Chapter 238: Smoke Bombs and Flaming Molotovs

Jing Shu barely reached the courtyard gate when she was hit by a pungent smell. Thick smoke quickly spread across the already dim courtyard, engulfing everything in its path. Visibility dropped to zero as the heavy smoke filled the air—it was a smoke bomb!

As she sprinted forward, Jing Shu pulled a gas mask from her pocket and put it on. Whether the smoke was toxic or not didn’t matter; safety came first. Soon, the whole courtyard was enveloped in dense smoke, and the guests’ panicked screams echoed through the air. Everyone knew something terrible was about to happen.

Jing Shu increased her pace, heading toward the gate. In such crises, she remained calm, though her heart raced and her blood pumped faster, as if adrenaline had taken over. With her vision completely obscured, Jing Shu relied on memory to find her way. Her parents, grandfather, and Qiao Lian’s brothers were nearby—her father had a gun, and they could handle a few attackers.

But with smoke bombs limiting visibility, the real question was how many attackers there were and how well-armed they might be.

Just as Jing Shu approached the courtyard gate, a voice blared from a loudspeaker:

"Listen up, everyone inside! We only want all the food and valuables. If you’re smart, stand still and don’t move. Our people will take what we need, and we’ll leave peacefully. But if you resist... well, we have nothing to lose!"

"Stay exactly where you are! In this smoke, we can see every move you make. If anyone tries anything, don’t blame us for being ruthless! If anyone moves, you’re dead meat!"

As soon as the announcement ended, terrified screams filled the courtyard once more.

"Don’t even think about calling the police! It’ll take them at least ten minutes to get here, and by then, you’ll all be dead! If anyone tries to make a call, you’ll be shot on sight! We’ve got plenty of weapons!" the voice continued, oozing arrogance and menace.

No one had anticipated such an audacious robbery, especially after half a year of lawlessness had passed. In a world where data and surveillance made it nearly impossible to hide, the existence of armed bandits seemed unthinkable.

Jing Shu’s uncle, as the host, immediately shouted, "Take whatever you want! Just don’t hurt anyone! We won’t move—we swear!"

His words, prioritizing everyone’s safety, helped calm the panicking guests. The last thing anyone wanted was for someone to yell, "We outnumber them! Let’s fight back!" That would have been a disaster in this smoky chaos.

An elderly policeman in the crowd also tried to calm everyone, saying, "Don’t move. Our lives are what matter most. Don’t do anything foolish," while secretly texting his colleagues for help.

Jing Shu furrowed her brow. The thick smoke reduced visibility to less than a meter. If the attackers had some way to see through it—like thermal imaging—they’d have the advantage. She couldn’t risk charging in blindly, especially if they were armed. Smoke bombs and guns likely went hand in hand.

Thermal imaging, she knew, could detect heat signatures even in smoke-filled environments. It worked by detecting heat and creating an image based on those signals. While it couldn’t provide detailed visuals, it could certainly help the attackers see people’s movements. She recalled a viral video showing someone passing through airport security and accidentally letting out a fart, which was humorously captured by thermal imaging. It served as a reminder: if you’re going through security, avoid embarrassing bodily functions!

Thinking quickly, Jing Shu realized she had another option—her bees. She had equipped them with tiny cameras when she had raided an abandoned shopping mall. Those cameras, along with some infrared sensors she had installed around her neighborhood, had proven useful in monitoring the area.

She stepped into the shadows, releasing her bees into the smoke. As she adjusted their camera feeds, she also unleashed a few of her poisonous bees. If the attackers could see through the smoke, charging at them would be risky. Instead, her bees would scout out the situation.

"I really hope my magic cube upgrades to give me shared vision soon," Jing Shu muttered, wishing for a more efficient scouting ability.

The bees buzzed out into the chaos. In the confusion, no one noticed them. Jing Shu’s phone displayed shaky, unstable footage as the bees flew around, providing her with glimpses of the scene. The visibility was still low, but she could make out enough to guide her movements. She split her bees into groups, with some searching for her parents to ensure their safety.

As Jing Shu assessed the situation, something unexpected happened—Molotov cocktails came flying into the courtyard! She couldn’t stop them in time; they came from multiple directions, smashing into the courtyard with a fiery explosion.

The large courtyard, once an advantage, now became a deathtrap. The Molotov cocktails, thrown with deadly accuracy, spread fire rapidly. Despite the attackers’ earlier promises not to hurt anyone, they clearly had no intention of keeping things peaceful. Their goal was to create as much chaos and fear as possible, ensuring no one inside would dare resist.

Screams of pain and terror filled the air as the fire spread, setting people ablaze. The attackers, emboldened by the chaos they had caused, rushed into the courtyard, now visible on Jing Shu’s bee cameras.

"Let’s go, boys! Find the food first, then grab everything else! They’ve got to be hoarding plenty of supplies for a wedding this big!" one of the attackers shouted.

"Haha! Let’s loot the place!" another yelled.

These men, hardened criminals, cared nothing for the lives they were ruining. Jing Shu knew they were likely some of the fugitives still on the run, defying all attempts to bring them to justice.

Without hesitation, Jing Shu ordered her poisonous bees to attack. She didn’t care about holding back anymore—each of these men needed to be incapacitated immediately. Her bees swarmed the attackers, stinging them in critical areas, ensuring they lost the ability to fight back.

The courtyard was in complete disarray. Guests, caught between the spreading fire and the violent attackers, screamed and scrambled for safety. Some tried to flee through the gate, only to be met by the attackers’ brutal assault, their clubs and knives swinging wildly.