10. Escape
Inside the dilapidated tool shed, the air was stagnant and thick, as if even time had slowed down in this cramped, dark space. The alluring scent of a previous, intense passion had yet to fully dissipate, blending with dust, the smell of rust, the faint scent of blood, and the salty, astringent taste of sweat to create a complex, intimate atmosphere that lingered in every corner. The air was filled with an indescribable intimacy and languor, a blend of extreme exhaustion, the laziness of release, and a deeper sense of connection.
Su Lin, drenched in the combined effects of the powerful drug and aphrodisiac, and the intense exhaustion of the exhausting, intimate encounter, fell into a deep sleep. Like a small animal seeking warmth and security, he curled up unconsciously, ensconced in a makeshift bed of relatively clean coats and clothing shared by his teammates, enveloped by the combined warmth of the three men. The abnormal, fiery flush on his face had completely faded, returning to its former paleness, even paler from exhaustion, with a fragile, translucent quality. His breathing became even and long, but his delicate eyebrows remained slightly furrowed, as if even in his dreams, he still lingered with the fear and helplessness of the recent moment, or the subconscious turmoil of that unexpected intimacy.
Lei Qing, A Yan, and Mu Lin showed no signs of sleep. Physical exhaustion washed over their nerves like waves, yet their minds remained remarkably clear, even hyperactive. After a brief moment of drug-fueled indulgence and intimacy, fueled by drugs and emotion, a heavier, more complex reality followed. In the dim light, they exchanged silent glances, their gazes grazing over each other's stained and sweat-stained faces before finally returning to the peacefully sleeping figure in their arms.
Their eyes were complex, filled with a plethora of emotions difficult to immediately unravel. Breaking through that long-held, unspoken boundary brought an unprecedented, deep-seated connection, as if their souls had concluded a silent covenant in the darkness. But this was accompanied by a heavier sense of responsibility, worry about the future, apprehension about Su Lin's reaction upon awakening, and a vague sense of helplessness about engaging in sexual relations under such circumstances, even if it was motivated more by rescue than pure desire. Yet, all these chaotic emotions were ultimately overwhelmed by a stronger, more resolute conviction: to protect Su Lin, to lead this small team to survive this damned apocalypse!
"We must leave immediately." Lei Qing's voice was low and hoarse, as if it had been ground by sand and gravel, breaking the silence that had been maintained in the shed for a long time. As he spoke, he carefully and with a gentle movement that was completely different from his usual cold and hard style, slowly raised his body from Su Lin's side, trying his best to avoid waking the sleeping person. There was a rare caution in his movements, as if he was afraid of disturbing a fragile dream. "Although Xiao escaped with serious injuries and his life or death is uncertain, the chaos in the base will not last long. Once those big and small leaders react from the initial shock and leaderlessness and reorganize their forces, we will be truly surrounded. At that time, it will be extremely difficult to leave."
Upon hearing this, A Yan and Mu Lin almost immediately forced themselves to calm their turbulent emotions, their eyes becoming sharp and focused again. Now was definitely not the time to dwell on their complex emotions; survival was the top priority. They nodded in tacit understanding, their movements gentle and silent.
Silent commands were given, and the three men began to move swiftly and efficiently. They checked their limited remaining weapons and equipment, replacing the scattered items. A Yan and Mu Lin were extremely careful, almost holding their breath, as they dressed the still-drowsy Su Lin in clean, neat clothes. Their movements seemed a bit clumsy, especially A Yan's. Her hands, which could burst with blazing white flames and destroy everything, seemed a bit stiff and unresponsive as she buttoned the tiny buttons, but her care and concentration revealed her immense cherishment. Lei Qing, like the most vigilant sentry, moved silently to the door, vigilantly observing the situation outside through the tiny gap between Mu Lin's condensed ice and the door panel.
The chaos within the base clearly hadn't subsided; instead, it was intensifying. Fires still flickered in the distance, casting a faint crimson hue across the sky. Shouts, arguments, sporadic gunfire, and the sound of something being smashed mixed together, drifting faintly on the night wind. Xiao's sudden disappearance and severe injury had ripped out the pillars of this deformed structure, sustained by absolute power and terror. The entire Blackstone Base had clearly been plunged into the turmoil and chaos of a power vacuum. This was their best, perhaps only, chance to escape.
Just as they finished packing and were about to quietly leave this temporary shelter, Su Lin's long eyelashes trembled a few times, and a small, sleepy moan came from his throat, and he slowly woke up.
Consciousness slowly returned like a tide, and his body's perceptions became clearer. The pervasive, bone-deep aching pain, especially the strange swelling and pain in his waist, legs, and certain unmentionable parts, froze him instantly. Then, like a flood, chaotic and fiery fragments of memories from the recent darkness surged into his mind—those scorching touches, the heavy breathing, the suppressed sobs, the feeling of being filled, possessed, and gently soothed...
Suddenly, a wave of embarrassment and bewilderment washed over him. An uncontrollable flush of red washed over his cheeks, spreading to his ears and neck. He barely dared to look up, his eyes evasive, completely unaware of the three men around him with whom he had just experienced such close contact. He could only subconsciously huddle himself deeper into the clothes spread out before him, as if that would conceal him.
"Su Lin, how are you feeling?" Mu Lin was the first to notice he'd woken up, immediately leaning over and asking gently. His tone was thick with concern, mixed with a hint of cautious nervousness he wasn't even aware of. He carefully studied Su Lin's face, trying to gauge if he was still feeling unwell.
"It's...it's okay..." Su Lin's voice was a little hoarse and dry. He tried to support his body and sit up to show that he was fine. However, as soon as he raised his upper body, the strong feeling of soreness and weakness and the obvious discomfort in a certain part of his body made him groan, and he fell back weakly, and the blush on his face became even more intense.
"Don't move." Ah Yan quickly reached out to hold onto his shoulders, his movements still with his characteristic, slightly rough directness, but his strength was well-controlled. His golden eyes shone startlingly, like two small flames burning in them. They cast their undisguised gaze on Su Lin's flushed face and slightly open collar, a direct and blazing look of someone who had just confirmed ownership, as if to burn him with his gaze. "You...you still need to rest. But we have to leave, get out of this damn place right now." His voice was much deeper and hoarser than usual.
Su Lin nodded obediently, trying to suppress his embarrassment. His eyes subconsciously swept across the dilapidated shack, which still bore traces of last night's chaos, and then through the crack in the window, he looked out at the base shrouded in flames and chaos. At this moment, his mind suddenly flashed back to the ordinary people he had seen before, their pale faces and dull eyes. He remembered the mother crying helplessly outside the shack with her seriously ill child, and the countless desperate figures struggling to survive on the bottom floor of Blackstone Base.
The Xiao's rule is undoubtedly dark and cruel, like a mountain weighing down everyone's head. But their departure, the Xiao's downfall, doesn't necessarily herald a ray of hope. More likely is a complete loss of control in a power vacuum, a bloodier struggle, and the predation of the weak. Ultimately, the ordinary people, the least able to protect themselves, will bear the brunt of this suffering. Thinking of this, a strong sense of pity and responsibility wells up in my heart.
"Wait..." He whispered softly. Although his voice was weak, it carried an undeniable insistence. He reached out and gently grabbed the edge of Lei Qing's clothes as he was about to bend down to carry him.
This small action caused the other three to pause at the same time, and their eyes were all focused on him.
Su Lin took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heartbeat, and raised his eyes to look at them. Though a shimmer of shyness still lingered in his eyes, his gaze was unusually clear and resolute. "We can't... we can't just leave like this." His voice gradually steadied. "If Xiao falls, this place will soon be in complete chaos, with all order lost. In the end, the ones who will suffer, and perhaps even die en masse, will be ordinary people without special abilities, people like the mother and child we saw earlier."
He paused, his eyes scanning his three teammates before concentrating. With a subtle shift of his mind, a pile of supplies materialized from thin air in the open space nearby—a considerable amount of compressed food, clean bottled water, first aid medicine, bandages, even a few well-maintained machetes and some ammunition. These supplies comprised nearly a third of their team's reserves, and in a post-apocalyptic world with an uncertain future and scarce resources, their value was immeasurable.
"Leave these..." Su Lin pointed at the pile of supplies, his tone earnest and firm, "Leave them to those who still have conscience and want to survive. Maybe... maybe this little bit of help can allow them to seize a glimmer of opportunity in the chaos, have a chance... to rebuild a little bit of order, even if it's just to let more people survive." He knew that this decision might seem naive, even dangerous, but he couldn't convince himself to stand idly by.
A Yan opened his mouth, brow furrowed, clearly about to say something—something about how these supplies were vital to them, or how showing kindness in a place like this might lead to unnecessary trouble. But when he saw the unwavering determination in Su Lin's eyes, the pure compassion that seemed incompatible with this filthy apocalypse, the words on his lips faltered. He scratched his hair in annoyance, then finally muttered something in a complicated tone: "...I knew you'd be like this." There was a hint of helplessness, yet also a subtle hint of indulgence.
Mu Lin looked at the pile of supplies, still precious in the dim light, and sighed softly, but that sigh didn't hint at opposition. He turned to look at Su Lin and gave him an understanding and incredibly gentle smile, as if to say, it's you who are worth our desperate protection. "This is you," he said softly, his tone full of recognition.
Lei Qing stared at Su Lin in silence for a few seconds. His deep eyes, like an ancient well, revealed no ripples, yet those who knew him well could sense the balancing act within him. He knew full well that in the apocalypse, such unconditional kindness could sometimes border on extravagance, even potentially fatal. But he also understood, better than anyone, that this was Su Lin's most essential and alluring quality, the light untainted by darkness that he was willing to protect with his life. Ultimately, he said nothing more, only a steady nod and a concise, to-the-point message: "Move quickly."
However, how to safely leave these supplies to "worthy people" rather than letting them become the property of the thugs or new looters who might appear soon became a new problem. Leaving them directly in this dilapidated shed would be like letting a sheep walk into a tiger's mouth.
Just as they were pondering a countermeasure, a very light, yet clearly cautious knocking sound suddenly came from the broken door of the shed, which was sealed by ice. "Knock, knock, knock."
The sound was soft, but clearly audible in the silent shed.
The four of them instantly entered a state of high alert! All the charming and complex emotions were instantly suppressed. The weapons slipped into their hands silently again, their bodies tensed, and their eyes stared sharply at the door.
Lei Qing gestured to the others to keep quiet. Like a cheetah before its prey, he silently moved to the door, pressing his body against the wall. Lowering his voice, he shouted with cold caution, "Who?"
There was a moment of silence outside, and then a deep male voice came in, suppressing tension but trying to remain calm: "...I have no ill intentions. Please believe my sincerity. I am Zhao Gan, the captain of the garrison at the west entrance of the base. I...I saw the conflict between you and Xiao. Are you...preparing to leave?"
Lei Qing's eyes flickered, signaling Mu Lin to melt the ice slightly around the door. He then cautiously peered through the extremely narrow gap. Standing outside was a man in his thirties, wearing a torn base guard uniform. His face bore fresh scrapes and bruises, and his uniform was ripped and stained in many places, revealing the presence of someone who had just been through combat or chaos. He was alone, unarmed, and while his eyes held a strained and weary expression, they were relatively honest, lacking the usual greed or cunning.
The hesitation lasted only a moment. Lei Qing knew they didn't have much time to waste. He opened the door slightly, just enough for his eyes to see through, maintaining a high level of vigilance.
Zhao Gan, standing outside, saw the door open but didn't attempt to force his way in. Instead, he took a slight step back to show he held no hostility. He spoke faster, but his voice remained low and clear, "Xiao's actions are cruel and tyrannical. Many in the base have long harbored resentment, but they've been forced to remain silent due to his tyranny. Now that he's seriously injured and missing, the base is in complete chaos... If you leave, can you... can you, for the sake of those innocent people, give them a little... hope of survival?" His gaze involuntarily flickered through the crack in the door to the pile of supplies Su Lin had just taken out of the shed. Incredible surprise and longing instantly filled his eyes, but he quickly forced himself to look away, his gaze returning to sincerity, even a hint of pleading. "I know this request is excessive and presumptuous, but... I guarantee on my honor that I have no selfish motives. I simply want to buy a little chance for those on the verge of death..."
At this moment, Su Lin struggled, and with A Yan's support, he reached the door. He looked into Zhao Gan's eyes, which were filled with hope, earnestness, and a hint of a soldier's unique determination. He asked softly but clearly, "Captain Zhao, can you promise that you will use these things to help those who truly need help, rather than to strengthen your own power and become another 'Xiao'?"
Zhao Gan met Su Lin's eyes, which were so clear that they seemed to see through people's hearts, yet they were filled with gentle strength. His body trembled slightly, then he straightened his spine and nodded solemnly as if taking an oath, his voice firm and decisive: "I, Zhao Gan, swear on my military honor and my remaining conscience! I will do my best. For those brothers in the joint base who still have conscience and are unwilling to go along with the corrupt, use these supplies to give priority to rescuing the elderly, the weak, women and children, and strive... strive to establish an order that can at least allow people to live like human beings!" A bitter but determined smile appeared on his face. "I know this is difficult, the road ahead is full of thorns, and we may fail in the end... But no matter what, it's better than living in the darkness and being at the mercy of others like now! We... want to give it a try!"
Su Lin looked at him quietly for a few seconds, then turned his head and looked at Lei Qing with a questioning look.
Lei Qing's piercing gaze, like a hawk, scrutinized Zhao Gan, from his expression, his stance, his gaze, to every subtle movement. Time seemed to freeze for a few seconds. Finally, Lei Qing nodded almost imperceptibly. They had neither the time nor the means to fully verify this stranger's promise, but for now, this seemed the only option that could possibly put these supplies to good use, and it was Su Lin's hope. Sometimes, in the apocalypse, one has to gamble on the remaining glimmer of humanity.
"These supplies are now in your hands." Su Lin hesitated no longer, signaling A Yan and Mu Lin to help him push the pile of valuable supplies to the door. "Also..." He paused, then added with a hint of caution, "Be careful... Xiao may still have remnants lurking in the shadows."
Zhao Gan's eyes instantly welled up as he gazed upon the pile of supplies before him, enough to change the fate of so many. This man, accustomed to the trials and tribulations of life and death in the apocalypse, couldn't help but choke up. He took a step back, straightened his body, and gave a solemn, standard military salute to the four men in the shed. His voice was resounding and powerful: "Thank you! Thank you so much! This kindness... I, Zhao Gan, and all the brothers who are willing to follow me and fight for survival will never forget it!" He took a deep breath and pointed in a direction. "Hurry and leave! The east side gate is the most chaotic right now, and many of the guards have escaped. Breaking out from there gives us the greatest chance! May... may you have a safe journey ahead!"
Without saying another word, Lei Qing decisively carried the still weak Su Lin on his back. A Yan and Mu Lin closely guarded him on his left and right. The four of them were like sharp arrows blending into the shadows. They moved forward silently in the direction indicated by Zhao Gan and instantly disappeared in the shadows of the intricate and chaotic alley.
With the growing chaos inside the base as the best cover, as well as their own strong personal strength and tacit cooperation, the four cleverly avoided several sporadic search teams that were like headless flies, and safely broke through the entrance and exit on the east side where the defense had been relaxed a lot, and found the dusty and scratched off-road vehicle that they had hidden before.
Lei Qing quickly started the car, the engine emitting a deep, powerful roar that didn't seem out of place in the chaotic dawn. Like a trapped beast, the SUV burst forth, its tires rolling over the shattered obstacles. With unwavering momentum, it broke through the last loose line of defense outside Blackrock Base and drove completely into the vast, desolate wilderness, barely outlined by the faint light of dawn.
Behind him, the Blackrock Base's blazing flames, the clamorous chaos, and the shadow that resembled a gigantic cage were rapidly receding and shrinking, eventually transforming into a blurry, scar-like black dot on the horizon, which was gradually swallowed up by the distance and the rising sun.
The car fell into silence for a moment. A Yan gripped the steering wheel intently, his eyes fixed sharply on the bumpy road ahead, but he would glance at the rearview mirror from time to time. In the mirror, Su Lin was reflected, leaning quietly on Lei Qing's shoulder, with his eyes closed, as if he had fallen into a light sleep again. His pale profile looked particularly soft in the gradually brightening morning light. Mu Lin sat in the passenger seat, carefully using a clean cloth and water to treat the various small wounds and scratches on everyone's body left by the previous bloody battles and escapes. His movements were gentle and focused. Lei Qing still maintained the highest level of vigilance, his eyes like a scanner, constantly scanning for any possible threats around the vehicle. His broad shoulders provided a stable support for Su Lin who was leaning on him.
They finally left the abyss called Blackrock Base, exhausted, scarred, and with profound changes in each other.
The road ahead was still long, filled with unknown dangers and challenges. But at least for now, they still had each other, supporting each other. The off-road vehicle faced the rising sun, which had finally broken free from the horizon, bursting forth, casting its golden light across the desolate land. The vehicle adjusted its course and sped unwaveringly towards the unknown north.
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