Losing sight suddenly plunged everyone into panic.

What is this black fog?

Could it be poisonous?

Who caused it?

Did Bai Yaxin run away?

Are there still enemies around?

Is there a possibility of an ambush?

In the midst of the smoke, could someone suddenly start shooting at them?

The fear of the unknown always makes people feel as if they were weightless in mid-air, filled with panic.

But Dojou Kazuaki's loud and penetrating bass immediately calmed everyone down.

"Don't panic, everyone!"

"It's just a smoke bomb!"

"Try not to inhale, cover your mouth and nose, but don't be overly alarmed!"

"All units, be alert! Wear infrared equipment to ensure Bai Yaxin doesn't escape!"

A series of commands made everyone's tense hearts relax, no longer panicking.

Although the so-called "infrared equipment" was actually fake.

Dojou Kazuaki just made his people believe that some team members were equipped with infrared gear, so that at least a few people still had visibility, calming everyone's nerves.

Only when one's mind is reassured can they confront the enemy.

Next, Dojou Kazuaki quietly issued commands through the radio.

"All units at the east, west, south, and north exits, close off the entrances and exits, no one is allowed in or out, including our own!"

He knew very well that Bai Yaxin was likely already rescued by someone.

The sudden smoke bomb was indeed well-timed.

But the outcome was still uncertain.

Thirty detectives, who he had requested for backup from the Kyoto Police Chief, were already in place and deployed.

The entire Nijo Castle was surrounded inside and out, not even a mouse could hope to escape.

When the smoke cleared, they found that Bai Yaxin was nowhere to be seen.

"All personnel, start searching for Bai Yaxin within Nijo Castle according to your team assignments, begin immediately!"

With no hint of surprise or panic, Dojou Kazuaki immediately issued commands, and the detectives all sprang into action.

Manranyama Souren, Van, and Chongzong, who should have returned to the police car to rest, took advantage of the hustle and bustle to quietly join in chasing Bai Yaxin.

Seeing the three of them disappear, Dojou Kazuaki could only shake his head helplessly.

He understood, he empathized, so even though he felt he might pass out from exhaustion at any moment, he continued to command from his wheelchair, fulfilling his last role.

On the other hand, the evading Bai Yaxin was briskly walking with a long-handled umbrella in hand.

Ahead of him, Kumori cautiously led the way, carefully checking each corner with a mirror before proceeding, the gun in her hand always ready to fire at a moment's notice.

Behind him, Bai Xuyu was walking backwards in fear, worried about potential pursuers.

Yes, Kumori and Bai Xuyu were the ones who had thrown the smoke bomb just now.

When Bai Xuyu arrived at Nijo Castle, unable to find Bai Yaxin, she encountered Kumori first.

Naturally, the more teammates, the better; Bai Xuyu saved Kumori almost instinctively and they proceeded together, leading to the smoke bomb incident.

Although Bai Xuyu did not like Bai Yaxin as a father, it could even be said that she despised and hated him, but Bai Yaxin was still her father.

She also knew that if Bai Yaxin's crimes were exposed, the consequences would be severe.

Although her father was a heinous person, she didn't want him sentenced to death, let him live to atone, or however else, just not death.

But if caught and sentenced, it would surely lead to the death penalty.

After much inner conflict, Bai Xuyu eventually came to Nijo Castle.

This was the place where she grew up playing.

No one could beat her in playing hide and seek here.

Every staircase, every corridor, every room, she knew like the back of her hand.

Even some unknown secret passages were discovered by her.

For example, the one they were heading to now, a secret passage leading to a park outside Nijo Castle, even the castle staff were unaware of.

In just a few minutes, Bai Yaxin experienced a series of events from near-death, struggling to survive, encountering a sudden crisis, feeling hopeless, and then gaining a glimmer of hope, leaving him in a bewildered state of mind.

At that moment, he wasn't sure if he was dreaming or in reality.

If it was a nightmare, he needed to wake up quickly.

"Mr. Bai! Wait!"

Kumori reached out to stop Bai Yaxin and whispered.

"There are police officers guarding ahead, we can't go this way."

With that, she looked at Bai Xuyu, seeking advice.

"Follow me this way, we can still go around and pass through."

Without any hesitation, Bai Xuyu immediately turned and led them back.

After carefully circling around, they still couldn't get through.

Police were everywhere.

The dragnet was tightening, and if they didn't come up with a solution soon, getting caught was only a matter of time.

The three of them stood under the castle wall, trapped in a dilemma.

But at that moment, Bai Yaxin regained his calmness.

A demon regaining clarity was not a good sign.

Bai Yaxin handed his gun, which he had hidden at his waist, to Kumori.

The gun had been given to him by Ryuto shortly before, to use for self-defense.

"If we continue like this, all three of us will be caught."

Bai Yaxin held Kumori's hand.

Kumori froze as if she had been electrocuted.

Without warning, she found herself holding Mr. Bai's hand.

What an honor, what glory it was.

"I need you to help divert the enemy's attention."

"After that, we will act separately, and once we manage to escape, we will contact and regroup."

So, even if Bai Yaxin was treating her as a sacrificial pawn, sending her to her death, she willingly accepted.

"Alright, leave it to me."

Kumori tightened her grip on Bai Yaxin's hand.

It was her first and probably last time holding Bai Yaxin's hand.

"Mr. Bai, Miss Xu Yu, please take care of yourselves."

Kumori's final words were sincere.

"Xuyu, Mr. Bai, I entrust him to you."

After saying this, without a moment's hesitation, Kumori turned and rushed out.

Soon after, gunshots rang out, accompanied by loud shouting and footsteps.

Bai Xuyu looked at Bai Yaxin, and Bai Yaxin looked back at Bai Xuyu.

The difference was that Bai Xuyu's eyes were filled with reproach and anger, while Bai Yaxin remained indifferent.

"Enough, let's go."

Without any concern for Kumori, Bai Yaxin urged Bai Xuyu to hurry, even using the long-handled umbrella to poke her.

Bai Xuyu clenched her fists, nearly throwing a punch.

She regretted why she had come to help this man.

—("(Forget about him...!)")

At one point, Bai Xuyu even considered leaving on her own.

This old man leaning on a cane couldn't keep up with her.

But then she remembered that so many people had sacrificed and paid a heavy price to save this old man.

If she left now after all those efforts, what would that make her?

"Stay close to me."

Bai Xuyu took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her anger.

As long as she safely escorted this man out of here, they would no longer have a father-daughter relationship.

Bai Xuyu made a decision in her heart.

With Kumori acting as bait, drawing away the patrolling police, Bai Xuyu brought Bai Yaxin slowly but safely through the open area, reaching an inconspicuous section of the castle wall.

Then, Bai Xuyu started counting the bricks on the wall, muttering, "Starting from the fourth brick from the right, then counting six bricks from the bottom...", using this mnemonic to find the corresponding bricks and press them.

With Bai Xuyu pressing the bricks, they slowly receded into the wall.

Subsequently, she found three more bricks and pressed them in sequence.

After pressing the last brick, an incredible thing happened.

The section of the wall sank in, revealing a roughly one meter high and half a meter wide entrance, pitch black inside, the destination unknown.

"Go in."

Bai Xuyu said with a stern face, her voice extremely cold.

Ironically, Bai Yaxin, who had been desperate to escape just moments ago, was in no hurry now.

"You go first, I'll follow you."

Bai Yaxin's ulterior motive was evident.

In the poorly maintained secret passage, what lay inside was unknown.

Under such circumstances, he shamelessly asked his daughter, his own daughter, to walk in front and scout ahead.

"....Okay."

Bai Xuyu understood Bai Yaxin's intention, said nothing, and directly went into the secret passage.

After waiting outside for a while without hearing anything unusual from inside, Bai Yaxin also went in.

Not long after, the entrance to the secret passage on the city wall automatically closed, reverting back to its normal appearance.

Twenty minutes later, in the Two-Jie Park located at the angle opposite the two gates between the West Gate and the North Gate of Er Tiao City, Bai Xuyu and Bai Yaxin climbed out of a dry well one after the other.

"We're safe here."

Bai Xuyu brushed off the dust from his body and looked coldly at Bai Yaxin.

Bai Yaxin said nothing, did not thank her, and only kept looking around, remaining vigilant against pursuers.

Under the dim moonlight in Two-Jie Park, this old man appeared weathered, aged, exhausted, and paranoid.

Like an old stray dog wandering in the park, unsure where it had stolen a bone from, afraid of being snatched away.

Pitiful, laughable.

Yet, this kind of person was actually her father.

After observing for a while and seeing Bai Yaxin still ignoring her, not even giving her a proper look, Bai Xuyu didn't say anything more and turned away, walking briskly.

Not even bothering to bid farewell.

This was the last time this father and daughter would meet.

Left alone, Bai Yaxin, after repeatedly checking the surroundings for safety, smiled joyfully.

He dared not laugh loudly, only revealing a smile and giggling softly.

Then, he took out a remote control from his pocket and pressed the button to detonate Er Tiao City.