Days of Darkness

"This is bad," Hou Wei Yan muttered with bated breath. She rested her hands on a tree, her sweat dripping, and her arms now wounded and scratched from all the blind running she was doing. 

She looked up at the sky and grated her teeth in vexation when she saw clouds obscuring the moon. [ This is really really bad! ]

"Fuck," she cursed before she gulped down her own saliva and began walking once more, unsure where to go and desperately looking for someone else. "Changhai! Where are you?! Bei Changhai!" 

[ Bloody spider! ] she cursed, remembering how they ended up in this situation. Bei Changhai has always been bubbly and feisty, so it never occurred to her that she would fear spiders to the point she'd blindly run away to the deep end of the forest. 

[ Why did she even run this way?! ] she mused as she called out for Bei Changhai's name as loud as she could. [ She could have run straight to the store and yet she went ahead and ran to the forest! ]

"BEI CHANGHAI! I'M HERE!" she shouted at the top of her lungs, glancing here and there for even the smallest of movements, hoping that it was Bei Changhai just hiding in fear. "CHANGHAI! WHERE ARE YOU?! BEI CHANGHAI!" 

"Ji Li Zhao is going to kill me," she muttered as she rested her aching body on the tree once more. "It's going to rain soon." 

The night sky that was breathtakingly marvelous and bright earlier is slowly turning into a night of terror as the clouds obscured what little light she had around her. She would still have her phone right now and could shine some light if she didn't trip over and fall into a hole. 

"BEI CHANGHAI! BEI CHANGHAI! ANSWER ME!" 

Still no response. 

"BEI CHANGHAI! BEI CHANGHAI!"

Her mouth was turning dry with all the shouting she was making and her sweat was sticking all over her body. The breezy air earlier was slowly turning dry which made her bite her lips in frustration. The darkness of the forest was slowly eating her whole, making her breathing even more labored. 

She could turn around, but her guilt would kill her. 

[ I can't go out without Bei Changhai. ] she reminded herself, venturing once more into the forest, unaware of just how deep she already was. 

Meanwhile, someone is now getting roasted in hell's fire. 

"What the fuck?!" Xing Qiu cursed as he stared at Zhou Jinhai, now alone in the pathway leading to the store. "We were just gone for a few minutes, and you already got the ladies in this deep trouble?!" 

"What really happened, Dr. Zhou?" Tian Bingwen asked, trying to be level-headed and assess what was really going on. "You can't just tell us that the two went missing inside. We need the details." 

"That Bei Changhai went crazy over a spider. She took off and Wei Wei ran off to find her," he explained, unable to look at the forest himself. 

"Why did you even bring them here?!" Xing Qiu angrily asked as he collared the man who seemed to cower at the sight of the dark forest. "You better pray that they are safe. I will never leave you alone if something happens to them!" 

"Why did you let Dr. Hou go?" He Lan asked in bewilderment. Zhou Jinhai obviously planned some of this, but Bei Changhai running off was never part of the plan. Still, she's confused as to why he would let the woman he was courting and the woman he says he loves venture into the forest alone. 

"I...I can't go," his voice trembled which made them look at one another. Zhou Jinhai is a menace who never admits defeat. And yet here they are, getting shoved into his vulnerable state. "It's...dark." 

"Fuck!" Xing Qiu cursed once more as he released him from his grasp and allowed him to weakly sit on the ground. "SISTER YAN IS AFRAID OF THE DARK TOO!! I know you know that!!!" 

Long Lee looked at the forest in worry. She was trembling in anxiousness and Ashraf saw this. He reached out his hands and held hers, trying his best to stop her tremors. "Hey, calm down." 

"What do we do? What do we do?" she asked in repeat, as though a broken cassette that could only mutter such words. 

Sheng Mingzhu immediately walked towards her and caressed her shoulders. Long Lee was panicking and her voice was trembling as she repeated her words once more. "We will find some help, Xiao Lee. It's going to be okay." 

He Lan turned to look around before turning to Xing Qiu when she saw someone wasn't with them. "Where's President Ji? He ought to know this."

"Maybe he can help." He Zihao added, clearly seeing that they were in a dire situation. Anytime now and the rain will fall. With how dense the clouds were, he was sure it would be one ugly and heavy rain. 

If the two of them get caught in it while inside the forest, they will surely either fall on a cliff or get caught in a landslide. 

"He knows," Xing Qiu replied, his eyes still glaring daggers at Zhou Jinhai and his hands clenched as he tried his best to hold back his punches. "He isn't here because...he might kill someone."

Everyone remained silent as he said this, their gulping the only thing that could be heard. They know he isn't joking when he said this. Ji Li Zhao is indeed benevolent and strangely carefree around them, however, it cannot be denied that he is an Emperor. 

He will kill when he needs to kill. 

And considering the gravity of the situation, Zhou Jinhai is a target that Ji Li Zhao would badly want to kill. No one would dare question the reason why, but they know the emotion he is feeling right now...anger. 

"Boss!" Mi Shen repeatedly called out as he knocked on his bedroom door. "Boss!" 

All the subordinates they brought were already out searching in the forest with Makio desperately scavenging using his electronics. They were all searching and yet the man they were hoping to command them, had hidden himself in his room. He could hear the continuous smashing of things and the breaking of glasses from behind the door. His desperate cries of anger and frustration echoed despite the soundproof room. 

"Boss!" 

"Leave him for a moment, Phantom." a voice came out of nowhere causing Mi Shen to abruptly turn around. There, he was faced with Xing Yun who was supposed to be bedridden due to his jellyfish accident. "Let him express his anger." 

"But---" 

"He can't go out there with this much anger in him," Xing Yun added, resting his back on the door and staying close to keep watch of the surroundings, making sure the onlookers would feel terrified to even make a peep. "He can kill Zhou Jinhai." 

"Then let him kill." Mi Shen said in bewilderment. "That's not an issue." 

"Big Sister will hear of what happened. That will break everything that he built." 

Mi Shen clicked his tongue at this reality. Defeated, he leaned his back on the door as well before glancing at him in amusement. "You don't seem fazed. Aren't you worried?" 

"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't," he answered with all honesty. "Big Sister is a fighter. Our men are already deployed to find her. Makio is dead set on locating her. Although there is still worry in my system, I'm confident we will find her." 

"Makio better do his job." 

Xing Yun looked towards the forest and sighed. "He better find her. I will personally see to it that he is buried alive if he fails on this." 

Mi Shen chuckled. He knows Fang Tao and Ye Zhe already heard what happened and are already preparing something crazy as a welcome for Makio and for causing this to happen. He was too complacent, thinking that nothing would go wrong since they already installed cameras and security measures in the pathway leading to the store. 

He did inform Ji Li Zhao where they were going and what they were planning, but telling him wasn't enough to stop this from happening. [ He should have stopped them in the first place! ]

"Move," they heard a low command from behind the door. The two of them immediately stood straight and faced each other, bowing their heads as Ji Li Zhao stepped out of the bedroom. "Phantom, have someone clean this up." 

Mi Shen immediately saluted in response and dialed their clean-up team. The room was in a clear mess and it looks like renovation is what they need instead of a simple clean-up since the walls have punches and cracks on them.

While he was doing this, Ji Li Zhao's scowling face turned to Xing Yun. "Go back to your room." 

"I will help," 

"Not when you're injured. Wei Wei will worry," he answered before he strode into the hallway, his hands bleeding from all the breaking and punching that he was doing. He was wearing his suit, now disheveled and simply draped to hide the body holster he was wearing. 

He looked menacing as he slowly trudged towards the forest, his eyes devoid of kind emotions and his hands ready to grab his gun if he ever encountered a wild beast in the forest. By the looks of it, he will grab hold of anyone in his way and strangle them to their deaths. 

Xing Yun who saw his state immediately called Makio in his earpiece. "Einstein, Boss is going inside the den. Tell our men to retreat immediately." 

Makio stayed silent on the other line before a sigh echoed. "He went kill mode?" 

"Yes. He will recognize Bei Changhai and Big sister. If your men get in his way, he will view them as a threat. Have them leave." he ordered when he saw Ji Li Zhao finally step foot in the forest, taking the bushes instead of the path where Zhou Jinhai was still. "Remove the medical team from the path." 

"What about Zhou Jinhai?" Makio asked in bewilderment. They are not merciful especially when someone crosses the line. 

"Let him enjoy this little taste of freedom," Xing Yun answered coldly. He is indeed a bubbly child, carefree, and with little killing intent. But he is a Xing and he knows boundaries. 

He knows that when someone crosses the boundary they set, there will be no turning back and mercy should be erased in their vocabulary from then on. They had forgiven his shamelessness countless times, but what he did today placed Hou Wei Yan and Bei Changhai in danger. 

"Once big sister is secured, we will present him to the boss...serving his head in a silver platter if necessary," he muttered before hanging up. Xing Qiu must have felt his dark aura as he turned his way despite their distance. He could see him slowly nod his head and his eyes glint in darkness. 

They are twins...and they share the same morals. 

Zhou Jinhai will be spared, but only so he can ask for forgiveness from Hou Wei Yan. If he utters anything else, he will die in their hands. 

.....

"Wei Wei," Ji Li Zhao muttered lowly to himself, his eyes looking delirious. All the worrying and the overthinking were making him sick to his stomach. "Please be okay." 

He was adept in this setting. Most of his training was spent in the wilderness, his grandfather and his subordinates engraved in his mind and body how terrifying the wilderness can be to an untrained man. 

Ji Li Zhao zoned out everything else in his mind and focused his attention on his surroundings. He needs to find 2 people right now—Hou Wei Yan and Bei Changhai. 

Since his men already scouted the front areas, all he needed now was to go deeper into the woods. They are still technically in the resort, but this forest is vast because the owner still had a lot of projects planned for this location. 

Right now, Hou Wei Yan is in uncharted territory, and considering her fear of the dark, she is at a disadvantage. Even if she's skillful in combat, she's unfamiliar with the dangers the forest may bring. For all he knows, she could be trapped in a hole somewhere. 

[ Damn it! I shouldn't be thinking that. ]

As for Bei Changhai, considering she was trained in places like this, she could evade traps and slopes. However, her current emotional state might become a challenge. They reported that she sprinted out in fear because of an insect. Any insect she will run in, and considering the forest has plenty of it, will cause her to panic and lose composure. 

[ There's surely hell to pay for this, Zhou Jinhai! ] he thought, killing him repeatedly in his mind. He was alternately killing him with a gun or a knife, deciding what would cause the most agony. 

He was running faster into the deeper end of the wood, heightening his hearing so he could catch even the tiniest sound of footsteps. Hou Wei Yan is surely somewhere deep within. 

"CHANGHAI!!!" he heard out of nowhere. 

Quickly, he turned his attention to the west side from where he stood and ran towards the source of the voice as swiftly as he could. His heart paced in anxiety when he heard the cry once more and he noticed the tone change. [ She's crying for help! ]

It was obviously Hou Wei Yan. Even though she only called out Bei Changhai's name, she was screaming out and her tone was filled with desperation. As he got closer, he could hear the painful noise of flesh hitting a hard surface and slowly sliding down. 

"Shit," he cursed. 

[ Please hang on. Please hang on, Wei Wei! I'm coming! ] he desperately called out in his head. [ Hang on, Wife! ]

"Boss," Makio suddenly called out. He stayed silent and continued to run, terrified of what might happen if he got there even a second late. He jumped and he glided, making sure to evade all the trees that tried blocking his way. 

Makio heard the desperation in his voice and his panicked panting so he didn't wait for his reply and continued to report. "We found Lady Bei. She's on the South part of your location." 

"Rescue," he shortly answered. 

"Qiu is on his way," Makio replied before he cut off contact so Ji Li Zhao could focus on saving Hou Wei Yan. Surely, Xing Qiu could save his own woman and by the looks of it, he has a lot of scolding to do. This is not entirely Bei Changhai's fault, but had she waited for morning to come, Zhou Jinhai would have no room to do his sinister plan. 

Just right after the call got disconnected, Ji Li Zhao felt a drop of water hit his face. It started with small drops, like a warning of something big. [ Shit. ]

He clicked his tongue and jumped to avoid a hole, hoping to make it in time before the rain fell heavily and made Hou Wei Yan slip. [ This can't be happening right now. ]

As though cursing him, the rain dropped as though angered by something. The rain was accompanied by thunderclaps and the wind shifted—serenity gone and replaced with monstrous danger. As the wind and rain grew stronger, his worry began to devour him. "Wei Wei," 

Thankfully, he already reached the location from where the voice came. His heart nearly sank when he saw a hand tightly grasping a tree root. It was Hou Wei Yan, dangling on a huge cliff, anchoring herself in a tree root with one hand. Her delicate hands were trying their best to stay strong. 

Ji Li Zhao felt momentary relief when he saw her familiar hands. He made it in time. 

"Wei---WEI WEI!" he shouted in a panic as he jumped forward, catching her hands in time. She was slipping!

He could see her eyes were closed and her body was limp. She must have been too exhausted and lost all her strength from hanging too long in the tree. "Shit!"

It was easy to pull her up and he didn't need to exert that much effort. He should be feeling total relief now that he caught her and she was safe in his grip. However, Ji Li Zhao miscalculated. 

He lunged too far!

And the mud has begun to erode!

He felt the gravity pulling him straight down, towards what seemed like an endless abyss. What awaited him was an endless stretch of darkness brought about by the merciless rain and heavy clouds that covered the moon.

Instinctively, he hugged Hou Wei Yan's body—shielding her from all the debris and stones that were on their way as they trembled down the cliff. Nothing matters right now but her safety. He didn't care what would happen to him. All that was occupying his mind was her and her alone.

He steeled his mind, ready to take in any impact and pain that may come his way. But despite his tough bearing, Ji Li Zhao still felt everything. 

From the trees spread across the cliffs to the small pebbles in the forest, he felt it all. Grunting, aching, and bleeding, and yet still tightly shielding Hou Wei Yan—that's how Ji Li Zhao fell. 

As though a consolation for his hard work, they stopped rolling down after only a minute or two. Ji Li Zhao groaned in pain as he opened his eyes and felt the cold rain shower them without mercy. Slowly, he turned his neck to the direction of the slope where they fell from and sighed in relief. What he thought was a cliff was luckily, a sloped ravine. 

Despite the cold greeting of the rain, he felt relieved when he felt Hou Wei Yan's body heat. She's alive and breathing. [ Thank the heavens! ] 

With all the bruises on his body, Ji Li Zhao was momentarily paralyzed. He was unable to move due to all the aches in his body, so he stayed down and allowed the rain to batter them with its drops. He felt tired and relieved. The swirling sensation made his body weak and his motivation to move crumbled. 

He would have stayed there until his men found them, but Hou Wei Yan suddenly groaned. 

Anxious, Ji Li Zhao sat up and swallowed his pain. He immediately adjusted Hou Wei Yan and laid her on the ground as gently as he could to prevent her from suffering further injury. Her hair was disheveled, with leaves and small branches stuck in between her strands. The rain was obscuring his vision, but he could see blood oozing from the scratches on her face and in her palm. His heart ached when he saw the sorry state of her hands—her most precious asset. 

"I'm sorry, Wei Wei." he cried out as he drew his head close to her face. He bumped his forehead on hers before resting a gentle kiss—his lips trembling with guilt. "I was late again. I'm sorry." 

Worried she was struck by something while they were falling, he braced himself and stood up after making sure she was breathing. Her breathing was shallow so he knew he needed to hurry. Cursing, he drowned out his pain and despite his limping state, he walked following the ravine. 

Had he been alone, he would not hesitate to take his sweet time in walking. But his wife is with him right now; bruised and battered—in need of medical attention. So instead of finding a route he could take to climb up, he searched near where they fell and picked up the earpiece that he was wearing earlier. 

"Einstein," he called out after earing the earpiece and returning to Hou Wei Yan's side. His back was throbbing from all the wounds he received, but he swallowed it all in, hoping to receive the backup he badly needed. "Einstein, come in." 

"Boss!" Makio happily greeted him as soon as the connection was restored. He grew worried when he heard his groan and the thuds that followed suit. "Boss, are you okay?" 

"Can you locate us?" 

"Yes. I'm currently tracking you down," he muttered in reply, zooming in on his monitor so he could see more on the current state of the terrain surrounding Ji Li Zhao. "Boss, that area is a bit unstable. Can you cross the ravine? The water is low and the land across is just a few steps away. If you stay there, you might get caught in a landslide." 

"No. I'm afraid to move Wei Wei. She's injured." Ji Li Zhao answered because he didn't know the extent of her injury. She might have some fractures and spinal damage he's unaware of and he may cause her more harm than good if he moves her recklessly. "Send for the helicopter." 

"Already in your way, Boss. Little Caesar is leading the team." 

Upon hearing such a codename, Ji Li Zhao halted even though he was slowly removing his coat to cover Hou Wei Yan. His brows were already scrunched up and his face displayed dissatisfaction. "I told him to stay put." 

"He insisted. He was worried about Madame and he was in the channel when he heard you groaning in pain." 

[ Well, that is enough grounds to disobey me. ] he thought before he continued shielding Hou Wei Yan from the rain shower. It was stipulated that the twins would act as Xing if they saw the matter jeopardize the safety of the Xings. 

"And what of his twin?" 

"With Lady Bei. He is holding her back because she heard everything from our men and was charging like a bull towards Zhou Jinhai." 

[ I can't help that either. ] he thought while nodding his head. Her reaction is to be expected. Bei Changhai detests anyone who uses her fear of insects against her. 

"I want Mr. Zhou alive. Keep it that way till I arrive and settle the score." 

"Roger, Boss." Makio smiled wickedly at this order. As soon as Ji Li Zhao cut off the line, he dialed Mi Shen who was waiting in anticipation for his next move. "Phantom, keep Zhou Jinhai alive." 

"That's not what I was waiting for," he grumbled. 

"Just alive." Makio re-iterated. "His state doesn't matter. Just keep him alive." 

A wicked smile rested on Mi Shen's handsome face. He snickered and he pocketed out his knife as he hung up, ready to hunt the daring man who hurt their Madame. While he was walking in the shadows, ready to take his position and ambush Zhou Jinhai once he was alone, Ji Li Zhao finally managed to see the helicopter just above them. 

"Boss!" 

Xing Yun descended with splendor but his face was wrinkled with worry when he saw the woman lying motionless beside Ji Li Zhao. "Big Sister!" 

"She needs treatment. Have the doctors in Yi Lan gather and provide them with a suitable room to treat Wei Wei." 

He listened intently to Ji Li Zhao and knew that Makio was listening as well. His eyes landed on his sorry state and couldn't help but bite down his lower lip in frustration because he knew from his wounds what it took for him to save Hou Wei Yan.

"You need treatment too." 

"Wei Wei first." 

[ She always is. ] Xing Yun thought in reply because he knows this is what's inside Ji Li Zhao's heart. In everything that he does, he prioritizes Hou Wei Yan. Even if it means jeopardizing himself, as long as Hou Wei Yan is safe. 

"Dr. Ashraf is on standby." Xing Qiu replied, his voice echoing in their earpiece. 

"How is Changhai?" Ji Li Zhao asked as the paramedics of their team slowly transferred Hou Wei Yan to the rescue litter and placed a neck brace after he requested it. 

Xing Qiu who was currently organizing things and briefing the doctors decided to answer as honestly as he could. "I'm sorry, Boss. I had to sedate her." 

"What did she do?" 

"She grabbed a gun and pointed it directly at Zhou Jinhai's temple. Even I couldn't stop her," he admitted in shame. She went into rage mode and despite his best efforts to calm her down and appease her, Bei Changhai was too drunk in her emotions to listen to anyone. 

"Who did it?" 

"Boss! We're ready for take-off." their pilot said, waiting for his final permission. Ji Li Zhao simply nodded his head and Xing Yun relayed it to them in his stead. 

"Who did it?" he asked once more once they managed to take off. His hands were intertwined with Hou Wei Yan's hand as he prayed for her safety. 

"Bullet did." Xing Qiu answered before sighing—his eyes lingering on his sleeping girlfriend who was lying on the adjacent bed where Hou Wei Yan was being treated. "He was scouting nearby and came across the ruckus Bei Changhai was making. He managed to shoot her with his sedative bullets before she could pull the trigger." 

"Where is Zhou Jinhai now?" 

"That's the issue," he muttered in annoyance and dismay. "The doctors wanted his help and wouldn't let him leave. Phantom can't make his move." 

"Ashraf must have noticed," Ji Li Zhao commented, remembering how he eyed Ji Li Zhao with suspicion throughout their interaction earlier. "If he can help in saving Wei Wei, then let him be."

"Are you serious?" 

"The doctors aren't dumb enough to let him do as he wants," he said as he remembered how professional they are during their operations. "Besides, I'll keep watch. If he pulls anything, I will end him right then and there even if there are consequences to pay." 

"Roger, Boss." 

"As for Bullet. Have him leave for another state. If Bei Changhai finds out about what he did, she will not let him be." he ordered before finally hanging up the phone and letting Xing Qiu handle the rest. 

He held his head closer to Hou Wei Yan's hands and placed another gentle and long kiss—eyeing her with great concern. "I can't lose you, Wei Wei." 

His days will be filled with darkness once more if he loses Hou Wei Yan. To him, she is his beacon of light, and once that is extinguished...all hell will break loose.