Chapter 1239 — Wei Zhao's Proposal: So How Did He Do It? He Overpowered That Death-Sworn Soldier Without Killing Him — But How Could He Be Sure the Man Would Not Kill Himself? And Where Was the Soldier Now?

This chain of questions linked up into a single string in the minds of those present, but this was plainly not the moment to step forward and put them to anyone!

The only thing they could do was report to their superiors at the first possible opportunity. The police telephoned at once to tell Qiu Lingshan how matters stood here, while the men of the Mysterious Investigation Bureau lost no time in relaying to Feng Tianlong everything that had happened.

When Qiu Lingshan and Feng Tianlong learned that Wei Zhao had walked out of the high-rise with Feng Xiaoxiao safe and sound, both of them were stunned at the very same instant.

Had Wei Zhao really done it?

Feng Tianlong did not even pause to greet Qiu Lingshan, but set off at a fast stride in the direction of the Building A-16 high-rise.

"Captain, aren't you taking a car?" Li Yifeng had never imagined Feng Tianlong would go the whole way on foot, and hurried after him to ask.

"No driving — too much trouble!" Feng Tianlong said as he ran. "Back in the day I was one of the Mysterious Investigation Bureau's best hands, an ace agent. My fitness is still more than up to standard!"

"That you are, Captain — even now you're one of the best!" Li Yifeng fell into step and ran along with him.

Qiu Lingshan, meanwhile, let out a breath of relief on receiving the news and was in no such hurry to go and see Wei Zhao and Feng Xiaoxiao. After all, she could not very well make her concern for Wei Zhao too plain for all to see; now that she knew they were safe, that was enough.

"Captain, shouldn't we go over and take a look?" Liu Wangli knew about the relationship between Qiu Lingshan and Wei Zhao, so he ventured the question quietly from beside her.

"Don't ask. Take your team and help the Mysterious Investigation Bureau people defuse the explosives, then see the residents who came out to take shelter safely back to their homes." Qiu Lingshan waved her hand. Wei Zhao and Feng Xiaoxiao had just come through life and death together; they would surely have no time to spare for her, so she saw no point in joining the crowd.

Seeing Wei Zhao and Feng Xiaoxiao actually appear before everyone safe and whole, Feng Tianlong was overcome with emotion. He hurried over, his voice going up an octave as it cracked: "Xiao Yi! Xiaoxiao! You're all right — that's wonderful!"

"Uncle Feng, I did not fail in my charge — I've brought my wife back safe and sound." Wei Zhao looked at the shaken Feng Tianlong and, with perfect composure, cracked a joke.

Wei Zhao had rarely called Feng Xiaoxiao "wife" before, and had done so several times today. It brought a faint blush to her cheeks even as her heart swelled with sweetness — it seemed Wei Zhao was accepting her more and more, and Feng Xiaoxiao felt inexpressibly happy.

"Ha! You're right — Xiaoxiao is your girlfriend, and protecting her is your duty. In that case I won't burden you with any more thanks!" Feng Tianlong blinked in surprise at Wei Zhao's words, then burst out laughing, and the thanks hovering on his lips went unspoken.

"There was never any need for them." Wei Zhao smiled. "Still, the matter of the Red Conch—

— I hope you see to it as soon as you can, Uncle Feng. I don't want what happened today to happen a second time. As for that second-in-command, kill him if killing is what he deserves; once he's dead, their hopes die with him."

Feng Tianlong started, then nodded.

This was the Wei Zhao he had known before — ruthless and decisive in action. Lately Feng Tianlong had seen so much of Wei Zhao's gentler side that he had all but forgotten this man had once been a cold-blooded killer, an agent.

"What about that death-sworn soldier? What became of him?" Feng Tianlong asked.

"Dead, I imagine." Wei Zhao did not know whether the soldier had died yet, but plainly the man would not last much longer.

"Dead?" Feng Tianlong was taken aback. "Then the detonator in his body—"

"I took it out and crushed it underfoot. The men can go ahead and defuse the explosives in peace." Wei Zhao said, "You don't blame me for acting on my own authority, do you, Uncle Feng?"

"How could I?" Feng Tianlong smiled ruefully. "You've settled this whole nest of trouble once and for all — I ought to be thanking you, not blaming you. Had it been me going up there, I'd have been at my wits' end. If we could have shot that soldier dead, we'd have done it long ago!"

"Of course he is — my husband is amazing!" Feng Xiaoxiao said not without pride.

As a girl, Feng Xiaoxiao had sometimes looked up to her own father, thinking him a remarkable man. Now that admiration had passed to Wei Zhao.

"Heh, you're right. If Wei Zhao stayed on at the Mysterious Investigation Bureau, he'd certainly outshine me." Far from taking offense, Feng Tianlong sighed with feeling instead.

"All right, Uncle Feng — I'll leave the business here in your hands. Xiaoxiao will stay at my place for the time being." Wei Zhao had been thinking along these lines for some while; Feng Xiaoxiao had refused before, but now it was plainly the best solution there was.

Living with Wei Zhao would keep Feng Xiaoxiao as safe as humanly possible. Who knew what other tricks the Red Conch might play after this? Even if that second-in-command was executed, would they not come back for revenge?

None of it could be said for certain. Faced with an unknown danger, the only thing Wei Zhao could do was confine that danger to the smallest possible scope, keeping everything in his own hands — that was the only way to guarantee Feng Xiaoxiao's safety.

"No objection at all — only Miss Gu..." What worried Feng Tianlong was Gu Mengyao.

Tang Yun might be on excellent terms with Feng Xiaoxiao, but that did not mean Feng Xiaoxiao was equally close to Gu Mengyao and the others, so it was only natural that Feng Tianlong had some misgivings.

"Rest assured, Uncle Feng — Yaoyao and Xiaoshu get along beautifully with Xiaoxiao. A few days ago we all went to the seaside together." Wei Zhao smiled as he spoke.

"Is that so? Then I'm relieved." Feng Tianlong nodded.

Feng Xiaoxiao too was taken aback for a moment at Wei Zhao's proposal, but when she thought of how it was for her own safety, she could only nod as well.

Her relationship with Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu was good, it was true, but nothing like the intimacy she shared with Tang Yun. Among friends there are degrees of closeness; Feng Xiaoxiao did not spend a great deal of time with them day to day, so living under the same roof would naturally strike her as somewhat awkward.

Wei Zhao drove, and he and Feng Xiaoxiao returned together to the Gu family villa.

On the way, Wei Zhao telephoned Tang Yun to report that all was well.

"Yunyun, it's me, Wei Zhao." Tang Yun picked up almost at once. Hearing from Gu Mengyao that Feng Xiaoxiao had been kidnapped, how could she have slept? Though it was already very late, she had stayed by the telephone waiting for word from Wei Zhao — yet not daring to call him herself, for fear of interrupting his rescue of Feng Xiaoxiao.

So, hearing Wei Zhao's voice, Tang Yun was beside herself with excitement: "Wei Zhao, how are you?

Did you get Xiaoxiao out? Are you both all right?"

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