"Little handsome guy, what’s the most important thing when you encounter an emergency?"
"That’s right, my son is so smart. Come, give me a kiss!"
Images of Gan Yuan’s face flashed through his mind. Gan Tang took a deep breath, stabilized himself, and gripped the buttons of his little shirt.
"Right... Such a good boy!" The kidnapper smirked sinisterly, "That’s correct, take off your clothes, throw them to uncle, and uncle won’t kill you..."
His words were coaxing, but his right hand holding the knife had already tightened. He had made up his mind that as soon as the child handed over his clothes, he would immediately dispose of the little one.
Undoing two buttons on his sleeves, Gan Tang moved his hands behind his back to pull at the sleeves, rapidly scanning his surroundings with his eyes.
Seeing that he was about to take off his clothes, the man reached out his hand.
"Hurry... Hand over the clothes, and I’ll let you go!"
Gan Tang stepped toward him, slipped, and fell to the ground. The man stepped forward to grab him, but the little guy quickly scrambled to his feet and flung his right hand.
Instantly, a cloud of sand and stones flew toward the man’s face.
The fall was a feigned one; his actual intent was to create a chance to escape.
The sands scattered mid-air. The man instinctively turned his face to dodge the larger stones but couldn’t avoid the gritty shower. Sand got in his eyes, and instinctively he closed them, covering his eyes and cursing out loud.
"Little Bastard! I’ll butcher you..."
Seizing the opportunity, Gan Tang dashed away. The man reached out but failed to catch him. The little guy ducked and scurried beneath his arm.
Ignoring the dust on his face, the man took off after him.
"Little rascal... You dare to fight back... Just wait... I’m going to skin you alive..."
As the man cursed and chased, the little guy just ran as fast as his legs could carry him.
Tripping over a tree root, he lost his balance and tumbled to the ground.
The ground was covered in weeds, so he wasn’t hurt, but the fall cost him precious time. The man, who was already close behind him, immediately took advantage of the situation, surged forward, and grabbed Gan Tang, who was trying to get up.
From the shadows, a figure flashed by. Before the kidnapper could understand what was happening, his chest was struck hard, and then he was flung away like a broken sack.
"Xiaotang!" Huangfu Jue bent down to pick up the little guy from the ground, holding him in his arms, "Xiaotang, don’t be afraid!"
From within the woods, Gan Yuan also rushed over. Seeing her son in Huangfu Jue’s arms, she accelerated and headed their way. Seeing the turn of events, the kidnapper, who had fallen to the ground, scrambled up and fled.
"Take care of him, and don’t follow!"
Handing Xiaotang to Gan Yuan, Huangfu Jue leaped after the kidnapper up the hillside.
"Xiaotang!" Holding him tightly in her arms, Gan Yuan embraced his small body with both hands, her voice already shaking with sobs, "My good son, tell Mommy if you’re hurt."
The little guy held out his small hand and clung tightly to her neck.
"That’s good." She sniffled, raised her face, and comforted Xiaotang by stroking his face, "It’s okay, Xiaotang, don’t be afraid, Mommy is here... Mommy is here..."
As she spoke, she hugged him to her once more.
"My good son, don’t be afraid... It’s all over..."
While comforting Xiaotang in a gentle voice, Gan Yuan raised her face and looked in the direction of the hillside.