Chapter 529: Saving People (4)

The one who fired the shot was none other than the Captain.

He had been watching Su Li the entire time. It all happened in an instant—from Su Li’s sudden fall to the reveal of Miao Zhi’s face.

In that same instant, the Captain reacted.

His reflexes were just as fast as the Village Chief’s son’s.

The Captain and his men had seen Miao Zhi’s photograph before, and Su Li’s cry of her name only confirmed it.

The moment Miao Zhi’s face was revealed and Su Li shouted her name, everything became clear.

The Captain unhesitatingly drew his gun and aimed it at the Village Chief’s son, who was lunging toward Su Li.

"Stop!"

The Captain roared and, without hesitation, fired a shot at the Village Chief’s son’s feet.

The Captain hadn’t reached his current position on competence alone; he was also a crack shot.

As the gunshot rang out, the Village Chief’s son froze mid-motion.

The air hung still for a second before erupting into screams and chaos.

"AHH!"

"Close the doors," the Captain ordered immediately, surveying the sudden chaos.

The officers, already on high alert, moved with practiced coordination. One group shut the doors while another officer drew his weapon and pressed it to the head of the Village Chief, who had just started to move.

"Everyone shut up! No screaming, and don’t move!"

The Captain shouted, his gun still raised, and strode through the panicked crowd toward Su Li and Little Tang Mo.

When the gunshot rang out, Su Li flinched, then instinctively lunged toward Little Tang Mo.

Little Tang Mo did the same, lunging toward Su Li.

Little Tang Mo’s body was tiny, yet he tried to shield Su Li, who in turn immediately pulled him into an embrace, protecting him.

Seeing that it was the Captain who had fired, Su Li breathed a sigh of relief. She immediately used the chaos as cover to try and pull Miao Zhi toward her.

But when she pulled, Miao Zhi collapsed to the floor.

Miao Zhi wasn’t just gagged; her hands and feet were bound as well, hidden from view by her long-sleeved dress.

She was completely restrained and couldn’t even walk. The moment Su Li pulled, her whole body gave way.

The two women who had been holding her in place shrieked at the sound of the gunshot and ran off, clutching their heads just like everyone else.

The Village Chief’s son did the same. The bullet had been aimed at him, and when it hit the ground, a stray piece of rock ricocheted and hit his foot. The man who had been lunging at Su Li a moment ago immediately dropped into a squat, covering his head.

He was clearly familiar with the sound of gunfire and was the calmest of the villagers. As soon as he recovered, he immediately tried to grab Miao Zhi, who had fallen to the ground.

"Get away! Get away!"

Miao Zhi screamed, her face a mask of terror.

"Stay back!" Su Li shouted immediately.

The Village Chief’s son ignored her and continued to reach for Miao Zhi. "Get over here!"

’This is my wife! The wife I worked so damn hard to get!’

A ferocious look crossed the Village Chief’s son’s face. Just as he was about to pull Miao Zhi up, something cold and hard was pressed against the back of his head.

"Don’t move,"

a grim voice rang out.

The Village Chief’s son froze completely.

The Captain hauled the Village Chief’s son to his feet, pressed the gun to his temple, and shot Su Li a meaningful glance.

Su Li hurried to untie Miao Zhi’s bindings.

"Everyone, into the courtyard! Squat down with your hands on your heads."

In the ensuing panic, few people listened to the Captain’s command.

"Cooperate, or I’ll start shooting!"

the Captain barked.

The Village Chief, who had a clear view from below, ignored the gun pressed to his own head and bellowed.

"Quiet down! All of you, stop running around!"

The Village Chief’s roar worked. Everyone stopped scrambling and stared in terror at the scene unfolding before them.

All seven officers in the Captain’s unit who were armed had drawn their weapons.

The dark muzzles of their guns were pointed at the crowd.

"Move the tables aside! Everyone, squat down in the middle of the courtyard with your hands on your heads," the Captain ordered again.

This time, all the villagers knew what to do.

Frightened children started to cry, only to have their parents clamp hands over their mouths. Adults, children, and the elderly alike all complied, squatting in the middle of the courtyard.

"Go check if there’s anyone else inside," the Captain instructed an officer.

The officer went into the kitchen and other rooms, emerging with several more people under guard.

With everyone visible now squatting in the courtyard, the Captain let out a sigh of relief.

The Village Chief’s face was ashen. "Who are you people?"

"Who do you think we are?" the Captain shot back, his chest heaving with anger as he stared at the group of supposedly simple villagers in this picturesque setting.

"Cuff the father and son first." The Captain produced a pair of handcuffs, confirming their identity as police officers.

The Village Chief’s face was a picture of disbelief. ’How did the police find this place?’

’This is impossible!’

"You’re the police! You can’t frame innocent people! What have we done wrong?"

the Village Chief yelled.

"Still playing dumb? What have you done wrong? You’re committing a crime!"

The Captain snorted. "Human trafficking! The evidence is right in front of our eyes, and you still have the gall to deny it!"

Once Su Li untied her, Miao Zhi finally felt like she could breathe again.

She wiped furiously at her tears.

"Su Li, Su Li, there was another girl sold here with me! She’s in this village, I just don’t know where."

Su Li helped Miao Zhi to her feet, her heart aching as she took in her friend’s disheveled state.

"Okay, Miao Zhi. Don’t be afraid. We’ll go save her," she said, squeezing Miao Zhi’s hand and looking her right in the eye.

Looking into Su Li’s eyes, Miao Zhi finally felt a sense of reality about the situation.

"Okay, okay."

She took a few deep breaths, trying her best to control her trembling hands as she spoke.

Su Li felt Miao Zhi grip her hand tightly, and she squeezed back even harder. "Don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid."

"Mhm," Miao Zhi nodded repeatedly. Just then, the Village Chief’s son, who the Captain had handcuffed to a pillar, suddenly turned his gaze on her.

The moment Miao Zhi saw him, she let out a shriek and began to tremble uncontrollably.

The Village Chief’s son was cuffed to a pillar in the main hall, his hands behind his back. But he stared intently at Miao Zhi, his eyes filled with that familiar, possessive look—as if she were one of his belongings.

"Don’t look at me! Don’t look at me!" Miao Zhi immediately hid behind Su Li.

Su Li glanced at the Village Chief’s son and frowned. "Don’t be afraid."

She helped Miao Zhi steady herself, took Little Tang Mo’s hand, and followed the Captain toward the doorway.

The squatting villagers watched them out of the corners of their eyes as they passed.

Miao Zhi clung to Su Li. When they reached the entrance and were surrounded by several officers, she let out a huge sigh of relief, the reality of her rescue finally starting to sink in.

’I’m saved. I’ve finally escaped.’

As she thought this, she couldn’t resist glancing back at the Village Chief’s son. He was still staring at her, his expression unchanged.

A bad feeling washed over Miao Zhi. She glanced distractedly at the crowd squatting in the courtyard, and her eyes suddenly flew wide.

"Something’s wrong... something’s wrong..."

Su Li was about to speak with the Captain when she heard Miao Zhi. "Wrong?" she asked urgently. "What’s wrong?"

"There are people missing! And they have guns!"

The words had barely left Miao Zhi’s mouth when the Village Chief let out a cold sneer. "Too late to figure that out now!"

He let out a sharp, piercing whistle.

A second later, a gunshot rang out from the entrance.

The color drained from the faces of Su Li and the officers. A look of wild joy spread across the Village Chief’s face as he immediately shouted his next command.

"Cripple them!"

The Captain immediately pulled Su Li and the others into cover, warily scanning their surroundings.

They waited... three seconds... five seconds...

Still, no more shots were fired.

The Village Chief’s face twisted with rage. "What are you waiting for? Shoot! Do you have a death wish?"

As he roared, the main gate was suddenly pushed open from the outside.

The Village Chief was overjoyed and turned to look. But when he saw who was standing in the doorway, his face froze completely.