Ice skates forward, regardless of east or west.

1

1:20 a.m.

Safe house.

Ling Wuwen leaned back on the sofa, his fingers clutching the brown paper bag.

Gu Xidong lay beside him, his left leg wound had been re-bandaged, but pus and blood were still seeping out.

The raven looked up from in front of the computer.

"Volkov's pursuers are here. Three minutes."

Gu Xidong sat up.

He gritted his teeth, his left knee throbbing with pain.

Ling Wuwen helped him up.

He looked at her.

"Can you walk?"

She stood up.

I took two steps.

Her legs felt weak, so she leaned against the wall for support.

The immunosuppressants have worn off. The rejection reaction is returning. I'm experiencing muscle weakness, joint pain, and occasional blurred vision.

He looked at her.

three seconds.

He squatted down.

"Come up."

She froze for a moment.

"What?"

He turned to look at her.

"Get on. I'll carry you."

She looked at his back.

long time.

Lie down on it.

He stood up.

He felt a sharp pain in his left knee the moment he landed, and he grabbed the wall for support.

Stay calm.

Walk outside.

The raven pushed open the back door of the safe house.

Outside was a narrow alley. Moonlight shone on the wet stone pavement.

They ran.

2

At the end of the alley is another street.

The black Mercedes was parked there.

The raven opened the car door.

Gu Xidong put Ling Wuwen inside.

He climbed in himself.

The car door closed.

The car sped off.

Bullets came from behind. They hit the car. Clang, clang.

Ling Wuwen turned around to look.

Three black SUVs followed behind. Their headlights were blinding. Someone leaned out of a car window and fired a shot.

Gu Xidong pressed her down.

"Don't look up."

She lay on his lap.

The car sped along the winding mountain road. Left turn. Right turn. The tires screeched at every bend.

Raven gripped the steering wheel, its eyes fixed on the road ahead.

"The dock is still five kilometers away."

Gu Xidong looked back.

The pursuers are getting closer and closer.

The nearest SUV was less than fifty meters away.

He pulled a gun from under his seat.

Roll down the car window.

He leaned out halfway.

Aim.

shot.

The first shot hit the windshield. The glass shattered into a spiderweb pattern. The SUV lurched, but continued the chase.

The second shot hit the tire.

The car went out of control and crashed into the mountainside. The explosion illuminated the entire highway.

The other two vehicles bypassed the flames and continued the pursuit.

He retreated back into the car.

Change the magazine.

Ling Wuwen looked up at him.

There was blood on his face. It wasn't his; it was splattered when the gun was fired.

She reached out and wiped it off.

He looked down at her.

three seconds.

Another burst of bullets came from outside.

3

We've arrived at the dock.

A small private dock. Constructed of wood, it extends into the sea. A white yacht is moored at the end.

The raven stopped the car at the entrance to the dock.

Gu Xidong pushed open the door.

He carried Ling Wuwen on his back.

They ran towards the dock.

My left knee screamed with every step. Blood seeped from under the bandage, running down my calf and into my shoe.

She lay on his back.

I could feel his heartbeat. Very fast. 130 beats per minute.

She tightened her arms.

The pier is very long.

Two hundred meters.

A bullet came from behind. It hit the wooden plank, sending sawdust flying.

He ran.

150 meters.

One hundred meters.

Fifty meters.

The yacht is in front of us.

A man stands on the yacht. The Raven Man. He extends his hand.

Gu Xidong handed Ling Wuwen over.

The man caught her.

Gu Xidong grabbed the gunwale.

Climb up.

He couldn't put any weight on his left knee. He hung from the gunwale.

Ling Wuwen reached out and grabbed his wrist.

pull.

He climbed onto the deck.

He collapsed on the deck.

He was panting heavily.

The yacht starts. The engine roars. The boat leaves the dock.

The bullet chased the bullet to the beach. It landed in the water, splashing water everywhere.

further and further.

Finally, I couldn't hear it anymore.

4

He was lying on the deck.

Looking at the sky.

The moon is bright. It's crescent-shaped and thin. Stars fill the entire night sky.

She sat next to him.

She placed her hand on his left knee. Blood was still flowing. She pressed her clothes against the wound.

He turned to look at her.

Are you alright?

She smiled.

It's very light.

"You're asking me?"

He smiled too.

She looked down at him.

"Gu Xidong".

"Um."

Why did you come back?

He thought about it.

You said you'd wait for me.

She didn't say anything.

Tears streamed down my face.

It dripped onto his face.

He reached out and wiped it off.

"Don't cry."

She nodded.

But the tears continued to flow.

5

A raven came over.

Stand next to them.

Looking out at the sea, Monaco's lights grew smaller and smaller. The casino's golden dome became a tiny dot.

"Volkov won't let us off the hook."

Gu Xidong sat up.

He gritted his teeth, his left knee throbbing with pain.

"What else does he have?"

The raven looked at him.

"The list has been made public. You've obtained the evidence. He only has..."

He stopped.

Ling Wuwen's response.

"I."

The raven nodded.

"Your medical records. Your genetic data. Your very existence is the evidence."

She didn't say anything.

Looking at the sea in the distance.

long time.

"What does he want?"

The raven crouched down.

Look into her eyes.

"He wants you dead. Or he wants you dead."

6

Three o'clock in the morning.

The yacht is floating on the sea.

Monaco is no longer visible. All around are the sea and the night sky.

Gu Xidong lay on the deck. His left leg was elevated, and his wound had been re-bandaged. Raven had given him antibiotics and a painkiller injection.

Ling Wuwen sat down next to him.

Leaning against the ship's side.

He was clutching the brown paper bag in his hand.

He looked at her.

"What are you thinking about?"

She didn't answer.

Looking at the sea.

The moonlight spread a narrow silver path across the sea.

long time.

She spoke.

"I was in the hallway outside the operating room when my brother died."

He looked at her.

"Ye Shen told me."

She nodded.

"He showed me the video."

He didn't speak.

She continued.

"His last words before he died were..."

She stopped.

He waited.

She took a deep breath.

Tell my sister not to hate the world.

He reached out and took her hand.

She looked down at him.

"I don't hate."

He nodded.

"I know."

7

Four o'clock in the morning.

Raven emerged from the cockpit.

"A ship is chasing us. Ten nautical miles away. It's moving very fast."

Gu Xidong sat up.

He stood up, holding onto the gunwale.

He felt a sharp pain the moment his left knee hit the ground, and he gritted his teeth.

Walk to the stern of the ship.

Look.

A bright spot is moving on the distant sea. Soon. Closer and closer.

He turned to look at the ravens.

"How much longer?"

"Twenty minutes."

He looked at Ling Wuwen.

She stood beside him.

He was still clutching the brown paper bag in his hand.

He stretched out his hand.

She handed it to him.

He took it.

Stuff it into a waterproof bag. Zip it up. Hand it to the raven.

"You go first."

The raven looked at him.

"What?"

"Take the evidence and leave. We'll stall them."

The raven shook its head.

"no."

Gu Xidong took a step closer.

"You fucking listen to me."

The raven looked at him.

three seconds.

I took the waterproof bag.

Turn around.

He walked to the stern. A small lifeboat was tied there. He untied the rope and jumped in.

The engine is started.

The small boat left the yacht.

They disappeared into the night.

8

There were only the two of them left on the yacht.

The pursuing ships were getting closer. The lights were blinding. The roar of the engines could be heard.

Gu Xidong stood at the stern of the boat.

Look at her.

She walked over.

Stand next to him.

He watched the ship getting closer and closer.

Are you scared?

She shook her head.

"I'm not afraid."

He looked down at her.

She looked up at him.

The moonlight shone on her face. She was very pale. Her eyes were very bright.

He reached out and touched her face.

It's cold.

She grabbed his hand.

Stick it on your face.

three seconds.

He lowered his head and kissed her.

It's very light.

Like snowflakes falling on ice.

She closed her eyes.

9

The pursuing boats stopped a hundred meters away.

Searchlights illuminated the entire yacht.

The white light was blinding.

He pulled her behind him.

Block her with your body.

The sound came from the loudspeaker.

French. English. Russian.

"Listen up, everyone on the ship. Hand over Ling Wuwen. Hand over the evidence. The rest of you can leave."

He didn't move.

She walked out from behind him.

Stand next to him.

The searchlight shone on her face.

She squinted.

But he didn't dodge.

The loudspeaker went off again.

"Ling Wuwen, come with us. Mr. Volkov guarantees your safety."

She smiled.

Look back at him.

Do you believe it?

He shook his head.

"I don't believe it."

She turned her head back.

Facing the searchlight.

Open up.

"Tell him—"

She paused.

"I'm not going anywhere."

10

Gunshots rang out.

It wasn't driven by pursuers.

It's from another direction.

A much larger ship emerged from the darkness. It was white and three times the size of the pursuing vessel. Dozens of people stood aboard.

The pursuers' boat was capsized.

A person fell into the water.

Gunshots. Shouts. Screams.

Ten minutes later.

The sea has returned to calm.

The large white ship was moored next to the yacht.

A person stands at the bow of the boat.

He was in his sixties or seventies. His silver hair was neatly combed. He was sitting in a wheelchair.

Volkov.

He looked at them.

three seconds.

Open up.

"Get on the ship."

Gu Xidong stood in front of her.

Volkov smiled.

"Don't be nervous. I'm not here to arrest you."

He took a file folder out of the side pocket of his wheelchair.

Throw it over.

Gu Xidong caught it.

turn on.

Inside are documents: medical records, genetic data, and lab reports.

All original documents.

He looked up at Volkov.

"What do you mean?"

Volkov looked at him.

Thirty years ago, a twenty-year-old figure skater received an injection. His left leg was ruined. His life was destroyed.

He paused.

"He spent thirty years taking revenge on the world. Collecting scandals. Controlling power. Making a lot of money."

He looked at Ling Wuwen.

"Then I met a girl who refused to compromise. And her deceased brother."

Ling Wuwen looked at him.

There was light in his grey-blue eyes.

It's very light.

Like water flowing beneath the surface of ice.

"Volkov—"

He raised his hand.

Interrupt her.

"My daughter will receive a sum of money. Enough for her to live on for several lifetimes."

He turned his wheelchair around, with his back to them.

"Let's go. Before I change my mind."

The large white ship turned around.

They disappeared into the night.

11

There were only the two of them left on the yacht.

The sea has returned to calm.

The moon is still hanging in the sky.

She looked at him.

He looked at her.

long time.

She spoke.

"Is he telling the truth?"

He nodded.

"The document is genuine."

She looked down at the file folder in her hand.

Medical records. Genetic data. Lab reports.

All.

She gripped it tightly.

He stretched out his hand.

He pulled her into his arms.

She leaned against his chest.

Listen to his heartbeat.

Very slow. Seventy beats per minute.

She closed her eyes.

He lowered his head.

Kiss her forehead.

"it's over."

She didn't say anything.

She just held him.

The waves gently lapped against the hull of the boat.

The moonlight spread out a narrow silver path on the sea.

A journey to an unseen distance.