Lu Shuangrou clung tightly to Xia Tianlei. Her face was ashen, and she looked like a cold statue stripped of its soul.
When the bandit raised his gun and aimed at her again, there was no fear in her eyes. Her heart had sunk into utter despair, and she had completely given up any desire to live. She even yearned to leave this world with the man she loved and be together with him forever in the next.
Just as the bandit was about to pull the trigger again, poised to end Lu Shuangrou’s life without mercy, a flash of cold light streaked through the night like a shooting star.
A military dagger shot toward the bandit’s gun-holding right hand with the force of a powerful crossbow bolt.
The dagger flew as fast as lightning. The bandit had no time to dodge; all he felt was a sudden, searing pain in his wrist. The dagger had pierced it with pinpoint accuracy, and blood instantly gushed from the wound, splattering across the ground.
Immediately afterward, a lithe figure leaped in from the balcony like a fierce tiger descending the mountain, then sprinted into the room at breakneck speed.
While still in midair, the newcomer deftly swung out a kick. It landed like a heavy hammer, carrying tremendous force as it struck the bandit, as though all his anger and worry had been poured into that one blow.
Lu Shuangrou instinctively looked up. When she saw that the newcomer was Yang Luo, she could no longer hold back the grief surging through her like a raging tide. She cried out, “Xiao Luo, please save Brother Xia!”
The moment Yang Luo had silently slipped in through the balcony, he had witnessed the horrific scene inside. His heart sank, and a profound sense of guilt welled up within him. He knew he had still arrived one step too late.
Seeing that the bandit was about to harm Lu Shuangrou, Yang Luo didn’t dare hesitate. He swiftly drew the military dagger he always carried—a weapon he had never used since arriving in the city—and hurled it at the bandit with all his strength.
The dagger pierced the bandit’s wrist, and the gun in his hand clattered heavily to the floor. He instinctively reached for it to fight back, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw Yang Luo pouncing toward him like a cheetah. With no other choice, he abandoned the gun and hurriedly retreated two steps, barely dodging Yang Luo’s fierce attack.
“You’re the first person ever to sneak in here without me noticing. Who exactly are you?” The bandit stared hard at Yang Luo, his eyes filled with terror and confusion.
Yang Luo was consumed with worry for Xia Tianlei and had no time to pay the bandit any attention. He moved in a flash, reaching Xia Tianlei like a phantom. At some point, five long silver needles had appeared in his right hand. With blinding speed, he flung them all at once, each one landing precisely where he intended.
The five silver needles lodged securely in key points on Xia Tianlei’s head, throat, and elsewhere. Yang Luo gently propped him up, then suddenly slapped him hard on the back.
Xia Tianlei’s throat warmed. He spat out a mouthful of foul blood and slowly opened his eyes. They were clouded with weakness and exhaustion, but at least a trace of life had returned to them.
Although the bandit’s right hand was injured, he believed his martial skills were formidable and had absolute confidence in his own strength. He was convinced he could still kill Yang Luo, so he chose not to flee.
But when he saw Yang Luo ignoring him completely—not even sparing him a glance—the bandit flew into a rage. He had never been treated with such contempt. Humiliated and furious, he charged at Yang Luo like a mad dog, intent on killing him with a single blow and avenging the injury to his hand.
“Sister-in-law, call 120! Brother Xia won’t last much longer!” Yang Luo shouted urgently to Lu Shuangrou as he advanced to meet the bandit.
As soon as the words left his mouth, their fists collided with a resounding bang. It was like two boulders smashing together, producing a deep, thunderous impact. The sound echoed through the silent room like a clap of thunder, making everyone’s heart tremble.
A sharp crack rang out. The bandit’s right arm couldn’t withstand the force and shattered on the spot. He flew two meters through the air like a broken kite and crashed heavily to the ground. Yang Luo was also driven back several steps by the tremendous impact before he managed to steady himself.
The bandit was completely panicked. In all his years of martial arts training, he had never encountered such a formidable expert. He couldn’t even withstand a single move. Deep fear rose within him as he realized he had met a true adversary.
If Yang Luo hadn’t been injured, that single punch would have sent the bandit straight to the underworld.
Fear filled the bandit as he lay on the ground. He never imagined he would run into such an expert among experts. Both his hands were now useless, and if he didn’t leave immediately, it might be too late. Weighing his options, he decided to save his own life first and find a way to take revenge later.
With that thought, the bandit endured the pain and quickly got to his feet. Moving as fast as he could, he fled toward the balcony.
How could Yang Luo let him escape so easily? He nimbly jumped onto a chair, pushed off with his foot, and launched himself after the bandit like a bolt of lightning. His speed was astonishing.
“Is he even human? How can anyone move that fast?” the bandit thought, glancing back in terror. Yang Luo had caught up in an instant. The bandit was so frightened that his legs went weak, and terror filled his eyes.
Before he could react, Yang Luo’s feet clamped around his head like pincers. Then, while airborne, Yang Luo executed an astonishing 360-degree spin before slamming him toward the floor.
Just before they hit the ground, Yang Luo released his left leg, keeping his right leg tightly hooked around the bandit’s head as he drove him down hard.
With a heavy thud, the bandit’s head slammed into the tiled floor. Yang Luo followed through with a graceful turn and landed steadily on his feet. His poised stance was like a towering mountain, inspiring awe and fear.
Yang Luo didn’t let the bandit go. He strode over and seized one of the bandit’s legs in each hand, then exerted force with both arms and twisted them sharply outward.
Several crisp cracks rang out in succession as the bandit’s legs were forcibly twisted and broken. He let out a series of shrill, agonized screams that echoed through the room, sending chills down everyone’s spine.
Crack! Yang Luo’s anger had not yet subsided. He seized the bandit’s hands and twisted them out of shape the same way. Every movement brimmed with fury, as though he meant to repay the bandit in full for everything he had done to Xia Tianlei.
Then Yang Luo drew his military knife without hesitation. His eyes blazed with anger and resolve as he brought the blade down, severing the bandit’s tendons at the wrists and ankles.
Yang Luo repaid the bandit, many times over, for all the pain he had inflicted on Xia Tianlei. Unable to endure the torment, the bandit had passed out.
Yang Luo hated the bandit to the core. If Xia Tianlei really died, what would become of Lu Shuangrou and her child? His heart was full of hatred for the bandit and guilt toward Xia Tianlei’s family. He wanted to tear the man to pieces.
Xia Tianlei was now at death’s door. After finishing her phone call, Lu Shuangrou once again held him tightly in her arms, as though she could keep his life from slipping away.
Yang Luo left the bandit, now utterly incapable of moving, and hurried over to Xia Tianlei and his wife. He slowly crouched before them, his eyes full of guilt and sorrow. “Brother Xia, I’m sorry. I came too late.”
“It’s not your fault. I’ve always known that in our line of work, a day like this would come sooner or later. It’s just my wife and child I feel sorry for.” Xia Tianlei gave a faint shake of his head and spoke weakly. His voice was as faint as a thread, and every word seemed to take all the strength he had.
A moment ago, after Yang Luo had slapped his back and brought him around, Xia Tianlei had witnessed Yang Luo’s astonishing, fearsome skills with his own eyes. He seemed to have guessed something.
“Y-you’re from that mysterious military unit, aren’t you?” Xia Tianlei asked, gazing at Yang Luo with weak yet hopeful eyes.
“Yes, Brother Xia. I’m the Squad Leader of the Dragon Soul Squad. You need to save your strength and stop talking so much.” Yang Luo was frantic with worry and had already forgotten that the Dragon Soul unit was top secret.
Hearing Yang Luo admit that he was with the Dragon Soul Squad—and its Squad Leader, no less—a faint glimmer appeared in Xia Tianlei’s dying eyes. It was like a ray of dawn in the darkness. Though faint, it brought him a measure of comfort.
“S-so it’s true. Dragon Soul really exists. What a domineering name. It’s the place every soldier dreams of joining. It’s a pity I’ll never get the chance to enter that mysterious unit.” Xia Tianlei spoke with a sigh, his voice tinged with helplessness and longing.
“Cough…” Xia Tianlei began coughing violently and brought up a large mouthful of blood. It stained his clothes red and pierced Lu Shuangrou and Yang Luo to the heart.
“Tianlei, Tianlei… What’s wrong?” Tears streaked Lu Shuangrou’s face. Her eyes were full of worry and fear as she clutched Xia Tianlei tightly, as if she could ease his pain.
“Brother Xia, don’t say anything. I understand.”
Xia Tianlei seemed to lack the strength to manage a full smile. He struggled to force a faint one and said, “I know how I’m doing. If I don’t say it now, I won’t get the chance, little brother. Cough…”
Xia Tianlei coughed up another mouthful of blood, and Lu Shuangrou tenderly wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
“Brother Xia, I’m right here.” Yang Luo held Xia Tianlei’s hand tightly, as though trying to pass his own strength to him that way.
“Tianlei, don’t talk anymore. Rest for a while.” Lu Shuangrou held Xia Tianlei’s head and sobbed uncontrollably. Her tears kept falling onto his face, as if expressing all the pain of having to let him go.
Xia Tianlei looked at Yang Luo, his eyes full of earnest pleading, and continued, “Little brother, I have a favor to ask of you.”
“Brother Xia, don’t say it. I know. I know everything.” Yang Luo seemed to understand what Xia Tianlei wanted to say. His eyes were already wet.
“Little brother, you know Shuangrou and I are both orphans. When I’m gone, she and our child won’t have any family left. I’m entrusting my wife and son to you. Please take good care of them for me. You’re the only one capable of doing it, because you’re my only friend and my only brother.” Xia Tianlei spoke slowly, using every last bit of his strength. His eyes were full of worry and reluctance for his wife and child, as though he were entrusting Yang Luo with his most precious possessions.
“Brother Xia, don’t talk nonsense. The doctor will be here soon. You’re going to be fine.” Yang Luo spoke, fighting back his grief.
“Tianlei, please don’t say that,” Lu Shuangrou begged through her sobs.
“Little brother, do you promise?” Xia Tianlei persisted, his eyes filled with worry and reluctance for his wife and child.
“I promise. You’re my Big Brother, after all. I’ll promise you anything.” Yang Luo nodded emphatically, tears streaming down his face. He knew this was Xia Tianlei’s final request—and a sign of his trust in him.
“Good… good little brother.” Xia Tianlei struggled to form a faint smile. It held his gratitude toward Yang Luo and his relief for his wife and child’s future.
From the moment Yang Luo entered, he had seen at a glance that Xia Tianlei was critically ill and nearing the end of his life. Although the silver needles had temporarily kept a thread of life in him, Yang Luo knew better than anyone that even a Great Luo Golden Immortal couldn’t save Xia Tianlei now. His heart was full of helplessness and grief as he watched Xia Tianlei slip away, unable to do anything.
In truth, Yang Luo was a doctor—a World-Class doctor, whose mastery of both Chinese and western medicine was second to none. In Traditional Chinese Medicine especially, few in Huaxia could match him.
When Yang Luo was five, a chance encounter brought him to a centenarian practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The old man was not only deeply learned in Traditional Chinese Medicine, but also a martial arts master who had mastered the many styles of Huaxia boxing. He passed on everything he had learned throughout his life to Yang Luo.
Yang Luo studied under the old man for more than a decade, working hard and constantly honing his skills. He mastered the medical arts and developed astonishing martial prowess. The year Yang Luo was specially recruited into the military at fifteen, the old man passed away at the age of 126.
Tears streamed down Xia Tianlei’s face as he looked at Lu Shuangrou, his eyes full of boundless remorse. “Shuangrou, I… I can’t stay with you anymore. Do you hate me?” His voice was thick with love for his wife and reluctance to leave her.
Lu Shuangrou was already sobbing uncontrollably. She could only shake her head again and again, tears pouring down like a bursting floodgate. Her cries were heart-rending, enough to break anyone’s heart. All she felt was love and grief at losing Xia Tianlei; there was not a trace of hatred in her heart.
Xia Tianlei’s breathing grew weaker and weaker. Yang Luo gently took his hand and placed it in Lu Shuangrou’s. He hoped that in the final moments of Xia Tianlei’s life, the couple could feel each other’s warmth.
Lu Shuangrou held Xia Tianlei’s hand tightly. In an extremely faint voice, he said, “Shuang…rou, if… if there’s a next life, I won’t be a police officer. I’ll just be an ordinary man, and slowly grow old with you.” His voice was full of love for his wife and longing for a simple life.
“I know, I know… I understand, I understand…” Lu Shuangrou sobbed, as though she wanted to convey all her feelings to Xia Tianlei in those words.
“Shuangrou, I’m tired. I want to rest… rest.” Xia Tianlei’s voice was barely audible. His body had reached its limit, and the flame of his life was about to go out.
Lu Shuangrou shook her head desperately. Yang Luo, usually so strong, had also begun to weep at some point; tears blurred his vision.
“Shuang… Shuangrou, I’m sorry. In the next… next life, I’ll love you again.”
After saying those words, Xia Tianlei slowly closed his eyes, and his head lolled weakly to one side.