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Two goons fired once again at Cocoa, but he hopped first left and then right, dodging the bullets again.
Chu Jie rushed to bring him back, but Sufy caught his arm.
"Let go!"
He fiercely resisted her.
Cocoa leaped onto the man nearest to him before he could fire a shot again. He jumped on him and struck his neck with his claws, digging into them.
Blood sprayed from the goon's neck, and Cocoa immediately hopped aside.
Every single person present stared wide-eyed at the dog's battle with the men who clearly were at an advantage with their guns.
Chu Jie didn't know how he got the strength, but he bit Sufy's hand hard.
"Ouch!!"
She suddenly released his arm and taking advantage of the situation, Chu Jie dashed towards Cocoa.
"Cocoa, please stop!" He caught his body and hugged him.
"Arf!"
Chu Jie tremblingly buried his face on Cocoa's back. Cocoa was alert, but he calmed down. He stood on guard in front of the injured man and Chu Jie.
At that moment, Cocoa's stance and command didn't look any lesser than that of a fierce lion.
"T-this is incredible…"
"That dog took out two of the men all by himself."
One of the goon gritted his teeth and once again aimed at Cocoa.
"Stop."
The mysterious person ordered. "Put your weapons down."
It smiled. "As expected of Bai Li's dog. He cannot be underestimated just because he is an animal."
One of them asked, "Who is Bai Li? Is he our next target!?" The gleam and excitement were evident in his voice.
The mysterious person turned silent. It calmly tapped its finger on the desk.
"...He will be soon."
The voice was robotic, but even through it, the tone sounded grave.
"But he will be my target. Nobody else will touch him."
Chu Jie furrowed his brows.
Big brother? Why does that person specifically want him?
"Dispose of the other two who lost to that dog."
Without even blinking their eyes even once, the other men picked up the two lying on the ground and plopped them into the vessel of boiling water.
Chu Jie widened his eyes.
"Ahhhh!!!"
The hot water soaked their bodies through the clothes, causing massive burns on their skin. The pain was simply unimaginable.
Chu Jie stuttered. "A-aren't they with you? How could you do that to them?"
The mysterious person chuckled. "Well, if they cannot fight a dog, then what use could they be?"
He unconsciously tightened his grip on Cocoa.
"And look. In this way, we got two more people to have fun. The water is turning crimson with their blood."
"Yes, yes! So beautiful!"
The men were splattering the water, trying to get out, but every move sharpened the pain in their bodies.
"Help! Boss, please... please take us out!"
"Look at them squirming like dead fishes out of water. Hahaha!"
Chu Jie stared at them and then the person back at the monitor.
"Grrrr…."
He was timid, but somehow watching Cocoa fighting against them gave him the strength to speak.
"You all...like hurting people? You like seeing blood."
"Of course! Nothing can be more exciting than to watch the mess. The bloody mess when blood is sprayed and shed."
"Then, there is a very simple way to do that instead of taking all the trouble to kidnap us."
"Hm?"
The mysterious person hummed questioningly, but it was curious too of what he was going to say.
Chu Jie said, "Why don't you dip your hand in the boiling water and see the blood for yourself - your own hand and your own blood?"
Silence.
"Doesn't it save much time? Blood is blood, after all. What does it matter if it is yours?"
Silence.
Chu Jie looked up at the monitor. It was almost dark on the other side, but he still looked straight at the person while his heart was beating fast in trepidation.
He knew he could get into more trouble, but he felt furious too that they could go to such lengths just to satisfy their cruel fantasies.
"Didn't you say you like seeing blood? You never said that it couldn't be your own."
Nobody said a word, but he heard some of them taking sharp breaths.
Chu Jie glanced around.
"What happened? Why is everyone silent? Weren't you all cheering just a minute ago? No answer?"
Dead silence.
"Now, does it suddenly feel like it would hurt like hell if you imagine dipping your own hand in the boiling water?"
No answer.
"Now, do you not feel so excited to see the blood and the mess?"
No answer.
"Are you scared?"
Chu Jie clutched Cocoa tighter and took the strength from him to continue.
"It's easy to hurt others and laugh watching their misery, but at the same time, you cannot imagine the same thing happen to you, right? Then you feel that it isn't interesting anymore because, at that time, you are the one standing on this side where we are."
Some of them were gnashing their teeth hard in anger. It was as if Chu Jie touched their sore spot that they never realized it themselves.
"You feel you are so powerful, seeing us all helpless. But you never wish yourself to be at that state."
"You like seeing blood, but you don't want to hurt yourself. Hypocrites."
Chu Jie took a deep breath.
"You all are nothing but cowards."
That last declaration triggered the crazy people.
"You…You will pay for this little boy!" They screamed.
"No." The person behind the monitor raised its hand. "Stop right there, everybody."
"How can we? He is insulting us!"
"How dare he call us hypocrites and cowards! He will have to pay for this!"
"Yes! Hand him over to me! Let me see how long he will run his mouth once I spray the hot acid in his mouth!"
Chu Jie trembled.
"I said no."
There was no room for discussion. They menacingly glared at Chu Jie, their gazes looking mad and psychotic.
The mysterious person calmly tapped its finger.
"You have impressed me, young man. Out of the countless targets we had, you are the first one to oppose us like that."
Chu Jie gulped, and sweat was visible on his forehead. At this point, he already believed that they wouldn't spare him, not that they were ever going to, but now he might have invited the worst form of torture and death possible to himself.
"Hmm...how should I award you for your bravery?"
After a pause, it said, "Why don't you ask something as a prize? After all, you made me really happy today. Of course, anything apart from wanting to leave."
Chu Jie was startled.
He never expected that things would take this turn. The others were obviously furious at him, but the mysterious person was still calm as if it wasn't affected at all.
I cannot ask to let us go, Chu Jie thought. But what else can I say? Freedom from this scary place and these crazy people is the only thing we want! I want to go back to my home. But that is not possible. Neither would they allow me to call anybody.
Chu Jie's gaze shifted towards Cocoa. He stared into his black orbs that were silently looking back at him.
Big brother Bai Li and sister Xin Lei…
His mind wandered off to that time in Andingzhen when they fought their best to protect him.
Chu Jie said nothing, but his tearful gaze expressed his question to Cocoa.
'You trust them, right? Big brother Bai Li and sister Xin Lei?'
"Grr…"
Cocoa growled softly as if he understood him and agreed too.
Chu Jie softly petted his fur.
'En. I trust them too. So, I have only one choice.'
Chu Jie stared at the monitor.
"Have you decided what you want?"
Chu Jie bit his lip and slowly said, "Seven days later, it is my birthday. If you want to grant me one wish, then...let this man, Cocoa, and I stay alive until then."
The mysterious person quietly stared at him.
He choked. "It would be my last birthday. I hope to see myself turning seventeen. You won't hurt anyone of us till that day."
"What! Seven days! That's freaking long!"
"Who is going to wait for you!"
"Yes! Kill him right now!"
"Enough." The mysterious person said. "Alright, young man. I agree. Seven days is indeed long, but you deserve that credit."
"But…" the others protested for accepting his nonsense request.
"His demand isn't unreasonable. And...a little wait makes it worthwhile. Seven days later, the fruit of his torture will taste even more delicious. Good things happen to those who wait."
"I have decided. The three of them will be kept alive for seven days as the boy has wished. Until then, nobody would harm them. That is a strict order."
Chu Jie felt as if a huge burden was lifted off his shoulders.
It wasn't anything to celebrate yet, but at such a juncture, even a minute more of time was enough if they got to live longer.
'Big brother Bai Li, sister Xin Lei. I know you must still out there, doing your best to find us. Cocoa and I believe in you. You are our only hope. I am sorry, but this is the most I could do...to give you time.'
He shut his eyes.
'Seven days. Please, God. I beg you. Please help them to find us before the seven days get over.'