Since all the rebel faction members have surrendered, there's naturally no need for Blue Flame to make a move.
"Team Four, stand guard. Team Three, check the residence. Team One and Team Two, inspect the suspects' dangerous goods and confiscate them to the Statistical Department." Blue Flame pushed up his glasses and issued orders methodically.
The rain in the sky fell to the ground once more, and the whole world seemed to start turning again.
The Statistical Department's agents from various teams followed the orders and took out handcuffs to restrain the traitorous agents and rebels. Le Yu's team was responsible for subduing Lin Jinyao's unarmed students, who were far more eloquent than the brawny rebels:
"Thousand Feather Stream, Chen Fu, you just wait! Being accomplices, your outcomes will be a thousand times worse than ours!"
"Thousand Feather Stream, I'm ashamed to have studied alongside you!"
"Thousand Feather Stream..."
Le Yu turned a deaf ear. You're scolding Thousand Feather Stream; what does it have to do with Le Yu?
Besides, he's not concerned with their insults but is thinking about what to do next. There is no doubt; his undercover identity should still be safe. However, now that Lin Jinyao and the others have been captured, can his identity remain hidden?
Le Yu isn't afraid of death; the 'death and rebirth' ability makes his every death a new beginning. As for torture, he isn't afraid of it either; his 'Residual Blood Physique' allows him to ignore pain.
However, Le Yu still wants to complete the '15-day survival' challenge. He still hasn't figured out all the functions of his system panel, and he doesn't know if the 'death and rebirth' ability has flaws or side effects. He doesn't want to die continuously in a short time.
Moreover, if Le Yu develops a reckless and suicidal character flaw due to the 'death and rebirth' ability, he will surely suffer many losses in the future.
The desire to survive is the basic instinct of life forms; survival thinking is also the fundamental logic of human thought. If Le Yu completely abandons the desire for life, he can be considered no longer human in some sense—the alteration of fundamental logic will cause his thinking style to be incompatible with other personalities. Le Yu might no longer understand the thoughts of ordinary people, much like summer insects that cannot communicate with winter.
Just like the thinking of a Golden Core ancestor who has lived hundreds of years must vastly differ from that of ordinary people with lifespans of decades, but it doesn't matter because mortals must accommodate him; however, Le Yu is inherently just an ordinary person without the ability of 'if you obey me, you thrive, if you oppose me, you perish.' Thus, he must first adapt to this world; otherwise, even with the 'death and rebirth' ability, he would still be punished by the world.
When ordinary people play MOBA games, losing might at most result in a drop in rank, but they can play another game; however, players strive to learn game strategies to avoid being punished by the game. Now Le Yu has the chance to 'play another game,' but if he doesn't want to be punished by the world, he must first learn the correct way to navigate this world.
As he pondered, Le Yu formulated a plan: This world seems to have trains or similar transportation. At dawn tomorrow, he'll buy a ticket to leave Star Engraving County and live anonymously elsewhere for 15 days, plan further after completing the challenge...
However, plans can't keep up with changes; the world's punishment is swift and fierce.
As Team One agent Ailili was arresting Lin Jinyao, Lin Jinyao suddenly grabbed her wrist, reversing and holding her hostage, controlling her hand-held light firearm with his grip, the muzzle aimed at Ailili's chin: "Don't move."
Blue Flame frowned slightly, "Why bother, Mr. Lin? Doing this makes things look bad. Besides, taking hostages doesn't align with the principles of your rebel faction, right?"
"Against your Statistical Department, there's no need to talk about principles!"
Lin Jinyao suddenly shot at Chen Fu, who instinctively dodged, the bullet grazing his hair and leaving a blood trail near his ear.
"Teacher!" Chen Fu exclaimed.
However, Lin Jinyao sternly said, "Don't call me teacher; I don't have unworthy disciples who don't understand justice!"
Blue Flame sighed, "You won't be able to leave."
"So you're going to let her die then?" Lin Jinyao pointed the firearm at Ailili's cheek, Ailili's eyes were filled with panic: "Glorious citizens' rights as the highest priority, your Statistical Department can't violate that, right?"
Blue Flame hesitated for a moment, "Well..."
"But Glorious also has a fine tradition of not yielding to hostage-takers!" Kui Zhao wrapped the wounds on his arms and stood out, shouting: "The Statistical Department agents are prepared to sacrifice for the country; Lin the old dog, you won't leave this courtyard today!"
"I, I..." Ailili bit her lower lip, her eyes brimmed with tears as she looked at Blue Flame.
"But we won't give up any agent either." Blue Flame shook his head: "Mr. Lin, what exactly do you want?"
"Director, absolutely not!" Team Three leader Yingu Yue raised his firearm aiming at Lin Jinyao and Ailili: "Deputy Director Kui is right; we can't compromise with the rebel faction. If the Governor blames us later, who can take responsibility?"
"I will take full responsibility!" Blue Flame stepped forward, his voice filled with indisputable determination: "Mr. Lin, name your terms!"
"Director, no, no need..." Ailili's tears broke free, stammering with a sob: "No need to consider me, make your move!"
Before Blue Flame could respond, Ailili suddenly elbowed backward, but Lin Jinyao was already prepared, sidestepping to dodge the strike, but also gave Ailili considerable strength space, the two wrestled in chaos, the situation extremely disordered.
Lin Jinyao suddenly dragged Ailili into the crowd, continuously pulling the trigger of the light firearm and shooting, nearby agents both wanted to help and had to dodge, but Lin Jinyao wouldn't let them go: "Today, I rid the world of thieves! This heart shines bright, passing on the flame!"
One of the bullets grazed across Le Yuxin's cheek. Instinctively, Le Yuxin raised the light handgun and aimed it at Lin Jinyao, only to find Lin Jinyao staring back at him.
The moment their eyes met, many memories flashed through Le Yuxin's mind once again:
"Feather Flow, I often recruit members for the organization in the academy. The Statistical Department will likely catch on to me sooner or later."
"You're well aware of the methods of the Statistical Department. No one can guarantee that they won't crack under their torture, and neither can I."
"Your identity is the highest secret; no records can prove your identity. Besides me and 'Star Engraving,' no one else can uncover your secret."
"If—I mean if... hahaha, don't leave, don't leave, you're still so sharp, just hearing it you know what I want to say, but I still have to say it. If being caught in a trap is a result I can't avoid, then at that time..."
"Feather Flow, this is the request of my life, and also my most selfish request. For my reputation, for my responsibility, and for your safety, you must make the right choice at the right time and bear this indelible sin."
What is the right time?
Now, the situation is chaotic. Lin Jinyao is holding a hostage with firearms. Whatever happens is normal; this is the right time.
What is the right choice?
Lin Jinyao exposed his back in Le Yuxin's direction while entangled with Eili.
Le Yuxin emotionlessly aimed the muzzle at Lin Jinyao's head.
Feather Flow's shooting skills were quite good. Though it was raining now, the distance between them was only about 10 meters, and most importantly, it was a stationary target.
Le Yuxin pulled the trigger.
The bullet whistled past and burst into a flower of blood on Lin Jinyao's head.
Lin Jinyao's pupils, filled with a look of relief, gradually turned to lifelessness. His body fell to the ground like an old withered tree, splashing water.
This was the right choice.
If Lin Jinyao were captured and interrogated by the Statistical Department, he would either be tortured into betraying or tortured to a state worse than death. Le Yuxin fulfilled Lin Jinyao's wish, letting him die cleanly, justly, and without any worries.
This way, Lin Jinyao won't leak any secrets, and Feather Flow's identity will remain safe.
The only problem is...
"Feather Flow, you beast! Beast!" Lin Jinyao's student tried to rush forward but was held back by other operatives. Lin Xue looked at Lin Jinyao's body, standing there lifeless like a puppet.
Feather Flow's identity would now carry the sin of teacher-killing.
Le Yuxin lowered the handgun, suddenly feeling that Feather Flow had vanished just in time.
This way, Feather Flow wouldn't dirty his own hands. In the afterlife, he might be welcoming Lin Jinyao's arrival.
Only Le Yuxin still had to continue experiencing treachery and fear in this world.
"Good shooting skills," Blue Flame suddenly appeared beside Le Yuxin, regretfully saying, "Pity, I hoped Mr. Lin could make up for his mistakes. He should have known a lot of the secrets of the anti-light insurgents."
Le Yuxin paused for a moment: "I believe that when the anti-light insurgents have firearms, there's no choice but to quickly eliminate them."
Blue Flame suddenly laughed: "It seems you weren't paying attention in class, huh."
Le Yuxin was slightly taken aback: "Huh?"
Blue Flame said nothing more, clapping and shouting, "Prepare to wrap it up!"
Le Yuxin still felt a bit puzzled. He turned his head and noticed that where Lin Jinyao had fallen, there was an unusual pool of water. As Blue Flame left the courtyard, the pool seemed to be released from constraints, flowing with a splash into the courtyard's water channel.
Le Yuxin felt a slight chill in his heart.
Even though the identity crisis was resolved, surviving 15 more days under Blue Flame's command... would be no easy task.