Lei Yu was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter. He glanced at You Mingxu—naturally, he knew she was Xing Jifu's daughter. But wasn't that even more interesting?
"Alright, you Hunan folks really know how to have fun," Lei Yu said, putting down the dagger.
Their conversation was clearly heard by everyone around. Luo Yu turned and walked toward You Mingxu, a teasing smile playing on his lips. You Mingxu felt her entire body turn cold, stiff as a puppet, watching him approach step by step. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of her comrades behind him, their lives hanging by a thread.
Jing Ping, who had been kicked around on the ground earlier, suddenly pushed himself up with his hands, nearly managing to stand. He roared hoarsely, "No—!" The sound was ragged, as if torn from the depths of his lungs. The nearby bandits were startled, never expecting someone in his condition to still have such strength. One quickly stomped on his back, forcing him flat again. Another viciously elbowed him, sending him crashing to the ground. Yet, fueled by some inexplicable surge of energy, he continued to struggle desperately, his neck rigid as he lifted his head to stare in You Mingxu's direction.
Witnessing this, You Mingxu felt as if her entire body were being sliced by the fine, biting wind from the mountaintop. She yelled, "Jing Ping, stop moving!" The surrounding bandits erupted in laughter.
Luo Yu had already reached her. He let out a soft "heh," then scooped her up horizontally in his arms.
Not far away, someone suddenly broke free from the bandits' control and dashed straight toward You Mingxu. But halfway there, he was forcefully pinned down, his face pressed into the dirt. Xu Mengshan, his eyes red with fury, cursed, "Luo Yu, are you even human? How dare you touch her! If you lay a finger on her, I'll never let you go, even in death!"
Luo Yu, still holding You Mingxu, turned around, a lewd grin on his face, and replied, "I was never human to begin with. Don't kill this cop yet. Let him watch and listen as I take her."
The surrounding bandits burst into raucous laughter. Lei Yu and Sun Yuan watched with keen interest. In their eyes, Luo Yu had real character—facing a critical situation, he still found time to play with Xing Jifu's daughter. Bold enough, wicked enough. Collaborating with someone like him was the only way to truly expand the drug trade. They had long grown tired of working with cautious, timid old-timers like Xing Jifu.
Huang Long and Guo Feirong had no stake in this matter and merely watched coldly, worried about Xing Jifu, who was soon to arrive for the meeting. Xing Yanjun cried out, "Luo Yu! Don't touch her!" But no one paid him any attention; Luo Yu didn't even glance his way.
You Mingxu did not struggle.
Two lives were in their hands.
Luo Yu looked down at her, his gaze deep and unreadable. And so he saw that, even at this critical juncture, the woman in his arms actually smiled—a smile full of mockery and disdain. As if everything about to happen, life or death, fortune or misfortune, had nothing to do with her.
Then she lifted her silent eyes to gaze at the vast blue sky.
Luo Yu felt a sharp pain in his heart. In a voice only the two of them could hear, he asked, "Aren't you afraid?"
She answered, "No."
Luo Yu lowered his head and kissed her temple. She turned her face away to avoid it. His expression turned indifferent. He signaled to one of his subordinates to open the car door, tossed her inside, got in himself, and slammed the door shut.The bandits outside the vehicle laughed even more raucously, some even trying to peer inside to see what was happening. However, Luo Yu simply pulled the black partition curtain shut, separating the back seats. Yet noises continued to emanate from the vehicle—rocking motions, sounds of struggle, a woman’s sharp reprimands, and muffled cries as if someone’s mouth was covered.
The eyes of all the bandits grew brazen, their minds wandering with lurid thoughts. Even Lei Yu raised an eyebrow. After all, who wouldn’t want to have their way with the daughter of a top boss—and such a beauty at that! Chen Yuan remarked, "Luo Yu really knows how to enjoy himself."
Lei Yu said, "He’s even had his way with Xing Jifu’s daughter. He’s truly committed to us now."
Chen Yuan nodded with a faint smile.
The mountain ridge fell into a sudden silence. The wind swept across everyone’s faces, bitingly cold.
Jing Ping lay on the ground without moving. They had stopped beating him, but he couldn’t move an inch. The faint commotion from the vehicle reached his ears. Struggling to keep his heavy eyelids open, he gazed up at the blue sky, the drifting clouds—somewhat reminiscent of the scenery in Yunnan. Tears instantly streamed down his face. Since becoming a police officer, aside from his early years, he hadn’t shed tears in a long time.
He thought, She’s the girl I fell for at first sight, my comrade in life and death. But I failed to protect her, letting her fall into the hands of these bandits. She submitted to Luo Yu’s control for my sake—otherwise, my throat would have been slit by now. How foolish of her… To die would be one thing, but she fought for this fleeting chance at survival for me.
Jing Ping closed his eyes, tears rolling down incessantly, soaking into the grass beneath him. This was his greatest fear. He wasn’t afraid of death, pain, false accusations, or being misunderstood by others. His only fear was that those he cherished would fall into the hands of criminals because of his involvement. That’s why all these years, he had remained alone—keeping his parents at a distance, his friends and relatives unaware. Because he truly never knew when such a day might arrive.
Now it had arrived.
He had arrested countless ruthless drug dealers, often standing silently before piles of seized narcotics. But now he was powerless, forced to watch as she was tormented.
He was tormented, suffering worse than death.
But he couldn’t die yet.
When Lei Yu had humiliated and tortured him earlier, he knew escape was unlikely and had wished for a quick death. Now, he refused to die.
He would bring that girl back. As long as he had a breath left, he would hunt down these drug dealers.
His life remained. She had saved his life. How could he die?
He would continue being a police officer, fighting crime and evil, upholding justice and conscience—together with her.
At that moment, another person was weeping just as bitterly as Jing Ping.
Xu Mengshan was still pinned under someone’s foot, all strength drained from his body, limbs limp, eyes tightly shut. Yet the intermittent noises from the vehicle still reached his ears. His heart felt as though it were bleeding. I’ve already lost Fan Jia, he thought, must I lose You Mingxu today too? She’s my best comrade, now being defiled by beasts, all to save mine and Jing Ping’s lives. Xu Mengshan felt agony beyond endurance, his face buried in the dirt, emitting stifled, guttural sobs.
Suddenly, he thought of Yin Feng.
Yin Feng!
Why haven’t you appeared? Why haven’t you found this place? Weren’t you always the one who kept her safe every time? Why haven’t you come this time?Yin Feng, do you know what is happening there? Your A Xu, she might already be crying.
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