Chapter Thirty-One: A Dying Struggle

Only at this moment did I have the chance to discern the moonlight filtering through the canopy above into the rainforest. Though the light was limited and dim, it was at least enough to see something.

I was startled to suddenly hear the cry of a bird. I recognized that sound—it was the call of a peacock, a species abundant in this region. Hearing it in the dead of night, however, was chilling. The distinct flapping of wings followed, suggesting the bird was nearby. I remembered Lan Fang mentioning earlier that she hadn't heard any birds, and it seemed her observation had immediately proven true.

After a moment of internal bewilderment, a sense of unease washed over me. In this quiet environment, under such intense tension, the sound felt eerie, making the hair on my arms stand on end.

In the darkness, Lan Fang looked at me, her eyes reflecting the same astonishment. She was clearly caught off guard by this sudden occurrence. While we couldn't pinpoint the bird's location, its presence seemed to stir the surroundings. She moved her lips as if to speak, but no sound emerged. Whether it was the medicine or the brief sleep, her eyes appeared much more alert. Sensing my focus and tension, she remained silent, refraining from asking questions.

This silence was soon shattered by the urgent, labored breathing of Huang Jianfen. She was clearly conscious; in cases of severe trauma, unless the injury is instantly fatal, there is usually a period of lucidity. I could see the wound—a puncture that had gone clean through her chest and back. I couldn't tell if it had entered from the front or the back, but blood continued to seep out, causing her to breathe in quick, shallow gasps. Even in the dark, her expression revealed agonizing pain. She seemed on the verge of collapsing or losing the strength to go on.

"A-Jing, what should we do?" Qu Xiang, seeing Huang Jianfen’s wretched state, was on the verge of tears. She leaned closer to me while supporting Huang, her voice trembling. Her shaking frame made it clear that both the injury and the unfolding events were terrifying her.

I held a finger to my lips, signaling her to stay quiet. I knew the wound wasn't in a spot that would be instantly lethal, but if it had pierced a lung or caused internal hemorrhaging, Huang Jianfen’s fate would be grim. More importantly, this was the most dangerous moment; any disturbance could cost us our lives.

"We must stop the bleeding first, or she will bleed to death," I whispered. I signaled for Lan Fang to stay put and moved toward Qu Xiang. Seeing the extent of Huang Jianfen’s injury, I sighed inwardly. Her eyes were fluttering, and her consciousness was clearly fading. I knew she had lost too much blood and was aware of her own life slipping away. If she hadn't been fighting so hard to endure, she would have passed out long ago.

My words left Qu Xiang stunned, but she looked helpless. She glanced nervously toward the riverbank, like a bird startled by the mere twang of a bowstring, unsure of what to do. She clearly didn't know how to dress the wound.

Seeing her blank expression, I realized she hadn't understood my intent. I gestured toward Huang Jianfen’s button-up jacket and said in a low, flat tone, "Use her own clothing. It's the most practical way. Just be careful not to aggravate the wound; we have no other choice."

"Don't overthink this!" I said, seeing Qu Xiang and Lan Fang staring at me. They clearly hadn't grasped the urgency. I felt a mix of frustration and helplessness; I couldn't explain myself. I wasn't trying to ogle her—the situation was critical. Given that our pursuers had already struck once, they could fire another bolt at any moment, so I couldn't spare the time to assist them myself.

"Since we can't fully examine the wound, just remove the jacket, assess the state of the injury, and bind it tightly on the left side for now. Once we are safe, we can apply anti-inflammatory medicine."

I didn't want to waste breath—the risk of making noise was too high—but I had to guide them while keeping a vigilant watch on the riverbank. Lan Fang finally took action. She nodded to Qu Xiang, then sat on the thatch to stabilize Huang Jianfen’s body. Qu Xiang then carefully removed the jacket.

I didn't want to look, but at that moment, I had to. I feared Huang Jianfen might lose control; any sudden cry of pain would draw our pursuers to our location. Given their relentless pursuit, this was no laughing matter. Though Huang Jianfen had some connection to Lan Fang, I didn't know the specifics. Still, working in finance for the same company meant she likely had a close relationship with the boss. Keeping one's distance from people in the boss's inner circle was a rule I lived by.

Huang Jianfen possessed the curves of a beauty, and her skin was exceptionally fair, glowing even in the darkness. Despite the danger, I couldn't help but glance at her. I wondered why she had abandoned Lan Fang to leave with others, and what their true relationship was.

Now was not the time for such thoughts. When I saw the wound, I couldn't help but gasp. The iron bolt had passed from back to front, through the shoulder blade and out the chest. Based on my knowledge of human anatomy, it hadn't pierced the lungs, or she wouldn't have lasted this long. However, the assailant had been ruthless; the entry and exit wounds were significant. I could tell it was one of the iron bolts I carried, propelled with enough force to cause devastating damage.

Because of the assailant’s cruelty, Huang Jianfen had likely gone into shock, which prevented her from collapsing immediately. Driven by an intense will to survive, she had summoned the strength to reach us.

"She's still bleeding, what do we do?" Qu Xiang’s voice trembled as she watched the blood welling from the wounds. Seeing the light fading from Huang Jianfen’s eyes, a chilling sense of despair settled over us all.