Chapter 23: Shouldering the Mission (Part Two)

Zhang Heng placed the pistol in front of Liang Song. After Liang Song took the gun, he stood up immediately, turned around, quickly chambered a bullet, then aimed at the two figures and fired a shot.

Bang!

Seeing one of them collapse and the other flee in panic, Liang Song smiled faintly. Then, struggling, he started walking toward the car.

Zhang Heng noticed him approaching and hurriedly prepared to get out and help. But before Zhang Heng could step out, just as Liang Song neared the driver’s side of the car, he suddenly collapsed.

Seeing this, Zhang Heng jumped out immediately. He found Liang Song’s thigh was bleeding profusely, the blood soaking the ground beneath him.

“Brother Liang! Brother Liang!” Zhang Heng called repeatedly, but there was no response, no movement. A wave of anxiety washed over him.

Looking ahead, he saw one person lying motionless and a group of others approaching behind them. It was clear they needed to get Brother Liang out of here quickly.

Zhang Heng opened the rear door of their Jinbei van, carried Liang Song’s body to the back, and laid him down carefully. Then he pocketed the pistol and went to the driver’s seat.

Though he had never driven this kind of Jinbei van before, he had watched Brother Liang drive it many times and felt confident he could manage.

He quickly started the engine and released the clutch.

But he noticed the vehicle had a flat tire—and the road ahead was blocked.

“We can’t let the survivor escape,” came a shout from behind.

“Kill him! Avenge our brother!” The voices grew louder from the rear.

Zhang Heng peered through the window and saw a group of men armed with machetes and clubs rushing toward them, closing in fast.

There was no time to hesitate. Zhang Heng pressed the clutch, slammed the accelerator, and the van lunged forward despite the flat tire.

He swerved hard to the left, steering the van straight into a field of dry wheat stalks, still flooring the gas pedal.

The van tore through the field like a raging bull, leaving a trail of flattened stalks in its wake.

With fierce determination, Zhang Heng maintained control, pushing the vehicle madly forward.

Thanks to his remarkable driving skills, the van soon burst out of the wheat field and back onto the road, just beyond the pile of scattered rocks blocking the way.

Seeing the clear road ahead, Zhang Heng stomped the accelerator as if possessed. The van surged forward at breakneck speed, leaving the pursuing mob far behind.

“Quick! Call Director Shang and the Provincial Public Security Chief!” Liang Song groaned weakly from the back of the van.

“All right, all right, Brother Liang, don’t move. I’ll get you to the hospital first,” Zhang Heng replied, pressing the gas and speeding on.

After covering quite a distance, the van finally reached a small town. But just then, the engine died and the vehicle stalled in the middle of the road.

Zhang Heng hit the accelerator again, but the van wouldn’t budge. He fiddled with the ignition several times, but to no avail.

Sighing, he slapped the steering wheel in frustration.

“Brother Liang!” he called, turning to look at the rear compartment, only to find Liang Song unconscious.

“Brother Liang! Brother Liang!” he shouted again, panic rising as there was still no response.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Zhang Heng hurriedly got out of the van.

At that moment, an elderly man suddenly dashed from the roadside and lay down in front of the vehicle, shouting, “Someone’s been hit! Someone’s been hit!”