This chapter is updated by wuxiaworld.eu
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Xiang Wan gave a pause and spoke in a serious tone.
âXuan Yue, you wanted to live and the police wanted to save the hostages⌠There is no conflict between these two issues! If you make your request, the police would agree to it. If the standoff continues, your âbargaining chipsâ might lose valueâŚâ
Xuan Yue looked at the few hostages who were shivering in fear, then at the little girl who was sitting on the counter with an ashen expression.
âI wonât be taken in by you!â The fake Xuan Yueâs voice suddenly sank and she let out a sneer. âXiang Gongzi is indeed eloquent and almost talked me into it! Hurhur, itâs Bai Muchuanâs fortune to have you⌠Do you believe me? If not for your reminder today⌠your friends might have become the next âzombieâ as well as the âzombieâs targetâ today. It might be Fang Yuanyuan or maybe Qing Dai⌠Hahaha, by then, luck will decide who would be the one who survives!â
But she was suddenly a little glad.
Although she had sort of thwarted Bai Muchuanâs plans, she also thwarted the fake Xuan Yueâs plans as well.
This thought calmed her down a little.
âThank you!â Xiang Wan said in a friendly tone, âWeâve been friends after all. So, I sincerely advise you that itâs not too late to turn back. If you drag it any further, there might not be a chance to turn back anymoreâŚâ
âTurn back? Hur, how do I do so? Cooperate with the police?â
âYes, cooperate with the police⌠release the hostages so as to get the lightest amount of charges against you!â
âDo you think youâre trying to coax a three-year-old kid? To get the lightest amount of charges? Haha, do you think Iâm a fool? The moment I released the hostages, Iâll die!â
âYou wonât. Believe me.â Xiang Wan had said this sentence firmly.
This was because she knew that Bai Muchuan needed more information from Xuan Yue. Why would he want her dead?
âI can guarantee you,â Xiang Wan continued to persuade her, âthat as long as you release the hostages, the police would not kill you. How about this? Iâll let the one in-charge make that promise to you!â
Bai Muchuan was standing beside her.
However, from Xuan Yueâs location, she might be unable to see them clearly.
Bai Muchuan took the mobile phone from Xiang Wan. âIâm Bai Muchuan. I guarantee that if you release the hostages, we wonât shoot youâŚâ
Xuan Yue snorted, âNot shoot me? Why isnât it that I can leave this place safely?â
âSure, as long as you release the hostages,â agreed Bai Muchuan, âyou can leave here safely!â
Xuan Yue asked, âWhat are you using as a guarantee? Donât tell me that youâre using your upright personality to make me believe you. With our opposing stance, whether you are honest or upright is of no use to me.â
Bai Muchuan asked, âWhat do you want then?â
Xuan Yue said with certainty, âNo matter what, I will not believe you!â
Xiang Wan and Bai Muchuan exchanged glances and she decided to push her further. âXuan Yue, we are sincere in negotiating with you, shouldnât you give yourself a chance and negotiate with us? Weâre willing to take a step back, you also need to do the same. Otherwise, if this drags on, the one whoâs in a disadvantage is actually you.â
Xiang Wan looked around her and was certain that nobody could hear what she had said. Then she lowered her voice, âThink of it yourself, how long can you last behind the counter without food? You donât even dare to take a sip of water. The police will definitely save the hostages but if they realized that they really couldnât do so⌠Then, that couldnât be helped, right?â
She had put it very vaguely and knew that Xuan Yue was clever enough to read between the lines.
At worst, the police would fail at rescuing the hostages.
For the fake Xuan Yue, it would only spell doom for her.
This was a kind of invisible psychological pressure.
The fake Xuan Yue was prepared for death. At one time, she thought that she was not afraid of death.
But when it came to that step, anyone would be afraid.
There were still too many things that she didnât want to leave behind in this world.
The fake Xuan Yue finally gave in. âI can release the hostages, butâŚâ
She dragged her voice and a smirk appeared on her face.
Xiang Wan asked, âBut what?â
âYou have to come here,â demanded Xuan Yue, âthen, Iâll let the hostages go.â
Didnât that mean she wanted Xiang Wan to become her hostage?
Xiang Wan was a little taken aback by the request and took a glance at Bai Muchuan. âYou donât believe me, do you?â
âI do believe you,â explained Xuan Yue, âbut you have to believe me as well. Only when we believe in each other, we are able to talk things through. Moreover, with you by my side, Iâm more willing to believe that Bai Muchuan would not do me harm. And you, since you wanted me to believe you, why canât you do the same and believe me as well? If I say that when I can escape safely, I will not harm you⌠Xiang Gongzi, you donât believe me as well, right?â
Her logic actually sounded reasonable.
Xiang Wan was unable to refute her.
âBy just having you, I can let the six hostages go,â sneered the fake Xuan Yue. âIf you donât agree to such a condition, Iâll feel that the police are not sincere in negotiating with me at all. Maybe right from the start, the police have never thought of letting me off⌠If thatâs the case, these hostages will die together with me instead.â
Xiang Wan took a gasp. âItâs not that I donât want to agree to it. Itâs⌠you should know it, Iâm scared too.â
Being honest and telling the truth was easier to obtain trust.
There was no problem with her words. The fake Xuan Yue felt much more comfortable when she heard that.
âWhat are you afraid of? You should trust me! Think about it, if I wanted to harm you, I would have done that long ago, right? Besides⌠even if I didnât keep my word, you would have saved six livesâsix for one.â
If Xiang Wan said that she was not afraid, that would sound too fake.
Xiang Wan was certainly not someone who would sacrifice herself for some other people recklessly.
But from the current situation, it seemed that she had no other choice but to comply?
She said to Bai Muchuan, âIâm the one who created this mess, let me exchange for the hostages!â
âNo!â Bai Muchuan rejected her flatly. âXuan Yue, six for one. Let me be the one insteadâŚâ
âHahaha, Captain Bai, youâre funny⌠I must be tired of living if I choose you to be the hostage!â
âThen you can pick who you want!â
âXiang Wan is the only one I want!â The fake Xuan Yue said loudly and added one more sentence. âXiang Wan is the only request I make for this negotiation to happen. I want no one else but her.â
Bai Muchuan wanted to continue talking but was stopped by Xiang Wan.
After that, Xiang Wan said to the fake Xuan Yue, âHow about this? Let us think it over. Five minutes later, Iâll call againâŚâ
âThree minutes!â the fake Xuan Yue demanded, âIf itâs more than three minutes, all of you might come up with something to deal with me. If I canât live, Iâll start killing!â
Xiang Wan acceded to her request. â⌠Alright.â
âRemember,â reminded the fake Xuan Yue, âif you donât make a decision in three minutes, youâll hear gunshots!â
What could they do in three minutes?
Consider her life and death and struggle over the question of humanity?
Xiang Wanâs brain was buzzing. Part of her brain was blank, while the other was full of righteous ardor.
âBai Muchuan, I feel that, I can give it a try?â
There seemed to be a red glint in Bai Muchuanâs eyes. âTry? Xiang Wan, I wonât allow you to risk your lifeâŚâ
After conversing with the fake Xuan Yue for so long, Bai Muchuan understood that he was dealing with an exceptionally stubborn character.
If he didnât accede to her request, she might really start to kill the hostages.
Bai Muchuan took off the earpiece and talked to the walkie-talkie. âLaowu, what are the chances of hitting the target?â
âThis woman is very crafty. She just changed to another location and placed the little girl at our sniping spot which blocked our view, totally hiding behind the little girlâŚâ
Bai Muchuanâs gaze dimmed. âSo, youâre saying that we have no chance against her?â
âWait a while,â replied Quan Shaoteng, âweâre searching for the best sniping spot now!â
Bai Muchuan took a look at his watch. âWeâre left with two minutes now! Thereâs not enough time. Two minutes later, she will start to kill the hostages if Xiang Wan doesnât go into the cafe.â
âWhat?!â Quan Shaoteng gasped then spoke calmly, âListen up, let Xiang Wan cooperate with me. Sheâll go in and exchange herself with the hostages and try to lure her out of the counter. Iâll guarantee that I can hit the targetâŚâ
âBai Muchuan, you need to have faith in me!â
âWeâre comrade-in-arms. Have confidence!â
âOne minute left to go!â
Xiang Wan looked into Bai Muchuanâs eyes.
From his eyes, she could see that he felt torn.
âI can do itââ Xiang Wan held his hand and dialed Xuan Yueâs number. âIâll come!â
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