391 Evading Blood

July 20, 20X2 (Midnight to Dawn)

Upper Docks

While the Zhao Manor was slowly being drenched in blood, at the small place where Yang and his friends hid, a whirl of hurried movements built a hurricane. Men were strapping guns to their holsters, hiding knives, ammunition, and other dangerous gadgets that Chang Min had given them. 

Hao Ren was tasked to stay in the apartment, as he had no experience or means of surviving this level of threat. Although he wasn't making the killing, doesn't mean he had a lesser task. In fact, without him, this operation would probably take longer, and they'd have lesser manpower. Through him, they had eyes, ears, and connection even when they separate. 

Seeing everyone standing before him with backs straight and jaws clenched in forced determination, Hao Ren handed them their communicators while he asked, "Are you all ready?"

Everyone nodded. 

Hao Ren pulled two more laptops and set it beside the one he had used, opening more camera angles. He plugged some on a power outlet that was connected to a generator. As per Uncle Wu's instructions, Hao Ren had already installed some signal receiver and disruptors. 

Sitting down on his makeshift station, Hao Ren asked into his microphone, "Testing, can you hear me?"

Alexandre chuckled when Yang's eyebrows twitched in irritation. Chang Min snorted and briefly replied, "Affirmative." 

Impatient, Yang strode out of the room, desperate to have his elder children in his arms. Knowing that nothing more has to be done, Yang started their carefully planned operation. Softly he murmured, "I'm coming."

Chang Min gestured for the rest of their men to guard certain parts of the docks that can be used for escape. He also gestured for Hao Ren to do the same, which was only replied with a stiff nod. On one laptop, Chang Min could not understand the series of numbers, letters, and signs, merged together to form a string of robust codes. 

Yang was the first one to go out of the safer neighborhood and into the apparent border of the upper docks. He slipped from one shadowed corner into another, his face briefly being highlighted by the moon and disappearing without second notice. 

Chang Min, being more mobile, had jumped from one window and entered buildings without care of his trespassing. Effortlessly, Chang Min pulled more Ninja moves that made Hao Ren, who was watching from the security cameras, stare in awe. Yang was a monster, but Chang Min was on another level! 

Alexandre was the last to go out, and he was the least showy of his skills too. He merely avoided the crowds... and the cameras. To do so, Alexandre must have memorized where the cameras were placed, but Hao Ren still was not sure how Alexandre completely evaded him. 

To think his little brother was one of their friends, one of the Dragons. Hao Chen has truly hidden the monster inside of him well. Compared to the others, Hao Chen's smiling and understanding facade was indeed planned, molded, and executed into perfection. Compared to Yang, who doesn't hide his demons too well, and Chang Min, who's so antisocial to people, Hao Chen was a bomb wrapped in fancy gift wrapper. 

Hao Ren was both scared and proud of his little brother. He wouldn't be saying it out loud for the foreseeable future, though. 

Inside the ship, three small kids were calmly gathering their cool. They, too, had some plans to execute. With their own weapons at hand, each of them gave the other hugs. Comforting and giving each other courage. 

With little hands, bruised feet, and scared hearts, the kids awoke their instinct of survival as adrenaline rushed, boiling their blood with liquid valor. Their determination made up for their lack of experience. They either do so or die. There's not much choice. 

Death or Survival

When he was in the streets, Death was always near, but he still chose to live. He had lived then, and today, he will live too. 

He would continue to live until Death hates him enough that he leave him alone. 

After nodding to each other, Wei Linjun ready his stance. He took the safety off and then braced his arms for the stun gun to fire efficiently. He gulped away his fears. If the man was facing him and he fires, the stun gun might possibly kill via heart attack, especially since he is aiming at the heart. He wasn't good enough to guarantee a perfect aim, so he had to be careful than sorry. 

Linjun nodded to Chang. With a soft click, Chang opened the door wide enough that the stun gun was the first to poke out. Ling Ling was on the side, trying to calm the tears that gathered in her eyes. 

When no man stepped in or stopped the door, Chang had to narrow his eyes in suspicion. Linjun shook his head, with the stun gun still ready to fire, Linjun went out of the room first. Seeing a man sleeping on the floor, Linjun gestured for the other to get out.

How Lucky. It seemed God had taken pity on children this day. 

The three ran towards unending narrow hallways, keeping their feet as soft as they could. The humming of the boat's large engine almost helping their escape. They didn't need to hurry and then be caught afterward. They needed to be extra cautious. 

Unfortunately, their luck ran out when they turned for the first time. 

They had bumped into the person they have wanted to evade the most- The Fool.

Chang pulled on his knife, and as his Uncle Chang Min had taught him, he opened it with practiced precision. The blade, black, but it still glinted when the light hit on its sharp edge. He hissed to Linjun and Ling Ling, "GO!"

Ling Ling hesitated, but Linjun had promised Chang. Grabbing Ling Ling's hands, Linjun forced the little girl to follow after him, sparing him from seeing what will happen to Chang. 

The Fool stared at the kids, amused.