Crimson Instinct

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***

As Xin Zhen was taking the group with him, he already let Luo Zhiqiang inform Major General Shi Jianguo that everyone is safely secured. Once they are brought out, only Zhang Ning would be left to take care of.

But as they kept walking, Rodey finally started to feel the toll of all the fights he had just now. His wound was severely bleeding and he was panting hard. His eyelids were trembling and close to shutting down but he was fighting the dizziness.

Ying Yue, who was walking by his side, quickly held his arm. She felt more and more worried seeing his pale condition.

"Rodey, please hold on for just a while…"

Chu Jie and Long Hu were concerned too. They tried to support him to walk, but he shook himself away.

"Get lost. I don't need any help."

"Keep doing this and I won't care if you collapse. I am not gonna lift you and take you out if you did," Xin Zhen sneered, "So stop being so uselessly stubborn."

"Mind your own business you IB dog of a bastard."

"This IB dog of a bastard is taking you out of this place. Show some respect," he chuckled.

"I never asked any!"

"Oh yeah? In this state right now, you would have been just a burden on Ying Yue. Poor woman would have had to lift you on her delicate shoulders and walk you out like a baby. I mean, she is already in pain herself."

Rodey gritted his teeth.

Ying Yue softly spoke, "No, no. I am fine. I can help Rodey."

"No need," Rodey coldly spoke.

She pursed her lips. She wanted him to lean on her. She couldn't do anything when he had to fight all those men even though he was injured. She could only hide behind him for safety.

So, at least now...she wanted to support him but he pushed her away.

"Hey it's not nice to make a woman sad, you know?" Xin Zhen was enjoying Rodey's misery.

"Shut up, you fucker! You said she is hurt if she helps me and now you are again taunting me because I am not taking it. Make up your fucking mind!"

"I don't need to. I am just enjoying myself," he shrugged.

"Bastard!" Rodey cursed under his breath.

They walked on further and were close to the exit now. But just as they were about to step down on the first floor, a man from the shadows suddenly jumped behind them, who was lurking and hiding in the dark.

"Rodey, you bastard!!"

His sudden appearance took everybody by shock and startled them. He held a knife in his hands.

"Fuck! Where did he come from?" Xin Zhen cursed. He was carrying Xue Jingjing with him so he got a second late.

Rodey had a hard time recognizing him since he was already getting dizzy from before.

So one of them managed to hide until now...Damn!

By the time Xin Zhen put her away and raised his gun, the man had already started to madly charge towards Ying Yue.

"It's all because of this woman that you betrayed our boss! Die you bitch!"

"Sis Yue!" 

"Ying Yue!" Chu Jie and Long were horrified.

The moment Rodey heard him talking about Ying Yue, Rodey felt his grogginess turn into dust. His sharp senses immediately sensed the danger. He saw him charging towards her and it happened so fast and suddenly that Ying Yue had no time to get away.

"WATCH OUT!!!"

Even though his injuries were badly hurting him and bleeding like crazy, Rodey, with all the last bit of strength he could gather, he pushed Ying Yue away from that man's knife and she stumbled to the side.

But in that process, he himself got exposed to it and instead of her, the knife stabbed his stomach.

"Rodey!!!" Ying Yue sharply gasped and her eyes widened as she saw the knife penetrate him.

"Ughhhh…" Rodey coughed as blood spurted out of his already injured wound. A sharp pain shot in his gut.

"Haha-"

*BANG*

Xin Zhen shot the man dead in the next instant but he was just a second late. If he hadn't been carrying Xue Jingjing, he would have made it in time.

"Rodey!"

Ying Yue rushed towards him as he collapsed on his knees, holding his stomach. Even more blood began to flow.

"Damn! Zhiqiang! Call an ambulance right now! Relay it to the army. Rodey is stabbed and now severely injured," Xin Zhen blasted his earpiece with his voice.

"Roger!"

Chu Jie and Long Hu bent towards him. "Rodey…"

Ying Yue burst into tears. He took the blow for her. In his already wounded state, he suffered another stab to save her.

It should have been me...I should have been killed...why... why is Rodey…"

"Rodey, Rodey! Please look at me!" She held his head in her arms and leaned him on her lap.

Rodey was in so much pain that he couldn't even move any longer. The blood loss only added to his misery.

But he could faintly hear her voice. His voice was just a whisper now. "Babe…you look…" he gasped in pain, "fuzzy hehe…" 

She trembled hard. Tears from her eyes dropped on his cheeks.

"Rodey please stay with me...Don't close your eyes. You heard the IB, right? The ambulance is coming. You will be fine!"

Rodey faintly smiled. "Why... are you…don't care for...a criminal like me... isn't this a fitting end for me…?"

"No!" Ying Yue sobbed even harder. "This is not the end! Please... please I beg you.. " she lowered her head, "please don't say that…please don't leave me…"

Chu Jie couldn't help but burst into tears as well. No matter if he was a part of them, in the end, he went against them and saved them.

"Babe...no...Yue…"

Ying Yue froze. She stared at him in a daze.

My name...he called my name…

Her heart fluttered with an unknown and strange emotion she never felt before.

She didn't know that Rodey calling her name would sound so sweet.

Rodey somehow raised his arm towards her through that harsh pain. His trembling and bloody hand gently held the back of her head and he slowly pulled her towards his face.

She quickly said, "I am here! What do you want to say?"

Rodey smiled. He forced himself to raise his head and then he pressed his lips on hers.

"I…don't know…*cough* if I can hold on...but if...I didn't...then know that...I…don't know what...love is...but I think... that's what… I feel for you...from those stupid love stories...I would hear sometimes," he faintly chuckled and his hand slid off from her cheek as the last strand of consciousness remaining inside him, left him and his world turned all black.