The expressions on Luo Yu and his two companions’ faces grew even darker.

They had anticipated that Xing Jifu might try something, but who could have imagined he’d be willing to die together with them? A supreme underworld boss who valued life even less than they did!

Luo Yu’s expression softened slightly. “Boss, let’s talk this through reasonably. We can negotiate.”

Lei Yu burst out laughing. “Interesting! Boss Xing, you’re truly interesting! Your reputation doesn’t do you justice!”

Sun Yuan’s face remained grim as he stayed silent.

“Luo Yu, you’ve always been best at weighing pros and cons,” Xing Jifu said. “Release those two first.”

It was an insignificant request – freeing them would still leave just three people. After only a brief hesitation, Luo Yu waved his hand. His men released Huang Long and Guo Feirong, who immediately ran behind Xing Jifu. Though injured, their wounds weren’t serious.

“Why not sit down and talk?” Xing Jifu suggested. “Luo Yu, there’s no need for such haste, staging such a dramatic scene. As you said, you’ll be my son-in-law. Yanjun won’t touch these matters – if I don’t leave it to you, who else?”

Luo Yu immediately seized the opportunity: “It’s good that you’re so understanding, Boss. We’ll be family soon anyway. Once I’m in charge, I’ll take care of you and the Xing family’s business.”

Xing Jifu just smiled.

Luo Yu glanced at Sun Yuan and Lei Yu. “Should 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, naturally didn’t want to maintain hostilities. What would be the point if Xing Jifu really pressed that button and they all died together? Besides, everyone in their generation had heard of Xing Jifu’s reputation – if he said he’d do something, he’d follow through! They had come for profit in the first place. At this point, Sun Yuan and Lei Yu exchanged glances, silently agreeing that if things turned south, they could always ally with Xing Jifu and abandon Luo Yu.

For now, though, they would wait and see.

Luo Yu beckoned with his hand. “Bring over the money and goods.”

As his men 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 win-win-win-win. Times have changed. Everyone making money together is the right path.”

Sun Yuan and Lei Yu maintained their smiles.

Just then—

“Bang—” A soft whistling sound cut through the air, approaching rapidly. In an instant, Xing Jifu’s body jerked as a bullet struck his right thigh.

Luo Yu reacted fastest, throwing himself to the ground. The others weren’t so fortunate. “Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!” Several shots rang out in succession, hitting Sun Yuan, Lei Yu, and several nearby subordinates. Only Huang Long and Guo Feirong, standing behind Xing Jifu, escaped unscathed.

Everyone was horrified. They were on the highest hilltop, exposed on all sides with no one visible – where were the shots coming from?

Huang Long reacted quickly, helping Xing Jifu behind a boulder. Looking toward where the bullets came from… the opposite hillside, he shouted in shock, “Snipers! There are snipers! More than one!”

The gunfire continued, not targeting vital points but instead hitting shoulders, legs, and arms, instantly immobilizing the criminals.

What did this mean?

Who among them didn’t understand?

Lei Yu, clutching his wounded shoulder behind a tree, shouted hoarsely, “Damn it, there are police! We have a mole!”

No one was watching Xu Mengshan and Jing Ping anymore. Xu Mengshan’s body trembled, his throat tight as he immediately dropped to the ground with Jing Ping, avoiding the barrage. But the bullets seemed to have eyes, bypassing the two police officers.

Jing Ping coughed up blood, struggling to raise his head to look. People on the slope were ducking and fleeing, some trying to return fire. So there were their colleagues among them?

Jing Ping suddenly smiled.

No wonder he and Xu Mengshan weren’t dead yet.

It wasn’t luck, wasn’t good fortune, wasn’t the criminals being merciful.

That person had protected them.

It was brilliant – that person had protected them with such an unexpected excuse.

Huang Long and Guo Feirong shielded Xing Jifu. He gestured toward his lower back, and Huang Long understood, finding two handguns on Xing Jifu’s person. He and Guo Feirong took one each.

From the opposite ridge, a voice boomed through a loudspeaker: “You are surrounded by police! Drop your weapons! Xing Jifu, Luo Yu, Lei Yu, Sun Yuan, Huang Long, Guo Feirong – all of you drop your weapons! Do not resist! Drop your weapons! Do not resist!”

The deafening voice turned every criminal on the ridge pole. They knew it was over, completely over. The quantity of goods and cash was enough to sentence everyone to death. The police’s timing was perfect, their ambush to well-concealed – there wasn’t even time to destroy the evidence.

Suddenly, a new commotion erupted from the lower slope – gunfire, shouts, fighting, and running. Someone could be heard yelling, “Stop! Police!” It came from the direction where Xing Jifu’s ambush forces had been – they too had been suppressed by the police!

Xing Jifu closed his eyes briefly, then opened them. “Let’s go!”

Huang Long took a deep breath. “But Yanjun is still down there!”

Pain crossed Xing Jifu’s face. “He never touched the drugs. I’ll find lawyers to help him later.”

The three made a split-second decision. In the chaos on the hilltop, they kept low and descended the cliff on the other side.

Xu Mengshan saw this. “Not good! Xing Jifu is escaping!”

Suddenly, a figure sprang up from the ground and followed Xing Jifu’s group down the mountain – it was Luo Yu.

Xu Mengshan and Jing Ping were startled to see Luo Yu’s figure. But in an instant, he too disappeared from view.

Just then, an SUV’s back door opened, and a figure emerged. Xu Mengshan’s eyes widened – who else could it be but You Mingxu?

Her clothes were neat, her expression alert, her eyes clear – showing no signs of having been assaulted. Xu Mengshan’s heart leaped with wild joy. Sure enough…

Jing Ping saw her too, struggling to raise his head, his eyes growing wet as he watched You Mingxu.

You Mingxu spotted them and ran over, keeping low. By now the sniper fire had stopped. Criminals lay everywhere, including Sun Yuan and Lei Yu. You Mingxu, having been locked in the car, was ironically the only person unharmed on the hilltop.

You Mingxu crouched before them. Xu Mengshan grabbed her arm. “You…”

“I’m fine,” You Mingxu said. “Luo Yu didn’t do anything to me, just locked me in the car.” Doubt flickered across her brow.

…

40 minutes earlier.

When Luo Yu had thrown her into the car and closed the door and curtains, You Mingxu had kicked at him. Luo Yu took the hit, then pinned her legs down, pressing close to growling in her ear, “Don’t move. I won’t touch you!”

You Mingxu, who had been ready to fight to the death, glared at him through clenched teeth.

Only then did he release her and sit up straight. He kicked the car door twice to make a noise, then said, “Assaulting you will make Sun Yuan and Lei Yu completely trust that I’ve betrayed Xing Jifu. Besides, I promised you I wouldn’t let that cop die. What, you think I was talking nonsense?”