The world went silent in that instant.
Even the wind seemed to stop.
Wang Guifen’s finger, still pointed at Huo Yan’s nose, froze in midair, trembling violently as if afflicted with Parkinson’s.
She widened her murky eyes, staring at the black barrel of the gun before her.
That was a gun.
The real thing.
A chilling cold sensation ran from her forehead through her entire body. Wang Guifen felt as if her blood had frozen.
She had lived most of her life, and except in movies, she had never seen such a scene.
“You… you…”
Her lips quivered, teeth chattering together, unable to utter a word.
A warm stream ran down her pant leg.
She had peed herself.
From fear.
Huo Yan held the gun in one hand, stance textbook-perfect.
His expression remained indifferent, not even a twitch of his eyebrows.
As if he were aiming at a moving target, not a human being.
“Keep shouting.”
Huo Yan’s voice was terrifyingly calm. “Weren’t you so talkative earlier? Why so quiet now?”
“Trespassing a military restricted area, slandering an active-duty officer, inciting public disturbance…”
For each accusation, Huo Yan pushed the barrel slightly forward.
He forced Wang Guifen to step back until her legs gave out, and she fell backward into the mud puddle again.
“According to wartime regulations, I have the authority to shoot you on the spot.”
The last words were drawn out, each syllable dripping with deadly intent.
The crowd nearby dared not breathe, shrinking back in fear.
This division commander… was ruthless.
He really would shoot!
Next to her, Director Zhu Dachang panicked too.
But having lived in society, he thought Huo Yan was bluffing—soldiers wouldn’t shoot civilians just like that.
“Hey, hey, hey! What are you doing?”
Zhu Dachang stepped forward, trying to push Huo Yan’s arm.
“Who are you scaring with a broken gun? This is a society under law!”
“I know the county leaders! If you dare touch a single finger of mine, I’ll make sure you regret it!”
“You better hand over that girl and compensate us for our emotional losses, or else—”
Bang!
A muffled thud.
Before Zhu Dachang could finish his sentence, he flew backward like a kicked ball.
Three meters away.
He crashed heavily into the roadside drainage ditch, splashing a stinking puddle of black mud.
“Ah—my waist!”
Zhu Dachang rolled in the mud, screaming in agony like a slaughtered pig.
Huo Yan withdrew his long, powerful leg and calmly brushed off imaginary dust from his pants.
That kick had used only a fraction of his strength.
If he had gone all out, that fat pig’s insides would have been crushed.
“Noisy.”
Huo Yan spat the word coldly.
He holstered his gun with swift, stylish movements.
Then he turned to Zhao Gang, who was already frozen in shock.
“Zhao Gang.”
“Yes, sir!” Zhao Gang shivered, immediately standing at attention.
“Detain these two.”
Huo Yan pointed to the rolling Zhu Dachang and the stunned Wang Guifen.
“Reason: suspected espionage, provoking trouble, and…”
Huo Yan paused, a look of disgust flashing in his eyes.
“Human trafficking.”
“Send them to the police station. Investigate that factory director thoroughly. Tell the chief that this is a case I, Huo Yan, am personally overseeing—let him handle it accordingly.”
“Yes! Mission will be completed!”
Zhao Gang was elated.
Finally justice!
The division commander is awe-inspiring!
Several guards rushed forward and hauled Wang Guifen and Zhu Dachang up like dead dogs.
“Let go of me! I refuse! I’ll sue you!”
Zhu Dachang still resisted verbally.
Huo Yan didn’t even turn his head. He just coldly said:
“Want to sue me? Take a number.”
Without another glance at the two clowns, he strode into the camp.
The crowd, witnessing this, didn’t know who started the applause first.
“Yes! That’s our soldier!”
“That woman clearly isn’t a good person—selling her daughter and still thinking she’s justified?”
“Serves her right! Kick her well!”
Amid the cheers, Huo Yan’s posture was tall and firm like a pine tree.
Only Political Commissar Liu stood still, shaking his head helplessly.
Old Huo… he’s fiercely protective.
But this mess… it’s probably going to be hard to clean up.
…
Second-floor dormitory.
Jiang Li pressed herself against the window slit, taking it all in.
She saw Huo Yan draw his gun.
She saw him kick the arrogant Zhu Dachang like a hero.
She saw him handle the demons who had cornered her in just a few words.
The shock was indescribable.
In her world, Wang Guifen and Zhu Dachang were like fate—inescapable and absolute.
But in front of this man…
They were nothing.
Her heart pounded—not in fear, but in a newfound thrill.
So this… is what it feels like to be protected?
Footsteps echoed in the hallway.
Steady. Powerful.
Each step hitting in sync with her heartbeat.
Jiang Li could no longer hold back.
She dashed barefoot to the door.
The moment it opened, she threw herself recklessly forward.
“Huo Yan…”
She cried out, her body like a fledgling bird rushing into a nest, colliding into his broad, solid embrace.
Huo Yan had just entered and hadn’t changed his shoes.
The soft, fragrant body hit him full on.
His whole body stiffened.
His hands hovered awkwardly in midair, unsure where to place them.
The little woman in his arms trembled.
She clutched his waist tightly, burying her face in his chest, tears soaking his uniform.
“Wuu… I thought you were going to hand me over…”
“I thought I was going to die…”
She cried in helpless anguish, as if trying to shed a lifetime’s worth of tears.
Huo Yan looked down.
At that little head barely reaching his chest.
She was still wearing his white shirt; from running, the collar had slipped to one side, revealing a wide expanse of snow-white skin.
Her sweet milky scent, mixed with his tobacco smell, wafted up into his nose.
Huo Yan exhaled.
The hand hovering in the air finally came down.
He placed it on the back of her head.
Clumsy, yet rough in a protective way, he ruffled her hair.
“Why are you crying?”
His voice was hoarse, but no longer cold.
“I’m still here.”
He felt the wetness on his chest—her tears.
Being fully relied upon like this made his long-hardened heart melt completely.
“As long as I’m here, no one can take you away.”
Jiang Li lifted her tearful eyes to him.
Her peach-blossom eyes shone with admiration and love.
“Thank… thank you…”
She rose on tiptoe, trying to get closer.
Just as the air between them grew warmer, more intimate—
Knock, knock, knock!
A sudden interruption.
Political Commissar Liu’s stern voice followed.
“Old Huo! Open the door!”
“Tell me honestly—are you hiding someone in there? This is a matter of principle!”
Jiang Li shivered, as if electrocuted, trying to spring from Huo Yan’s embrace.
But Huo Yan’s iron-like hand gripped her waist firmly.
“Don’t move.”
He whispered in her ear, his gaze suddenly deep and dangerous.
“You can’t hide anymore.”