Chapter 9.1
The Trap
By two A.M, Miao, her eyes red from crying, had finished packing her bags. She hadn’t been able to sleep as she tossed and turned all night. She’d cursed Ming Wu a million times in her mind, but she was still sad to leave. He might not like her, but the thought of him being alone in the future, quietly wandering the world, made her even sadder than knowing that he didn’t like her.
Just then, she heard some slight, strange noises.
Someone’s here!
She quickly sprang out of bed. The flat was equipped with the most highly advanced defense system, so anyone who could break in would not be weak.
There had once been a midnight sneak attack by one of Ming Wu’s enemies. By the time Miao had heard the noise and ran to the living room, the attackers were already all over the floor. Ming Wu had been standing in the moonlight, indifferently dragging them to the door and throwing them out.
Miao Miao grabbed the gun and pressed the bedside switch causing the wall between the room and the living room to become transparent – it was of course only one way. She was horrified at what she saw.
The living room was dimly lit by the glow of five, tall, humanoid, all-metal robots. They were fully armed, their eyes glowing in the night.
She was surprised she didn’t see Ming Wu yet. He hated it when outsiders stepped into his home, so why hadn’t he made a move?
Despite the fact that a powerful enemy was in the room right behind her, Miao was still stunned when she entered Ming Wu’s room.
The room was as dark and silent as he was. Weapons of all types hung on the walls, violent and hideous as ever. The familiar, powerful figure she had grown accustomed to, had been reduced to a curled up, child-like form on the large bed, his whole body trembling violently.
His face was paler than she’d ever seen it and in visible contrast to the blue veins that crisscrossed all over his neck and forehead. His eyes were tightly closed as he continued to tremble violently, and she thought she could hear, not only the rattling of his teeth but of the bones in his entire body as well.
“There’s an intruder…,” he squeezed out between chattering teeth and raised his hand to grab the gun at his bedside table. He looked surprised when he couldn’t reach it.
He’s sick….
Miao was shocked as the realization hit her.
For the entire year she’d been with him, she had never seen him display any form of weakness. What was going on today?
But it was not the time to ask. Looking at his tall body now huddled weakly and his pale, moonlit features, Miao’s heart was filled with a sudden sense of sadness.
“You can watch me die,” she murmured, “but I can’t.”
Since when have I been able to take my eyes off you, off that cold, silent, young figure? Even if you don’t like me, I can’t leave you alone.
⏳⚡
Fifteen minutes can feel either very short or very long.
Miao leaned against the doorway of Ming Wu’s room, panting heavily. The thought crossed her mind that she must stink now, drenched in her blood and sweat, as she rummaged through the medicine chest for the fever-reducing pills. She stuffed them into his mouth, but though he was unconscious, he frowned and spat them out.
He was rolling around like he was on fire, and she thought she should go buy some ice-packs, but her wound was very deep. She found she didn’t have the strength to even leave the room.
Was she going to die?
She collapsed beside his shaking body, hugged him from behind and they fell into a deep coma together.
⏳⚡
Miao thought she was going to die, so she’d never expected to wake up the next morning to the sun shining brightly and her mind in actual good spirits.
She was lying in Ming Wu’s bed, covered with a thin blanket. Her wounds had been carefully treated, but he was nowhere to be seen.
She had mixed feelings as she realized if he treated her wounds, it meant he had seen her whole body. Her face began to redden at the thought of his hands touching her everywhere.
But then her head dropped as she remembered – how could he like her when he was capable of watching her go to her death?
He was so gentle and meticulous, but he didn’t like her.
She decided to wait for him to return before she left.
Little did she know that the wait would be five days, during which she busied herself with the simple task of lying in bed and healing.
On the fifth night when he finally came back, Miao was able to get out of bed and was eating takeaway. As he entered the room, she asked in a natural manner, “Do you want some?”
He sat down with a frosty look.
“After the year is up, you can leave.”
She was stunned, and the feeling of pain in her chest triggered new pain from the unhealed wounds.
“Okay, I’ll go.”
Though we’d agreed to travel the world together.
Unable to eat any more, she stood up, but after a few steps, she stopped, her eyes already full of tears. She turned to stare at him unblinkingly.
“Ming Wu, have you ever liked me?”
Have you ever liked me, the lonely girl from a hundred years ago? You good-for-nothing guy.
His body suddenly trembled like an electric shock and he looked at her with an incredulous expression. This was the first time she had seen such a vivid expression on his face.
He unconsciously uttered what was indeed, a rejection.
“No, how could it be?” He said, “How could I possibly like you?”
Miao felt a dull, sharp, pain hit her entire body, a pain so deep that it felt worse than the serious injury she had received five days ago. Though she had expected it, his words still drove her to despair.
“Don’t wait for the year to end,” she whispered, “After this mission at hand, I’ll leave.”
⏳⚡
She was still in a bit of a daze when she went on her last mission three days later. When she had fought off two thugs and thought she was about to complete the mission, she found herself surrounded by a dozen battle droids. The disparity in power was too great and she was instantly trapped.
This mission was not as simple as the description.
It felt like a trap.
A somewhat familiar, shadowy man standing behind the robots spoke out, “Hi, beautiful! Remember me? I’m Zhao Wei.”
“I don’t know you.”
Zhao Wei smiled. “Xu Miao Miao, you are such a vivid woman! Do you think with you in hand, Ming Wu will behave and kill the great hero Feng Zhao for me?”
Miao Miao’s eyes widened. It was the man who came to the door many days ago! Which meant this mission was definitely a trap. It was also possible that the robot attack from the other day had been his handiwork.
“He’s not going to go!” Xu Miao Miao said with certainty.
He’d refused her and could watch her die, how could he be blackmailed with her?
Zhao Wei however did not think so and waved his hand, allowing Xu Miao Miao to be taken away.
“Hey! If he ignores you, you have to let me go!” She shouted.
Zhao Wei laughed loudly and walked away.
At that time, neither Zhao Wei nor she had known that this kidnapping would become the famous “Ming Xu Incident” in the city’s history. No one had ever accurately tested the true level of combat prowess of Ming Wu, former Human Special Police Vice Captain, and SS-class warrior.
Zhao Wei’s kidnapping of Zu Miao meant he had deduced one of the more accurate estimates. But there were deviations to his deduction.
⏳⚡
That night, the moon was dark and a cool breeze was blowing. Miao was drinking juice while watching television from inside her captive room. She was not worried about her future, and Zhao had no time to make things difficult for her. She had already made up her mind that Ming Wu would certainly not come to her rescue, but she was a first-class master. She could easily do a few missions for Zhao Wei and then run away.
At eight o’clock in the evening, the robot guards came to take her away to Zhao Wei’s study on the top floor of his building.
When Miao Miao walked in, her whole body seemed to freeze. A few meters away stood a tall, craggy, figure with a wet, dark blue, back.
He stood in the middle of the room, a human head swinging from his hand, and slowly turned around when she came in. When she saw that he was finally wearing the shirt she had bought him, tears began to stream down her face.
She opened her mouth, but no words came out, and her eyes took in the stern look on his calm, snowy face.
He had come. Did he care if she lived or died? How could he have come to her rescue?
“Let her go.” He said, tossing the head at Zhao Wei’s feet behind the desk. “You asked for it, Feng Zhao.”
A guard lifted the head and nodded to Zhao Wei.
Zhao Wei’s face was ecstatic. “Ming Wu, you’re just too good! Even Feng Zhao can be killed! Are you interested in coming to work with me? You can name your price.”
As he spoke, he turned on the TV that was suspended in mid-air.
On the film-like screen, a beautiful human presenter’s face looked sorrowful as she said, “This afternoon, the most valuable asset of humanity, the great hero Feng Zhao, was unfortunately assassinated. The suspect is speculated to be the former Human Special Police Vice Captain, Ming Wu, and the police have issued a special wanted notice for him.”
Miao froze.
Everything went quiet. She couldn’t hear Zhao Wei’s laughter or the sound of the TV anymore. She couldn’t hear anything. It was as if she had gone back to the days before, when he had stood quietly, coldly, handsomely, and powerfully beside her, and she had cautiously and tentatively savoured the hazy affection between them. So frightened and unsettled, so sweet and clear.
He had done it for her? Did he kill the great hero for her? Such disregard for right and wrong, such…deep love!
She raised her head to him and saw that some blood had stained his face. Ignoring Zhao Wei, he walked straight towards her, only to be stopped by a dozen robots before he could reach her.
“Why did you save me!?” She cried out. “You idiot! Don’t you dislike me?”
Zhao Wei’s laughter became more piercing. “Him? Like you? Hahahaha!”
She heard him whisper, “Because you’re a virus.”
“What?” She didn’t understand.
He grabbed the two robots nearest to him and tossed them to the side, taking a step forward. “The virus that made me produce a program beyond my control.”
He finally stood in front of her and looked down into her eyes. Under his clear gaze, Miao’s heart ached beyond words, while sudden turmoil and shock flooded her mind.
To kill Feng Zhao, he must have gone through an unimaginably vicious battle! Otherwise, how else would the delicate, white, metal bones he’d never shown her before, now be revealed from the cut separating his flesh and skin?