The situation was dire. The men in black fought with increasing ferocity, forcing our people towards the main gate.
With one forklift disabled, the remaining one was overwhelmed. Black-clad figures lurking in the woods seized the opportunity, bursting out and quickly merging with those at the front.
Things looked grim. I yelled into the megaphone, urging our people to hold the line, but it was no use. We were routed, falling back step by step as they pressed relentlessly towards the gate.
The dozen or so security guards who arrived later proved useless, swept up in the surge of bodies and quickly neutralized.
"It's over," I thought. Our painstakingly built base was about to be destroyed. Once their two forces combined, we'd have no chance to fight back.
I closed my eyes, tears streaming down my face. I never imagined our efforts over so many days would be ruined in an instant.
The attackers didn't linger near me, acting as if I didn't exist. Their target was clear: the base compound.
Our men, though many lay beaten, were tenacious. As the attackers moved on, they got up and rushed into the compound with all their might. They knew they were no match for the enemy, that going in could mean injury or even death, yet they charged without hesitation.
I followed close behind. Wen Siqiang was by my side, on the phone with Da Kui, asking about his arrival.
Da Kui said he was three to five minutes away.
That offered a sliver of relief. Though those few minutes felt like an eternity, at least there was a glimmer of hope.
Wen Siqiang and I quickened our pace, following them into the compound.
Chaos reigned. Our people and their people clashed violently, yet the most astonishing thing was the silence. Amidst such pandemonium, there were no shouts. This was a true fight to the death.
Leveraging our numbers, we managed to hold the enemy back in the open area, preventing them from reaching the office building or the warehouses.
I counted silently, urging time to speed up, for Da Kui's reinforcements to arrive.
Time is a peculiar thing. When you wish for pleasant moments to linger, they vanish in an instant. But when you're suffering, it stretches out, agonizingly slow, enough to break a person.
Scientists explain relativity through the length of time: when you're with someone you love, even a day feels like moments. But if you're being tortured, even a few minutes can feel like an eternity.
Scientists still haven't fully grasped the nature of time. It's truly our perception: precious moments feel fleeting, while agony makes it seem endless.
As I reached a count of a thousand, I heard the roar of hundreds of people pouring in through the main gate, brandishing clubs and shouting.
My heart finally settled. They had arrived. Da Kui had arrived.
Da Kui's men instantly shattered the existing dynamics. They charged in, disrupting the enemy's formation, then used our numerical advantage to engage them in small groups.
I grabbed the megaphone and shouted instructions: "Keep them contained! Absolutely do not let them reach the core areas!"
Da Kui led the charge, his fists a blur, knocking down several enemies with each blow.
Our fighters grew bolder, the circle tightening. We gradually subdued most of the attackers. Under the harsh glare of the lights, many lay on the ground, our men kicking them relentlessly. The black-clad figures had lost all their earlier bravado, their fighting spirit broken.
I walked into the throng. Da Kui emerged, dragging someone towards me. He tossed the figure at my feet. "This one's their leader. He's yours."
I was astonished that Da Kui could identify their leader from their identical attire.
The man scrambled to his feet, glaring at me with hostility.
"Speak," I demanded. "Who sent you? What do you want?"
He continued to stare, defiant and silent, his eyes brimming with unyielding resistance.
Da Kui delivered a swift kick, sending him sprawling again. "You dare defy us? The boss is asking you a question! Spit it out!"
"Take him to the office," I ordered. "Control the others. We'll deal with them after we've interrogated them."
Da Kui grabbed him, dragging and hauling him towards the office.