Chapter 114: Bandits

“Did anyone else hear what he just said?”

“Do you even realize where you are? This isn’t just anywhere, it’s the busiest shopping mall in Jinghai City, right at the heart of the city.”

“It clearly sounded like fireworks, yet this guy thinks it’s gunfire? He’s something else!”

“Why pay him any mind? Let’s continue our shopping. Aren’t the sounds of those fireworks lessening anyway?”

Everyone was laughing at Lin Xiao’s expense, finding amusement in his seemingly unwarranted concern.

Amid this ridicule, Lin Xiao’s patience wore thin. He turned to face Huang Xinyu, the gravity evident in his voice, “Auntie Xinyu, do you trust me?”

Although skeptical, Huang Xinyu, upon seeing Lin Xiao’s unyielding gaze and earnest demeanor, found herself nodding almost involuntarily.

“If you do, come with me. We need to find Caixing and leave this place immediately.”

Without sparing a second glance at the clothes he held, Lin Xiao placed them down and, with Huang Xinyu in tow, strode away from the store, undeterred by the derisive laughs echoing behind them.

Meanwhile, Huang Caixing was in a nearby women’s store in the fitting room, trying on outfits. Earlier, while Lin Xiao and Huang Xinyu were engrossed in their selections, Caixing had also gone to pick out a few pieces.

By the time the two set foot in the mall corridor, the series of distant bangs suddenly ceased.

However, Lin Xiao’s sense of unease did not dissipate. It grew even heavier. He didn’t hear any more sounds coming from the first floor after the gunshots and was ensnared in an unsettling hush. A silence too profound, given its central location in a bustling commercial district. It shouldn’t be this devoid of sound.

The first floor was a haven for general merchandise, with the second dedicated to electronics. Both floors, which Lin Xiao distinctly remembered being swarming with shoppers upon his arrival, were now eerily empty.

This profound silence hinted at a single, chilling conclusion – everyone was in hiding. However, the third floor was oblivious to the changes, still bustling with people buying their clothes.

All of a sudden, a sharp gunshot reverberated from the mall’s ground floor.

Huang Xinyu’s body jolted, her nerves frayed by the abrupt noise, causing her to latch onto Lin Xiao’s arm instinctively.

Motioning for silence with an uplifted finger, Lin Xiao edged closer to the balcony railing, eyes narrowed as he peered intently toward the floor below.

In a fleeting glimpse, Lin Xiao spotted six burly men in camouflage and black masks, swiftly advancing toward the mall’s elevator. Ahead of them, three unarmed security guards and roughly seven or eight civilians seemed unaware of the impending threat. Then they were gone from his view.

Both the security personnel and the civilians had their hands raised in evident alarm, their faces awash with terror.

Each of the six men brandished an assault rifle, with bands of yellow bullets draped around their necks. Moreover, each had a sidearm and a dagger secured at their waists. Saying they were fully armed would be no overstatement.

Besides the apparent leader who aimed his gun at potential hostages, the other five were dragging sizable black boxes, roughly the height of a half-grown adult, each sealed with a bank’s insignia.

Lin Xiao deduced that these men had recently committed a bank robbery and were serial offenders. Only such seasoned criminals would display such impeccable training and equipment.

Furthermore, they seemed to have had a fierce firefight with law enforcement. The preceding cacophony probably resulted from that showdown.

Yet, strikingly, not a trace of blood marred any of the six, indicating none had suffered injuries.

This signified that the capabilities of these men surpassed that of your average robbers, explaining their audacity to openly challenge a bank and subsequently exchange gunfire with the police.

Upon witnessing the scene below, Huang Xinyu’s frame subtly quivered. Nevertheless, she mustered a semblance of composure and whispered, “Caixing! We need to get her.”

Lin Xiao remained silent but briskly ventured into the next-door store.

What struck him as absurd was the obliviousness of the mall’s patrons despite the looming menace. One particular man shot Lin Xiao a disdainful glance, then boisterously asked Huang Xinyu, “Beauty, do you genuinely take this lad’s words to heart?”

“If you don’t believe it, step out and see for yourself,” Huang Xinyu retorted without sparing a backward glance, tailing Lin Xiao closely.

Given her extensive life experiences, she recognized that, in this moment of peril, her safest bet was aligning with Lin Xiao. The one who had discerned the impending danger while the rest remained woefully unaware.

These people, nestled in their comfortable lives, had become nearly numb to danger. Confronted with the fully armed bandits, the odds seemed stacked against them.

Now, even if they wanted to flee, it was too late.

Perhaps it was wiser to stay put in the mall as hostages. Their chances of survival might be higher.

Lin Xiao approached the women’s dressing room. With over ten stalls inside and not knowing which one Huang Caixing was in, he shouted, “Caixing, come out and follow me. Now!”

Several women in the dressing rooms were jolted by Lin Xiao’s sudden cry, erupting into a chorus of voices.

“What’s the meaning of this? This is a women’s dressing room. What business does a man have here?”

“Indeed! Why is he causing such a ruckus?”

Lin Xiao paid them no mind, his attention fixed on awaiting Huang Caixing.

Shortly after, Huang Caixing emerged from one of the stalls, her brows furrowed in confusion. “What’s the matter, Big Brother Lin? What happened?”

“There’s no time. Hurry over here.”

“What are you up to?” By now, several other dressing room doors had swung open. A few women stepped out, one of whom pointed an accusing finger at Lin Xiao, her voice dripping with scorn. “What’s your game? Do you have any business being in here? You creep!”

Lin Xiao held his tongue. Although it was an emergency, he recognized it was improper for his intrusion into the women’s dressing room.

At that moment, Huang Xinyu emerged from behind Lin Xiao, clarifying, “I apologize. A group of robbers has entered the mall. It’s no longer safe. If you’re willing, you can leave with us.”

Upon hearing Huang Xinyu’s revelation, a buzz of anxiety swept through the women. Still, many remained skeptical, their expressions a mix of disbelief and disdain.

“In the heart of the city, robbers? That’s rich!”

“Exactly! The police station is right next door. What kind of robber would dare venture here?”

Lin Xiao wasn’t surprised by their reactions. People often met the unfamiliar with skepticism. In the face of danger, this very skepticism could cost them their only shot at escape.

Lin Xiao didn’t want to waste any more time talking. He gestured to Huang Caixing, saying, “Let’s go, I’ll take you out.”

Huang Caixing, who had implicit trust in Lin Xiao, immediately rushed to his side without hesitation.

Grasping her hand, Lin Xiao swiftly exited the women’s changing room. It wasn’t that he didn’t care about the others, but time was of the essence. Engaging in fruitless explanations would only hinder their escape.

If people didn’t trust him or chose not to follow, what more could he possibly do?

The six fully armed robbers would be on their floor shortly. Before that happened, Lin Xiao’s priority was to ensure the safety of Huang Caixing and her mother.

We all have our circle of priorities. For Lin Xiao, at that moment, their safety was paramount. Everyone else would have to come second.

How could he even think of saving others if he couldn’t protect those closest to him?

Certainly, once Huang Caixing was safe, Lin Xiao would, given the right circumstances, make an attempt to rescue the others. But for the moment, his sole focus was on ensuring the two women weren’t caught by the robbers.

Even after leaving the changing room with Lin Xiao, Huang Caixing was filled with confusion.

“Big Brother Lin, what on earth is happening?” she asked in a whisper, her voice lowered instinctively due to the pressing tension.

Lin Xiao remained silent, his entire being laser-focused on their surroundings, every sense heightened, every nerve taut.

If he were on his own, he might not have been so on edge. With his skills, he could easily tackle the masked robbers. However, he wasn’t alone.

Beside him were two vulnerable women, defenseless in this situation. Their safety was his responsibility, and he couldn’t, under any circumstances, let harm come their way. This meant Lin Xiao couldn’t afford any risks, and he certainly wasn’t willing to take any.