Amnesiac Yandere Ex-Wife Always Wants to Remarry - Chapter 19
Chapter 19
Ming Chunshan immediately became alert, the hand gripping the inside of Xia Pingwu’s thigh unconsciously tightening: “Which way should we retreat?”
“We can’t retreat.” Xia Pingwu slowly leaned forward, extending her arm to cover the back of Ming Chunshan’s hand, “Chunshan, lend me some of your ability.”
Her lips brushed Ming Chunshan’s ear, her voice very soft, as if undetectable by anyone:
“Be careful, don’t alert the one opposite, and don’t alert the cave wall.”
If too much ability was released, the cave wall might collapse, which she was unsure about.
A feeling of fullness once again overflowed her body, and the detection ability was smoothly released. Xia Pingwu whispered to Ming Chunshan, sharing the information:
“I can only sense the cave entrance ahead, but the location is uncertain.
“She hasn’t moved. She seems… to be waiting for me to go over.”
The grip on her thigh tightened again. Xia Pingwu looked down to see Ming Chunshan also looking up at her, with a light of satisfaction in her eyes:
“Don’t worry, Elder Sister is on my back now. I won’t let you go over.”
Xia Pingwu smiled, instinctively reaching out to stroke the top of Ming Chunshan’s head:
“Alright, then I’ll rely on you.”
Ming Chunshan paused, then quietly turned her head back, hiding her slightly flushed face, and tried to keep her tone calm:
“…Are we just going to wait here? What else can we do?”
An immediate reply came to her ear: “Chunshan, do you know why the Teacher’s Wife specifically used the Fire Cave to confine the strange beast?”
In the silent Fire Cave, a sudden, frantic sound of running echoed.
It was mixed with Ming Chunshan’s urgent, breathless dissuasion:
“Elder Sister, if you keep doing this, your body will be carrying too much ability, you won’t be able to handle it.”
At the same time, countless bright red lights were continuously pouring in from all directions, merging and erupting with the faint blue light from Xia Pingwu’s fingertips. Amidst a shower of firework-like sparks, the light suddenly shot straight into the cave.
Xia Pingwu’s tone was still very light, but it carried an unconcealed sense of exhilaration:
“We are just transferring the energy that already exists in the Fire Cave; we won’t make the cave collapse.
“The reason the Teacher’s Wife chose the Fire Cave is because strange beasts fear fire the most, whether it’s the fire from guns and cannons or the fire in the Fire Cave.
“So, doing this will surely force her out!”
Ming Chunshan, of course, knew her intention, but that wasn’t what she was worried about.
Ming Chunshan was about to try to persuade her again, but her neck was encircled, and an excited call rang in her ear:
“I hear her screaming! She’s about to give up!
“Chunshan, it’s thanks to you, I definitely wouldn’t be able to run this fast alone.”
She laughed, the ending of her voice uplifted:
“If only Ning Xuan’s combat aircraft was here.”
Ming Chunshan’s steps paused, but Xia Pingwu didn’t notice.
She carried two long guns on her shoulders, waiting for any sign of the strange beast, aiming to instantly take it down the moment it showed its head.
“Chunshan, I see her!”
“Ah”
At the same time, a sharp scream came through the communication earpiece. Ji Jie seemed utterly terrified, her voice nearly breaking:
“Report! There’s so much fire! So much fire!”
“Ji Jie? Ji Jie! Report your location!” Ming Chunshan and Mao Xiqing simultaneously began asking, but the earpiece signal started cutting in and out, and Ji Jie’s voice became increasingly muffled.
The bullets of the long gun near her ear were still whistling, but suddenly the weight on her back lessened.
Ming Chunshan pressed the communication earpiece annoyedly, turning her head to see Xia Pingwu jump off her back.
The latter handed one of the long guns to Ming Chunshan, her face alight with excitement:
“Chunshan! I understand!
“Mao Xiqing said there’s a heat source, and Ji Jie said there’s fire. This means that Ji Jie and the strange beast were in the same path!
“And this path must be the one connecting the Ice Cave and the Fire Cave!”
The evidence for this deduction was insufficient, but Ming Chunshan naturally trusted Xia Pingwu. She caught the gun and replied:
“Then our ability use just now accidentally injured Ji Jie. As long as we save Ji Jie, we can go back and meet up with the team.”
Xia Pingwu nodded emphatically, quickly stretching her limbs:
“Exactly. And I just saw the strange beast escape into the adjacent path. You going to save Ji Jie won’t cause you to run into that guy either.
“Quick, split up, let’s do this!”
The thoughts were too fast. Ming Chunshan stuttered, then immediately refused:
“No! The strange beast is too dangerous, and we can’t defeat it with just guns. You can’t go.”
Xia Pingwu pressed her hands on Ming Chunshan’s shoulders:
“The fire in the Fire Cave is too strong. If Ji Jie brings it back into the Ice Cave while retreating to avoid it, the Ice Cave will collapse.”
Her voice was very firm:
“And only I can see this strange beast, I must go.
“Chunshan, I promise you, I’ll only follow closely, not attack rashly.”
“That’s still not allowed.”
Ming Chunshan’s voice was resolute. She lifted her hand, grabbed Xia Pingwu’s wrist, and pulled her closer,
“We can activate sympathy (gonggan – shared sensation/connection). Although the time I can maintain it unilaterally won’t be long, I’ll definitely kill the strange beast as quickly as possible.”
The distance between the two instantly closed. Their foreheads touched, and a faint stream of ability light flowed between them.
Ming Chunshan was establishing the shared sensation.
Because of this, Xia Pingwu immediately realized that she was indeed running a fever again.
The intense arguing and continuous missions were too much for her ten-year-later body to endure.
Her raven-feathered lashes drooped. After a period of silence, Xia Pingwu finally spoke softly:
“Okay, then let’s switch tasks.”
Before the two separated, the last thing Xia Pingwu heard Ming Chunshan say was:
“Elder Sister, the Ice Cave is too cold, and you’re on your period. Remember to keep warm.”
“Ji Jie? Ji Jie” Xia Pingwu walked slowly, carefully listening to the surrounding movements.
But the surroundings were extremely quiet, with only the biting wind that made the tips of her ears ache.
Although Ming Chunshan had gone to the other passage, Xia Pingwu still didn’t dare to act rashly. She slowed her steps, meticulously listening for any movement around her.
Just then, someone’s voice suddenly rang out, rushing toward her: “Captain Ming? Is that Captain Ming ahead!”
Xia Pingwu didn’t think much of it, only replying loudly: “It’s me, Xia Pingwu!”
The approaching figure barely stopped, hesitating: “Is that Deputy Xia?”
Xia Pingwu recognized the voice at this point: “Qiao Guan? Is that Qiao Guan? You came over. Did you see Ji Jie?”
“I didn’t see Ji Jie!” The figure slowed its steps, then suddenly made some decision and walked forward, “Deputy Xia, are you injured?”
Qiao Guan’s figure finally appeared before her. Xia Pingwu immediately shook her head and quickly walked up to her: “I’m fine. How are you?”
As she spoke, she looked Qiao Guan up and down. Seeing that she was fine, she sighed in relief: “Is there only one path ahead? If so, Ji Jie should be nearby, perhaps passed out in some hidden spot so we didn’t see her.”
She turned her eyes, carefully examining the conditions on both sides:
“Let’s split up, one person on each side, and see if we can find Ji Jie.”
Qiao Guan agreed, slowly moving to the other side.
The two walked forward, and for a moment, neither spoke.
Xia Pingwu was the first to realize something was wrong. She turned her head, looking at the blurry shadow in the darkness: “Qiao Guan? Why are you lagging so far behind me? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”
“No, I’m fine.”
Qiao Guan kept her voice low, sounding a little breathless,
“I might just be a little tired. Let me maintain this distance from you. One in front and one behind, it’s better for guarding against sudden attacks.”
The reason was quite plausible.
Xia Pingwu didn’t think much of it and didn’t find any immediate flaw, so she turned back, raising her voice again: “Ji Jie where are you.”
She finished shouting and immediately stopped to listen carefully, observing the echoes around her.
Perhaps Ji Jie is still conscious but unable to speak. If that’s the case, even if she makes the slightest sound, I should be able to hear it.
Clinging to this hope, Xia Pingwu maintained the frequency of her calls, paying attention to any small movement in her ear.
The sound of the wind was constant. Qiao Guan was moving around not far away.
Since she was somewhat tired, Xia Pingwu didn’t ask her to speak, only to join her in watching for any movement around them.
Just then, the sound of the wind faded slightly, and something whizzed through the air towards Xia Pingwu!
She instinctively ducked. Then, a series of whizzing sounds surrounded her. Xia Pingwu rolled on the ground, not forgetting to shout to Qiao Guan: “Be careful! Something’s here!”
The whizzing sounds stopped instantly.
Xia Pingwu didn’t immediately stand up, only carefully looked at the attacking object, trying hard to identify it.
The light in the passage was dim, but she quickly recalled.
This object was the fragments that had flown out from the cave entrance earlier.
Qiao Guan immediately came to her side, asking repeatedly: “Deputy Xia, are you alright?”
“Just a little warm, it’s nothing.”
Xia Pingwu shook her head. She slowly stood up and then slowly looked Qiao Guan up and down, suddenly speaking, “However, I was feeling a little unwell earlier, and this commotion suddenly made me feel a bit unstable.”
She paused, offering a gentle smile: “Could you help me up for a moment?”
“…Of course.” Qiao Guan agreed, but her feet hesitated in place for a moment.
She scrutinized Xia Pingwu, her tone becoming more hesitant: “Deputy Xia, although I didn’t bring the medical kit in, I brought some emergency supplies. Let me treat you first.”
She slowly took a step closer: “If a small issue turns into a big one, I won’t be able to explain it to Captain Ming.”
Perhaps because Ming Chunshan was mentioned, Xia Pingwu indeed paused.
Then she slowly crouched down, untying the binding around her ankle, exposing the tightly covered joint.
At this moment, a faint scratch was visible there, with vague traces of bl00d.
Qiao Guan practically leaped over, then steadied herself, her voice trembling: “Deputy Xia, we don’t know where these fragments came from. They might have something unclean on them. To be safe, let me squeeze out a little bl00d for you.”
Xia Pingwu didn’t refuse. Qiao Guan immediately went to work. As expected, when a string of bl00d beads oozed out, she sealed them in a tiny tube, and then helped Xia Pingwu tidy her pant leg.
Xia Pingwu watched her movements the whole time. Seeing that she was finished, she said: “Thank you, I feel better now. Let’s continue to split up.”
Qiao Guan, however, stood up, walked a few steps forward with her back to Xia Pingwu, and looked down at the fragments on the ground: “I’ll check the fragments again to see if there’s anything else on them.”
Xia Pingwu acknowledged her. Her gaze rested faintly on Qiao Guan’s back, but her tone was one of concern: “Yes, where did these pieces fly in from? I wonder if the others were attacked by it too.”
Qiao Guan didn’t speak. Xia Pingwu only heard a slight rubbing sound. Then, she saw Qiao Guan’s tightly tensed shoulders relax. Qiao Guan then stepped back a few steps and bent down in front of her:
“Deputy Xia, I failed to detect the danger in time just now. I truly feel terrible about it. I should carry you for the rest of the way.”
Xia Pingwu was silent for a moment, and finally didn’t refuse, slowly climbing onto Qiao Guan’s back.
It was exactly as Xia Pingwu had thought when she first met Qiao Guan: Qiao Guan’s back felt very solid and reliable.
Being carried on her back caused almost no discomfort. Qiao Guan walked so steadily that Xia Pingwu barely felt that she was walking on the steep, winding path.
The surroundings were very quiet. Xia Pingwu wasn’t in a hurry to search for Ji Jie anymore. For a moment, she could only hear the long, steady breaths of the two of them.
But at this moment, Xia Pingwu spoke: “Qiao Guan, all these years, have you been the one responsible for my physical examinations and sending my bl00d samples to the lab for testing?”
After a moment, Qiao Guan replied: “Yes.”
Xia Pingwu slowly sighed and continued: “Then, is there anything unusual about my bl00d?”