Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
However, I still decided to remind Fatty, mainly to soothe Tang Yumo's emotions. Among the Hakka People, four had come down, and only Tang Yumo remained intact. The others were either dead or injured, no wonder she was feeling overwhelmed.
"Is there any hope for the Hakka People? If he dies, we won't be able to contact him. We have to try to save him."
"You think I need you to tell me that? If I could save him, I would have done it already. We just repelled a wave of attacks from the Upright Monsters. Da Zhang and another warrior are on guard at the entrance, and these beasts can pounce on us out of nowhere, like damn Spider-Man. It's impossible to defend against them. Right now, he's relying on Morphine to hold on; he could go at any moment. If you have something to say, say it quickly; he could die at any time."
I didn't look at Tang Yumo; A San's imitation of Fatty was vivid and loud enough that I didn't need to repeat it.
I immediately shouted at A San. "First, we're heading to the core area here; it’s likely our destination, the Eternal Gate. Second, Xiao Guolin will find you and tell you how to locate us. If we can no longer stay in contact, you’ll have to make your own decisions regarding the subsequent actions, including how to handle your relationship with Xiao Guolin. Do you understand?"
I knew that this way, Fatty would find it hard to grasp my true intentions. But there were too many people around me; I couldn't be too explicit. However, I emphasized 'Xiao Guolin'—at least it would give him a hint and some space for interpretation regarding my words.
In truth, my feelings toward Xiao Guolin were quite complex. I had no idea whether I should trust him or not. Fatty's keen eyes were my hope for a more accurate judgment.
"How the hell am I supposed to understand?! Is there someone with you? Besides A San, who else is around you? Tell them to get lost."
Sure enough, Fatty immediately caught on to why I was being vague. After knowing him for so many years, our interactions hadn't been in vain.
"Everyone is with me, including Xiao Ting."
"Is she okay?"
"Yes, do you want to talk to her?"
"No."
Not only was I surprised by Fatty's abrupt refusal, but Xiao Ting was as well.
"Zhang's orders: protect my wife. If a single hair is harmed on her head, I'll take you down."
“Damn!” I spat directly on A San's face. “I guarantee I’ll take her down before I die, okay?”
“Deal!”
Fatty had a way with women, which I could never understand. His attitude towards women was completely different from how he treated his brothers. It was reminiscent of the saying from Romance of the Three Kingdoms, where brothers were like limbs and women like clothing.
I also knew he had gotten close to Xiao Ting, and their relationship was no longer ordinary. But he placed Xiao Ting on a pedestal even higher than me, which made me uncomfortable and even a bit jealous.
I decisively ended that topic. “Xiao Guolin has lost an arm; he’s used to relying on his hands. I don’t know how much help he can be to you all. You…”
“Damn it, Qiangzi, you’re my brother! Don’t pull this kind of trick on me. I just thought there was a glimmer of hope, and you’re dousing me with cold water.” A San looked up. “He’s dead.”
I froze and shouted at A San, “Do you even understand who died? Da Zhang or another warrior? Damn it, it can’t be Xiao Guolin already! Has he arrived that quickly?”
If the one who died was Xiao Guolin, I honestly didn’t know whether to feel relieved or mournful. But if Xiao Guolin was dead, our journey would come to an end, and Fatty would likely set off the Antimatter Bomb in the next moment.
“Brother Qiang, the Hakka People are dead. They can no longer hear us.”
Upon hearing A San’s explanation, I finally understood. The call had ended.
I looked around at the people beside me. “You all heard that too; another group is in worse trouble than we are. I can’t guarantee how much time they can buy us to reach the Eternal Gate; we might lose our chance to escape. I don’t want to decide your fates, nor do I have the authority to do so. Now, you decide for yourselves: move forward or retreat. Or go support Fatty ’s group.”
“What’s in the box?” Liu Squad Leader asked warily.
“I told you, it’s a life detector. You’re just pretending not to know.”
“Do you think I’m an idiot?!” Liu Squad Leader shouted unusually angrily. “A life detector can make noise? Do we need to consult you about that? Fatty wouldn’t dare make a decision either. It must be some kind of powerful explosive. It wouldn’t be a nuclear bomb, would it?”
I glanced at Liu Squad Leader, whose expression was filled with suspicion and trepidation. I didn't respond to him but turned my face toward Xiao Ting and Jack. At this moment, their attitudes held more influence over me.
Jack shrugged. "Zhang, you have the ability to open the Eternal Gate. That might just be our way out."
I shook my head. "How to get out of The Eternal Gate of the Hakka People remains a mystery to us. At least, I can't figure it out right now. Is it because of me? Or perhaps we triggered some mechanism.
In any case, I'm uncertain and lacking confidence about it. Even if my presence allowed us to escape from The Eternal Gate of the Hakka People, I still don't know where my abilities lie or how to use them.
So, even if we reach the Eternal Gate at Lop Nur, I'm not sure I can open it or lead everyone to safety.
I need to make this clear because the possibility of being trapped there is greater than that of escaping through that door. I don't want my incompetence to endanger everyone."
Jack laughed. "Isn't the chance of escaping from the Eternal Gate less than leaving from somewhere else? If you have a clearer escape route, feel free to discuss it. If not, then I support moving forward, regardless of whether the end of the road is the Eternal Gate."
"What about Gangzi?" Xiao Ting asked nervously, staring at me.
Xiao Ting knew what was in the box; she understood that Fatty could take off at any moment. Earlier, I had seen her calm even when facing the fake Xiao Guolin, but now she was anxious. Perhaps it was because there was hope for survival; she didn't want to leave Fatty behind.
"Xiao Guolin will tell Fatty how to get back and wait for us at the vent. Meanwhile, Xiao Guolin will take Fatty's place to complete the final mission—guarding the box and buying us time to escape."
"Go to the Eternal Gate and find..." Xiao Ting paused here, giving me a look that only I could understand. "But I won't leave through the Eternal Gate; I'll come back and leave with Gangzi through another route."
I knew that Xiao Ting was determined to find the real Xiao Guolin. She hadn't given up. She also didn't intend to abandon Fatty.
I felt relieved by this. I was happy for Fatty; he hadn't chosen wrongly; his efforts were rewarded with genuine affection from a goddess.
I looked again at Tang Yumo and A-Yong, the last two Hakka People, whose expressions were somber. They didn't respond or offer any opinions, their faces reflecting deep currents of passive resignation.
"If there are no objections, let's set off."
With that, I took the lead and quickly walked in the direction pointed out by Xiao Guolin.
We moved at a brisk pace, marching quickly, and soon I saw a massive passageway ahead.
It wasn't an entrance. It was too high, as if a straight tunnel had been carved through the underground cavern leading up to the Ceiling. The width was quite ordinary, about five or six meters, but the height made this fairly wide path appear like a narrow gap. It resembled what we often refer to as a single line. Of course, it was not visible here.
"Who?" Liu Squad Leader suddenly shouted beside me.
With a 'click,' his automatic rifle was instantly loaded with bullets.
Comment 0 Comment Count