38 Escape for Life

Qiao Yuyan spun around, seized the woman by the wrist, and flipped the dagger across her throat.

“Kh… kh…” The woman clutched both hands over her slashed windpipe and collapsed to the ground.

She could not understand where, exactly, she had given herself away.

Qiao Yuyan cast a cool glance at the woman struggling on the brink of death. She had originally intended to spare her life. But since the woman had thrown herself into the trap, Qiao Yuyan would not show mercy.

She never underestimated anyone. Even when faced with the seemingly harmless elderly, women, or children, she always remained highly vigilant. That was the way of survival for a Gold Hunter.

Once she had confirmed that the woman posed no further threat, Qiao Yuyan quickly locked the infant carrier.

The carrier was equipped with a complete oxygen system to ensure an adequate supply of air inside. It was also shockproof, bulletproof, and explosion-resistant, providing the greatest possible protection for the little prince.

The fierce gunfire outside gradually diminished. The battle was probably nearing its conclusion.

She wasted no more time. Hoisting the infant carrier onto her back and shouldering the grenade launcher, she sprinted toward the woods.

The spider-shaped detectors had all been destroyed in the earlier exchange of fire, caught in the artillery bombardment.

Qiao Yuyan had no idea how the enemy’s battle was progressing, but not long after the gunfire from the camp ceased, a dense barrage of bullets began tearing toward her.

DK had discovered that the little prince had been stolen.

Though the trees in the forest grew thickly, their branches and leaves interwoven into a natural barrier, that was not enough to block the sight of an exceptional sniper.

With their wealth of experience, they could infer the movements of their prey from the trembling of the leaves.

Qiao Yuyan knew this all too well. She constantly changed direction as she ran, yet even with all her caution, she could not guard against everything. Several bullets struck her.

Shot after shot hit the same spot on her right arm. Her combat suit split open, and blood seeped through.

She had no time to worry about her arm. She ran desperately toward the shore while the enemy snipers fired one round after another into the infant carrier on her back.

A burst of static crackled through her earpiece.

A moment later, the interference vanished, and Belen’s voice came through. “Are you off the island?”

Qiao Yuyan was running for her life and had no energy to answer.

Hearing the dense gunfire on her end, Belen quickly understood. “You’re still on the island? Then they’re calling for reinforcements. Hold on. Our people are on their way.”

The instant Belen finished speaking, another bullet struck the infant carrier. The little prince’s cries could be heard faintly from inside.

Suddenly, the gunfire stopped.

Qiao Yuyan sensed danger. She immediately lowered her body and rolled across the ground, using her momentum and the terrain for cover as she swiftly took shelter behind a thick tree.

At the same time, a dense rattling burst erupted.

Qiao Yuyan pressed herself tightly against the tree trunk. Her heart pounded violently in her chest, and beads of sweat covered her forehead. Unable to restrain herself, she muttered a curse. “They actually brought a Gatling gun.”

“How are you?” Belen asked anxiously.

“I’m fine. The little prince is with me.” Qiao Yuyan drew a breath and asked, “Boss, are you sure this infant carrier is bulletproof?”

Belen replied with certainty, “Don’t worry. Even explosives can’t break it open.”

Reassured by his words, Qiao Yuyan placed the infant carrier in front of herself. Gatling rounds hammered into it in a dense, relentless storm.

Even under such overwhelming fire, Qiao Yuyan had no intention of simply waiting to die. She rested the semiautomatic grenade launcher on her shoulder and patiently waited for her opportunity.

About ten minutes later, the Gatling gun’s roar came to an abrupt stop. All one hundred thousand rounds had been fired.

Qiao Yuyan seized the opportunity without hesitation and pulled the trigger. A grenade shrieked toward the Gatling gun’s position.

With a thunderous boom, the explosion left a deep crater in the ground. Taking advantage of the enemy being stunned by the blast, Qiao Yuyan hoisted the infant carrier onto her back once more and ran toward the sea.

She did not know how many of the enemy were still alive. Fleeing all the way, she fired all three of her remaining grenades in succession, yet there were still enemies pursuing her relentlessly.

The shore drew closer and closer. Qiao Yuyan’s heartbeat accelerated, adrenaline surging through her veins as she ran with all her strength. At last, she reached the water.

There were no trees here to provide cover, leaving her completely exposed to the enemy’s view. Bullets from the watchtower continued to chase after her without pause.

Most of them were stopped by the infant carrier on her back, but some grazed her body. Although they failed to penetrate her combat suit, they still left behind a searing pain.

Qiao Yuyan plunged headfirst into the sea and swam toward the open water, racing against time. The wound on her arm burned and itched as it soaked in the seawater.

Just then, the sound of a speedboat rose over the surface. It drew closer and closer, and with nowhere else to go, she could only dive deeper.

Her combat suit had already been damaged. As the pressure of the deep water increased, every additional meter she descended made her feel more uncomfortable.

“Are you trying to get yourself killed?” Belen roared. “Get back up! If you dive any deeper, your body will rupture.”

Qiao Yuyan looked up toward the surface. The speedboat was already directly above her. She was about to continue descending when a submachine gun suddenly extended from the boat.

Before she could react, the weapon opened fire wildly beneath the surface. The bullets shattered her oxygen tube.

“Hang in there.” Belen could also see the danger she was in through her goggles, and his voice was tight with anxiety. “Flora will arrive within ten minutes.”

Ever since Qiao Yuyan had landed on the island, GSC’s support team had been waiting in the waters nearest the island. They had merely been waiting for her to rescue the little prince so they could come immediately to her aid.

Now they were racing toward her location at full speed.

The alarm on Qiao Yuyan’s body flashed incessantly. Rather than swim upward, she calmly hid directly beneath the speedboat and waited patiently for her chance.

As the seconds passed, the oxygen in Qiao Yuyan’s lungs dwindled. The sensation of suffocation began to spread. Just as she felt she could no longer hold on, someone finally jumped from the speedboat.

It was Rex.

Without the slightest hesitation, she pulled the trigger. The bullets from her silent underwater pistol streaked through the water and struck their target with pinpoint accuracy.

Rex had never expected Qiao Yuyan to remain underwater for so long. He glared at her resentfully before slowly sinking into the depths.

Qiao Yuyan summoned every last ounce of strength and swam toward the surface.

With a splash, her head broke through the water.

Fresh air rushed into her lungs. She gulped it down in great breaths.

She had already moved beyond the snipers’ range. Floating on the surface and breathing heavily, she spoke into her earpiece. “I want more money.”

There was only silence on the other end.

“Hello? Did you hear me? I want more money!”

“All right, all right, you’ll get more, you’ll get more.” Belen sounded helpless. “An extra five hundred thousand. Satisfied?”

“That’s more like it.” Qiao Yuyan’s mood improved slightly.

After a brief rest, she recovered a little of her strength. With great effort, she climbed aboard the speedboat, took the driver’s seat, started the engine, and sped away from the island.

Only after the island had vanished completely from sight did she finally relax. She removed the infant carrier from her back and unzipped it.

Fortunately, the safety harness inside was fastened securely, and the little prince was unharmed.

However, the rough journey had probably made him uncomfortable. His clothes and the corners of his mouth were covered in grime; he had likely vomited from all the jolting.

When the child saw Qiao Yuyan, his lips puckered as he prepared to cry.

“How pitiful.” She stroked the little prince’s wan face.

The ultraviolet rays over the sea were intense, and the infant’s delicate skin could not withstand direct sunlight. She zipped the carrier closed again and soothed him softly. “Just hold on a little longer, poor baby.”

Qiao Yuyan relaxed into her seat. She had just intended to rest for a while when the document in her mind updated without warning.