Captured By The Cold Detective (BL)-Chapter 551: Wake Up, XIU

Present time, Jingnan Harbor

He Juan felt himself sinking deeper and deeper to the belly of the ocean. Icy water engulfed him, purging the air from his lungs and chilling the very marrow of his veins. Yet at the same time, there was also something familiar and soothing about the buoyancy, the weightlessness. It was as if he was suspended within a void where nothing existed but him.

Relentless waves continued to caress him, their siren call tugging his limbs towards the abyss.

He Juan tried to reach out, yet the surface was getting further and further away from him. A stinging sensation burned his eyes, though he could no longer tell if it’s due to the salt from his own tears or the brine of the sea.

I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Xiao Ze ah... Again, I have to—

A string of bubbles escaped from his lips as he felt his consciousness fading away. He could see nothing but darkness, could hear nothing but the ceaseless rush of blood in his ears, his slowing heartbeat and the haunting echoes of Mu Yuze’s anguished cries. Sharp pain punctured his lungs and he gasped, allowing more and more water to flow into his convulsing body.

In that split second, his lover’s cries seemed to intertwine with another voice – younger, lighter yet no less sorrowful. It was a voice that had intermittently tormented his nightmares throughout the past seven years.

"I hate you! I hate you, He Juan!"

Was this it?

Was this how he would die? Leaving his precious mate alone, after all the sweet promises he had made?

Regret clouded He Juan’s eyes as his heart went out to Mu Yuze – oh his poor Xiao Ze who had to witness such a cruel scene right before his eyes. More and more black spots appeared on He Juan’s field of vision, but at that moment, something golden and luminous captured his attention.

No, it should be... someone?

Startled, He Juan attempted to crack his eyelids wider to see that... yes, someone was really swimming their way toward him. Someone who radiated brilliance akin to a sunbeam piercing the obsidian depths; someone with golden locks that shimmered like the embodiment of sunlight itself.

Alas, no matter how hard He Juan strained his eyesight, the details of their appearance eluded him.

But strangely enough, he could see a soft smile gracing the stranger’s lips through his blurred vision. It looked so achingly familiar, so much that he felt the corner of his heart turn numb with pain. Why... why did he feel like he had missed this person for a long, long time?

...up...

Who? Who was it?

...up, XIU...

Mustering all the strength left in his body, He Juan extended a trembling hand toward that blinding figure.

Wake up, XIU.

It’s time for you to wake up.

All of a sudden, a powerful force seized his outstretched arm and forcibly hauled him back to the surface!

A sharp gasp tore through He Juan’s lips as air flooded his lungs, causing him to break out into a fit of uncontrollable cough. "Cough cough—!"

"I got him, I got him! Hurry and pull him up!"

"Fuck, Old Huang, you really found him! Only God knows how traumatized I am to search for someone in the sea again!"

"Quick, lay him down first! How is he?!"

"Boss! Boss, can you hear me? Boss!!"

Uncontrollable shiver wracked He Juan’s body, his teeth chattering violently. He felt as though sharp needles were stabbing into his bones again and again, sending waves of pure agony radiating through him. His muscles seized up, blood surged up in his throat, and even though he could vaguely detect the presence of a few people around him, his vision seemed to be shrouded in a thick mist, rendering him unable to see anything properly. The back of his skull pounded like someone was smashing him with a sledgehammer. At that moment, passing out seemed like a grand luxury, as long as he could get a brief respite from this agonizing torment.

A cacophony of loud voices surrounded him, further intensifying his headache.

"Oh fuck, what should we do now? Old Huang, where is Old Chen?!"

"He’s with Little Guo right now. We... we should get out of here first! The police are after us. Let’s cross the border and figure out the next plan after that!"

"Right, right, right! Hurry up!"

"Oyyy, start the boat! We’re leaving right now!!!"

The pain was quickly becoming unbearable, a relentless tug of war between searing heat and numbing cold. An itch crawled its way to the base of his throat and he coughed, fishy liquid flooding his mouth.

In a frantic outburst, someone shouted, "Shit, shit, shit, can’t we go faster?! Boss is not looking good!!"

Where? He Juan wanted to ask. Where are you taking me? Alas, he no longer had the strength to part his lips. The last thing he heard before he succumbed to unconsciousness was a vaguely familiar voice speaking to him,

"Rest assured, Boss! We will get you to safety!"

***

Meanwhile, utter chaos had erupted across the harbor. The AX–03 smoke bomb was still circulating in the air, further exacerbating the disorder caused by the unexpected explosion.

Captain Li Zhi had taken it upon himself to descend into the scene and seize control of the situation. He shouted into the speakerphone, his voice muffled due to the protective mask,

"Betas, secure our Alpha comrades and evacuate them first! The ambulances are already waiting outside, so you can head there in an instant!"

"Five of you— hey wait, you bastard, where do you think you’re going?! Captain Rong, trouble you to apprehend those troublemakers and escort them to the station immediately!"

"Where are the team leaders? Report your situation to me!"

"Reporting to the Commander! This is Team 1, we have two personnel with second-degree burns, requesting assistance!"

"Reporting to the Commander! Team 2, clear!"

"Reporting to the Commander! Team 3..."

"Commander!"

Li Zhi swiveled in the direction of the voice and his eyes widened as he caught sight of Kang Guanyu, who was being supported by a fellow officer. Kang Guanyu’s complexion was ashen with tiny beads of sweat trickling down his temple. His brow was deeply furrowed, and he could be seen trembling ever so slightly.

The officer reported, "Commander, Officer Kang is showing a severe reaction toward the smoke bomb!"

Li Zhi cursed under his breath as the reminder struck him. Damn it, Kang Guanyu was also an Alpha, and to make matters worse, he was included in the ’weaker’ category which meant that he would be more vulnerable to the effects of the AX–03 drug than anyone else!

"Get him to the ambulance and head to the hospital at once!" Li Zhi ordered urgently, and the officer saluted before throwing the unconscious Kang Guanyu over his back and hurriedly departed from the scene.

Biting back a sigh, Li Zhi swept his gaze over the surroundings, only to pause when he caught sight of an officer in full gear who was conspicuously kneeling on the ground, staring at the sea without moving. His silhouette appeared sort of desolate amidst the smoky aftermath of the explosion.

Li Zhi began to move there as he raised the speaker to his lips, "Hey, you! Are you injured?!"

It was not until Li Zhi was five meters away that he realized that the officer was none other than Mu Yuze, but before he could react, Mu Yuze abruptly sprang to his feet and ran toward the direction of the sea!

Caught off guard, Li Zhi hollered, "Officer Mu— wait, where are you going?!"