The car sped forward and reached the location of the incident within just over twenty minutes: an abandoned suburban brick kiln, with an escort van—the type converted from regular vehicles at the time—leaning awkwardly outside.
The suspect colluded with a bank courier, hijacking the escort vehicle en route. Another courier was killed, the driver was taken hostage, and the vehicle had its tires shot out by pursuing police, forcing the robbers to retreat into the abandoned kiln, resisting fiercely.
Though abandoned, the kiln was surrounded by drying fields for bricks, with flat terrain and only some low shrubs and weeds, no tall buildings, not even tall trees.
Ling Chengyan jumped out of the car, her gaze rapidly sweeping the area and quickly identifying two sniper positions. With two hand gestures, Xiang Yuhong led Li Ming around to the back of the kiln.
