After hesitating for a moment, Dr. Banner finally decided to get into the car.
He had traveled all the way from South America back to the United States. After fighting the Abomination, he fled from America again—this time to the Middle East.
Unexpectedly, even in the chaos of the Middle East, someone was still following him.
With nowhere left to go, he had no choice but to head to Asia.
He was truly at the end of the road, with no other options.
After receiving Mr. Lan's injection, he once again adopted the breathing techniques he had learned in Brazil.
He could now almost perfectly control his emotions and heart rate.
They were not easily disturbed.
Moreover, Qin Xiao didn't look like a soldier at all.
Qin Xiao indeed wasn't a soldier—but that was something Dr. Banner had not expected.
Qin Xiao looked to be in his early twenties, gentle and considerate by nature. Yet his current situation was not much better than Banner's.
At least, not in this desert.
"Dr. Banner, why are you alone in the middle of the desert? And you look like… well, you know—this place is very dangerous."
The two strangers fell silent, and the atmosphere became awkward. Qin Xiao casually struck up a conversation to break the tension.
"I've been through some bad things," Banner said, a flicker of memory passing through his eyes. "Things you're better off not knowing. I always bring misfortune to others."
"I think you're being too pessimistic," Qin Xiao replied. "As the saying goes, fate plays tricks on people. Don't blame yourself for it."
"Fate…"
Banner murmured the word dully a few times, then lowered his head and said nothing more.
The two of them continued driving through the desert in silence.
More than ten minutes later—
Rolling clouds of yellow sand rose up on Qin Xiao's left, right, and rear.
From three directions around the central area, four or five fully armed off-road vehicles in each direction sped in, forming an encirclement.
At first glance, it almost looked as if they were just coming to retrieve a vehicle.
"What's going on? Who are these people? Are they your companions?"
Dr. Banner nearly twisted around to look, scanning the surroundings anxiously.
"No! I don't have any companions! Sit tight!"
Qin Xiao slammed on the accelerator. The engine roared as the off-road vehicle surged forward.
Banner had never expected anyone to come after him, but judging from the situation, it was obvious these people weren't Americans.
And Qin Xiao's performance looked very much like he was fleeing.
"Are you sure they're not your people? Damn it—their vehicles are exactly the same as ours!"
Banner fastened his seatbelt as he spoke.
"Doctor, you're a scientist," Qin Xiao said calmly. "You know the saying: see through appearances to the essence."
He yanked the steering wheel hard as several vehicles appeared ahead on the right.
"So let's talk about the essence of the problem. Why did so many people suddenly show up, looking like they're here to capture us?"
"Doctor, this is the Middle East. Don't ask why. They're here for me. Congratulations—you now get to experience the misfortune other people bring. Oh—just kidding."
Qin Xiao spun the steering wheel again as more enemies appeared directly ahead.
There were also large convoys blocking the only open stretch of land.
At that moment, the radio crackled to life with heavily accented English.
"Stop immediately, or we will concentrate fire and blow you to pieces!"
As if to prove the threat, the speaker finished speaking.
Banner saw heavy machine guns mounted on the surrounding vehicles, all aimed at Qin Xiao's car.
The vehicles drew closer and closer. At least twenty off-road vehicles had completely surrounded them.
Qin Xiao sighed, then helplessly stepped on the brakes.
"Remember to cooperate with me, Doctor," he said lightly.
"Cooperate? How am I supposed to—"
Before Banner could finish—
He saw Qin Xiao raise both hands and shout loudly at the terrorists surrounding them.
"This has nothing to do with me! I don't know anything! I'm just a student traveling in the desert! This man forced me to drive for him. I don't even know him, and I have no idea what's going on!"
Dr. Banner: What the hell?
What just happened?
Banner was completely confused.
All the surrounding vehicles stopped.
Dozens of soldiers with live ammunition surrounded the two of them. Qin Xiao said something more.
"I—I'm not who he says I am! I don't know him! I'm just passing by! I was only hitching a ride!"
Dr. Banner looked furious and turned toward Qin Xiao.
"He's lying. Who would choose a car with a heavy machine gun mounted on it to go joyriding in the desert? Look at me—I'm just a college graduate. Look at him."
The group of terrorists glanced at Qin Xiao, who was still clean and well-groomed.
Then they looked at Dr. Banner, who was disheveled and clearly looked like he'd been through a brutal fight.
Most of the guns shifted, aiming at Banner.
"I—"
Just as Banner was about to speak, a soldier slammed the butt of his rifle into Banner's head.
"Cut the nonsense! Get out of the car and raise your hands!"
Dizzy from the blow, Banner took a deep breath and looked up—only to see Qin Xiao mischievously winking at him.
Are you even angrier now?
But the terrorists outside didn't care. They roughly dragged both men out of the vehicle.
Dozens of rifles surrounded them.
The crowd parted, and a bearded man stepped forward.
"You two killed so many of my men—and you even let Tony Stark escape from my hands?"
Tony Stark? The supposedly kidnapped billionaire?
Banner felt his head spinning.
Could someone please explain what was going on?
But Qin Xiao shouted first.
"Don't kill me! Don't kill me! I don't know anything! I don't even know Tony Stark! I'm just a recent graduate! I'm Chinese! I was forced to drive for this man!"
"I—"
Banner tried to speak again, but the bearded man directly pulled out a large-caliber pistol and pressed it against Banner's head.
"Shut up. I didn't tell you to speak yet."
"I… ah!"
Dr. Banner let out a helpless sigh.
"You're Chinese?" the bearded man asked, turning to Qin Xiao.
"Yes, yes, yes!" Qin Xiao nodded desperately, looking utterly innocent.
"You're saying he kidnapped you and threatened you into driving for him?" the bearded man continued.
"Yes, exactly! He said that if he took me along to Pakistan, he'd be safer because I'm Chinese!"
"You're lying—it was me—"
Banner tried to speak for the third time and was once again met with a rifle butt.
"Shut up! I didn't ask you. You are not allowed to speak. I won't say it a second time. Do you understand?"
The bearded man bent down and snarled at Dr. Banner.
Banner continued breathing deeply, struggling to stay calm.
For the first time in his life, he felt the urge to unleash the Hulk and beat this young man to death.
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