Chapter 55

How this group had gone mad, violating women, not sparing even little girls, completely devoid of humanity, while engaging in acts of treason.
The only time he’d ever been suspected was because he hadn’t accepted the boss’s so-called “reward.” Women? That wasn’t a woman, it was a twelve- or thirteen-year-old girl, her face smeared with dirt…
Later, after much thought, he realized that a man without weaknesses was the hardest to control. He wasn’t lustful, didn’t use drugs, and didn’t gamble. Naturally, the boss suspected him.
Fortunately, his comrades who were supposed to extract him had fabricated a fake identity for him, parents long dead, massive debts owed, imprisoned for robbing a state-owned bank to repay those debts. Only then did his background finally make sense.
As for Guo Jianglong, they could be considered old acquaintances. He had helped him a few times before.
After hearing his reply, Guo Jianglong fell silent for a long time, so long that Qin Yuanzheng thought he wouldn’t speak again.
“I don’t want to hear this crap. Release the brothers who’ve been locked up. Otherwise, by tomorrow, there’ll be two more corpses floating in that irrigation river.”
After saying this, he seemed to remember something. “Oh right, since we were brothers once, I’ll make your wife’s lover die a little slower. Tell me, Qin Yuanzheng, Brother Wei offered you so many women and you didn’t want any of them, insisted on selling your life to the government, talking about some bullshit faith! Tsk, came back only to find your woman ran off with someone else, huh? Was it worth it?!”
He was deliberately provoking Qin Yuanzheng, venting his hatred as well. After all, Qin Yuanzheng had been ruthless, too many brothers had fallen because of him.
“Impossible. Anyone who’s already been arrested will never be released. They deserve what they got. Guo Jianglong, dare you ask yourself, what they did, can that even be called human? Were they people, or beasts? If you were really the same as them, then why did you stop the boss from chopping me up back then, Jianglong… It’s not too late to turn back now. Hand over everything you know, information, leads. There’s still a chance to atone through merit. I’ll help you.”
Guo Jianglong froze for a moment when he heard that. He was dazed for a split second before quickly recovering, letting out what sounded like a sigh.
“It’s too late to say any of that now…”
Qin Yuanzheng stared coldly at the many boats ahead. Even now, he still didn’t know which one Guo Jianglong was hiding on.
Although his heart was filled with worry for Bai Xinmei’s safety, there was nothing he could do. Of course, he couldn’t possibly agree to Guo Jianglong’s demands either. Once people like him were unrestrained, Meimei’s situation would only become even more dangerous.
“Old Qin, I never thought you’d have such a hypocritical side. Who doesn’t know that once I release those people, I’ll be walking straight to my death? Do you think I’m a three-year-old kid?!”
“And don’t fucking think I don’t know, you’ve got cops and soldiers ambushed in the mountains behind you. Pull them all back right now, or I’ll shoot these two hostages on the spot. Oh right, I just remembered, this pretty boy’s surname is Song, right? Jiangcheng City’s Party Secretary seems to have the same surname. One hostage is a regiment commander’s wife, the other is the Party Secretary’s own nephew. Their value isn’t light at all.”
Qin Yuanzheng frowned deeply. He hadn’t expected Guo Jianglong to be this sharp. How did he know there was an ambush? Could there be another informant? After receiving the note, he had immediately sealed off all information, even letting the village secretary continue living in the village to avoid suspicion.
“Your note said I was to come alone. Why would I arrange an ambush? Besides, provoking you brings me no benefit at all.”
Qin Yuanzheng’s expression remained unchanged as he denied that anyone was hiding in the forest behind him.
While soldier and bandit were locked in a standoff, Song Jinping, lying in the cabin, had already woken up. Ever since capturing the two of them, Guo Jianglong had been constantly on the move, hiding from place to place. He had to feed them, yet feared they’d escape, so he’d been drugging them continuously.
Yesterday, Guo Jianglong had likely been distracted, waiting for today’s confrontation with Qin Yuanzheng. Song Jinping had managed to vomit up some of the medicine afterward.
Now that the effects had worn off, his first reaction was to assess the surroundings. Mountains and water stretched in all directions, picturesque scenery. Unfortunately, from the perspective of kidnapped hostages, it was disastrous. The terrain was open in all directions, allowing criminals to scatter easily. The area was deserted, transportation was inconvenient, and the landscape complex, bad for escape and even worse for rescue.
Earlier, he’d heard the bandit confronting Qin Yuanzheng. That meant someone should already be coordinating from the outer perimeter. Now it depended on whether Qin Yuanzheng could succeed in making the bandit lower his guard.
Song Jinping glanced at Bai Xinmei, who was still asleep. Her sleeping face was peaceful and soft, making her look innocent and fragile in the face of the danger ahead.
That day, he shouldn’t have been so willful. His childish, ridiculous behavior had dragged them both into this situation. If Meimei hadn’t come looking for him and had stayed with the Qin family, Guo Jianglong, alone, wouldn’t have found an opportunity to strike.
Taking advantage of the moment when Guo Jianglong was shouting outside, he nudged Bai Xinmei. Their hands and feet were bound, their mouths stuffed. There were no sharp tools in the cabin to cut the ropes. If Meimei woke up, it would be perfect, they could help untie each other.
The situation was critical. No one knew what would happen next. Having their limbs free would greatly increase their chances of survival.
He kept pushing Bai Xinmei. Though she’d taken more of the drug than he had, an entire night had passed. The effects should’ve dissipated. If he could wake naturally, then external force should work on her too.
When Bai Xinmei woke up, she saw Song Jinping drenched in sweat, pressing close to her. If they hadn’t both been tied up, she might’ve thought he was about to do something improper. The rope around her wrists had already been loosened.
Seeing Song Jinping frantically blinking at her, then looking outside at the eerie silence, broken only by Guo Jianglong’s voice, and another man’s,
Qin Yuanzheng. He had come.
“Enough. I don’t want to waste words with you anymore. I’m going to execute those two hostages right now. Having a beauty and a second-generation official buried with me, worth it!”
A voice came through the radio. “Deputy Commander Qin, how’s the situation on your end? Can negotiations continue? If there’s any update, report immediately. Please keep the line open.”
Qin Yuanzheng raised his five fingers, his calloused knuckles clenched tight, as if making a decision. In the end, he relaxed his grip and shouted toward the boats ahead:
“Guo Jianglong, isn’t this about revenge? You know very well, anyone who’s gone in will never be released. What you’re doing now is just revenge against me, Qin Yuanzheng! Let my wife and Educated Youth Song go, I’ll pay with my life!”
He yanked the radio from his camouflage vest and placed it on an abandoned cargo crate. He tucked his shirt into his belt and slipped his pistol into his pocket. The gun was obvious, sure to be noticed, but it was worth trying.
Slowly, he raised both hands and walked forward.
“Don’t move!”
At this moment, Guo Jianglong was like a startled bird. He had the resolve to avenge his brothers and didn’t fear death, but humans often feel an inexplicable terror toward death when they don’t know when it will come.
“I’ve already thrown away the radio. I’m alone. Even if there really are people hiding in the mountains, the terrain is complicated, it’d take them at least half an hour to get here. I’m not lying to you.”
Qin Yuanzheng spoke cautiously, weighing every word. His face remained steady, but the bobbing of his Adam’s apple betrayed his tension.
If it were just him being threatened, he might not have been this afraid. But Meimei, his wife, the woman he’d loved for eight years, so fragile, so delicate, so easily hurt. During the fifteen days she’d been taken, Qin Yuanzheng had barely slept. Every time he closed his eyes, he heard her crying:
Qin Yuanzheng, it’s all your fault! Qin Yuanzheng, I’m in pain!
How could he sleep?
At least today, there would finally be an end.
“Let them go. I’ll take their place.”
As Qin Yuanzheng moved deeper into the dock, closer and closer to the river, he finally spotted Guo Jianglong, on a fishing boat. Sandbags and empty wooden crates were piled on the deck. His position was expertly chosen; even if snipers knew where he was, they couldn’t get a clear shot.
Qin Yuanzheng’s plan to strike first failed.
“Stop! Turn around.”
Qin Yuanzheng obediently followed the command. Guo Jianglong was checking whether he was carrying anything hidden.
“Throw away the gun in your pocket.”
Guo Jianglong aimed his gun at Qin Yuanzheng, signaling him to approach slowly. Suddenly, a noise came from the cabin. Guo Jianglong immediately turned and rushed inside.
“Don’t fucking move!”
Bang!
A sharp gunshot shattered the empty silence of the dock, startling a flock of white egrets pecking by the shore. They flapped their wings and screeched as they scattered.
Bai Xinmei stared in disbelief at the blood gushing from Song Jinping’s calf. She clapped a hand over her mouth, desperately suppressing a scream, her pupils shrinking in shock.
White smoke still rose from Guo Jianglong’s gun. The moment he rushed in, he’d seen the two preparing to swim across the river. Without hesitation, he fired at the pretty boy’s calf. With that kind of injury, jumping into the water would be suicidal.
Hearing the gunshot, Qin Yuanzheng picked up the gun from the ground and sprinted over.
Their attempt to escape had clearly enraged Guo Jianglong, who was already on edge. His eyes darkened as he pointed the gun at Bai Xinmei.
The pretty boy was already crippled. This woman could still move, might as well deal with her too. They were all going to die anyway.
“Stop! Guo Jianglong, this is between men!”
Qin Yuanzheng had climbed onto the same deck Guo Jianglong had stood on earlier, aiming his gun at his back.
Guo Jianglong turned around. Seeing the familiar face onboard, he burst into wild laughter.
“Hahaha! Qin Yuanzheng! Weren’t you supposed to be clever? I knew you’d never let my brothers go. As long as I kill you, I’ll break even, and my brothers will be avenged!”
Standing in the cabin, Guo Jianglong lunged toward Bai Xinmei and Song Jinping. He kicked Song Jinping away from in front of Bai Xinmei. Already shot, having lost blood, and drugged for over ten days, Song Jinping had no strength to resist. He collapsed to the ground with a painful groan.
Guo Jianglong clamped one hand around Bai Xinmei’s throat while aiming the gun at Qin Yuanzheng with the other. Bai Xinmei’s breathing grew rapid; she was forced onto her toes, her face flushing red as she desperately clawed at the hand choking her.
“Meimei!!”
Qin Yuanzheng shouted in panic.
Guo Jianglong’s face twisted as he roared,
“Today, everyone dies!”