C12 Hero Saving a Beauty
As Lin Feng dashed outside with Zhang Xiaoman in his arms, the street was already swarming with onlookers, many of whom had whipped out their phones to capture the scene at the Drunken Night Restaurant. A number of them were also frantically dialing the fire department.
Lin Feng brought Zhang Xiaoman across the street to a flower bed and gently set her down, letting her sit on its edge.
"Which leg is hurt?" Lin Feng crouched before Zhang Xiaoman and inquired.
"Ouch! My left leg, it's really painful!" Zhang Xiaoman winced.
Without seeking Zhang Xiaoman's consent, Lin Feng removed her left high heel and began examining her injury.
Zhang Xiaoman sat flushed throughout, her head bowed to her chest, too shy to meet Lin Feng's gaze.
After a while, Lin Feng exhaled and reassured her, "It's just a minor twist. A bit of rest here should do the trick."
"Are you sure?" Zhang Xiaoman asked, her curiosity piqued.
"There's no swelling. It doesn't look serious. If you're still concerned, I can take you to the hospital later to get it checked," Lin Feng offered.
"No, let's just rest for now and see how it goes," Zhang Xiaoman decided.
Once he had assessed Zhang Xiaoman's condition, Lin Feng seemed to remember something urgent. He quickly stood and began scanning the area for the woman with the Ferrari.
Common sense suggested that with the fire at the Drunken Night Tower, everyone should have hurried out, right?
But despite his searching, Lin Feng couldn't spot the Ferrari woman. Could she still be trapped inside?
With this alarming thought, Lin Feng looked across the street at the Drunken Night Tower, now billowing with smoke. The first-floor lobby was completely devoured by flames, and the blaze was rapidly climbing to the second floor!
"Look! Someone's stuck on the second floor!"
"What? How come they haven't escaped?"
"This is bad, the second floor has security bars. They can't jump down!"
"Has the fire truck arrived?"
"It's still en route!"
...
Amidst the growing commotion in the crowd, Lin Feng followed their pointing fingers and indeed spotted a silhouette at a second-floor window.
Initially, Lin Feng was uncertain about the identity of the individual before him. However, the gentle silver glow emanating from the person made it clear—it was the woman who drove the Ferrari!
Crap! Why is she still up there? Why hasn't she escaped? Is she trying to get burned alive?
He wondered whether the treasure chests bound to their bodies would vanish after death. If they did, wouldn't his efforts be in vain?
Lin Feng's face flickered with indecision, his eyes reflecting his inner turmoil. After a brief pause, he steeled himself and dashed toward the Drunken Night Tower.
"Lin Feng, where are you headed?" Zhang Xiaoman called out from behind, her voice laced with urgency.
"Just stay put, I'll be back in no time!" Lin Feng called back, not even turning as he waved his hand. Then, to the astonishment of onlookers, he charged headlong into the blaze.
"Whoosh!"
"Crackle! Snap!"
"Sizzle! Sizzle!"
The sounds of the ferocious fire filled his ears, and all he could see through the blinding flames was thick smoke.
No sooner had Lin Feng entered the Drunken Night Restaurant than his clothes and hair caught fire. He quickly shed his shirt and patted out the flames before using the ruined garment to smother the fire in his hair.
With visibility near zero, Lin Feng had to rely on memory alone to navigate toward the staircase.
The intense heat seared his skin, causing a stinging pain, but Lin Feng could endure it. An Evolver's body is not so easily damaged.
The smoke, however, was another matter—thick and suffocating. Despite covering his mouth and nose, Lin Feng felt a wave of dizziness wash over him.
Hurry!
He needed to make it to the upper floor as swiftly as possible!
"Boom!"
Just as Lin Feng reached the stairs, a thunderous crash echoed in his ears—the wooden staircase had given way and collapsed!
Damn it all! Why didn't they use concrete for the stairs? Why insist on wooden ones, so quaint and so impractical?
Lin Feng mentally berated the restaurant owner's entire lineage as he quickly retreated.
One step, two steps, three steps...
He retreated seven or eight steps in a single breath, then, gathering speed, he surged forward with renewed determination.
"Ha!"
Reaching the base of the stairs, Lin Feng crouched and propelled himself upward with a powerful leap, soaring into the air.
"Crack!"
Lin Feng burst through the dense smoke and landed firmly on the second floor, shattering the Olympic high jump record with his leap!
"Snap!"
Flames leapt from the railing, setting Lin Feng's pants ablaze. Without a moment's hesitation, he slapped his palms together, snuffing out the fire, and then dashed into the second-floor corridor.
Room 201, Room 202, Room 203...
Arriving at Room 208, Lin Feng was stunned to find the door immovable, clearly locked from the inside.
Without a word, Lin Feng drew back his right leg and delivered a powerful kick.
Indeed! He had learned this technique from the policewoman Chu Yingying. It was the same move she used to kick open Zhou Lei's door, a move Lin Feng had dubbed the 'Ying Ying Kick'.
"Thud!"
The sound of the heavy impact echoed as the locked door gave way, revealing the room's interior to Lin Feng.
Inside the modestly sized room was a large round table laden with fine wines and sumptuous dishes, surrounded by a neat circle of chairs. The room appeared untouched by any chaos.
But none of that mattered. What caught Lin Feng's attention was a woman standing by the window, who turned to him with a look of surprise.
The surprise on her face was fleeting, replaced by an absence of panic.
The situation was dire, yet her composure was unshaken, earning Lin Feng's silent respect.
"Who are you?" she inquired coolly.
"I'm here to rescue you!"
At a loss for words, Lin Feng charged toward her, grabbing a chair from the table as he passed.
"What are you planning to do?"
Bare-chested, Lin Feng advanced with a fierce determination that finally cracked the woman's calm facade.
Damn! I thought you were unflappable. It was all just for show!
Ignoring her reaction, Lin Feng swung the chair at the window behind her.
"Boom!"
"Crash!"
The window shattered, and after Lin Feng cleared away the jagged glass from the frame, he tossed aside the chair and attempted to pry open the security bars.
"It's no use. They've reinforced this window with steel bars; you won't be able to break it alone," the woman said, approaching Lin Feng with a serene expression. "We should wait for rescue."
"Aren't you afraid of dying?" Lin Feng turned, his eyes wide with astonishment as he regarded the woman.
Her gaze wavered for a moment before she let out a self-mocking laugh. "Afraid? Absolutely terrified!"
"If you're scared of dying, then save your breath!" Lin Feng rolled his eyes and swiftly made his way to the window.
"What are you up to?" The woman's curiosity piqued as she watched Lin Feng.
He turned back, flashing her an eerie grin before he swung his leg out and delivered a powerful kick to the anti-theft window.
"Bang!"
The resounding crash echoed as the reinforced window buckled under the force of Lin Feng's kick, the entire frame and its screws flying out from the wall!
"Ah!" The woman gasped, her eyes wide with shock as she stared at Lin Feng.
"Phew!"
Just then, a billow of thick smoke surged into the room, causing both Lin Feng and the woman to cover their mouths, coughing uncontrollably.
"Cough! You've got two choices. Do you want to live or die?" Lin Feng called out to the woman.
"What choices?" she asked instinctively.
"First, stay here and be burned alive! Or second, jump!" Lin Feng rattled off quickly.
"Ah? It's so high up. How can I jump?" Panic etched itself across the woman's face.
"Jumping might mean breaking a couple of legs, but at least you'll be alive!" Lin Feng paused, his voice steady. "Stay here, and you're as good as dead."
"But... But..." The woman faltered, indecision written all over her face.
"Here are two more options for you!" Lin Feng cut her off.
"What are they?" she asked reflexively.
With a mischievous smirk, Lin Feng said swiftly, "First, you jump on your own. Worst case, you end up crippled but alive."
"And the second?" The woman frowned, clearly not fond of Lin Feng's suggestion.
Lin Feng chuckled. "I'll hold you as we jump. I'll be your human cushion!"
"Ah?" The woman exclaimed once more, then without a second thought, she protested, "No way!"
"Why not?" Lin Feng's expression turned quizzical.
Without missing a beat, the woman declared, "I'm truly grateful you're here to save me, but I can't let you sacrifice yourself for me. That's not something Lau Yueru could ever allow!"
"Is your name Lau Yueru?" Lin Feng inquired with curiosity.
"Yes, thank you for rescuing me, but... it seems I've gotten you involved as well," Lau Yueru said, her voice tinged with guilt.
"Do you have a lot of money?" Lin Feng blurted out unexpectedly.
"Um, you could say that," Lau Yueru responded, taken aback.
Lin Feng let out a chuckle. In the blink of an eye, he was by Lau Yueru's side, and before she could finish her cry of surprise, he scooped her up in his arms.
Simultaneously, Lin Feng's hand brushed against Lau Yueru's back, and the familiar sound of a system notification rang in his ear.
"Ding! Accessing treasure chest, please hold on..."
"20, 19, 18..."
"If I end up disabled, you'll just have to take care of me for the rest of my life!" Lin Feng declared, gazing earnestly at Lau Yueru.