C18 Survive the Siege

Who is this kid, really? Are these people truly just private security? Lin Lan couldn't stop pondering...

"Okay, get the grenades ready! Time to switch gear!" Han Feng commanded as he started to prepare.

Several red-clad police soldiers ran out of bullets, turned around, and grabbed brand-new assault rifles, loading them with fresh ammunition.

...Everything was set.

"Winter Soldier, take the backpack." The load was too much for Han Feng's slight frame, so the Winter Soldier was tasked with carrying the heavy pack.

"Number Two, you're going to carry Lin Lan," Han Feng said, eyeing Lin Lan. He was concerned she might pass out later—no, she was bound to pass out... Turning back to save someone amidst a sea of corpses was not a smart move, so it was best to have Number Two carry her.

Lin Lan was aware of the repercussions of using her powers and offered no resistance to the plan.

The group approached the window, and Han Feng peered down, only to see that the swarm of zombies seemed unending.

"Damn... What's going on? How quickly are these zombies spreading? It's like they're multiplying; we can't seem to take them all down," Han Feng muttered as he secured the police ropes inside the room before issuing the breakout command.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" Three grenades were lobbed out the window in quick succession, blasting a clear zone in their wake.

"Move!" Han Feng shouted, and immediately Number Three and Wynne descended the ropes. Unburdened by extra weight, they led the charge.

"Ratatat! Ratatatat!" Wynne and Number Three glided down the ropes, one-handed, the other hand relentlessly firing below. The four assault rifles belched fire, holding back the oncoming horde of zombies.

Han Feng and Lin Lan descended into the fray, with Number Two and the Winter Soldier close on their heels.

Gunfire erupted in a relentless barrage. The zombies, sensing their prey had descended, surged forward with renewed frenzy, only to be swiftly cut down.

At last, the engineer made his leisurely descent.

"Toss me the grenades!" Han Feng's voice reached every soldier.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The successive blasts kept the zombies at bay.

The final grenades detonated between Han Feng's team and the Hummer.

"Boom! Boom!"

Han Feng was struck by flying debris.

"Damn, that really hurts." Han Feng clutched his chest and cast a glance at the Hummer.

Just over ten meters away...

"Lin Lan!" Han Feng's eyes widened as he saw hordes of zombies closing the gap, his voice laced with urgency.

"Got it!" Lin Lan responded.

Within the ten-meter radius, only Han Feng and his six companions could move freely; all other creatures were frozen in place.

"Nicely done! Everyone, to the car, quick!" Han Feng's spirits lifted, and he hastened his pace.

The zombies were immobilized, but let's not forget, those beyond ten meters still had the ability to move...

A mass of zombies surged toward Han Feng and his team, toppling the motionless ones within the ten-meter boundary.

The crush of bodies was a major hindrance to Han Feng, making it nearly impossible to move—an understatement.

"Number Three, clear a path! Wynne, cover us!" Han Feng's voice edged with panic.

Confronting the swarm of zombies, Han Feng fought through his physical and mental discomfort to issue commands.

Number Three emptied his assault rifle with lightning speed, tossed it aside, and charged forward, arms crossed.

His formidable frame bulldozed through like a battle tank, carving out a narrow but passable route.

Though tight, it was a vast improvement; they could now squeeze through single file.

"Hurry... Move it!" Lin Lan's voice urged from atop Number Two's shoulder.

Han Feng glanced back at Lin Lan, whose complexion was ashen, eyes darting erratically.

"Move! Move it! Wynne, forget covering—clear the way with everything you've got!" Han Feng's heart raced with desperation.

They had already lost precious seconds—seven or eight at least—and they hadn't budged from their spot.

The vehicle was still a good distance away...

"Move! Faster! Faster!" Han Feng barked, throwing himself into the effort to forge ahead.

The seven of them inched closer to the vehicle...

Five meters left!

Four meters!

Suddenly... the zombies stirred!

The vast numbers of zombies sprang into action, sending Han Feng's mind into a tailspin.

But the zombies around them only twitched momentarily before freezing once again.

Han Feng turned to see Lin Lan, her face deathly pale, blood trickling from her delicate nose, eyes shut tight—yet her lips kept murmuring, "Hurry up."

Snapping back to reality, Han Feng clenched his teeth and fiercely shoved the encroaching zombies away!

His hand darted to his waist, pressing the unlock button.

At last! Han Feng made it to the Humvee!

The group hurriedly flung open the doors, ready to pile in, when the zombies stirred to life once more!

By now, Lin Lan had lost the strength to fend them off.

The horde of zombies began to encircle the car and those who hadn't made it inside in time.

Thankfully, Han Feng had managed to dive into the driver's seat first.

"Get in the car! Move it!" Han Feng bellowed with every ounce of his being.

The zombies were in a frenzy.

Lin Lan, despite her valiant efforts, couldn't hold on until the end.

The Number Two Soldier heaved Lin Lan into the backseat, with Wynne swiftly pushing her in.

Number Two spun around, joining hands with Number Three to form a barricade at the car's rear door.

The petite engineer bolted into the backseat and then wriggled into the front passenger seat from there.

To maximize the efficiency of the Red Alert system, the more valuable engineers were given priority to enter.

Wynne and the Winter Soldier were hot on their heels.

Once all five were inside, they quickly slammed the doors shut and hit the lock button.

Number Two and Number Three, despite being mauled by zombies, stood their ground, unyielding.

Just as their predecessors had done, they once again laid down their lives to forge a bridge to survival for Han Feng.

From the backseat, Lin Lan's feeble voice implored, "Faster... faster... faster..."

Even in her unconscious state, she continued to whisper urgent pleas.

To the very end, Lin Lan was instinctively exerting her depleted strength...

To the very end, Lin Lan's thoughts were on safeguarding Han Feng and the others.

"Aaaaaah! Aaaaaah!" Han Feng slammed the gas pedal of the Humvee.

"To hell with this! Aaaaaah!" he screamed inside the vehicle, releasing a torrent of fury.

"Boom, boom, boom!" The cacophony of impacts echoed as the Humvee, like a rampaging rhino, relentlessly rammed and crushed the adversaries before it!

A bloody trail was carved through the boundless ocean of the undead.

Han Feng's voice was raw from shouting, yet his hands clamped onto the steering wheel like iron vices. Lips pressed tightly together, his eyes were fixed on the zombies ahead, driven by a single, unwavering conviction—vengeance!

At last... the Humvee thundered out of the horde!

Han Feng was out of danger.

But the four Red Alert soldiers who had been through life and death with him were left behind in the police station—forever. Their images haunted Han Feng's thoughts...

The haunting images of the soldiers' final moments replayed in Han Feng's mind, subtly altering his character.

Han Feng had been driving for what felt like an eternity.

Hours later, he arrived back at the villa.

"Boss Han! You've finally returned!"

"Where have you been, Boss Han? Why did it take so long?"

"Next time, can you come back sooner? My sister was nearly at her wit's end, ready to dash out and search for you."

...

The crowd buzzed around Han Feng with a barrage of questions.

Han Feng addressed the group, "I'm alright. Got held up by a few things."

"By the way, Boss Han, you must be starving. Let's get you some food," Wai Yun suggested, heading for the kitchen.

Within minutes, the table was set with four or five dishes.

Just then, Winter Soldier entered, carrying Lin Lan in his arms.

"Who is she?" Liu Rui inquired first.

"She's a special police officer, the chief instructor for our province's special forces," Han Feng explained, turning to Wai Yun with further instructions, "Later, could you help her bathe? It's not exactly appropriate for us guys."

The recent battle had kept Han Feng on edge, to the point where he'd ignored the foul stench of blood on him.

"I need to shower first; I can't stomach food with this smell on me." Han Feng stood up and asked Liu Rui, "Find me some clothes, will you? I'll need them when I'm done."

Heading to the bathroom, Han Feng paused and called out to the Red Alert soldiers, "Clean off the blood. We'll all take turns showering soon."

As the hot water cascaded over him, Han Feng listened to its soothing rhythm.

"If only there were no zombies..." he mused wistfully.

A few minutes later, Han Feng emerged, freshly showered.

"Here's your weapon. It's just a pistol, but there should be plenty of bullets," Han Feng said, gesturing toward the backpack in the living room.