Yin Feng dozed off in the car.
He had no idea how much time had passed.
Yin Chen had been driving most of the night. In fact, he hadn't slept properly these past few days either. Now he looked exhausted, yet his eyes still gleamed with an unusually gloomy light.
Dawn had not yet broken.
But it was about to.
They had been fleeing for six hours before being heavily surrounded by police in the mountainous region of Jiangxi.
Originally, Yin Chen had planned to take a detour through Jiangxi to return to Jiangcheng.
The car was almost out of gas.
This inconspicuous black sedan came to a stop right in the middle of a remote provincial highway. On both sides of the road stretched lush southern rice paddies, appearing endlessly tranquil and vast under the dark blue hues of the approaching dawn. Police cars were lined up a hundred meters ahead and behind, with over fifty armed officers poised and ready for action.
Yin Chen turned off the engine and sat silently for a while.
Yin Feng woke up and understood the situation at a glance. During the journey, Yin Chen had given him another injection, so his body remained numb. He stayed silent too. Among the police officers in the hazy morning light, he didn't know if You Mingxu had rushed here, if she was among them. He suddenly realized a contradiction: did he want to see her now, or didn't he want her to see him like this?
Or perhaps, he wanted to see her more than anything.
Because he was just that kind of selfish man.
"We can't go back," Yin Chen suddenly spoke.
But Yin Feng abruptly said, "Do you still want to see Fan Shuhua? One last time."
After a moment of silence, Yin Chen laughed. "I have to admit, you're worse and more cunning than I am. No wonder we... ultimately fell into your hands. At this point, I could snuff out your life with a mere gesture, and you're still negotiating with me? You're trying to lure me with conditions?"
Yin Feng seemed unaffected by the sarcasm in his words and replied calmly, "I can arrange for you to see her one last time, including the captured Punishers."
Yin Chen's hand tightened on the steering wheel, then relaxed. As he pulled out a gun and retrieved something from the storage compartment, he answered, "No, I don't want to see them anymore. Little brother, neither of us can turn back now."
Yin Feng remained silent.
Up ahead.
Ding Xiongwei stepped out of his car. His face was grim as he saw the distant vehicle.
"How long until the snipers arrive?" he asked.
Someone replied, "About twenty more minutes."
Ding Xiongwei looked into the distance. Since the sky was still dim, he could only vaguely make out the silhouette of the person in the driver's seat. The car interior was dark, making it impossible to know Yin Feng's condition. In such circumstances, if they launched a forceful assault, no one could guarantee Yin Feng's safety. They feared Yin Chen might become desperate and drag someone down with him before dying. If Yin Feng died here, they would be too ashamed to remain police officers.
Moreover, there were You Mingxu, Xu Mengshan, and his other valued subordinates who had followed him in cracking numerous major cases.
However, Ding Xiongwei had reached his position today precisely because his calmness and alertness far surpassed ordinary people. His mind raced as he took the megaphone from a subordinate. Using a car for cover, he shouted, "Yin Chen, you're surrounded. Lay down your weapons and surrender to avoid making an even bigger mistake."
There was no response from the other side.Ding Xiongwei's expression remained cold and stern as he continued, "Yin Chen, before I came here, I met with your mentor. She said she still has some words for you. Continuing to resist is meaningless. Put down your weapon and release Yin Feng. I can consider arranging a meeting for you."
Unheard by Ding Xiongwei, Yin Chen in the car let out a scornful "Ha," his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Yin Chen said, "Little brother, do you really think my weakness is so easily exploited in your eyes?"
Yin Feng replied calmly, "It's not a weakness—it's human nature. In our eyes, no matter how many crimes you've committed, you're still human."
Yin Chen fell silent for a moment before saying, "There's no need to waste your efforts. What you promised me should be honored. Since you've already traded your life for You Mingxu's, you'll go wherever I go. Do you believe that even with a hundred police officers and a hundred guns outside, I still have a chance to kill you right under their noses and take you with me?"
Yin Feng whispered, "Does it really have to end like this? Our deaths would be utterly meaningless."
Yin Chen retorted, "Who says it's meaningless? For me, death itself signifies eternal peace. To be honest, when I think about what's about to happen, I feel quite excited and happy. It's finally over—I can't go on any longer. In this lifetime, I've never truly possessed anything. Are you still reluctant to let go? You still have You Mingxu. Thinking about how, in the end, you'll end up with nothing just like me—I'll be free in death, while you'll be filled with regret—brings me immense joy. This time, little brother, I haven't lost. Are you ready to face death? Count down from ten, bid farewell to your life and your loved ones in your heart, and we'll depart together. No one can save you. No one."
Yin Feng froze.
He knew Yin Chen was telling the truth—the item he had just retrieved from the glove compartment was a bomb detonator.
Even if the police stormed the car or snipers took action, Yin Chen could press the switch before dying, blowing both of them to pieces. No one could save him. Even if You Mingxu were among the police officers, she would be powerless to intervene.
This was the first time in his life that Yin Feng had faced death so clearly and closely. For a moment, his mind went blank.
Then he thought of You Mingxu.
He recalled her face, her eyes, her hands, her voice, the feeling of her leaning against his chest. When one knows with absolute certainty that they will die in a matter of seconds, it is impossible not to feel fear. Yin Feng could sense the long-buried terror slowly resurfacing, much like the darkness outside the car, closing in on him from all directions.
The feeling was identical to the pain and struggle he had endured during his moments of self-reflection. It was the same as when he had hidden in You Mingxu's home, wrapping himself tightly in a blanket, terrified of the unknown darkness beyond the window.
He gently bit his lower lip, closed his eyes for a moment, and then reopened them.
He murmured softly, "She will come to save me... A Xu... will come to save me..."
As he repeated this mantra-like thought, the beast-like fear and cowardice in his heart suddenly collapsed and dissipated like a receding tide, leaving only a clear and serene calm.
A faint smile slowly appeared at the corner of his lips, and he closed his eyes once more.
"A Xu, don't come."
Don't come.
Let me descend into the darkness alone.You Mingxu had joined forces with Xu Mengshan and the others half an hour earlier. They had cut off Yin Chen's escape route.
The dark blue of the sky seemed to have faded a little more.
You Mingxu stood behind a vehicle as Tuya, Chen Feng, Xu Mengshan, and the others had all gotten out of their cars, drawing their guns in readiness. Every face was stretched taut with tension.
The morning breeze blew gently as You Mingxu stared at the car. The rear window was shrouded in darkness, revealing only the seat backs and Yin Chen's faint profile—Yin Feng was nowhere to be seen.
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