Chapter 73 - The Day We Died

**** It was 9 cars against 12 cars. 32 people against 45. No doubt, Linfeng's side won.

Some of Gao Huan's men run away knowing that their chief died.

It's a good thing that only small casualties were on Linfeng's side. One died and seven were injured from their team.

I was sitting beside Linfeng. This time, he didn't drive. He just holds my hand tightly letting me feel his warmth.

I was staring at him, not blinking. In three years, he changed a lot. He aged. I can see it's proof in some of his sideburns.

Linfeng felt my stare as he turned to me. He caught me staring at his sideburns. Which he touched and said lightly.

"I aged a lot, right? It's a 'long' three years."

He doesn't have to say anymore. How much he missed me, how much he looked for me, how much he anticipated for this day as I had. It all could be seen in his red eyes, the dark circles underneath, his shaking lips, and his warm hands that never let go of my hands.

So all this time...I am not alone.

He too..was waiting for the day we meet again. To find each other.

Linfeng held me close and embraced me tightly. He did that every ten seconds. I can't count how he would tell me this,

"I am sorry. I came late. I am sorry...sorry.." then he would kiss the bump in my head over and over again wishing that it would go away. He did that too in my hair, in my forehead and again kissed my head.

This action made me forget that I had just gone through hell.

But this bliss did not last.

Suddenly a group of cars caught up with us. Not only that, some black cars magically appeared in front. They came from another intersection.

Ten cars came in front and they turned their cars swiftly facing towards us. We don't have a choice but to stopped to not collide with them. At the same time, the cars the caught up to us surrounded us at the back too. We have no way out.

We have to face them.

The car in front of us opened its door and a strong bulky man appeared. At the same time, all the men in front came out from their respective cars, waving their guns at Linfeng's group.

"We won't make it hard for you. Just hand the Miss and we will compromise not to shoot anyone. We don't want anyone to die here today right? Let's solve it peacefully."

My mouth dropped for a moment.

Is this man was joking?! Linfeng came here for me. How would they hand me easily to them again?!

But I still looked at Linfeng. I'm not worried he would hand me out. I'm more worried about how we would escape. Ten cars in front. I looked at the back, I was shocked at what I saw. Ten more cars.

12 against 20.

Linfeng picked a walkie-talkie from his side.

"Formation in 5 seconds. 5-" Linfeng began to count. The cars behind and in front suddenly turned their engine on and drive away around us.

"..four-" each car went to their respective position. The cars at the back faced the cars who caught up with us. One car at each of our sides.

"..three-" Linfeng looked at me. That fleeting look told me everything. He wished to stay with me.

He longed for me.

He loves me.

He squeezed my hand and reluctantly let go.

.."two-" he opened the door at the same time all the men who were facing the men in front came out of their cars.

"...one." Linfeng and his men position themselves and their guns.

"FIRE!"

Loud gunshots echoed through the dark night. The group in front was shocked. But they were veterans. After being at a disadvantage for a moment, they managed to form their formation and had a good defense for a while.

Smokes and bullets were everywhere.

The dark sky who witnessed this adds more fuel to the fire. Large droplets of rain poured out without warning.

Linfeng was drenched with rainwater and sweat. He skillfully aimed his gun. With every shot, he killed a man.

But he was still at a disadvantage. The cars behind started to move. They were more coordinated. They had their own formation. And it was in comparison with Linfeng's team.

In front, the bulky man was red-eyed. A lot of men in his team died in the exchange of bullets. The culprit was Linfeng. He started to curse.

He picked up his walkie-talkie and shouted at the leader who was watching the mess and just stayed in their formation.

"Move your [email protected] butt! We are dying he-!" He didn't manage to finish what he was saying when a bullet goes through his throat.

He stayed wide-eyed as he did not know how a bullet go through his neck when he was crouching down and hiding behind a car. It turned out he did not see that Linfeng saw his reflection in the side mirror of one of the cars and managed to bounce back his bullet to one of the car's side mirrors and hit his (bulky man) throat.

That's how Linfeng was skilfully trained.

Linfeng crouched down again as the other side in front became madmen when their leader died.

Linfeng looked at me again, smiling at me, telling me not to worry. I looked back at him. I'm telling through my eyes that I believe in him.

He picked up his walkie-talkie.

"Jang Shin, where are you now? Report! How long the rescue will come? "

"Two more minutes! We are facing other teams now. We don't know where they came from! Don't worry, we are winning! We will come after we cleaned up this mess!"

"Don't take your time there! Faster!"

Linfeng was not given any more time to say more when bullets rained to his men again.

My heart was hanging on a thread. Just watching him drenched in rain and dodging bullets was torture.

I can't do anything. All I can do was watch. I put my hands together. For the first time, I sincerely prayed.

God. Please let him be safe. Please let us leave this mess. I want to be with him. To stay with him. Don't take him away from me. If you take him, take me as well...

Like it was a mantra, I kept praying and praying.

Lightning flashed followed by thunder. The rain became heavier.

Through some instinct, I looked back.

Behind us, one of the car in front of the quiet formation opened its door. A man came out.

I can't see him well. But when the lightning flashed I saw his silhouette. He was tall, fitted, with dark hair. He was different from any other guard. He must be wearing the same color, black, but he was more dignified. I only thought one word for him, 'Boss'.

Then suddenly it occurred to me. Gao Huan was talking on his phone earlier. He seemed to treat that guy on the phone with the same status. Like a business partner, not a follower.

I can't see his face. He raised his hand that was holding a gun.

Suddenly I got a bad premonition.

In my horror, the man aimed his gun to Linfeng's way.

It was like the time stopped. Everything around me was in slow motion.

I quickly went out of the car. I want to be faster than the bullet.

As I was about to reach him, I clearly saw the unstoppable bullet passed by me and went straight to Linfeng's chest.

My eyes grew wide and my world stopped. I can't hear the gunshot, nor the loud pour of rain, nor the thunder that was flashing by from time to time, nor my screams.

"AHHHH!"

Linfeng faltered a bit from the pain, or from my shout, or for my appearance. I don't know.

He stands there, eyes furrowed like he was asking me why I was there, not inside the car. He did not even mind the blossoming of his blood on his chest.

I reached out to him. I don't care how drenched I am. All I care about was him. We need to get out of here. We need to go to the hospital right now!

Linfeng's arms embraced me. His cold body and warmblood were all felt by me.

"Zhi'er..don't worry. Jang Shin is coming. They'll come..just need to w-wait a b-bit." Linfeng's staggered saying the last sentence. His mouth has blood in it. His body became heavier.

I was shaking. The blood that continuously coming out scared me so much.

"Yes. Let's go to the car.." I managed to say it. Hot tears continued to pour out. It was mixing with heavy rain.

But before we moved, Linfeng's legs gave in, I moved down to the ground with him.

His body was getting cold. His shirt and my dress were full of his blood. With tears streaming down my face, I let him leaned on my lap.

I know what will happen next. I don't want to think about it.

I gently caressed his face.

We both don't mind the continuous gunshots, the increasing of death every second, the heavy rain, the dark night, the cold wind, the thunder, everything was nothing.

We are just alone. Me and him.

Me gently caressing him and him leaning on my lap. This is the first time we do this. Probably the first time we ever felt so close.

Surprisingly, my heart became tranquil at this moment, maybe because I know that after he left, I will follow him without question. And maybe in the underworld, we will be together. Not caring at all about status or our surnames. We will be ourselves, enjoying our time together, the time that we didn't have.

Linfeng stared at me. He was reminiscing the past.

" Zhi'er...do you remember when we first met? When I saw you...you already captured my heart...from that day...even I pledge my loyalty to the Xiong family and serve as your aide only...I ...I cannot help to love you and be mine....this must be my retribution...for being selfish...I am incapable...and let your life be at stake...you should live in luxury, with a perfect life and I cannot give it to you...forgive me..." Linfeng said between heavy breaths.

"No...I don't regret it to escape with you...I cannot live with that beast. The only thing I regret in this life is to hold back my feelings for you. We should have enjoyed those times...The times were together...without care to the world...because I'm weak, I don't hold power enough to protect both of us...if I just become strong and powerful they can never separate us or bully us...it's my fault..because I'm so weak...." I cried harder. Remembering how could I not do anything in this situation. How hopeless I am.

Linfeng tried to strengthen his self wipe my tears.

"What are you saying...I should be the one who must protect you....because I'm born lower than you, I did not hold power to be with you...cough.." he coughs more blood.

"In the next lifetime, if we meet, I will surely fall in love with you again..." Linfeng knew he did not have any seconds left.

" In the next lifetime, I will be strong and hold every moment of us. I will express to you all my love...never to regret again..." I said with a promise. I have never felt this strong conviction before. But it was too late. Too late. Linfeng was not with me. And I can't live without him. Maybe if I was given a second chance, I will grab any chance to be with him. And fight back.

I saw his eyes were dimming and his breathing become slower.

" Without you, I cannot live...wait for me...we'll be together soon...." I whispered.

I watched as his eyes closed and his heart did not beat any longer.

The heavy rain continued to flow endlessly.

I stared at lifeless Linfeng, my eyes were empty and my heart died at the same time he died.

My blank eyes looked upon the dark sky. I lay there and think about my tragic life.

This life was full of regrets.

If I was given a chance to come back and return the time, I will never be weak anymore. I won't be hopeless anymore. I will grab any chance to be with Linfeng.

I will tell him I love him.

I will hold his hands, hug him and kiss him.

I will show my love to him that I had never known.

I caressed his face again. His body was cold. There's no life within him anymore. I kissed him.

Let's be together in the underworld.

****