Ling Lie quickly analyzed this possibility. Sha Man hadn’t only invited him—who would come from “Floating Light”? Bai Lingxue?

A’Xue?

Bai Lingxue was very likely already in this building. He and this “Gray Peacock” had matters that absolutely needed to be confirmed face-to-face.

“Mm—”

Suddenly, a short sound came from a room nearby. Ling Lie’s nerves were stretched to their limit as he quickly locked onto the location.

Pushing open the door, he saw an unexpected person—Yu Yesheng.

Yu Yesheng was tied up and secured to the side of a cabinet. His mouth was gagged, his face covered in tears. Seeing someone enter, he was first terrified, thinking the one coming to silence him had finally arrived. Taking a closer look and discovering it was Ling Lie, after the surprise, it was like seeing a savior—he cried even harder.

Ling Lie: “…”

Not knowing why Yu Yesheng was also here, but he was at least a civilian. Ling Lie remembered his responsibility and felt he couldn’t stand by and watch someone die, so he walked over and tore off the tape on his mouth.

Yu Yesheng couldn’t control his emotions and nearly cried aloud.

Ling Lie pressed his index finger to his lips. Yu Yesheng stammered, “Bro!”

Ling Lie was speechless. Who’s your bro? Haven’t you always used your age to pressure me?

But now wasn’t the time to settle old scores. Yu Yesheng being trapped here was definitely abnormal. What was Sha Man planning to do with Yu Yesheng?

Ling Lie lowered his voice and asked: “Who told you to come?”

Yu Yesheng gritted his teeth: “Yu Qin! She called me to come, said to discuss how to deal with the police and help the Yu family through this crisis. She also said that Yu Corporation became like this because I let you guys know about the talisman, it’s all my fault. I arrived this morning but didn’t see her at all. I felt something was wrong and wanted to run, but was caught by a group of armed people and brought here, wuu wuu wuu…”

Ling Lie initially found it strange—Yu Yesheng was nothing, why would Sha Man bring him here? But soon, he understood Sha Man’s vicious plan—

Yu Yesheng was just plan B. Sha Man’s plan was to lure “Floating Light” to appear, then frame “Floating Light” after the explosion. But whether “Floating Light” came or not wasn’t up to her. If “Floating Light” didn’t come, Yu Yesheng—and the Yu Qianming faction behind him—would be the substitute. Framing Yu Yesheng was basically equivalent to framing “Floating Light,” because Yu Qianming had already clearly informed the police that “Floating Light” was his collaborator.

“Tch.” Ling Lie pulled up the utterly clueless Yu Yesheng and told him to honestly follow him.

Mercenaries rushed up. Ling Lie kicked Yu Yesheng behind a wall barrier, fired accurately, and quickly took them out.

Such a big commotion surprisingly didn’t attract other mercenaries. Ling Lie found it strange—could Sha Man’s side have encountered some trouble? A confrontation with “Floating Light”?

Bringing Yu Yesheng along, Ling Lie couldn’t hope to be “Spider-Man” outside the window anymore and could only take the stairs. Yu Yesheng was scared silly by the gunfight just now. The more afraid he was, the more he talked, stammering: “Bro, bro, why are you willing to save me?”

Ling Lie got goosebumps from being called that. “Don’t. You’re my bro.”

“No no, you’re the bro.”

Ling Lie turned his head to look. Yu Yesheng was disheveled with footprints on his body, where was the spirit of that wastrel dandy? Looking at that face again, the only place that resembled Little Ji didn’t look similar anymore.

Thinking of Ji Chenjiao, Ling Lie inexplicably felt his heart skip. He had acted on his own—Little Ji must be angry.

Yu Yesheng was still muttering. Ling Lie found it annoying. “Of course it’s because you look like my wife.”

Yu Yesheng was so scared he stumbled. “Wi-wi-wife…”

Ling Lie said disdainfully: “Shut up. You don’t look like her anymore now. Say one more word and I’ll pull out your tongue.”

Sha Man heard gunshots from upstairs. The mercenary captain beside her stopped, wanting to go upstairs for support, but Sha Man said coldly: “No need to worry. Detonate immediately after I leave. He won’t escape even with wings!”

Although victory was in her grasp, Sha Man still had a fierce look on her face. She was very clear that today hadn’t perfectly achieved her goal—”Floating Light” hadn’t appeared. Fortunately, she had prepared Yu Yesheng as a substitute early on.

The group moved forward quickly. Ahead was a corner with sunlight streaming in from one side—that area should have been quite bright.

But at this moment, in the shadow cast by the sunlight, there was a tall, slender shadow.

Sha Man suddenly stopped in her tracks.

A series of steady footsteps could be heard, and then a person walked out from the shadows.

Bai Lingxue smiled like a gentleman: “I’ve come to keep the appointment.”

Sha Man felt as if she were being pressed in place by an irresistible force, unable to advance another step. “Floating Light” had originally been a key part of her plan. She had sent a message through “Floating Light’s” darknet to the usual contact point as always, hoping that “Gray Peacock” or “Navoice” would appear. Once they appeared, after she killed Ling Lie, she could frame “Floating Light” to take the blame for her.

But now that “Gray Peacock” had really appeared, she panicked like Lord Ye who loved dragons.

It was because of Ling Lie’s words. Yin Hanshan.

All of “Floating Light’s” seemingly unconditional favoritism toward her over Yu Qianming was a conspiracy!

The surrounding killers all aimed their weapons. The smile on Bai Lingxue’s face remained relaxed. “President Yu, what is the meaning of this?”

Sha Man steadied her mind, ordered her subordinates to lower their guns, and said forcefully: “You came too late.”

“Mm?”

“I’ve already finished what I needed to do. That officer surnamed Ling is still upstairs. If you want to make him suffer, you can go up and see him.”

Bai Lingxue showed a puzzled expression. “An officer surnamed Ling? Is that how distantly you refer to your own son?”

Sha Man’s thin eyebrows knitted together.

Bai Lingxue smiled: “Ling Lie, birth name Xia Xiaodou, became your son and was renamed Yu Ge, and his current name he changed himself later. What, just because he no longer has the surname Yu, you don’t recognize him?”

Sha Man said: “‘Gray Peacock,’ this has nothing to do with you.”

But Bai Lingxue continued: “Not only do you not recognize him, you want to trap him here and kill him. ‘Wicked Queen,’ it seems the codename you gave yourself fits your character well.”

“‘Gray Peacock,’ you’re meddling too much.”

“Hahaha, even tigers don’t eat their cubs, yet you, a single person, would even kill your son. Ms. Sha Man, you’re not Officer Ling’s biological mother, and you’re not the real Yu Qin, are you?”

The fine lines around Sha Man’s eyes suddenly tensed. One of the killers beside her aimed again.

But Bai Lingxue showed no fear. “Originally, in my plan, I specifically included having you kill Ling Lie. But you’re quite ‘accomplished’—you calculated me into this step too, wanting to blow up both Ling Lie and me, and make ‘Floating Light’ take the blame for you. ‘Wicked Queen,’ why didn’t you calculate yourself into your scheme too?”

The man before her had been calm throughout, but Sha Man could no longer control her emotions. She had pushed forward step by step today with tightrope-walking caution. Ling Lie had discovered her biggest secret, so she could only kill Ling Lie. But Ling Lie was a police officer—behind him, besides the Major Crimes Unit, was the mysterious Special Operations Team. To escape safely, she could only throw the dirty water onto “Floating Light.”

But her plan seemed to have already suffered complete defeat before “Gray Peacock.”

No, not yet!

Her eyes almost burst with flames. She still had killers, and “Gray Peacock” was only one person! As long as she killed “Gray Peacock” here…

She opened her mouth, but the first syllable of the order to shoot was still stuck in her throat when dense gunfire sounded from behind. She stood frozen in place. Blood and brain matter spurted from her sides. The sounds of bodies falling and hitting the ground echoed around her.

She didn’t turn around. Her taut nerves made it difficult for her to twist her head. She saw waves of blood surging before her eyes, the killers cursing in pain before dying. In the blood waves, only “Gray Peacock” was clear. A line of blood suddenly splattered across his refined face. He smiled and wiped it away, but didn’t wipe it clean—it made him look like an evil spirit walking out of hell.

The gunfire finally ceased. Actually, it was only a few seconds, but no one was left standing around Sha Man. Her throat trembled, unable to make a sound. After the numbness in her nerves receded, her right foot trembled as it moved backward.

A viscous sound rang out. Her scalp tingled—it was the sound of many people’s blood mixed together, stirred up by her heel.

“Ugh—” She couldn’t hold it in anymore. Supporting herself against the wall, she began to dry heave.

Behind her in the darkness were footsteps and the sound of loading guns. She knew those were “Floating Light’s” people. This burial ground prepared for Ling Lie would probably become her grave today.

She straightened up and looked at Bai Lingxue, discovering that his dark green eyes vaguely reflected bloody light.

Before, she hadn’t had much respect for this young man. The real boss of “Floating Light” was that “Black Peacock” who had never shown his face and never even entered the country. Legend had it he controlled everything in those war-torn countries, and “Gray Peacock” was just his subordinate.

But at this moment, she finally experienced “Gray Peacock’s” terror. Under his exterior, he had a vicious heart that calculated everyone into his schemes.

Sha Man asked: “Why?”

Bai Lingxue said: “What do you want to know?”

Sha Man spoke that name: “Yin Hanshan.”

Bai Lingxue’s indifferent eyes suddenly changed, the darkness within surging like storm clouds.

“It seems Ling Lie was right. ‘Floating Light’ really approached me because of that detective.” Sha Man had already foreseen her end and laughed miserably as she brushed back her hair.

Murderous intent filled Bai Lingxue’s brow. “Are you even worthy of saying that name?”

The closer to death, the more rampant the madness in Sha Man’s bones became. She greedily absorbed the pain revealed by Bai Lingxue. “I’m not worthy of mentioning him, but I’m worthy of killing him! Hahaha, that detective, in the end…”

Her words stopped because the gun barrel was already pressed against Sha Man’s forehead.

Bai Lingxue released the safety, his eyes like frost. “Speak. What about him in the end?”

Whether it was an illusion or not, Sha Man heard a tremor at the end of that sentence—was it the heartbreak of losing the most important person? When she was very young and lost her family, she had suffered like this too.

And now, she was about to lose the Yu Corporation she’d spent half her life building. She thought it would be unbearably painful, but it didn’t seem to feel like much.

She looked at those dark green eyes, and her heart suddenly softened. “He… was your family?”

Bai Lingxue froze, almost pulling the trigger.

“He didn’t have to die. Feng City was so far away. I hadn’t been to Feng City for many years.” Sha Man recalled scenes from years ago, her tone carrying a hint of self-mockery. “But why was there such a police officer who wouldn’t let go of a case that no one else could solve, and actually let him trace it back to me. He came to Xiarong City, tested me, followed me. My secret was about to be discovered by him—wasn’t he just offering up his neck?”

Bai Lingxue’s Adam’s apple moved, almost speaking to himself: “That’s the kind of police officer he was.”

A hint of mockery flashed in Sha Man’s eyes. “Is that so? Then if he were alive now, would he uphold justice and relentlessly pursue you too?”

“Bang—”

Sha Man cried out and fell to the ground. A bullet had pierced through her shoulder. She sat in the fresh blood of the killers, utterly disheveled.

But when she raised her head, she saw an even worse state than her own on Bai Lingxue’s face.

Bai Lingxue said softly: “He would.”

Sha Man laughed, saying words others couldn’t understand. “What’s the point? What’s the point?”

Bai Lingxue stepped forward. “How did he die?”

Sha Man narrowed her eyes. “‘Gray Peacock,’ you orchestrated this whole drama just to avenge him? You… you’re more pitiful than me.”

Bai Lingxue frowned. “How did he die?”

Sha Man didn’t answer. “I’ve come to this point also for revenge—revenge against the Yu family. But everything I did was for myself. But you, you really are pitiful. If Yin Hanshan were still alive, the first person he’d arrest would be you, not me!”

Bai Lingxue aimed at Sha Man’s forehead again. “How did he die!”

Sha Man fell silent. Only breathing and heartbeats remained in the air. After a moment, she sighed lightly and pointed at her heart. “Here. I used a bullet to pierce through him here.”

“Bang—”

Another gunshot pierced through the “Wicked Queen’s” chest. Sha Man convulsed for a moment, then her head finally dropped.

The killer hidden in the darkness emerged. “Navoice” called out: “Mr. Bai!”

Bai Lingxue’s pupils trembled lightly, cold sweat hung on his forehead, his face frighteningly pale. “Navoice” had never seen him so distraught.

Bai Lingxue threw the gun to “Navoice” and shook his head. “I’m fine.”

His voice was somewhat hoarse, as if he’d been sobbing for a long time, but “Navoice” could see clearly—there were no tears in his eyes.

He wanted to grieve like that person would. But he ultimately wasn’t that person.

“Navoice” asked: “What should we do next?”

Bai Lingxue said: “Have you found all the bombs?”

“Navoice” nodded. “Detonate now?”

Bai Lingxue said: “I still have one person to see.”

When no more killers came upstairs to surround them, Ling Lie had anticipated a change in the situation. When gunshots erupted downstairs, Yu Yesheng, who had originally been cowering like a quail, afraid and hiding behind him, suddenly had an epiphany. “The police are here! The police came to rescue us!”

Ling Lie pressed him down. “The police are right here!”

Yu Yesheng cringed and muttered, “But aren’t you also trapped? Let’s go down quickly. A bunch of police came to save us! It must be my dad who notified the police!”

Ling Lie kicked him and threatened to knock him out if he made more noise.

Yu Yesheng cried again and quickly covered his mouth, promising he wouldn’t make a sound.

Ling Lie cautiously went downstairs. During his time with the Special Operations Team, he’d undergone training in identifying gunfire. The gunshots just now were definitely not from the police—the guns and bullets were all foreign-made. And if it were the police who had broken in, they wouldn’t fire densely in a one-sided situation.

Sha Man wanted to set a trap for “Floating Light.” Those who came were very likely “Floating Light.”

A flame ignited in Ling Lie’s chest. In such a critical moment, he was actually somewhat excited.

Could it be Bai Lingxue who came? Was Bai Lingxue A’Xue? “Floating Light” kept setting traps for him, pulling him into vortex after vortex—was it because he had fallen off that cliff and left alone that village that was always in winter?

The further down they went, the more afraid Yu Yesheng became. He had already realized it couldn’t possibly be the police. It was too quiet. If it were the police, they would have already come upstairs to search and rescue.

“What’s this smell?” Yu Yesheng was suffocated by it and asked in a pinched voice.

Ling Lie said: “Blood. Brain matter.”

Yu Yesheng: “………..” Mommy!

They were not far from where Sha Man was killed. All the windows in the building were tightly closed, the power was cut, ventilation equipment couldn’t operate, so the fishy stench spread everywhere.

Yu Yesheng felt he might not be killed but would die from the stench or fear. Just thinking this, five or six people in bulletproof vests suddenly appeared on the wall, all with guns. Yu Yesheng couldn’t take any more scares—he was already at his limit. When those people came over, he fainted from fright.

Ling Lie stood still, his gaze falling on the leader. He recognized that was “Navoice,” someone who always appeared around Bai Lingxue.

“Navoice” was about to speak when Ling Lie beat him to it. “Why are you called ‘Navoice’ and not ‘Sonar’?”

“Navoice” short-circuited. “Huh?”

Ling Lie sneered. “Wanted to pick a codename but had a bit of illiteracy, so you got the characters backwards?”

“Navoice’s” dark face actually turned red on the spot. That was actually the truth!

He was quite curious about this person who immediately stabbed at his weak point and had no sense of his own situation. No wonder Mr. Bai always watched this person.

“Come with me.” To avoid exposing more of his illiterate shortcomings, “Navoice” tried to speak as little as possible and led Ling Lie forward.

Ling Lie didn’t ask where they were going. Only after walking a bit did he say “Oh” and point at the unconscious Yu Yesheng. “Hey, you should carry him if you don’t want him to be blown up here.”

“Navoice” glared at Ling Lie in surprise, said something in a low voice to someone beside him, and that person went back and carried Yu Yesheng.

Passing through a corridor, “Navoice” opened a door. Bai Lingxue raised his head from the sink, water droplets on his hands and face, the bloodstains already washed away.

Ling Lie stood at the door, so he looked toward the door, as if looking at a familiar old friend. He picked up a towel draped on the edge of the sink and wiped away the water before turning to Ling Lie with a smile. “Long time no see.”