Seeing Jasper and Evie’s figures disappearing into the night, the other buddies gritted their teeth and immediately split into three groups, heading in different directions.
The more people gathered together, the more opportunities the enemy had. They had no choice but to split up. Especially the two buddies carrying the Hogan couple, who were in particular danger. Everyone was covering for them.
Running swiftly, Jasper held Cedric in his arms with one hand and grasped Evie’s hand with the other, quickly sprinting through the small forest. The dark night flew past them as they ran like two leopards.
Behind them, a series of chaotic footsteps followed closely, and the sound of rustling wild grass echoed in their ears.
Bullets whizzed by, constantly ringing out behind Jasper and Evie, creating a perilous situation.
“There should be people ahead too,” Evie said in a low voice, tightening her grip on Jasper’s hand. A large number of assassins were rushing towards them from the front.
Jasper’s eyes darkened. He pulled Evie to the right, running quickly to avoid the assassins. Escaping this area was more important than anything else.
He feared there might be explosives hidden around, which could be triggered at any moment.
This ambush on Jaida was clearly ordered by Lucille, the highest authority in the Hogan family. She was cunning and wouldn’t easily let go of such a good opportunity.
They had to escape, and quickly.
Just as they were running, a massive explosion suddenly erupted from behind them. The deafening sound made their ears ache, and the ground seemed to shake, almost knocking them off their feet.
“Heavens, another explosion!”
“Yes, there are explosives hidden in this small forest too!”
As the explosion subsided, shocked cries echoed from all directions. The sudden explosion was truly terrifying.
“Quickly, let’s go.” Jasper pulled Evie up and started running again.
Given the power of the explosion just now, who knew how many more explosives were hidden in this forest? The explosion had come from the west!
Evie’s face turned pale. How many explosives were planted here? Could there be more all around?
Without speaking, they immediately ran away from the area as fast as they could. The farther they got, the better. Cedric was so scared he almost fainted, clinging tightly to Jasper’s neck for fear of being abandoned during their escape.
Not far away, Franklin looked gravely towards the direction of the explosion in the west. He frowned deeply. There shouldn’t have been an explosion here; they were close to the agreed meeting point with Jasper to board the plane.
He couldn’t rest easy and had come personally to pick up Jasper and Evie.
Frowning deeply, Franklin looked towards that direction. Jasper, where are you? Why haven’t you arrived yet?
“Master Franklin, we received news that Jasper and his group are heading north. Should we go there to support them?” A subordinate quickly approached Franklin, interrupting his thoughts and reporting respectfully.
North?
Hearing this, Franklin turned his head towards the north. Under the faint moonlight, he could only see distant mountains and dark forests.
“Gather everyone and head north.” Franklin clenched his fist and immediately started moving north.
With his fists tightly clenched, Franklin walked quickly, almost leaving his men behind. His dark eyes showed determination. He had always considered Jasper a brother without blood ties. Now that his brother was in danger, how could he sit idly by?
Franklin’s resolve grew stronger.
Meanwhile, Jasper and Evie continued running north with all their might.
“Damn it, many people are coming our way.” With her keen hearing, Evie immediately noticed the footsteps surrounding them and whispered urgently. The enemies must have learned they were heading north and were all chasing after them.
“There are people ahead too.” Jasper’s eyes darkened as he saw figures approaching from other directions.
“What should we do?” Evie asked, frowning as she held Jasper’s hand tightly.
Fighting was not an option! It was just the two of them against a large group. They wouldn’t even know how they died. Moreover, the enemies had weapons while they only had two pistols. A firefight was out of the question.
“Head for the mountain!” Jasper said coldly, pulling her hand and running towards the mountain ahead. With enemies all around, they couldn’t fight or break through; hiding was their only option.
Without objection, Evie followed closely behind Jasper. Although climbing the mountain didn’t seem like a good idea now, it was their only option at this moment. They had no choice but to go up.
The night wind howled as footsteps surrounded them from all directions. Countless figures moved in the darkness towards the same direction.
The moonlight had long been obscured, making the world even darker.
The night seemed increasingly dangerous.
Especially since Jasper and Evie had a young child with them!
The night was eerie and sinister. On the mountainside, a large number of figures were searching up the mountain.
Nearly a thousand people seemed to surround the entire mountain.
Torches illuminated every corner, leaving no suspicious trace unchecked.
“Search carefully! We must find Jaida and her husband!” A voice amplified by a loudspeaker echoed through the forest. The enemy leader sounded imposing and full of pride.
Upon hearing the order, everyone immediately became more vigilant and continued searching cautiously.
Franklin stood halfway up the mountain, looking up at the darkness ahead. He frowned deeply and scanned his surroundings with sharp eyes. All around him were his men. With so many people searching for Jasper and Evie, it was only a matter of time before they found them. However… gathering everyone together was too slow.
He turned to his men and said, “Split into two groups; one team follows me!”
With that, Franklin immediately turned and rushed upwards.
At the top of the mountain, under the howling night wind, two slender figures stood in the moonlight.
“Damn it, why are there so many people?” Evie stood on a high point and looked down at the shadows below with anxiety in her heart. Staying on top of the mountain wasn’t a solution either. Given their numbers and search progress, these people would eventually reach them. What would they do then?
“Don’t be afraid,” Jasper’s voice sounded in Evie’s ear. He put Cedric down and flexed his hands before standing beside Evie to look down at the shadows below with narrowed eyes filled with murderous intent.
Cedric was panting heavily despite not having run himself; he was terrified. His small face was covered in sweat.
He sat down heavily beside them. So tired… really tired…
They needed to find Daddy and Mommy… those shadows wanted to kill Daddy and Mommy…
Cedric glared hatefully at the shadows on the mountainside. So hateful! The seeds of hatred were planted deep in his young heart as he looked on with resentment. He wished… he wished he could kill all those assassins!
“Jasper!” A voice suddenly called out from behind them.
Both turned simultaneously to see Franklin rushing up from another side of the mountain with a cold expression on his handsome face. “Let’s go!”
Jasper’s serious expression brightened upon seeing Franklin. “Master!”
Franklin’s gaze shifted to Cedric holding Evie’s hand and narrowed slightly. “A child?”
“We’ll explain later; let’s go first! We’re being hunted because of this child’s parents,” Jasper said briefly.
Franklin nodded. “Where are the others?”
“We split up but planned to regroup at the top of this mountain; give it a few minutes.” As soon as Jasper finished speaking, several buddies carrying Jaida and Mr. King arrived at the top.
Everyone was panting heavily.
Cedric immediately broke free from Evie’s hand and rushed over when he saw his parents. “Daddy! Mommy!”
“How are you?”
“Wake up!”
Evie quickly pulled him back. “Cedric, don’t make noise or cry. Your loud voice will attract enemies. We need to leave quickly; understand?”
Hearing Evie’s words, Cedric obediently stood up and wiped his tears away.
A loud explosion suddenly erupted.
The ground shook violently.
Everyone on top of the mountain staggered; some nearly fell over.
“What happened?” Evie exclaimed as she began scanning their surroundings. Flames erupted from halfway down the mountain! The rumbling continued incessantly.
“They’re bombing the mountain!” Franklin’s cold voice rang out. “Get down!”
Jasper pulled Evie and Cedric into his arms and shielded them on the ground.
The enemies were desperate; unable to find them, they wanted to blow them up on this mountain.
Another massive explosion shook the entire mountain; rocks tumbled down from halfway up, rolling continuously downwards.
Everyone was terrified by this sudden explosion and started running desperately up the mountain.
In an instant, everyone began rushing upwards frantically!
But falling rocks from above struck like iron pellets against their bodies.
“Quick! We’re almost at the top! Jasper must be up there; we need to report to him!”
“Mr. Maskelyne must be up there too; let’s go!”
The remaining buddies who hadn’t reached the top struggled upwards amidst continuous explosions halfway down as flames spread through trees illuminating everything brightly against pitch-black night sky
“Jasper!” A sudden exclamation made Jasper look down just in time to see where he stood beginning collapse along with half side cliff falling away
Without thinking he pushed Evie forward while he himself fell along collapsing section
Evie landed safely but turned back in terror seeing scene that made her heart stop she couldn’t help screaming “Jasper!”