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墨書 Inktalez
Clearly, I had not fully awakened from the nightmare. I remained dazed for a good five minutes before gradually returning to reality. Thanks to Xiao Guolin's introduction, I had a rough understanding of my current situation.
The geological fissure connected to a massive underground cavern, the size of which was still unclear. Zhao Squad Leader had taken Xu Xinming to explore the cavern and search for water sources. Cao Mingzhe seemed to be in poor condition; after entering this fissure, his mental state deteriorated, fluctuating between moments of clarity and confusion, leaving him unable to do anything but rest here.
The Powerful Flashlight had been taken by Zhao Squad Leader and Xu Xinming, leaving only a penlight for illumination. The penlight had very little battery left, its weak light barely sufficient, and we dared not keep it on for long. After briefly illuminating our surroundings, Xiao Guolin turned off the light.
Xiao Guolin was worried about my condition. After moving my body a bit, I reassured him, "I'm not injured, just severely fatigued and tired. I'm feeling better now, though there's still some soreness."
As soon as I finished speaking, I felt a wave of cold and hunger wash over me. I pulled out a pack of compressed food and began eating heartily. The compressed food was highly effective against hunger; after consuming one pack, my stomach felt full, and my energy quickly returned.
"How long did I sleep?" This question suddenly crossed my mind. Such intense hunger couldn't simply be due to crawling down the fissure.
"Take a guess," Xiao Guolin replied in a relaxed tone I hadn't heard in a long time. "Twenty-two hours and thirty-eight minutes. You set a record."
I sighed. This time I was truly exhausted; even running a marathon during school hadn't been this grueling. However, sleeping for such an extended period would surely delay many things; first and foremost was the search for water.
I silently calculated and asked Xiao Guolin, "How much water do we have left?"
"For the four of us, only what's in your flask," he replied. "Zhao Squad Leader and Xu Xinming took all the remaining water when they left, but it wasn't much—less than what you have in your flask." Xiao Guolin forced a smile. "Now we can only hope for Zhao Squad Leader and the others; our light source can't support a second team going out to find water. Also, Cao Mingzhe needs someone with him at all times; I'm really worried about him—he's on the brink of collapse."
In that brief moment when there was light, I glanced at Cao Mingzhe. He sat motionless beside Xiao Guolin, his eyes vacant—indeed in a very unstable mental state.
I thought for a moment and said, "If we don't hear from Zhao Squad Leader and Xu Xinming within ten hours, I'll go out from another side to look for water; waiting here isn't a solution."
"I'll go with you," came Liu Squad Leader's voice from the darkness.
"How's your head injury?" His left arm was fractured and could not be addressed at the moment, but it wasn't life-threatening. However, a depressed skull fracture was quite dangerous; if it were to be touched or aggravated, it could lead to fatal consequences in no time.
First came two knocks on his helmet, followed by Liu Squad Leader's relaxed voice: "It's sturdier than you think."
I wasn't sure whether he meant his helmet or his skull. But judging by his tone, he seemed to be out of danger. This brought me some relief; I couldn't bear the thought of carrying him down if something happened to him.
After a moment of silence, Xiao Guolin quietly said to me, "I need to ask you for a favor."
His voice had dropped to its lowest volume possible; however, here it was as silent as hell—the sound of breathing was clearly audible. Unless we used sign language, it would be impossible not to be overheard by others. Clearly realizing this immediately afterward, he adjusted his voice back to normal levels.
"If..." Another silence fell between us.
However, his silence filled me with a sense of foreboding; I could detect a heavy tone of despair in his voice.
"I have a daughter."
What the hell, at a time like this, he was still thinking about finding a match for his daughter. I suppressed my rising anger and held back the urge to say something harsh.
"If I can't make it back, please take care of her."
Heat rushed to my face; I had misunderstood him. But I quickly retorted, "If you can't make it back, do you think I can? My parents still need someone to take care of them in their old age."
I felt Xiao Guolin place a hand on my shoulder.
"Then it's settled. If I can return, I'll take responsibility for your parents' care. If you can return, you'll help look after my daughter. That's all I worry about; if I don't do something, I won't feel at ease." He patted my shoulder lightly.
I didn't respond. Even though our situation was dire, I still had the will to survive. Was I being too optimistic? Judging by Xiao Guolin's attitude, he clearly had little hope of making it out alive. So where did his hope for me come from?
"Her name is Xiao Ting; she hasn't had a mother for a long time. I've rarely joined the Archaeology team over the years just to spend more time with her. This time, the Archaeological Activity has lasted too long, and I regret joining; I miss her so much. Zhang, can you promise me this?" Xiao Guolin's tone was sincere, filled with logic and emotion. It was clear he had thought this through deeply.
"Xiao Team, we will get out of here. As long as we endure this period and find water, we can wait for rescue. Don't be too pessimistic."
I still didn't give him a direct answer. In truth, I wanted to fulfill his wish, but I worried that it might diminish his will to survive. Sometimes, a strong determination can generate immense energy.
"I understand your thoughts; I'll do everything I can to stay alive. Do you think I'm lacking in survival instinct? I have even more motivation to survive than you do. It's just that I need to do something; otherwise, I won't feel secure. Zhang, does that count as your promise?"
No one could see each other's expressions, but from Xiao Guolin's insistence, I sensed his urgency regarding this matter. His deep care for his daughter indicated that his desire to survive was strong; he wouldn't lose the will to live just because he entrusted her to me. If it was merely to alleviate his psychological burden, then I could make that promise.
After some thought, I replied, "Yes, I promise. But this is a mutual commitment; don't forget your own promise."
"Thank you." Xiao Guolin's voice suddenly lightened as if he had found some relief.
My thoughts were abruptly pulled back to reality by the sound of hurried footsteps. Fatty rushed in, carrying a large bag filled with typical Northern breakfast items. He glanced at me, still lost in my thoughts, and without saying a word, quickly cleared the table and laid out a feast. Two big bowls of rich Tofu Pudding were topped with a few tempting Daylilies, while golden You Tiao and several fragrant Pies filled the table.
"Quick, eat while it's hot," Fatty urged.
I looked at him as if I didn't recognize him. "You're not usually like this. Something's off; you must have a problem."
Fatty replied seriously, "People can change."
"Damn it, you can't teach an old dog new tricks... Forget it, let's talk after we eat."
(Note: First update. The second update will be around 6 PM.)
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