Chapter 85: Pursuit and Flight

Tao Wenjie stood amidst the raging flames, licking the blood from his hands, his two sharp fangs especially clear to see. “This is the price of greed,” he chuckled darkly.

Du Bin drove out of the residential complex, heading straight along the Guangyuan Expressway. He’d been cruising at eighty in his van when suddenly several Dongfeng cars appeared in his rearview mirror, tailing him closely. Anxious, he pushed the speed to one-twenty.

“Damn it, they’re right on my tail.”

Weaving through traffic on the expressway, his evasive maneuvers drew the ire of many drivers. Surveillance cameras caught him speeding, but Du Bin paid no mind. Up ahead, a red light glowed at the intersection, with police officers on duty at the crosswalk. Ignoring it all, he sped through, sending pedestrians scrambling for their lives.

The traffic police immediately gave chase. More cars ran the red light, prompting the patrol officers to coordinate a pursuit. The cars behind drew ever closer, and soon the wail of sirens was added to the chaos.

“You’ve got to be kidding! Now there are even more police cars!”

It had already been tough with just a handful of pursuers. Now, with the police joining in, the situation seemed hopeless. “Damn it! They’ll catch up sooner or later.”

Suddenly, Du Bin swerved into the oncoming lane. The drivers ahead blared their horns desperately. Du Bin dodged left and right, barely avoiding disaster. Behind him, his pursuers cared nothing for the traffic, crashing through any obstacles in their way.

“Are you out of your mind?” one driver screamed, slamming on the brakes and leaping from his car to curse at the van barreling the wrong way. Just then, four more cars came tearing through, forcing the terrified man onto the sidewalk.

The four cars split up and rammed a Honda, spinning it sideways into the middle of the road. Drivers behind couldn’t stop in time, causing a chain-reaction pileup that clogged the entire street.

“Time to lose you bastards on the overpass.” Spotting the overpass up ahead, Du Bin made his move, speeding up the ramp without hesitation.

As he took the sharp curve onto the overpass, a Porsche came down from the opposite direction. Both drivers leaned on their horns. The other driver finally threw open her door and jumped out—revealing herself to be a young woman who began to curse him out. “Are you insane? Don’t you know how dangerous it is to drive against traffic?”

To his surprise, Du Bin recognized her—it was Qin Ling. Thinking quickly, he blocked the road with the van, scooped up the unconscious Ye Tang, and jumped into the backseat of her Porsche. “Lingling, there’s no time to explain! Reverse, now!”

“Du Bin, you—” Qin Ling was already fuming, but seeing that he was carrying the unconscious Ye Tang, she realized the gravity of the situation and, without another word, started backing up.

Their pursuers, now blocked on the overpass with police hot on their heels, rammed the van aside and forced their way up.

“Damn it, who did you guys piss off this time? Why is it always me who gets dragged into this mess?” Qin Ling muttered, glancing in the rearview mirror at the cars closing in, her hands shaky with fear as she drove up the overpass.

“I don’t know! All I know is, it’s one of the three gangs from General’s Hill.”

“General’s Hill?” Qin Ling’s face went white. It was the last thing she wanted to hear. The mention of Zeng Yilong made her heart race, though she told herself he couldn’t be involved.

“Where are we going to hide?”

“Your place, of course.”

Right as Qin Ling scowled in protest, a loud crash jolted the car forward. “Ugh, you’re paying for my car!” she cried, panic in her voice.

“They’re at it again,” Du Bin warned.

Another jolt rocked the car. Qin Ling felt tears prick her eyes. She’d already lost a car to General’s Hill once before, and now another one was about to be totaled. Every time, it was because she’d gotten dragged into their mess. All she could do was vent her fury at Du Bin. “Thank God I didn’t take my Lamborghini today, or I’d strangle you!”

Du Bin managed a sheepish grin, thoroughly embarrassed. As they weaved through the Xinzhou interchange, Qin Ling spotted flashing red and blue lights ahead—police cars blocking the road. Now they were trapped from both sides.

“This is it, we’re finished. Tomorrow we’ll be all over the news, and it’s all your fault. Even if you die, you’d better settle this!” She slammed on the brakes, flinging all three of them forward. Ye Tang’s head banged against the seat, and she winced in pain.

“We’re surrounded. There’s nothing left but to jump in the river,” Du Bin suggested.

Qin Ling nearly slapped him. “Are you crazy? You think there aren’t water police?”

“And I can’t even swim!”

“What are you two talking about?” Ye Tang opened her eyes, utterly bewildered to find herself in Du Bin’s arms. Her cheeks flushed pink as she quickly pulled away.

Du Bin was overjoyed. With her awake, he knew things would be fine. “Just kidding, Tang. Leave those guys behind to you.”

Ye Tang agreed, but something felt off—her strength was gone, her abilities unresponsive. She told them as much, and Du Bin groaned, holding his head.

“So we really do have to jump in the river.”

Watching their pursuers exchanging gunfire with the police, the three of them, stuck in the middle, grew increasingly anxious. Seizing the opportunity, they dashed for the edge of the bridge.

“What’s there to be afraid of? Jump!” Du Bin shouted.

“Who’s scared? Let’s go!” Qin Ling retorted.

With a thunderous boom, the Porsche behind them exploded—a parting gift from Tao Wenjie. Qin Ling’s heart ached. “My car…”

“He’s here!” Du Bin cried, seeing Tao Wenjie closing in fast. He grabbed Ye Tang and leaped off the bridge, Qin Ling following close behind.

Tao Wenjie transformed his right hand into a cannon, aiming straight at Du Bin and firing. The sharp bullet spiraled toward them. Though Ye Tang’s powers were gone, her reflexes remained; she shoved Du Bin aside just as the bullet pierced her own body.

Were it not for her vampire body, she would have been finished. With a splash, the three plunged into the water. Du Bin clung to the wounded Ye Tang as they sank, struggling desperately not to let the current drag them apart.

Driven by survival, Du Bin flailed until he adjusted to the water’s buoyancy, trying his best to keep Ye Tang’s head above the surface.

“Ah!” Du Bin gasped as he broke through to the air, supporting Ye Tang as best he could. Just as he faltered, Qin Ling swam over, towing them both to shore. Thankfully, she knew how to swim—otherwise, the two of them would surely have drowned.

Seeing Ye Tang bleeding heavily, Du Bin was frantic. Normally, her powers would heal her in no time, but the ability-suppressing drug had left her helpless. With no other choice, and knowing it wouldn’t be long before the police traced the string of speeding and traffic offenses back to them, they rushed to get her to a hospital.

The two of them half-carried Ye Tang, flagging down a car on the street. Soaking wet, they drew strange looks from passersby, though most stares gravitated toward Qin Ling. Her white dress, soaked through, had turned nearly transparent.

Qin Ling, too busy supporting Ye Tang, didn’t notice. “Lingling, be careful—you’re exposed,” Du Bin warned.

Only then did Qin Ling realize her predicament. Panicked, she darted into a nearby clothing store, quickly changing into something dry and grabbing fresh outfits for her companions as well.