body burned fiercely as if about to ignite.
Yin Feng, wait for me. I’ve staked my life against his gun to buy you a sliver of hope.
"Bang—" A gunshot echoed from behind.
You Mingxu froze, only realizing her body was intact and she felt no pain—the shot hadn’t been aimed at her.
Nearby, several police officers had emerged and were quickly closing in. You Mingxu turned and ran back.
The short stretch of road felt like an eternity of torment. Her eyes were bloodshot from holding back tears. Finally, she broke out of the woods and saw, in the distance, Chen Zhaoci’s corpse discarded in front of the wooden cabin, while Yin Feng lay on the other side, unconscious and unknown whether he was alive or dead. Gu Tiancheng was nowhere to be seen.
You Mingxu rushed to Yin Feng’s side. At a glance, she saw no wounds, and her heart plummeted with relief.
"Yin Feng! Yin Feng! You Yingjun!" She called out repeatedly, pulling him into her embrace. But he remained completely unresponsive, having fallen into a deep unconsciousness.
—End of Volume 3: Dreaming of Home—
—End of Part One of When I Have Sinned—
Volume 5: Do Not Look Back
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