The two of them froze when they saw the name on the incoming call.
Gong Yingxian hurriedly answered. “Feilan, you—”
“Dr. Gong. Captain Ren.”
A strange, mocking voice, processed through a voice changer, came from the other end of the phone.
The hairs on both their bodies stood on end.
They recognized this voice. Even though it had been altered by a voice changer, it had still originated from the same person. The speaker’s timbre, manner of speaking, and intonation all contained recognizable details. This was the very voice they had heard in the recording from Honglin Stadium.
It belonged to—Purple Flame.
“Purple Flame…” Gong Yingxian said coldly. “You animal. You won’t even spare a group of children.”
His earlier anxiety had vanished, and he had quickly regained his composure. Although this phone call brought bad news, it also carried a possibility of good news: Gong Feilan was still alive. If Purple Flame had intended only to kill her, he could simply have let them see the result. There would have been no need to risk being tracked by making this call.
Purple Flame replied nonchalantly, “I don’t think you should blame me for this. You’ve protected Miss Gong too well. It took us a great deal of effort to find an opportunity like this.”
“Is this what you believe in? Using and hurting even children? Or are you afraid? Are you afraid I’ll uncover the truth about what happened nineteen years ago and drag you out of the filthy hole you’ve been hiding in?!”
Purple Flame paused, then chuckled softly. “I’ve always wanted another chance to talk with you. Last time, at Honglin Stadium… Hmm, I had quite a good time.”
“You lost.”
Purple Flame’s laughter sounded even more sinister through the voice changer. “Our contest isn’t over yet. There’s no need to decide the winner so quickly.”
“Where is my sister? What do you want?”
Purple Flame did not answer the question. Instead, he said, “Captain Ren, I forgot to greet you. But I know you’ve been having a very difficult time lately.”
Ren Yi replied in a low voice, “How do you know I’m standing next to the phone?”
“Because I can see you. Of course you’d be here. What’s about to begin is a game between the three of us. As I said, our fates are intertwined.”
Gong Yingxian snapped, “Where is Gong Feilan? What are you trying to do? Tell us!”
“Dr. Gong, you’ve been tirelessly investigating this case for so long. What exactly have you uncovered?” Purple Flame sneered. “If you weren’t so obsessed with the past, many people wouldn’t have had to die.”
“You’re so desperate to cover up the past that you’re willing to kill people to silence them, sending your own followers one after another into prison and to their graves. Why? Because I’ve gotten too close to the truth, haven’t I?”
Purple Flame burst into laughter. “The truth? You have no idea what you’re up against. You’ll definitely regret this. Your sister is still inside the cold-storage warehouse. I don’t know how much longer she can hold on.”
Ren Yi shouted, “I’ve been inside the cold-storage warehouse! We’ve already rescued a lot of people, and we didn’t find her. Are you playing us for fools?!”
Purple Flame chuckled softly. “You didn’t find her because she’s in the refrigeration machinery room.”
A ferocious expression appeared on Ren Yi’s face.
The temperature inside the cold-storage warehouse was only slightly lower than the temperature outside in the early spring weather, so a person could withstand entering it in ordinary clothing. But the temperature inside the refrigeration machinery room could be adjusted, with the lowest setting reaching several dozen degrees below zero.
“You animal…”
“But listen carefully. If you organize anyone else to help with the rescue, Miss Gong will die immediately. She’s not alone in there. Only the two of you can go in to save her, and you mustn’t tell anyone.”
“This is a trap you’ve set,” Ren Yi said, clenching his fists.
Purple Flame laughed. “That’s right. Will you take the bait?”
Gong Yingxian said in a chilling voice, “Purple Flame, I will catch you and every one of your followers. I’ll make you regret everything you’ve ever done!”
Purple Flame spoke lazily. “All right, Miss Gong doesn’t have much time left. Now, do as I say. I’ve already tapped into every wireless communication channel at the scene and am monitoring all the cameras, including the factory’s surveillance cameras and the dashcams. First, throw away your phones and pistols. Then go straight to the white public restroom on the west side. There’s a set of equipment inside. Don’t speak to anyone along the way. Once you’re dressed, enter the cold-storage warehouse directly. The refrigeration machinery room is in the southwest corner. Just follow the wall and you’ll find it. If I catch you trying anything clever, you’ll bear the consequences.”
Ren Yi and Gong Yingxian exchanged a glance. They each took out their phone and pistol and threw them into a flower bed before heading toward the restroom.
The scene was already in complete chaos. Firefighters, emergency medical personnel, students, and factory employees were rushing back and forth. Their actions attracted no one’s attention.
Inside the public restroom, they found exactly what Purple Flame had described: a set of firefighting rescue gear identical to the one Ren Yi was wearing.
Without a word, Ren Yi helped Gong Yingxian change into the equipment.
Once they were ready, the two looked into each other’s eyes.
“I don’t know what will happen once we go inside,” Gong Yingxian said softly.
Ren Yi smiled. “Neither do I. But when I’m with you, I’m not afraid at all.”
Gong Yingxian said, “When I threw away my phone just now, I dialed Sister Yan’s number. She’s already on her way here. She’ll notice something is wrong. Now, let’s go rescue Feilan together.”
Ren Yi nodded. “Our mission isn’t over yet. We’ll definitely save Feilan!”
Gong Yingxian put on his mask, and the two headed toward the cold-storage warehouse.
By then, the fire inside had been brought under effective control. However, because the liquid ammonia inside had not yet stopped leaking completely, several small explosions had occurred. Although the smoke vents created by the demolition work had helped to some extent, the smoke inside remained thick.
Firefighters were constantly entering and leaving the warehouse in search of injured people. Wearing their masks, Ren Yi and Gong Yingxian headed inside.
Just as they were about to enter, a firefighter called out, “Wait! Which fire company are you from? Put on a guide rope!”
“West Suburban Fire Company,” Ren Yi answered.
He hoped Yan Jue would notice something unusual about him as soon as possible. No matter what awaited them inside, they would have a better chance of survival if someone came looking for them.
The two quickly plunged into the thick smoke and proceeded with their hands against the wall. A few minutes later, they successfully located the refrigeration machinery room.
The room was the central distribution point for the liquid ammonia system. It was connected to large external liquid ammonia storage tanks and to all the liquid ammonia pipelines inside the cold-storage warehouse. Through this room, the temperature could be controlled throughout the entire facility or adjusted separately in different zones.
When the valves had first been shut off to stop the supply, the flow of liquid ammonia into the warehouse had already been cut off from the outside. However, there was certainly still a considerable amount of liquid ammonia inside the refrigeration machinery room.
The room had partially glass walls. Because of the temperature difference caused by the fire, a thick layer of frost had formed on the glass. It was the result of water vapor repeatedly condensing on the surface. From outside, they couldn’t see anything inside. Someone could even walk right past the room in the thick fog without realizing there was a separate enclosed space there. As a result, no one had come to search for survivors in this area.
They hurriedly opened the machinery room door and immediately spotted Gong Feilan unconscious on the control console.
“Feilan!”
Gong Yingxian rushed into the room, and Ren Yi followed.
Trembling, Gong Yingxian lifted Gong Feilan into his arms. When he realized she was still alive, the heart that had been suspended in his chest finally settled a little.
Ren Yi gave her a quick examination and let out a long sigh of relief. “She doesn’t seem to be seriously injured. The liquid ammonia hasn’t leaked in here yet. Being shut inside this room has actually protected her. Let’s hurry and get her—”
Suddenly, a creaking sound came from behind them.
Then, with a tremendous bang, the machinery room door slammed shut from the outside.
Both men were instantly overcome with dread!
Ren Yi rushed over and shoved against the door with all his strength, but it had been locked from the outside and wouldn’t budge.
Gong Yingxian ran over as well, desperately searching for a way to open it from inside.
Suddenly, three knocks sounded against the glass wall beside them.
Each knock struck their hearts like a hammer.
Ren Yi took a deep breath and vigorously wiped away the thick white frost covering the glass.
A person wearing a gas mask and a chemical-protective suit stood outside.
Although the mask concealed most of his face, Ren Yi recognized him at a glance.
It was Fang Zhixu.
Ren Yi slammed his fist against the glass wall. “Bastard! What are you trying to do?!”
Fang Zhixu waved at him. “Captain Ren, I know you’re innocent. I know what kind of person you are.”
“Let us out!” Ren Yi roared. “Did you start the fire? Do you know what you’ve done? Do you know how many people you’ve hurt?”
“None of that matters anymore. Maybe they’re the same kind of people as those others—the kind who hurt people behind their backs without even understanding the situation. Seeing so many people falsely accuse you, do you know how upset and furious I was?”
Fang Zhixu gazed deeply at Ren Yi. “You’re partly to blame, too. Why did you let them get such ammunition against you? You’ve always been a perfect hero in my heart, but even you’ve disappointed me. Everything in this world is disappointing.”
Gong Yingxian said in a low voice, “Fang Zhixu, you’re the one who chose to turn an ordinary person into a god. Now that this ordinary person has stepped down from the altar, that isn’t his fault. You say you believe Ren Yi is innocent, yet you also say he’s disappointed you. You’re clearly not thinking straight. Do you even understand what you’re doing?”
“I do,” Fang Zhixu replied earnestly. “When I said I was disappointed in you, it wasn’t because I didn’t believe in you. It’s because… because you shouldn’t be like this. You shouldn’t have to endure those people’s insults. You shouldn’t have been disciplined. They had no right to treat you that way. You’re a heroic firefighter. You shouldn’t have been treated like that.”
“I can prove my innocence. This has nothing to do with you. Let us out immediately!”
“Of course it has something to do with me. Maybe I’m the only one who’s truly thinking of you.” Fang Zhixu smiled faintly. “You know, when Squad Leader Sun died in the line of duty, I was actually very angry. He took away the honor that should have belonged to you. You’re the one who should have been mourned by everyone, the one who should have been remembered forever as an immortal hero.”
“Originally, I thought you still had plenty of time. You would definitely prove yourself. But things are different now. You’ve been splashed with one bucket of filth after another. I have to help you wash it all away. I’m going to give you an ending as a hero far more glorious and dazzling than Squad Leader Sun or anyone else.”
A sick, feverish fervor rose in his eyes.
Ren Yi’s body began to tremble. It wasn’t just because of Fang Zhixu. He could also feel the temperature dropping.
Fang Zhixu must have just damaged one of the pipes inside the machinery room, causing the liquid ammonia to leak. If they couldn’t get out, they would either die when their oxygen ran out or freeze to death.
“What the hell are you trying to do?!”
“Even if you’re still carrying so many undeserved accusations, you’ll have bravely sacrificed your life while rescuing students. Your story will undoubtedly become the hottest headline of the year.”
Fang Zhixu’s eyes shone. “Especially with that reversal—from being condemned to being vindicated. Everyone will feel guilty. Everyone will speak up for you. Everyone will remember and admire you. You’ll become a hero of this country, showered with countless praises.”
The more he spoke, the more excited he became.
“Isn’t that the best possible ending for a firefighter?”
“You’re insane!” Gong Yingxian shouted. “Purple Flame has brainwashed you! He arranged all of this and is using you. Don’t you understand?!”
“But he also helped me realize my ideal.” Fang Zhixu moved closer to the glass wall, gazing at Ren Yi with a smile.
“Captain Ren, you’ll always be my idol. Now, sacrifice yourself like a hero.”
With that, he stepped backward, turned around, and walked away, quickly disappearing into the thick smoke.
Ren Yi pounded furiously on the glass wall, his mind going blank for a brief moment.
Madman! Madman! Madman!