Chapter 21: Chapter 17: Gunshots in the Church
Xu Mo’s words made the church quiet down. Providing inspiration for Su Xi on the spot?
Irina also looked at Xu Mo. Xu Mo, who claimed to be a servant, seemed calmer than his employer, and she wasn’t entirely convinced by Su Xi. But in the argument between Su Xi and Mia, it was clear that Su Xi had the upper hand. She had no choice but to watch the situation unfold quietly.
“Okay.” Irina nodded, willing to give Xu Mo a chance.
Mia also looked at Xu Mo beside her. Xu Mo smiled and said, “Miss Mia, a few days ago you mentioned hearing the music ‘My Soul’ in a dream. Maybe it could provide some inspiration for Miss Su Xi.”
Mia naturally understood Xu Mo’s intention, looking at him in surprise. This also confirmed her suspicion that Xu Mo might really be the composer of this music. She had curiously asked him before, and he only said he heard it in a dream without admitting it.
“Yes.” Mia nodded vigorously.
“Good luck, Miss Mia.” Xu Mo smiled encouragingly. Mia walked out, holding the instrument, and stood next to Irina. At that moment, she seemed to enter an imaginary musical world.
Her fingers danced on the strings, and a beautiful melody, no less exquisite than ‘Wind Valley,’ danced in the church, instantly transporting everyone to another kind of beautiful realm, one different from ‘Wind Valley.’
Su Xi’s expression changed, looking somewhat unpleasant.
Irina was delighted, immersed in the music.
“Miss Mia, if you keep playing, how can Miss Su Xi create?” Xu Mo interrupted Mia, his voice tinged with sarcasm.
Irina was a little disappointed but heard Su Xi say, “This proves nothing.”
Xu Mo glanced at the still determined Su Xi and said, “Miss Mia, how about your favorite ‘Sky City’?”
“Yes.” Mia nodded, continuing to play while holding the instrument. The beautiful melody of ‘Sky City’ began to play, and the entire church fell silent. Su Xi’s face was now extremely unpleasant.
This time, Mia stopped on her own without needing Xu Mo’s reminder. She didn’t want Xu Mo’s music to be ‘plagiarized’ by others.
No one spoke in the quiet church. The right and wrong were evident enough. How could someone who could compose such music merely provide inspiration?
“Such beautiful music. Thank you, Miss Mia.” Irina broke the silence in the church, applauding Mia. The church was instantly filled with applause, as if everyone had forgotten what had just happened.
“It seems that personal character and family status aren’t absolutely related. Priest, will God forgive plagiarists and slanderers?” Xu Mo asked the priest, clearly not forgetting.
The priest looked at Su Xi, who bowed her head and apologized, “I’m sorry, Miss Mia. Although I perfected Wind Valley, the most complete music still came from Miss Mia. Miss Mia is the original composer.”
“What do you mean by the original composer?” Xu Mo found Su Xi’s words somewhat laughable. So, she was the subsequent composer?
“Since Miss Su Xi has already apologized, God will forgive all who admit their mistakes,” the priest replied to Xu Mo’s earlier question.
“Miss Mia, let’s go back.” Xu Mo said to Mia, feeling a bit disgusted by the church.
“Yes.” Mia nodded, holding her instrument as they walked back.
“Bang…”
A gunshot suddenly rang out, causing many people in the church to scream. Everyone’s heart skipped a beat, and when they turned to look, they saw an employee near the door fall.
“Bang!”
Another gunshot, and another person was hit and fell down.
Amidst the screams, people in the church hid under the tables. Mia dropped her instrument, covering her head as she moved to the side, trembling.
“Brother…” Yaoer started crying in fear. Xu Mo held her, crouching down, covering her ears gently, and comforting her, “Brother is here, Yaoer, don’t be afraid.”
Elsa hid behind Xu Mo, clutching his clothes with her trembling hands, also shaking uncontrollably.
“Xu Mo.” Mia called, her voice panicked.
“Miss Mia, don’t move from there.” Xu Mo said calmly, while Elsa held his clothes tighter.
“Miss Elsa.” Elsa’s coachman, Cooper, crawled over from under the table, approaching them. Xu Mo sensed that Cooper was exceptionally calm. He wasn’t a simple man. At the same time, his awareness extended outward, seeing two figures striding towards the church, with a sniper hiding outside.
Xu Mo was surprised to recognize one of the two men. He had met him twice before, once in the black market and once recently on the street, though this time the man wore a mask.
Who exactly was he?
Was the hidden sniper the woman who had shot his dart earlier?
The two men walked into the church, standing on either side without obstructing the sniper’s view.
The man Xu Mo had seen before was dressed in leather armor, wearing metal gloves on his hands as he had in the black market.
The other man was shorter, holding a gun which he played with in his hands, wearing a ghost-faced mask.
“Watch here. I’ll go find someone,” the man in leather armor said, then began walking forward, saying to the church, “Nobody move, or I can’t guarantee your safety.”
As he spoke, he walked down the aisle, passing by a middle-aged man dressed in formal wear hiding under a table, who had a gun in his hand but did not move.
The leather armor man walked slowly, and as he passed the middle-aged man, the man suddenly raised his gun and shot, hitting the leather armor on his waist but not injuring him.
Screams erupted. Xu Mo covered Yaoer’s ears tightly.
“Bulletproof vest!” The middle-aged man’s face changed, standing up and aiming at the man’s head.
“Bang.” The ghost-masked man at the door shot, hitting the middle-aged man in the head, causing him to collapse in a pool of blood.
The sound of crying could be heard, and it wasn’t just Yaoer crying; many young girls were also crying in fear.
The leather armor man ignored it and continued walking forward.
“Ah…” A startled cry rang out. Mia was pushed out, standing right in the aisle. She looked in horror at Su Xi beside her. It turned out she had been hiding beside Su Xi, who had pushed her out.
At that moment, Xu Mo’s heart leaped to his throat, and a cold killing intent reflected in his eyes.
Su Xi had done it intentionally.
“She’s just here for the concert.”
Xu Mo placed Yaoer on the ground, stood up with his hands raised, indicating he had no hostile intent.
The ghost-masked man at the church door immediately fired a shot, the bullet speeding towards Xu Mo. Xu Mo moved the moment he sensed the man pulled the trigger, his body instinctively leaning back.
“Bang!” The gunshot rang out, grazing his face, which felt a burning pain, while his body felt chilled. Though Xu Mo reacted quickly, he couldn’t outpace the bullet. If he hadn’t anticipated the man pulling the trigger, he might have been hit.
“Hmm!” The ghost-masked man exclaimed in surprise. Was it a coincidence?
“Brother!” Yaoer cried, clinging to Xu Mo’s leg, looking up at him with worry.
“We’re all just here for the concert,” Xu Mo said to the leather armor man, his hands raised but not moving. His eyes were fixed on the front, calculating the distance, knowing he couldn’t outpace a bullet.
Moreover, his telekinesis wasn’t strong enough to alter the bullet’s path.
At this moment, Xu Mo’s senses were on high alert. He could hear everyone’s breathing.
The ghost-faced man glanced at Yaoer but didn’t fire again.
“Move!” The leather armor man shouted at Mia.
“Come quickly!” Xu Mo called, snapping Mia out of her daze. She quickly ran to Xu Mo’s side and crouched down.
“Xu Mo.” Mia’s voice was filled with tears and hoarse, realizing she almost got Xu Mo killed just now.
Xu Mo held Yaoer, gesturing for silence. Mia leaned against him without speaking, knowing this was not the time to talk.
More gunshots sounded outside, and Xu Mo saw people trying to enter being shot by the sniper. No one could approach the church, turning it into a death trap.
Xu Mo then sensed another group of people on the second floor of the church, all armed with guns.
“What’s going on?” Xu Mo wondered. “Why are there so many armed people in the church?”
They came into view, aiming their guns below.
“Careful!” The ghost-faced man shouted, ducking and hiding behind a table, while the leather armor man dashed forward.
“Bang, bang, bang…” The people upstairs began shooting continuously, and the leather armor man hid in a blind spot, pressing against the wall.
“Miss Irina, quickly go upstairs!” the priest shouted, running to the stairs on either side of the church. Many people below also rushed towards the stairs in panic, causing chaos.
“Let’s go.” Xu Mo carried Yaoer and ran forward with the crowd. Mia and Elsa followed closely behind.
“Can you?” The leather armor man ignored the fleeing crowd, shouting outside.
“I’ll handle this quickly,” the ghost-faced man responded, rushing out like a ghost. His speed was incredible as he fired his guns continuously.
“Bang, bang, bang, bang…” Each shot was a headshot. Four people were killed in a row upstairs, prompting others in the church to flee upstairs in a panic, unimpeded by the sniper outside.
“How am I doing?” the ghost-faced man asked the leather armor man.
“Ask Sister Butterfly,” the leather armor man replied.
“I wouldn’t dare,” the ghost-faced man said, shrinking his head and looking up. The leather armor man stepped out, saying, “Time is short. Let’s get to work.”
“Yes.” The other nodded.
With that, both walked towards the stairs as well.