Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 222: Life and Death Struggle (Part Two)
Zhou Huai was never one to seek self-destruction. He pushed against the boat's pole lodged against his neck, straining to create space for breath. The difference in strength between them was evident; at least after Zhou Huai joined the fray, Jiang He's plan to choke him began to falter. Sensing Jiang He's weakening grip, Zhou Huai freed one hand from the metal pole and swung his elbow hard into Jiang He's chest. The thud echoed like a drum, and finally, Jiang He's arm gave way, causing the pole to slip from his grasp and fall onto the deck.
Zhou Huai quickly scrambled to his feet and kicked Jiang He in the stomach. The blow left Jiang He gasping, feeling as if his insides were about to burst out, his body curling up like a cooked shrimp.
After breaking free, Zhou Huai had no intention of lingering; he dashed toward the cockpit. Jiang He clutched his stomach and pursued him. As they neared the door, he leaped forward, using himself as a battering ram to crash into Zhou Huai's back. They both tumbled into the cockpit, continuing their brawl with punches and kicks exchanged in a chaotic flurry.
The two men had transitioned from a life-and-death duel to a street fight. Similar in height, they exerted every effort to control each other's limbs while landing blows on one another. Their struggle moved from the doorway to the inner cabin and then back into the cockpit. After several rounds, both of their faces bore bruises, looking as if they had been beaten after a night of debauchery.
Neither was aware of their disheveled appearances; their minds were solely focused on inflicting pain on each other. There was no pause in their assault—fists or feet, anything that could cause harm became a weapon. Ironically, the handgun that had fallen near the doorway became an afterthought, rolling around the deck as they kicked it aside.
Unintentionally or not, both men stumbled and fell to the ground while circling around the helm. As they grappled with each other, Jiang He reached out for the helm but forgot that it could turn freely. His misplaced strength caused it to spin wildly like a top, jolting the entire boat violently. Items scattered throughout the cabin crashed to the floor, sending both men tumbling onto the deck, rolling away with the ship's sudden movements.
"Steer through raging currents; rein in at cliffs; turn weapons into peace; seek safety through compromise."
For some reason, as Jiang He was thrown into the inner cabin by the violent sway of the boat, a line from "Red Plum Ode" echoed in his mind. He found himself sprawled on the deck, unable to control his body due to centrifugal force. Desperately clawing at the gaps in the wooden deck with his nails for leverage, he barely managed to brace himself when a pine tea table in the center of the deck let out a sharp screech before being hurled toward him with deadly intent.
Jiang He quickly released his grip and pushed off against an impending cabinet that was about to topple over, narrowly dodging to one side. With a loud crash, the pine table slammed against his shoulder while a metal cabinet was smashed open, spilling envelopes like snowflakes all around him and burying half of his body beneath them. Startled, he grabbed one envelope and examined it—it had no stamp or address, just several bold characters written in pen: "To my parents, to my wife, to my children." The cabinet was filled with similar envelopes.
While Jiang He stood there stunned with an envelope in hand, Zhou Huai in the cockpit was frantically trying to regain control of the situation. For once, he did not pursue further but instead focused on steadying himself at the helm. His speed in adjusting it revealed he was clearly inexperienced. While reversing direction made sense logically, this was open water—not a road—and making sudden turns was inherently dangerous; one wrong move could capsize them amidst rough waves. As Zhou Huai attempted to steer back against it, chaos ensued—the small boat became adrift like a drunken sailor dancing wildly through broad channels.
The fight between them paused for several minutes until the boat stabilized somewhat. Then they charged at each other again with renewed vigor, colliding flesh against flesh in another fierce struggle.
"Where is your composure? Is it all just an act?" Jiang He leaned over Zhou Huai, straddling him while gripping his neck tightly; veins bulged on his forehead. Naturally, Zhou Huai struggled fiercely against him. Amidst their rising and falling tussle, he snatched up a stainless steel thermos from the deck without thinking and swung it at Jiang He.
The muffled sound was swallowed by the waves, and the stainless steel cup dented inward. Jiang He was knocked down, clutching his forehead as he struggled to get back up. Zhou Huai gasped for breath, his toothless mouth looking particularly strange. He forcefully pinned Jiang He's legs down with his feet, one hand gripping his hair and pulling it back. With a blood-streaked face close to his ear, he coldly huffed, "Wild cats and dogs are all fighting to survive. Why should I be the one to die? Let me tell you, even if time rewinds and everything starts over, I will still kill those I need to kill—without mercy!"
"Ahhh!!!" Jiang He felt a sharp pain in his arm as Zhou Huai twisted it at an unnatural angle. In a moment of desperation, he disregarded everything else, struggling fiercely to free himself. He managed to pull his head out from Zhou Huai's iron grip, shaking off the strands of hair that had been yanked out, and opened his mouth to bite down on Zhou Huai's wrist, which was just within reach.
It seemed that the ferocity buried deep within Jiang He only erupted when his life was at stake. Since the Cataclysm, the only time he had truly fought back with lethal intent was against that unfortunate young man from the Air Raid Shelter. At that moment of crisis, with friend and foe indistinguishable and concern for Song Yao's safety surging through him, his blood boiled, clouding his reason.
Comment 0 Comment Count