Pure Darkness

Chapter 19

That Xie Min was able to find these bleached bones under the yellow mud was entirely accidental, but also lucky.

He had been fleeing in the mountains for 2 days. If not for his adaptable nature and tenacious persistence, he would not have been able to last so long, and would have been arrested by the police earlier. However, he also knew that the police net was being pulled tighter and tighter. If he was unable to find Tong Sheng before then, and since the police had no evidence to punish Yao Yuange, he might never have this chance again.

He had to find his daughter even by risking his life!

That night, for some unknown reason, he went to the area near Sanqing San (Sanqing Mountain)*. He didn't know if it was the mysterious force that had pulled him there, or just a coincidence. However, when he saw those three big characters, ‘San Qing San’, he was struck by a sudden realization. After that, he climbed the slope like a mad woman, looking, always looking.

*(T/N Mount Sanqing is a Taoist sacred mountain located in Jianxi Province. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount\_Sanqing for more details)

Then, when he had reached this slope, he saw a patch of empty land that was quite rarely covered with dead leaves.

Over the years, due to his search for Tong Sheng, he had tried everything, and had also watched many investigative documentaries. When many people dump bodies in the wilderness, they first dig up the ground, bury the bodies, and then cover them with soil. The result is a patch of soil that will look relatively fresher than the surrounding, as well as neatly arranged, showing clear signs of something that has been buried there.

He knelt down and touched the piece of soil with his fingers already heavily callused and bruised.

Then, he started digging. He used a rough branch nearby, as well as his own hands.

Until the white bones are revealed.

Xie Min gasped for breath and tried his hardest to break free. However, even though he was fighting fiercely, he was no match for Yao Yuange, who possessed powerful strength as a ruthless and ferocious man. He clamped it onto a tree, grinned at it, and then thrust a knife into its stomach.

He let out a breath of agonized pain. Trembling, he clasped his hands in one move, and asked, “Which one. . is Tong Sheng? My daughter Tong Sheng?”

Yao Yuange was startled for a moment, then gave a smile that made Xie Min cold.

“Who knows? There are so many girls. .”

“Ahhh. .” Xie Min howled, sounding more like a beast than a human. Even Yao Yuange was shocked. He looked at her coldly, deciding to indulge his emotions for a moment, when he suddenly heard the sound of footsteps on the side of the mountain, descending from the peak, not far from them. Thinking fast, he shut Xie Min's mouth and muttered, “Silent. I'll sort you out in a minute.” Then, he quickly kicked the ground and left all around him towards the hole he had made, even though his efforts had not too successfully covered up the trail of his actions. He immediately dragged Xie Min into the cave under an overhanging rock nearby.

——

Jian Yao and the two criminal investigators searched the slope slowly. After receiving Xie Min's phone call, the technical specialist immediately locked his position, which is the area on the slope of Sanqing San. However, since he had switched off his phone directly after hanging up, there was no way to determine his position more precisely. Currently, seven to eight police teams are diligently searching the slopes. They had also contacted Bo Jinyan and Fang Qing who were in the Yao household, and were now rushing to the mountain.

Initially, the three of them would walk through this area without stopping. The surroundings were quiet, and nothing seemed strange. However, after taking two steps, Jian Yao suddenly stopped.

The slopes below them were lush with green trees. A clear view of the area is impossible. However, when he looked up, he could see the Sanqing Temple right opposite him, in a straight line with the slope of this mountain. Moreover, just below the slope, there was a very open area. He had no doubt that anyone standing there would have an obstructed view of the main hall of the temple facing head-on.

(T/N We are not so sure how this temple was built in such a way that the temple was ‘opposite directly’ on the upper slope and someone on the lower slope can look into the main hall of the temple. Maybe it was a two-story building, or was it very large?)

Jian Yao fell silent suddenly as intuition suddenly appeared in her heart.

This is . . .the place where spiritual power resides.

“Come down and look,” he told two other investigators.

The three of them slid down the slope. They had just taken a few steps when they were all glued to the spot.

There are clear traces that the soil has been dug up. The two criminal investigators exchanged glances and immediately took out their weapons. As they approached the irregular branches and ground, they could see faintly gleaming white bones. Jian Yao followed closely behind, her mind in turmoil.

At this moment, he was fiercely attacked from behind. He felt a chill on his back but could not turn around in time. Someone gripped his neck and now held a blood-soaked dagger in his throat.

“Job . . .Fuck . .” Yao Yuange's breathless breathing hit his face. The two criminal investigators turned around and were shocked to witness the situation. They shouted furiously, “Let go of him! Yao Yuange, you are already surrounded, you cannot escape!”

Jian Yao stood still, not moving any muscles. When he looked down, he could see Yao Yuange's legs shifting from side to side. He's clearly confused. However, his arms were extremely strong and soon, Jian Yao found himself slightly out of breath. Moreover, he did not dare to make any sudden movements, as his dagger was very close to his throat. One sloppy move and he could die.

“Allow me to go,” shouted Yao Yuange, “If not, I will kill him! Either way, one more won't make a difference!

The two criminal investigators could only continue to point a gun at him without taking action. After a while, one of them took out his walkie-talkie and quickly reported the situation.

From the corner of his eyes, Jian Yao caught a glimpse of a cave behind them, with what looked like a body lying within it. It didn't make the slightest movement. Whoever it is seems is dead. He swallowed slowly, and said unhurriedly, “Yao Yuange, listen to me. Even though you have taken me hostage now, it will only give you a temporary break. You won't be able to escape. Any escape route you can think of will be blocked. Any person you can contact will be monitored by us. You're used to living a prosperous life, but, from today onwards, you have to hide; you won't be able to contact your family, and you'll be forced to live like the poor you hate so much. They'll beat you up, they'll screw you up, just like you did with them. In the end, you will have nowhere to go, and no one to turn to. Let go of me, and come to the police station to give an honest report about yourself. If you do this, your woman, and your only son, may still be able to have a relatively good life. Do you understand what I'm saying? ”

Yao Yuange shouted, “You are silent! What do I care about them? What do I care!”

“How can you not care?” Jian Yao said softly, “They are your only family. This family, this house, which you have painstakingly maintained, will eventually fall apart. Do you really not want to care about it, not want to watch it, and not even care if you add the name of the fugitive into it, so that everyone in the family is done?

Yao Yuange let out a heavy sigh without saying anything.

At this moment, the sound of approaching footsteps sounded. Shocked, Yao Yuange moved his dagger closer to Jian Yao until he felt a sting of pain in his neck. He knew he couldn't wait any longer. He had taken the opportunity, while speaking, to observe the surroundings. Next to them was a hard stone wall, while the ground under their feet was loose. Stone walls pitted with cavities. If he managed to duck into it, he might be able to escape the investigators' bullets as well as Yao Yuange's blade.

Investigators have reported the situation before them. Speeding down from the slope above, Bo Jinyan saw from afar that Yao Yuange was holding someone hostage in front of the mouth of the cave. His heart sank, and his mouth stiffened into a thin line; he had never met such a foolish and disgusting suspect! Yao Yuange really thinks that he, this fourth-grade assassin*, can take Ny hostage. Bo?! It couldn't be like a pig climbing a tree!

(T/N actual words are – ‘ eighteenth’ string killer)

Closer, even closer. The eyes of Bo Jinyan and Jian Yao met each other. His eyes were calm and steady, as if his confidence was growing with his presence. Bo Jinyan saw that she was in good condition, yet her heart still fell into her stomach. Moreover, as he observed him facing this life-threatening situation with his great intelligence and courage, his love and gentleness deepened. His eyes became extremely cold and piercing.

Then, Bo Jinyan stood no more than 10 meters away from them, not speaking, not moving.

Jian Yao glanced to the left and slightly nodded at him.

He blinked his eyes once, then his face suddenly showed an angry expression as he said, “Yao Yuange! Release wife! How many more innocent people should be hurt because of you!”

Unexpectedly, these words made Yao Yuange excited. He did not acknowledge Bo Jinyan, and sneered, “Your wife? Haha, wife of a policeman, ha!”

No one understood what Bo Jinyan was doing by agitating Yao Yuange. The criminal investigator on the side pointed his weapon at Yao Yuange, and did not make a sound. Jian Yao also looked at Bo Jinyan, who was rubbing her fingertips against each other.

Fang Qing stood behind Bo Jinyan. In a low voice, only loud enough for the two of them to hear, he said, “I'll save him.” Bo Jinyan did not seem to hear it. Fang Qing turned around and walked away. Bo Jinyan took a step forward and continued her words, “Basic beast! Beast beast! You have enslaved so many women, and hurt so many innocent girls! Are you even human? ”

He took another step forward, even closer to them. However, he made sure he did not blur the angle at which someone behind him could take a shot.

Yao Yuange simply smiled. Bo Jinyan's face was speckled red and white as she shouted agitatedly, “Your wife, Minglan, is even blamed for your crimes! He said that all those people were killed by him! What kind of man are you, letting a woman take the rap for you! If you have the slightest bit of conscience, let my wife go, then come back and admit it all! ”

Yao Yuange's expression flickered, and he continued to stare at Bo Jinyan.

That time..

Jian Yao grabbed his arm in one swift motion and pulled him to the side. Yao Yuange gasped in pain, and dropped his dagger. Jian Yao took the opportunity to dodge and fell to one side, escaping from her grip.

“Bang —-” Shots break the silence, speeding closer from a distance. Jian Yao could only hear the buzz of bullets echoing in his ears. When he looked up, he saw Yao Yuange looking at the bloody hole in his chest with an expression of disbelief on his face.

Everything happened so fast.

A dagger, aimed at his heart to the left of his chest, suddenly appeared at just the right moment. No one knew when Xie Min, panting and bleeding, suddenly appeared from the ground.

“MY . .” Yao Yuange spat out a single word before falling to the ground. At the same time, Xie Min also fell to the ground with her dying breath.

Jian Yao was pulled off the ground and held tightly. She leaned into the familiar embrace of a pair of slender and relaxed arms, circling her arms around her waist. Bo Jinyan looked at him with eyes that shone like stars. She immediately understood that although ‘her acting ability was very good’ in portraying a calm and calm demeanor, she was actually very worried. While he was considering saying a comforting word or two, he had already lowered his head and kissed her forehead.

His heartbeat was still racing as he whispered, “Master. Bo, I'm fine.”

“Of course,” said softly. “I'm here.”

Fang Qing threw the sniper rifle and ran down the mountain slope. His colleague, who was following behind him, suddenly said, “You never miss your target. This time, when you shoot him, he will be in pain for more than 10 hours before dying.”

Fang Qing smiled coldly as he said, “You must not have seen clearly. I aimed at his wrist, but missed. ”

As Bo Jinyan hugged Jian Yao tightly, they looked at the ground together and saw Yao Yuange lying silently, as if he had already breathed his last. However, Xie Min was still panting. Criminal investigators slowly approached him with unsheathed weapons.

“My daughter . .” No one expected when he suddenly shouted, his body darted upwards like a dead fish, and his head hit the rocky outcrop beside him. Blood immediately flowed out as he fell back to the ground.

Bo Jinyan released Jian Yao and rushed to lift her off the ground. “Xie Min, Xie Min!”

Xie Min opened his eyes slightly and looked at him. He just focused on her, and suddenly smiled. “MY . . . Other day . . . I can't stand. .”

The criminal investigators all remained silent. Bo Jinyan looked at him attentively and said, “Yes, I know.”

Jian Yao suddenly felt unspeakable sadness because of her words: I know .

With his bloodied hand, Xie Min clasped Bo Jinyan's hand and said, “I beg. . . Bo Jinyan. . . You said you would clean up all the injustice.. . looking for my daughter's bones. . bury them together with mine. .”

“Alright,” replied Bo Jinyan. “MS. Xie Min, I promise I will do this.”

After a while, Bo Jinyan stood up. Criminal investigators examined Xie Min and found no signs of life. Fang Qing stood behind them, motionless.

Bo Jinyan turned around and hugged Jian Yao's shoulder. They held hands and walked away from the scene. Looking up, the sky was already dark. A single star illuminated the sky. That brilliant and calm light seemed to be staring at the earth, staring at the silent human world.