Chapter 110: Showdown in Tianjin (3)

*Bai Li*

It all happened suddenly. I was about to shoot Yi Xing, but then I heard a sharp noise from above. Even if I couldn't see, I knew how container terminals generally looked like.

I knew there were gantry cranes above. It makes a peculiar sound you hear whenever there is a break at the hinges or the joints.

I knew it was going to collapse. I didn't know if Xin Lei or Liao Huifang noticed it. I didn't have the time to tell them, so I pushed them away as far as possible.

It was just on time because the crane fell a few moments later. I heard a loud crashing sound, but before that happened, I already rolled away at the other side as much as possible, far from the impact. Terminals had a long stretch of road, so I knew there would be much space ahead for me to roll over. 

As the crane landed, a strong gust of wind blew at my side. It crashed with a loud roar akin to a bomb blast.

When the impact was over, I was only worried about Xin Lei.

Was she fine? Was she hurt?

There was another pressing concern too.

Who tampered with the gantry cranes? It was a set up. I was sure of it.

But why?

I got up.

There was silence. Just before the crane fell, there was confusion all over. I heard the men yelling and screaming and their footsteps running all over the place, but now it was absolutely quiet.

"Xin Lei! Are you alright?"

No answer.

I guess we have separated quite far away because of the impact. I just wanted reassurance that she was alright.

"Xin Lei, if you can hear me, then tap on something. Make any noise."

I waited. I heard nothing for quite a while.

I focussed my sense of hearing to catch onto any sound. I did. I heard a faint tapping sound.

*Tap*

"Xin Lei."

*Tap Tap*

"Are you fine?"

*Tap Tap*

I finally released my breath that I was holding onto for so long.

Good. 

"I am coming. Just wait for me." I couldn't care less about how I was going to do that, but I wanted Xin Lei by my side. Only if she was in my arms would I feel even better.

*Tap Tap Tap*

The taps were urgent and rapid. I felt as if she was desperately trying to say something. I realized she didn't want me to take the risk of moving around in this disaster.

"Xin Lei I will-"

*Tap Tap Tap Tap!*

"..."

I sighed.

"Fine, just be safe until there is a way out, okay?"

*Tap Tap*

"Is Liao Huifang with you?"

*Tap*

She tapped only once. It meant Liao Huifang was separated from her too.

"Try to find her."

*Tap Tap*

"Ah…"

I heard someone softly welp from my right. I narrowed my eyes. It sounded like Zhang Ning's voice.

"Help…" I heard her sigh.

So she is stuck at this side of the collision as well where I am. 

I needed to get to her as soon as possible. There was a high chance for Yi Xing to be on this side too. He was holding her as a hostage, after all. He could be near her somewhere.

And damn, I lost my gun too in the whole confusion! My arm hit a pillar, and the gun slid down.

I had no choice but to walk in my current state.

I heard the sound of the waves crashing against each other. That was the Bohai Sea.

I didn't want to waste my time on this, but I hoped I could find a rod of some sort that would act as a stick for me to gauge the obstacles in front of me. That would make it much faster for me to walk.

I bent down and spread my hands on the rock debris. I felt my way on the ground, and for a few moments, I could only find small pebbles and stones.

Finally, my hand hit something solid and thin. It felt long, too, as I passed my palm on it.

Great, I found one.

I grabbed it, and sure enough, it was a suitable metal rod, perhaps broken from the gantry crane.

I spread it out in front of me and, with its support, started to walk. I was able to make my way as I swung it around to gauge the distance.

"Help... please.."

Zhang Ning's voice seemed nearer to me now. I followed that direction. 

"Zhang Ning?"

"Huh…? B-Bai Li?"

She seemed just a few yards away. I quickly walked, and the rod I was holding slightly bumped into something soft.

I bent on my knees and raised my arms forward. I touched her arm as I found my way.

"Zhang Ning? Are you okay?"

I held her shoulders and helped her sit up.

I felt her clutch my shoulder. Suddenly I felt something wet and warm on my palm.

Blood?

"You are hurt."

"I...I hit my shoulder on a rock." Her voice sounded weak. I heard her taking short and rapid breaths. "When the crane collapsed...I was thrown off from Yi Xing's side. I fell and hit the rock. My shoulder...got hurt...I cannot move…"

It was obvious.

It felt that her shoulder was dislocated. The external wound was making it bleed too.

"I will help you. Try to get up." I said.

She weakly nodded.

I supported her shoulders and helped her stand up.

But I noticed that she was wobbling as I felt her shaking in my arms.

"Ah…"

I felt her lose her balance, but I quickly caught her.

"Ouch!"

"What? What's wrong?"

"M-my left ankle…it hurts too. I feel something sharp is stuck on it."

"Wait. Let me check."

I bent down and felt my hands to her ankle. Indeed, there was a sharp rock that I felt pierced in her skin. I felt a thin stream of blood too on my hands.

I was not a doctor. I didn't know if it was safe to remove the rock or not.

It was Xin Lei's forte.

I felt her shifting uneasily.

"Don't move."

"It's hurting at that angle - Ow!"

I don't know what happened, but suddenly I felt a weight press on me. Zhang Ning fell and collapsed on me.