Lin Shuqing had never felt such speed before. It felt like being in a rapidly ascending elevator, everything a blur. Within seconds, they were at the exit, with terrifying spiked panels crashing down behind them.

"So fast!" Lin Shuqing exclaimed incredulously, "Is this lightness skill?"

Zhou You replied as they exited, "You can think of it that way." Emerging into the snowy outdoors, it seemed they were in a vacant space outside the base.

Zhou You threw Lin Shuqing to the ground. A dart flew towards Lin, which Zhou You deflected into the snow with a swift kick.

Seeing his attack fail, the attacker stepped out of hiding, knife in hand, and said to Zhou You, "I know you. I don't want a fight; I just want his life," pointing at Lin Shuqing.

"No, you won't!" Zhou You drew a circle on the ground with his foot. The snow around him started to vibrate. Thick layers of snow began to rise and then hurled towards the opponent.

The snow was shattered by the opponent's blade, and a flurry filled the air, blocking the view. Zhou You fired a crossbow bolt with his eyes closed. A soft grunt was heard, followed by the sound of a body hitting the ground.

"Thanks," Lin Shuqing said, standing up and brushing the snow off himself.

"You're welcome. You are our eyewitness. It's our duty to protect you, but you have to cooperate fully."

Chapter 102: Surrender to Live

Zhou You approached to examine the body of the ambusher. "What a pity. I wanted to ask where Dr. Jiang and his group were hiding."

He turned to Lin Shuqing, "Do you know, Dr. Lin? If you can help me find them, I might be able to argue for merit over punishment on your behalf."

Lin Shuqing looked at him suspiciously, "Are you from the central government? I've never heard of you. Which department are you from?"

Zhou You crafted an identity for himself, "I only answer to the Marshal of the Central Corps. No one else."

"You're with Marshal Shao?" Lin Shuqing thought it might be true. A master like Zhou You could have been a regional commander. It seemed normal for him to be second in command at the central level.

"Alright, I can tell you, but on one condition."

"Name it."

"I need the Central Corps to ensure my safety. I know too much. Jiang Shun and certain others won't let me live," Lin Shuqing realized this from the previous assassination attempt. He felt like an innocent victim who had just been caught unintentionally.

He regretted not bringing Jiang Wei with him now; she could have been an added layer of protection.

"Don't worry. As long as these people aren't caught, just stay with me."

Lin Shuqing joked, "Even when I go to the restroom or take a shower?"

"Only if you don’t mind being seen," Zhou You shrugged.

Lin Shuqing gave him an extra look. Zhou You was undeniably handsome, fitting human aesthetic standards. Not overly muscular like many martial artists, certainly a type many men would prefer.

"Do you prefer men or women?" Lin Shuqing asked from behind.

Zhou You knew where he was looking. He coldly responded, "Definitely not someone like you."

Lin Shuqing was just curious and wanted to be on good terms, but was offended by the reply, "I'm one of the youngest biological experts in the country. Talented and handsome, I've had a line of people chasing after me."

"Yes, but now you're a fugitive, might end up in jail, and if unlucky, someone might want you dead. Quite the accomplished expert!"

Lin Shuqing couldn’t retort, so he took the lead, "I’ve been to that place only once. They blindfolded me, but they didn’t know that my senses are sharper than most. I can remember places I've been to."

Zhou You didn't doubt him. His ability to recall trap placements showed his genius. Such talent was best used in research, if only he followed the law more.

Apart from the official team dispatched, Ren Zhiyuan also had a private elite squad of about twenty. Most of the experimental subjects in the lab were their handiwork.

Zhou You sensed danger and stopped. With everything covered in white, it was hard to see where anyone might be hiding, but he trusted his intuition.

"What happened?" Lin Shuqing thought another enemy was tailing him. Just as he was lamenting his bad luck, a humming sound echoed, followed by an overpowering sensation from behind.

Zhou You shoved the assailant away, turned and raised an energy shield. A flurry of crossbow bolts shot towards him. With a powerful shove of his left hand, not only did he block the bolts, but he also repelled them.

Before he could ascertain the enemy's position, a hand grenade landed at his feet. The blast's force wouldn't be mitigated by energy alone, especially with Lin Shuqing right behind him.

He swiftly retreated, grabbing Lin Shuqing by the collar and dragged him, sprinting hundreds of meters before halting. The grenade left a gaping crater in the snow. As snow danced in the air, obscuring vision, the assailants unleashed another volley of arrows.

This was the tactic he used against the earlier attacker. But the same trick doesn’t work on everyone. Zhou You moved his hands in a circular motion, and with his energy, the snow swirled, forming a vortex, grinding the crossbow bolts into fragments.

Zhou You urged Lin Shuqing to find cover while he took the offensive. From beneath the snow, over a dozen assassins cloaked in white emerged, surrounding Zhou You. Then, they hurled several hand grenades, blocking every escape route.