"Get out of the way! Move! Anyone who doesn't want to die, get out of the way!"
The carriage exploded into chaos.
At the junction, two men stormed in like mad dogs, shoving passengers aside as they brandished knives that gleamed under the dim train lights.
Screams pierced the air. People squeezed desperately to the sides, stumbling over luggage, some even falling hard to the floor. The cramped carriage turned into a funnel of panic.
The two knife-wielders were chasing a handful of people, but their speed was checked by the crush of bodies and heaps of baggage. Even the police pursuing them held back, unwilling to risk innocent lives in such a confined space.
"Brother Han, what should we do?" Zhou Shi muttered tensely, glancing at the tall man beside him. His fists clenched, itching to fight, but his eyes stayed wary. "They've got knives. If we act rashly, the passengers could get hurt."
Han Yao's gaze was cold and sharp, like a drawn blade. His military uniform made him stand out, yet he didn't move recklessly. He scanned the carriage in a split second, calculating, measuring.
"Wait," Han Yao said quietly, his voice steady and commanding. "When they close in, we'll strike fast—no mistakes."
As if on cue, Lin Ruo, who had been sitting calmly by the window, stood up. Her braid brushed over her shoulder as she rose, her eyes steady, not a flicker of fear in them. Instead, they glinted with something else—resolve.
Seeing the chaos in the carriage, the old lady seized her chance. With a vicious gleam in her eyes, she pretended to stumble, deliberately crashing into Lin Ruo.
Her gaze darted to the cold glint of the gangster's knife. If her shove landed, the blade would pierce the young woman—if not killing her outright, it would leave her crippled.
The old lady's wrinkled face twisted with satisfaction.
Little bitch, you dared to bully me? Now you'll pay with your life! You deserve it. You deserve to die!
But at that critical instant, Lin Ruo's body twisted like a reed in the wind. The knife slashed through empty air. Her hand shot out, clamping onto the gangster's wrist with shocking precision, stabilizing herself in one fluid motion.
Her movements were so fast and smooth that for a moment, the old lady gaped in disbelief.
At the same time, Han Yao and Zhou Shi leapt from their seats, ready to rush the attackers.
"Don't move!" the gangster roared, spittle flying. He jerked his knife upward. "Take one more step, and I'll stab her dead!"
Before they could react, two more men burst in from the next carriage. The escape route was cut off. The second thug, a long-faced criminal, lunged forward and seized Lin Ruo, pressing a knife against the pale skin of her neck.
Cold steel kissed her artery. A fraction deeper, and her life would end.
Lin Ruo lowered her lashes, her breathing shallow. From her angle, she could clearly see the gleaming edge.
Her lips quivered, and her wide eyes brimmed with tears. "P-please… don't kill me…" she begged, her voice trembling, her arm shaking in the criminal's grip. Her whole body shuddered like a frightened rabbit.
But beneath that fragile mask, her mind spun calmly, calculating, observing.
Han Yao and Zhou Shi froze, their muscles locked as they pulled back. The plainclothes officers who had been chasing the fugitives skidded to a stop two meters away.
"Calm down! Don't hurt the hostage!" one officer barked.
"You can't escape. Release the girl and surrender—you might still earn leniency."
The long-faced gangster sneered, his teeth yellow against his twisted smile. "Spare me the useless talk! When the train stops, you let us go—or we'll all die together!"
With a deranged glint, he yanked up his shirt. The sight froze the entire carriage.
Strapped to his torso was a crude bundle of explosives.
Gasps and screams tore through the crowd. Panic erupted like wildfire.
"We're already dead men," the gangster snarled, eyes red with madness. "Dragging hundreds of you to hell with us—what a bargain!"
Terror surged through the carriage. Some passengers shrieked and bolted for the doors. Others clawed at the windows, trying desperately to force them open.
"Explosives! We'll be blown to bits!"
"Wuwuwu, I don't want to die, not like this!"
"Damn it, you two beasts! We're innocent!"
The air was thick with hysteria.
Han Yao's brow furrowed so tightly it could kill. His jaw clenched, eyes dark and sharp as steel. He hadn't expected explosives. If the thugs were telling the truth, the consequences would be catastrophic—an entire carriage of civilians turned into blood mist, the train itself a mangled ruin.
The gangster bellowed, brandishing his knife. "Shut the hell up! Keep screaming, and I'll blow you all straight to hell right now!"
The carriage fell into a terrified silence, broken only by sobs and the thundering of the rails beneath their feet.
The long-faced gangster fumbled into his pocket and pulled out a small pack of matches.
The sight froze the entire carriage.
Not a single scream followed this time. Panic choked itself into silence—no one dared make a sound.
The faint click as he flicked a match head between his fingers sent a chill crawling up everyone's spine. The explosives on his body suddenly felt like a roaring beast waiting to devour them all.
"Let the female comrade go," a firm voice rang out.
All eyes turned.
Han Yao had stepped forward, tall and unyielding in his green military uniform. His expression was calm, but his eyes were sharp with resolve.
"Take me instead," he said, his voice steady as steel.
For a moment, time itself seemed to still.
He was a soldier. In the face of danger and death, he stood as a shield before the people. Protecting those behind him—even if it cost him his life—was his duty, his oath.
Lin Ruo's breath caught. Shock flickered in her eyes as she registered his words.
He… he's willing to trade himself for me?
Unconsciously, her gaze fell on him.
In the dim light of the carriage, Han Yao stood tall and straight, his figure resolute like a mountain. Broad shoulders, narrow waist, and a body honed by years of training. His military uniform was crisp, exuding authority.
And yet… his skin was strikingly pale, almost too white for a man who lived under the sun and wind. It made his sharp, strong features stand out even more—handsome, heroic, and unshakable.
For a brief instant, Lin Ruo felt her heart tremble.
He was a tough, handsome man.
If her so-called "cheap husband" happened to look like this… well, maybe it wouldn't be such a loss after all.
"Handsome comrade, thank you," Lin Ruo said softly, her voice trembling just enough to sound convincing. "But I can't let you step into danger for me. Good deeds are rewarded—someone like me won't die so easily."
Her eyes curved slightly, as though teasing. In truth, she wasn't afraid at all. If she were, she wouldn't have had the mood to compare men's looks and skin tone.
If it weren't for the wrong occasion, she might have even whistled at him a few times.
The long-faced gangster snarled, pressing the knife tighter against her neck. "Stop with the nonsense! You think I'm a fool? Don't play tricks with me. You two soldiers—if I take you as hostages, I'd be digging my own grave!"
He jerked his chin at his companion.
"The two of us together aren't your match. But if I hold her—" he pressed the blade until a thin line of red appeared on Lin Ruo's skin "—then no one dares act rashly. Once the train arrives, and we're clear, we'll release her."
The round-faced man brandished the small box of matches, his hand steady despite the madness in his eyes. The explosives tied to his stomach loomed like a death sentence over the entire carriage.
If either man twitched the wrong way, it would all be over.
Passengers held their breath, too terrified to even sob now.
The rhythm of the wheels shifted. With a long screech of brakes, the train began to slow, the metal frame trembling beneath their feet.
From the overhead speakers, the crackling voice of the announcer came:
"Attention passengers… the train is now arriving at Jicheng Station…"
The words fell like a stone into the tense silence.
Every eye in the carriage turned to the doors.
Without hesitation, Lin Ruo slipped a hand to her trouser leg and drew out two slender silver needles.
She had prepared them that very morning, hidden carefully for emergencies—concealed weapons of self-defense.
The thugs were too focused on the terrified passengers, on the police at a distance, on the train slowing into the station. They never noticed her fingers moving with practiced precision.
Seizing the fleeting moment, she struck—swift, accurate, merciless.
Her hand flicked, and the silver needles pierced directly into their Baihui acupoints.
In an instant, both criminals' bodies went stiff. Their eyes rolled back, and they collapsed to the carriage floor like limp noodles, knives clattering uselessly beside them.
A collective gasp swept through the crowd.
"Comrade soldier, the rest is up to you," Lin Ruo said lightly, dusting her palms together.
Her expression was calm, almost nonchalant, as though she hadn't just freed herself from a death grip and subdued two armed, bomb-strapped fugitives in one move.
Han Yao's gaze snapped to her, his eyes narrowing with astonishment. He had been seconds from stepping in, but now…
His chest tightened with something unexpected—admiration.
She… she wasn't afraid at all. Silver needles? Acupuncture?
Her strike had been precise, both hands steady, not a shred of hesitation. Even in the face of death, she had kept her composure.
This girl… she's someone extraordinary.
Capable. Fearless. Calm in crisis.
In his eyes, she wasn't just a civilian anymore. She was a woman who had the makings of a soldier.
The plainclothes officers rushed forward at once, binding the unconscious men and stripping them of their weapons and crude explosives.
And then—
"Pa, pa, pa—"
The silence broke into thunderous applause. Passengers clapped, some cheering, some even crying in relief.
The crisis was over.
Terror melted into the joy of survival, and on every face shone the same emotion—gratitude toward the young woman who had just saved them all.
"Three comrades, we'll need you to come give a statement later," the plainclothes officer said, nodding at Han Yao, Zhou Shi, and Lin Ruo.
"Of course," Lin Ruo agreed readily, her voice calm and clear. "It's our duty to cooperate with the police."
Once the officers escorted the criminals away, the carriage gradually settled, though a nervous hush still lingered.
Lin Ruo rose to her feet and walked unhurriedly down the aisle, her gaze locking onto the old woman sitting in the same row. Step by deliberate step, she stopped before her.
"Old lady," her tone was cold but steady, "you bumped into me on purpose just now, didn't you?"
The old woman's eyes flickered, a brief flash of panic betraying her, but she quickly smoothed her expression, feigning calm. "What nonsense are you spouting? Who would deliberately bump into you?"
Before Lin Ruo could respond, Niu Lanhua snapped, her voice sharp as she spat her words like venom.
"You're slandering my mother! Which of your eyes saw her bump into you, huh? You're full of lies. I think it was you who made my mother almost fall! You still hold a grudge because I sat in your seat earlier, so now you're trying to throw dirty water on her!"
Her face twisted with indignation, but the tremor in her voice betrayed her guilty conscience.
Passengers nearby turned to watch, murmuring among themselves. Some had noticed the suspicious shove earlier, though few dared speak up.