The sharp crack of gunfire split the air, followed by Xiao Yu's panicked cry. White Pearl's face twisted in alarm as she whirled around—then immediately shielded Chen Mo behind a large tree with a bulletproof plate, her instincts razor-sharp.
She wanted to charge toward the threat—but reason stopped her. Chen Mo's safety came first.
She hadn't expected an ambush inside the grove—this was clearly a backup plan. The enemy had prepared far too thoroughly.
"Xiao Yu? Xiao Yu, wake up!"Chen Mo's expression collapsed in a flash. He looked down and saw Xiao Yu slumped in his arms, her body limp.
His brain exploded.The calm, composed genius lost all control in that moment.
"Xiao Yu! Xiao Yu!"
"Cough... cough…"
She stirred slightly, coughing, her eyelids fluttering open.
Relief nearly crushed him. Tears welled in Chen Mo's eyes as his panicked thoughts slowly steadied.
"Husband... it hurts so much..." she whispered.
"You'll be okay. I promise. You're just hurt in the shoulder—the bullet didn't hit anything vital. I'll get you help."
He held her hand tightly, as if afraid that letting go would make her disappear.
"I... am I going to die?" she asked, voice trembling.
"Don't talk nonsense," Chen Mo said, trying to sound firm despite the crack in his voice. "I've never lied to you. You'll be fine. We'll get the bullet out, and you'll be fine."
Xiao Yu gave a weak smile. "Okay... I believe you."
Back outside, Wang Hai heard the gunshot in the woods—and for the first time in years, fear crept into his heart.
He'd faced life-or-death missions, walked through battlefields, but never panicked.
Now, he did.
If anything happened to Chen Mo… the consequences would be catastrophic. Chen Mo wasn't just a tech genius—he was China's future.
And if something happened under Wang Hai's protection, he could never forgive himself.
"Pearl! Report! What's happening?!" he shouted.
"There's an ambush," White Pearl's voice came through the earpiece. "Miss Xiao Yu's been shot—she needs medical attention immediately. Looks like only one attacker for now, but can't confirm no others."
"Cover them! Get the boss and Miss Xiao Yu out of there! Everyone else—support immediately!"
Wang Hai's blood ran cold. He understood how shaken Chen Mo must be. They needed to extract him now.
Suddenly—
Click… click…
Wang Hai heard the empty click of the white man's gun. He smiled grimly.
His moment had come.
He sprang up and fired—two precise shots.
"Shit!" the white man hissed, ducking behind the wrecked truck. He wasn't ready for a second round of Wang Hai's deadly aim.
"Flies! Where the hell are you?! Ruth's already engaged—if you don't get here now, I'm a dead man!" he snarled into his mic.
"Relax. The courier's here—special delivery," the young man on the second truck replied casually.
Seeing Wang Hai charging, he gunned the accelerator and rammed the wreckage between them.
Wang Hai cursed, took two shots at the cab, then dove out of the way.
BOOM!The truck smashed into the remains of Chen Mo's vehicle, sending it skidding five meters.
For a moment, everything went eerily still.
"You trying to kill me?!" the white man yelled, crawling up from the dirt, glaring at the youth.
"I just saved your ass, old man," the young man laughed, tossing him a rifle. "That guy's dangerous. Ruth says she's almost done—just stall him."
The moment still haunted him—those two bullets from Wang Hai had nearly claimed his life.
Wang Hai, now behind fresh cover, looked grim. Things were going south fast. Anan wasn't responding. Black Hawk was pinned. Backup was slow. If he didn't act soon, Chen Mo would be in real danger.
Meanwhile, in the grove, White Pearl received Wang Hai's extraction order.
"Boss, we need to evacuate Miss Xiao Yu immediately," she said.
The woods weren't secure—no telling if more were hidden nearby.
"Okay." Chen Mo nodded, picking Xiao Yu up carefully. Her condition was worsening.
"So much trouble…" he muttered.
Then, without warning, three smoke grenades rolled into their position and erupted—white smoke billowed instantly, shrouding everything.
"Get out of the smoke, now!" Pearl barked. "She's trying to blind us!"
Chen Mo didn't hesitate. He carried Xiao Yu and rushed out—
Bang!
Just as they emerged from the haze, a shot rang out.
Pearl grunted and collapsed, clutching her side—hit.
"Tch. Thought you'd be tougher," a cold female voice said.
Chen Mo turned—and found himself staring down the barrel of a pistol.
A slender woman, dressed in tactical gear and smart glasses, stepped forward. She wore a smile, but her eyes were icy cold.
"I don't want to kill you," she said, removing her glasses. "Just cooperate, and you won't get hurt."
"Your target is me. Let her go first."
His voice trembled with fury. But his instincts told him—one wrong move, and Xiao Yu would die.
The woman—Ruth—smirked as she glanced at Xiao Yu. "So this is your little lover? She's brave, I'll give her that. Fine. Play along, and I'll let her live. But test me, and she's the first to go."
Chen Mo clenched his jaw. He gently laid Xiao Yu on the ground.
"But... what about you?" she asked, coughing. Her face was paper-white.
"I'll be fine," he whispered. "They want me alive."
Tears ran down Xiao Yu's cheeks. "Don't let them hurt you... please..."
Ruth pressed her gun to Chen Mo's back. "Move."
They emerged from the smoke.
"Stop right there!" Two bodyguards had just arrived. They raised their weapons instantly.
"Oh?" Ruth said with a chuckle. "You want to see if your trigger fingers are faster than mine? Because I guarantee you, I'll blow his head off first."
She held Chen Mo like a shield, inching forward.
"Drop your weapons and back off," Chen Mo said calmly. "White Pearl and Xiao Yu are injured. Get them to a hospital, now."
The bodyguards hesitated—but seeing Chen Mo's expression, they slowly stepped aside.
Ruth kept her gun trained as she guided him forward. "That's better. Now let's take a walk."