Gunfire

Feng Yanyi crouched at the entrance to the Border Market stairwell.

He wore a simple Western-style vest and a wine-red tie. The gold-rimmed glasses on his face should have made him look refined, but there wasn't a trace of softness about him.

The officers driving off-road police vehicles crossed the vast gravel flats and completely surrounded the Border Market.

Every one of them had a pistol at his waist and was ready for a shootout.

At their head was Tian Yuan, superintendent of the Sun City Police Department, with the superintendent's insignia on his shoulders. Calm-faced, he walked forward and stopped in front of Feng Yanyi.

Behind Feng Yanyi, the thugs serving as the Border Market's guards looked tense, but they gripped their weapons with resolve.

Farther back, the kindhearted residents from earlier that day had also picked up kitchen knives, dustpans, and brooms. Every one of them glared at the Radiance District officers surrounding them.

They didn't want to hand Feng Zi and Li Wei over, but they trusted Feng Yanyi's orders even more.

"I thought you'd wait for tomorrow's train before bringing people here. Turns out you never left last night."

Amid the tense standoff, Feng Yanyi remained calm as he offered Tian Yuan a cigarette.

Tian Yuan took it and lit it himself. Standing over him, he drew a deep breath and exhaled a cloud of smoke.

"The Council gave me five days. If I can't bring Feng Zi back within that time, the Armed Council Chamber will intervene."

"Ever since you compromised and went over to their side, you haven't moved up in over a decade. Now they're even taking a share of the little authority you have left?"

"You don't need to worry about my business. You should be giving me an answer. Are you going to keep protecting these people, or are you ready to fall out with the Council over Feng Zi?"

The conversation between them fell silent. Only the clouds of smoke they exhaled remained, soon swept away by the wind and sand.

After a while, Tian Yuan tossed away his cigarette butt. He studied Feng Yanyi, who was still silent, then pulled two sheets of paper from his inner jacket pocket.

"I have an arrest warrant and a search warrant here. The arrest warrant authorizes us to capture the undocumented rabble hiding along the edge of the wall. Anyone who resists can be killed on the spot! The search warrant was issued by the Council. It authorizes entry into Sun City's temporary refugee market to search for a wanted fugitive. Old Feng, which one should I give you? You decide."

Tian Yuan hadn't lowered his voice as he spoke, so the Border Market residents behind Feng Yanyi heard every word.

They all held their breath. None dared to speak, but they looked expectantly at Feng Yanyi, crouched on the ground.

They all knew what they wanted, even if no one said it aloud. The middle-aged man crouched there, bearing the hopes and survival of more than a thousand people, let his broad shoulders sag.

He didn't take the papers from Tian Yuan. He simply waved a hand toward the Border Market residents behind him.

"Put down your weapons. Bring out the children. Let them search."

Everyone present, officers and residents alike, unconsciously let out a breath of relief.

No one wanted a large-scale bloodbath in this place.

Hearing his answer, Tian Yuan showed no surprise. He ordered his officers to draw their guns and charge into the Border Market!

He followed at the rear of the group. Before leaving, he said to Feng Yanyi, "Don't feel guilty. Getting Feng Zi to stop acting recklessly is what's best for her, for us, and for everyone."

Wearing a hemp cloak the same color as the ground, Feng Zi lay prone and asked anxiously, "Will this really work?"

Li Wei was also wearing a cloak he'd found in the Border Market. He'd slung the money box over his shoulder with a rope and kept his eyes fixed on the police car in the distance, where three officers stood guard.

"What else? Do you think there's another way for us to get to the church?"

Li Wei licked his dry lips, feeling the rush that sent adrenaline surging through his body.

The hand gripping the sword hilt was steady, without the slightest tremor. It was as if he'd been born for this sort of thing.

Feng Zi wasn't timid by nature, nor was she truly some clueless fool. She'd asked because she was worried about Li Wei's safety.

But after getting final confirmation from Li Wei, she no longer hesitated.

The three officers left behind to guard the police car leaned casually against its doors, smoking and chatting.

They were glad not to be part of the manhunt. They were all just working stiffs. They'd become officers for the generous pay, not out of any lofty ideals.

"You should get your gun serviced, Baldy."

The balding, middle-aged officer waved a hand.

"Do you remember the last time anyone at the Police Department fired a gun? The city's peaceful. Radiance District residents have all had a good education, and the people in the Afterglow District are a bunch of timid, worthless rabble. Give it another couple of years and the Council will probably pass a gun ban. We won't even need to carry guns on duty."

The other officer, a tall, thin man, furrowed his brows.

"Don't call them worthless rabble around here. If outsiders hear you, it could easily stir up the workers."

The bald officer gave a scornful laugh.

"And what if they get riled up? All they can do is complain to the Church or report us to those pathetic, spineless councilors. Besides, it's just us here right now. No need to—"

"Pfft!"

The sound of a blade sinking into flesh cut the bald officer off midsentence!

Blood gushed from the groove along the short sword's blade. Droplets spattered across the other two officers, who'd been chatting with him, and their pupils contracted sharply!

They reacted quickly. Before Li Wei could pull the short sword from the officer's body, now reduced to a corpse, both men had drawn their pistols!

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Deafening gunshots rang across the gravel flats, thick with wind and sand. The two officers retreated toward the vehicles for cover while frantically emptying their magazines!

Li Wei didn't pull out the short sword. Instead, he used it to prop up the bald officer's corpse and held the body in front of himself as a shield.

At the same time, he swiftly drew the pistol from the corpse's waist, aimed at one of the officers who hadn't yet made it behind the car, and decisively pulled the trigger!

"Bang!"

The bullet pierced the officer's chest with deadly accuracy. Blood sprayed, and he fell to the ground, eyes wide.

The physical enhancement Li Wei had gained from putting an attribute point into [Physique] was comprehensive. It had not only made his body stronger, but also improved his reflexes.

It had made him a born sharpshooter!

But just as Li Wei quickly swung his pistol toward the other officer, he pulled the trigger again, only to hear the click of a jammed round!

Now Li Wei was paying the price for the bald officer's long-neglected gun.

"Fuck!"

He cursed and tried to pull back his raised hand, ready to clear the jammed round.

But the officer already behind the police car had also loaded a fresh magazine and was once again firing every bullet!

Gunfire erupted again, dense as a string of firecrackers!

Most of the bullets struck the bald officer's body, already riddled with holes, but one or two of them hit Li Wei in the shoulder!

He felt a burning heat there. With adrenaline still pumping, he could barely feel the pain.

Just as he was about to bite down on the barrel and clear the jammed round, another gunshot rang out without warning!

The officer, breathing heavily as he prepared to change his magazine for the second time, turned in disbelief to look behind him.

Feng Zi's face was as pale as paper. Her hands trembled, but she clutched a pistol she'd found in the police car.

Her gaze was resolute, her expression cold, and her breathing ragged. She watched as the officer, shot in the back of the chest, fell helplessly to the ground in despair!

The rapid succession of gunshots had long since drawn everyone's attention in the Border Market.