Just say you've conquered the entire city, Kate, Ling Qingyu berated inwardly, exasperated.
"I'm not surprised," Ling Qingyu nodded. "But I am surprised you rember him so clearly."
"Ryan is a zealous idealist who believes in justice. He was just a police cadet back then. He was also a virgin," Kate said, reminiscing about the passionate night and the enchanting feeling. "To think that…"
"For your health's sake, Kate—he's not dead yet," Ling Qingyu cut her off, halting her rambling while the remaining officer glanced between them in confusion.
"Oh…"
"Save that 'oh' for later. If you want to save your little lover, we need to get him to a hospital fast."
"Right, let call—"
"No need. Use my vehicle. It's faster." She didn't even consider the police sedan nearby because of the space issues and discomfort to the victims. The more space available the better.
Although she hoped not to use her vehicle at all, she accepted the mont by thinking that Ryan was Kate's. Helping close ones was fine.
As the trio discussed how to transport Ryan, a police Ford Explorer pulled up nearby. Reinforcents had finally arrived.
A man in his mid-fifties stepped out, holding a well-worn M16.
Crap. Ling Qingyu nearly had a heart attack seeing the nearest backup. Couldn't the first responders be more reliable?
First, a recruit and a panicking senior. Now an old man.
Sure, the three stripes on his arm marked him as a sergeant, and his presence carried the weight of an experienced soldier—but still.
"Sergeant," the officer greeted.
The older man nodded and asked, "How's Ryan?"
He had already heard the officer-down report over the radio, so he wasn't surprised or visibly shaken.
In fact, his reaction was almost indifferent—sothing Ling Qingyu could understand. In a place where policing was one of the most dangerous jobs, death on duty was not uncommon. He must have seen too many lives slip away and learned to distance himself to cope.
"I don't know. This Fed lady says he's still alive and needs to be transported ASAP."
The sergeant nodded but didn't fully believe the claim about federal agents. There was clearly more to the story.
Still, he wasn't naive enough to get stuck on protocol. No one reached his rank by being rigid.
Right now, these won were helping contain an active shooter situation—that was what mattered.
And there was no benefit in turning on allies.
"So, two agents have entered and begun clearing?" the sergeant confird.
"Yes, Sergeant."
"Hey, help lift Ryan to our vehicle," Ling Qingyu called to the officer, ignoring the sergeant's presence.
"Ma'am…" The officer hesitated, rembering his superior was there.
"What are you stopping for? Move!" the sergeant bellowed.
"Kate, place your hand over mine to seal the bleeding. Apply pressure," Ling Qingyu instructed.
With the sergeant providing cover, the trio quickly moved Ryan into the SUV. Ling Qingyu had already folded down the rear seats to create more horizontal space, allowing them to lay him flat in the back.
Though it felt tense, the entire process took barely a minute.
"Am I supposed to hold still?"
"If you want to save your little lover—yes," Ling Qingyu rolled her eyes. "Head to the nearest hospital and hope for the best."
"Wait—"
Before Kate could continue, Ling Qingyu shut the hatch and knocked on the doorfra, signaling the driver.
The SUV sped off imdiately. Inside, the officer had no ti to examine the advanced controls—his partner's life ca first.
Ling Qingyu exchanged a brief glance with the sergeant before moving toward the mall.
There were no more gunshots. Only an eerie silence remained, broken occasionally by the groans of the wounded.
For the injured civilians, Ling Qingyu could only feel limited sympathy. Manpower was scarce. She could use the experintal spray on soone like Ryan—who had a connection through Kate or a handful—but using it on strangers would risk exposing her secrets prematurely.
Not to ntion, even Ryan's survival wasn't guaranteed.
Though she and her team weren't specifically trained for active shooter scenarios, they knew the basic principle: move toward the sound of gunfire.
However, that wasn't her priority.
Their primary objective was to ensure the safety of the flight crew. Everything else—rescuing hostages, eliminating terrorists—ca second.
According to Athena's updates, two of her operators had already linked up with the rest, easing her earlier concern. The remaining task was to escort them safely back to the van.
That was why Ling Qingyu remained composed, thodically planning the next steps to clear the mall.
Hmph. Those terrorists… daring to harm her girls.
She had already sentenced them to death in her mind more than once.
Based on Athena's intel, the remaining terrorists were still hiding. Even if they attempted to blend in with survivors, escape would be impossible.
Athena had already verified the identities of the civilians multiple tis.
The targets were still inside.
Even though no one spoke, the sergeant trailed behind, covering angles she didn't. Ling Qingyu didn't mind his presence and continued forward.
At a certain heavy, closed door, she paused—she heard the shuffle of shoes inside.
She lifted one side of her ear-protection headset off her high-cut helt to listen more clearly.
The sergeant stopped as well. He understood imdiately—she had heard sothing.
Ling Qingyu tried the doorknob.
Locked.
Without hesitation, she positioned herself beside the fra and delivered a powerful donkey kick.
The sergeant's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets as the entire door blasted inward, as if breached by an explosive.
All from a single kick.
He had no ti to process it. A chorus of frightened screams erupted from inside. Pens, books, and binders flew toward the doorway.
Ling Qingyu ignored the chaos, taking only a brief glance to confirm—just survivors.
She gave the sergeant a look and moved on, recovering the headset to its original position.
The sergeant gulped and shook his head, wondering if he had grown too old for this new generation. He genuinely admired her ability to detect people inside—sothing he had completely missed.
Turning back, he addressed the shaken civilians.
"Police! We're here to help. Everyone stay calm and remain where you are."
He decided it was safer for them to stay put. Reinforcents would arrive in a minute or two—three at most.
Ling Qingyu couldn't possibly clear every room in such a large mall alone. It was impossible.
But she also had no intention of letting the terrorists surrender and receive a re prison sentence.
Not a chance.
Every Spirit Fox operative thought the sa.
As for her own QRF, they would arrive in about five minutes.
By then, the mayor she had contacted should have already inford law enforcent about their involvent.
Ling Qingyu moved toward a stairwell in the corner and headed up to the next floor.
The sergeant followed shortly after, reasoning that he could leave the civilians behind for now. He had even handed his pistol to a capable young man to help protect them.
As for ard civilians—according to Athena's report, the terrorists had already encountered so resistance.
But with superior weapons, better training, and coordination, those ard citizens were quickly eliminated.
She didn't know how to inform this old man that his safety plan for the group wasn't safe at all.
Alas, how unreliable. Well, the good news was that she had driven away the annoying character in any movies - Kate - that created additional stress.
User Comments
0 comments from readers