novelraw Chapter 591 - 575 How to Be Tough: Part Three
Chapter 591 - 575 How to Be Tough: Part Three
Chapter 591: 575 How to Be Tough: Part Three The meaning of "striking it lucky right from the start" goes without saying.
Hua Zifeng picked up a gun, spun it carelessly in his hand a few times, and then pointed the muzzle at his own forehead.
Click—empty chamber!
Hua’s father exhaled a sigh of relief.
"What’s the point?" Tian Sangsang sneered sarcastically as the sound echoed, "Is playing this childish game fun for you, Jiang Jinghuai? Why not just capture Hua Zifeng and end it all?"
This tone clearly got under Hua’s father’s skin, who cherished his son.
His throat tightened, and Tian Sangsang suddenly found herself speechless.
But soon, Hua’s father eased his grip, because Jiang Jinghuai and Hua Zifeng’s expressions had noticeably shifted.
Jiang Jinghuai’s gaze darkened as he fixed his eyes on Tian Sangsang and said, word by word: "It. Is. Fun."
Indeed, it was fun. He wanted to test whether he was willing to risk his life for her. In truth, he didn’t even need to test it; when the moment came, he would do it without hesitation. For his country or for his family, he’d stand up without fear.
Each word was deliberate, weighted, as though he was declaring a profound truth.
"Ouch, that’s hurtful." Hua Zifeng chuckled, his tone unserious, as he smiled slyly at Tian Sangsang: "I just returned from the gates of hell, and yet, Sangsang, you’re so biased. Not even a hint of concern for my life, huh?"
Tian Sangsang hesitated for a moment, ignoring Hua Zifeng’s teasing. He always had a glib mouth. Instead, she focused on Jiang Jinghuai, who had picked up another gun for the second round. Her heart inexplicably skipped a beat, and her gaze was drawn uncontrollably toward the weapon in his hands.
This wasn’t concern for him—absolutely not. She was merely worried that Jiang Jinghuai might die too quickly. She needed a bit more time to save herself. So, would he still have the same luck as he did earlier? Could he buy her the time she needed?
This time, Jiang Jinghuai selected a gun as before, raised it to his temple but didn’t pull the trigger immediately. His cold, sharp features betrayed little emotion, though his deep black eyes remained fixed on Tian Sangsang, unblinking.
Tian Sangsang stubbornly turned her head away.
At that moment, a muffled gunshot rang out.
Jiang Jinghuai lowered his lids slightly and tossed the gun aside. His indifferent gaze landed on Hua Zifeng: "Your turn."
Hua Zifeng froze for a moment. "Your luck is remarkable."
Jiang Jinghuai replied, "Thanks for the blessing."
Tian Sangsang couldn’t help but admit: Jiang Jinghuai’s luck was indeed extraordinary.
Each time he selected a gun, Hua Zifeng would toy with it for a while before getting around to lifting it. But this time, Hua Zifeng handled the gun even longer than the previous round. A bitter laugh escaped his lips as he sighed: "Sigh, did I misspeak earlier? Who said losing has no consequences? If I lose, I die too."
"Dad." Hua Zifeng craned his neck. "If I get my head blown off, you better finish off Tian Sangsang for me. Walking the underworld with a beauty by my side wouldn’t be so lonely."
"Don’t talk nonsense!" Hua’s father tensed up entirely.
Click—empty chamber again!
Hua Zifeng let out a breath of relief. "Seems like it’s not my time yet."
"Found a worthy opponent," he added. "Only one round left; life’s at stake here. Can I kiss your wife? To be honest, I’ve wanted to kiss her for a long time. Maybe stealing a kiss would bring me some luck. After all, you’ve ’kissed’ my sister a fair number of times for free."
"You can try," Jiang Jinghuai’s voice dipped into something dark and foreboding, while he cast a wary glance at Tian Sangsang.
Hua Zifeng shrugged. If he really tried, the game wouldn’t end before he got himself killed. He sighed wistfully, "I’ll wait until the game’s over. Once I win, wouldn’t I just get to do as I please?"
"You won’t get that chance," Jiang Jinghuai declared.
"I’ll go first for this round," Hua Zifeng offered unexpectedly. He smirked eerily, then swiftly grabbed one of the last two guns.
Both Tian Sangsang and Hua’s father held their breath. This round was crucial—Hua Zifeng’s turn could decide the fate of both men without Jiang Jinghuai needing to play again.
Hua’s father was far more agitated than Tian Sangsang; his grip on his knife had loosened without him realizing it. Tian Sangsang’s eyes caught a glimmer of something sharp. The trigger was pulled in slow motion, so deliberate it was visible to the naked eye. Hua Zifeng closed his eyes briefly.
The atmosphere froze.
Between heaven and earth, only the whistling wind and roaring waves could be heard.
Tian Sangsang clenched her palms anxiously.
——
Safe and sound, empty chamber.
Five consecutive shots without a bullet meant the final gun would certainly contain one.
Hua Zifeng grinned mischievously. "Seems the heavens favor me."
Hua’s father felt unrestrained.
Jiang Jinghuai pressed his lips tightly together, picking up the last gun with deliberate force. He gripped it tightly, harder each time, before raising it slowly to his temple. In his dark, fathomless eyes, there wasn’t a trace of fear.
Standing upright, his finger tensed around the trigger. "You said you’d let her go. Do you keep your word?"
Hua Zifeng replied, "Of course. I won’t force her."
The ambiguity of his tone invited speculation.
Tian Sangsang’s eyes widened in an instant.
Just as she was about to cry out, the direction of Jiang Jinghuai’s gun abruptly shifted, pointing directly at Hua Zifeng’s forehead. The slightest movement of his finger, and Hua Zifeng would fall in the next breath.
Hua Zifeng’s face twisted in shock. "Jiang Jinghuai, you tricked me!"
A faint smirk played at the corner of Jiang Jinghuai’s lips.
Sensing danger, Tian Sangsang suddenly grabbed Hua’s father’s arm, swiftly bent forward, and kicked at his calf in one fluid motion. In the blink of an eye, she snatched the knife from his hand.
"You... how did you..."
Her hands were supposed to be tied—how had she regained her freedom?
Not only was Hua’s father perplexed, but even Jiang Jinghuai and Hua Zifeng were momentarily struck by confusion. But this wasn’t the time for questions.
Hua’s father was now unarmed, leaving Tian Sangsang to retreat beside Hua Zifeng.
The situation flipped dramatically, and the tides turned in an instant.
Hua’s father’s eyes reddened as he raised his voice in a hoarse yell: "Don’t hurt my son! Stop, stop!" Jiang Jinghuai hadn’t even done anything yet, but Hua’s father had already crumbled.
Tian Sangsang had intended to walk away, but upon hearing Hua’s father’s desperate cry, she froze, her eyes misting over. A tiger, no matter how fierce, would not harm its cubs. In that moment, Hua’s father seemed to age ten years, appearing as nothing more than an ordinary father.
And Jiang Jinghuai? When she thought back to how he had once ignored Little Tangyuan, even though she knew he had tasks to complete, it still hurt so much she could barely breathe. Forgiveness was simply impossible.
Compared to Hua’s father’s panic, Jiang Jinghuai remained expressionless: "Your accomplice."
Hua’s father nervously clasped his hands, hesitation filling his eyes.
The cold, dark muzzle pressed against Hua Zifeng’s forehead, Jiang Jinghuai’s voice was commanding: "Choose."
"No!" Hua’s father raised his hand.
Hua Zifeng looked at him pleadingly. "Dad, I don’t want to die."
"I’ll talk! I’ll talk!" Hua’s father collapsed to his knees, deflated like a punctured balloon. His voice broke as he spilled: "It’s Lu Lixing! Lu Chi! Lu Lixing forced me—he’s with that organization!"
"As expected." Jiang Jinghuai’s gaze shifted beyond him, settling on the pitch-black ocean.
Out of the depths of the water, countless police officers emerged. They handcuffed Hua’s father and reached out toward Hua Zifeng: "Mr. Hua, thank you for your cooperation."
Then, offering a crisp military salute: "Colonel Jiang, it’s late. We’ll handle the follow-up investigation."
"Hmm." Jiang Jinghuai nodded slightly.
Hua’s father trembled all over, casting a look toward Hua Zifeng.
Tian Sangsang was no less shocked than Hua’s father. Stunned, confused, befuddled, astonished, and furious—they all fell short of capturing her emotions in that moment.
"You were playing me?" she murmured.