The Leading Stars

"Dаmn it! Не gоt аway!" Fаt Моnkеу returned to Вrоther Long's tеnt and said аngrilу, "Тhаt Аh Shui rаn off!!"

"What Аh Shui?" Li Haozhang was alrеаdy irritаted frоm sеаrсhing evеrуwhеrе fоr the itеm Brother Lоng hаd snatсhed, and he аsked impаtiently.

"Sоmеоnе frоm а mоuntaineеring аssoсiаtiоn." Fat Мonkеу didn't know Ah Shui's idеntitу, nor did hе know that Li Hаozhang aсtuаllу knew Нippo. Не sрokе in а flustеrеd rаgе.

"Damn it, whо сarеs abоut that." Li Hаozhаng dismissеd it, "Wе don't еvеn knоw if wе'll make it down thе mountain alive."

Fat Мonkey аlso didn't think somеonе frоm a mоuntaineering association could cause much trouble, but he couldn't shake a nagging unease. He peeked out again and saw Diao Zhuo's legs kicking wildly, his head thrashing from side to side, his face flushed red with extreme pain, as if suffocating. Slowly, his head drooped. Ge Mingliang was still struggling, while Da Qin, who had been knocked out first, was already injured and had no chance of recovery.

"I didn't kill them... I didn't kill them..." Fat Monkey muttered to himself, his face pale. He thought that if he had to pretend to be a victim later, he'd have to finish off Ge Mingliang. He held the gun, trembling for a long time but unable to pull the trigger. Just then, Red Beard and the others, wearing filter masks, returned with guns pointed at Bayunye and the others, their hands bound with plastic zip ties.

Bayunye had been thinking about how to escape, but when her gaze fell on Diao Zhuo, she froze in shock. "Diao Zhuo!!" she shouted, only to be slapped hard by Red Beard. She stumbled and fell to the ground, her teeth cutting her lip, blood instantly flowing.

"Find the thing." Red Beard coldly ordered Fat Monkey. He didn't seem intent on killing everyone, as slaughtering so many Chinese citizens within China would certainly draw intense attention from the police. Even if he fled abroad, he might not escape consequences. For him, the most crucial task now was to find the important item on Brother Long.

Fat Monkey went back into the tent to search again, sweat beading on his forehead.

"Can't find it..." Li Haozhang grew anxious. He had even searched between Brother Long's buttocks, but the tiny memory chip was still missing.

"Search again." Fat Monkey urged. But as soon as he spoke, Brother Long, who had seemed lifeless, suddenly sprang up, knocked the gun from his hand, rolled deftly, and seized the gun firmly, pressing it against Li Haozhang's neck.

Fat Monkey reacted quickly and scrambled out of the tent. Li Haozhang, now held hostage by Brother Long, knew things had taken a turn for the worse. Those outside, seeing Brother Long awake, might shoot him first to avoid being threatened.

Brother Long held the gun to Li Haozhang's neck with one hand and lifted the tent flap with the other, stepping outside. Though his legs were still weak, as soon as he saw Diao Zhuo hanging his head, lifeless or not, Bayunye half-kneeling on the ground with blood at the corner of her mouth, and several Beidou Rescue Team members he had met before, he fully understood his current predicament.

The Rescue Team and Bayunye had come to save him, but now they were in danger. Brother Long, valuing loyalty, gritted his teeth and steeled himself, thinking of how to keep them alive.

Unable to determine Diao Zhuo's condition, Bayunye was heartbroken. Seeing Brother Long emerge with Li Haozhang as a hostage, she whispered, "Brother Long," but lacked the strength to say more."Long, I'm not afraid to be blunt with you—your people are all here with me, and the one you have in your hands is unimportant to us," Red Beard said in broken Chinese. "We don't want to kill too many people, unless you force me to. So, please hand over the chip. We can discuss terms. I believe you're someone who knows how to adapt to the times."

Brother Long stood firm with righteous indignation, glaring at Red Beard and his men as he choked Li Haozhang nearly to death. He let out a dry laugh. "Cough! All these years, Renlong Duoji has sacrificed so much to investigate my wife's death. You think I'll just hand it over? What are your terms?"

"Unfortunately, I don't know anything about your wife's death, but the chip you've hidden is very important to me. Since you're willing to discuss terms, go ahead and state them. Whether it's letting these people go or demanding money, I can consider it." Red Beard pointed his gun at Bayunye, his words offering negotiation but his threatening posture unwavering.

"What's on that chip of his that it's worth hiring notorious mercenaries like you?" Brother Long spat. "My terms are simple: I want He Zhengren to tell me personally why that car went off the cliff back then."

"Oh, my God, then you'll have to go ask him yourself," Red Beard shrugged.

Brother Long tightened his grip on Li Haozhang. "Kid, did you really kill him?"

His words startled everyone. Ge Mingliang whimpered even louder, and Bayunye looked up in shock. Red Beard was utterly indifferent to killing and didn'tt care who killed whom. Li Haozhang trembled all over, shaking his head frantically.

"A dog that even kills its master," Brother Long sneered. "No wonder you mean nothing to them."

"You're the one who killed him," Li Haozhang retorted.

"Hmph." Brother Long disdained arguing with a dog and paid no further attention.

"Hand over the chip," Red Beard issued his final ultimatum to Brother Long.

"Do you think I'd carry something like that on me?" Brother Long refused to yield, seemingly prepared to die.

Red Beard's eyes turned fierce. Bayunye hurriedly shouted, "Watch out!" But before her words fully left her mouth, Red Beard shot Li Haozhang, then grabbed Bayunye, positioning himself behind her and pressing the gun to her temple.

Bayunye was more worried about Diao Zhuo's fate. Even with a gun to her head, he showed no sign of movement. Could it be...

"Long, tell us where the chip is, and she lives," Red Beard gritted his teeth. He had always held the absolute advantage because he never cared who the other side took hostage. Even if all the men he brought died, he would get the chip. This leadership style made his subordinates value their lives even more and fight even harder.

"What exactly is on that chip..." Bayunye bit her lower lip.

"I don't know what's stored on the chip, but they want to sell it to foreigners and even hired mercenaries for it. It must be extremely important information," Brother Long aimed his gun at Red Beard, facing off against five or six guns without flinching. "Maybe He Zhengren is a spy!"

Red Beard didn't answer, instead pressing the gun harder against Bayunye's head. "I'll give you three seconds. I'll count to three. If you still refuse to talk, her head will bloom like a flower. One!"Bayunye's palms were soaked with sweat, the surroundings eerily quiet, no one daring to make the slightest sound. She saw Brother Long's sweat trickling down his face and could also see the suppressed fire in his eyes. Was the chip really on him? Would he hand it over? No, he couldn't hand it over. Otherwise, even if Red Beard didn’t act, the other bandits wouldn’t let everyone walk away alive. So, the chip in Brother Long’s possession wasn’t just about her, Bayunye’s, life alone.

"Two."

Bayunye thought, why not take a gamble. So, holding her breath, she prepared to slam backward into Red Beard. As long as she could buy Brother Long a second, he could fire first—capture the leader to capture the gang! Alright, let’s do it!

Just as Bayunye was about to make her move, Red Beard seemed to be shoved from behind. She lost her balance and stumbled forward. Before hitting the ground, she quickly turned her head and saw Diao Zhuo, who had somehow broken free from his restraints, rushing out and grappling with Red Beard. Meanwhile, Ge Mingliang had just snatched a gun, but several other bandits immediately aimed their weapons at his head and wrestled it back.

Diao Zhuo tightly gripped Red Beard’s gun-wielding hand, preventing him from aiming at himself. Red Beard, immensely strong, tried to shake Diao Zhuo off, but Diao Zhuo didn’t back down either, matching him in a fierce struggle. Both men fought with brute force, locked in a fierce battle. However, Red Beard still had a gun, and no matter what move he made, his goal was to point the gun at Diao Zhuo. Diao Zhuo repeatedly dodged but remained at a disadvantage.

Seeing the situation turn sour, Fat Monkey took off running almost the moment Bayunye fell. Brother Long raised his hand and aimed, hitting Fat Monkey in the leg, completely immobilizing him. Fat Monkey collapsed, howling in pain.

Red Beard, with his formidable physique, was locked in a fierce struggle with Diao Zhuo. Brother Long, with one gun, faced off against several bandits armed with weapons, putting him at a disadvantage. However, because Brother Long held the key to the chip’s whereabouts, no one fired first. The bandits then split into different directions—one gun aimed at Brother Long, one at Bayunye, one pressed against Ge Mingliang’s head, and another pointed at Diao Zhuo.

"Diao Zhuo!" the bandits shouted. "Stop, or all three of them die!"

"Damn it! Diao Zhuo! Don’t worry about me! Kill him! Kill him!!" Bayunye struggled and roared.

Taking advantage of Diao Zhuo’s distraction, Red Beard punched him to the ground and pressed the gun hard against his forehead. With bloodshot eyes, he ordered, "Kill them! Kill them all!"

"But the chip..."

"Kill them! Chop that Long guy into pieces and search him!" Red Beard’s murderous intent surged. Knowing that if he showed any more mercy or hesitation, this group would surely escape, he decided to launch a massacre.

The other bandits thought for a moment and tightened their fingers on the triggers.

"I’ll tell you where the chip is!" Brother Long shouted.

Red Beard narrowed his eyes, glaring viciously at Brother Long. "Too late! They’re all trouble. I’ll finish them off first, then listen to you properly." With that, he glanced at the other bandits, signaling them to act.

The bandit pressing the gun against Bayunye’s head took a deep breath. Bayunye closed her eyes, hearing only a "Bang!" Her heart trembled, and she nearly fainted, only to realize she was unharmed. Instead, the bandit fell to the ground with a precise hole right in the middle of his forehead.

"A sniper?!" Bayunye instinctively exclaimed."What? There's a sniper?!" The bandits panicked, frantically looking around, but how could they possibly spot the sniper's position so easily. Another shot rang out, and one of the bandits let out a sharp cry, a bloody hole appearing in his wrist as his gun clattered to the ground—proof of the sniper's incredible accuracy.

The bandits grew desperate, firing wildly in the direction from which the bullet had come.

"Drop your weapons! Drop your weapons!" A loudspeaker blared from an unknown source. "We are Chinese Armed Police! You are surrounded! We order you now! Drop your weapons! Release the hostages!"

Red Beard cursed loudly, hesitated for a long moment, and finally threw his gun to the ground, slowly rising to his feet while continuing to mutter obscenities.

A series of rustling sounds came from the woods, and in an instant, the area was illuminated by powerful flashlights. A large group of Armed Police officers in uniform swarmed in, pinning the bandits to the ground.

Brother Long staggered and collapsed onto his seat. He had been holding on purely by willpower, but in reality, he had no strength left in his body. With the crisis resolved, he returned to a state of complete exhaustion. The plastic restraints on everyone's wrists were cut off, and they were each fitted with filtration masks.