Chapter Thirty-Five: Fireworks Blossoming at Dusk

The reason for Cheng Feng's drastic change in expression was something Gao Mingyang seemed to guess at. He shot Cheng Feng a look of understanding—though strangers, there was a sense of shared misery between them.

“So, how did you get in here?” Gao Mingyang asked curiously.

Zhao Nan patted Xu Yang's hand, gently freeing himself from her grip, and whispered, “Now isn’t the time to get excited. It's not safe yet.”

Perhaps embarrassed by her own impulsiveness, Xu Yang took a step back from Zhao Nan.

“Xiao Yang!” Cheng Feng, now composed, walked over to the trio. “Are you alright? Did they do anything to you?”

“I’m fine,” Xu Yang shook her head.

“We should get out of here quickly,” Gao Mingyang said, glancing at the window. “No one’s noticed us yet. Beautiful teacher, can you climb down?”

“It’s too high... I can’t do it.” Xu Yang stared at the rope outside, her face turning pale.

At that moment, approaching footsteps sounded in the corridor—more than a few people. Gao Mingyang groaned, “Bro, did you fight your way up here? Isn’t this a bit too many people?”

Cheng Feng snorted coldly and gritted his teeth. “Xiao Yang, you all go first. I’ll hold them off!”

With that, he rushed to the door and braced his back against it. Outside, heavy blows landed on the door, making it shudder and sending plaster dust flying. “Go! Hurry!”

“I’ll go down first—damn, the rope’s gone! There are people on the roof too?”

Just then, the door burst open. Cheng Feng, off balance, was knocked down by the door, and several strong men rushed in to pin him to the floor.

“Think you can get away?” one of the newcomers sneered.

Terrified, Xu Yang felt Zhao Nan grab her arm, pulling her forward into a run. Zhao Nan’s longsword was already drawn, flashing through the air with blinding speed.

“Gao Mingyang, break through!” Zhao Nan shouted.

The sword danced like a silver dragon, so fast the eye could hardly follow. The “Dark” members before them had no time to react; they felt only sharp pain as the blade struck.

Cries of pain erupted—Zhao Nan’s single sweep left three men wounded on the floor, one with his wrist severed, blood splattering everywhere.

“Damn, a real expert!” Gao Mingyang yelled. He’d wanted to help, but in a blink, Zhao Nan had cleared most of the opposition.

Sword whirling again, Zhao Nan dragged Xu Yang onward, breaking through the blockade. With far superior physical strength and swordsmanship honed as a former level-49 swordsman, Zhao Nan cut down the “Dark” members within seconds, severing limbs to ensure they could not pursue.

Blood stained the floor.

“Go!” he called, pulling Xu Yang toward the exit.

“Bro, are you alright?” Gao Mingyang helped Cheng Feng to his feet. “If you’re good, follow us!”

Cheng Feng gritted his teeth. His plans were now in complete disarray. Though he seethed inwardly, he kept his composure, and as Gao Mingyang looked away, he quietly activated the communicator in his hand.

“Not a single one will escape…” he sneered silently, quickly following the others.

…

“This way—wait, damn, people! Try here—hell, they’re here too! Over there! Shit!” Gao Mingyang’s shouts echoed as they fled, running into “Dark” members at every turn.

“Weren’t all electronic devices supposed to be down? Why does it feel like they’re watching us? Are these guys bloodhounds?” Gao Mingyang grumbled.

Ahead, a dozen people blocked the corridor, making it impossible to see beyond. From behind, more pursuers pressed in.

As the enemies closed in from both sides, cold sweat beaded on Gao Mingyang’s brow, but he forced a relaxed tone. “Anyone have unfulfilled wishes? I’ll go first: I want to lose my virginity!”

His attempt at humor fell flat.

“Really…” Zhao Nan shook his head, then suddenly chuckled. “Then go do it. That’s not a last wish.”

With that, Zhao Nan smashed the glass window with his sword hilt.

“It’s only the third floor. If you’re a man, don’t frown at jumping!” He scooped up Xu Yang and leapt out the window.

Gao Mingyang and Cheng Feng were momentarily stunned. Gao Mingyang, steeling himself, followed suit. Cheng Feng, seeing the pursuing mob, snorted and raised his hand.

“Surround them downstairs!”

He then jumped after the others.

The third floor was about ten meters up. For most people, such a fall would mean injury, but a trained stuntman could manage, to say nothing of Zhao Nan’s exceptional physique.

Xu Yang felt her body plummet, the scenery blurring—then she landed firmly on the ground in Zhao Nan’s arms. As soon as he set her down, Gao Mingyang tumbled to his feet, looking a bit battered, followed by Cheng Feng.

“Mingyang!” a shout came from nearby. Gao Xiang, Xu Fei, and Xu Feng appeared, eyes wide.

“Why are you running this way!” Gao Mingyang’s face contorted.

Behind the three, a horde of “Dark” members chased them like rabid dogs.

“Idiot, you think we wanted to? There’s nowhere else to go!” Xu Feng cursed. “All this for a rescue! How long did you take?”

“It’s pointless talking now… We’re surrounded,” Xu Fei said gravely.

All around, the “Dark” members closed in, some wielding weapons, archers drawing arrows, forming an encircling ring that tightened with every step.

“What now? Surrender, of course!” a rough voice boomed.

A bald brute strode into view, the “Dark” members parting and hailing him as “Boss.”

He waved his hand, and the archers loosed a volley of arrows.

The deadly shafts flew at the group with deadly accuracy; Xu Feng, Xu Fei, and Cheng Feng were struck before they could dodge.

Only Zhao Nan and Gao Mingyang managed to parry the arrows with their swords. Xu Yang, shielded behind them, was unharmed.

“Long Wei!!” Cheng Feng roared, “What are you doing?”

An arrow had pierced his shoulder, blood pouring out.

Long Wei laughed. “What do you think? I’m putting on a show! How’s a damsel-in-distress supposed to be moved if the hero doesn’t get hurt? You should thank me, haha!”

“Wait… you know each other?” Gao Mingyang’s eyes narrowed as he shot Cheng Feng a suspicious look. “No wonder you got up here so easily—you were in on it?”

“Cheng Feng, you…” Xu Yang stared at him in shock, her face a storm of emotions.

“Xiao Yang, don’t listen to him, he’s trying to drive a wedge between us!” Cheng Feng protested. “Trust me!”

He stepped forward, but Xu Yang shrank back, hiding behind Zhao Nan, looking at him with terror.

“Hahaha, looks like the heroine isn’t following the script…” Long Wei laughed again.

“Hmph!” Cheng Feng snorted, gritting his teeth as he yanked the arrow from his shoulder and flung it to the ground. “Long Wei, what’s the meaning of this?”

“It means I’m ending our partnership,” Long Wei sneered. “You think I’d really let the man who killed Dashan go, just for the sake of our deal? No one here is getting out alive—including you! Do it!”

At his command, the archers fired another volley. The “Dark” members closed in, ready to block any escape.

Under the rain of arrows, Zhao Nan could only shield those behind him; everyone else struggled to fend for themselves.

“By the way, do you know what deal Cheng Feng made with me?” Long Wei suddenly signaled for his men to stop and sneered at the shocked faces before him. “He asked me to give him a chance to play the hero, so he could impress you all. In exchange, he’d deliver ten female students for us to enjoy.”

“Scum!”

“Animal…”

Gao Mingyang cursed him, while Xu Yang glared at Cheng Feng, her voice trembling. “I can’t believe you’re that kind of person!”

“Don’t listen to him, Xiao Yang!”

“If you want proof, see for yourself!” Long Wei tossed a crystal ball into their midst.

It flashed brightly, projecting an image—Cheng Feng, knife in hand, stabbing Zhang Li to death.

“When… did this…” Cheng Feng’s face turned deathly pale, his heart pounding.

“Sure, a delivery of ten girls is tempting—but Cheng Feng, do you really think this is the old world? Here, with no police, no law, only power matters. Someone like you? I, Long Wei, may not be a good man, but I despise you! Oh, and you could have escaped, if not for this guy tipping us off the whole time…”

“No wonder we were always running into them! You bastard!” Gao Mingyang roared, lunging at Cheng Feng. Before Cheng Feng could react, Gao Mingyang seized him by the collar and slammed him to the ground.

“Hahaha, I’ll give you a chance for vengeance before you die!” Long Wei said with lazy satisfaction. “Kill him, then I’ll deal with the rest of you.”

In moments of despair, people easily turn their fear into hatred for a scapegoat. Long Wei seemed to know this all too well.

“Hey… Zhao Nan.”

Xu Yang whispered, “It looks like we can’t escape… I’m sorry, I dragged you into this.”

Zhao Nan shook his head. Taking advantage of the moment, he reached inside his coat, as if searching for something.

Xu Yang continued, “Actually, I have a wish, too. Since we’re about to die, I want to be a little selfish…”

“Oh? What is it?” Zhao Nan answered lightly, pulling something from his coat—a firework. He quickly lit the fuse.

“I want to give away my first kiss…”

Boom—

The firework soared, bursting overhead in a shower of brilliant sparks that fell like a rain of fire.

At the same time, Xu Yang pressed her lips to Zhao Nan’s.

…

PS: There will be another chapter around 7–8 p.m. tonight.