Zhang Kui reacted the moment he heard the gunshot. The police had likely already set up a perimeter.
Even at this moment, he quickly used his other hand to pick up the dagger, grabbed the woman who was trying to slip away by her hair, and yanked her back hard, pressing the dagger against her.
“Damn woman! Don’t even think about running! Even if I die, I’m taking someone down with me!”
He was injured and needed a hostage.
Although the two men seemed cowardly, this weak-looking woman was easier to control.
Su Tong struggled briefly, but the other party was clearly experienced; even with one arm, he restrained her tightly.
This body of Su Tong’s had been starved for two days earlier, then injected with sedatives. Whether the drug had not fully worn off or had side effects, she could barely resist—at this point, she could hardly even walk steadily.
Fortunately, the police had already set up a perimeter here. In such dim light, for someone to still manage a shot that hit the criminal’s arm, she felt her chances of being rescued were high.
Over a dozen flashlights swayed as they closed in. Zhang Kui dragged Su Tong deeper into the bamboo grass.
The bamboo leaves were as sharp as blades, cutting small wounds across their bodies, but no one had the time to care.
Seeing the encirclement tighten, Zhang Kui panicked and shouted loudly:
“Stop chasing!”
“Don’t come any closer! I’ve got a hostage!”
“If you come closer, I’ll kill her!”
Someone outside the grass shouted back:
“Zhang Kui! Drop your weapon!”
“Drop your weapon!”
“Release the hostage! You’re surrounded! There’s no way out!”
For a moment, it felt like flashlights were everywhere, leaving no escape.
Zhang Kui, as if grabbing a lifeline, pulled Su Tong in front of him and paced anxiously.
At that moment, a sharp child’s cry suddenly came from deep within the bamboo thicket.
Then a harsh male voice followed:
“If you don’t want this child to die here, come any closer!”
Zhang Kui was shocked. “Sixth Master! Why did you come out?!”
With rustling sounds, a man emerged from the thicket.
Su Tong glanced up. He was of average height, thin build, his face unclear in the darkness, only a pair of glasses reflecting a faint light.
He was panting heavily, half-carrying, half-dragging a child.
The child looked about five or six years old, seemingly ill, head drooping, not like he had just been crying.
The surroundings fell silent for a moment. Someone outside shouted again:
“Ma Liu! Zhang Kui! You can’t escape today! Drop your weapons!”
Before he could finish, Ma Liu interrupted sharply:
“Stop shouting nonsense!”
“I want a car, five hundred yuan, plus food and water! Deliver it here in twenty minutes, or I’ll kill this kid!”
As he spoke, he viciously pinched the child. The child seemed barely conscious, and after a long delay, finally burst into miserable crying.
The one shouting outside was Zhang Changhai, captain of the county criminal police.
While calling out to distract Ma Liu, Qin Yi had already instructed the sniper to find the best firing position and prepare to shoot.
Keeping the suspect alive mattered, but the hostage mattered more—he needed full preparation.
Unexpectedly, Ma Liu made demands. Zhang Changhai looked at Qin Yi, who nodded, signaling him to continue negotiations.
Zhang Changhai shouted again:
“Ma Liu! Zhang Kui!”
“Take the hostage and come out first! We can agree to conditions, but we must first confirm the hostage is safe!”
“Twenty minutes is too short! It’s unreasonable!”
“Come out of the grass first! Once we confirm the hostage’s safety, we can negotiate further!”
The shouting continued outside, but Ma Liu’s body began to sway. Zhang Kui quickly helped him sit down.
“Sixth Master, your condition…”
Ma Liu quickly glanced at Su Tong. Zhang Kui swallowed the rest of his words and said:
“This is just a local girl I grabbed to use as cover. If it doesn’t work, we’ll deal with her later.”
He made a slashing gesture with his hand.
Ma Liu nodded, catching his breath.
“Tonight’s opponents are tough. We can’t get into the mountains. We need to get out first.”
Then he pointed at the child lying beside him, eyes closed and silent.
“This kid is almost done for. We need to make plans early.”
He pulled out a pistol from his waist, pointed it at Su Tong, and said coldly:
“Behave yourself. Don’t try anything funny, or I’ll put a bullet in you.”
Su Tong glanced at the gun—a Colt, American-made. Such weapons were rare in the country; whoever had access to it was clearly no ordinary fugitive.
“Alright, let’s go out. They won’t dare to do anything.”
Ma Liu grabbed the child, stood up, and used the gun to press against the child’s head as he walked in front.
Zhang Kui followed behind, holding the dagger against Su Tong’s neck and pushing her forward.
Zhuanzi and Wang Lao’er had already been taken out by Ma Daming and were nowhere to be seen.
They staggered out of the bamboo thicket, and over a dozen flashlights immediately shone on them.
Everyone was shocked at the scene.
Only then did they realize that the woman Zhang Kui was holding hostage was covered in blood, her face completely unrecognizable.
No one knew whether it was Ma Liu’s doing—he truly was ruthless.
The child in Ma Liu’s hands hung limply, completely silent, clearly not just asleep.
“Dongdong… Dongdong!!”
A trembling voice called out. “Dongdong, look at Dad! Dad is here to save you! Dongdong!”
Su Tong looked up and realized the speaker was actually a police officer.
She was shocked. These criminals were bold enough to kidnap a police officer’s child.
The officer had previously restrained himself due to discipline, even as his child cried out, but now he could no longer hold back.
“Ma Liu, you beast! How could you hurt a child! If anything happens to Dongdong, I’ll skin you alive…”
“Enough!”
Ma Liu interrupted coldly.
“The child is fine, just a little sick.”
“Since I dared to come out, I’m not afraid of your tricks…”
“You’ve got snipers, huh? Think you have numbers on your side?”
“Hmph! Don’t you want a live one anymore?”
He sneered and shifted the child slightly. Everyone gasped when they saw his chest—completely strapped with homemade explosives.
“Everyone be careful with your guns. Don’t let them go off.”
He raised his thumb, which had a ring attached.
“Pull this ring, and not just the child—everything within several kilometers will be wiped out.”
Qin Yi cursed inwardly: the old fox!
In the darkness, the roar of engines sounded. Two military-green jeeps arrived quickly. A police officer jumped out and handed the keys to Zhang Changhai.
Zhang Changhai shook the keys at Ma Liu.
“Release the child! The keys are yours! Money and supplies are in the car!”
Ma Liu sneered.
“Put the key in the car. Start the engine. Don’t try to stall me anymore.
I can wait—but I’m afraid this kid can’t.”