Xiao Chen drove the taxi he had acquired into the area and parked it next to Zhang Jun.
"We've met your demands. When will you release the hostage?" Niu Ming started shouting again.
Zhang Jun arrogantly scanned the surroundings and yelled, "Clear the road! All police and armed police, get the hell back!"
"Fine, but you must guarantee the safety of the hostage!"
"Haha! You have no choice. Do as I say!" Zhang Jun was beside himself with glee.
The armed police force retreated, and the sound of their disciplined footsteps gradually faded away. Xiao Shi couldn't hold back anymore and said, "Chief, if we retreat like this, the hostage will be in greater danger! You should..."
"Shut up!"
When Niu Ming saw it was Xiao Shi, his anger flared up. This brat, relying on the protection of Qin Jianfeng and Xiao Yuanshan, solved a few cases and now acts arrogantly everywhere, usually showing no respect for leadership and disregarding discipline. Now he's even giving me orders, truly doesn't know his place.
"But Chief, at the last meeting, Chief Xiao..."
"Don't mention Chief Xiao to me! I'm in charge here now. Who do you think you are! You have no right to speak here!" Niu Ming was furious.
"Xiao Shi! Obey orders!" Qin Jianfeng growled softly, knowing it's hard to go against the tide. He didn't want his right-hand man to suffer at this moment.
Xiao Shi turned around resentfully, while Li Shuan beside him whispered in consolation, "Forget it, Xiao Shi, just obey the orders. What are we, after all?" Xiao Shi didn't speak, his eyes shooting flames of anger at the criminal Zhang Jun.
"Damn cops! Why aren't you retreating yet? Do you want to collect her corpse!" Zhang Jun began to roar again.
"We're retreating now! But when will you release the hostage?"
"When I reach a safe place, I'll naturally release her! Now get the hell back!"
Niu Ming helplessly turned his gaze to Zhang Yuzhou, the high-ranking leader who nodded calmly, a very small gesture. Niu Ming's spirits lifted, and he shouted loudly, "Everyone, listen up! Retreat fifty meters immediately, now!" As he spoke, he himself ran backward, looking back every few steps as if setting an example for everyone.
The officers didn't move, instead looking at their team leader. Qin Jianfeng was in agony. He didn't want to retreat; he never even negotiated with criminals. But for this criminal before him, he had already been forced to violate his principles last time, resulting in a vibrant life disappearing from the world. And this time, what would be the outcome?
"Old Qin!" The officers weren't listening to his orders, and Niu Ming grew anxious.
Qin Jianfeng glanced around; all his comrades were waiting for him, and Zhang Yuzhou and his wife were also looking at him with deep expressions. He thought of Director Xiao's earlier phone call, sighed helplessly, and with a wave of his hand, commanded, 'Retreat!' With that, he walked away without looking back, unaware of the envious and angry gaze from Niu Ming behind him.
The teammates began to retreat one after another. Xiao Shi was helpless and reluctant, his cold eyes fixed on the criminal ahead.
'Stop looking, let's go! Director Xiao isn't here, looking won't help!' Li Shuan patted Xiao Shi on the back, sighing repeatedly as he walked away.
Xiao Shi hadn't retreated yet; he was in pain, knowing the young girl before him was about to lose her life. But Niu Ming was right, he was nobody. What could he do even if he was reluctant? What was he? Just an ordinary cop, obeying orders was his duty. All his teammates had retreated. Xiao Shi sighed and slowly turned around.
Zhang Jun had once again defeated the police. He pulled open the car door, grabbed the girl, and tried to shove her inside. Suddenly, the girl clung to the car compartment, crying out, 'Save me! Dad, Mom, I don't want to die!'
'Xiao Qiu! My daughter!'
As his beloved daughter was about to be taken away by the criminal, Zhang Yuzhou finally shed his usual leadership demeanor and turned his head away in pain. Now, he was just a real father.
'Save me!'
Xiao Shi suddenly turned back around; he felt this time the call was for him.
As Xiao Shi turned back, the girl seemed to see a glimmer of hope for her life. With wide, tear-filled eyes, she looked at Xiao Shi from afar and cried out again, 'Save me!'
'Ling'er!' Looking at the girl before him, a voice in Xiao Shi's heart also cried out. Those bright black eyes, filled with tears, shouldn't belong to Ling'er. In an instant, Xiao Shi decided to save this girl, not just because he was a cop, but for the Ling'er in his heart.
Leaning against the police car, Xiao Shi drew his gun again, aiming it at the criminal Zhang Jun.
Xiao Shi was the only cop left at the front line. Zhang Jun easily spotted him and immediately roared, 'What's up with that little cop? Get him to scram now, or I swear I'll stab this girl right now!'
Niu Ming noticed Xiao Shi's unusual move, his heart leaping to his throat, and he shouted, 'Xiao Shi! You brat, get back here now! How dare you disobey orders!'
Xiao Shi didn't hear, he was aiming, the sight was fixed on Zhang Jun's forehead, and constantly adjusted with his movements. From Zhang Jun's eyes, Xiao Shi saw the fear hidden behind the arrogance and ferocity, which made him even more confident.
"Xiao Shi, damn it, didn't you hear me? Get back here!" Niu Ming's sweat was increasing on his forehead.
"Xiao Shi!" Qin Jianfeng's voice called out.
"Xiao Shi! Xiao Shi!..."
His comrades called out in surprise and concern. An inexplicable fear crept into Niu Ming's heart, and he said angrily, "Li Shuan, Xiao Chen, take his gun away and drag him back here!"
Xiao Shi was still aiming.
"Damn it! Tell that kid to get lost now! Or I'll do it right now!" Zhang Jun was scared. The police weren't scary, the numbers weren't scary, the weapons weren't scary, what was truly terrifying was the indomitable spirit.
Xiao Shi's aim was the continuous concentration of this spiritual power. Xiao Shi's marksmanship was only above average, but could this highly concentrated spiritual power make this shot a sure kill?
Yes, it had to, because Xiao Shi only had one chance.
"Sorry, Xiao Shi!"
Li Shuan and Xiao Chen ran to Xiao Shi's side, each grabbing one of his arms. Zhang Jun in the distance laughed, a triumphant laugh. The girl was still looking at Xiao Shi, her gaze more intense and more desperate.
"Bang—" The gunshot broke the noise of the scene, the world seemed to pause at this moment, the universe suddenly became clear, the bullet shot out from the barrel, spinning rapidly through the friction of the air, heading straight.
The scene fell into dead silence, everyone was stunned, the girl didn't scream, Li Shuan and Xiao Chen's hands stopped an inch away from Xiao Shi, the sweat on Niu Ming's face froze.
Zhang Jun stared blankly at Xiao Shi, his heart suddenly tightened, in just a moment, he felt a slight coolness on his forehead, just a slight coolness, as if something had entered, he guessed it should be the bullet. He really wanted to tell everyone that death wasn't scary after all, it was like eating ice cream on the head, but unfortunately, he couldn't speak anymore.
"Thud!" After the gunshot, the first sound was made by the dead, Zhang Jun's body fell heavily to the ground. There was an extra hole in his forehead, like an extra eye, but unfortunately, all three eyes were dead and unclosed.
"Mom!" The girl's voice awakened the souls of everyone present. Zhang Yuzhou and his wife rushed over in tears, and the family of three hugged each other, crying bitterly as if reunited after a lifetime apart.
Comrades swarmed around Xiao Shi, congratulating and admiring him. Qin Jianfeng stood in the distance, his furrowed brow relaxing as he smiled at his proud disciple.
"Break it up, everyone, break it up!" It was Niu Ming.
The officers didn't understand but made way for the deputy chief. Niu Ming, his face livid, confronted Xiao Shi directly, "Xiao Shi, who gave you permission to fire? Why didn't you follow my orders?"
Xiao Shi frowned, glanced aside, and retorted impatiently, "Chief, the hostage was in imminent danger. The bloody lesson last time has proven that Zhang Jun wouldn't release them. If I hadn't fired, do you think the hostage would have survived?"
"Outrageous!" Niu Ming hadn't expected Xiao Shi to defy him publicly and trembled with rage, "The police are a disciplined organization with unified action orders. Disobeying orders is being undisciplined and disorganized. Personal heroism can't cover up your grave mistake!"
Suppressing his anger, Xiao Shi argued on principle, "Chief, I admit I didn't follow your order, but what about you? The last meeting had already set the capture policy under Chief Xiao. Why didn't you comply? Why negotiate with the criminal? Isn't that being undisciplined and disorganized?"
"You..." Niu Ming's face turned pale with rage, "Chief Xiao is Chief Xiao, I am me. Now I'm in charge, my orders are supreme!"
"That's bureaucracy!"
"You... you're talking nonsense" Niu Ming was so angry he couldn't choose his words.
Xiao Shi's anger flared up instantly. Pointing his finger, he roared, "Niu Ming, no need to curse. Whose family that girl is from, how you became deputy chief, you know it yourself!" Xiao Shi was beyond caring.
Xiao Shi's roar was loud. Zhang Yuzhou, comforting his beloved daughter, seemed to hear nothing; Yu Xiaoqing tilted her head, casting a look of utter disgust at Xiao Shi. Seeing the situation escalate, teammates hurriedly tried to mediate. Qin Jianfeng also came over to calm Niu Ming, "Old Niu, calm down. After all, Xiao Shi killed the criminal and made a contribution. I think you should let it go. I'll reprimand him later!"
"What kind of merit is that! It's just because he's a bit clever and with your protection that he's acting so arrogantly. I know, none of you in the criminal police team have any respect for me!"
"You... Old Niu, how can you say that? When have we ever..."
"Isn't what I said true?" Niu Ming glanced at Xiao Shi, pointed at Qin Jianfeng's nose, and said viciously, "I'm telling you, Old Qin, no one's protection will help this time. He's definitely getting a penalty!"
Hearing Niu Ming drag Qin Jianfeng and their colleagues from the criminal police team into this, Xiao Shi became even more furious: "Niu! I do look down on you! You coward, think you can penalize me? No way! I quit!"
Xiao Shi threw his police badge and gun into his cap, not caring who was beside him, stuffed it to them, and turned to leave. Seeing Xiao Shi was serious, everyone was stunned for a moment before quickly gathering around to dissuade him. Qin Jianfeng shouted loudly, "Xiao Shi, stop this nonsense!"
Xiao Shi's steps involuntarily paused. Seeing this, Niu Ming quickly added, "Brat, if you have the guts, don't come back!" Niu Ming was more than happy for Xiao Shi to resign on his own. Xiao Shi's figure stopped moving. Niu Ming sneered a couple of times, stepped forward, and said, "What, having second thoughts? If you don't have the guts, don't make such bold statements! Let's see how you..."
Before Niu Ming could finish his sentence, his mouth gaped open as he saw Xiao Shi suddenly turn around, a huge fist appearing before his eyes. With a "whoosh," Niu Ming felt a dizzy spell, stars before his eyes, and fell backward, blood spurting from his mouth and nose into the air!
Everyone was dumbfounded. Xiao Shi got into a car and sped away from the scene. Xiao Shi forgot that while he was shouting about quitting, he drove away in a police car.