E-Scum Gong Chapter 74
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
Chapter 74
Lin Xu felt a sharp pain at the back of his neck and, when he opened his eyes again, he found himself being dragged forward by two burly men while another cleared the path ahead.
The men were physically strong and exuded a menacing aura.
Navigating the rugged mountain terrain with the weight of a grown man slowed their pace slightly, but their pace was still faster than normal.
With the vast expanse of the mountain and the encroaching darkness, finding Lin Xu immediately would be nearly impossible. By the time his companions realized he was missing, he would likely have been long taken away.
The drugs administered to him left Lin Xu utterly helpless, sapping his strength and clouding his mind. He quickly grasped the gravity of his situation and realized that escaping on his own was impossible. He could only grit his teeth and try his best to stay awake.
The kidnappers hadn’t harmed him yet, which meant they had a purpose. For now, his life wasn't in immediate danger. His only option was to stall and hope for rescue.
The big men were very rough in their handling, and because Lin Xu was so tall, they were almost dragging him along the ground.
Along the way, Lin Xu feigned struggling, which was less likely to arouse suspicion. He deliberately dropped both of his shoes. If Zhizhi and the others discovered he was missing now, the shoes might help them track him.
It was getting dark and the path was slippery, but the kidnappers couldn't afford to be too careful. Or perhaps they had ventured into this dangerous business today fully prepared for the consequences. With the money secured and their families taken care of, even if they were caught, they had already accepted the risk of imprisonment.
They were not worried if Lin Xu shouted. By now, he likely lacked the strength to make a sound.
Lin Xu struggled to keep his eyes open, but each attempt was increasingly difficult. His gaze was clouded, and his lips were pale.
Although he remained mentally alert, searching for any chance of survival, he couldn't help but make the worst-case scenario.
Having already died once, Having already died once, death itself didn’t scare him. There was no need to ask why he was in this current predicament. It must have something to do with the Lin family's enemies. They probably wanted to use him as a threat to gain something. Maybe they had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time. After all, he was always surrounded by people at school. The chance to abduct him had only arisen when he was alone.
It was dramatic, but not entirely surprising, especially given that this was still a book world.
In his dazed state, Lin Xu couldn’t help but think of Gu Jinzhi’s radiant smile. The person he felt most regretful toward was Gu Jinzhi.
Initially, his intention had been to prevent him from being hurt by the scumbag gong, but now it seemed he might end up breaking his promise.
The stillness of the night was broken only by the rustling of grass. No other sound hinted at the situation unfolding.
The kidnappers, confident in their low chances of being discovered, had let down their guard.
One of the men, unable to hold it any longer after lying in ambush for two days on the mountain, called out quietly, “Wait for me.”
“Hurry up, and don’t cause trouble,” the other two muttered in response. The car was parked at the foot of the mountain. They knew they should load the person into it right away to be safe, but feeling confident, they still decided to wait a bit.
The man walked a short distance away, found a tree, and turned off his flashlight, preparing to relieve himself. Suddenly, he was struck violently on the back of the head by a thick wooden stick, knocking him unconscious.
"Are you done yet? Just finish it, there's no need to be shy," the other two men said, growing impatient. Not receiving a response, they shone their flashlights and were startled to see a face before them.
“F*ck!” Gu Jinzhi’s anger surged as he swung the wooden stick with all his might. The arm the man had raised to block him turned purple.
The thick wooden stick was something Gu Jinzhi had quickly picked up from the ground when he heard the rustling in the grass. He had followed them for a while, waiting for the right moment to strike.
The kidnappers were taken completely by surprise. They had not anticipated that among these students, there was such a formidable fighter, nor had they expected the response to be so swift and powerful, much stronger than that of an average adult man.
In moments when he was about to lose his way, Gu Jinzhi nearly collapsed. But when he saw Lin Xu's shoes and the drag marks on the ground, he found his direction again and calmed down. His heart, though aching, felt a little lighter. He pressed on with renewed determination.
At least, with these trails, it meant Ah Xu was still safe and waiting for Gu Jinzhi to find him.
However, the kidnappers were not to be underestimated. Upon realizing the threat posed by the newcomer, they quickly grabbed Lin Xu and pulled him in front of them, using him as a shield. If it were an ordinary student, they would have sent one person to hold him back and knock him out. But judging by the current situation, even the two of them might not be able to handle Gu Jinzhi.
He quickly drew a shiny knife from his waist, pressed it against Lin Xu's neck, and said viciously, "Don't come any closer, put down what you're holding, or he'll die!"
Lin Xu’s face was ashen from weakness. It took several attempts before he could clearly make out Gu Jinzhi’s figure through his blurred vision.
For a moment, he thought he was dreaming.
In his semi-conscious state, he wanted to tell Zhizhi not to be impulsive, to go find someone first, and to prioritize his own safety. But no matter how hard he tried to speak, his words came out as barely audible whispers, too faint to be heard clearly.
Gu Jinzhi was not the type to remain rational in such situations. His mind was solely focused on rescuing Lin Xu. Yet, he remained extraordinarily calm, knowing that rash actions could put Lin Xu in even greater danger.
Gu Jinzhi gazed deeply at Lin Xu, wanting him to trust him. If Lin Xu could see clearly, he would have noticed the serious and solemn expression on Gu Jinzhi’s face, a look he had never seen before.
“Drop it!” The kidnapper was a little afraid of him too. His arm was in severe pain, but he still held Lin Xu tightly.
“Alright, don’t make any sudden moves.” Gu Jinzhi stepped back slowly, pretending to drop the wooden stick, but from the corner of his eye, he saw another person charging towards him.
It seemed they had signaled each other earlier.
Taking advantage of the confusion, Gu Jinzhi saw the man dragging Lin Xu backward. He took a hit to his left shoulder without even groaning. He quickly moved in front of Lin Xu, catching the kidnapper off guard and forcefully prying open his grip on Lin Xu.
In his pain, the kidnapper retaliated by thrusting the knife towards Lin Xu, but Gu Jinzhi kicked him away in the nick of time.
Lin Xu was stabbed in the abdomen, but he managed to retreat a step, so the wound was not too deep. The problem was that the path was narrow, and on the right side was a steep slope. The kidnapper, without hesitation, kicked Lin Xu down the slope, thinking that he had completed his task.
As expected, Gu Jinzhi had no interest in the kidnappers anymore. Seeing Lin Xu fall, his pupils constricted. He lunged forward, wrapping his arms around Lin Xu as they rolled down the slope together.
“Quick, let’s get out of here.” Unable to see how high the drop was below, the kidnappers exchanged a glance and made a decision. They just hoped that the two of them wouldn't be so unlucky as to die here.
Although they had no idea who the sudden newcomer was, they figured his presence was no additional threat to them.
They rolled for what felt like countless times, their skin scratched by pebbles. But Gu Jinzhi protected Lin Xu's head, finally managing to stop by pressing against a boulder, avoiding more severe injuries.
With his thigh straining to keep them stable, Gu Jinzhi wrapped one arm around Lin Xu and used the other to retrieve his phone from his pocket. He turned on the flashlight to illuminate their surroundings.
The terrain below remained steep and rocky. A few meters up, there was a narrow path barely wide enough for a person to climb. It was unclear where it led, but climbing it would be arduous.
However, with Lin Xu beside him, Gu Jinzhi felt relieved. His breathing became more relaxed. No matter what, he was determined to keep Lin Xu safe.
“Ah Xu, can you hear me?” Gu Jinzhi asked urgently as he saw Lin Xu’s eyelids flutter open.
Due to the drug’s effects, Lin Xu felt little of the pain from the fall. However, the pain in his abdomen persisted, accompanied by a warm, flowing sensation, but he assessed it wasn’t life-threatening, just the effects of the sedative wearing off.
“Hmm...” Lin Xu managed to respond faintly.
Given how close they were, Gu Jinzhi could hear Lin Xu’s response clearly, which eased his anxiety.
But they couldn't stay like this. If they waited, they would eventually lose all their strength, at which point they would truly have to rely on rescue.
“Ah Xu, do you have any strength left? I’ll carry you up. You need to hold on tightly to me.”
Lin Xu also knew the situation was dire. He didn't say anything sentimental like asking Gu Jinzhi to go first. He simply asked, "Zhizhi, can you do it?"
If Gu Jinzhi couldn’t manage, it would be better for one of them to leave first.
Feigning ease despite not knowing the extent of his own injuries, Gu Jinzhi replied, “Of course I can. Didn’t I tell you I’m good at climbing? We’ll be safe as soon as you open your eyes.”
Although the situation was entirely different now, Gu Jinzhi saw no reason why he couldn’t manage. In truth, just finding Lin Xu had him feeling grateful beyond measure.
“Alright, be sure to stay safe,” Lin Xu said, nodding seriously. His face was pale and beaded with sweat, but he did his best to cling to Gu Jinzhi’s back while holding up the flashlight.
Gu Jinzhi glanced up, his mind racing as he searched for a foothold, and began the ascent.
Without any safety gear, he had to be extra cautious. But knowing Lin Xu was depending on him seemed to give Gu Jinzhi an almost supernatural strength.
Lin Xu remained calm, fully trusting Gu Jinzhi. Even when with the sounds of stones falling around them, he stayed motionless.
Despite several perilous moments along the way, they eventually made it to the narrow path safely. Gu Jinzhi felt a wave of relief as they finally reached a stable area.
“I told you I was good. I’m definitely worth trusting,” Gu Jinzhi joked with a rare lightheartedness, as he steadily carried Lin Xu along the path.
“Hmm, Zhizhi is amazing,” Lin Xu murmured, his head nestled into Gu Jinzhi’s neck, feeling utterly drained.
“My big brother is already looking for us. We’ll go home tonight, and I promise I’ll never leave your side again,” Gu Jinzhi said. Lin Xu was still under twenty and had always lived in Jiang City, so he must have been terrified by what happened.
As for the reasons behind the kidnapping, he would definitely get to the bottom of it. At this thought, the gentle look in Gu Jinzhi's eyes disappeared.
After navigating the narrow path, they reached the mountainside where the road widened.
In the quiet night, when Lin Xu was awake, he could hear Gu Jinzhi's steady, pounding heartbeat. Gu Jinzhi was drenched in sweat, with fresh red scratches from his neck to his cheeks, but he continued to tell jokes to comfort Lin Xu.
“Zhizhi, put me down. I can walk on my own,” Lin Xu said, no longer wanting to burden him.
“How can you walk without your shoes?” Gu Jinzhi replied, refusing to comply. The path was strewn with stones, and Lin Xu’s feet would likely be injured. Though he couldn’t see clearly, he knew Lin Xu must have numerous cuts and bruises.
“It’s okay, we can rest here and wait for help.” Lin Xu shook his head, unsure of when he might pass out.
“I’m strong, Lin Xu. Don’t worry about me,” Gu Jinzhi insisted, still carrying Lin Xu despite his protests.
Suddenly, Gu Jinzhi felt something damp on his hand and, puzzled, checked it after not receiving a response from Lin Xu for a while. His heart sank when he saw the bright red color.
“Ah Xu? Ah Xu, what’s wrong?” Gu Jinzhi panicked, fearing the worst. Overwhelmed, he couldn’t hold back and began to cry.
After a while, as if hearing Gu Jinzhi’s sobs, Lin Xu managed to open his eyes and helplessly replied, “Zhizhi, I’m really fine. The wounds aren’t deep. I’m just a bit dizzy.” The injuries weren’t in any vital areas, so there was no immediate danger.
His real concern was how heavy he was, as Gu Jinzhi would have to carry him the entire way.
Gu Jinzhi didn't believe him at all. The tension he had been holding back suddenly exploded. To be honest, Gu Jinzhi wasn't usually a calm person. He had only forced himself to stay calm just now out of helplessness, but now he couldn't hold back anymore.
On the dim mountain path, he carried Lin Xu while howling uncontrollably. If he were a mermaid, he would probably be able to collect a whole floor of pearls by now.
Concerned that his older brother’s car might be too slow, Gu Jinzhi walked several miles without tiring.
Lin Xu, frequently awakened by the noise, would reassure him, “Don’t cry, Zhizhi. I’m really fine.”
Then he would fall asleep again, only to be roused once more.
