Chapter 087: Plane Shift (1)

Suddenly, Feng Jun was hurled away by a violent burst of inertia, and even Shen Duo, who was holding him, was thrown off balance. Had she not reacted in time and thrown out her strength to drag him back, Feng Jun would already have crashed into the hard stone wall!

For an ordinary impact, this would have been nothing at all for Feng Jun in his armored state. But now he was not using any spirit-illusion energy to protect his body; his combat strength was no different from that of an ordinary person who could not absorb spirit-illusion energy. If he had slammed into the wall like that, his organs would surely have been torn and bleeding.

On the other side, Wei Dong was in no better condition. He had taken up a posture as if wielding a greatsword, flailing his arms wildly, his expression twisted with ferocity, his eyes bloodred and lifeless. Then he was suddenly struck down onto the ground, his mouth smashing against a protruding rock, the cloth over his face soaked through with blood.

They had all fallen into the illusion and could not escape it.

A hard, resolute light flashed in Shen Duo's eyes. Turning, she sent a thought to Ben Yi: "Forget everything else. Let's knock them out!" She could not just stand by and watch them kill themselves.

Ben Yi answered at once, also thinking it was the right move. In their state, self-injury would never wake them, and they could not use force freely. Knocking them unconscious was the best choice now.

No sooner said than done. Shen Duo swung a sharp chop to Feng Jun's nape. With no spirit-illusion protection, and combat strength of nothing more than trash, he instantly lost consciousness and went limp to the ground. On the other side, Ben Yi had also succeeded.

Ben Yi asked gravely, "Xiao Duo, what do we do now?"

"This place is too eerie. Hurry and get them out first!" As she spoke, Shen Duo had already hoisted Feng Jun's tall body onto her back. Just as she was about to strain every last ounce of strength to charge out of the stone cavern, the scene before her abruptly changed!

Walking toward her from not far away was her old squad leader, Yuan Hong, and behind her were the comrades she had lived with for several years! They were so clear and real before her eyes. Everything that had happened on the Land of Sacred Light was like a fantastical dream, and now she had awakened. She had returned to Earth!

The room smelled of disinfectant. She was wearing a striped hospital gown, and there were still bandages wrapped around her abdomen. Old Squad Leader Yuan Hong came to the side of her bed with a kind smile. "Xiao Duo, this time you've done a great service. The successful rescue of the hostage was largely thanks to your quick thinking and fearless spirit of sacrifice. I've already reported it to the leadership, and they said they'll give you a second-class merit citation!"

Her comrades came over to pinch her slightly chubby cheeks and pat her on the shoulder, telling her corny jokes. Everything was warm and harmonious. Shen Duo looked at them with some confusion, unable to believe what she was seeing. "Squad Leader, how long was I asleep?"

"You, girl, lay in the intensive care unit for a full week. We all thought we weren't going to save you, but you were blessed by heaven. Just then, a surgeon who had studied in the States came back and saved your life. Ah... it's all my fault, Squad Leader's fault for not taking good care of you and nearly letting you lose your life!" Even the ever-sturdy Yuan Hong reddened around the eyes.

Shen Duo hurriedly said, "Squad Leader, it's not your fault. Back then, no one expected the criminals to have hidden knives!"

"All right, no more of that. We brought you food. We heard you were injured in the line of duty, so Old Yu from the cafeteria personally made some soup for you." Yuan Hong opened the thermos and took a bowl to ladle soup for her.

The spare-rib soup steamed fragrantly, carrying a deep warmth and care. Shen Duo was deeply moved.

Yuan Hong watched her with relief from the side. "Xiao Duo, once you're better, the state will arrange a position for you, and then your career as a female armed police officer will come to a perfect end. You're already in your twenties; you can't live every day on the edge of a blade forever. Once work is steady, find a good man, have a child, and live peacefully."

Shen Duo looked at Yuan Hong, the old squad leader who had led her for three years, like an elder sister to her. Though strict in training, she cared for them with meticulous attention in daily life. She had led many troops, but for a high-risk special unit like female armed police, in A City they were still the first batch. Comrades were the people to whom one could safely entrust one's back, which was why their bond was all the deeper.

After thinking it over, Shen Duo said, "Squad Leader, even if I retire, I still hope to serve the nation's public security system. Let me be a people's police officer, then!"

Yuan Hong laughed, patting her head.

Just as the atmosphere in the ward was warm, the alarm in the hospital corridor suddenly blared. Then the hallway was filled with cries from patients and medical staff, and someone shouted at the top of their lungs, "Fire! Fire!"

Yuan Hong's brows tightened. She told the comrade beside her to go out and see what was happening.

Very quickly, the comrade reported back, "There's a problem with the hospital power system. Small explosions have occurred in the distribution rooms on the eighth and ninth floors, and a fire has broken out!"

Shen Duo looked at Old Squad Leader in shock, waiting for her decision.

Yuan Hong immediately called the fire department, then reported to her superiors. After all of that was done, she turned back and fixed Shen Duo with a stern gaze. "Xiao Duo, your wounds haven't healed yet. I'll take you to the emergency staircase first!" Then she turned and instructed the others, "Although the fire isn't within our jurisdiction, as soldiers of the state, we must have a heart for serving the people. Go out and assist the staff with evacuation."

The comrades in civilian clothes quickly left the ward and joined the rescue efforts. Yuan Hong turned her back to Shen Duo, crouched halfway down, and said, "Xiao Duo, give me your hand. I'll carry you out!"

In Shen Duo's eyes was a look of utter resolve. She shook her head and said calmly, "Squad Leader, go help everyone evacuate. I can walk on my own!"

The hospital she was in was the largest medical complex in the city. The eighth through the eleventh floors were all wards, and the area was packed with patients, family members, and medical personnel. It was a densely crowded place. At a time like this, every second and every breath meant life!

She was badly injured and simply had no ability to move. If Yuan Hong took her along, she would be a burden. Once they reached the corridor and were shoved by the panicked crowd, Yuan Hong would have to protect her, and the two of them might well perish together. She could not drag her old squad leader down!

Yuan Hong's face was full of disagreement. Still crouched, she insisted, "Shen Duo, have you forgotten everything I taught you these past few years? A soldier must obey orders above all else! Obedience is a soldier's duty! Are you going to defy your superior's command?"

With almost all her strength, Shen Duo threw back the blanket and got off the bed. She stood upright before Yuan Hong. Her face was frighteningly pale, and her abdominal wound had already split open. Fortunately, the hospital gown was loose; the blood soaked through the bandages and ran down over her lower belly, without staining the gown above.

The pain nearly snapped her nerves, but she forced out a smile and said earnestly, "Squad Leader, look, I have the ability to escape on my own. You don't need to worry about me. Go help the others, quickly!"

Yuan Hong turned to look at her with worry, pressed her lips together, said nothing, and strode out.

The moment Yuan Hong disappeared beyond the door, Shen Duo's strength collapsed at once. She slumped onto the tiled floor of the ward. The needle in her arm tilted at an angle, and blood had already flowed backward into the tubing. She drew a deep breath to ease the unbearable pain in her abdomen.