The Villain's Wife (WN)

Unedited.

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The loud explosion from the grenade was enough to shake the underground facility that they were in. Large debris littered the hallway, as the lights flickered. The broken pieces of glass and the empty cases of bullets can be seen on the floor. The complete darkness inside the corridor was occasionally disrupted by the light coming from the high-powered, semi-automatic rifles that each side were using. 

The smell of gunpowder filled the air, overpowering the rustic smell of blood that is scattered on the walls, some of it had started to dry, turning its scarlet color into a sinister black. A war… fought without death truly impossible. Zhou Jingren's lips thinned. Both sides have long ceased their gunfight as both were already close to running out of bullets. Firing their remaining bullets without hitting the enemies would be considered a waste of ammunition. He eyed his people. All ten of them including a wounded soldier lying a few feet away from him.

"Surrender now… Mr. Bei." Kuznetsov's voice echoed. It was followed by a loud snort. He and his men were hiding inside one of the cells. Unlike Zhou Jingren's men, Kuznetsov and his people are all hiding inside as two of them were wounded and one of them is needed next to Kuznetsov for his computer skills. "I suggest you surrender now. Don't worry… I will let you live."

Zhou Jingren frowned. Based on his calculations, Kuznetsov is also out of ammunition. However, he didn't speak. Instead, Zhou Jingren eyed Secretary Go's location. Both men were using the wall to protect their backs. Despite the absence of light, Zhou Jingren could clearly see the dagger that would occasionally reflect the light coming from the flickering bulbs. It was Secretary Go's special daggers that he always loved to carry.

Seeing this, Zhou Jingren also grabbed the small card-like weapon from his hips. If one would not examine the weapons carefully, they would easily think they were ATM cards. However, these weapons were made of sharp steel, something that could cut someone's neck without using too much effort. 

"Come On… Mr. Bei… Is this really worth it? Would you really like to become an enemy of the order?" Kuznetsov's voice reached their ears. "If you hurt me and my subordinates, the order will hunt you and your family down. Is that really something you would be willing to face in the future?"

Hearing this, Zhou Jingren's face morphed into a scowl. Why would Kuznetsov spend so much time talking in the middle of an assault? Zhou Jingren smirked. He was waiting for something, he immediately concluded. Reinforcements? Just the thought of reinforcements made his face sank. His back, which was leaning against one of the destroyed walls of a prison cell, froze. He could feel sweat dampening the black tactical suit that he was wearing.

"What? Aren't you going to speak?"

Zhou Jingren eyed Secretary Go's direction. He was sure that the other party does not have night vision goggles. However, these flickering lights should be enough for them to observe Zhou Jingren's location. He eyed the flickering light a few feet away from him, slowly counting the seconds before it flickers again.

"Are you afraid? Ha! Perhaps… Are you perhaps already dead?"

Zhou Jingren on the other hand continued staring at the lights, his hands steadily grabbing his weapon, his face had long been framed with an expressionless face of a killer, of a hunter. Then he started moving.

Zhou Jingren swiftly used the cover of the darkness to run towards the next wall closer to Kuznetsov's troops. Just as he was about to arrive at the next wall, the light flickered again. He hastened his steps. Leaning his back against the wall, Zhou Jingren pursed his lips, ears on full alert as he listened for footsteps and whispers. 

This wall is now the only thing that separated him and Kuznetsov's people. Judging from the silence of the enemy, it would be safe to assume that they didn't notice his actions.

"Coward!" Kuznetsov sneered. "My reinforcements are coming. Are you really going to let your people die?"

As expected, his words made Zhou Jingren frown. He was certain that he and everyone else would not be able to survive if a reinforcement arrived. Unfazed, Zhou Jingren held his breath as he silently counted to ten. Five… Eight… 

Just as expected, Secretary Go soon followed him. Secretary Go ran towards the cell across Zhou Jingren, his steps light, movement agile like a panther traversing towards its prey. After another flicker, Secretary Go was already hiding in the cell across Zhou Jingren.

"I will count. One… to ten…" Kuznetsov's voice echoed. "If you won't come out with your arms raised… I will ask my people to blow this underground facility up. I might not be able to escape unscratched but I am certain the explosion would kill you." Zhou Jingren and his troops were near the bomb mechanism in this underground prison. He was sure that it would be enough to kill them. However, the bomb would take at least three minutes to deactivate. Because of this, Kuznetsov needed some time to set it up.

Another snort escaped his lips. "Is it done?" He lowered his voice and looked at one of his men, who was on the computer. 

"Two minutes…. There is something wrong with the bomb. I need two more minutes before I can activate it."

"Hmph! Do you want me to blow your brains out of your small fucking head?" He pointed the pistol towards his subordinate's head and coldly ordered, "Faster! Or you will die along with them!"

"Yes… Yes!" the man nodded as if his life depended on it. Then he furiously typed on the computer again. 

"Mr. Bei! You cannot beat me and you know that!" Kuznetsov started provoking Zhou Jingren again. To his irritation, the other still maintained his silence. Perhaps… "Hey... hey… " He called one of his subordinates that was observing the other side. "Did you see any movement just now?"

"No, sir. I didn't see any movement from the other side."

Kuznetsov's eyes immediately turned bright, disgust swirled in his orbs. "Then... He must be dead! But let's not lower our guard. Why don't you go out of this cell and slowly approach them?"

"Yes, Sir!"