Luo Yu’s gun was the one he’d brought, fitted with a silencer. He said, “Warning shot.” You Mingxu understood, firing her standard gun into the air.

Guo Feirong and Huang Long, having heard about You Mingxu’s background on the hilltop, spoke up regardless of its truth. Guo Feirong said, “Young Miss, the boss is your birth father. Would you arrest your father?”

You Mingxu laughed coldly. “I don’t have a father.”

Xing Jifu remained silent.

“Young Miss!” Huang Long pressed. “If not for the boss’s sake, think of yourself! If he’s arrested, as his daughter, won’t you be implicated? The police are rigid – how could you remain an officer? They might even suspect you!”

You Mingxu’s heart jolted. “Shut up!” she shouted.

Luo Yu spoke then: “Xing Jifu, I will arrest you. But if you truly care about your father-daughter relationship, don’t mention Mingxu after you’re arrested. Tell your men to stay quiet too.”

Everyone froze at these words.

You Mingxu glanced at Luo Yu. Of course – his actions had always bent the rules. Was he trying to protect her?

“Agreed,” Xing Jifu answered.

Huang Long and Guo Feirong looked furious.

“Drop your guns! Get down!” Luo Yu commanded again. They finally complied. He glanced at You Mingxu, who understood, collecting their guns and throwing them far away.

The situation was under control, just waiting for backup.

Luo Yu looked up at the distant slope where movement could be heard. Shots had been fired; backup would arrive soon. His undercover life could finally end.

You Mingxu stood with him, keeping their guns trained on the three men.

Time ticked by slowly.

Luo Yu gazed at her beautiful, cold features and said softly, “Looks like you won’t need to collect my corpse after all.”

Referring to their conversation before coming here.

“Scourges live forever,” You Mingxu replied.

Luo Yu couldn’t help but smile.

You Mingxu studied him. This Luo Yu was unfamiliar – the darkness in his eyes seemed to have lifted. Though exhausted, his whole being seemed brighter.

How long had he been undercover?

Was this the real Luo Yu?

She suddenly recalled their interactions over the years. Were all his despicable, hateful behaviors just an act? Or had his undercover role forced him to become that person?

Her emotions were complex. She remembered how she and Yin Feng had beaten him, how he’d openly bullied her while secretly using and protecting her. She felt oddly guilty.

They stood in silence, Luo Yu’s emotions also churning.

She finally knew his true identity.

At last.

Though backup hadn’t arrived, he couldn’t relax, standing ready with his gun. But with You Mingxu beside him, an awkward atmosphere seemed to grow between them.

Finally, he spoke quietly: “I’m sorry about before.”

You Mingxu just snorted, not answering.

That snort made Luo Yu’s heart lighten, knowing that despite the awkwardness, she could understand.

So he added: “Though my intentions toward you were genuine.”

You Mingxu shot him a cold glare, seeing the familiar mischievous smile in his eyes – still that black-hearted lawyer Luo Yu. She knew it – he wasn’t acting at all. Even as a police officer, his personality was just as annoying! Her guilt dissipated considerably.

They fell silent again.

The three men remained crouched, making no moves.

As Luo Yu looked up to check the mountain again, two muffled shots rang out. His body jerked violently as he staggered back two steps.

You Mingxu turned in horror to see Luo Yu looking at her with a dazed expression. He’d been shot in the chest and abdomen, blood already flowing. She caught him as his legs gave way, both falling to the ground. “How are you? You…”

Luo Yu gasped, his face pale with pain, body trembling. You Mingxu’s tears burst forth as she tried to stop the blood flowing from his stomach wound.

She looked up to see several figures in the woods. Xing Yanjun led them, gun raised, his disheveled appearance mixed with determination and pain. Four exhausted, sweating subordinates stood behind him – the elite guards his father had left him, who’d helped him escape here.

They had eight men and several guns against You Mingxu’s single weapon and critically wounded Luo Yu. But she couldn’t think about that now. She quickly removed her jacket, binding one of his wounds while pressing the other, saying, “Luo Yu, hang on! Backup’s coming soon, you must hang on!”

Luo Yu gasped, lying in her arms. His vision was blurring – he could see the grey sky, some trees, and her hazy silhouette. His mind grew foggy, momentarily forgetting where he was.

He smiled weakly. “Looks like… you’ll have to… collect my corpse… after all…”

You Mingxu’s heart shattered at his expression. All his past experiences flooded her mind, suddenly overwhelming her with sadness. How much had he suffered? How much had this undercover officer endured? She shouted, “Luo Yu, you can’t die! I’ll get you out! I’ll get you out! Come back to our unit, you hear me?”

He coughed blood, whispering, “Alright…”

You Mingxu’s tears fell as she instinctively held this man she’d hated for years tightly in her arms.

Luo Yu caught her familiar scent – something he’d never truly had. He suddenly felt an emotion more painful than approaching death, so overwhelming it was hard to breathe. In her arms, he took a deep breath, using his remaining will to whisper so only she could hear: “Too many… don’t resist… Xing Jifu won’t kill you… wait for backup…”

You Mingxu choked, “I know… stop talking, save your strength, you hear me?”

Luo Yu continued: “Must tell you… that necklace… evidence in box bottom… Guo Xing traded his life for it… needed to catch Xing Jifu… couldn’t risk warning him… didn’t turn it in… give it… to superiors…”

You Mingxu nodded firmly through her tears.

Luo Yu took a few shallow breaths.

Then You Mingxu felt his lips brush her cheek very lightly – or perhaps they merely touched it. She looked down to see Luo Yu’s eyes slowly close as two tears rolled down his cheeks. Then his arm slipped lifelessly from her embrace.