Chapter Six: Still Brave in This Life

The abandoned building was at least fifty meters away from Yu Dazhang’s position, a distance too great for an ordinary person to see clearly.

Yet Yu Dazhang could—and he was confident he wouldn’t be mistaken.

Normally, when a person gains weight, their reflexes slow down, and their bodily functions weaken significantly. After all, all that fat is a huge burden on the organs.

But Yu Dazhang was the opposite. He found that not only had he not become sluggish, but he was far more alert than in his previous life—several times sharper.

Take his eyesight, for instance. Not only could he see farther, but he could also discern finer details that ordinary people would miss.

What surprised him even more was that his intelligence seemed to have improved considerably, especially his memory and logical thinking. His personality had become more lively and unpredictable.

If it had been his previous self, he would never have done something as reckless as riding Zhang Sen to chase after someone.

Yu Dazhang felt as if he had become a completely different person.

There is a common trope in films and dramas where a person suffers a severe head injury and becomes deranged or simple-minded, almost like a different person.

Yu Dazhang’s experience was the exact opposite.

When a person’s intelligence changes, their personality and behavior change accordingly—whether it increases or decreases.

For example, if his past self had noticed something unusual at the abandoned building, he would have immediately reported it to his mentor, Lu Zhongxin.

Regardless of whether Lu Zhongxin believed him, he would have done so.

But the current Yu Dazhang had to consider much more.

Since there was definitely someone inside that abandoned building, it fit his suspicion—the people inside were observing the entire factory.

At the slightest disturbance, they would surely evacuate immediately.

The situation was grim, and Yu Dazhang gnawed anxiously at his lip.

Even if Lu Zhongxin trusted him, it was useless. All the police officers were exposed to the kidnappers’ line of sight.

Even if a single officer moved toward the abandoned building, the hidden culprits would escape.

Obviously, the kidnappers had planned meticulously in advance.

“Most annoying are criminals who actually think!” Yu Dazhang muttered under his breath.

Wait—

Not all of them!

His current position was just at the oblique side of the abandoned building.

Unless the people inside poked their heads out, it would be hard for them to notice him.

Yu Dazhang glanced toward the factory, about sixty meters away.

That meant if the kidnappers’ attention was focused on the factory side, he was effectively invisible to them.

Should I sneak in myself to rescue the hostages?

The thought flashed, but Yu Dazhang immediately dismissed it as reckless.

First, he only knew it was a kidnapping case; he had no idea about other details—how many kidnappers there were, if they were armed, or the hostages’ condition.

Second, if he sneaked in and was discovered, the consequences would be disastrous for both him and the hostages.

In his previous life, he died exactly because of that!

He had a gun back then; now, as a probationary police officer, he wouldn’t be issued one until he was officially confirmed.

Ignore it?

If he just stood still here, it would be safe and he wouldn’t bear responsibility. After all, Lu Zhongxin had assigned him to observe here.

But he couldn’t do that!

A life was at stake; his conscience wouldn’t allow it.

Yu Dazhang took a deep breath and slowly exhaled—

I am a police officer!

I have to act!

Though his intelligence had increased this lifetime, in some ways he felt as clueless as if he had an IQ of eighty.

He measured the angle toward the abandoned building with his hands, then moved to the building’s side, positioning himself where he could observe inside.

He ran quickly to the front, staying close to the wall and arriving at the stairway entrance.

After waiting a few seconds without hearing any noise, he cautiously climbed the stairs.

He had seen dust rising from a window on the fourth floor earlier. To launch a surprise attack, he would have to rush up from the third floor.

Human vision is habitually straight ahead and rarely downward. If the kidnappers had guns, this was the only chance to approach and attack without being seen.

On the third floor, Yu Dazhang looked toward the factory’s window.

That was it—right above.

He took a deep breath and stepped onto the stairs to the fourth floor.

After two steps, a man’s startled shout came from above:

“Hey, you!!”

Yu Dazhang’s scalp tingled, thinking he had been spotted.

Before he could react, two gunshots rang out overhead.

Damn, it’s over!

In his past life, he had at least met the enemy face to face before dying.

This time, he was taken out without even being seen!

Wait—why doesn’t it hurt?

Yu Dazhang snapped back to his senses and hurriedly touched his head.

No blood, no wounds…

As he was about to check if he’d been shot elsewhere, a wailing sound rose above him.

From the sound, more than one person was crying out.

The bullets weren’t meant for him, he quickly concluded.

He looked upward and could barely make out that the cries came from about five meters to the left of the stairway entrance.

The kidnappers were executing hostages?

That was unprofessional.

Firing a gun here would definitely be heard by those at the factory.

Most of the criminal police were either police academy graduates or ex-military, highly sensitive to gunfire; upon hearing shots, they would rush over immediately.

No, the kidnappers weren’t that stupid!

Something must have gone wrong, forcing them to fire in an uncontrollable situation.

Perhaps the hostages had freed themselves and launched a surprise attack…

But this also made Yu Dazhang realize that the situation was growing more complicated and dangerous.

He couldn’t afford to hesitate; he had to rescue the hostages as soon as possible!

Like a cautious cat, he crept upward, each step light and silent.

Just as he was about to peek his head out, a clear female voice came from above:

“You two, drag them over by the pillar.”

The voice sounded like it was right above Yu Dazhang’s head, meaning the speaker was very close.

A woman!

He quickly adjusted his position and slowly peeked out.

Before his eyes was a graceful silhouette—curvy and slender, with a well-shaped waist and hips, long hair cascading over her shoulders.

But that wasn’t the point.

What truly made Yu Dazhang’s hair stand on end was that this woman was holding a handgun, aiming at four men opposite her!

Two of the men lay shot on the ground, while the other two were dragging them toward the pillar.

A woman had kidnapped four men!

How fierce!

Yu Dazhang’s eyes widened in astonishment.

It was the first time he had encountered a female bandit, and one taking on four men single-handedly at that!