Volume 1, Chapter 34: Taking An Ruoran Hostage

Meanwhile, the first and second infantry squads under Lin Ye’s command were coordinating steadily as they pushed toward the eastern side.

The Mengshi armored vehicle led the way, its 12.7mm heavy machine gun providing covering fire across the street, while the infantry squad members fanned out on both sides to clear out scattered zombies.

Chen Feng sat at the rear, directing operations and adjusting tactics based on real-time battlefield intelligence provided by the Snow Leopard Commando unit.

"The advance speed is twice what we projected," Chen Feng remarked, a faint smile playing on his lips as he scanned the tactical map. "Thanks to these government troops drawing the fire."

He looked up toward the distant Twin Towers, where the intense battle was still raging. Of the three helicopters, only two remained; one had already crashed in the distance, trailing thick black smoke.

"Keep moving! While the zombie horde is occupied, expand the control zone!"

—

Twenty minutes later.
On the rooftop of the Twin Towers.

The officer looked at the corpses strewn across the ground, his expression grim. The severed limbs of zombies were mingled with the gore of survivors, and the air was filled with a nauseating, putrid stench.

"Area cleared!" a soldier reported.

The officer took a deep breath and picked up a megaphone:
"Ms. Mo! It is safe now! Please get to the rooftop immediately! Repeat, get to the rooftop immediately!"

…

Inside the refuge level.

Hearing the call, Mo Youxue stood up at once. "Ruoran, let’s go!"

Li Hang grabbed her. "Don't rush. I’ll scout the path first."

He led a few of his subordinates to cautiously push open the refuge level door. After confirming the stairwell was temporarily free of zombies, he signaled for the two women to follow.

However, as soon as they stepped out, the sound of chaotic footsteps echoed from behind—

"Wait for us!"

A crowd of survivors surged forward frantically, terrified of being left behind.

"Dammit!" Li Hang cursed under his breath. There was no time to deal with them; he could only quicken his pace.

"Roar—!"

Suddenly, several zombies lunged up from the lower stairs!

"Run! Run!" Li Hang roared, grabbing Mo Youxue and An Ruoran and charging madly toward the rooftop.

The survivors screamed in terror. Some were tackled by zombies, their agonizing cries echoing through the stairwell. But at this moment, no one dared stop to help; these unfortunate souls became bait, slowing the zombies' pursuit.

"Bang!"

Li Hang kicked the rooftop’s iron door open and dragged the two women out.

"Close the door!" he bellowed.

Several of his subordinates immediately braced themselves against the door, but a large man suddenly shoved his way forward. "Let me in! Otherwise, none of us are getting out alive!"

"Get lost!" Li Hang roared, but the man was incredibly strong and shoved him aside.

"Bang!"

The subordinates reacted, working together to slam the door shut. The large man was caught in the gap, and the zombies' sharp claws had already seized his shoulders.

"Ahhh—!"

The man’s screams were cut short as blood sprayed through the door gap.

"Close the door! Close it now!" Li Hang shouted.

"Boom!"

The iron door was finally bolted shut, but the sound of frantic pounding from the other side and the ear-piercing screech of twisting metal were hair-raising.

Mo Youxue and An Ruoran collapsed onto the ground. Seeing the carnage and the pool of blood, their stomachs churned, and they vomited. Even Li Hang turned deathly pale, fighting back his own nausea.

"Which one is Ms. Mo?" the officer’s voice came over.

Mo Youxue raised her hand weakly. "I... I am..."

Several soldiers immediately stepped forward, hoisted her up, and ran toward the helicopter. "Ms. Mo, get on, quickly!"

"Wait!" Mo Youxue struggled to look back. "Take Ruoran!"

"Sorry, Miss, our orders are to take only you back," the soldier said coldly.

An Ruoran’s face went white as a sheet. "How dare you?! My father is An Ruosen, the Deputy Commissioner of Donghai City!"

The soldier remained expressionless. "Sorry, your father... has already been infected."

"What?!" An Ruoran was stunned, frozen in place as if struck by lightning.

"Bang! Bang!"

The pounding behind the iron door grew more violent, and the door frame began to buckle.

"There's no time! Let's go!" the officer shouted from the helicopter.

Mo Youxue gripped the soldier tightly. "Take her! Otherwise, I’m not going either!"

The soldier hesitated and looked at the officer.

The officer gritted his teeth. "Dammit! Fine! Get on! But the chopper can only hold three more people!"

A cold light flashed in Li Hang’s eyes. He instantly understood the officer’s meaning—three people meant he had to make a choice.

Without hesitation, he pulled out a concealed Glock pistol, wrapped his arm around An Ruoran’s neck, and pressed the muzzle against her temple!

"Take me, or she dies!"

Everyone was stunned.

"Li Hang?!" Mo Youxue looked at him in disbelief.

The officer’s face turned livid. "You motherf—"

"Save the talk!" Li Hang sneered. "Either take me with you, or we all die here!"

The zombies behind the door had cracked the frame, and several rotting arms were reaching through the gaps.

Mo Youxue gritted her teeth. "Fine! Take him!"

The officer cursed under his breath but was forced to compromise. "Get on! Move!"

Li Hang dragged An Ruoran toward the helicopter, throwing a command to his subordinates behind him: "Hold the door!"

Before his subordinates could even react, Li Hang had already jumped onto the chopper.

"Brother Li?!"

"Boom—!"

The iron door was finally breached, and the zombies poured out like a tide, instantly engulfing the subordinates.

The helicopter ascended rapidly. Li Hang looked down at his former "brothers" being torn apart by the undead, a cold sneer curling his lips. In the apocalypse, survival was the only truth. Brothers? They didn't mean a damn thing!

As the helicopter climbed and Li Hang entered the cabin, three pitch-black gun barrels were pressed against his head.

"Drop the gun!" the officer barked, his finger tightening on the trigger.

Li Hang sneered, his Glock staying steady; instead, he pressed it harder against An Ruoran’s temple.

"If you fire, she dies."

The air in the cabin froze. Mo Youxue fought back her panic and said softly, "Li Hang, don't be impulsive... we already agreed to take you..."

"Heh, take me with you?" A mocking glint flashed in Li Hang’s eyes. "Once we reach your sanctuary, I’ll be the first one you kill!" He scanned the view outside the window, his eyes suddenly lighting up. "Change of plans—drop me off at that villa ahead!"

"Cloud Villa?!" The officer’s pupils constricted. "Are you insane? There are so many zombies out there—you're walking to your death!"

"Shut up!" Li Hang pressed the gun harder, causing An Ruoran to cry out in pain. "Either do it, or we all go down together!"

Mo Youxue gritted her teeth. "Fine! Drop him off!"

Veins bulged on the officer’s forehead, but he was forced to press his comms device: "Unit One, return to base first. We will follow shortly!"

…

On the ground battlefield, Chen Feng’s headset suddenly erupted with an alarm:

"Captain! An unidentified armed helicopter has been spotted pushing toward the Cloud Villa!"

Chen Feng’s blood ran cold. His roar echoed throughout the entire communication channel: "All units, retreat! Fall back to the villa immediately! Repeat, fall back immediately!"

Though the two infantry squads were confused, a military order was absolute.

The Mengshi vehicle pulled a sharp drift, its tires screeching against the pavement. The soldiers quickly tightened their formation, providing covering fire for each other as they sprinted toward the base.

Chen Feng jumped into the Humvee and floored the accelerator, the needle on the dashboard instantly spiking into the red zone.

He stared fixedly at the helicopter descending in the distance, his eyes burning with rage.

"Motherf***ers... they dare to raid my home?!"