Pristine Darkness

Chapter 91

The showdown between Luo Lang and Jian Yao/ Bo Jinyan on the rocky mountainside commences. While the excitement of the action keeps us on the edge of our seats, we are also given a glimpse into Luo Lang's psyche, and his description is tinged with pathos. How do we feel about him?

(As a side point - great news! We are two-thirds of the way through this novel! Final chapter is Ch 135 - just another 45 more chapters to go . . .)

**********

Translator: shl

Editor/ Proofreader: Anks

**********

In the time between one heartbeat and the next*, the two cars were racing side by side. Jian Yao had also stopped firing. She clearly saw Luo Lang in the driver's seat, face pale, chest bleeding, his right hand holding a gun, but without any intention of firing at her. Fang Qing's body was somewhere in the car. Luo Lang's eyes stopped at her face, full of grief.

*T/N 电光火石 (dian guang huo shi) - literally, lightning and flint. This saying appears to be of Buddhist origin, and speaks of the ephemeral nature of humans, how quickly we pass or fade away (like lightning, or the spark from a flint).

Luo Lang also saw everything clearly in a flash. In the car beside him, An Yan was grimly determined, Jian Yao was staring blankly, and Bo Jinyan was sitting as still and as quiet as a mountain. A great wave of sorrow suddenly burst forth in his heart. He made a snap decision, turned the steering wheel fiercely and rammed into their car!

——

Jian Yao was only unconscious for a little while before rousing. She looked up and saw that Luo Lang's car had come to rest across this remote road. The bonnet was crumpled, and Fang Qing was still unconscious. On their end, An Yan had probably reacted with speed at the very last second and wrenched the steering wheel inwards. Thus, their car had ended up on the road shoulder. The car was pretty badly damaged. An Yan was slumped against the steering wheel, his head covered in blood. Jian Yao quickly reached out to check if he was breathing, and also roughly took stock of his injuries. She let out a sigh of relief.

Amidst the smoke and dust, Bo Jinyan leaned against the back seat. His face bore traces of the bloody impact of the collision, and he had fainted. Jian Yao carefully examined his injuries and was relieved to discover that none of them was severe. She forced herself to keep calm and think carefully. The first priority was to call for backup and rescue. Also, Luo Lang had been shot and injured, he would not be able to run far.

She got out of the car.

Twilight had already descended, and the surrounding mountains and fields had begun to look misty. She looked around in all directions, and spotted a figure on a distant hillside, weaving in and out of the trees. It had to be Luo Lang!

Her criminal investigator's instinct overrode careful thought. She immediately grabbed her cell phone and reported their position to the command centre. Then, she grasped her gun and chased rapidly after him.

Luo Lang was almost at the end of his rope.

The gunshot wound given to him by the criminal investigator was severe, and an entire day of fleeing had cost him much of his physical strength. He was currently sustained by his willpower alone. Stumbling and staggering, he could only see trees everywhere, and a sky higher than the hill. He had only one thought in his mind: even if he were to die, he could not die in front of Jian Yao.

He should have guessed that the heavens would not allow his wish to be fulfilled. He had just climbed the peak of the hill, and a precipice was right under his feet, when he heard a chilly voice behind him commanding him, "Stand still, don't move."