A Fragile Escape

The tension in the warehouse was suffocating. Xiao Ning’s heart pounded in his chest as he stared across the dimly lit space at Dong Fenro, his long-time nemesis. The realization that Dong now knew his identity as Night Owl had shaken him to the core. He had always been careful, always operated in the shadows, but now everything was at risk even his own life, his family, and Bing Rong.

“You’ll regret this, Dong,” Xiao Ning said, his voice low but edged with menace.

Dong Fenro smirked, folding his arms across his chest as he watched Xiao Ning closely. “Oh, I doubt that. You’ve been living in the shadows for too long, Night Owl. Now, I’ll bring you into the light and watch you burn.”

Xiao Ning’s mind raced. He had to escape, and fast. The poison in his system had been weakening him throughout the day, and though the night had given him some reprieve, he could already feel the creeping exhaustion taking hold again. He didn’t have much time before his strength would fade completely.

With a quick flick of his wrist, Xiao Ning hurled a smoke bomb to the ground. Thick, dark clouds filled the air, engulfing the warehouse in an impenetrable fog. Dong Fenro cursed, stumbling back as the smoke blinded him. Xiao Ning wasted no time. His movements were swift, silent, as he slipped into the shadows and sprinted toward the exit.

The sound of Dong Fenro’s voice, muffled by the smoke, echoed behind him. “You can’t run forever, Xiao Ning! I’ll find you again, and next time, there will be no escape!”

Xiao Ning ignored the taunts, his focus entirely on getting out. His muscles ached, his body protesting with every step, but he forced himself to keep moving. The night was his only advantage now, but even that was slipping away. The poison had weakened over the years, but it was always there, waiting to drag him down.

The warehouse doors slammed shut behind him as he emerged into the cold night air. He could hear the distant rumble of traffic, the hum of the city around him, but it all felt far away. His breaths came in ragged gasps as he stumbled down the deserted alley, his vision blurring slightly. He had to keep going, had to put as much distance between himself and Dong Fenro as possible.

But his body had other plans.

As he rounded the corner into a quieter street, Xiao Ning’s legs gave out beneath him. He collapsed to the ground, barely catching himself with one hand as the world tilted dangerously. His vision swam, dark spots dancing at the edges, and the familiar, suffocating weakness from the poison surged through his veins.

No… not now… He clenched his teeth, struggling to push himself up, but his strength was fading fast. His heartbeat thundered in his ears, each beat feeling slower, more labored.

Just as Xiao Ning was about to give in to the crushing weight of exhaustion, he heard the soft sound of footsteps approaching.

At first, he thought it was Dong Fenro’s men, tracking him down to finish the job. But then he heard her voice, a voice he hadn’t expected.

“Xiao Ning?”

Bing Rong’s voice was sharp with concern, cutting through the haze in his mind. She was standing over him, her eyes wide with shock and confusion as she knelt beside him. “What happened to you?”

He tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. His throat felt dry, his body unresponsive. He could barely keep his eyes open, the world around him slipping in and out of focus.

“Xiao Ning!” Bing Rong’s voice was urgent now as she gently turned him over, her hands pressing against his chest to keep him steady. “Hey, stay with me. What’s going on?”

Xiao Ning wanted to explain, to tell her everything, but he couldn’t. Not like this. Not when he was on the verge of collapsing completely. His eyelids grew heavier, and he could feel his consciousness slipping away.

But before he lost himself to the darkness, he managed to say one thing, just a single name.

“Dong… Fenro…”

Bing Rong’s heart raced as she struggled to understand what had happened. She had been patrolling nearby, finishing up a case of her own, when she had seen him stumble into the street. Her first instinct had been disbelief, why would Xiao Ning be here, in the middle of the night, looking like he had just come out of a fight?

Now, as she looked at him, her confusion only deepened. His face was pale, his body weak, and the name he had whispered sent a cold chill through her.

Dong Fenro.

That name was all too familiar. A notorious criminal, a man who had been on Police Intelligence’s radar for years, yet had always managed to evade capture. What could Dong Fenro possibly have to do with Xiao Ning?

But there was no time to question it now. Xiao Ning needed help, and fast.

“Hang on, Xiao Ning,” Bing Rong muttered, wrapping one of his arms around her shoulder and pulling him up with surprising strength. “I’m getting you out of here.”

She dragged him down the street, her mind racing as she tried to figure out what was happening. This wasn’t the Xiao Ning she knew.....the quiet, reserved man who worked at a software company. There was something deeper, something darker, and she was starting to see the cracks in the façade.

Who are you really, Xiao Ning?

As she made her way to her car, her grip tightened around him. She could feel his labored breathing, the strain in his body, and she knew something far more serious was going on. There was no way a simple office worker would be in this kind of condition, muttering the name of one of the city’s most dangerous criminals.

But those answers would have to wait. Right now, all that mattered was getting him to safety.

Minutes later, they reached Bing Rong’s apartment. She laid Xiao Ning gently on the couch, grabbing her first-aid kit and preparing to treat his wounds. But as she inspected him, she realized it wasn’t just external injuries. His condition seemed deeper, like something was slowly eating away at him from the inside.

“What did Dong Fenro do to you?” she whispered, more to herself than to him.

Xiao Ning’s breathing was shallow, his face slick with sweat. Bing Rong’s concern grew with every second. She knelt beside him, brushing the hair from his forehead, her expression softening for a moment. She had always seen him as simple, predictable. But now, it was clear that there was so much more beneath the surface.

“I’ll take care of you,” she murmured, her voice gentle as she tended to him. “But when you wake up, you owe me some answers, Xiao Ning. Because I’m starting to think I never really knew you at all.”

As she worked, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something far more dangerous than she had ever anticipated.

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