Snow drifted down like willow catkins, slowly settling over the corpse propped against the platform.
A few passersby stood frozen farther down the street. Whether stunned senseless or afraid to move, they remained motionless for a long time.
Ye Jingtang held his spear pointed diagonally at the snow. Beads of blood dripped from its tip, and steam rose from his sweating body, forming a visible ring of white mist around him. His breathing was as heavy as a bull's.
"Hah... hah..."
Thud, thud, thud-
Shang Jianli and She Long emerged through the hole smashed in the wall. Seeing that Duansheng Ji had stopped breathing, they relaxed in relief, only to lose their strength and drop onto the ground, gulping air.
Not long afterward, the Chief Constables scattered around the area came racing over. At She Long's command, they displayed their badges, cleared the scene, and secured the surroundings.
"Black Bureau business! Everyone else, clear out!"
Fan Qinghe had followed Ye Jingtang out when he leaped outside. She had stayed on guard around the perimeter, watching for other experts lying in ambush.
Only after confirming that the surroundings were safe did Fan Qinghe emerge from behind a rooftop ridge and bound over to Ye Jingtang.
"Ye Jingtang, how are you?"
"Hah..."
Those three successive spear strikes had placed an enormous burden on Ye Jingtang's body. His entire left side was bloodred, and bloody water had pooled beneath his feet. He panted heavily, his heart pounding like thunder. After confirming that Duansheng Ji was thoroughly dead, he even began to feel dizzy.
"I'm all right. Let's find somewhere safe to rest first..."
Fan Qinghe took his arm and was about to examine his injuries, but after just a few steps, Ye Jingtang swayed. Only by planting his spear against the ground did