Chapter 85: Unexpected Ambush

The case of Special Pollution Source 042 left a deep impression on Lu Xin; it was the first one he’d fully investigated and personally handled the cleanup for. The fact that the Research Department never provided a definitive explanation even after it was resolved only added to the lingering sense of absurdity Lu Xin felt whenever he thought about Qin Ran.

But he never imagined he would see Qin Ran again.

According to the previous notice hadn’t both Qin Ran and Cui Wang been sent to the containment center?

How could he suddenly escape?

Or perhaps…

He hadn’t escaped at all. Maybe this was another Qin Ran?

An unsettling chill crawled up Lu Xin’s spine filling his mind and making him momentarily forget the danger he was in.

…

…

“Lu Xin… Lu Xin are you okay?”

Soon the dizziness and the eerie blankness that followed seeing Qin Ran’s face subsided. The surrounding noise the impacts and Chen Jing’s shouts brought Lu Xin back to reality.

Looking back he saw Chen Jing struggling to kick open her car door and crawl out yelling his name repeatedly.

He looked again and saw that ‘Qin Ran’ had already grabbed the glass case and was getting into a car parked by the roadside.

“I’m fine…”

Lu Xin answered only to realize his voice was hoarse.

He tried to free himself but found his body pinned. Unable to break loose his eyes darted around the car’s interior searching.

Soon he found his sister.

She was still sitting in the back seat. Since the Jeep had flipped she was now hanging upside down a disturbingly eerie sight. Her eyes shone brightly her long black hair cascading downwards. Only when Lu Xin’s gaze met hers did she slowly rise and crawl along the car’s ceiling towards him.

Her eyes were fixed intently on Lu Xin’s pierced thigh his most severe injury.

“Brother you’re hurt…”

A strange excitement flickered across her face. Perhaps it was because Lu Xin was injured letting her empathize with the peculiar beauty of a broken body or maybe the gushing bright red blood had stimulated her.

Lu Xin even felt like she was about to burst out laughing.

“Just pull it out!”

He didn’t think her reaction was wrong just that her focus was off reminding her what needed to be done.

“Okay!”

His sister nodded vigorously still hanging upside down. She reached out with her small hands and grabbed the metal piece.

“Schlick…”

She yanked it straight out trailing shreds of red flesh.

Instantly blood spurted out like a fountain.

Intense pain shot through Lu Xin’s mind. He couldn’t help but groan nearly fainting from the shock.

Gazing at the gushing blood his sister lightly licked her lips.

Then she spread her small arms and gently hugged Lu Xin’s injured leg.

As if cradling her Teddy Bear she rocked gently, “Don’t cry Brother… It won’t hurt once you have lots of wounds…”

The moment she touched him Lu Xin felt an icy sensation flood his body. The wound miraculously stopped hurting replaced by an almost invigorating exhilarating feeling spreading from the injury. His mind cleared and with an impossibly fluid twist he wriggled out from under the overturned wrecked vehicle.

As he stood up the wound on his leg was already contracting staunching the flow of blood.

It was like a bandage had been applied; even the pain itself was severed no longer assaulting Lu Xin’s nerves.

…

…

“Lu Xin did you see Special Pollution Source 042…”

Around the same time Chen Jing crawled out of the wreckage looking towards Lu Xin as she called out in a low voice.

Lu Xin turned and saw she was also looking worse for wear. Her usually neat short hair was disheveled and her black suit was covered in grease and dust. A large patch of crimson stained the white shirt covering her flat abdomen.

A piece of the instrument panel had nearly gutted her.

But the woman seemed completely oblivious to her own injury. While forcefully tearing the walkie-talkie free from near the steering wheel she frantically looked ahead. Qin Ran was in the car he’d boarded carrying the glass case. That ‘Qin Ran’ wasn’t rushed but wasted no time; the car had already started flooring the accelerator and speeding away…

“Mr. Lone Soldier can you still move?”

Chen Jing now used Lu Xin’s code name glancing at him through gritted teeth.

Lu Xin nodded his eyes also fixed intently on the escaping vehicle.

Whether it was ‘Qin Ran’s’ bizarre appearance here or his grenade launcher attack on their car both fueled immense curiosity in Lu Xin. With his sister right beside him he naturally had to stop this person…

Before he could act his sister tugged at his sleeve.

Lu Xin turned to look and a chill ran down his spine.

…

…

Just moments ago while Lu Xin and Chen Jing struggled out of the wreck several cars that had remained stationary amidst the chaos on the road beside them opened their doors simultaneously. Several people emerged—some thin some burly dressed differently. One looked like an office worker another like a company’s greasy boss.

But their movements were perfectly synchronized. Some went to the back of their cars opening the trunks others opened the rear doors and climbed inside reaching across while yet another directly carried a metal object placing it on the engine hood.

What they pulled out or pushed forward was all the same thing.

Pointing forward were six barrels bound by metal rings attached to a heavy black gun body. A battered green ammo clip was firmly inserted into the slot. Behind them holding the grips were blank expressionless faces…

Those dark menacing six-barreled guns pointed from various positions directly at Lu Xin and Chen Jing.

One more was aimed at the other Investigation Team vehicles.

Chen Jing suddenly noticed her breath catching sharply. Her hand reaching for the walkie-talkie slowed.

She knew what these were.

After the cataclysm they had earned great merit dealing with the ubiquitous madmen across the world. Their devastating firepower left an indelible mark on anyone who witnessed it making them a favorite weapon among Scavenger teams and Wasteland Knights post-cataclysm—the imitation M163 Heavy Multi-barrel Rotary Machine Gun capable of firing over six thousand rounds per minute.

These were weapons designed specifically for slaughter.

And now at least six of them were aimed in a fan formation directly at her and Lu Xin.

…

…

The man called Qin Ran had arranged all of this considering they might pursue him. He didn’t intend to leave any survivors.

In that moment even she felt a wave of despair wash over her.