Jiang Zhi felt a chill run through her bones. Countless guards surged toward her like a raging wave, their blades flashing coldly, ready to devour her instantly. Her back slammed hard against the cold, solid wall. Her escape route was completely blocked. The enemy pressed forward, and every inch of space was filled with the aura of death. Blood flowed from her wounds, and her strength ebbed like quicksand through her fingertips. Every swing of her arm to block the enemy's attack felt like a thousand pounds of weight.
As a guard raised his long sword high, slashing down with deadly force, Jiang Zhi used her last bit of strength to duck sideways. The sword grazed her clothes and pierced the wall, sending up a shower of sparks. At that critical moment, a hand seemed to descend from the sky, reaching out from the ventilation duct with lightning speed. It grasped her wrist with unerring precision and yanked her hard. Jiang Zhi instinctively resisted, but the hand radiated an irresistible force, dragging her whole body into the dark, narrow space of the ventilation duct.
Behind them, the guards roared in anger, hacking and smashing at the vents, only to watch helplessly as the two men vanished into the darkness. Just as Jiang Zhi was about to struggle, a deep, urgent voice rang out, "Hush, follow me!" She peered closer and saw it was Ling Xiao, the mysterious master ally she'd met during her earlier investigation. This man, with his mysterious origins and unfathomable martial arts skills, usually kept to himself, had shown up in this life-or-death moment.
Ling Xiao led the way, his figure like a ghost, his movements light and agile, almost silent. Jiang Zhi gritted her teeth, swallowing the pain and dizziness as she followed closely behind. The ventilation duct was hot and stuffy, filled with dust, and every breath made her throat ache, but she dared not stop. The two of them shuttled through the intricate maze-like pipes, turning countless corners. Only when the sounds of pursuit faded behind them did Jiang Zhi's tense heartstrings relax slightly.
After a long moment, Ling Xiao found a hidden exit and gently leaped down with Jiang Zhi. Outside lay a dark, quiet alley, cluttered with debris and emitting a foul stench. Jiang Zhi's legs gave way, and if Ling Xiao hadn't quickly caught her, she would have collapsed. "Thank you..." Jiang Zhi's voice was trembling. Ling Xiao shook his head slightly, his eyes concerned. "Don't say anything yet. Find a safe place to heal." With that, he carried Jiang Zhi on his back and swiftly departed under the cover of darkness, like a cat.
Shen Qingchen's desperate counterattack
Meanwhile, the battle on Shen Qingchen's side was horrific. Amidst the hail of bullets, the smoke was acrid, the air was bloody, and men fell every second, screams and howls incessant. He watched helplessly as his trusted brothers, one after another, were shot in the face while trying to protect him. The blood splattered on his face, burning and stinging.
The mysterious organization's elite troops were like a torrent of steel, their weapons and equipment sophisticated and advanced, their tactics seamlessly coordinated, suppressing them in this small and cramped space. Shen Qingchen's gun was scorching hot, and the bullets were few and far between. Every time he pulled the trigger, the enemy only paused briefly before being covered by even more intense firepower.
"Boss, what should we do? We can't hold on any longer!" The adjutant beside him shouted at the top of his lungs, his face covered in blood. Shen Qingchen's eyes were red, like a blood-soaked Shura, and hatred was surging in his heart: "Let's fight! Even if we die, we have to bite off a piece of their flesh!" He threw away the empty gun and drew the dagger from his waist. He was about to lead everyone in a desperate charge when suddenly, a burst of hurried footsteps and shouts came from behind.
Shen Qingchen turned to look and saw several old business friends—Lin Yue, Su Ran, and Zhao Hong—each armed with their own private forces, descending like divine soldiers from the sky. Lin Yue's face was grim, and he held a submachine gun, firing as he shouted, "Qingchen, we're too late!" Su Ran followed closely behind, commanding his men to disperse and fill the gaps in the defense line: "Brothers, shoulder to shoulder, take down these bastards!"
Upon hearing that Shen Qingchen was in dire straits, they unhesitatingly mobilized their entire security forces and rushed to his aid. Instantly, the tide of battle reversed. Shen Qingchen, energized, shouted, "Kill!" The throng attacked from both inside and outside, the cries of slaughter resounding through the air. The mysterious organization's elite troops, caught off guard, were thrown into disarray, their firepower scattered. Like a tiger pouncing on its prey, Shen Qingchen wielded his dagger in close combat, the blade flashing and blood splattering in his wake.
With everyone's selfless charge, the mysterious organization's defenses were finally breached, and with a concerted effort, they successfully destroyed the core area of the secret base. Looking at the smoke-filled ruins of the base, Shen Qingchen felt a mixture of joy at victory and grief for his fallen brothers. He knew that this battle was only the prelude to a greater storm. And at this moment, his greatest concern was Jiang Zhi, whose fate was uncertain...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
