Chapter 685

He answered with a few "mm-hm"s, then quickly hung up the phone.

On the other end, Gada heard the busy tone, his eyes filled with extreme unwillingness. He hardened his face, but didn't dare fall out with Gaye, so he could only sit on a shabby little wooden stool in the hotel, gripping his phone tightly, his expression dark and shifting.

After Gaye hung up, he dialed a number. He couldn't really just leave Gada to fend for himself, but without looking away, his finger pressed the keypad and blindly punched in a few digits.

Then he pressed dial.

The other end picked up quickly—it was all Gaye's subordinates. Hearing Gaye's order, they said they would immediately gather men to rescue Gada.

But Gaye said sending a few people would be enough; Gada had only been starved for two days and nights, nothing serious could come of it.

On Ning Chen's side, he was already dragging Master Li and about to reach the opposite bank.

He was now increasingly certain that the people behind couldn't catch up to him. Those behind were people who couldn't really swim, so catching up had become impossible. Ning Chen didn't even need to shoot at them—they couldn't catch up regardless.

In the end, Ning Chen had already swum with the others to the opposite bank, but the enemy's helicopters were waiting for them on the other side.

That would be the last hurdle Ning Chen and the others had to break through. If they didn't die in this hurdle, they could return to Hua Country alive.

Ning Chen lifted his head out of the water, took a deep breath, looked at the dense helicopters on top of the opposite bank, and estimated in his heart the odds of surviving.

Ninety-nine percent.

Then he estimated the odds of bringing everyone back to Hua Country.

One percent.

Ning Chen vaguely sensed that what he was about to face would be the greatest challenge of his life.

The current situation was already wolves in front and tigers behind. If they stayed in the water, the pursuing soldiers behind would catch up, and sooner or later they'd take bullets.

But if they kept moving forward, what awaited them was the helicopters hovering in midair—the challenge they'd face was incalculable.

572 The Choice of Life and Death, the People Ning Chen Gave Up

Chu Muyu and the others up ahead stopped. After staying in the river so long, their skin had wrinkled from soaking. They stopped, preparing to wait for Ning Chen's next instruction.

But no matter how sharp Ning Chen's brain was, there was no good decision to make at this moment.

Now they were almost forced into a dead end. Bringing so many people with him, he definitely couldn't return to Hua Country.

He could only make a choice.

Ning Chen hardened his heart. The mission's main target was Chu Muyu, which meant he only needed to get Chu Muyu out to complete the mission.

The others were just along for the ride. Moreover, bringing a few extra people would make it much harder for Ning Chen to escape himself.

He squeezed his eyes shut tightly in the water, and when he opened them again, his mind was already made up.

Ning Chen swam forward a while longer, getting on the same line as Chu Muyu and the others. At that moment Chu Muyu's group was still waiting for him, so Ning Chen swam over and said: "Let's go, along the shoreline, we'll try following the riverbank... maybe we can go around."

But although Ning Chen said this, in truth even he himself wasn't sure he could bring everyone back alive. After exchanging a glance, they all understood the meaning behind Ning Chen's words.

Curly suddenly looked up at the sky and said softly: "I don't want to die."

"Me neither," the young girl said, "who wants to die?"

After saying that, she gave Ning Chen a sorrowful glance.

Ning Chen knew he had guilt in his heart, turned his eyes away, and didn't meet the girl's gaze.

These people had all been brought out by Ning Chen, and naturally knew that to them Ning Chen was a savior.

And this time, Ning Chen's main target was Chu Muyu. If necessary, he could only abandon the others.

Regarding this decision, although the others felt a bit uncomfortable, none of them said anything. They were all reasonable people and all knew Ning Chen had come to take Chu Muyu away. After a sigh, no one dared say more.

Ning Chen looked at them, gently lowered his eyes, and said softly: "... I'm sorry, I probably really can't take all of you with me."

The people behind advanced slowly, the helicopters up ahead circled and flew. Wolves in front and tigers behind—whether advancing or retreating, getting out unscathed was already extremely difficult.

Thinking of this, Curly suddenly lost the motivation to keep going. His face bobbed up and down in the water, still floating on the surface, but giving the feeling he could lose strength at any moment.

"It's fine, you take Chu Muyu and go. We're going to die in the end anyway," Curly said, his tone somewhat low, his curly hair now a drowned-rat style. "We won't force you for anything—it's just that Gaye is too hateful."

564. A Thread of Life and Death (5)

The dejection on Curly's face was visible to the naked eye. He already had a baby face, and with such an expression, he really did look a bit like a wronged child.

It's just a pity Ning Chen had no compassion. Although he felt guilty, reason outweighed emotion, so Ning Chen pressed his lips together and apologized softly: "I'm truly sorry, I probably can't take you with me, but I must ensure Chu Muyu's safety. However, I will definitely try my best to take you with me, do what I can."

No one said anything more. A hint of confusion appeared on Chu Muyu's face as he looked at Ning Chen, seeming to want to say something but holding back.

Perhaps because Chu Muyu's gaze was too obvious and intense, Ning Chen felt it immediately, turned his head to look at Chu Muyu, and waited for him to speak.

Chu Muyu also knew time couldn't be wasted, so he said directly: "If it weren't for my relatives entrusting you to rescue me, I really wouldn't know what meaning there is in you coming to take me away?"

Hearing this, Ning Chen wasn't angry. On the contrary, a smile actually appeared on his face: "Of course I'm doing this on someone's commission. Otherwise, who would be willing to take on such a thankless job where you could die at any moment?"

But just as Ning Chen finished speaking, he thought of something, tilted his face, and Yu Guang glanced at Master Li beside him.

Master Li was completely unaware, still panting. Ning Chen knew well that Master Li had done him a kindness, but in this situation, he had no way to repay it.

Ning Chen slowly let go of the hand gripping Master Li's sleeve. Master Li seemed to sense it, his back stiffened for a moment, but he made no other move.

Then, Ning Chen walked step by step toward Chu Muyu. The young girl beside Chu Muyu also knew it wasn't realistic to let Chu Muyu keep bringing her along, so she reluctantly let go of the hand gripping Chu Muyu.

In this kind of situation, the will to survive should be very strong. Ning Chen hadn't expected these people to never mention wanting him to risk his life to take them away—after all, the unreasonable people Ning Chen had met before were far more numerous.

Chu Muyu's lips moved, his gaze drifting toward the girl's back, as if wanting to say something. But the next second, Ning Chen stood beside him, and Chu Muyu abruptly closed his lips, not mentioning helping anyone, just silently following the others along the riverbank.

Gaye's side had clearly noticed Ning Chen's intention. He immediately scoffed: "This Ningchenbu Society still thinks taking a detour can avoid the helicopters chasing them? Foolishly naive!"

The assistant, hearing this, felt something was off, and reminded him: "This subordinate feels this isn't overreaching. Ning Chen should want to protect someone—look, he's standing beside Chu Muyu. I bet he definitely wants to deliver Chu Muyu safely to Hua Country."

Gaye's brow furrowed instantly: "He can take Chu Muyu away? I think he can't even save himself."

The assistant's eyes shifted, a little afraid to speak: "... Not necessarily, after all, you've seen Ning Chen's file too."

That was true.

Gaye nodded, but didn't want to affirm this point. In his eyes, no matter how strong Ning Chen was, he was still flesh and blood. His own side had an overwhelming advantage in equipment and numbers. For Ning Chen to resist was absolutely impossible.

Even though he'd suffered several defeats before, Gaye didn't take it to heart, only feeling that as long as Ning Chen could die at his hands, that was enough.

Ning Chen and the others approached the riverbank, but several helicopters were guarding overhead, so they couldn't go up, and could only soak in the water, waiting for an opportunity.

Snipers were already in position on the helicopters. They could have fired directly, but because of Gaye's cruel whim—insisting on letting these people experience the feeling of being attacked from both sides—he didn't let the snipers fire when they approached the bank, but waited for the pursuing soldiers behind to come, to finish them off together.

But this gave Ning Chen an opportunity.

Ning Chen knew he could not resist so many snipers and airplanes while protecting Chu Muyu, so he could only retreat again and again, using retreat as a means to advance.

Once Jia Yi's malicious whims were exhausted, it would be Ning Chen's turn to act.

It was just that this timing was hard to grasp; it had to be exact to the millimeter, otherwise victory was impossible.

Ning Chen led Chu Muyu at the very front; under these circumstances, he had to ensure his safety.

Chu Muyu cooperated quite well by following behind him, and behind the two of them followed several other scientists.

Ning Chen raised his head and looked up; the airplane blocked out a large patch of clouds, and pursuers were coming from behind. If it were anyone else at this moment, they might have surrendered without a fight, but Ning Chen already knew how to break this situation.

Directly opposite the river channel lay a lush forest; the airplane hovered above the forest, while a thicket of bushes lined the roadside.

Ning Chen pulled Chu Muyu and sped up, swimming toward that patch of bushes. Although the water was over his mouth and choking him somewhat, while bobbing up and down, Ning Chen still turned his head and said to Chu Muyu, "They may launch an attack at any moment; you stand here first."

Although Chu Muyu did not know what Ning Chen intended to do, looking at Ning Chen's back, he inexplicably felt a great sense of security. Recalling everything along the way, there was no doubt that Ning Chen was someone he could trust.

So Chu Muyu nodded. The others behind Chu Muyu could not hear what Ning Chen said to Chu Muyu; they simply raised their heads one by one and looked forward, gazing about.

Chu Muyu looked at Ning Chen's slowly advancing figure, then at the expressions of those behind, and said, "His meaning is to cover for us. Once most of the enemy firepower concentrates on him, we can escape in the chaos."

The curly-haired man frowned: "Is he not thinking too naively? How could those people simply let us leave? Moreover, so many snipers are watching us from above, and pursuers are behind us; we are already caught between enemies on all sides. Relying on Ning Chen to cover us...? Forget it. As long as he lives, our chances of survival increase at least a little."

What the curly-haired man said was not unreasonable; those behind nodded in agreement, but Chu Muyu slowly shook his head.

"I understand what you mean, but Ning Chen will not necessarily die," Chu Muyu said, his expression still very calm. "I actually think he really might get us out of this place." "Heh," the young man with glasses suddenly sneered, his tone quite sarcastic, "I'm afraid he isn't taking us out, but only you alone. Everyone knows he came to save you; there's no need to pretend here and say these things to us."

Chu Muyu's brows suddenly furrowed; he stared at that young man, and his tone suddenly grew heavy: "Do you know what you are saying?"

The young man raised his head and sneered again: "Of course I know; I am more clear-headed than at any other time. The person who should worry most about whether Ning Chen lives or dies is not us, but you, right?"

These words were perhaps a bit too sharp; Chu Muyu was just about to retort, but then thought of something, suddenly stopped speaking, and fell silent.

Chu Muyu's gaze shifted behind the young man; behind him stood the "colleagues" who had been in the same laboratory with him for the past half year, people who could barely be called friends. At this moment, looking at those who considered themselves friends, he found the expressions on their faces had become numb; they had no intention of defending Chu Muyu, nor any intent to speak up and stop the curly-haired man.

Chu Muyu suddenly felt somewhat powerless; at this point, he no longer wanted to say anything. What Chu Muyu did not want to deny was that following Ning Chen indeed gave him a high probability of returning alive to Huaguo, which was why he had not chosen to argue further with the young man.

At this critical moment of life and death, he finally realized that Menyeshi Society would also have conflicts, even if the reasons for the conflict were somewhat lame.

Chu Muyu slowly sighed, then looked at the young man: "I do not hope... that we split at this time. I indeed have nothing good to say. Follow Ning Chen closely; we will get out alive."

The others heard this and showed no reaction; only the young man with glasses looked at him and sneered again in a sarcastic manner.

Chu Muyu lowered his head.

Jia Yi watched the situation on the screen and laughed: "This person is truly foolish; he thinks that with this, we can do nothing to them? This move is called 'luring the tiger from the mountain,' if I recall correctly."

The next second, Jia Yi's face turned cold again, and he ordered: "But do not deal with Ning Chen first; currently the heaviest priority is to kill everyone who escaped from the laboratory, especially that Chu Muyu. He is still carrying the research data report. If he returns, the consequences will be unimaginable." After Jia Yi gave the order, no one dared to say anything else. Jia Yi also understood that time was pressing and could not be delayed further, so he ordered them to launch an attack. Ning Chen also reacted one second before they opened fire; he was startled in his heart and immediately returned.

Ning Chen poked his head out from behind the bushes and shouted loudly toward Chu Muyu: "Everyone get down, get down into the water!!!"

Those people also wanted to live; after hearing Ning Chen's shout, they all took a deep breath, and then everyone tried their best to sink to the river bottom. But this was the shore; the water at the shore was very shallow. Although their entire bodies were pressed against the riverbed, their figures could still be seen. Ning Chen also rushed over at high speed at this moment; he had already memorized everyone's clothing and appearance, so he could immediately locate Chu Muyu's position.