Zhong Feng felt fear and hope in his heart when he heard that sound. His long legs hurried behind the armed soldiers anxiously though he still looked calm. He was afraid that she would be here in this cold empty place, but he was even more terrified that she would not be there. He calmed his heart and mind. Nothing else mattered as long as she was alive. If she was not here, he would keep searching and waiting.

"Clear the way." The commander who was walking with Zhong Feng shouted to the group ahead of them.

The soldiers in front moved to the sides of the corridor, allowing him and Zhong Feng to walk straight to the cell. Inside, there was a woman seated on a narrow bed. Unless she was deaf, she must have heard the commotion. However, her head remained lowered as if she was still in the darkness.

Her long black hair fell over her face and covered all her features. However, Zhong Feng did not need to see her face to recognise her. This was his Hu Lei. It was almost as if his soul resonated with hers. As soon as he came close to the door, her head tilted to the side in a familiar but forgotten way. She raised her right arm and used a delicate arm to brush the hair covering her ear.

When she did, the chains holding her hands in place rattled. Zhong Feng felt unimaginable anger seeing that small wrist in dark manacles. Not only did these people sequester her in this cold place, they also locked her in a cell and still bound her hands in cold chains.

"Open this door." He ordered the soldiers close to the door.

The two men looked defiant and turned to the commander.

"Open this door immediately." The commander repeated the order in anger.

He was a smart man. He could see that this cold civilian who had seemed calm throughout this process had become agitated after seeing the woman. If it was not the wife he had been searching for, what else could she be? If these subordinates kept dillydallying, it would not end well for any of them.

Without wasting any time, one used a minute micro-bomb to bust the door lock open while the other kept his weapon raised. The sound must have startled the woman because she suddenly stood and rushed towards the door in apparent anger.

The other soldier at the door fired his gun at her without thinking about the fact that the person was chained. As the commander took in the scene, he felt as if he had died. Everything seemed to go on in slow motion. He could not believe that it would all end like this. His mind refused to believe his eyes.

When all seemed lost, the woman moved to the one side as if by accident and the bullet hit the cell wall. The commander felt as if breath had been restored to his lungs in that moment. It seemed that it was not time yet for him to leave the world.

Zhong Feng on the other hand felt that his soul had left his body when that bullet had been fired. If the person he had looked for was killed while one step away from him, what would he do? Once, he saw her avoid certain death, his mind was completely clouded by immeasurable rage.

While the soldiers watched, he moved like a shadow and snatched the gun from that man's hands. He handed the firearm to the commander, not daring to throw it in anger in case of an accidental discharge. When they all thought it was over, he grasped that man's hands in a strange way. The soldier could not fight back.

All the others heard was a loud snap as his wrists were broken. That soldier tried to fight back using his legs, but he was not successful. Instead of counterattacking, he could only accept a rough kick which sent him flying. The other soldiers moved from his path of flight, allowing his body to hit the wall.

There was no solidarity of fighting together and avenging their comrade. These men all came from different nations and did not necessarily have friendly relations with each other. The only reason they were together was to ensure fairness in the handling of the rampant human trafficking scheme plaguing all their nations. Also, they felt this person deserved what he got for shooting at an unarmed woman who was chained and probably scared.

Zhong Feng opened the cell door and stepped in lightly as if he had not just broken someone's bones a few seconds before. As he entered, he was afraid that she would not recognise him, especially since she had never looked at them even with everything going on.

Her body became tense as he came nearer, but her face still remained concealed behind her long wild hair. Zhong Feng approached with trembling. He stood before her, concealing her with his body. With shaking fingers, he brushed the black hair from her face.

He sighed in indescribable happiness when he looked at her pale but oh-so-familiar cute little face. Though he had felt that it was her, his relief was immeasurable when he confirmed it. When he was about to call out for someone to undo the chain, she lifted her delicate hands and clasped his wrists in a tight grip.

He could have shaken her off though her strength was incredible. However, he did not. Instead, he leaned closer over her. It was obvious she was trying to tell him something. She lifted her head to him and opened her eyes.

Those large orbs were like those which had twinkled brightly at him when she thought of something mischievous. However, the colour of the irises was completely different. Her eyes were no longer a dark brown; they were a shocking almost glowing yellow colour.

She stared at him defiantly with wet eyes which seemed unused to light, as if she was expecting him to scream out in horror. Zhong Feng instead felt relieved that her eyes were alright. He had thought for a moment that they were injured because she seemed to be relying on her hearing only.

Seeing his unconcerned and even relieved face, her hands loosened their hold on his wrists. He lifted his hand and placed it over her eyes, forcing them to close. He did not want the people behind them to notice her eyes.

"Just close your eyes. Before you know it, we will be home." He patted her head lightly.

Hu Lei felt her mind calm down when that large and strong hand petted her head. His touch, his voice and even his smell seemed to reach the deep recesses of her mind. When he had come, she had felt something familiar through the confusion of her mind. He felt like… warmth.

Zhong Feng felt her relax just a little. He called two of the female soldiers to remove the chain. This time, no one dared to be defiant. It was clear that this man was not to be trifled with. People like them… they respected strength.