Cheng Anya’s heart violently thumped as she heard the explosions and helicopters and fighters taking off around her. She felt as terrible as hanging off a cliff.
As her knuckles went white, she kept low on the seat and did not dare to look out. Seeing the bodies of two youths on the plane that were pale and breathless, she felt stuffiness in her chest.
Two lives simply disappeared in Ye Chen’s hands. If they had not died, she and Ye Chen would have died instead.
As booming explosions blanketed the place, another building was leveled. As the flames leaped, Cheng Anya could feel the heat wave that almost incinerated them.
“Ah Chen, are you able to fly it by yourself? Do you need my help?” Cheng Anya softly asked. She did not know how to fly a plane, let alone this aircraft which was already a tad different from the regular helicopter.
According to Ye Chen, this was a newer-model fighter-bomber from Germany that was the most powerful fighter jet on the island. Like others of its type, they were known as ‘Ace Jets’ due to their outstanding performance and combat capabilities. It had a rifle-caliber machine gun, complemented with a blend of lighter and heavier machine guns along with autocannons, rockets, and missiles. To top it all off, it had a nuclear-tipped air-to-air rocket and reconnaissance equipment.
Cheng Anya had no knowledge of military gear, let alone the differences between a fighter and a fighter-bomber. She only knew that they were in an extremely precarious situation and could utterly perish at their slightest indiscretion.
Once the huge fire began, Black Eagle went up the hill behind to tell Ye Chen everything was prepared and he could take action. Ye Chen relinquished his command over the island’s matters to Black Eagle and instructed them to be even more careful. He then led Cheng Anya to the front.
As he knew which places would be leveled as well as where the demolition charges and incendiary bombs would be dropped, Third Young Master Ye led Cheng Anya away from the danger zones with extreme ease and snuck all the way to the parking apron.
Black Eagle’s arrangements were very appropriate, saving the parking apron from the slightest damage. As engagements at the front heated up, most were deployed away and only a few guarded the parking apron. Third Young Master Ye quickly snuck Cheng Anya into a fighter-bomber.
There were more helicopters than bombers and fighters on the island. Third Young Master Ye managed to identify a bomber, a fighter, and a fighter-bomber. As the fighter was suited for night combat, Third Young Master Ye quickly decided on the fighter-bomber.
He pondered that there must be many bombers in the underground warehouses, or that there were Italian garrisons near the islands. He hence had to act fast. When Third Young Master Ye was in the Dragon Gate, he had received flight training and could fly regular planes, fighters, and even bombers. He knew how to operate them well, and adding the fact that the fighters were radar-cued, it allowed him to take off single-handedly.
“Dear Anya, just sit beside me. I won’t need you to help,” Ye Chen said as he flipped several switches without looking at Cheng Anya. He had memorized all the equipment the fighter-bomber had.
Cheng Anya swallowed her saliva several times nervously and her heart leaped to her mouth. A helicopter next to them had already taken off. Cheng Anya was nervous and in trepidation. On the island, explosions still rang and the spraying of machine gunfire made her nervous and tense.
“I always thought that my world was very simple, and little did I expect that I will experience death up close and personal.” Cheng Anya was apparently in the mood to joke as she tried to ease her nervousness. “When I’m old and recall about this, I still get to brag to my son that his mommy had indeed lived a colorful life.”
Third Young Master Ye smiled and reached out and gently tapped Cheng Anya’s shoulders, and Cheng Anya’s nervous heart was slightly at ease. His woman was always this courageous. Had this been some other woman, they would have jellied from the fear they felt.
From the back of the hill to the parking apron, buildings were constantly destroyed and agonizing screams never ended. As chaos and shouting ensued with machine guns blazing, a few women would remain as calm and as fearless as Cheng Anya.
Dear Anya, I am proud of you!
“Reel life.” Cheng Anya smiled. This was undoubtedly out of a Hollywood movie. She used to feel that Arnold Schwarzenegger piloting a plane and blowing up baddies was too cool, awesome, exciting, and exhilarating.
She could not help but applaud and cheer him on. When she reflected on herself, she realized that she was just another person who would be better off leading a normal life. Such situations were not the most palatable for her.
While it was indeed thrilling and exciting, being hit by a missile would fulfill Third Young Master Ye’s words—saving on cremation costs.
Cheng Anya did not mention that to Third Young Master Ye. Instead, she scooted next to him and belted up while looking up at Third Young Master Ye. He was busy recalling the fighter-bomber’s functions and the plane slowly took off one-by-one. Third Young Master Ye’s gaze was focused on the ground ahead.
For the first time, she felt that her man seemed tall.
Like a god in an area she was not into, he had his ways and was confident and arrogant, looking down on everything as though he was that omnipotent god in the universe.
He was her only god.
Such a Ye Chen… indeed won her over.
Miraculously, Cheng Anya’s panicking heart calmed down. She no longer felt fear but completely believe in him instead. Maybe, that’s what it was after all!
“Ah Chen, is there anything that you do now know?” Cheng Anya could not help but ask as their plane gradually took off.
“What do you mean?”
Cheng Anya shook her head and said nothing more. Her do-it-all husband consistently triumphed in the marketplace and could do household chores too! Although the young kid had trained him to do household chores, he, after all, managed to learn them! Discounting the fact that the Dragon Gate dominated the North American underworld, he was both a scholar and a warrior who was even able to operate a military aircraft into combat.
His contribution—or lack of rather—toward the nation was an absolute pity.
“Did you say fight using a plane?” Third Young Master Ye smiled and gently nudged the plane as it rose further. He broke into raucous laughter and said, “Well, Ye Wei and Eleven are able to do that. When our Ning Ning gets older, he will be able to. He will be even more aggressive and better than me.”
Cheng Anya was stunned into silence.
She helplessly remained silent.
As the plane slowly lifted off the ground, Third Young Master Ye avoided the others and slowly steadied the plane. Based on Louis’ orders, the other planes could hover on the island and try to acquire their targets.
These three fighters and bombers were solely responsible for acquiring targets whilst the other helicopters had to avoid being attacked by demolition charges.
As most modern military aircraft had various sensors and targeting equipment onboard, Cheng Anya was able to stand up and suddenly recalled something. “Ah Chen, what about Black Eagle and company? Will they be left on the island?”
She panicked as she did not want any other people to die for her. With one Zhang Bo more than enough, she couldn’t take it if any more of them died for her.
“They have their own ways to leave the island,” Third Young Master Ye said as he smiled meaningfully. If they escaped from the island in the same manner, they would expose themselves. He hence settled on leaving the island by air and let Black Eagle and company leave by boat.
Cheng Anya looked down and things seemed quieter, only the flames leaped. As Third Young Master Ye’s plane flew higher, it started hovering above the island. Cheng Anya felt him fly the plane a tad bumpier.
Third Young Master Ye explained. “I’ve yet to fly such a plane for five years. The fact that I can still remember how to fly it is already not too bad. Did you think you were in a commercial jet?”
“…Ah, are you a novice?” Cheng Anya asked.
“Who said that?” Third Young Master Ye immediately rebutted. “I have a year of aerial combat training and two years of experience. I just did not fly a plane for five years.”
“A movie becomes outdated after a year it’s released. Five years for you…” Cheng Anya coldly mocked him. “Are you able to?”
“Fine, let me put it this way… When it comes to stock markets and casinos, novices who get their hands wet often come out with immense profits,” Third Young Master Ye replied indignantly as he tried to defend why he had yet to fly a plane for five years.
This was not his to blame as he focused on MBS International in the past five years. When he was still flying planes back then, bombing the Colombian drug lords into oblivion was awesome and heroic.
“…Okay, I got it, save the explanation. I’m panicking!” Cheng Anya said.
Third Young Master Ye was stunned into silence.
On the ground, the demolition charges stopped going off and the machine guns went silent as well. Only the flames remained leaping, and Louis knitted his eyebrows. Something was immensely amiss.
“What information did the control tower send back?” Louis asked as he beckoned a man over. Said man went to get answers and returned to report. “All three fighters have reported back their findings and we have sent people to follow up on each of their findings.”
Louis furrowed his eyebrows more and asked, “Each?”
“There were three different locations, which could be due to separate searches. There are multiple enemies scattered across the island.” Louis’ anger was immense and his emerald green gaze went mad from his bloodlust. The fires, reflected by his gaze, felt as brutal as Hades. The man in black could help but feel a chill.
A terrifying chill.
The wrath of the godfather, when provoked, created rivers of blood.
Louis’ gaze became extremely dark and his emerald gaze turned dark green. The island became so calm it was creepy. He suddenly looked up at the sky and said, “Get the control tower to contact the pilots and have them descend.”
“On it!”
He slightly squinted.
He stared at the aircraft moving around with a sense of danger. The people who were searching the mountains reported that the mountains were empty, and they had disappeared long ago. Louis’ anger boiled over like an avalanche.
The sea of fire behind him was alluring, yet dangerously close. It was an extremely beautiful, yet immensely terrifying moving picture behind Louis.
The man who reported the findings jellied in fear.
The handsome man with his golden hair, emerald eyes was as vicious as the devil.
Suddenly, two missiles streaked from the air and took out the fighter and bomber. Third Young Master Ye’s quick and accurate aim blitzed them.
“Ahhh!!!” A scream came from midair.
What the hell was going on? Friendly fire?
People on the ground in the air were in shock. As the fighter and bomber exploded in midair, their wreckage fell onto the ground and created a massive commotion.
Third Young Master Ye’s gaze sank and he quickly sped away.
Cheng Anya’s body shook violently and she was a tad dizzy. This was her first time seeing aerial combat up close. She was shocked and took a long while to gather her senses.
It was brilliant, yet terrifying!
And extremely intense!
And extremely brutal!
The speed of the helicopter and fighter-bomber were worlds apart. Since they were unable to pursue the fighter-bomber, none of them did.
He saw the fighter-bomber that Third Young Master Ye operated level their bomber and fighter before leaving cockily.
The pilots were so angry to the point they almost vomited blood.
They were thankful that the missiles fired were not meant for them though.
When Louis realized that he had been fooled, he shot the man in black who conveyed the message in rage. He then made a few calls and gave a series of commands. A moment later, two fighters took off from another island.
They flew in Third Young Master Ye’s direction.
“Damn it!” Louis roared in anger and smashed his cell phone.
The people around him, as though their hearts were pinned down by a stone, did not dare to make a sound. This was Louis’ first time feeling this enraged. All that effort he had put into luring Third Young Master Ye into his intricate trap had failed, and he did not expect Third Young Master Ye to escape!
He had been too self-confident and underestimated him.
That said, Third Young Master Ye was one of the masters of the Dragon Gate who had a knack when it came to strategy. His most fatal mistake was to have overlooked Third Young Master Ye’s ability to fight thanks to the virus in Cheng Anya’s body.
He was initially extremely certain that Cheng Anya could meet Third Young Master Ye and nothing would happen, that Cheng Anya did not know what was wrong with her.
He was hoping to trap them on the island for at least three days so that the virus in Cheng Anya’s body would attack her—without the experimental hybrid solution—and become Third Young Master Ye’s biggest burden.
They would not be able to escape then.
Third Young Master Ye would eventually, because of Cheng Anya, beg him. But little did anybody know that he would bet his bottom dollar and even escape with Cheng Anya on the same day.
He had wrongly assessed Third Young Master Ye.
As the helicopters obeyed their orders and landed, Louis handed the affairs of the island to others and boarded the helicopter. He ordered the pilot to take off.
“Use the radar and interfere with his flight path,” he ordered with a sinister smile. Third Young Master Ye would not have known that these planes had a hidden surprise.
Ye Chen, Cheng Anya, you will not be able to escape!
“Humph, when it comes to the end, Ye Chen, you will still come to me on bended knees!” Louis had a terrifyingly malicious and insidious look.