SWDnovel Chapter 125 Cheer Up!
Chapter 125 Cheer Up!
Chapter 125 Cheer Up!
Li Wei walked to the table, picked up the map, and marked the various areas of Gotham in red. The South, West, and East districts were all crossed out, leaving only the city center blank.
"Their next target is the city center," Li Wei said in a low voice, his eyes serious.
He quickly flipped through the documents on the table, which recorded Bane's troop deployments, the quantity of weapons, and a list of all the police officers and citizens in Gotham who were still resisting.
"This is bad!" Li Wei's heart sank. "They're going to attack these people!"
He immediately picked up the walkie-talkie: "Gordon, immediately notify all officers and civilians on the list to move to temporary shelter! Bane's men are seeking revenge!"
"Received! I'll arrange it right away!" Gordon's voice came through, tinged with urgency.
Li Wei put away the documents and maps, gesturing for the officers to evacuate: "Hurry, we can't stay here any longer!"
Just as they were about to walk out of the factory gate, the roar of a car engine suddenly came from afar.
Li Wei's expression changed drastically: "Oh no, Bane's reinforcements have arrived!"
He immediately signaled to the officers to take cover: "Quick, hide behind the factory!"
More than a dozen black SUVs sped over and stopped at the factory gate. The doors opened, and dozens of mercenaries rushed out with rifles, firing into the factory.
The bullets struck the wall, sending sparks flying and shards of stone flying.
"We're surrounded!" an officer shouted, his voice tinged with panic.
Li Wei lay on the ground, observing the situation outside, his brows furrowed in a deep frown.
There are too many mercenaries, and they are armed with heavy weapons. There is absolutely no chance of winning in a direct confrontation.
"Follow me!" Li Wei whispered, leading the officers toward the factory's back door.
The back gate has a low wall and is unguarded, making it the only point of attack.
They quickly scaled the wall, disappeared into the nearby woods, and ran toward the distant road.
The mercenaries spotted them and opened fire into the woods. Bullets pierced through the leaves and landed on the ground around them, leaving craters.
"Quick, split up and run! Meet up at the pickup truck!" Li Wei shouted, signaling the officers to disperse and lower their profile.
The officers immediately scattered and ran in different directions, while Levi ran in the opposite direction from the pickup truck to attract the mercenaries' attention.
Bullets whizzed past him, and he could feel the footsteps behind him getting closer and closer.
He moved swiftly through the woods, using the trees as cover and constantly changing direction.
Suddenly, he slipped and fell to the ground, his arm was scratched by a tree branch, and blood gushed out instantly.
The mercenaries seized the opportunity to surround him, raising their guns and pointing them at him: "Don't move!"
Li Wei slowly stood up, gripped his military knife tightly, and looked at them with icy eyes.
Just at this critical moment, a black figure suddenly darted out of the woods and knocked down the foremost mercenary with a single punch.
It's Batman!
His black cloak unfurled in the night, and although he still staggered, he exuded a sharp aura.
Batman didn't say anything, but rushed forward and engaged in a fierce battle with the mercenaries.
His movements were still slow, and his wounds were clearly still throbbing, but every punch he threw carried a resolute force.
Li Wei was stunned for a moment, then reacted, gripped his military knife, and rushed forward to fight alongside Batman.
Two officers also turned back and joined the fight.
When Batman saw Levi, his eyes flickered under his hood. He didn't say anything, but simply stepped aside to let Levi avoid the attack from behind.
This was their first real collaboration, without any dialogue, yet they shared an inexplicable understanding.
After dealing with the two mercenaries beside him, Li Wei turned to look at Batman—his arm was grazed by a bullet, and blood soaked through his cape, yet he still did not stop.
"You shouldn't have come!" Li Wei shouted, punching a mercenary in the chin.
Batman did not respond, but instead threw a batarang, which accurately struck the mercenary's rifle in the distance.
The battle lasted for more than ten minutes before the mercenaries were finally driven back and fled in disarray to their off-road vehicles, which then sped away.
Silence returned to the woods, broken only by the panting of a few people.
Batman leaned against a tree, coughing violently, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
Li Wei walked over to him, took out a first-aid kit, and wanted to treat his wounds.
Batman took a step back, avoiding his hand, and said in a deep voice, "The list..."
"I've already had Gordon move him," Levi said, handing him the first-aid kit. "Here, treat your wounds."
Batman didn't take it; instead, he turned and walked deeper into the woods, his black cape swaying in the night.
"Bruce!" Levi couldn't help but call out to him, "You can't go on like this, you need treatment!"
Batman stopped in his tracks, without turning around, his voice hoarse: "Gotham... needs me."
"Gotham needs you alive!" Levi's voice was urgent. "If you fall, what will happen to those who believe in you? What will happen to those who are still resisting?"
Batman paused for a moment, then slowly said, "I know."
He didn't say anything more and continued walking into the darkness, his figure gradually disappearing from sight.
Li Wei watched his retreating figure, gripped the first-aid kit tightly in his hand, and felt a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him.
He knew that Batman wouldn't stop, just as he himself wouldn't stop.
As night deepened, countless dangers still lurked on the streets of Gotham.
Li Wei returned to the pickup truck, where the officers were already waiting, their faces filled with relief at surviving the ordeal.
"Consultant Li Wei, are you alright?" a police officer asked, looking at the wound on his arm.
"I'm fine." Li Wei shook his head, took out a map and documents, and said, "Let's go back to the police station first, organize these clues, and prepare for the upcoming battle."
The pickup truck drove away from the woods and sped towards the police station.
Outside the car window, the lights of Gotham flickered in the darkness, like tenacious stars.
Li Wei knew that the war was far from over, Bane's power remained strong, and Batman's condition was still precarious.
But in his heart, there was no longer just simple unease.
He saw Batman's perseverance, the police officers' bravery, and the citizens who refused to give up.
These faint lights, when gathered together, are enough to fight against the darkness.
He took out his phone, edited another text message, and sent it to Alfred: "He's fine, still fighting, and so are we."
After sending the message, he tossed his phone onto the passenger seat, stepped on the gas, and the pickup truck sped up.
The road ahead was still long and arduous, but Li Wei's gaze grew increasingly resolute.
He knew that as long as they didn't give up, as long as Batman didn't give up, Gotham would never fall.
They must win this battle against darkness, and they will win.
The pickup truck's headlights pierced the night, illuminating the road ahead and Gotham's last hope.
The night in Gotham was as thick and dark as ink, making it hard to breathe.
Li Wei drove his pickup truck along the winding mountain road, his headlights cutting a narrow path of light.
The trees on both sides were dark and silent, their branches intertwined like ghostly claws, and the wind whistled through the leaves.
Occasionally, reports from police officers could be heard over the vehicle's radio, their voices filled with exhaustion and anxiety.
Mercenaries in the South District have started charging exorbitant protection fees again, and although the parade in the West District has dispersed, it has left behind a mess.
Li Wei's fingertips tapped unconsciously on the steering wheel, his heart heavy.
Just an hour earlier, his personal phone received an anonymous text message with only one short sentence: "He is recuperating in the shadows; be wary of those around him."
Li Wei recognized it immediately; it was Alfred's handwriting.
After their breakup at Wayne Manor, the two reached an agreement to communicate in this clandestine way.
He knew that "the dark place" referred to the Batcave, Bruce Wayne's most secret hiding place and his only sanctuary for healing.
The pickup truck slowly came to a stop in a secluded grove of trees near the entrance to the bat cave.
Li Wei turned off the engine and hid the car behind a dense thicket of bushes, his movements as light as a falling leaf.
He changed into the dark stealth suit he had prepared beforehand, slung a backpack containing tools and supplies over his shoulder, and made his way toward the entrance to the bat cave he remembered.
The Bat Cave is hidden beneath the rock face behind Wayne Manor, its entrance obscured by dense vines and rocks, making it virtually impossible to spot without careful observation.
The closer he got, the more tense Li Wei became.
He could sense a faint metallic rust smell in the air, mixed with the scent of decaying leaves in the forest, giving it an eerie feel.
After walking to a huge rock near the entrance, Li Wei stopped and glanced at the surveillance equipment hidden on the rock wall.
Those were several cameras disguised as rock textures, usually blending into the surrounding environment, but now the marks of the lenses being pried open were clearly visible.
There were obvious scratches on the casing, and several wires were roughly torn off, clearly indicating vandalism.
Li Wei frowned and crouched down to approach the control panel below the rock wall. It was a small control panel embedded in the rock, covered in dust.
He gently wiped away the dust, pressed the start button, and the screen flickered a few times before finally lighting up.
In the center of the screen, a line of bright red text stood out starkly: "Game is about to end."
The handwriting is distorted and flamboyant, carrying a strong sense of provocation; it's obvious that it's Bain's work.
Li Wei's fingertips were icy cold, and a strong sense of unease welled up inside him.
Bane has located the Batcave, but instead of launching an attack, he has disrupted surveillance and left provocative messages.
This was undoubtedly telling Bruce that everything was under control, and that he had already secured victory in this hunt.
Li Wei had no time to be angry. He took out a tool bag from his backpack, which contained screwdrivers, wires, insulating tape, and other simple repair tools that he usually used when dealing with equipment malfunctions at the police station.
He took a deep breath, focused his attention, and began to repair the damaged surveillance lines.
The wiring is tangled and some parts have been completely severed and need to be reconnected.
Li Wei's movements were light and steady, and he wrapped each joint tightly to avoid leaving any traces.
He knew he couldn't let Bane discover that the surveillance had been fixed, otherwise it would not only alert Bane but could also put Bruce in an even more dangerous situation.
Half an hour later, the last line was connected.
Li Wei pressed the restart button on the console, the screen flickered a few times, and finally returned to normal.
The surveillance footage is divided into four angles, clearly showing the interior of the bat cave.
Li Wei's gaze quickly swept across the various images, finally settling on the empty area in the center.
Bruce Wayne sat in a black wheelchair with his back to the surveillance camera, wearing a loose black robe that made him appear exceptionally thin.
His hair was somewhat disheveled, falling over his shoulders, and his once upright back was slightly hunched, revealing a deep-seated weariness.
The wheelchair stopped in front of a stone wall, on which hung a framed photograph of Thomas Wayne and Martha Wayne. The photograph was slightly yellowed, but it had been wiped spotless.
Bruce placed his hands on his knees, his fingertips lightly resting on the edge of the picture frame, remaining motionless.
Through the surveillance footage, Li Wei was able to clearly see his profile.
His face was deathly pale, his lips were chapped, and his eyes were sunken. His once deep and sharp eyes were now as empty as two dry wells, devoid of any life.
He sat there quietly, like a soulless sculpture, with only the slight rise and fall of his chest proving that he was still alive.
Li Wei's heart felt as if it were being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, aching intensely.
He had seen Bruce fight valiantly on the battlefield, seen his composure when facing the Joker's madness, and seen his unwavering determination when protecting the citizens.
But I had never seen him so desperate and vulnerable.
It's a kind of collapse where you try your best but still can't turn the tide; it's a kind of despair after your pride has been completely crushed.
Li Wei knew that what destroyed Bruce was never physical pain, but rather his inner obsession and despair.
He dedicated his life to protecting Gotham, but ultimately failed to rid the city of darkness: he fought against evil with all his might, only to be repeatedly humiliated and suppressed by Bane.
Now, even his last refuge has been found by Bane.
In the surveillance footage, Bruce slowly raised his hand, his fingertips gently touching his parents' photos, the movement as tender as if he were touching fragile treasures.
His shoulders trembled slightly, and a barely audible sob came through the monitor's microphone, faint yet enough to pierce the heart.
Li Wei clenched his fist unconsciously, his knuckles turning white.
He wanted to rush into the Batcave, to pat Bruce on the shoulder and tell him "you're not alone," to tell him that there were still people in Gotham holding on, that there were still people waiting for him to come back.
But he didn't move in the end.
He knew that Bruce didn't need anyone's comfort or pity at that moment.
What he needs is space to be alone, time to heal himself, and an opportunity to regain his fighting spirit.
Li Wei stood silently in front of the control panel, watching over the dark hero trapped in dire straits through the screen.
Time passed slowly, and the mountain wind grew stronger, rustling through the trees.
Li Wei's body gradually stiffened, but he did not move at all.
He watched Bruce on the monitor, from sunset to the deep of night.
Bruce remained in the same pose the entire time, as if frozen in time.
During this time, Alfred walked into the frame with a glass of warm water and whispered something to persuade her.
Bruce didn't respond, but simply shook his head slightly to indicate that he didn't need it.
Alfred sighed helplessly, placed the water glass on the stone table beside him, and gently exited the frame, his eyes filled with tenderness and worry.