Many thanks to superwoman PD editor, Anks, for editing and posting these chapters while I (shl) was away. The PD team hopes all PD readers had a blessed Christmas, and that you will have a peaceful new year ?

The showdown between Luo Lang and Jian Yao/ Bo Jinyan on the rocky mountainside commences. While the excitement of the action keeps us on the edge of our seats, we are also given a glimpse into Luo Lang"s psyche, and his description is tinged with pathos. How do we feel about him?

(As a side point – great news! We are two-thirds of the way through this novel! Final chapter is Ch 135 – just another 45 more chapters to go . . .)

Calling for translators! If you"re interested in trying your hand at translating this novel, do email [email protected] We welcome anyone who would like to give it a try, and those of us with a little more experience are happy to help out ?

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Chapter 91

In the time between one heartbeat and the next*, the two cars were racing side by side. Jian Yao had also stopped firing. She clearly saw Luo Lang in the driver"s seat, face pale, chest bleeding, his right hand holding a gun, but without any intention of firing at her. Fang Qing"s body was somewhere in the car. Luo Lang"s eyes stopped at her face, full of grief.

*T/N 电光火石 (dian guang huo shi) – literally, lightning and flint. This saying appears to be of Buddhist origin, and speaks of the ephemeral nature of humans, how quickly we pa.s.s or fade away (like lightning, or the spark from a flint).

Luo Lang also saw everything clearly in a flash. In the car beside him, An Yan was grimly determined, Jian Yao was staring blankly, and Bo Jinyan was sitting as still and as quiet as a mountain. A great wave of sorrow suddenly burst forth in his heart. He made a snap decision, turned the steering wheel fiercely and rammed into their car!

Jian Yao was only unconscious for a little while before rousing. She looked up and saw that Luo Lang"s car had come to rest across this remote road. The bonnet was crumpled, and Fang Qing was still unconscious. On their end, An Yan had probably reacted with speed at the very last second and wrenched the steering wheel inwards. Thus, their car had ended up on the road shoulder. The car was pretty badly damaged. An Yan was slumped against the steering wheel, his head covered in blood. Jian Yao quickly reached out to check if he was breathing, and also roughly took stock of his injuries. She let out a sigh of relief.

Amidst the smoke and dust, Bo Jinyan leaned against the back seat. His face bore traces of the b.l.o.o.d.y impact of the collision, and he had fainted. Jian Yao carefully examined his injuries and was relieved to discover that none of them was severe. She forced herself to keep calm and think carefully. The first priority was to call for backup and rescue. Also, Luo Lang had been shot and injured, he would not be able to run far.

She got out of the car.

Twilight had already descended, and the surrounding mountains and fields had begun to look misty. She looked around in all directions, and spotted a figure on a distant hillside, weaving in and out of the trees. It had to be Luo Lang!

Her criminal investigator"s instinct overrode careful thought. She immediately grabbed her cell phone and reported their position to the command centre. Then, she grasped her gun and chased rapidly after him.

Luo Lang was almost at the end of his rope.

The gunshot wound given to him by the criminal investigator was severe, and an entire day of fleeing had cost him much of his physical strength. He was currently sustained by his willpower alone. Stumbling and staggering, he could only see trees everywhere, and a sky higher than the hill. He had only one thought in his mind: even if he were to die, he could not die in front of Jian Yao.

He should have guessed that the heavens would not allow his wish to be fulfilled. He had just climbed the peak of the hill, and a precipice was right under his feet, when he heard a chilly voice behind him commanding him, "Stand still, don"t move."

He had heard that voice thousands of times before. In the twinkling of an eye, his heart seemed to have frozen. In the twinkling of an eye, he sensed that the end had come. Unexpectedly, he smiled slightly and turned around.

Jian Yao pointed the gun at him.

She saw that his entire shirt was stained with blood and her emotions bubbled forth and were reflected in her eyes.

"How could it be you?" she asked. "Blockhead?"

Luo Lang trembled slightly as he nodded and said, "Yes, it"s me. 20 years ago, it was I who gave your father the fatal slash across his neck."

Jian Yao could not speak.

Luo Lang"s eyes were tearing up.

Jian Yao"s voice was hoa.r.s.e as she asked, "Why do you , , , want to do this?"

He smiled bitterly. "I can"t control myself."

Jian Yao felt as if her heart was being battered in a gale. Then, she suddenly remembered the 12 corpses in the cave and the bitter tears shed by the victim"s family members when they received the news. Her heart instantly calmed down, and her gaze also became calm. Grasping her gun, she approached him slowly.

Everything happened in a flash.

In that split second when she was close enough, Luo Lang abruptly shot out his hand to attack her wrist. She was caught off guard and tried to dodge out of the way, but Luo Lang"s movements were too quick. She had no clear idea how he did it, especially since he was still at a distance from her, but her hand was firmly in his grasp. The only thing she could do was pull the trigger of her gun.

Peng

Luo Lang"s body shook slightly. Jian Yao"s eyes widened.

However, Luo Lang"s speed and skill had not been affected. WIth a swift move, he easily disarmed her, then aimed a karate chop at the back of her neck. Jian Yao fell to the ground. Luo Lang held on to his newly injured right shoulder; he had no clue how much blood he had left to shed. He looked down to see her, unconscious, at his feet, and his tears overflowed. These were tears of suffering and absolution; he had told himself earlier that he could not die in front of her.

He cast away the gun, turned, and continued walking towards the cliff.

Twilight lingered in the sky, and the land was dark.

His footsteps wavered, and he felt as if he was walking in a world full of blood and slaughter. He stumbled along, not knowing when he would simply drop to the ground.

The sky would soon be dark.

It was the cold and unyielding processing of his hindbrain that roused him from his dream-like state. He turned his head and saw Bo Jinyan"s grave, stern visage. Just a few hours ago, he had aimed his gun at this blind man"s forehead. After he had determined that Bo Jinyan was not aware of anything, he had turned and left. However, a few hours later, this blind man had captured him and was pointing a gun directly at him. Moreover, behind Bo Jinyan was Jian Yao, who had recovered from her faint and caught up with them. She was only two or three steps away, and was looking at them with her l.u.s.trous black eyes, like the darkness that resides behind everyone. And, perhaps it was Jian Yao who had directed the blind man in this direction. They always worked together flawlessly*, they were born to be together, and no one could insert himself between them. Or, perhaps he had already lost all awareness, such that a blind person man could steal up behind him, find him, even take aim at him, without him realising.

*T/N 天衣无缝 (tian yi wu feng) – literally, seamless heavenly clothes. Fig. flawless.

In the end, he had still been caught by the two of them.

Luo Lang"s life started that day when he was 16 years old, and also ended that same day.

A youth from a lonely, small town, with superior family circ.u.mstances, but uncared for, would generally have a rebellious, undisciplined heart. To add to that, at that time, the "Young and Dangerous"* movie was hotly popular all over China*. Everywhere in the small town, gangs like "Axe Gang", "Knife Gang" had been established . . . What"s the point if boys don"t become part of the jianghu for a few days?

*T/N 大江南北 (da jiang nan bei) – literally, north and south of the Yangtze river

*T/N 古惑仔 (gu huo zai) – the Young and Dangerous movie series (Hong Kong) focuses on the young members of triads. See here for more information.

Luo Lang joined the Axe Gang.

His father was away for business the whole year round, and his mother"s chief pursuit every day was to play mahjong. When she was happy, she would toss him ten dollars so he could buy a bowl of noodles to eat. Sometimes, Luo Lang ate noodles for all three meals and played games with the remaining money. No one cooked for him.

At that time, his academic grades were abysmal. Luo Lang had never thought about the future, the only "future" that came to his mind was to continue in the Axe Gang. He thought, if he could rise through the ranks to become a hotshot one day, then his life would not have been in vain.

However, even at a young age, his obstinate character and strong personality had already manifested. If he saw someone bullying a younger gang member, he would quickly take action; if he saw a gang member stealing or swindling someone, he would frown, and distance himself. Thus, he gained the approval of a few of the gang leaders. These big shots who had never even been to school thought that this "blockhead" had the makings of a great general.

That night, everyone had been drunk, and, somehow, they began to be riled up. Somehow, they started talking about the county"s most famous G.o.d-level detective, Jian Yi. At first, they spoke of him with dread, describing his amazing and mysterious abilities. "Did you know? At the crime scene, Jian Yi walked one round, and knew who the killer was! Hei San* from the Knife Gang was caught by him in this way, and sentenced to death for robbery and murder!"

*T/N 黑三 (hei san) – literally, black third/ three. Possibly referring this person being the 3rd in command in the gang.

Translator: shl

Editor/ Proofreader: Anks