Chapter 36: A Perilous Moment

“Brother-in-law.” Seeing Mo Ran appear not far away, as if descending from the heavens, hope flared in Su Qingxue’s eyes, which had been filled with despair. She spoke with delight.

The man’s expression grew dark. He glanced resentfully at Mo Ran, regret stirring in his heart. Realizing he could no longer get what he wanted, he began to slowly retreat. This had always been his way—if his strike failed, he would withdraw immediately, never lingering.

“Kid, looks like you’re lucky today. I’m not wasting my time with you,” the man declared, perhaps feeling that he’d lost face, and his words, oddly melodramatic, amused Mo Ran.

“You want to leave? Do you think it’s that easy?” Mo Ran spat with contempt, his right hand slowly gathering strength, ready to hurl the stone he held at any moment.

“With you? Soft-skinned and delicate, thinking you can stop me. I don’t like men, I’ve no interest in picking up soap,” the man retorted coldly, preparing to leave.

Mo Ran did not reply, but his body tensed. As the man stepped away from Su Qingxue, Mo Ran drew closer, both watching each other warily, the tension between them mounting.

At last, the man reached the stairway, and Mo Ran stood protectively before Su Qingxue. With only a glance at his opponent, he turned his back, keeping his gaze fixed on the man.

“Qingxue, are you alright?” Mo Ran asked, not turning his head. He’d seen Su Qingxue’s clothes torn, her body exposed to fleeting glimpses of spring light, and regret gnawed at him—he should have sought help from Xiao Xiao sooner; no matter how grave the situation, nothing was more important than a person’s safety.

“I’m fine,” Su Qingxue replied. A cold wind swept through, dancing among the tatters of her clothes and lifting strips of fabric. She shivered, realizing her exposed state, and blushed. Thankfully, her brother-in-law stood before her, shielding her from further indignity.

The winding stairway lay ahead—the path to safety was within reach. The man sighed in relief, eyes fixed on Mo Ran, and began to retreat, following the old maxim: of the thirty-six stratagems, fleeing was the best.

If only the man left, Mo Ran and Su Qingxue would be safe.

Just then, the shrill wail of police sirens grew louder, approaching rapidly.

“Damn.” The sound sent a jolt through Mo Ran’s heart; his pupils contracted, and every muscle in his body tensed. He gripped the sharp stone he’d picked up from the ground, mind alert and taut.

Why now? Why did the police show up at this moment? Misfortune never comes alone.

“Did you call the police?” The man stopped, looking at Mo Ran, his expression shadowed with malice. From the sound of the sirens, he judged the distance between himself and the authorities.

His years on the run had taught him: once he left the building, without a vehicle, he could never escape the open construction site—the police snipers would hunt him like a rabbit. His only hope lay in taking a hostage; with one in hand, there was a sliver of chance. In the next instant, his gaze locked onto Su Qingxue, cowering behind Mo Ran.

“You think you can take me down in a few seconds? You don’t stand a chance. Run for your life if you want.” Though Mo Ran’s heart raced with anxiety, the resilience forged over twenty years in an orphanage left his face calm, his manner composed and unruffled.

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“If you don’t try, how will you know?” The man grinned, his entire demeanor shifting. The lewdness of before vanished, replaced by a chilling murderous aura. Mo Ran could tell—this man had blood on his hands.

Realizing there would be no peaceful resolution, Mo Ran knew that their only hope was to fight desperately, to see who would bring the other down first.

Mo Ran’s palm sweated as he gripped the stone, the tension so intense that his hand was soaked, wetting the stone’s surface. He regretted not grabbing a piece of rebar from the scattered debris, settling instead for a mere stone.

Suddenly, the man locked in Mo Ran’s sights moved. He sprang forward, charging at Mo Ran and Su Qingxue.

Mo Ran was not to be outdone; he reacted instantly. His right hand, already brimming with strength, swung up, aiming to hurl the stone at the man’s head—a skill he’d mastered since childhood, always hitting his mark. The man had dodged the first throw by luck; Mo Ran doubted he’d escape a second.

But in the next moment, unexpectedly, the man stomped his right foot hard, halting his momentum, and spun toward the stairway, racing away.

The abrupt move left Mo Ran and Su Qingxue stunned, both holding their breath. So all that buildup was just for his own escape? If he’d said so earlier, they wouldn’t have stopped him.

They exchanged glances, reading surprise, relief, and incredulity in each other’s eyes.

Now, Mo Ran had the leisure to check on Su Qingxue.

“Brother-in-law, please… don’t look…” Feeling Mo Ran’s hot gaze, Su Qingxue felt as if his hand were gently stroking her skin. Her clothes in disarray, her body nearly completely exposed except for the most vital parts, she blushed deeply, lowering her head in shy protest.

“Cough, cough, sorry, sorry.” The tantalizing sight nearly bewitched Mo Ran. Hearing Su Qingxue’s voice, he snapped back to himself, removed his jacket, and draped it over her shoulders.

“Thank you, brother-in-law.” Mo Ran’s warmth lingered on the jacket, and the heat seemed to melt directly into Su Qingxue’s heart. She whispered her thanks.

Meanwhile, the man’s luck ran out. Though he’d changed his plan, he had barely descended the stairs when he ran straight into a group of police officers searching in different directions. One heading down, the other up—their eyes met, and for a moment, neither moved.

After a few seconds’ pause, the man was first to react. He kicked a piece of broken stone toward the policewoman, and as she dodged, he turned and bolted upstairs. Without a hostage, escape was nearly impossible.

Upstairs, Mo Ran and Su Qingxue heard hurried footsteps approaching from the stairway. Their hearts, freshly calmed, leapt back into their throats.

Soon, the man’s greasy face appeared once again at the stairway.

“Police! Don’t move!” came a sharp, commanding voice—the policewoman had caught up.

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Hearing this, the man’s expression changed. He needed a hostage, or he’d never get away. In the next instant, his decision was made.

Gritting his teeth, he lunged at Mo Ran and Su Qingxue.

Seeing the sudden attack, Mo Ran steeled himself, and hurled the stone at the man’s face with all his strength.

A dull thud sounded as the stone struck the man’s forehead. Though he was wounded, the man’s thick skin and endurance served him well—the pain slowed him but did not stop his advance.

“He must not touch Qingxue, or it’s all over.” With nowhere to run, Mo Ran bit his lip, stomped his foot, and charged forward, grappling with the man.

The man, true to his reputation as a fugitive, fought fiercely and ruthlessly, risking his life. The two struggled and crashed heavily onto the concrete floor. Driven to madness, the man, unable to break free, slammed his bleeding forehead into Mo Ran’s face. The sudden blow stunned Mo Ran, causing his grip to weaken.

The man seized the opportunity, rolling aside to escape Mo Ran and reach for Su Qingxue.

“Brother-in-law!” Seeing the man’s savage expression as he broke free, Su Qingxue screamed. Her sharp cry sliced through the haze in Mo Ran’s mind.

In the next instant, Mo Ran grabbed the man’s arm, hunched low, and rammed his shoulder into the man’s chest. The force sent the man staggering backward, crashing into a supporting column.

“Bang, bang, bang!” The man’s face twisted with malice, his eyes gleamed with murderous intent. His thick arms hammered relentlessly at Mo Ran’s back, producing a series of heavy blows.

The intense pain in his back made Mo Ran taste blood in his throat. Gritting his teeth, he drove his fist into the man’s soft belly—only to miss in the chaos, striking a far more sensitive spot.

“Ah!” Pain radiated from below, so fierce it seemed to pierce his bones. The man’s strength evaporated instantly.

Seizing the moment, Mo Ran tightened his fist and delivered another fierce blow to the man’s abdomen, so powerful it nearly knocked the wind from him.

“Here they are—everyone, help!” Now, the policewoman’s voice reached Mo Ran’s ears. Finally, he relaxed, dropping to the ground and gasping for breath.

“Brother-in-law, are you alright? Are you hurt?” Witnessing Mo Ran’s desperate struggle, Su Qingxue felt that, deep within her heart, Mo Ran’s figure had become grand and magnificent...