You Mingxu’s face was cold as ice as she gave a slight wave. The five most skilled officers—including Xu Mengshan, Tu Ya, and two other police officers—began moving forward like silent cats. She led them.
This was the strategy previously agreed upon with Ding Xiongwei: he would feign negotiations while her team attempted a rescue operation.
They advanced dozens of steps while Ding Xiongwei continued his dialogue, pretending to approach the front-line officers to keep Yin Chen’s attention. The car remained silent—Yin Chen hadn’t spoken a word or shown much movement.
Then You Mingxu saw a hand reach out from the driver’s seat, adjust the rearview mirror, and withdraw. Her heart leaped—the meaning was clear: he had spotted them.
You Mingxu signaled again, and all five stopped, watching for developments.
Every cell in You Mingxu’s body felt taut with tension. She was filled with anger, pain, and bitter-sweet emotions. From about fifty meters behind, she stared at Yin Chen’s vague silhouette, while the other person in the car seemed nonexistent. This realization cut through her heart like a knife. She didn’t even know if Yin Feng was still alive.
He must be alive, she told herself.
He was waiting for her to save him again.
Just as he had stubbornly tried to save her every time before.
Among her team, Xu Mengshan was the best shot, even better than her. She whispered, “What are your chances of hitting Yin Chen from here?”
Xu Mengshan’s lips tightened unpleasantly. “Poor shot—visibility’s too low, no clear angle.”
You Mingxu clenched her teeth, rapidly considering other options. This sneak attack had been a last resort. Now that Yin Chen had spotted them, she dared not act rashly, fearing he might harm Yin Feng at the slightest provocation.
But it was too late.
At that moment.
Right under the noses of over fifty police officers, within their tight encirclement.
Yin Chen threw something from the car that rolled several times before stopping. Even through the morning mist, everyone could see it was a rectangular object shaped like a remote control, its red light blinking. In the extreme quiet of the road, its urgent countdown pierced everyone’s ears.
Ding Xiongwei’s face changed dramatically. “Everyone down! You Mingxu!” The last shout came out as an angry cry of alarm, as You Mingxu was now closest to the car.
The two officers behind You Mingxu immediately dropped to the ground. After a moment’s hesitation, Xu Mengshan followed suit. Only Tu Ya remained standing stupidly, staring at the distant detonator with blazing eyes.
A figure moved with almost supernatural speed, springing forward toward the car. Xu Mengshan’s heart nearly burst as he shouted, “You Mingxu!” He bounced up from the ground.
After a moment of shock, Tu Ya also began running desperately forward, but the person ahead was much faster—far too fast—instantly leaving them behind.
Everyone watched in stunned disbelief. The detonator on the ground continued its urgent countdown. How much time remained? Ten seconds? Perhaps just a few? This was suicide—she was running to her death!
Moreover, Yin Chen was still in the car, armed at close range, and determined to die with Yin Feng. How could she possibly save anyone?
In an instant, You Mingxu reached the car. Her mind was completely blank—no thoughts, no fear, no hesitation. She couldn’t even hear the detonator’s countdown nearby. She had run so fast that her legs felt disconnected from her body, devoid of sensation. An incredibly powerful will, like a massive iron nail, had driven through her brain and pierced her entire body. She yanked open the back door and saw him lying there like a corpse. Her eyes suddenly burned with pain.
He started at that moment, looking up and seeing her.
In an instant, those dark, deathly eyes cleared like the sun breaking through clouds, blazing with brilliant light. You Mingxu reached in and pulled him out.
At that moment.
A black gun barrel extended from the front seat.
You Mingxu had already hoisted the limp Yin Feng onto her shoulder, desperately dragging him backward. Ahead of her, Xu Mengshan, Tu Ya, and several officers were running toward them at full speed, throwing caution to the wind.
Yin Chen’s gun was pointed at You Mingxu’s back, left side, right at her heart. In this chaotic final scene, he held the gun steadily aimed at her, while in his mind appeared a familiar silhouette.
Yin Feng had said: You will never kill her.
Because she is her child.
Yin Chen suddenly smiled, his finger slowly squeezing the trigger.
A sharp gunshot, like a mysterious arrow, split the air. Yin Chen’s body swayed, his gun hand slowly dropping. His expression was unprecedentedly peaceful, serene as if everything was as it should be—if not for the bloody hole in his right temple.
He slowly leaned back against the seat and closed his eyes.
Several meters away, Xu Mengshan steadily supported his shooting hand, the gun barrel still hot, his eyes cold as a hawk’s, his heart pounding like a drum after the shot. He quickly lowered his weapon and looked toward You Mingxu and Yin Feng, then began sprinting recklessly toward them.
At this point, Tu Ya and the others were still more than ten meters from You Mingxu and Yin Feng.
You Mingxu, supporting Yin Feng, had only managed to run three or four meters from the car.
Suddenly, You Mingxu felt a strange chill race up her spine, instantly numbing her entire back. She instantly understood what was about to happen. Her first reaction was to wrap her arms tightly around Yin Feng, protecting him as she dove for the ground.
“Go!” Yin Feng forced these words from deep in his chest, trying to push her away, but he had no strength. He heard her cold reply: “In your dreams!”
A scorching wave crashed toward them like an avalanche. The car erupted in flames, instantly shattering into pieces and exploding skyward. The intense red flames, like bloody clouds, opened their maw and swallowed the two figures on the ground.
Xu Mengshan, Tu Ya, and the others were still running forward when they saw this scene, their hearts shattering. Before they could even cry out, the massive shock wave slammed into them, throwing them three or four meters backward. The surrounding officers’ faces changed color, and Ding Xiongwei nearly lost his breath—if Xu Mengshan and the others at the explosion’s edge were so badly affected, surely You Mingxu and Yin Feng at the epicenter couldn’t have survived?
These two people… these two children… had finally… Tears burst from Ding Xiongwei’s eyes, overwhelmed with grief.
Just then.
Almost simultaneously as Xu Mengshan and the others were thrown back by the blast, from directly beneath the demon-like flames that stretched their claws across a vast space… a human shape rolled out at the speed of a wheel! It rolled more than ten times without slowing, displaying incredible agility. Looking closer, it was two people embracing tightly, moving as one.
They rolled seventeen or eighteen times, beyond the explosion’s epicenter, finally slowing to a stop.
Neither moved.
Everyone watched in amazement. Ding Xiongwei’s eyes burned at the sight. As the explosion’s remnants rose into the sky amid scattered debris, he shouted hoarsely, “Quick, save them! Hurry!”
Well done! Ding Xiongwei could only wipe his tears. Damn well done, both of them! He had traded his life for hers, and she had pulled him back from death’s edge! Ding Xiongwei immediately understood that in such a deadly explosion with almost no chance of survival, only a judo expert like You Mingxu could have managed this. Only she, with her courage to face death and quick thinking, could have seized this thread of hope for both of them!
Xu Mengshan and Tu Ya stumbled to their feet. Around them, Ding Xiongwei, Xiao Yan, Guan Jun, Chen Feng, and many other officers rushed toward the two figures on the ground.
The explosion’s heat still lingered in the air. The sky had brightened imperceptibly, and a ray of sunlight fell obliquely on the distant mountain peak. He lay unconscious on the ground. She lay in his arms, her hands still wrapped around his waist—even unconscious, those hands held on very, very tightly.