Time: 12.44 AM. Twenty-five hours and forty-six minutes remaining.
*Xin Lei*
In the Army base, General Song and Sergeant Zi Mimi's bodies were handled by the soldiers as they were doing their usual procedures.
Bai Li, Major Genera Shi, Su Weiyuan, and Yu Zichen had a lot to answer to the officials. It was complete silence as the higher-ranking officials knew what happened. I was there, too, as I gave my statement.
Everybody accepted one fact.
It was a disaster.
General Song, the highest-ranking soldier of the Chinese Army, was a traitor who spied for the mysterious gang. He was involved in illegal dealings and murders of so many innocent people, including Tan Ye.
He kicked out one honest soldier on false charges of killing a civilian and attempted murder on a Captain.
The Army's reputation was as good as finished.
I was waiting outside since all the soldiers and the upper management got into an emergency meeting to discuss the next action plan.
I sighed.
General Song and Sergeant Zi Mimi died, and we couldn't catch the shooter either. When Su Weiyuan and the others came back, they said that the killer already fled the scene.
It had already been an hour since the meeting started, and another thirty minutes mark was about to be crossed.
The door opened, and everybody finally returned.
I quickly walked up to Bai Li and typed. *What happened?"
Bai Li said, "As expected. We cannot disclose the fact that General Song actively betrayed the Army. Major General Shi is still talking to those old booties."
Yu Zichen shrugged. "It's decided that General Song was forced to submit to the culprits or they would take serious action against his family. He tried to save Su Weiyuan, but the gang got a whiff of it, and they killed him."
Su Weiyuan said, "More like he sacrificed his life."
I looked at them, dumbfounded. I quickly typed. "But if we don't bring out the fact that General Song killed Tan Ye, then how would it clear Bai Li's name? Somebody shot him if Bai Li didn't."
Bai Li smiled and patted my head. "It's kind of sorted out too. We will say that General confessed at the last moment that he was threatened with his family if he didn't kill Tan Ye and put the blame on me."
That was crazy! What are those idiots officials thinking!?
Bai Li said, "I know what you are thinking. It is unfair to Tan Ye's family. They deserve to know the true culprit and his true reason."
I furiously nodded.
Su Weiyuan smiled. "Don't worry. Bai Li gave those old booties a nice dose. We said that whatever the circumstances, we will tell the truth to Tan Ye's family. We will ask them, if possible, to keep secrecy about this fact. We won't force them."
I pursed my lips.
Yu Zichen shook his head. "It's okay, Xin Lei. Even if we cannot expose General Song's deeds to the public, his years of service and reputation in the Army have been already destroyed. The soldiers who once respected him aren't even mourning his death anymore."
Bai Li said, "And the most important thing any soldier could lose is his or her honor. Ask me how that feels. That is why he was ready to spill out about the gang. He might be a martyr in the civilians' eyes but is a traitor for the Army forever. That traitor tag against one's name is something that is a nightmare for any soldier. His family would suffer a setback, too, because he betrayed. His soul would never rest in peace."
I slowly nodded. I hugged Bai Li and caressed my hand through his back. I placed a soft kiss on his cheek.
He hugged me back, and we stayed like that for a few moments.
Major General Shi returned after a few minutes too.
"Done?"
He nodded. "Tomorrow, Su Weiyuan and I will visit Tan Ye's family and explain everything."
We nodded.
Bai Li asked, "Where is Lin Zihao?"
"He has tracked the bar where Rodey used to regularly visit to meet some people. He has headed there to investigate."
"Call us if he finds something."
My phone buzzed, and I checked that it was Bro's call.
"Lei Lei." Bro's voice was cold and grim as he spoke.
I immediately figured something was wrong.
Bai Li narrowed his eyes. "What has happened?"
"Duan Deming, who Luo Zhiqiang took tonight to shift in IB prison, was attacked midway."
---
Time: 1:32 AM.
We quickly reached the hospital where Duan Deming was admitted.
"Xin Lei!"
Liao Huifang jumped into my hug and started sobbing quietly.
What happened to her?
Bro was outside the ward with a serious expression on his face. I looked at him questioningly.
Bai Li asked, "Why are you crying?"
Shi Ruiling said, "Zhen didn't get the time to say the whole thing, but Luo Zhiqiang was shot as well in the attack."
I widened my eyes in disbelief. Liao Huifang trembled more as she heard it and cried even harder.
"What exactly happened?" Bai Li asked.
She sighed. "Well, one of our officers was driving the van, and suddenly everybody heard a shot. It was a bullet shot at the tire. It punctured and the van lost its balance, but he somehow made it stop. Then there was another shot immediately after, and it pierced straight through Duan Deming's chest. Luo Zhiqiang and the other officers got out. He ordered them to look after Duan Deming and call an ambulance while he chased after the attacker for quite far. He had a gunfight against him in which he was shot in the shoulder."
Liao Huifang once again burst into soft sobs and hugged me tighter.
It was natural since I figured that she might like Luo Zhiqiang
"Xin Lei...he was bleeding very badly when I saw him in the hospital…His eyes were shut...i-is he going to…?"
I shook my head and quickly typed. "Nothing will happen to Luo Zhiqiang. Trust me. A shot at the shoulder isn't life-threatening. See, even Bai Li was shot in the shoulder. But he is fine and kicking alive, right?"
"*Ahem*" Bai Li coughed.
Liao Huifang slowly nodded and seemed to calm down.
I typed. "What are the doctors saying?"
The atmosphere felt even tenser now. I could already feel the gloominess oozing out of the air.
Shi Ruiling said, "Luo Zhiqiang will be fine."
I nodded and smiled at Liao Huifang.
See? I told you.
She softly smiled back.
"And Duan Deming?" Bai Li asked.
"That is the problem. He was shot in the chest, very close to the heart. The doctors also cannot say anything for now."
Fuck. Closer to the heart meant that many vital arteries and nerves around it could have got damaged. It could affect the blood and oxygen supply to the rest of his organs, and that could make his condition even more dangerous! He might even slip into a coma.
Ughh...what rotten luck! My head was starting to ache.
First, somebody killed General Song and Zi Mimi, and now Duan Deming is so close to losing his life as well.
He was our only hope now to know anything about the boss and the hideout.
Shi Ruiling's voice snapped me back from my thoughts.
"Luo Zhiqiang also shot at the attacker. It was on his abdomen."
"Who was he? Did Luo Zhiqiang see his face?"
Bro narrowed his eyes. "He caught his side profile. The attacker was Rodey."
---
***
Rodey returned to the base, huffing, and puffing, clutching his abdomen, then was slightly bleeding. He cursed.
That bastard shot me where I was already hurt on my stomach! Thankfully, the bullet only grazed past me, or I was a goner.
"Boss Rodey."
The guards came to him and helped him stand as he almost staggered his way.
"Scram!" he coldly said, "I don't need your help."
"But the boss wouldn't like it…" they hesitated. Everybody knew how Rodey was an important member of the gang and equally to the boss.
"Fuck off!" The pain was pissing him off.
The guards straightened up and ran away with tail in between their legs.
Rodey leaned on the wall, tired. His hand in his pocket touched Ying Yue's handkerchief. He took it out and stared at it for a long time.
'Use it if your wound starts bleeding again.'
Her soft and concerned voice rang in his ears. The troubled expression on her small face flashed past his eyes.
'Please save my daughter…'
Their words kept hammering in his mind. He punched a fist on the wall.
Fuck! I don't have any idea what to do!
---
The door to the room slowly opened where Chu Jie, Cocoa, Long Hu, and Ying Yue were kept.
The man codenamed as Risfun, quietly tip-toed in the room. Everybody was sleeping as they got tired.
His gaze fell on Ying Yue, and an eerie smile lit his lips.
He stepped towards her, and Ying Yue's brows furrowed as she felt a presence. She blinked and opened her eyes and inwardly froze to see the same man who tried to sexually assault her in the bar.
Risfun smiled disgustingly as he flicked his tongue over his lower lip, eyeing her body. "Hey, babe." He whispered. "I cannot wait anymore. Let's have some fun together."