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Bonus chapter! Thank you to Zzz for the donation! ^^
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The abandoned factory was eerily quiet, the only sound being Lin Xingyi’s frantic pacing. The anxious rhythm of his footsteps grated on the nerves, filling the air with a suffocating tension that weighed heavily on everyone present.
Yet no one dared to say a word to the young master. The others stood frozen in place, pretending not to notice, waiting for the arrival of the mysterious high-profile figure.
Finally, the sound of car engines rumbled from outside—not just one, but several.
Someone had arrived.
Lin Xingyi’s steps faltered at the noise. He clenched his jaw, then forced himself to walk toward the factory entrance, his expression like a man marching to his execution.
The others inside quickly followed, including Jiang Yan and his bodyguards.
Luo Qing had been about to join them, but the moment he lifted his foot, Jiang Yan shot him a cool glance.
"Stay."
Luo Qing pressed his lips together but ultimately remained. Right now, the factory was undeniably safer than the outside.
Before leaving, Jiang Yan turned to Han Lin, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Have your people protect him."
Police protecting a human trafficker? It sounded absurd. Yet Han Lin gave Jiang Yan a firm nod. Even without the order, they would have ensured Luo Qing’s safety.
Not just Han Lin—the three other undercover officers showed no objection either.
The factory was no longer under the criminals' full control. Under the cover of Jiang Yan’s men, three additional officers had infiltrated, ready to coordinate from within.
Only then did Jiang Yan lead his men outside.
Silence swallowed the factory once more, the harsh fluorescent lights casting long shadows that only deepened the unease prickling at everyone’s nerves.
The police’s plan was split into two parts: one team would blend into the factory to rescue the hostages, while another would lie in wait, ready to livestream the moment Lin Huaifeng appeared with the crime syndicate. Jiang Yan’s role was to amplify the broadcast, ensuring certain parties couldn’t suppress or shut it down quickly.
Once the footage went live, Lin Huaifeng would be finished—no chance of recovery.
The entire operation was perilous. One misstep, and none of them might make it out alive.
Then, the unexpected happened.
Just as Han Lin and the others prepared to move, a sudden gunshot shattered the silence. The sharp crack sent a jolt of panic through the factory, every head snapping toward the source of the sound.
The first floor had windows, but the view outside was blocked by piles of debris and overgrown plants. Luo Qing and one of the officers rushed to the second-floor windows, desperate to see what was happening.
However, the factory's lights barely illuminated anything beyond a short distance. Even with no obstructions, it was impossible to see what was happening outside.
Venturing out now would be far too dangerous—Han Lin was the only one who could still contact the outside.
Han Lin understood this well. He reached out to his teammates via earpiece, but after hearing their voices, his expression darkened as he turned to the other three.
"Old Qin and the others have been exposed."
Old Qin was one of the teammates assigned to monitor Lin Huaifeng and the criminal organization. Being discovered meant there was no clean escape—even if the Lin Corporation collapsed after tonight, survival was far from guaranteed.
A single gunshot rang out, followed by a barrage of gunfire. The two sides had clearly engaged in a full-blown firefight.
The three who had been preparing to rescue immediately abandoned their initial plan and rushed out to assist without hesitation, leaving only Luo Qing and Han Lin inside the factory.
Han Lin wasn’t in great shape himself, but he ignored his own condition, straining to listen to the sounds coming through his earpiece.
Afraid of distracting his teammates, Han Lin hadn’t dared to speak a word. But after a gunshot and a sharp, ragged breath, the other end of the line fell into dead silence.
Han Lin’s heart clenched. His voice trembled as he whispered, "Old Three? What happened? Are you okay?"
"Old Three?"
He raised his voice slightly, but there was still no response. A cold dread settled in his chest.
Something had gone wrong.
Agitated, Han Lin raked a hand through his hair. Even the pain from his injuries couldn’t steady him. Finally, gritting his teeth, he started toward the direction of the gunfire.
If their superiors had already revoked their investigation warrant, they certainly wouldn’t send reinforcements. His teammates stood little chance against those people alone.
He had to help them.
Even if it meant dying, he would die alongside his brothers.
Luo Qing moved to follow, but Han Lin stopped him. Meeting Luo Qing’s gaze, Han Lin spoke firmly, "Once the fighting starts, we won’t be able to watch out for you. You could get caught in the crossfire. Stay here."
None of them were guaranteed to make it out alive—how could they protect anyone else? Waiting inside the abandoned factory for the final outcome was the safest choice.
The police wouldn’t harm him, and it seemed the criminals had no intention of touching him either.
"I’ve already reported everything about you. Even if we die, someone will testify to your cooperation."
"Thank you." Han Lin bowed deeply to Luo Qing, then turned and disappeared into the darkness without looking back.
Luo Qing pressed his lips together uneasily but ultimately didn’t follow.
The police were clearly at a disadvantage. Joining their ranks now would make it nearly impossible to escape unscathed. Worse, if anyone saw him siding with the police, he’d instantly become the primary target.
The organization tolerated no betrayal.
Gunfire rang out incessantly, terrifying in the stillness of night. The victims huddled in their cages trembled in the corners, some even weeping in fear. The air was thick with despair and dread.
A few children, recognizing that only police officers carried guns, peered out with grimy faces full of hope—perhaps their rescuers had come.
But as time dragged on, no saviors arrived. Instead, the terrifying traffickers returned. The light in the children’s eyes dimmed, replaced by deep-seated terror.
Luo Qing, who had just entered, noticed the shift in their expressions. He showed no reaction, walking in expressionlessly with a bundle of steamed buns.
That afternoon, after the police were discovered by Jiang Yan and news spread of a VIP’s impending arrival, no one had remembered to feed the captives. Luo Qing had only just recalled it now.
The children shrank back fearfully at the sight of him, many shaking uncontrollably. They remembered this man—the one who had mercilessly kicked a little boy, nearly killing him.
To them, Luo Qing was just as monstrous as the men who’d beaten children to death.
Luo Qing paid no mind to their fear. He set down the buns and turned to leave.
But as he did, an unusual sound of crying and pleading made him pause. He glanced sideways.
It was the little girl he’d brought back, and the boy who was always with her.
The boy knelt before the girl, shaking her gently, his sobs hoarse and desperate.
"Qiaoqiao, what’s wrong? Qiaoqiao, say something!"
"Please don’t die, Qiaoqiao… Your parents haven’t even come for you yet…"
The girl seemed to be having an episode. Weak as she was, she clumsily lifted a hand to wipe the boy’s tears.
But she had no strength left. Her arm dropped limply. In the end, she could only clutch her doll with the last of her fading energy.
The doll was a birthday gift from her mother—her most cherished possession.
She didn’t blame her parents. She knew she had a very serious illness, one that required lots and lots of money.
Her family had none. Her mom and dad would never come for her.
But it was okay. She still had her beloved doll. The doll could take Mommy and Daddy’s place and stay with her.
The little girl slowly closed her eyes, her breathing so faint it was almost undetectable. If she wasn’t rushed to the hospital soon, she might not make it through the night.
Luo Qing pressed his lips into a tight line. The situation outside was still unclear, and recklessly freeing the victims was far from the wisest move.
After all, if the criminal organization came out on top, releasing these children would mean certain death for him.
The safest choice was to wait for the final outcome before taking action.
But…
Luo Qing stood in silence for a long moment before finally pulling out a small knife from his coat. Expressionless, he pried open the cage’s lock and stepped inside.
The children shrank back in terror as he entered, screaming and huddling in the corner, afraid he had come to take them away.
Luo Qing ignored them. He strode straight to the little girl, roughly shoving aside a boy who tried to block his path. Kneeling beside her, he pressed his fingers to her wrist.
A pulse. There was still a chance to save her.
He didn’t know how he could read vitals, but once he confirmed she was alive, he moved to lift her into his arms.
Luo Qing’s focus remained entirely on the girl—so much so that he didn’t notice the boy he had pushed away glaring at him with furious hatred.
Kids taken away by the traffickers never came back. And now this man was taking Qiaoqiao.
The boy’s eyes burned red. Snatching the knife Luo Qing had dropped, he raised it with trembling hands and charged.
Shhk—
Luo Qing heard footsteps behind him and instinctively turned—just in time for searing pain to erupt in his abdomen.
Stunned, he looked down at the blade buried in his stomach, as if unable to process what had happened.
The boy froze too. His hands went slack, and he stumbled backward, collapsing to the ground in shock.
He stared at the knife embedded in the man's abdomen, then at his own small hands stained with blood. His mind went completely blank.
He hadn’t meant to kill him. He’d only wanted to threaten him with the knife, to make him let Qiao Qiao go.
The blood soaked through Luo Qing’s pristine white shirt like a crimson plum blossom blooming on snow—vibrant, searing, carrying a beauty that was almost withering, almost death.
When the knife pierced his abdomen, Luo Qing remembered everything. He also sensed that faint, elusive power clinging to the boy and the dagger.
It was the power of the Rules.
Just before stabbing him, the boy had actually hesitated. But after that brief pause, he drove the blade deep into his stomach—so fast that Ruan Qing had no time to react.
The Enforcer of the Rules had arrived.
The Rules truly would not tolerate his existence. Perhaps his very birth had been a mistake from the beginning, and now everything would finally return to its rightful course.
It hurt. It hurt so much.
Ruan Qing had been injured countless times before, had suffered wounds far worse than this. But never had he felt pain like this—an agony so overwhelming it left his entire body cold, so unbearable he could hardly breathe.
The dagger hadn’t struck a vital point. That wisp of the Rules’ power hadn’t instantly destroyed his soul. He still had enough time to call for help.
His system’s avatar was right outside the factory. He could easily reach it, could even use his own power to contact the system directly.
But Ruan Qing didn’t. He made no move to call for his teacher.
Doing so would mean standing in direct opposition to the Rules.
He knew his teacher feared nothing. But he was afraid.
—If reviving you requires the sacrifice of countless lives, would you still choose to come back?
A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of Ruan Qing’s lips. Slowly, he closed his eyes. A single tear slid down his cheek.
I’m sorry, Teacher.
This Si Qing… seems like I'm going to break his promise again…
