Chapter Twenty-Three: The Abyss of Darkness

Endless darkness, thick and viscous. Yin Nian floated, spun, and fell within the gloom, struggling to breathe, unable to draw a single breath. Waves of sorrow surged from deep within her, flooding her entire body, leaving her utterly powerless. Her spine felt hollowed out, so weak that she couldn't even stand.

She was wrapped in an infinity of darkness, unable to see a glimmer of light. Even opening her eyes felt no different than keeping them shut; she couldn't sense their presence at all.

She didn't know how much time had passed when suddenly a cool breeze blew by, swaying her drifting body and scattering the darkness around her. Then she began to fall faster, as if plummeting from thousands of meters in the air. Terrified she would be smashed to pieces, fear drove her to scream—yet her cry was swallowed by the sticky—

“No, I’m coming with you! You promised to take me out to play; you can’t go back on your word!” Xu Xianzhen protested, cheeks puffed in anger.

Her feelings were a tangled knot of worry and urgency, but all these emotions were useless. Xun’er could only watch helplessly as Xiao Yan knelt in the mountains.

This time, with Prince Yu’s rebellion, many in the court were implicated. By the sound of Yan Canglan’s voice, he intended to deal with every last one of them. The ministers who had chosen loyalty to the throne breathed a sigh of relief; if they could return home safely, their hearts could finally rest.

The sudden voice startled Zhou Hanya, who had been bracing herself for a fall to the ground. She blinked in surprise, her beautiful eyes fixed in a daze on the young man holding her.

“Here you go, Yanran. Could you please tell that pig-headed guy beside you to wipe his drool first? It’s honestly disgusting.” After handing the ring to Yanran, I shot a glance at Ouyang Jue, who still looked like a lovesick fool, then turned back to Yanran to speak.

He panted heavily, carrying her toward the door. With each step, their bodies brushed through their clothes, setting off a tingling sensation—so near and yet so far, it was nearly unbearable.

“Yes, you’re right. That guy really is a tough nut to crack. If we want to seize the first Dragon Pearl that might appear, we’ll have to come up with something clever.” Ouyang Jue stared at the fierce battle ahead, muttering gravely.

Wen Yukou’s drifting thoughts were recalled by Hua Yue. She looked back to see concern flooding Hua Yue’s young, soft face, pure and unknowing. Wen Yukou shook her head, signaling she was fine, biting her lip as she confirmed something in her heart.

The water cannon of the White Sea Lion met the blazing flames of the Shining Charizard and was instantly vaporized.

Even though it was just a fleeting glimpse, she saw the blue and purple bruises mottling her skin. Did that mean Zheng Xiaoli really had his way with her last night?

Tang puffed out his cheeks like a little mole, irresistibly adorable. I couldn’t help but kiss his chubby face.

Fortunately, good news soon arrived: Ji Xialin’s rehabilitation in the hospital had been a great success. With help, he was now able to walk.

If Lin Xi knew what Xi Bingxuan was thinking, she would surely feel guilty—because she wasn’t from the upper realm at all.

I let out a long breath. After wandering the lonely mountains for so long, entering the bustling, noisy city felt surreal, as though I were dreaming. My head began to ache again, sweat breaking out on my forehead.

Luo Qingxin couldn’t make sense of it, and thinking too hard didn’t suit her anyway. She simply gave up, got out of bed, parted the green vines on her window, and raised her binoculars for a look outside.

“General, inside the city we found countless weapons and stores of grain. There are as many as three hundred Red Barbarian cannons alone!” a messenger reported excitedly to Gao Yigong.

I drew a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and finally opened the last page. The moment my eyes landed on it, my breathing stopped involuntarily.

To avoid running into anyone she knew, Ye Qian drove across several districts, finally stopping in front of a well-known chain convenience store after much deliberation.

With all the people trapped under the ruins, even if only a tenth survived, who could say how many had been crushed or bitten to death by the mutated beasts? Waiting for rescue was no different from waiting for death; those who could save themselves had best find a way on their own.