Chapter 741: Saving a Life

"I've brought the person, where's the money?" Lao San's voice was hoarse, tense.

Su Jin didn't speak, she pushed over a black briefcase.

Lao San opened the case; inside was stacks of US dollars. He picked up a stack, felt it, then suddenly laughed: "Mr. Xu certainly keeps his word. But… I have a question."

"Speak."

Su Jin spoke, her voice ice-cold.

"Liu Shu, why do you want to keep him alive?" Lao San stared at her: "Wouldn't killing him be simpler? Why go to all the trouble of kidnapping?"

"This isn't your question to ask." Su Jin stood up: "Where is the person?"

"Downstairs." Lao San also stood up: "But I need to warn you, Lao Ba might already be on his way. That guy is a retired special forces operative, top-notch."

"We know." Su Jin said calmly: "That's why we need you to keep acting."

Her words hadn't finished.

Outside the warehouse, a car engine suddenly roared.

Lao San's face changed: "What's going on? Weren't there only the two of you?"

Su Jin didn't answer, quickly walked to the window, glanced outside, her face slightly sinking: "Not our people."

Lao Ba also heard the engine noise.

Through his sniper scope he saw three black off-road vehicles speeding over, one screeching to a halt at the warehouse door. Seven or eight people jumped out, all wearing black suits, movements trained and disciplined.

Not Xu Jijun's people.

Nor Lin Dongfan's.

Third-party force?

Lao Ba immediately messaged Lin Dongfan: "A third party has intervened, identity unknown, at least eight people, armed."

Just as the message was sent, gunfire came from inside the warehouse.

"Bang! Bang!"

Lao Ba piloted the drone toward the source of the gunfire.

In the feed, Lao San lay in a pool of blood, two bullet holes in his chest. Su Jin stood before him, her gun still smoking.

She didn't even glance at Lao San's corpse, turned and hurried downstairs.

The third party's people had already stormed the warehouse; both sides met at the stairwell and instantly exchanged fire.

"Putputput—"

The suppressed gunfire sounded muffled, bullets flying sideways.

Lao Ba stowed the drone, knowing the opportunity had come; the melee was the best cover.

He quickly went downstairs, detouring from the material stockpile to the warehouse's side. There was a damaged vent, just big enough for one person to crawl through.

Lao Ba crawled in; inside was full of dust and spiderwebs.

The ventilation shaft led to the warehouse's first floor, directly above where Liu Shu was tied up.

He peered down through the grate: Liu Shu was still unconscious, beside his chair lay a man in a suit, shot in the forehead, already dead.

The firefight continued; Su Jin and the third party's people were exchanging fierce fire in the first-floor machine area.

Both sides took cover behind obstacles; bullets striking the metal machines sent up sparks.

Lao Ba gently pried open the grate and landed silently.

He quickly untied the ropes binding Liu Shu, checked his pulse—still alive, but breathing faintly, possibly drugged.

"Liu Shu, wake up." Lao Ba slapped his face.

No response.

Lao Ba produced smelling salts from the first-aid kit and placed them under Liu Shu's nose.

"Cough… cough cough…"

Liu Shu's eyes snapped open; seeing Lao Ba, a flicker of fear crossed his gaze.

"Don't make a sound, follow me."

Lao Ba said softly, hoisted Liu Shu and dragged him toward the vent.

At that moment, a man in a suit spotted them, raised his gun and fired.

"Watch out!"

Lao Ba shoved Liu Shu aside and rolled sideways.

The bullet struck the wall, sending chips flying.

Lao Ba raised his hand and fired; an anesthetic needle hit the man's neck.

The suit-clad man stiffened, then collapsed to the ground.

But the gunfire gave away their position.

"Who's there?!"

Su Jin's voice came from afar.

Lao Ba had no time for anything else; he dragged Liu Shu toward the vent. Though weak, Liu Shu's survival instinct drove him to crawl upward desperately.

Lao Ba followed behind; just as he crawled into the vent, a burst of bullets struck the spot where he had been standing.

"Stop right there!"

Su Jin fired several shots in succession, missing the target.

Lao Ba crawled quickly through the duct, Liu Shu behind him, both panting. At the duct's end lay the boiler room on the other side of the factory; Lao Ba kicked open the exit grate, and they tumbled to the ground.

Footsteps echoed in the distance; the third party's pursuers had caught up.

"Over here!"

Lao Ba pulled Liu Shu behind a pile of scrap metal.

Footsteps grew closer.

Lao Ba gripped the anesthetic gun tightly, holding his breath.

Just then——

Waa——waa——

The piercing siren sounded from far to near.

A large number of police cars came screaming, red and blue lights illuminating half the factory area.

The third party's people obviously hadn't expected the police to arrive so quickly; they hesitated for a few seconds, then retreated swiftly.

Through the gap, Lao Ba saw Su Jin also retreating; she glanced back toward the boiler room, her expression complex, then vanished into the night.

Police cars surrounded the factory area, and a voice came from the loudspeaker: "Those inside, listen up—you're surrounded. Drop your weapons and come out with your hands on your heads!"

Lao Ba let out a breath, pulled out his phone, and called Lin Dongfan: "Fan Ye, Liu Shu has been rescued—he's shaken but alive. Lao San… is dead."

"You killed him?" Lin Dongfan asked.

"It was Su Jin who killed him—two shots to the chest." Lao Ba paused, then added: "However, before dying, Lao San had a deal with Xu Jijun's people. He took Xu Jijun's money and brought Liu Shu here to be kidnapped. The third party intervened suddenly; their aim was probably to kill Liu Shu."

On the other end of the line, silence stretched.

Then Lin Dongfan laughed.

His laugh was quiet, but Lao Ba detected the anger within it.

"Lao Xu, Lao Xu…" Lin Dongfan said slowly: "You talk cooperation on the surface but strike secretly behind the scenes. You're the one who said Liu Shu couldn't be left alive, and you're the one who kidnapped him. You're the one who claimed you wanted to retire, and you're the one who keeps professional killers on retainer."

He paused, his voice turning cold: "Lao Ba, bring Lao San's body back. Also, find out exactly who the third party is."

"Yes."

"Furthermore," Lin Dongfan added: "Before dawn, I need to know where Xu Jijun is now. Since he doesn't want to leave gracefully, I'll help him do so."

The call ended.

Lao Ba put away his phone and watched the distant sky begin to lighten.

Dawn was approaching.

But the true darkness may have only just begun.

Liu Shu sat slumped beside a pile of scrap iron, trembling: "Why… why did they capture me? Wasn't… wasn't Mr. Lin supposed to protect me?"

Lao Ba glanced at him, saying nothing.

Some truths are too cruel; better not to know them.

He walked over and handed Liu Shu a bottle of water: "Drink some water to calm your nerves. The police will take you to the hospital soon; Fan Ye has already arranged protection for you."

"What… about those materials?" Liu Shu asked, trembling.

"If they're lost, they're lost—just rewrite them." Lao Ba said calmly: "As long as you're alive, what frightens them isn't the materials, but you, a living person."

That made sense, and Liu Shu didn't dare ask further.

The siren still wailed as police began to search the factory area.

Lao Ba supported Liu Shu as they walked toward the police car, his mind replaying everything that had happened tonight.

Lao San's betrayal, Xu Jijun's scheming, the third party's intervention…

This pool of water is indeed unfathomably deep.

As for the third party, even a fool could guess—it's definitely people sent by Li Zhenyang.