Chapter 119: Vaccine Booster

It was already past four in the afternoon when Du Bin and his two companions left the hospital. They sped along the coastal road, racing toward the Lovers' Road. Seeing the Hummer getting closer, Qin Ling said with a hint of regret, "Oh no, if only we had waited until nightfall. Where are we supposed to hide in broad daylight?"

"It’s fine, don't worry. Fatty here is a driving god," Hu Guozheng said with a cocky grin. Seeing the police in pursuit, he immediately swerved onto Phoenix Road, then navigated through a series of side streets and ran several red lights to double back toward Meihua East Road. Their reckless behavior had already drawn the attention of the authorities, and waves of police cars were being dispatched.

Du Bin realized that the police presence was growing and that they would certainly be intercepted if they continued forward. Scanning the surroundings, he spotted a stretch of woodland not far off and pointed ahead. "Fatty, drive into the mountains. Once we’re in there, they won’t be able to pin us down, and we can cross to the other side to escape."

"No problem, leave it to me." Hu Guozheng seized the opportunity and veered into the road behind the Guyuan Art Museum. The Hummers, seemingly caught off guard by the sudden turn into the trees, drifted sharply before following them into the forest.

Although they had hoped the woods would help them shake off the police, their personal vehicle was ill-suited for the rugged, mountainous terrain. The disparity in capability was obvious, but thanks to Hu Guozheng’s top-tier driving skills, he managed to leave the pursuers behind with a few masterful maneuvers.

As night began to fall, the darkness and the rough terrain forced them to slow down considerably. Barring any mishaps, they would reach Fire Stove Mountain in a few minutes.

"If we bypass the mountain on either side, the distance is roughly the same, but I suspect there might be a traffic police blockade on the other side of the forest. We have to bet on our luck," Du Bin said, focused intently on the vehicle's navigation system. He zoomed in on the map, but beyond a vast expanse of forest, there were no clear routes; it was entirely a gamble.

Fire Stove Mountain was a crossroads with no major roads leading up, only a narrow path. There wasn't a sound to be heard besides their own vehicle. This silence gave Du Bin an inexplicable sense of unease. The closer they got to the mountain, the more he felt that things wouldn't go smoothly, though Hu Guozheng, who was humming a tune while driving, didn't notice any of this.

Just then, Hu Guozheng’s phone rang. Knowing that Shasha had arrived at Zhuhai Airport, he chatted briefly before returning his attention to the road. Exhausted by the bumpy ride, Qin Ling leaned back in the passenger seat and closed her eyes to rest.

Under the moonlight, they reached Fire Stove Mountain. After careful deliberation, Du Bin decided to circle around the left side of the mountain; while the path was longer, it felt relatively safer. However, police cars had already surrounded the outer perimeter of the mountain, and two Hummers soon caught up, following their tire tracks. One on the left and one on the right, they slowly began to box Du Bin and his companions in.

"Shit, Fatty, look out!"

"Listen, people in the vehicle! You are surrounded. Abandon all resistance and surrender!" The window of one of the Hummers rolled down, and a paramilitary officer shouted through a megaphone.

After waiting for a long time without receiving a response, the officers in the Hummers, having received authorization from their superiors, pulled out syringes containing the R-vaccine and injected themselves. As the vaccine entered their systems, they underwent immediate physical changes. One officer kicked the door of his vehicle; with a thunderous bang, the door was ripped clean off its hinges and sent flying directly toward Du Bin.

"What the hell is this?" The sudden turn of events startled Hu Guozheng, and he jerked the steering wheel. Because of the shift in position, the door instead hurtled toward Qin Ling in the backseat, leaving her pale with terror.

Du Bin didn't have time to think. He unbuckled his seatbelt and threw himself into the backseat to shield Qin Ling. "Lingling, get down!"

The door slammed into the side of their car with such force that the vehicle nearly flipped. Glass shattered and flew into the cabin. Du Bin tried to force his lightning-based defensive shield to protect Qin Ling, but since his powers hadn't yet recovered, the shield failed. The glass, propelled by the impact, shattered against his back, embedding countless shards into his skin and leaving him wincing in agony.

"Du Bin, you’re bleeding so much! Are you okay?" Qin Ling shook her head, and upon seeing Du Bin’s pained expression and the shards of glass stained with blood embedded in his back, she became frantic with worry.

"I'm fine," Du Bin grunted, his face contorted in pain.

Before they could recover, the eight paramilitary officers had already exited their Hummers, their movements ghost-like as they merged into the forest. Hu Guozheng dodged trees while keeping a sharp eye on the rapidly moving shadows. Because the night road was covered in loose gravel, the car hit a large rock, causing it to lurch violently. The officers seized the moment, and one delivered a punch. Hu Guozheng broke into a cold sweat; as he dodged the attack, the car veered off the track and slammed into a tree, the hood crumpled and smoking.

Hu Guozheng clutched the airbag, looking frustrated. "They’re ordinary people, but the power they’re using is not something an ordinary person possesses. Old Du, I’m done holding back. If we don’t fight, all three of us are going to die."

With that, Hu Guozheng threw open the door and scrambled out. Seeing him alone, several officers attempted to attack him. Hu Guozheng didn't flinch, meeting their aggressive charge head-on. Their fists collided, and both sides retreated several steps.

"Damn, my hand is numb," Hu Guozheng muttered, struggling to regain his balance. The clash of fists had put him at a disadvantage, and his hand trembled involuntarily.

Qin Ling struggled to push open the car door, then helped Du Bin climb out and lie on the ground. "Hold on, Du Bin. I'll pull the glass out of your back."

As Qin Ling pulled the shards out one by one, Du Bin clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, refusing to make a sound, though he was drenched in cold sweat.

An officer seized the moment to circle behind and ambush Qin Ling. Facing the ferocious officer, Qin Ling screamed. Having just fended off another attacker, Hu Guozheng turned to see the situation and was shocked. "How dare you!"

Hu Guozheng waved his hand, and dozens of stones on the ground shot forward like bullets. The officer approaching Qin Ling was forced to stop, using his fists to deflect the stones in a series of explosions. Hu Guozheng clenched his fists tightly, channeling all his strength into them before slamming them into the ground. The force rippled outward for hundreds of meters; everyone in the vicinity felt the earth tremble as cracks spiderwebbed across the ground, the resonance leaving the officers feeling dizzy and oppressed.

Du Bin and Qin Ling felt a tightness in their chests and coughed up blood. Knowing they were within range, Hu Guozheng had held back some of his power. Seeing the officers hesitate, he charged toward Du Bin's attacker and threw a punch. The officer blocked with both arms, but with a loud thud, his entire body was sent flying backward. He tumbled a dozen times before coming to a stop. The officer coughed up a mouthful of blood, and though he tried to stand, his body had reached its limit, and he collapsed into unconsciousness.

"Fatty, you didn't kill him, did you?" Qin Ling asked, worried that they might become wanted criminals.

"He just passed out. I only used fifty percent of my strength," Hu Guozheng said, proudly flashing a peace sign.

The remaining seven officers looked at their fallen comrade with rage in their eyes. Hu Guozheng's strength was undeniable, but he was at a severe disadvantage fighting seven-on-one. He weathered the barrage of free-style combat strikes, standing his ground thanks to his extraordinary defensive capabilities. The battle dragged on for half an hour with no clear winner.

The officers seemed to feel their strength waning. One of them checked his watch and said, "Time is up. Retreat."

The seven of them then retreated in an orderly fashion, carrying their unconscious comrade. Watching them vanish into the darkness, Hu Guozheng let out a long breath. Once he had recovered, he returned to the car to inspect it. Finding it still drivable, he called to his companions. After treating his wounds, Du Bin, supported by Qin Ling, climbed back into the backseat.