A Bad-Hearted Doctor is Unbearably Beautiful - Chapter 79

The night wind cut like a blade, and Shen Zhao’s heart hammered against his ribs.

Lu Xiao didn’t stop for a second. The moment he was stabbed, he twisted his body with a grunt and fired a shot directly into the lead attacker’s calf!

BANG!

The gunshot shattered the tranquility of the village, the thunderous sound echoing toward the horizon.

Lu Xiao stared coldly at the figures ahead. “Who else wants to try? The next one goes through your chest!”

The men behind them flinched, momentarily paralyzed by the muzzle of the gun.

Lu Xiao’s back was a gory mess. Shen Zhao ripped off his own scarf and pressed it firmly against the wound, refusing to let go. Lu Xiao forced himself upright, grabbing Shen Zhao’s hand during the distraction. “Stop pressing! Just run!”

The only sounds in the woods were frantic footsteps and heavy, ragged breathing.

Shen Zhao gripped his fruit knife in one hand while Lu Xiao’s hand clamped onto his other, pulling him forward. The wind whistled in his ears, and the icy air bit at his face, yet the fingertips holding his were burning hot.

For a moment, Shen Zhao felt a sense of vertigo. He stole a glance at Lu Xiao’s back; despite the darkness, he could tell the man’s shirt was completely soaked through. He looked down at the grey scarf draped around his own neck—now stained a terrifying, deep crimson.

“What are you looking at! Run!”

“You’re losing too much blood…”

“Forget the damn blood! If you stop now, I’ll drag you down to hell with me even if I die!” Lu Xiao hissed through gritted teeth, though his voice and footsteps were starting to falter.

Shen Zhao stopped arguing and accelerated, pulling Lu Xiao along to give him leverage as they neared the village entrance.

Lu Xiao’s throat was parched, his lungs burning like fire. He felt the cold trail of blood trickling down his spine. Behind them, the footsteps of their pursuers were relentless—a rhythmic, deadly drumbeat. He could feel his balance slipping, his upper body swaying, yet he refused to let go of Shen Zhao’s hand.

They took a shortcut, seeing a glimmer of light ahead, but as they drew closer, they realized it was the reflection of a river.

The path was cut off.

A river, not particularly fast but wide enough to stop them, blocked their way. Shen Zhao skidded to a halt. “We can’t get across…”

“Dammit, we have to loop around! There has to be a bridge.”

Lu Xiao cursed, wiping the cold sweat pouring down his forehead. The footsteps behind them grew clearer. He spun around, aiming his gun at the three or four men closing in with knives and axes.

“Back off!”

Shen Zhao’s head was spinning. He scanned the darkness, trying to judge the width of the river by the faint moonlight. Should they jump? Or keep running?

They were cornered.

Lu Xiao panted, forcing himself to think. “Shen Zhao… if I don’t make it, you take my gun and run. Do you hear me!”

“Shut up!” Shen Zhao clenched his fists. He stepped toward the bank to test the water when—

Whiz!

A weapon flew through the air! Shen Zhao lunged, pulling Lu Xiao into a roll as a rusted wood-chopping axe whistled past his ear and splashed into the river behind them.

“Fuck!” Lu Xiao roared, firing a shot toward the source of the axe. The bang startled a flock of sparrows in the distance. “Who paid you to take my life? I’ll give you ten times the amount if you just piss off!”

The shadows didn’t move. Then, one of them yelled, “Get them!”

“Split up!” Lu Xiao growled, shoving Shen Zhao away before charging at an attacker. He slammed his fist into the man’s temple, sending him sprawling.

Shen Zhao knew he had to get to the car. He bolted toward the bridge, but a shadow intercepted him. He dodged the first swing, but a club caught him in the ribs with enough force to make his chest vibrate. His pupils shrank, and in the next motion, his fruit knife slashed across the attacker’s wrist.

The man groaned in pain, and Shen Zhao followed up with a kick that sent him crashing into another assailant.

Lu Xiao’s throat tightened. He had never been this afraid—not for himself, but for Shen Zhao.

Suddenly, a figure appeared from the trees behind the attackers, moving with the speed of a ghost! Before the thugs could react, the newcomer struck with surgical precision. A series of muffled groans followed as two of the men were instantly incapacitated.

“They have backup!” the leader shouted.

“Who is that?” Lu Xiao narrowed his eyes, trying to see the face of their savior. But the figure didn’t approach; leaving only a fleeting afterimage, they retreated into the trees as if they had never been there.

Shen Zhao stared into the dark, catching only a blurred black silhouette.

There was no time to think. Hearts pounding, the two scrambled toward the village entrance where the Raptor was parked. Shen Zhao supported Lu Xiao, his voice tight. “How are you? Can you hold on?”

Lu Xiao managed a weak, playful smirk, his voice light and airy from blood loss. “I’m fine… A man can’t say he’s not ‘capable.’ Shen Zhao… if we survive this… just be with me.”

Shen Zhao shot him a fierce glare, but his pace quickened. Anger, fear, and worry swirled in his chest. He half-dragged Lu Xiao into the car and slammed the door.

“Stay alive first, then we’ll talk!”