Before them, the expressions of Luo Yu and the other two grew even uglier.
They had been prepared for Xing Jifu to try some trick, but who could have imagined he would resort to a mutual destruction ploy? A super boss of the underworld, even more reckless than them!
Luo Yu’s expression softened slightly as he said, “Boss, let’s talk this through properly. We can negotiate.”
Lei Yu burst into loud laughter. “Interesting! Boss Xing is truly interesting! Meeting you in person is even better than hearing about you!”
Sun Yuan’s face remained grim, and he stayed silent.
Xing Jifu said, “Luo Yu, you’ve always been the best at weighing pros and cons. Let those two go first.”
This request was inconsequential—releasing them would still leave three people. Luo Yu hesitated only briefly before waving his hand. His subordinates released Huang Long and Guo Feirong, who immediately rushed to stand behind Xing Jifu. Though both were injured, their wounds were not serious.
Xing Jifu said, “Why don’t we sit down and talk slowly? Luo Yu, there was no need for you to be so impatient and stage such a grand performance. As you said, you’ll be my son-in-law in the future. Yanjun won’t get involved in these matters. If I don’t leave them to you, who else would I leave them to?”
Luo Yu immediately seized the opportunity to climb down: “It’s good that you see it that way, Boss. Sooner or later, we’ll be family. When I take charge in the future, I’ll definitely look after you and the Xing family’s business.”
Xing Jifu smiled faintly.
Luo Yu glanced at Sun Yuan and Lei Yu. “Shall we… sit down and talk with Boss Xing?” He gave them a meaningful look.
Under the threat of the bomb, Sun Yuan and Lei Yu, being shrewd, were naturally unwilling to escalate the conflict further. If Xing Jifu really pressed the button, they would all be finished—what would be the point? Moreover, everyone of their generation had heard of Xing Jifu’s notorious reputation from back in the day. If he said it, he would do it! They had come for profit, after all. At this moment, Sun Yuan and Lei Yu exchanged a glance, silently agreeing that if the situation turned unfavorable, they could always abandon Luo Yu and form an alliance with Xing Jifu instead.
For now, though, they would wait and see.
Luo Yu waved a hand. “Bring the money and the goods over.”
As his subordinates went to fetch them, Luo Yu asked, “Boss Xing, what do you want?”
Xing Jifu smiled. “Naturally, I want a win-win situation—no, a triple or quadruple win. Times have changed. Making money together is the right path.”
Sun Yuan and Lei Yu both smiled superficially.
Just then—
Thwip! A faint, sharp sound cut through the air, growing rapidly closer until it reached the ears of the four men. Xing Jifu shuddered as a bullet struck his right thigh.
Luo Yu reacted the fastest, throwing himself to the ground. But the others weren’t so lucky. Thwip! Thwip! Thwip! Thwip!—several shots rang out in quick succession. Sun Yuan, Lei Yu, and a few nearby subordinates were hit. Only Huang Long and Guo Feirong, standing behind Xing Jifu, escaped unharmed.
Terror seized everyone. They were on the highest hilltop, exposed on all sides with no cover and no one in sight. Where were the shots coming from?
Huang Long reacted swiftly, supporting Xing Jifu as they ducked behind a large boulder. He stared in the direction of the gunfire—the opposite hilltop—and cried out in shock, “Snipers! There are snipers! And more than one!”
Gunshots continued, deliberately avoiding vital areas and targeting shoulders, legs, and arms instead, instantly incapacitating the criminals.
What did this mean?
Everyone present understood all too well!
Clutching his wounded shoulder and hiding behind a large tree, Lei Yu shouted hoarsely, “Damn it, it’s the police! There’s a mole!”At this moment, who still had time to care about Xu Mengshan and Jing Ping? Xu Mengshan shuddered all over, his throat choked with emotion, and immediately threw himself to the ground with Jing Ping in his arms, avoiding the hail of bullets. But the bullets seemed to have eyes, veering around the two police officers.
Jing Ping coughed up a mouthful of blood and struggled to lift his head to look. On the hillside, people were dodging and fleeing, while others were attempting to return fire. So among them, were there actually their colleagues?
Jing Ping suddenly laughed.
No wonder he and Xu Mengshan were still alive.
It wasn’t due to great fortune, good luck, or the criminals’ mercy.
It was that person protecting them.
Truly a stroke of genius—that person had actually used such an unexpected excuse to shield them.
Huang Long and Guo Feirong shielded Xing Jifu. Xing Jifu gestured toward his lower back, and Huang Long understood, feeling for two handguns on Xing Jifu’s person. He and Guo Feirong took them in hand.
From the opposite ridge, a loudspeaker voice boomed: “You are surrounded by the police! Lay down your weapons! Xing Jifu, Luo Yu, Lei Yu, Sun Yuan, Huang Long, Guo Feirong—all of you, lay down your weapons and do not resist! Lay down your weapons! Do not resist!”
The voice was deafening, leaving every bandit on the ridge pale with fear. They knew it was over—this time, completely finished. With so much contraband and cash, it was enough to sentence everyone to death. The police had chosen the perfect moment to appear, their ambush too well-hidden. They didn’t even have time to destroy the evidence.
Suddenly, new commotion erupted from one side of the slope below—gunshots, shouts, the sounds of fighting and running. Faintly, someone could be heard yelling, “Don’t run! Police!” That was precisely the direction from which Xing Jifu had brought his ambush force, and it too had been cleared out by the police!
Xing Jifu closed his eyes briefly, then reopened them and said, “Let’s go!”
Huang Long took a deep breath and said, “But Yanjun is still down there!”
Xing Jifu showed a pained expression and replied, “He never touched the drugs. I’ll find a lawyer to figure it out later.”
The three made a swift decision. Amid the chaos on the mountaintop, they crouched low and descended from the other side along a steep cliff.
Xu Mengshan saw this and exclaimed, “Not good! Xing Jifu is getting away!”
Suddenly, a figure sprang up from the ground and also ran down the mountain in the direction of Xing Jifu and his group—it was Luo Yu.
Xu Mengshan and Jing Ping were both stunned at the sight of Luo Yu’s figure. But in the blink of an eye, Luo Yu had also vanished without a trace.
Just then, the rear door of an SUV swung open, and a figure darted out. Xu Mengshan’s eyes widened in disbelief—who else could it be but You Mingxu?
She was fully dressed, alert, and clear-eyed, showing no signs of having been assaulted. Xu Mengshan’s heart leaped, and overwhelming joy surged within him. So it was true…
Jing Ping also saw her, struggling to lift his head and gaze at You Mingxu, his eyes growing warm with emotion.
You Mingxu spotted them, crouched low, and slowly ran over. By now, the sniper fire had ceased, and the bandits lay fallen all around, including Sun Yuan and Lei Yu. Having been locked in the vehicle, You Mingxu had ironically become the only person on the hilltop completely unscathed.
You Mingxu knelt before them, and Xu Mengshan grabbed her arm: “You…”
You Mingxu said, “I’m fine. Luo Yu didn’t do anything to me. He just locked me in the car.” A flicker of doubt crossed her brow.
…
40 minutes earlier.When Luo Yu threw her into the car and closed the door and curtains, You Mingxu immediately kicked out at him. Luo Yu took the blow without a sound, then pinned her legs down and leaned over her, growling fiercely in her ear, "Stop struggling! I won't lay a hand on you!"
You Mingxu, who had been prepared to fight to the death, gritted her teeth and glared at him.
Only then did he release her and sit up straight. He kicked the car door twice to create some noise before saying, "If I take action against you, it'll make Sun Yuan and Lei Yu completely trust that I've offended Xing Jifu. Besides, I promised you I wouldn't let that cop die. What, did you think I was just blowing hot air?"
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