At that moment.
Another vehicle, a black SUV, suddenly shot out from behind a row of cars, charging toward the police officers. Jing Ping and You Mingxu almost simultaneously roared, "Get back!" But the officers closest to the vehicle had no time to jump aside and were knocked to the ground. Everyone immediately took cover as the SUV screeched to a halt beside Wei Lan's car, gunfire erupting at the same time.
Jing Ping, You Mingxu, Yin Feng, Xu Mengshan, and others had scattered to take cover behind several vehicles, as had the other officers. Xiao Yan, moving with lightning speed, popped up from a gap and dodged just as a shot chased after him, missing him entirely.
Pale-faced and shaken, he gasped, "They're rescuing their people!"
A tense silence fell over the group.
No one had expected these criminals to be so brazen as to confront the police head-on in the city, engaging in a gunfight with a desperate, all-or-nothing fervor.
You Mingxu's gaze swept the surroundings and landed on a young rookie officer hiding behind another car a few meters away. The young man was tense, sweating profusely, his face strained. You Mingxu called out his name, "Toss me your gun! Find cover and stay back!" The rookie hesitated for a second before throwing his gun to her. With the weapon in hand, You Mingxu felt a surge of confidence and shouted, "Mengshan, cover me!"
Xu Mengshan responded with a firm, "Got it."
You Mingxu then glanced at Yin Feng. His eyes showed no panic, only a deep, steady intensity. She instructed those around him, "Protect him. Don't let him come out." Chen Feng and the others nodded. You Mingxu turned away.
Xu Mengshan was positioned ideally, shielded by both a car and a large pillar. He suddenly rose and fired several shots in rapid succession, temporarily suppressing the enemy's gunfire.
Seizing the opportunity, You Mingxu began to flank them from the side. Jing Ping rose and followed closely, with two other officers trailing behind. You Mingxu exchanged a look with Jing Ping. She and Xu Mengshan were accustomed to working together, but Jing Ping, being a more seasoned detective than either of them, immediately understood her intent.
Yin Feng watched their stealthy advance and ordered, "Guan Jun, Chen Feng, you go too."
Guan Jun and Chen Feng were the two in his circle skilled with firearms. Guan Jun was naturally sharp and proficient in everything, while Chen Feng, despite having no other talents aside from his psychological quirks, had stubbornly insisted on being the manager. He had drilled relentlessly with guns, achieving modest competence to avoid being looked down upon by the team.
The two named exchanged a glance. Chen Feng suggested, "Maybe Guan Jun should stay with you. I'll go."
Yin Feng cut in, "Go now. Your mission isn't to capture the suspects—it's to protect her. Whoever shoots at her, you shoot them."
Without another word, they drew their previously concealed guns and moved forward.
With six elites advancing and substantial fire support from the rear, the situation swiftly turned around after the initial brief suppression. You Mingxu now had a clear view: aside from the three in the first vehicle who were now incapacitated, the opposition had three men left. Two were unfamiliar faces, but the leader, dressed in a black tactical jacket and pants with a baseball cap, periodically emerged from cover, firing with deadly accuracy and posing the greatest obstacle.
You Mingxu eyed the leader but aimed her gun near another one of them, waiting for him to show himself.
One of the two unconscious men from the original vehicle had already been rescued and moved to the second SUV. The other remained in place. Wei Lan had likely been rescued as well.At that moment, a figure suddenly appeared, rushing rapidly toward the first vehicle. You Mingxu fired a precise shot, hitting the person in the shoulder. Immediately after, another shot rang out, striking the person in the abdomen and sending them collapsing to the ground. You Mingxu turned her head and saw Chen Feng behind another vehicle, lowering his gun barrel as he gave her a faint smile.
Illegal firearm possession?
But Yin Feng was someone registered with the provincial department—perhaps he had some borderline legal channels.
Jing Ping was hiding in another corner. He hadn’t rushed to shoot but instead took careful aim before raising his gun and firing consecutively: "Bang! Bang! Bang!" He wasn’t aiming at people. The three tires of the second vehicle visibly deflated at a rapid pace. The angle for the fourth tire was tricky to find. Just as he was about to reposition, he heard a "bang" in the air, and the fourth tire promptly went flat. He looked up and spotted one of the men Yin Feng had brought along—a lean, gloomy-looking man. The man noticed his gaze, met his eyes, and flashed a sinister smile.
Jing Ping’s eyes fell on the gun in the man’s hand, and he frowned.
Now the opponents were trapped like rats in a cage, with only two individuals left capable of fighting back.
The enemy’s gunfire ceased.
On their side, Jing Ping raised a hand, signaling You Mingxu and the others to lower their weapons.
Jing Ping called out in a deep voice, "You have nowhere left to run! Drop your weapons! Don’t resist pointlessly!"
Silence fell on the other side for a moment.
Then, a scene that shook all the officers unfolded—a very young policeman, covered in blood with limbs hanging limply, was dragged out from behind a vehicle, a gun pressed to his head as his neck was gripped tightly.
The muscles on Jing Ping’s face twitched imperceptibly, his gun aimed steadily at the man dragging the young officer. But the man’s hand was equally steady, his gun barrel pressed firmly against the officer’s head.
It must have been during the second vehicle’s sudden collision that this officer was caught off guard, injured, and subsequently captured by the enemy.
Jing Ping recognized the armed man—he had seen him in the case files. His name was Gu Tiancheng.
You Mingxu also stared at Gu Tiancheng, her eyes turning icy cold. This guy was capable of anything. She hadn’t expected that, thanks to Yin Feng’s strategy, they would actually manage to corner this vicious and cunning individual, along with his accomplices. But now, what was he planning?
Yin Feng, watching from a distance, also caught sight of Gu Tiancheng. After a few seconds of silence, he suddenly moved, crouching low as he dashed forward. The few people remaining by his side—Lao Jiu, Xiao Yan, and Tuya—were startled. Xiao Yan and Tuya were the first to follow him. Lao Jiu’s expression darkened as he pulled a knife from his boot, his face cold as he trailed behind.
Tuya grabbed Yin Feng’s arm. "Teacher Yin, it’s dangerous up ahead. We don’t have guns—we can’t go."
Xiao Yan added quietly, "She told you not to go out."
Yin Feng’s expression was stern as he said, "Since Gu Tiancheng has reached a dead end, what does he want most before he dies?"
They were all taken aback, but Yin Feng had already pressed forward.
At that moment, You Mingxu also felt a sense of foreboding. She looked up and saw Gu Tiancheng lift his head as well. Coincidentally, their eyes met.
The third time.
Both thought simultaneously.
Then he smiled, but You Mingxu didn’t return even a hint of a smile. His face looked gaunter than the last time she had seen him, pale with sunken eyes. Yet those eyes were unnervingly bright.
"You Mingxu, come here," Gu Tiancheng called out loudly. "I have a few words to say to you, and then I’ll let him go."You Mingxu gritted her teeth. Jing Ping glanced at her and said, "Don't go. Don't fall for it." He shouted again, "Gu Tiancheng, you're surrounded. There's no way you can escape. Put down the hostage and the gun, and we won't shoot."
Gu Tiancheng smirked, still staring intently in You Mingxu's direction. Then he abruptly raised his gun and fired a shot that struck the police officer in the thigh. The officer cried out in pain, groaning incessantly. Everyone's expressions changed.
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