Cheng Jianhua was an absolute oddball with a twisted personality. Only now did he realize that Chen Yang was an equally peculiar character. Usually, in such situations, Cheng's intense hatred would make his opponents shudder, given his reputation for unpredictable tactics.
Yet surprisingly, Chen Yang seemed utterly unfazed, as if he didn't consider Cheng a threat at all. However, Cheng couldn't dismiss Chen as simply being foolishly brave.
At this point, Cheng dared not continue his defiant attitude towards Chen. He believed Chen capable of anything.
"Oh, right," Chen suddenly said, slapping Cheng's swollen face with a smirk. "I seem to recall you saying that insulting you was like insulting Buddha. Well, I've not only insulted you but beaten you too. What are you going to do about it?"
Chen's pettiness in seeking revenge was somewhat childish.
What could Cheng say now?
Chen continued, "I don't know if insulting you is the same as insulting Buddha. But I do know that whoever dares to disrespect me will receive tenfold in return."
Cheng's face grew increasingly pale, turning white as a sheet.
Chen finally noticed something was amiss with Cheng. His kneecaps had been shattered by Chen's two shots, and without any treatment, blood was pooling beneath him. If this continued, he would surely bleed to death.
Chen looked at Cheng and smiled slightly, saying, "My master told me your time hasn't come yet, so you won't die. I'm curious to see how you'll survive today. Feel free to keep stalling; we'll see who runs out of time first—you or me."
For Cheng, time was life itself.
Gritting his teeth, Cheng's hatred for Chen reached its peak. Unwilling to die like this and determined to preserve his life for revenge, Cheng finally spoke up. He told Chen, "I had your friend transported by helicopter to a cave at the mountaintop. She's safe for now."
Chen replied, "Then please, lead the way."
Cheng responded bitterly, "Do you think I can walk?"
Chen frowned. For the sake of Qin Moyao's life, he had to be cautious. He used a pressure point technique to stop the bleeding in Cheng's legs.
This technique was one that only advanced martial artists knew, beyond the skills of most people, even doctors.
After stemming Cheng's blood flow, Chen slung his AK rifle over his shoulder. He then tucked Cheng and Li Yang under each arm, carrying them like chickens, and strode out of the alchemy room with swift steps.
The deep night was exceptionally quiet. The alchemy room was an isolated building surrounded by bamboo groves, so no sound had traveled beyond its walls.
Chen asked Cheng for directions to the airfield. Once clear on the route, Chen darted off into the darkness like a gust of wind.
Although Li Yang was also severely injured, his advanced cultivation allowed him to control his blood flow, so his life wasn't in immediate danger.
In less than five minutes, Chen arrived at the airfield without any obstacles.
Locating a helicopter, Chen got the keys from Cheng. He tossed the two men inside before starting the engine.
Chen's decision not to kill Li Yang wasn't out of mercy. Li Yang was a nationally wanted criminal, and since Qin Moyao was a police officer, handing Li Yang over to her would be a significant achievement for her career.
The helicopter soon took off into the night sky, heading towards the mountaintop Cheng had mentioned.
Chen was skilled at piloting the helicopter, its searchlight illuminating the night.
He remained vigilant, his master's words still echoing in his mind. He couldn't figure out how Cheng might escape. Regardless, Chen decided that as soon as he found Qin Moyao, he would kill Cheng immediately to prevent any unforeseen complications.
The helicopter quickly reached the mountaintop Cheng had described, overlooking lush forests and a seemingly bottomless cliff.
Chen prepared to land.
At this moment, the helicopter was about 100 meters above the ground.
Suddenly, the emergency indicator lights began flashing furiously. The entire helicopter started to shake violently!
Chen paled. The engine was malfunctioning. They needed to make an emergency landing!
"How did this suddenly happen?" Chen's mind raced. It had to be Cheng's doing.
At that moment, Cheng burst into laughter, saying, "Those favored by fate will always return, like the unchanging mountains and ever-flowing rivers. I will be back one day." As soon as he finished speaking, the cabin door burst open, and he plummeted towards the endless abyss below.
Chen was intensely focused on controlling the helicopter and couldn't spare any attention for Cheng. He could only watch helplessly as Cheng fell.
Li Yang also considered jumping, but just as he moved, Chen regained control of the helicopter. Chen cursed loudly, "Move again, and I'll shoot you dead."
Terrified of Chen and without his revolver, Li Yang didn't dare to act rashly.
Chen said, "That damn Cheng thinks falling off will solve everything. Once I find Qin Moyao, I'll go down there to find him. With a helicopter, what's there to fear about a cliff?"
Listening to this, Li Yang silently marveled at Chen's seemingly carefree attitude masking a meticulous and cautious mind. He knew Chen would never give Cheng a chance to turn the tables.
Cut the grass but leave the roots, and it will grow back with the spring wind!
Chen was not one to let his guard down.
Strangely, as soon as Cheng fell, the helicopter immediately returned to normal operation.
Chen couldn't figure out why, but he knew Cheng was a master of mystical arts. He suspected Cheng had manipulated the area's magnetic field to disrupt the helicopter's systems.
It was a mystifying ability!
Although Cheng had this power, he couldn't harm Chen's mental state. Chen's spirit was too strong for Cheng to invade.
Earlier in the alchemy furnace, Cheng had succeeded in his sneak attack by carefully timing the changes in the yin-yang magnetic field, aided by the dragon jade, the furnace itself, and the Eight Trigrams formation.
Without those conditions now, Cheng could only lament his powerlessness.
The helicopter landed safely in a clearing. Following Li Yang's directions, Chen, carrying Li Yang, quickly arrived at the cave.
The cave was dark and dry. Chen held a flashlight.
As the beam penetrated the cave, Chen immediately spotted a hammock at the far end. Qin Moyao lay inside, unconscious and bound.
The hammock hung in the air, safe from any wild animals that might enter the cave. Chen had to admit, Cheng had been quite thorough in his planning.
Chen could sense that Qin Moyao was still breathing, though irregularly, likely due to the punch from Long Xuan.
Chen fired his gun, severing the hammock's ropes.
In an instant, Qin Moyao fell. Chen rushed forward, using his Tai Chi soft power to catch her gently.
Qin Moyao remained unconscious, her face pale and sickly.
Chen laid her flat on the ground and checked her pulse to assess her overall condition.
Though not a doctor, Chen's understanding of the human body surpassed that of most physicians, given his martial arts expertise.
After examining her pulse, Chen realized Qin Moyao's internal injuries were severe. Without prompt treatment, her life could be in danger.
Chen's expression darkened. He knew that if he took Qin Moyao to the hospital now, he wouldn't have time to pursue Cheng.
Was this the arrangement of fate? Chen took a deep breath. Cheng could be dealt with later, but Qin Moyao's life couldn't wait. He carried her to the helicopter, then returned for Li Yang.
Li Yang, with his broken leg, had long abandoned any thoughts of escape.
Chen started the helicopter and flew towards Kunming city center.
He found it strange that Qin Moyao remained unconscious. He suspected Cheng had implanted some sort of command in her mind.
For now, Chen couldn't wake Qin Moyao up.
But this wasn't his primary concern. Once Qin Moyao's internal injuries were treated, he could take her to Bai Yinshuang, who would surely have a way to awaken her.
Flying the helicopter, they reached Kunming city airspace in just half an hour. The helicopter had its own flight path and necessary documentation, making it a legal flight.
Chen landed on the rooftop of the Hilton Hotel.
In the hotel's lobby, doctors with stretchers were already waiting, and an ambulance had arrived.
Chen had called emergency services earlier using Li Yang's phone, explaining Qin Moyao's identity.
Though the hospital couldn't verify her identity, they knew it was better to err on the side of caution.
Moreover, the caller had said they were arriving by helicopter.
Anyone arriving by helicopter was likely to be someone important!
An hour later, Qin Moyao was receiving emergency treatment at the hospital.
Chen also had Li Yang treated for his injuries.
Due to Li Yang's gunshot wounds and Chen's dramatic helicopter arrival, the incident caught the attention of Kunming's police force overnight.
When the police arrived at the hospital, Chen showed them Qin Moyao's police credentials and explained Li Yang's identity.
The matter immediately escalated to higher authorities.
Li Yang was, after all, a top-secret fugitive wanted by the state!
In his account, Chen portrayed Qin Moyao as having fearlessly apprehended Li Yang, attributing all the credit to her.
And so, Qin Moyao unknowingly became a hero while still unconscious.
While Qin Moyao's official position was that of a team leader, her family connections were influential. By the next morning, her father and his secretary had arrived on a private jet. Only after confirming that Qin Moyao's life was not in danger did her father breathe a sigh of relief.
However, Qin Moyao still hadn't regained consciousness.
The hectic night finally passed. At 9 AM the next day, on the hospital balcony in Kunming, the morning sun cast its light on the flowers and plants, bright and cheerful.
Qin Moyao's father, Qin Rong, called Chen over for a talk.