Chapter 135

Ji Tingxi suddenly realized which faction this was.

On this day of universal joy—or partial joy, at least—a special team lay hidden in the Stone Cliff forest of the North Suburbs. They wore ordinary clothes and plain hats, with picnicking gear in their vehicles.

Some sat quietly in their cars, while others stood watch outside, all poised in a state of readiness. They were more vigilant than sparrows in a dark forest, poised to surge from the woods en masse at the slightest sign of trouble, charging toward a single destination.

They might not see any grass stir all night. If the wind stayed calm until dawn, they would melt away into the forest, reappearing in the city’s corners as if they had never deviated from their daily routines.

The wind had been still for a long time, the air carrying the fresh scent of trees, but the sentries never relaxed. The truck carrying the hostage had yet to leave, and the longer it lingered, the more troublesome the situation became.

The watchers grew increasingly uneasy until a shout from one of the vehicles turned their anxiety into a despairing sense of relief.

“Load up! Mission’s on—move out!”

The unremarkable convoy headed toward the Stone Cliff Border Station. Soon, they reached the warning perimeter. The drivers ignored the safety alerts and sped toward the checkpoint.

At the same time, the team members pulled on masks and raised rifles. Their vehicles were no longer ordinary; they had become a squadron of war machines, ready to face death fearlessly.

…

Cha Nan gripped the wheel while waiting for traffic police to clear the street, checking his navigation for a new route. Du Lengding stared at her phone, scrolling through work group chats. Amid the messages from “friends,” one caught her eye, and her fingertip paused for a quick glance.

—Road ahead severely congested. Do not proceed. Turn back.

The roads had never been smooth, and much of the blockage was deliberately caused by Giel and the Libo Faction. But hearing confirmation from their source carried ill omens—at the very least, the implication was far from optimistic.

Du Lengding was not the decision-maker and knew only her part of the plan, following orders from the organization. Yet as a Police Bureau system officer and a ranking commander, she was highly attuned to directives. A few short words revealed the shifting dynamics behind the scenes.

She served as vice captain of the Patrol Police Team, responsible for the patrol zone that included Peachwood Street—the closest to the kidnapping site. When the incident occurred, the Station Chief had notified her first, ordering her to lead her team in pursuit of the fugitives.

Her true role was to assist Giel’s “traffic jam spectacle,” buying time and slowing the pursuit to let the “kidnappers” cross the border smoothly.

All she had to do was stay stuck obediently, avoiding aggressive moves. But now, new orders from the organization demanded she delay further and steer clear of the Stone Cliff Border Station in the North Suburbs.

This revealed at least two issues: first, the “kidnappers” were still stuck inside the border station, unable to exit; second, armed conflict was imminent, and to protect her safety, she was barred from approaching.

Armed conflict… In such a clash, could their organization’s forces gain the upper hand? What if they lost? What if the hostage couldn’t be smuggled across?

Du Lengding raised her eyes to the sluggish traffic ahead and spoke coldly. “That’s enough. Get out and switch to Daxi’s car. Follow my lead—and help him with navigation.”

Cha Nan gripped the wheel tighter, showing no sign of obeying. “Come on, I need to drive…”

“I’ll drive. You’re too slow—I’ve had enough!”

Cha Nan felt deeply wronged. This was all due to traffic—why dump it on him?

He started to protest but glanced at the icy face beside him, sharper than a snowman frozen solid. Fine. Whatever she said. With the jam anyway, staying in the car just meant more scolding.

After the switch, Du Lengding had the vehicle to herself. She took the wheel and immediately broadcast on the channel, ordering the team: Reverse and follow me forward. Don’t fall behind!

Du Lengding backed up, wasting precious time until they reached neighboring Gardenia Street. From there, they looped to Pinewood Street, circling wide around Changning Street before finally breaking free of the crowds and merging onto the suburban highway, speeding toward their destination.

The radio crackled with Cha Nan’s voice, jittery as ever. He was in for another earful. “Captain Du, aren’t we going too fast? Watch out for safety!”

“Shut up and focus on the road.” Du Lengding stared ahead and floored the accelerator again.

Night winds howled across the highway, cleaved by the rushing vehicles into shivering wails. Du Lengding’s three police cars cut forward like a linked arrow, piercing toward the Baikang border zone.

…

“Calm down. Just calm down—that was just an accident!” Captain Luo Zan raised his arms higher, repeatedly soothing the furious man behind him. “Let me—I’ll give the orders. No more shooting!”

“I’m telling you one last time: lower all your weapons. Do you want to see me die? You bunch of bastards!”

Once the border guards had spread out further, Aken finally settled, though sweat slicked his palms, making his grip slippery. The pistol felt ready to slip from his hand at any moment.

The border guards ahead had lowered their weapons, but Aken knew unseen corners hid enemies with rifles trained on his skull. Only the night and the truck’s cover made targeting difficult.

After that earlier shot, he dared not act rashly. If he died, no one would drive—or react in time to do so. He had to preserve himself and stalemate them in this prolonged standoff.

But the standoff tested not just his stamina, but his convictions. He knew reinforcements were coming soon, so he had to hold firm for victory.

The air, stirred by turmoil, fell into forced silence. Yet this quiet brewed deeper emotions—not extinguished, but coiled for a greater eruption.

The spark came from gunfire again, but this time, not aimed at the criminal.

A hundred meters from the truck, commotion erupted. Several vehicles charged through the safety line, barreling forward amid shouts.

The dissuading border guards pursued for a few meters but, seeing it futile, raised their rifles and fired at the tires—to halt the intruders and alert distant comrades.

At the truck, the guards who had stood down turned toward the approach. Several vans raced in, flooding the freshly cleared inspection area like beasts bursting from a reserve, poised to rampage across the border.

Everyone snatched up weapons again, united in fury against the oncoming threat. But the attackers were a step faster. Gun barrels protruded from windows, bullets sparking as muzzles flashed. The crackling reports wove a dirge of death across the frozen night.

Bang-bang-bang—

Bang-bang-bang—

Bang-bang-bang-bang-bang—

Gunfire thundered like hailstones on the border. Duo Lin clutched her pistol, trembling violently.

The truck was struck repeatedly amid the chaos. She could no longer tell friend from foe in the storm of bullets overwhelming her and He Lilin, threatening to engulf them both.

Duo Lin hugged He Lilin tighter, huddling back into the cardboard boxes, fearing stray rounds might claim her life.

Outside, the border guards fell one by one in the surprise assault. From the duty room, the Station Chief assessed the situation and swiftly directed countermeasures. He split his forces: some to keep the criminal pinned, others to encircle the vans for multi-angle attacks.

The vans’ glass shattered, bodies denting under fire. Shards flew like bullets. While Dan Mu reloaded his rifle, his comrade slumped beside him, head bowed.

“Bro! Bro, get up!”

Reload complete, calls ended, Dan Mu shouldered the machine gun and fired again. His eyes burned red, pupils dark with hatred—not for this moment alone, but for every instant of the past three years, every second of endurance.

Two days earlier, when the liaison reached out, they had worried no one would volunteer. Instead, everyone agreed, eager and unhesitating, seizing their weapons.

They had waited too long, endured too much.

In this rigidly ordered city, the Sern people lived like docile lambs, content with assigned roles, loyal to dictated jobs, trapped in bestowed fates.

They survived smoothly, clinging to life, becoming part of the city’s scenery in this “era of great peace.”

But they craved no mere peace. They yearned to tear off the facade of prosperity—with knives or guns, to draw blood and purge filth; with clashes or wars, for they sought not placid survival.

Facing the intensifying gunfire, Dan Mu did not flinch. Nor did his comrades. They poured years of pent-up rage into their ammunition, unleashing it upon their mortal foes.

…

With Plan C activated, the Stone Cliff Border Station was on the verge of becoming a battlefield.

Ji Tingxi grew uneasy. She slipped away from the celebration procession via a pre-planned route, merging onto the suburban highway.

En route, she called Dean He to report and suggest again.

“Dean He, we’re going full speed. I’ve also contacted nearby patrol units to see if they can arrive early. Are there any other forces you can call in?”

In planning the operation, Ji Tingxi had accounted for every possible rescue asset. By her reckoning, they were all covered—and bottled up in the city. Still, she probed Dean He’s stance one last time.

But He De’s response was curt, eager to end the call.

“Head there first. Contact me if anything changes.”

After hanging up, Ji Tingxi pondered his words, gleaning more. He De’s tone was steadier than before, and he avoided deeper discussion—as if preoccupied with something more urgent.

Had he already summoned other agencies with swifter reinforcements?

Which side could it be?

“Little Qi, pick up the pace. Don’t wait for the tail.”

Kang Qi checked the rearview mirror, saw the road widening ahead, and accelerated obediently.

In the suburbs, the border station loomed closer. At the final fork, still hundreds of meters out, the roar of firefight echoed like an amplified alarm. Vehicles scattered without need for the temporary police post’s warnings—anyone valuing life kept their distance.

At the 200-meter safety line, Ji Tingxi pulled out her badge, ready to speak with the officer, when two military trucks rolled up from the right. Loaded with troops in full gear—armored, armed, primed for assault or defense.

Spotting the camouflage under the headlights, Ji Tingxi instantly understood why He De had sounded calmer on the phone.

—If the military intervened, the balance of power would tip decisively, and the outcome would reveal itself swiftly.

“Commander, here’s your ID. You’re cleared to pass. Stay safe.”

Ji Tingxi took it but held back, gesturing rightward. “Did you call in that support?”

“No,” the officer said, stunned, shaking his head stiffly. “We haven’t contacted anyone…”

“Check them thoroughly!”

“But they…”

“Right now, nothing proves they’re military except appearances.” Ji Tingxi’s face was stern. “You say you didn’t call them. We didn’t either. So where did they come from? Don’t wave through based on looks—you’ll be liable if things go wrong!”

“Yes! We’ll verify properly!”

Distant muzzle flashes pierced the thick night into Ji Tingxi’s eyes. She glimpsed police cars entering the checkpoint. Meanwhile, her side mirror showed the camo trucks closing in, growing massive.

The military would have to get past her first. She’d delay them as long as possible!

But her comrades ahead needed to seize the crossing fast!