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墨書 Inktalez
Tang Yumo's eyes were fixed on Fatty. In the moment I looked up, the unusual expression in her eyes melted away like water, but I still sensed it—an unmistakable hatred and murderous intent that could not be concealed.
To the Hakka People, Fatty was a plague, the source of their suffering and pain. If it weren't for Fatty, Jack and I would have long been dead in the Underground Cavern, and none of this would have happened. Especially those last few words from Fatty at the top of the altar were a blatant threat to Tang Yumo, but I knew it wasn't just a threat; he would definitely act on it.
I thought those words left a profound impression on Tang Yumo, stirring an intense hatred and murderous rage within her amidst her extreme fear.
Tang Yumo knelt on the ground, her body slightly weakened as she leaned forward, supporting herself with both arms on the ground, resembling a lazy or injured cat. But I knew this cat-woman was quietly observing us, waiting for an opportunity to strike us down—at least to deliver a fatal blow to Fatty.
"Sister Tang," I said, positioning myself protectively in front of Fatty while appearing casual yet highly tense as I looked at Tang Yumo. "You should be more familiar with this place than we are. I believe you can find your way back alone. There are friends of ours in the Underground Cavern who need your help. Our deal is still valid, but you must bring my friend out and hand him over to me. If you can move, I suggest you take action immediately; I'm very concerned about the safety of my friends in the Underground Cavern."
Upon hearing my words, Tang Yumo lifted her lowered head. Her clothing had been torn open at some point, and it seemed several buttons had come loose, exposing a patch of pale skin on her chest. Her kneeling posture had her waist and upper body bent low while her full rounded backside was raised high. Watching this scene made me shamefully realize that when Tang Yumo slowly sat up, revealing her opened clothing, her face instantly flushed crimson as she covered her chest.
"Alright. I'll go find Xiao Ting and your friends. I'll bring them out and deliver them to you. But I request to take one Hakka person with me to Lop Nur—for my own safety." Tang Yumo glanced directly at Fatty without any attempt to hide her intentions.
I had to save Fatty, which meant I needed to get Tang Yumo out of the way. With her around, I felt constantly on edge.
"Alright, I agree."
Tang Yumo stood up and walked away in the opposite direction from Cao Mingzhe, quickly climbing up the cliff and disappearing behind it.
I had intended to check on Fatty's injuries, hoping to treat his wounds further, but given the current situation, it was clear that Tang Yumo was not someone to underestimate. The best course of action was to leave as soon as possible. If she was determined to confront us, she knew this terrain and environment too well. For the Hakka People, crafting primitive weapons was no challenge; staying here was far too dangerous.
I had lost my appetite entirely. I picked up Fatty from the ground, my heart sinking heavily. The sorrow within me turned into tears.
Fatty felt much lighter than I had imagined. His once protruding belly was now soft and limp, making him feel like a deflated rubber doll. Of course, he weighed no more than a layer of skin and bones.
He wasn’t starving; we had gone through the same ordeal and eaten the same food. I couldn’t fill my stomach either, but I wasn’t as drained as he was. It must have been the pain from his injuries that wore him down. Sometimes, pain can sap a person’s strength beyond what heavy physical exertion can do.
I knew Fatty could endure a lot, but I hadn’t expected him to be so reckless with his life. No wonder he had willingly given up hope for survival at the top of the altar; it seemed he had already been teetering on the edge of despair then, and falling could have happened at any moment.
Carrying Fatty, who weighed no more than Jack, I couldn’t move as swiftly as Cao Mingzhe through the treacherous mountains. Without any climbing gear, I relied solely on my hands and feet, moving like a snail through the rugged terrain.
Hunger and exhaustion felt like two relentless pursuers, constantly closing in on me. But I knew that every second wasted could cost Fatty his life. I had no time to lose!
Suddenly, a rope descended. I was moving laterally along a cliff face; although this was more dangerous, I no longer had the strength to climb up.
I looked up and saw two faces peering down from the cliff. I recognized one of them—it was Cao Mingzhe.
I grabbed the rope and tied it around both myself and Fatty, signaling upward with a "K" gesture. Even with the rope, I lacked the strength to carry Fatty up; I could only rely on those above.
Fortunately, Cao Mingzhe and the other person were strong and quickly pulled both me and Fatty up the cliff.
The other person was likely a member of the Hong Kong Rescue Team; I heard him speaking Mandarin with a Cantonese accent as he asked, "How are you? Are you okay?"
I shook my head.
"Not good." Then I gestured with my right thumb towards Fatty. "He's worse."
The Hong Konger untied the rope binding us.
"We have a helicopter parked over there," he said, pointing in a direction. "There are excellent emergency medical facilities; we can get immediate help if we hurry. Can you move?"
After they took Fatty off me, I still felt weak, but without the extra weight, I was much more agile. "I'm fine."
The Hong Konger watched as Cao Mingzhe hoisted Fatty onto his back as if it were only natural for him to do so. I didn't quite see it that way; I had thought this task would fall to the Search and Rescue Team from Hong Kong.
The rope was lowered from the other side of the mountain, and Cao Mingzhe nodded at me. "Keep up." Then he grabbed the rope and began to slide down.
The mountain was high, and the rope must have been custom-made; even an extended climbing rope wouldn't be this long. For instance, the two-hundred-meter climbing rope in my backpack was already the longest available at professional outdoor stores.
I watched as Cao Mingzhe slid down, gripping the rope tightly. My heart raced at the thought of his hands being scraped raw. But then I felt a sense of relief; it seemed that Cao Mingzhe's sensory nerves were still intact—he felt no pain.
I didn't rush to catch up with Cao Mingzhe but turned to ask the Hong Konger, "How's Jack? Is he alive?"
Alive was my only requirement at this point.
"Not well, not very conscious. He insists on waiting for you before leaving. The helicopter is waiting for you."
The Hong Konger's expression remained cold. His words implied that Jack's lack of consciousness was somehow a sign of his insistence on waiting for me. Moreover, his tone was impatient, as if urging me to hurry.
I couldn't hold back my frustration and replied, "Because I'm his boss, and I'm also your boss."
The Hong Konger flashed a cryptic smile. "But he's the one paying."
I couldn't stand the Hong Konger's money-driven attitude any longer and grabbed the rope to begin my descent. I couldn't slide down like Cao Mingzhe; my sensory nerves were functioning normally, and losing the skin on my palms would make me let go.
The helicopter was parked in a hollow area—probably the only flat spot around where it could land.
It was a large aircraft, and its grass-green paint made it immediately recognizable as a military transport plane. Sure enough, as I got closer, I saw several soldiers standing beneath it, one of whom I recognized—Squad Leader Liu.
"How did you get here? Didn't you already get reassigned?" I asked, surprised and confused, to the only person in military uniform I recognized.
Liu Squad Leader smiled awkwardly, at a loss for words.
But someone answered me, a voice coming down from the plane. "I brought him here. He reported your situation."
"Damn, are you addicted to selling people out!?" I couldn't help but shout at Liu Squad Leader. (To Be Continued...)
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