"You've made me angry." 13 looked at Peter. He unconsciously released the hostage in his hands.
Xiao Wu collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
With a slight exertion of his left hand, the alloy steel blade shattered into pieces.
"You... you're a monster..." Peter said blankly.
Lifting him with one hand, a backward throw sent the 150-jin Peter flying over 13's head, crashing hard onto the floor.
Coming to Xiao Wu's side, he treated her wound.
The slight swelling sensation in his arm reminded 13 that he was using his usually weak left hand.
He ripped off the sleeve of his left arm. The arm, as thin as usual, was exposed to the air. The only difference was a strange bulge at the shoulder—a character: "Wing".
"Looks like Nie Yun's tricks again." 13 crouched beside Peter.
He closed his eyes, seemingly having made up his mind, and bit down on his back teeth. 13 quickly inserted his left hand into his mouth.
"Want to die? You haven't finished your job yet." Effortlessly, he removed a tooth embedded with poison.
"Kill me." Peter's voice trembled.
"This arm is quite powerful." 13 ignored him, looking at the bloody tooth between his two fingers. He squeezed his fingers together, and the tooth crumbled into fine fragments, falling onto Peter's face.
"Alright, now tell me the purpose of your orders. At this time, having American soldiers operating here, probably only she would dare to do such a thing, right?" 13 was referring to Annie.
"Kill me. I won't talk." Peter still had some soldier's backbone.
13 smiled faintly, gently raised his left hand, and clenched it into a fist in the air. He simply let it fall downwards in freefall.
"Boom..." A huge crash. Centered on the fist, five adjacent cement floor slabs shattered completely.
Cold sweat trickled down Peter's face. He thought he was already dead, but the fist landed beside his ear. That was truly terrifying.
"I'm not lying to you. You must die today. But if you tell me what I want to know, I'll let you kill yourself," 13 said calmly.
"You want me to betray my country?" Peter's eyes flickered.
"Your country will forgive you," 13 caressed his pale face, "just like Judas betrayed Jesus and later received God's forgiveness."
"'Dynasty' plan." Peter chose to become "Judas." "Planner Annie, China-side responsible person Hei Long. I don't know the specific details. I only know it's to cause internal chaos in China, incite civil unrest, and overthrow the Chinese government."
"Is there a contact method? I want to chat with her."
"No, I can only contact Hei Long. His number is on the phone in my jacket."
13 stood up, walked to the black suit, and took out Peter's phone.
"Is the mission complete?" Hei Long was watching TV.
"Long time no see. Still remember me?" 13 asked calmly.
Hei Long hesitated for a moment. "I didn't expect it to be you. Haven't heard from you since the battle in Taipei last time. How have you been?"
"Not bad, not dead," 13 chuckled.
"Is that so? Since Peter's phone is in your hands, I suppose his mission failed." Hei Long turned off the TV, focusing on talking with 13.
"Hmm, he's still alive." 13 glanced at Peter on the ground, who was spitting blood from his mouth. "But he just bit his tongue and committed suicide."
"It doesn't matter. We have plenty of people like him. Kill as many as you like." Hei Long appeared exceptionally generous.
"Actually, the one I want to kill the most is your boss," 13's tone became serious.
"Annie? She's not in China. If you want to kill her, go find her in America." Hei Long also became serious.
"I will. Help me tell her the 'Dynasty' plan can be terminated because the notebook is in my hands. Want it? Tell her to come get it from me personally."
"Haven't you heard that being too arrogant can hurt you?" Hei Long gripped the phone tightly.
"Thanks for the reminder. I learned it from you. If arrogance hurts, you'd probably have died a hundred times already. Phone bills are expensive, won't chat with you anymore. Next time I have a chance, I'll kill you conveniently."
"It would be my honor." 13 hung up before Hei Long finished speaking. Hei Long, however, angrily threw the phone at the TV. The tens-of-thousands-yuan phone and plasma TV were both destroyed.
The noise attracted the old man next door.
"What happened?" The old man rarely saw Hei Long angry.
"Notify Annie. 13 is still alive and has started interfering with our plan." Hei Long calmed down.
"13? The Sniper King, the individual nuclear weapon from Taipei?" The old man said, surprised.
"That's him. Tell Annie her deduction was wrong. 13 wasn't consumed by some damn SEED. He's still alive and well."
"The power known as the King's..." The old man sighed lengthily. "I really want to try crossing hands with him once."
"You wouldn't want that," Hei Long looked at the old man consolingly "He will kill you."
In the early morning, Xiao Wu opened her eyes. Looking around, it was a private room, all white. She was lying on a hospital bed. The wound on her arm had been stitched up. But her body was still weak, unable to move. Suddenly, two hands appeared at the window. Xiao Wu was about to call out, but the owner of the hands flipped over and jumped into the room. Xiao Wu dismissed the thought because the visitor was 13.
"Shh." 13 placed a finger to his lips. "There are police outside the door. Don't speak loudly."
"Why are you sneaking around like a thief?" Xiao Wu chuckled softly.
"I don't have an identity; I can't get caught. Last night, I left after handing you over to the auntie. The auntie seems to have told the police you and I are classmates. They probably want to question you about yesterday after you wake up." 13 walked to the bedside.
"What about that strange assassin?" Xiao Wu asked nervously.
"Dead," 13's tone remained calm. "But I didn't kill him. He bit his tongue and committed suicide."
For some reason, Xiao Wu felt a little relieved.
"So what do you plan to do now?" Xiao Wu asked with concern.
13 didn't speak, magically producing a bouquet of flowers from behind his back. Xiao Wu smiled happily.
He placed the flowers one by one into the vase on the bedside table.
"Nothing to be happy about. I picked these from the park. Consider it a farewell gift," 13 continued arranging them. But Xiao Wu's expression dimmed considerably.
"Are you leaving? Why?" Xiao Wu didn't want him to leave.
"The people after your things are formidable. I've already told him the stuff is with me, so he won't come looking for you anymore. You can continue your peaceful life now," 13 looked at Xiao Wu.
"Then won't you be in a lot of trouble in the future? It's my fault." Xiao Wu blamed herself.
"It doesn't matter," 13 surprisingly caressed her cheek. "I'm used to trouble. This is nothing. Didn't you say friends should share each other's pain?"
"Are we still friends?" Xiao Wu asked in surprise. "Didn't you say helping me was just a transaction?"
"I lied. I don't know why, I just like seeing you act spoiled." 13 smiled and gently tapped Xiao Wu's nose.
Fueled by some unknown strength, Xiao Wu suddenly sat up from the bed, hugged 13, and closed her eyes.
A kiss.
For both, it was their first kiss. No sound, only their hearts beating wildly.
Xiao Wu released the stunned 13. Blushing, she looked towards the wall and whispered, "Don't misunderstand. This is to thank you for saving my life."
"Ah? Oh, understood. I'm leaving now." 13 quickly flipped out of the window.
"When are you leaving? Can I see you off?" Xiao Wu remembered to ask.
"Tomorrow then, still at the rockery pool. I'll wait for you," he said, sliding down the drainpipe.
Looking at the blue sky outside the window, Xiao Wu felt lost. The wind blew the white curtains, creating a somewhat desolate scene.
In the evening, Xiao Wu finished the interrogation and check-up and left the hospital. When the police asked about her relationship with 13, Xiao Wu told a lie, saying they met at the dance party and she brought him back to the dorm because she liked him. She claimed they said they were classmates to deceive the auntie. The bar's receptionist could also corroborate Xiao Wu's story.
At 6 AM, she arrived at the rockery pool, still a step later than 13. He was already waiting there, wearing a wrinkled suit.
"You're here," 13 said calmly.
"Yes, I'm here," Xiao Wu replied.
"Then I'm leaving," 13 didn't know the meaning of lingering.
"Leaving just like that?" Xiao Wu held back her tears.
"I am indeed a bit reluctant," 13 thought for a moment. Xiao Wu smiled.
"Because I didn't get a chance to get that pendant. It's really a pity." Disappointment flickered in 13's eyes.
"So that's it," Xiao Wu sighed softly.
"But it doesn't matter. The person is gone; keeping the item doesn't mean much..." Although she said this, Xiao Wu knew he didn't want it this way. It was all because of her that he had to leave.
"Yesterday you gave me something; today consider this my return gift." Xiao Wu handed him a large carrier bag. "Inside is a set of clothes I picked out. I don't know if you'll like them, but I think you'll look good in them."
"Thank you," 13 accepted it.
"And a letter." Xiao Wu tremblingly handed over a white, unsigned envelope.
"Alright, I should go now." 13 turned and left.
Xiao Wu's tears finally couldn't be controlled, dripping onto the ground like her collapsing body.
Suddenly, a rhythmic beat caught her attention.
13 was tapping the envelope against his thigh, singing a familiar song:
"Last night I dreamt of you again
In the dream I saw something beautiful
Maybe because I thought of you before sleep
That's why I dreamt of you
In dreams I often search high and low
Searching for you, it's just a dream
In reality I once asked myself
If loving you is just a game
I want to see your eyes, hear your voice
No matter how soft, I will listen intently
No matter how soft, how soft, I will listen with heart and mind, attentively
I want to see your eyes, hear your voice
No matter how soft, I will listen intently
No matter how soft, how soft, because your voice in my heart is the most beautiful sound
Is the most beautiful sound"