Li Zan turned around, only to see the bustling street with cars coming and going. Several vehicles were approaching, their speeds normal, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
"That car!" Song Ran shouted again, running towards them with all her might.
Li Zan quickly scanned the drivers of all the cars, one after another, rapidly identifying. As if it were an innate sense of keen smell, when his gaze swept across the driver's seat of a small sedan, he sensed something was amiss.
The man in black inside the car met his gaze, and in the blink of an eye, both became alert.
Li Zan raised his hand to signal the driver to stop and reached for his waist. In an instant, the man in black stepped on the gas, and Li Zan swiftly drew his gun, aimed, and pulled the trigger.
Bang!
The right front tire of the small sedan was shot, and the car tilted and veered towards the roadside where Li Zan stood. The man in black released the gas pedal, controlled the direction, and stepped on the gas again, attempting to escape onto the main road.
As the vehicle turned away, Li Zan rushed up in two or three steps, leaped onto the car hood, and with another 'bang', shattering the windshield halfway. Li Zan rolled into the driver's seat. Looking back, he saw explosives in the back seat.
The attacker pulled out a gun and aimed at Li Zan, who grabbed his wrist to disarm him. But the opponent was no pushover, displaying tremendous strength. The two grappled with each other.
Bang!
The remaining half of the windshield shattered, glass shards flying and scratching both men's faces. The smell of blood aroused the men's fighting spirit, and they both turned red-eyed, intensifying their struggle. The gas pedal was pressed to the floor, and the car careened wildly, not slowing down at all, charging into the bustling bazaar.
Soldiers from Dongguo rushed to intercept.
Li Zan shouted, "Explosives!"
The soldiers didn't dare to shoot at the car but aimed for the tires.
The car bounced crazily, maintaining its speed, charging into the grand bazaar. Merchants, vendors, and customers screamed and scattered in all directions; fabrics, spices, and baked goods pelted the car. The target of the attacker was the crowded market on the weekend. Upon entering the central area, he slammed on the brakes, and inertia flung the grappling men onto the car console.
The assailant desperately reached for the detonator button, while Li Zan clamped down on his gun hand, delivering a heavy punch to his face. The man in black leaned back, and the remote control flew onto the console. With a swift kick, Li Zan aimed for the assailant's knee. The man screamed in pain. Seizing the opportunity, Li Zan stepped on the gas, and the car accelerated again, continuing to ram through the grand bazaar.
Song Ran reached the market canopy and only saw a chaotic and shattered road left by the car, exiting the bazaar. People cowered on both sides of that road frightened. Song Ran stepped on pieces of shelf wood, spices, and fabrics as she rushed out.
She heard a series of gunshots, each shot piercing her heart. The road seemed too long, and at the end of the market exit, there was a bright white light, the splendid sunlight outdoors. She ran towards it with all her might, and in the moment she charged into the glaring sun, she heard a distant explosion.
The street in front of her remained undisturbed, and people gazed at the sky in terror.
The car had already driven several streets away, and the explosion site was out of sight.
YOU ARE READING
The White Olive Tree
Romance"A Zan, I am Ran Ran." "That day he looked out the window and saw a white olive tree in the open field." [Disclaimer.] This is not an original work but an English-translated version of the novel "白色橄榄树" [The White Olive Tree] by Jiu Yue Xi. The majo...
