Reborn as the Villain's Wife, I Shine in 80s-Chapter 512 - 496 Iron-Boned Man (2)

"Jiang Jinghuai." Tian Sangsang took the item handed to her and stared deeply at him. His hard, angular face was marked by sharp eyes that were half-squinted. She nodded slightly again, "Stay safe, Captain Jiang, and make sure to rescue the child."

Jiang Jinghuai raised an eyebrow, "It’s Colonel now."

Tian Sangsang corrected herself seriously, "Colonel Jiang."

Meng Shuyan grabbed his hand tightly, tilting his head up nervously, "Daddy, be careful."

"Daddy will bring your friend back," Jiang Jinghuai ruffled his hair and waded through the dense crowd.

Because the attention of the criminals was squarely on the police, they failed to notice a man slipping through the crowd toward the rear entrance.

"There are criminals inside, you can’t go in." The police stationed at the rear entrance stopped him.

The man in front of them carried an air of camaraderie. He stood tall, his features sharp and unyielding, but dressed in civilian clothing, the officers assumed he was an ordinary person.

Jiang Jinghuai pulled out his military ID, and they immediately straightened up, saluting him, "Sir!"

He was promptly let through.

Ascending the stairwell, there was already a small team lying in ambush along the corridor, each gripping their firearms, cautiously paying attention to the movements inside. To ensure the safety of the hostages, they dared not make a rash move, and the door had been locked.

If they rushed in recklessly, the sound of the door might alert the criminals. Rage the criminals, and the little girl could be thrown out the window or fatally stabbed. With so many citizens watching, failure was not an option—it would shatter their hope.

Thus, after deliberating earlier, their consensus was to avoid direct conflict with the criminals while rescuing the little girl.

Jiang Jinghuai slowed his steps, walking soundlessly. This was second nature to him, perfected through years of rigorous training. Even his breathing was barely audible—he moved like a shadow.

It was only when he passed by the officers posted along the wall that they noticed him, startled as they raised their guns at him. Was he friend or foe? When did he arrive? Their gaze questioned him.

Jiang Jinghuai showed his military ID again, earning their respectful glances.

He gestured for the officers pressed against the walls to step back, then approached them and whispered something quietly. After speaking, he ascended to the fourth floor under their watchful eyes.

The fourth floor was the top floor.

Standing on the rooftop, the wind tugged at his clothes. He looked down, observing that the criminal was no longer near the window but inside the room. Indeed, he was pacing inside, holding the little girl while desperately circling about. Surrounded with no escape route, he had three choices: one death, two deaths, or surrender.

Surrender was out of the question.

Even though he knew his outcome would likely be death, no one goes down without a fight. He was determined to drag the little girl down with him.

At that moment, the crowd below erupted into alarm. All their heads tilted upward, pointing at the figure moving closer to the window on the fourth floor.

"Oh my god, there’s someone up there!"

"He looks like he’s climbing onto the window!"

"Is he going to fall?"

"How can anyone climb that high?"

"..."

Some people cried out fearfully, but they were quickly hushed by others with sharp instincts. "You’ll alert the criminal! Keep quiet!" Tian Sangsang looked up at the man gripping the wall, her heart in her throat. She trusted his abilities but couldn’t keep the worry at bay.

He frequently undertook missions, but she had never witnessed them firsthand. She’d only experienced three thrilling encounters involving him. Once during an earthquake, once on a train to Mount Lushan, and once when Shui Lian and Chen Biao kidnapped Nini. Of these, the first and third left the deepest impressions—bringing hope and despair.

Meng Shuyan clung tightly to his mother’s hand, almost in tears. "That’s Daddy." He still vividly remembered the time his father rescued Nini and nearly fell into the abyss. It was terrifying. This scene rekindled eerie flashes of memory.

And the blood—the terrifying face of the auntie—so similar to this criminal today.

"Mommy, will Daddy be okay?" The little boy’s wide, fearful eyes brimmed with tears.

"We have to trust him."

Captain Xu was taken aback. Why was someone up there? Wasn’t everyone supposed to have been evacuated? Just then, a police officer came down to report the situation. Captain Xu immediately understood, feeling a mix of shock and dread.

He prayed this soldier could save the hostage.

The criminal set the girl down, checked the door, and then moved toward the window. Just as he leaned out to glance outside, his head was hit by a powerful kick. He cried out in pain, reacting quickly, but couldn’t grab the girl in time. Instead, he raised his knife, lunging forward viciously.

The little girl froze, no longer crying, watching the two men fight.

Jiang Jinghuai spun swiftly and jumped into the room.

His hand grabbed the man’s wrist like lightning. A kick to his stomach sent the criminal staggering backward. He attempted to retaliate, only to be struck again in the face, blood pooling in his mouth. Another precise kick to his knee forced the man down. Jiang Jinghuai snatched the knife away, twisting his arm behind him. In a split second, the criminal’s other hand reached for the gun tucked in his waistband.

"Uncle, watch out! He has a water gun!" The little girl choked out a warning.

No one expected him to have a gun—it was clear he was no ordinary criminal.

Fortunately, the gun wasn’t aimed at the girl but at Jiang Jinghuai.

A cold glint flashed in Jiang Jinghuai’s eyes. He swiftly sidestepped, feeling the bullet graze past him. It struck the wall, creating a deafening sound. The little girl covered her ears, trembling in fear.

Outside, police rushed to break down the door upon hearing the gunshot. The crowd below panicked as cries of alarm filled the air. Tian Sangsang’s heart clenched, fixed on the upper floor.

Where was he? Why was there gunfire?

She strained her eyes but couldn’t see what was happening inside.

Using the moment of distraction from firing, the criminal tried to stand. But he lacked Jiang Jinghuai’s speed—his elbow smashed into the man’s head, forcing his arm back until the sickening snap of breaking bones echoed. The gun was already in Jiang Jinghuai’s hands. He pinned the man, calling toward the doorway, "You can come in now!"

The door was quickly smashed open as officers stormed in. The man on the floor had one arm dangling, the other firmly pinned, barely conscious.

Jiang Jinghuai picked up the child.

The officers restrained the criminal, frisking him until several bags spilled from his pockets. "It’s methamphetamine, for sure." They locked handcuffs around his wrists.

Hearing this, Jiang Jinghuai’s gaze grew even sharper, fixed coldly on the bags of powder. He handed the gun to the officers and said faintly, "He’s no ordinary criminal—this is his gun." 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

For a moment, the atmosphere grew heavy.