Power and Wealth

Inside a car speeding along a minor road.

“Boss, there seems to be a checkpoint in front.” The driver said.

Yao Shun covered his phone and said. “Get past them without letting them notice us.”

The driver nodded. “I will try. I will change to another route.”

Yao Shun said. “Ok. Drop Ms. Zhang along the way. She will be safer if she is not with us.” He turned to Zhang Longjuan. “Get off later, Ms. Zhang. Those soldiers who saw you are dead, and you are not exposed. You will be safe with your identity.”

Zhang Longjuan looked at them. “What about you all?”

“We have our ways.” Yao Shun replied.

“Be careful.” Zhang Longjuan said.

“Ok. You be careful too.” Yao Shun said. “Stop in front.”

The car stopped near a farm, and Zhang Longjuan got out. She took out her phone to call someone to pick her up.

The car continued to drive forwards.

They should be safe now.

Yao Shun picked up his phone again and said. “We should be safe now, Leader.”

The middle-aged man said. “Find a safe place and standby first. We can find out that man’s identity later.”

“Yes. We understand.” Yao Shun said.

“Be careful and take note not to expose your identities again.”

“Yes. But the research center….”

“They are alarmed, and it’s useless to act now. They will tighten their security and station more soldiers.”

“But that comrade who saved us….”

“We don’t know who he is. I am sure he is not from the State Security, Military, or the Public Security Bureau. He should be worried about implicating others, and that’s why he did not identify himself. Let him be.”

“But….”

“He will be killed if he goes alone, and there’s nothing you can do even if you all go. Furthermore, you all will endanger our other comrades in Florida if caught.”

“I know.”

“Ok, that’s it. Stand by and wait for my orders.”

“Yes, Sir. I will report if I get any news.”

Yao Shun sighed after hanging up. He had wanted to ask for backups and attack the research center. This would lessen Xiao Dong’s burden and divert the enemies. They might even save him. However, the higher-up had given up on him and did not allow them to do anything. This is an order from their leader, and they had to follow it. Although he is grateful to Xiao Dong for saving them, he got to protect his comrades in Florida.

Sorry….

Yao Shun apologized to Xiao Dong in his heart.

Everyone knows it’s almost impossible for Dong Xuebing to return despite his combat skills. He is going to face countless soldiers alone. He might be killed before he can infiltrate the research center.

However, they do not know Dong Xuebing has his way to entering.

Outside of the research center.

Behind some tall grasses.

Dong Xuebing lit a cigarette behind the grass and looked at the nearby building.

The security around the research center had tightened.

More military vehicles and soldiers were patrolling the surroundings.

Dong Xuebing could see dozens of soldiers. Who knows how many more are stationed inside the research center? Their bullets would drown him before he could enter the main gate. The research center\'s main door is closed, and even rockets cannot blast open it. This was his last hurdle.

Dong Xuebing is Dong Xuebing, after all.

His combat skill is out of this world.

Dong Xuebing checked his time. He still has one hour and five minutes.

Dong Xuebing was not in a rush. He waited and continued to smoke.

One minute…..

Two minutes….

Three minutes….

A vehicle drove out for patrol.

Dong Xuebing frowned. He was not hiding in a good position and was thinking if he should hide elsewhere. Suddenly, the research center’s door opened, and eight fully armed soldiers emerged. The leader said something, and they started walking toward two parked jeeps.

Now is the time!

STOP!

Time stopped.

Everything froze.

Dong Xuebing stood up and started running toward the research center.

One hundred meters….

Two hundred meters….

Five hundred meters….

Dong Xuebing reached the research center, and there were a lot of military vehicles and soldiers.

Those soldiers were frozen in place and did not move.

Dong Xuebing walked past those soldiers and reached the electronic door. The building does not have any windows and seems to be fully enclosed. No one can enter once the door is closed. He squeezed himself through the gap of the closing door and entered the research center.

The ceiling, walls, and floor are white and clean.

Dong Xuebing looked at the staff near the door and the CCTV facing the door. He pushed up his sunglasses and walked further in.

The stair was a few meters away from the door.

Dong Xuebing walked upstairs.

The second level has rows of offices and a large office area. This place looked more like an office building. Dong Xuebing looked around and noticed there were no CCTVs on this level. He does not want to waste his time, and he deactivated STOP.

Time resumed.

Dong Xuebing stood at the second-level stairwell and continued upstairs. Based on his observations outside, this research center has six levels, and he does not know where Zhong Lizhen is.

What should I do?

Search room by room?

Dong Xuebing would be discovered within minutes if he did that. He also has insufficient remaining time and cannot enter those offices or rooms with electronic locks. He cannot search aimlessly.

Fine.

I should ask someone.

As Dong Xuebing thought about what to do, he heard footsteps coming down.

Dong Xuebing lowered his body and moved closer to a corner.

A research staff walked down the stairs. He is Caucasian and wears his uniform. Dong Xuebing waited for the staff to see him before pointing a gun at his head.

That stuff was about to shout for help.

“Shut up!” Dong Xuebing said in English. “I will kill you if you make any noise.”

Dong Xuebing’s English is wrong, and the staff barely understands him. He immediately shut his mouth and looked fearfully at him.

Dong Xuebing looked at the staff. “Where is Zhong Lizhen?”

The staff shook his head. He does not know.

Dong Xuebing asked again calmly. “I am asking you again. Where is Zhong Lizhen?!”

That staff shook his head, and Dong Xuebing shot at his shoulder.

That staff screamed in pain and fell to the ground. “Ahhh….”

The gunshot attracted the soldiers\' attention inside and outside the research center.

“What happened?”

“How come there’s a gunshot inside?”

“It is from inside. How is this possible?”

Dong Xuebing did not care about the commotion outside. He stared at that staff and said. “I am asking for the third time. Where is Zhong Lizhen?”

That staff panicked and pointed upstairs. “Professor Zhong is in the isolation room on the third floor, section 2 in the west area.

“Ok. Come with me. If she is not there….”

That staff took deep breaths and shouted. “She is there!”

“Are you sure?”

“I swear!”

Dong Xuebing could hear footsteps approaching, but he did not care. He looked into that staff’s eyes to confirm if he was lying. A few seconds later, he let go of the staff and mumbled, “BACK two minutes” in his heart.

Everything around him flashed, and Dong Xuebing could feel some giddiness.

When Dong Xuebing opened his eyes, he had returned to two minutes. In this timeline, he had not caused any commotion. There were no gunshots or sounds. He stood in the stairwell between the second and third floors.

Level six.

No. 2 isolation room.

Dong Xuebing nodded and mumbled STOP in his heart.

He stopped time again and got upstairs quietly.