Just ahead was their vehicle; once on board, a mere six hours would see them back to their territory, where they could finally be safe.
Everyone maintained the same pace, no one making a sound, as if they were born to be silent and stealthy.
Suddenly, an explosion erupted behind them, sending sparks flying in all directions.
The shrill rat-tat-tat of automatic gunfire rang out as An Zhiyuan, carrying the heavy Wu Gang, took cover under the chassis of the vehicle, before turning and firing his automatic rifle. Ghost Shadow took the driver’s seat, flooring the gas pedal and sending the car speeding away.
The team members returned fire, the flashes of gunfire sprinkling the air as spent cartridges exploded in all directions, hitting the ground and ricocheting off.
The bomb detonated in the night, bursting with flames that shot up like fireworks. An Zhiyuan was struck down by a falling tree, struggling to free himself from the body that pinned him as his team members got in the car.
In the midst of flames, Wu Gang’s body was riddled with bullet holes.
An Zhiyuan lay half on his side under the weight of the tree, hands pressing on his abdomen and writhing back and forth, trying to free his legs from the tree. The tree was huge; his leg ached, and if he wasn’t mistaken, his leg was broken.
His complexion was pale, his eyes tightly shut, his jaws clenched in pain, with fresh blood soaking through the side of his green shirt, and even more blood gushing from under him.
His teammates were about to jump from the car; they couldn’t leave him behind.
An Zhiyuan looked back at the approaching sound of machine guns, shook his head, and shouted, "Go! Leave me!"
Catching a glimpse in the corner of his eye of the enemy setting up a rocket launcher, he ordered through the mic.
"I order you to retreat, now."
Ghost Shadow glanced back at the rocket launcher; they had their duties, the mission wasn’t completed, and even if it meant sacrificing themselves here, it would be meaningless.
A silent glance at An Zhiyuan! He stepped on the gas, and the vehicle shot out.
As the car departed! A rocket exploded in the area they’d just left.
The shockwave raised engulfed the area in a rolling inferno.
An Zhiyuan was flipped over by the blast, completely losing consciousness.
...
Not knowing how much time had passed, An Zhiyuan was awakened by a splash of cold water.
Opening his eyes, he saw the glaring lights, and his body ached as if it wasn’t his.
Finally, he saw clearly that he was firmly tied to a chair, the bindings so professional that not even he could free himself quickly.
"Stop looking, An Zhiyuan, you can’t undo them. I know your skills, so I specifically instructed my men to take good care of you, lest you escape," a familiar voice rang in An Zhiyuan’s ear.
"Bai Mei, knowing who I am, you should understand the stakes. Not releasing me, you should know what will happen to you. My teammates won’t just leave me behind," An Zhiyuan’s head was splitting in pain. He was painfully aware that he was now in Bai Mei’s hands.
"An Zhiyuan! Stop bluffing, I’m not afraid. We’ve long left that place. In these deep mountains and dense forests, even if your brothers wanted to search, they wouldn’t find us without a guide in ten days or half a month; so you might as well save your breath. Increase the drug dosage for Mr. An, to prevent him from troubling us when he wakes up," Bai Mei ordered.
A needle pierced An Zhiyuan’s carotid artery, and darkness consumed his vision.