Chapter Fifty-Nine: Let Me Do It!

"Bighead comrade, Bighead bro, dear brother!" Xiaoting wailed from the passenger seat, her voice on the verge of tears. "I'm still in the prime of my youth! I haven't even developed yet, haven't seen myself blossom into a graceful beauty! What are you doing? I know you got a big blow today, but if you're bent on self-destruction, don't drag me with you!"

After Guo Lang got in the car, he switched on the radio, and wherever the broadcast said was a danger zone, he headed straight there, as if he wanted to witness those legendary bare-handed killers for himself. This immediately terrified Xiaoting, who already had a bad feeling about the whole thing—she was nearly scared out of her wits.

"When did I ever get a big blow?" Guo Lang glanced at her.

"I saw it all! That Ding Wanyu—the girl you've been secretly longing for all these years—used you as a stepping stone to flirt with Uncle Xie's son. I know that's a blow to your ego, but shouldn't you be used to it by now? Why are you losing your mind today?"

"Used to it, my foot!" Guo Lang realized that even in the face of death, this chubby girl couldn't shut her mouth.

As they spoke, a police officer standing by the roadside gestured for them to stop. Guo Lang slowed the car, rolled down the window, and said, "Officer, is something wrong?" His question was perfectly reasonable—after all, it was clearly unusual for armed police to be stopping cars.

The officer saluted. "Hello, sir. The road ahead is sealed off. The police are pursuing a dangerous criminal. It's not safe here, and passage is forbidden. I suggest you find somewhere else to go—it's really dangerous here!"

"But my home is inside the cordon. I’m the son of Director Guo—could you let me through to check on things?"

"Director Guo’s son?" The officer was startled. Before he could react, Xiaoting blurted out, "No, no, our dad sells noodles downstairs, not your Director Guo!"

The officer's face darkened, and he was about to chastise them for making trouble when his eyes narrowed and he hesitated. "Are you Director Guo’s second daughter?"

Alas... Xiaoting, recognized, slumped helplessly in her seat. "When Dad gets home and questions us, you handle it yourself. Don’t drag me into your beatings!"

Alas… Guo Lang sighed as well. It seemed, just as Xie Lin had said, he was too far removed from the circle. He, the legitimate young master, was unrecognized, while Xiaoting, the second miss, was recognized by even an ordinary officer. He was worse off than a little girl—what had he been doing all these years?

After getting confirmation, the officer smiled. "All the more reason you can't go in. I'm telling you, this criminal is extremely dangerous—dozens of our brothers have already been killed or wounded. It's really not safe. You should go elsewhere."

"But where should we go?" Guo Lang shrugged. "You said this criminal is so dangerous. If you don’t catch him and he gets out, wouldn't it be even more dangerous for my sister and me to wander the streets? Why not escort us to the police station? With the force you’ve assembled—hundreds of officers, at least—it must be the safest place."

"Well..." The officer hesitated. He realized the other man had a point. Cautiously, he said, "Shall I notify Director Guo?"

"No need!" Guo Lang waved him off. "He must be swamped right now. If you bother him with this trifle, you’ll only get chewed out. Just take us there directly."

"Alright, follow me then," the officer said, guiding them inside.

After the window was shut, Xiaoting glared fiercely at Guo Lang. "Bighead, what exactly are you up to?"

"Put this on," Guo Lang said, taking out the Elven Feather Armor and handing it to her.

"What is this?" Xiaoting eyed the beautiful feathered armor, her eyes sparkling. In an instant, she forgot everything else, caressing and examining it with fascination. "How do you wear it?"

"Just press it to your chest and think about putting it on—it'll do the rest."

"Are you taking me for a fool?" Xiaoting puffed out her cheeks and turned to berate Guo Lang, but then she froze. For in the driver’s seat, Guo Lang’s bloodline was fully awakened: his black hair had turned silver, his eyes a dazzling crystal violet with intricate patterns within—patterns that seemed to have weathered endless ages. She couldn't decipher their meaning, but the nobility was palpable.

"My god, I only drank one bottle of cola just now—how could I be hallucinating? No, even a few bottles wouldn’t do this..." Xiaoting was utterly stunned.

"Hurry up and put it on!" Guo Lang frowned, his voice sharp. Startled into obedience by the bizarre circumstances, Xiaoting quietly did as she was told—placing the armor to her chest and silently repeating, Wear it, wear it!

The armor seemed to come alive, unfolding and enveloping her before vanishing from sight. But Xiaoting, having experienced it firsthand, could feel the armor's presence, light yet unmistakable.

"Are you really my brother?" The chubby girl, cowed by the strangeness, finally grew meek, speaking in a small, uncertain voice.

"Hmph!" Guo Lang, pleased to see her subdued, smiled smugly as his hair and eyes slowly returned to normal. He had only been testing his body's adaptation to the bloodline—after all, a real battle was imminent.

Once he had reverted, he grinned at Xiaoting’s question. "The one and only!"

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At the command center:

"Judge Wu!" Guo Zhenghua strode over. Before him sat a frail, haggard old man. He remembered seeing this senior just days ago, lively and full of good cheer. Now, he looked like he was at death’s door, and Guo Zhenghua’s heart ached. This venerable dean had been working in the legal system since his twenties, diligent for decades, always a model of integrity. Guo Zhenghua could not believe he would ever abuse Sun Biao.

"Zhenghua..." Judge Wu, seeing him, found a glimmer of life in his otherwise dull eyes. He struggled to his feet and gripped Guo Zhenghua’s hand, his voice choked with emotion. "You must save Cailian. Our eldest daughter is already gone, but our son is still young. He can't lose his mother!"

"Rest assured, I’ll do everything I can!" Guo Zhenghua promised solemnly. Then he turned to the nearby officer. "Did you send in the walkie-talkie?" In situations like this, walkie-talkies were preferable to phones, since you had to press to talk, making it easier to confer with those around you.

"It’s already inside. The suspect seems to be waiting for you, Chief Guo."

"How flattering," Guo Zhenghua sneered, taking the walkie-talkie. He pressed the button. "This is Guo Zhenghua."

A grating voice came through. "Well, Chief Guo, you’re a hard man to meet!"

"If you wanted to see me, you could have come to my home. Why go to all this trouble?"

"I did go!" The voice cackled. "Too bad your wife and kids weren’t home. Otherwise, do you think I’d have let that woman live this long?" There was a slap, followed by a woman’s shriek.

Guo Zhenghua listened closely. It wasn’t a slap to the face, but to the buttocks—and faintly, a woman’s moan. Veins bulged on his forehead as he cursed the beast inwardly, but he was also grateful his wife and children were not there. Otherwise...

"What do you want?" Guo Zhenghua forced himself to keep his voice calm.

"What do I want? You’ve got hundreds of men outside—I’m terrified! All men, too. If you want to be fair, come in one by one! You’re bullying me with numbers!"

"You’re so formidable, we wouldn’t dare go in one by one!"

"Oh? Admitting cowardice?" The voice grated with laughter. "When you arrested my father, weren’t you brave enough? You charged into the den alone and killed over a dozen criminals. Now it’s just me in this building, and you don’t dare enter? Aren’t you the city’s hero?" He paused, then laughed. "How about this: you come in, and I’ll let the woman go. Deal?"

"Chief Guo!" Several people jumped up, tense.

"Don’t fall for it, Chief Guo!"

"Yes, Zhenghua," even Judge Wu urged. "You can’t take such a risk. With that beast’s temperament, even if you go in, he may not let your wife out."

"But there’s still hope," Guo Zhenghua replied. Then he turned to Xue Jianlin. "Old Xue, how long until military backup arrives?"

"About half an hour," Xue Jianlin replied grimly.

"Half an hour..." Guo Zhenghua frowned deeply.

Just then, Sun Biao’s harsh voice sounded through the walkie-talkie again. "I’m giving you five minutes, Chief Guo. It’s your call. Don’t think I won’t kill her. Even without a hostage, do you really think you can stop me with your handful of men?"

"Arrogant!" Xue Jianlin roared, nearly adding, "If you’re so tough, why don’t you try breaking out?" But he held his tongue under Guo Zhenghua’s stern gaze.

"Fine, I accept," Guo Zhenghua said into the walkie-talkie.

Xue Jianlin panicked. "Guo, you—"

Guo Zhenghua raised a hand to stop him. He sighed. "You think I don’t know that brat’s just trying to get at me? But I have no choice. He’s right—given the inhuman skills he’s shown on surveillance, if he’s truly determined to escape, we may not be able to stop him. I have to buy time."

"You know he’s inhuman? Do you really think you can last half an hour against him? Not to belittle you, but you might not last half a minute."

"That remains to be seen," Guo Zhenghua smiled. "From his character analysis, he won’t kill me right away. Even if he tortures me, I can buy some time."

Everyone fell silent, then looked at Guo Zhenghua with renewed respect.

"Are you mad, Guo?" Xue Jianlin bellowed.

"Xue Jianlin!" Guo Zhenghua’s voice was equally stern. "Remember, we’re police officers, and we have our duty. This man is extremely dangerous—if he gets out, the harm he could do would be catastrophic. We can’t let that happen."

"Guo..." Xue Jianlin’s voice trembled. "Then... let me go instead!"

"You?" Guo Zhenghua shot him a look. "You’d be lucky to last even half a minute."

"Then... what if I go?" In the midst of this grave atmosphere, a jarring young voice piped up. Everyone froze, turning to see a young officer in special operations uniform, helmet and all.

"Don’t be ridiculous! Who let you in here?" Xue Jianlin barked.

All the squad leaders glared at the young officer, but Guo Zhenghua’s face flickered with shock and uncertainty. That voice... he knew it too well. Wasn’t it his own son?

It was indeed Guo Lang. He ignored their scolding, walked up to his father, and took the walkie-talkie from his stunned hand. Guo Zhenghua was so surprised he didn’t react in time, and Guo Lang took the device from him outright.

"You—!" His father stammered, but before he could say more, Guo Lang pressed the transmit button. "Hey, you... Sun Biao, right? You talk big about a fair fight, but you call out an old man in his fifties? That’s some show of skill."

"Who the hell are you?" Sun Biao’s grating voice came through.

Guo Lang sneered, "Your father!"