Chapter 10

Time rewound an hour, the gunfight had just ended, and the heavy rain continued to pour. Wang Xing shouted into the courtyard, "Liu Handong, is that you?"

Liu Handong was startled. He had just witnessed the outsiders take down two killers, who seemed to be helping him, but his caution prevented him from trusting anyone easily. He replied, "Who are you?"

Wang Xing said, "I am a private detective hired by Xia Qingshi to protect Shu Fan. My name is Wang Xing."

Liu Handong asked, "Why should I believe you? Put your gun down first."

Wang Xing shouted back, "Prove that you are Liu Handong first, then I'll put my gun down."

Liu Handong was furious, "How do I prove it? Should I show you my ID?"

Wang Xing had thoroughly investigated Liu Handong's background and thought of a way to verify his identity. He asked, "What military rank did your grandfather receive in 1955?"

"Lieutenant Colonel in the Army," Liu Handong answered. He then looked at Ma Guoqing, who was still bleeding, and shouted, "If you keep babbling, this cop won't make it."

Xiao Fan pulled out a bloodstained police ID from Ma Guoqing's pocket and showed it to Liu Handong.

"Ma Guoqing from Huahuo Police Station, shot and bleeding heavily, he's about to die," Liu Handong shouted.

Wang Xing stepped out from behind the car, raising his hands to show he was unarmed.

"I'm coming over, don't shoot."

Liu Handong held an automatic rifle, scanning the street, and gestured for Xiao Fan to hide. He was overly nervous; the killers were amateurs and not equipped with snipers.

Wang Xing entered the courtyard and saw Ma Guoqing lying on the stairs. He rushed over, "Old Ma, what happened?"

Ma Guoqing was still conscious and said weakly, "Little Wang, I can hold on."

Liu Handong breathed a sigh of relief. Ma Guoqing knew this person, so he could trust him at least halfway.

Wang Xing looked around, "Where's Shu Fan?"

Liu Handong's gun was still pointed at Wang Xing, "You haven't proven your identity yet."

Wang Xing carefully took out an iPhone from his pocket, "I can let Shu Fan talk to her father."

Liu Handong nodded, and Wang Xing dialed FaceTime. A few seconds later, the call connected, and a woman's face appeared on the screen, beautiful and authoritative.

"I found Shu Fan. She wants to talk to Mr. Xia, or she won't come out," Wang Xing said.

"Wait a moment," the woman said, walking into a room that looked like a hospital ward. A thin man's face appeared on the screen.

"Where is my good daughter?" the man's voice was gentle.

Xiao Fan rushed out from the stairwell, tears in her eyes, and took the phone. She opened her mouth and finally spoke, "Dad, I'm scared."

In the phone, Xia Qingshi was overjoyed; his autistic daughter could actually speak. He could faintly hear his voice, "Anxin, book the fastest flight for me, no, a private jet, whatever it takes, I want to go back."

The thunderstorm was causing poor 3G signal, and the connection was intermittent. Liu Handong already believed Wang Xing's identity and put away his gun, "It's not safe here, and this cop won't make it much longer."

Wang Xing said, "I have a car. Let's take Old Ma to the hospital first."

Liu Handong said, "You carry him, I'll drive."

Wang Xing knew the other party was still cautious and threw the car keys, "The white Jetta outside."

Liu Handong dropped the empty automatic rifle and went out with Xiao Fan. Wang Xing picked up Ma Guoqing and followed. The killer who had been shot in the leg was gone, but they didn't have time to chase him. They all got into the Jetta, and Liu Handong said, "Buckle up." As he spoke, everyone felt a strong push from the acceleration.

The nearest provincial medical university hospital was not far. Liu Handong drove at breakneck speed, the road was flooded, and mud pits were everywhere. Wang Xing urged, "Faster, faster!"

"Or you can drive," Liu Handong pressed the gas pedal, narrowly avoiding a truck by less than five centimeters.

Wang Xing fell silent.

Ma Guoqing's wound was still bleeding, and Xiao Fan's clothes were soaked in blood. The towel covering the wound was saturated. There was a first aid kit in the Jetta, and Xiao Fan, following Wang Xing's instructions, handled the situation calmly. Suddenly, Ma Guoqing's phone rang again. Xiao Fan answered, and a worried female voice said, "Dad, where are you?"

Xiao Fan looked at Liu Handong, who nodded.

"We're on our way to the hospital, the medical university hospital," Xiao Fan's voice was clear and melodious, speaking standard Mandarin rather than the local dialect.

Liu Handong's driving skills were excellent, and he ignored traffic rules and signals, running three red lights and driving in the wrong direction, making Wang Xing grimace. The new traffic regulations were so strict that his license points would be insufficient.

The medical university hospital was soon reached. Liu Handong parked the car at the emergency room entrance and, with Wang Xing, carried the blood-soaked Ma Guoqing inside. Doctors and nurses rushed to help, and the patient was quickly pushed into the operating room, leaving the blood-soaked clothes at the door.

A powerful engine sound came from outside the emergency room. A wild and fierce red Yamaha off-road motorcycle stopped, and a girl in a T-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops got off, asking, "Was an injured police officer just brought in?"

Liu Handong recognized the girl as the 520 bus driver, Ma Ling. He thought it was a small world, and she must be Ma Guoqing's daughter.

"Your dad just went into the operating room. Don't worry, he was shot in the stomach, not a vital area," Wang Xing stood up and said.

"Uncle Wang." Ma Ling greeted him briefly, then looked at Liu Handong, recognizing him but not speaking. She rushed to the operating room and was quickly pushed out by a nurse.

"Uncle Wang, who shot my dad?" Ma Ling was furious, looking as if she wanted to tear someone apart.

"The one who shot your dad was killed on the spot by your dad," Liu Handong answered. He had witnessed the intense gunfight, which lasted no more than ten seconds. If not for Old Ma's proper cooperation and trust, more than one person might be lying in the operating room now.

Wang Xing extended his hand, "Give me the car keys."

Liu Handong threw the Jetta keys to him.

"Let's go outside for a smoke," Wang Xing winked at Liu Handong. Ma Guoqing had been taken to the hospital, and his family had arrived. There was no point in staying.

Liu Handong understood and pulled Xiao Fan out. At the car, Wang Xing took out a cigarette and offered one to Liu Handong. He looked at Xiao Fan's blood-soaked clothes and frowned, "Wait a moment, I'll buy some clothes."

He rushed to the supermarket at the hospital entrance. Liu Handong stood by the car, smoking. Suddenly, a crackling sound came from the police radio in the car, and the command center's order was heard: "All units, be on the lookout for an armed suspect. The suspect has Liu Handong's ID, is 1.82 meters tall, and weighs about 80 kilograms... There may be a 14-year-old girl with him. The suspect is extremely dangerous, and if necessary, he can be shot and killed..."

Liu Handong's hands were shaking. The police were after him, and the killers wanted to kill him. What the hell had he done to deserve this! He looked at Wang Xing's retreating figure. This person was not in the system and could be trusted.

"Xiao Fan, follow this person. He will protect you," Liu Handong placed his hands on Xiao Fan's shoulders and earnestly instructed.

Xiao Fan's eyes were filled with tears, and she clung to Liu Handong's shirt.

"Don't follow me!" Liu Handong shouted, scaring Xiao Fan, who let go.

In the distance, red and blue police lights flashed, and a police car entered the hospital gate.

Liu Handong turned and entered the emergency room.

Ma Ling came up, "What happened? Who did this?"

Liu Handong said, "I need to borrow your motorcycle."

Ma Ling took out the key, "Tell me who did this, and I'll give you the key."

"Gu Changjun from Shifeng Group. His hired killers injured your dad. I'm going to find him now. Give me the key," Liu Handong reached for the key, but Ma Ling pulled it back, "I changed my mind. I'll go with you."

Liu Handong looked back and saw the police car stop at the emergency room entrance. It was too late to get the motorcycle. He stomped his foot and walked straight into the emergency room.

The police car stopped, and two traffic police officers carried an injured person from the car. It turned out the police car was there to bring an accident victim to the emergency room, not to arrest Liu Handong.

Liu Handong didn't know the police's intentions and hid in the emergency observation room. He peeked outside and saw traffic police, so he relaxed. Just as he was about to leave, he thought of something and looked back. He saw a patient lying on a bed, the same man who had tried to strangle him with a rope that night. His head was wrapped in bandages, and he was connected to an IV and a heart monitor. The bastard was still alive!

The patient lay on the bed like a piece of meat on a cutting board. Liu Handong approached and yanked out his oxygen tube, heart monitor, and bandages. He used his hands to pry open the steel bar wound that had been stitched, causing the man to scream in pain. However, Liu Handong covered his mouth, and the scream was muffled, his eyes nearly popping out in terror as he looked at Liu Handong.

"Do you remember me? Tell me where Gu Changjun lives. If you say no, I'll tear your face off!" Liu Handong threatened in a low voice. He wasn't bluffing; he meant it.

"I'll tell you," the man was scared by Liu Handong's fierce expression and immediately revealed Gu Changjun's home and work addresses. Liu Handong asked, "Why does Gu Changjun want to kill me?"

"His brother died," the man said.

Liu Handong suddenly realized. The man with the dagger in the passenger seat looked very similar to Gu Changjun, who must have been his brother. No wonder, this was a blood feud.

Liu Handong punched the man, who passed out without a sound. Liu Handong left the room, not through the main door but the back door of the emergency room. He heard a powerful engine roar, and a high-displacement Yamaha off-road motorcycle stopped in front of him.

The rider took off the helmet, revealing a ponytail. It was Ma Ling.

"Get on!" Ma Ling said confidently.

Liu Handong didn't hesitate and got on the back of the motorcycle.

Ma Ling revved the engine, and the motorcycle's front wheel lifted, roaring like a cheetah as it sped away.

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