EM Chapter 14. Harbor

Countless ships passed through the Alor Setar harbor every year. That man was wanted by the Chinese government. He wouldn’t dare board a passenger vessel in broad daylight. Now that it was past midnight, stowing away was far more likely. Which meant the port Fu Shanming mentioned probably wasn’t the well-known commercial terminal. Still, the strait lay just over ten kilometers west of the city. That much gave them a direction to follow.

Song Feng glanced around. Most of the shops were already closed, only a handful still lit. It didn’t take long before he spotted what he needed: a 24-hour supermarket.

“Watch him. I’ll be right back,” he said, jumping out of the car without a second glance and heading inside.

The high from the drug hadn’t worn off yet. Fu Shanming lounged there with his eyes half-lidded in contentment. The blood vessels around his neck and the wound on his wrist had constricted on their own, slowing the bleeding. Though his arms were tied tight with a whip and a bath towel and every slight movement earned him a hard shove back into place, he still managed to hum a little tune while enjoying the scenery outside like he was on a beach vacation.

Xiao Mingxuan had no interest in speaking to him. The man was clearly insane, but not stupid. He knew they still needed him alive, and he was enjoying the upper hand while it lasted.

Song Feng returned quickly, carrying bread, water, and a men’s tank top. He handed them over. “Here. Don’t want you passing out on me from low blood sugar.”

Xiao Mingxuan tossed aside his pajama top. Light from the streetlamp fell across his chest, revealing lash marks and torn skin. He unwrapped the tank top but didn’t put it on right away. “Check the car. There should be a first-aid kit somewhere.”

Song Feng reached over and rummaged through the glove compartment, pulling out a small bag. “Found it.”

Xiao Mingxuan took it, and the first thing he did was tie Fu Shanming’s feet together using the discarded sleepwear. Then he turned to clean his wounds. The interior light was dim, but the streetlights were just bright enough to make do. He soaked some cotton in hydrogen peroxide and began disinfecting the lashes across his chest.

Fu Shanming turned his head, watching with growing interest. His eyes gradually lit up with heat, and he licked his lips unconsciously. “So damn handsome.”

Xiao Mingxuan couldn’t be bothered to respond.

Song Feng glanced at the rearview mirror and said with a grin, “Boss, I bet you he’s hard already.”

Xiao Mingxuan tore open the bandage calmly. “How about I drive, and you go back there for a quick fuck?”

Fu Shanming perked up immediately, eyes gleaming. “Sounds good. Come on over.”

Song Feng: “…”

Sitting behind the driver’s seat, Fu Shanming couldn’t see him. Every time he tried to move forward, Xiao Mingxuan pushed him back down. All he could do was stare ahead and coax in a low voice, “Come on, baby. Get over here. Sit on my lap and let me fuck you good, hmm?”

Xiao Mingxuan frowned. He was the one who’d started it, but the man’s vulgar talk irritated him. It felt like letting someone else defile something he owned. He didn’t like that.

Song Feng was just as pissed. “Why the hell do you get to fuck me and not the other way around?”

“With that scrawny body of yours, what else could you possibly do besides getting fucked?” Fu Shanming licked his lips. “Besides, I don’t bottom for people skinnier than me.”

Song Feng’s male pride took a major hit. “Plenty of women have been screaming under me. Are you questioning my fucking ability?”

“What else? Come on, quit messing around. Get over here. I’ll make you feel so good you’ll beg for more.”

“You two can go at it yourselves,” Song Feng snorted, turning the wheel sharply. “Oh, and just a heads-up. He’s terrible in bed. Hurts like hell. But I guess you won’t mind that.”

“Hm? I don’t—” Fu Shanming suddenly paused. “Wait, how do you know he’s bad in bed?”

Song Feng: “…”
Xiao Mingxuan: “…”

Fu Shanming wasn’t stupid. His eyes shifted, then he let out a knowing “Oh,” amused. “I see. Back in Myanmar, that drug wouldn’t have killed you. You could’ve just ridden it out. Not that most people could… right?”

Song Feng: “…”
Xiao Mingxuan: “…”

Fu Shanming turned his head. “Hey, how did he taste? I imagine he must’ve been—mmph—”

Xiao Mingxuan grabbed the cloth from the seat and shoved it back in his mouth.

The car fell into a near-eerie stillness as they sped toward the coast. After bandaging up, Xiao Mingxuan pulled on the tank top and glanced over. “You’re not going to take care of your shoulder?”

“No need. It’s already wrapped and the bleeding’s stopped.”

Xiao Mingxuan didn’t press. He ate a bit of bread and took a few sips of water. At this hour, the roads were nearly empty. Song Feng was driving fast, and the sea was getting close. When he spotted a flashing road sign, he said, “Take the gag out. Ask him which way we’re turning.”

Xiao Mingxuan did so. Fu Shanming moved his stiff jaw slightly. “Right turn.”

Song Feng gave a curt nod. Fu Shanming grinned. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll lie to you?”

“You’re not that dumb,” Song Feng said, turning the wheel. “If we don’t kill him tonight, we’ll definitely kill you. We’re not leaving empty-handed.”

Fu Shanming stared ahead. “You’re clever. Good hands, cold heart. I’m starting to like you more and more.”

“I don’t feel even a little honored,” Song Feng replied lazily. Then, after a beat, asked, “What time does the boat leave?”

“One.”

Song Feng glanced at the clock, then cursed. “Fuck. Five minutes. Can we make it?”

Fu Shanming turned to the window. “If you’re fast enough.”

Song Feng slammed the gas pedal.

The car shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow. To the left, the strait flickered in and out of view, black as ink under the night sky. Up ahead, he soon spotted a faint light, and as they drew closer, he saw it was a hanging lamp outside a small wooden shack.

“Is that the place?”

Fu Shanming glanced over. “Yeah.”

Song Feng checked the time again and cursed under his breath.

“Are we late?” Xiao Mingxuan asked sharply.

“By almost five minutes.” Song Feng swerved left without slowing, tires screeching violently against the pavement. Xiao Mingxuan grabbed the handle with one hand and pressed down hard on Fu Shanming with the other. He looked ahead. There were a few dim lights in the distance and the vague silhouettes of seven or eight figures.

The car headlights cut a sharp swath through the darkness. The people on the dock had already noticed the vehicle. Seeing it veer their way, they tensed up, unsure who was inside, hands instinctively going to their weapons as they held their ground.

“I’m driving straight through.” Song Feng picked up a pistol from the seat, voice low and steady. “Get ready.”

Xiao Mingxuan shoved Fu Shanming down and ducked with him. Song Feng leaned forward and floored the accelerator, barreling into the group. Two men were flung aside. A burst of gunfire broke out. The windshield shattered, spraying them with glass.

Song Feng didn’t flinch. He kept his eyes locked on the small dock just ahead, slammed the brakes, and cranked the steering wheel hard. With a screech, the car spun sideways and skidded to a stop. He threw the door open and leapt out, using the vehicle as cover as he opened fire on the pursuers.

Xiao Mingxuan kicked the door open and dragged Fu Shanming out. A lone lamp hung here as well. He hauled Fu Shanming into the light so the others could see clearly. Song Feng emptied an entire magazine, forcing the other side to stay in cover. Taking advantage of the moment, Xiao Mingxuan shouted, “Don’t shoot. Look who this is!” He yanked the hostage upward. A burst of shocked exclamations followed.

Song Feng tossed aside his empty gun and scanned the area. Three speedboats remained. He backed toward Xiao Mingxuan and asked Fu Shanming in a low voice, “Which direction did he go?”

“Northwest.”

Xiao Mingxuan pressed the gun to Fu Shanming’s head and dragged him step by step toward one of the speedboats. Song Feng followed from behind, guarding against a sniper shot. They jumped aboard, and Song Feng started the engine. The boat surged toward the northwest, quickly disappearing into the thick night, leaving behind a trail of pale wake. The people behind them scrambled forward, boarded another boat, and gave chase. The sea was dark and heavy under the night sky, with only the engine’s roar breaking the silence.

Fu Shanming’s hands and feet were still bound, leaving him immobile. He struggled to sit up, trying to make himself more comfortable. Xiao Mingxuan kept a firm grip on him, preventing him from jumping. In the darkness, their faces were little more than vague outlines. Staring at the pitch-black sea, Fu Shanming asked, “What kind of boat was he on?”

“A small yacht,” Fu Shanming replied. “You should be able to catch up.”

Xiao Mingxuan tossed a gun to Song Feng. “How many people are on board?”

“Six, besides him. All my men,” Fu Shanming said.

Song Feng nodded. “Then your head is still worth something. For now.”

Fu Shanming let out a low chuckle, neither agreeing nor denying it. Xiao Mingxuan stared ahead and caught a faint glimmer of light in the distance. “Is that the one?”

Fu Shanming gave it a glance. “No idea. Go catch up and see for yourselves.”

Song Feng narrowed his eyes at the light and steered full speed in that direction. The gap closed quickly, and before long, the yacht’s outline came into view. Several figures stood on the deck, armed and alert.

“Looks like the ones chasing us already called ahead,” Song Feng said.

Fu Shanming gave a satisfied nod. “Give them a raise when we’re back.”

They were trapped, with enemies ahead and pursuers closing in from behind. Song Feng’s mind raced. He looked up. “Can you drive a speedboat?”

“I can,” Xiao Mingxuan said.

“Good. Switch with me. I’ll head to the front.”

Xiao Mingxuan hesitated only a moment before agreeing. He was injured, not in peak condition, and Song Feng had far more combat experience after all his years as a mercenary. Song Feng tucked the gun into his waistband and pressed down on Fu Shanming, holding him steady as Xiao Mingxuan stepped over. The two of them switched places carefully. Xiao Mingxuan moved to the motor while Song Feng turned to head forward.

Just as he passed by, Fu Shanming suddenly grabbed his wrist and, with a sudden jerk, drove something deep into Song Feng’s left shoulder.

Song Feng cried out from the pain. Fu Shanming yanked him down, and when he caught Xiao Mingxuan’s movement out of the corner of his eye, he used all his strength to throw himself overboard. Xiao Mingxuan fired a shot. A muffled groan rang out, but it was impossible to tell where the bullet hit. Fu Shanming splashed into the sea, sending up a plume of water behind them.

Xiao Mingxuan holstered the gun and reached over to pull Song Feng back. “What happened?”

Song Feng touched his left shoulder and pulled out the object. “Broken glass.”

Xiao Mingxuan froze, then understood. When the windshield shattered earlier, Fu Shanming had managed to conceal a shard in his palm. His hand had gone nearly numb from being bound, but he still had just enough strength left to cut through the towel and whip. Everything had happened so fast that no one had had time to check. He had found his opening and taken it.

Fu Shanming’s legs were still tied, and he couldn’t swim properly in the water. He flailed with his arms, struggling to stay afloat, but his men caught up and hauled him out just in time. They wrapped him in a jacket. His left shoulder had taken a bullet, and his right hand was already wounded. Saltwater stung at both injuries, and his body trembled uncontrollably. He coughed a few times, then glanced sideways and spotted one of his men raising a grenade launcher.

“Stop!” he shouted hoarsely.

He sucked in a few shaky breaths, then forced out the words through clenched teeth.

“I want them alive.”