The White Olive Tree

Chapter 60

Song Ran was stunned, her mind blank with fear.

Without thinking, driven by instinct, she rushed to the center of the road, embracing Li Zan and dragging him towards the roadside.

Pedestrians in the alley scattered in panic, and the attackers at the alley's entrance approached steadily, accompanied by the frequent sound of gunfire. The child ran towards the attackers, shouting in Dongguo language, "Armed Forces!"

Filled with fear and unknown strength, Song Ran managed to drag Li Zan to the roadside within seconds. The sudden exertion turned her face crimson, but she didn't stop. Wrapping Li Zan's arm around her shoulder, she lifted him up, one hand around his waist, the other holding his arm, guiding him through the alley.

Li Zan's hand covered his side, blood gushing through his fingers. He couldn't utter a word, gasping for breath against Song Ran's shoulder.

Song Ran was silent and without the strength to speak, dared not look at his face. She focused on the alley entrance, desperately pulling and dragging him forward.

With each passing alley, Li Zan's camouflage suit quickly soaked with blood, drops falling to the ground. His breathing became heavier, footsteps slower, and suddenly, he dropped to his knees.

"A Zan!" Song Ran embraced him, supporting his almost collapsing body.

He was too heavy, almost breaking her back.

Sweating profusely, she urged him, "Hold on a little longer, we'll reach the motorcycle soon!"

Li Zan was pale and attempted to say something. The child's cries from the adjacent alley were followed by the terrorist's shouts, and Li Zan's face twisted. Covered in sweat, he bit down on his teeth, pressing against her, dragging his feet.

Song Ran felt a sudden weight on her back, realizing that he had been supporting himself earlier, not transferring all his weight to her. Her eyes welled with tears, but she quickly blinked them away, embracing and pulling him forward. Finally, after maneuvering through another alley, Li Zan's steps faltered, and he collapsed.

Song Ran hurriedly held him, "A Zan—"

His hand hung limply, blood streaming.

Song Ran quickly propped him up, using a bandage from her bag to wrap around him.

"You go..."

In the distance, the pursuers' shouts echoed again.

Holding back her tears, Song Ran shook her head. She was running out of strength but clung to his shoulders, dragging him.

"Listen, Ran Ran..." he whispered, his gaze deep and fixed on her face. "I'm sorry."

"Don't you dare say that!" she screamed.

"Go—" His bloodied hand grabbed hers, trying to push her away, but in the next moment, he lost consciousness, slumping into her arms.

Tears streamed down Song Ran's face as she lifted her head, emitting a primal cry. With all her remaining strength, she managed to drag him a few feet back. Seizing the opportunity, she used every ounce of energy to pull him backward step by step. Gritting her teeth, her breathing trembled like chaff being sifted.

Her face, neck, even her palms turned red due to congestion. Her legs, back, none of them felt like her own. She no longer felt the pain, her mind focused on one thing – getting him out.

The child's screams resounded again, terrifying and ominous.

The pursuers were getting closer from the adjacent alley, footsteps and gunfire growing louder.