Chapter 86: Life and Death Test, Never Give Up
That moment of loss of control and embrace in the examination room of the Military Region General Hospital was like a watershed, completely breaking the last invisible barrier between Huo Tingxiao and Su Wanqing. His panic and broken "I'm scared to death" made her see with absolute clarity how much she meant to him, more than his own life. And her calmness and protectiveness after the sudden attack also revealed to him the resilient heart beneath her delicate exterior, standing shoulder to shoulder with him.
Their relationship, after enduring the shock of truth and the test of life and death, far from breaking, has become even stronger and more resilient, like tempered steel. A deep, unspoken understanding flows between them. They still rarely exchange sweet nothings, but a glance, a subtle gesture, is filled with trust and dependence.
Huo Tingxiao's security measures were heightened to an unprecedented level. Su Wanqing's guards, both visible and covert, increased several fold. Her travel routes were strictly confidential and subject to constant change. The studio temporarily switched to online communication to minimize the risk of leaving the house. He mobilized every available force, sweeping away any remaining threats both within and outside the country with thunderous force. His methods were decisive, even brutal, as if he wanted to root out and crush any potential threat to her.
Su Wanqing didn't complain about this near-house arrest protection. She stayed quietly at home, focused on her design, occasionally communicating with her studio members via encrypted lines. She even began sorting through the notes her father left behind, trying to find more clues that would help Huo Tingxiao completely eliminate his enemies. She knew this was his way of protecting her, and all she could do was reassure him.
However, the venomous snakes lurking in the shadows didn't retreat despite this temporary setback. Instead, Huo Tingxiao's relentless counterattack made them even more frantic and... unscrupulous. Like hyenas in the shadows, they waited patiently, searching for any possible loophole, ready to launch a fatal attack.
That afternoon, the weather was gloomy, and a rainstorm seemed brewing. Huo Tingxiao had an extremely important high-level meeting to attend. Before leaving, he repeatedly told Su Wanqing not to leave the house and assigned additional guards.
Su Wanqing agreed, and after seeing him out, she returned to the study to continue working.
However, just as the meeting reached its most crucial stage, Huo Tingxiao's encrypted phone suddenly vibrated, displaying the number of his home landline. His heart suddenly tightened! Assistant Chen knew he was in a meeting and would never use this number to disturb him unless it was a serious matter!
He immediately gestured to the participants to pause, stood up, walked to the corner of the conference room, answered the phone, and said in a low voice: "Go ahead."
The voice coming from the other end of the phone was not Su Wanqing's, nor Assistant Chen's, but a strange, processed, cold and distorted electronic voice:
"Commander Huo, I've long heard of your name." The voice was filled with creepy mockery and malice.
Huo Tingxiao's pupils suddenly contracted, and the aura around him instantly dropped to freezing point! He clenched the phone tightly, his knuckles turning white, but his voice was terrifyingly calm: "Who are you?"
"It doesn't matter who I am." The electronic voice laughed strangely. "What matters is that your beautiful wife is visiting us right now. She looks a little scared, but she's very quiet and cooperative."
boom--!
It was like a bolt from the blue! Huo Tingxiao's mind went blank. His heart felt like it was being gripped by an invisible hand, nearly stopping! Wanqing?! At home?! Kidnapped?! How could this be possible?! He had so many people deployed!
The immense fear and rage instantly engulfed him like a tsunami! But he suppressed the roar that threatened to burst out, forcing himself to remain extremely calm, his voice icy cold without a trace of warmth: "What do you want?"
"It's simple." The electronic voice seemed very satisfied with his reaction. "Trade yourself for her. I'll send you the location. You can only come alone. One more person, or one minute late, and you'll be waiting to collect the body of your little wife. Oh, and don't try to play tricks, we're watching you."
The phone was hung up abruptly!
Huo Tingxiao stood there, his face as pale as paper, his eyes swirling with a terrifying storm that was enough to destroy everything! The terrifying murderous aura emanating from his body suffocated everyone in the conference room!
"Chief?" Assistant Chen sensed something was wrong and stepped forward quickly.
Huo Tingxiao turned around abruptly, his eyes bloodshot, his voice hoarse but filled with unquestionable determination: "The meeting is canceled! Prepare the car immediately! Everyone, stay where you are! No one is allowed to move without my order!"
"Chief! What happened? Is it your wife..." Assistant Chen's face changed drastically.
"Follow orders!" Huo Tingxiao interrupted him harshly, yanking off his headset, even removing his service pistol and all his communication equipment, and throwing them to Assistant Chen. "Remember! Without my signal, no one is allowed to approach the target location! This is a death order!"
He knew better than anyone that this was a naked conspiracy against him! The other party's target had never been Su Wanqing, but him! They knew he would do anything for her! They wanted to use her as bait to lure him into a trap!
But he had no choice! Not even a single one!
He must not let her get hurt! Even if he knew it was a trap and a dead end, he had to go!
"Chief! It's too dangerous! Let me take people..." Assistant Chen's eyes turned red with anxiety.
"Shut up!" Huo Tingxiao stared at him intently, his eyes mad and determined. "Her life is more important than mine! Do you understand?!"
After saying that, he no longer paid attention to anyone and strode out of the conference room. He didn't even wait for the elevator and ran down the emergency passage!
Soon, the encrypted phone received a coordinate of a chemical plant that had been abandoned for many years on the outskirts of the city.
An SUV sped like a wild horse, careening out of the city. Huo Tingxiao was behind the wheel, pushing the car to its limit. His expression was as cold as ice, and only his trembling hands, gripping the steering wheel, betrayed the fear and anxiety that threatened to collapse.
Wanqing...wait for me...you must wait for me...
The abandoned chemical plant is dark and damp, filled with the pungent smell of chemicals and mold.
Su Wanqing's hands were tied behind her back, her mouth taped, and she was leaning against a large, rusty reactor. Her forehead was scratched and bleeding from the struggle, and her face was pale, but her eyes were unusually clear, with a hint of stubbornness and... worry.
She wasn't particularly afraid of herself; she was more worried about... Huo Tingxiao. She knew that they had captured her just to lure him over! This was a deadly trap set for him!
She struggled desperately, trying to break the rope, but to no avail.
Time passed by minute by minute, and every second was like torture.
Finally, the sound of a car braking suddenly was heard outside! Then, heavy and rapid footsteps approached step by step.
Su Wanqing's heart instantly jumped into her throat! He's here! He really came alone! This idiot! Idiot!
The iron door of the abandoned workshop was flung open! Huo Tingxiao's tall figure appeared at the doorway. His expression couldn't be seen clearly against the backlight, but the cold and extremely suppressed murderous aura surrounding him made the kidnappers lying in ambush in the workshop subconsciously nervous.
"I'm coming." Huo Tingxiao's voice was hoarse and calm. His eyes immediately locked onto Su Wanqing, who was standing beside the reactor. Seeing the wound on her forehead and her pale face, his pupils suddenly shrank. A huge wave of pain and rage instantly surged in his eyes, but he suppressed it firmly. "Let her go."
"Tsk tsk, Commander Huo is truly a man of deep affection and loyalty, having come all alone." A masked leader emerged from the shadows, toying with a dagger in his hand, his tone frivolous. "But, if we just let him go like this, wouldn't that be too easy for you?"
Huo Tingxiao's cold eyes swept over him: "What do you want?"
"Simple." The leader pointed his dagger at the ground. "Kneel down and beg me. Maybe when I'm in a better mood, I'll let you and your wife reunite."
"No! Tingxiao! No!" Su Wanqing screamed wildly in her heart, tears gushing out, and she shook her head desperately!
Huo Tingxiao looked at the leader, then at Su Wanqing, whose face was filled with tears. A trace of extremely complicated emotions flashed through his eyes. The next second, in front of everyone's astonishment, he actually... slowly knelt down!
The sound of knees hitting the cold concrete floor was particularly harsh in the silent workshop!
Su Wanqing's eyes widened suddenly, her heart felt like it was being torn apart! He...how could he...for her...
"Can you let him go now?" Huo Tingxiao raised his head and looked at the leader calmly with a low voice, as if the humiliating kneeling just now was insignificant.
The leader seemed stunned for a moment, then burst into wild laughter: "Hahahaha! Great! What a great Chief Huo! For a woman, he even gave up his dignity! What a pity..."
His laughter stopped abruptly, and his eyes turned ferocious: "I still can't let go! Brothers, give Chief Huo a good 'treat'!"
Several kidnappers immediately surrounded him with a grin on their faces!
"No——!" Su Wanqing let out a vague cry of grief!
At this critical moment!
Huo Tingxiao, kneeling on the ground, suddenly flashed a terrifying cold light in his eyes! He suddenly leaped up like a dormant cheetah! His speed was so fast that only a shadow remained!
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Several dull sounds of fighting and the crisp crack of bones rang out almost simultaneously! The kidnappers who surrounded them didn't even see the movements clearly before they screamed and flew backwards, instantly losing their fighting ability!
The leader's face changed drastically, and he suddenly put the dagger to Su Wanqing's neck: "Don't move! If you move again, I will kill her!"
Huo Tingxiao froze in an instant, his eyes fixed on the cold blade, hesitant to act rashly.
"Drop your weapons! Put your hands on your head!" the leader shouted.
Without the slightest hesitation, Huo Tingxiao threw the military dagger hidden at his waist onto the ground and slowly raised his hands.
"Very good..." The leader grinned, holding Su Wanqing hostage and slowly retreating, motioning for another subordinate to step forward, "Go, teach him a lesson!"
The man picked up an iron rod and walked towards Huo Tingxiao viciously.
"No! Please! Come to me! Come to me!" Su Wanqing was in tears and struggled desperately!
Huo Tingxiao looked at her with a complicated expression, yet a reassuring firmness. He didn't resist, and used his body to take the heavy blow of the iron rod!
"Ugh!" With a muffled groan, his body shook and a trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, but he still stood straight, his eyes never leaving Su Wanqing.
"You're still pretty tough! Keep fighting!" the leader yelled madly.
The iron rod fell again and again, hitting his back, shoulders, and legs... Huo Tingxiao gritted his teeth and said nothing, but his face became paler and paler, but his eyes became brighter and brighter, like a burning flame!
He was waiting! Waiting for an opportunity! An opportunity that had to be absolutely perfect!
Su Wanqing was heartbroken watching him being beaten like that in front of her. The immense pain and anger almost made her collapse!
At the moment when the leader was distracted by Huo Tingxiao's toughness and the dagger slightly deviated from Su Wanqing's carotid artery—
Huo Tingxiao moved!
He seemed completely oblivious to the pain in his body, and like a tiger pouncing on its prey, he pounced on the leader at an astonishing speed and angle! With one hand, he grasped the leader's knife-wielding wrist with incredible precision and twisted it hard!
"Crack!" The crisp sound of broken bones!
"Ah——!" The leader let out a shrill scream, and the dagger fell to the ground with a clang!
Almost at the same time, Huo Tingxiao's other hand suddenly pulled Su Wanqing behind him and protected her with his body!
At this moment——
"Bang!!!"
A gunshot rang out! From a hidden sniper position high up in the workshop, the bullet whizzed towards Huo Tingxiao's back!
"No——!" Su Wanqing let out a heart-wrenching scream!
Huo Tingxiao's body shook violently! However, he used the impact of the bullet to roll to the side while holding Su Wanqing. At the same time, he kicked the dagger on the ground and accurately shot it at the sniper point high above!
"Puff!" With a muffled sound and a short scream, the sniper fell from a high place!
The entire workshop fell into silence in an instant!
Huo Tingxiao pressed himself against Su Wanqing, shielding her from all possible danger with his own body. His back, near his heart, was quickly stained red with blood...
"Tingxiao! Tingxiao!" Su Wanqing broke free from the ropes on her hands, tore off the tape from her mouth, and frantically hugged him. Her voice was trembling and tears were pouring down her face. "How are you? Don't scare me! Tingxiao!"
Huo Tingxiao's face was as pale as paper, his breathing was rapid, but he tried to force out an extremely weak but soothing smile for her. His voice was barely audible: "...It's okay...Don't be afraid...It's solved..."
Just as he finished speaking, the sound of urgent sirens and footsteps rang out outside the workshop! Assistant Chen and his men had finally arrived! (Huo Tingxiao's car had a secret tracker; he was stalling for time to wait for rescue.)
"Chief! Madam!" Assistant Chen rushed in with his men, and when he saw the scene in front of him, his eyes were bloodshot!
"Hurry! Save him! Save him!" Su Wanqing cried and shouted.
The medical staff quickly stepped forward and carefully lifted Huo Tingxiao onto a stretcher. His consciousness was beginning to fade, but he still held Su Wanqing's hand tightly, refusing to let go.
The ambulance roared towards the hospital. In the car, Su Wanqing tightly grasped his cold hand, looking at his pale face and closed eyes, tears streaming down her face like beads from a broken string.
"Idiot... why did you come... why are you so stupid..." She choked and felt heartbroken.
Huo Tingxiao seemed to have heard her voice. His eyelashes trembled, and he opened his eyes with great difficulty. His gaze was unfocused, but he tried to focus on her face. His voice was so weak that it was almost inaudible:
"Because... it's you..."
"Even if we die... we will be together..."
After saying this, he completely fainted.
Su Wanqing's tears burst out instantly.
Face the test of life and death, never give up.
He used his dignity, his flesh and blood, and even his life to fulfill his most important promise to her.
And in this disaster, she also saw clearly that beneath his cold appearance, his heart was beating so hotly for her and so willing to do anything for her.
Their destinies have long been closely linked without their knowledge, sharing life and death.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
