As the gunshot rang out, Qi Taiguo’s leg throbbed with intense pain. He kneeled on the ground with one leg, gritting his teeth as he looked at Gao Linbing, while his other hand clutched the bullet-ridden thigh, blood quickly soaking through.

"This is a lesson for you. The next shot might just be in your head," Gao Linbing said, expressionless.

"What if I don’t?" Qi Taiguo replied.

"Think about Xiao Qi," Gao Linbing said calmly, "He’s just about three months old, hasn’t even learned to call you dad. And Cheng Su, she’s still so young. If you die, she’ll remarry, and Qi Xiaoqi will change his surname and call someone else dad!"

Qi Taiguo’s eyes widened with rage as he gritted his teeth, "Gao Linbing!"

At this moment, the walkie-talkie transmitted the message that the gunman had been subdued, causing Gao Linbing’s expression to change slightly.

This was the opportunity. Qi Taiguo lunged forward, but Gao Linbing’s gun went off, only to be knocked down, the gunshot fired skyward.

Gao Linbing was no novice either; with a swift turn, he pinned Qi Taiguo down, punching him repeatedly.

Qi Taiguo struggled with him. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

However, it didn’t take long for him to realize something was wrong. He had been shot and was at a disadvantage. Given Gao Linbing’s robust physique, he could’ve easily beaten him halfway to death, or at least knocked him out.

Still, his punches landed in places that didn’t cause much harm.

Before Qi Taiguo could think it through, Gao Linbing had already snatched the dropped gun, deftly pulling the trigger, the muzzle aimed at him once more.

Out of the corner of his eye, someone was rushing over quickly, and the walkie-talkie echoed with urgent, frantic questioning.

"Shoot!" Qi Taiguo shouted angrily at him.

Gao Linbing laughed slightly.

With a flick of his wrist, Gao Linbing unloaded all the bullets from the gun, leaving just one, while holding the rest in his hand.

Qi Taiguo was stunned, just in time to see him quickly shoot at Zhao Ming.

"No!" Qi Taiguo lunged at him fiercely.

Beside his ear, he still heard the muffled groan as Zhao Ming was hit.

Footsteps approached rapidly — the rest of the team had arrived, rifles aimed at them.

"Deputy Battalion Commander Qi, what is happening? Please explain."

"Gao Linbing has defected!" Qi Taiguo said through gritted teeth.

Everyone was shocked, all muzzles now aimed at Gao Linbing.

"Requesting permission to fire."

Gao Linbing, however, laughed.

Qi Taiguo, pressing on Zhao Ming’s gut wound, looked at him coldly.

Gao Linbing slowly stood up, the gun still pointed at him, his smile faint and clear.

Qi Taiguo suddenly felt something was amiss. As he pulled the trigger, aimed at himself, a sudden realization struck, and he immediately guessed his intention.

Pulled the trigger.

Bang!

"No!"

Gao Linbing was shot in the heart and fell to the ground. Looking up at the blue sky, he thought today the sky was really blue, though he would never see it again.

"Gao Linbing!" Qi Taiguo crawled over, his eyes bloodshot.

His gun was out of bullets; he was resolved to die, deliberately provoking them to open fire and kill him.

The shooter kicked Gao Linbing’s gun aside, still keeping their gun trained on him.

Blood was already seeping from the corner of Gao Linbing’s mouth, his pupils starting to lose focus, but he continued to smile, looking at Qi Taiguo: "I did not betray the country."

Qi Taiguo knew he was speaking of his country and couldn’t help but tighten his lips.

"I... I’m sorry... I have my own country and mission." Gao Linbing coughed up a mouthful of blood, speaking rapidly: "Tell, tell my son, I’m unworthy as a father... I’m sorry to them both. Taiguo... you, and me through life and death, it’s been good..."

With those words, he tilted his head, his breath extinguished.

"Ah!"

Qi Taiguo howled towards the sky.