chsdbacks Chapter 287 Escape from Death
Chapter 287 Escape from Death
The deep, dark passage seemed endless, the air thick with dust, acrid smells, and the dampness characteristic of underground spaces. Only the fragment of the "Nirvana Feather" jade pendant on Nie Lingfeng's chest and the small feather pendant of the same origin around Xiao Yun's neck emitted a faint but steady warm light, barely illuminating the area a few steps ahead. This light wasn't strong, but strangely, it dispelled some of the chill and unease, even causing some small creatures in the passage, who preferred darkness and feared light, to rustle and retreat.
Nie Lingfeng gritted his teeth, enduring the burning pain in his back and internal organs, and walked with uneven steps. His left arm carefully cradled the still unconscious but steadily breathing Chen Duo, while his right hand stiffly supported the little silver-haired girl, Xiao Yun, who was sleeping soundly on his shoulder, drool almost dripping onto his neck. The little girl slept extremely sweetly, her little nose wrinkling, occasionally smacking her lips and mumbling indistinct words in her sleep. Her silver hair tickled Nie Lingfeng's chin. Warm, milky-scented (?) breath sprayed on his neck, making this tough man, accustomed to bloodshed and quick revenge, involuntarily tense all his muscles. His gait was awkward and cautious, as if afraid of dropping this "little porcelain doll." (￣ω￣;)
Wang Ye wasn't in much better shape. He limped along beside her, one hand clutching his aching chest (his ribs might really be fractured), the other hand constantly grabbing the wall for balance, his mouth never stopping, perfectly playing the role of "injured soldier and witty comedian".
"Hey Lao Nie, isn't our look... a bit too pathetic?" Wang Ye grimaced as he dodged a rusty water pipe hanging overhead, complaining in a low voice, but his words still rang out clearly in the quiet corridor. "Look at you, the seriously injured, carrying one unconscious person and hanging another sleeping like a pig. Me, with internal and external injuries, I can barely walk. People who know me think I'm a hero who just blew up an evil lab, thwarted a villain's plot (maybe), and picked up... uh, a special 'souvenir'. People who don't know me think I escaped from some refugee camp, with a family to support! (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻"
Nie Lingfeng gave him a sidelong glance, then lowered his voice and said, "Shut up, save your energy finding the way. Or you can carry me?" As he spoke, he made a gesture as if to hand Xiaoyun, whom he was holding, over.
"No! Please don't!" Wang Ye jumped back in fright, which aggravated his wound, causing him to gasp in pain and his face to scrunch up like a bun. "Ouch... my little body can't take this. Besides, that little girl calls you 'Dad' and is very attached to you. What am I, an outsider, doing here? Please, please, please!" (＞﹏＜)
The word "Dad" was like two needles, precisely piercing Nie Lingfeng's nerves. His lips twitched uncontrollably again. Along the way, the little girl, half-asleep and half-awake, mumbled "papa" a few more times, each time sending chills down Nie Lingfeng's spine and making his limbs stiffen, while Wang Ye nearly injured himself trying to suppress his laughter.
Honestly, Nie Lingfeng had been single for over twenty years, never even properly holding a girlfriend's hand (Chen Duo was a comrade-in-arms!). His dating experience was basically from novels and movies (and even then, he only watched the action scenes). This whole "daughter" thing falling from the sky was completely beyond his comprehension and tolerance! Especially since this "daughter's" background was so shocking—her predecessor was a terrifying experimental subject who could go toe-to-toe with S-class powerhouses and almost wiped them all out with her self-destruction! Although she seemed harmless and adorable now, who knew if she would suddenly go berserk one day or regain her memories? Just thinking about this possibility made Nie Lingfeng feel like he was holding a ticking time bomb, not a child, but one with an unknown yield! (⊙﹏⊙)
"But seriously, Lao Nie," Wang Ye unusually became serious, leaning closer and lowering his voice, glancing at Xiao Yun, who was sleeping soundly on Nie Lingfeng's shoulder, "this little one... what are you planning to do with her? You can't just keep holding her like this, can you? And her background... is too sensitive. What if they investigate the company, and the remaining forces in the council..."
Nie Lingfeng paused, his brows furrowing deeply. Wang Ye's worries were the biggest weight on his heart as well. Xiao Yun's existence was a huge secret, and also a potential problem. The company (Na Du Tong) had always had a complicated attitude towards "abnormal individuals," especially those related to "sacred relics" or "distorted experiments." Although Chairman Zhao was relatively open-minded, the board of directors was not monolithic. As for that mysterious "parliament"... would they let their painstakingly created "perfect masterpiece" turn out like this?
"Let's take it one step at a time," Nie Lingfeng sighed, his voice low. "First, we need to find a way to get out of here and heal Chen Duo and you. As for the rest... we'll talk about it when we're safe. She..." He turned his head and glanced at Xiaoyun's peaceful sleeping face, her long silver eyelashes casting soft shadows in the dim light. "She saved us. In the end, she... chose to do it. And she's no longer that 'Seraph.' She's just... a child who knows nothing."
Wang Ye was silent for a moment, scratched his head, and sighed, "That's true. After all, it's... the orphan of a fallen comrade? Although the way this orphan was born is a bit... peculiar. Well, anyway, I've already lost a lot of money this time, so a little trouble won't make a difference. Finding a way out is the priority. But this godforsaken place is so winding and twisting, the explosion just now messed up the structure, and the location of the life gate is all over the place... tsk, headache." He started counting on his fingers, muttering incantations, trying to use divination to determine the direction, but his face quickly turned bitter again, obviously his internal injuries were having a significant impact.
As the two of them struggled forward and discussed things in hushed tones (mainly Wang Ye complaining, with Nie Lingfeng occasionally refuting), Xiao Yun in Nie Lingfeng's arms seemed to be disturbed by their conversation. She shifted her little body restlessly, hummed a few times, and then slowly opened her pair of pure and clear golden-red eyes.
She blinked blankly, seemingly not fully awake yet. She instinctively nuzzled Nie Lingfeng's neck, inhaling the complex scent emanating from him—a mixture of blood, dust, and the warm aroma of the jade pendant. A look of relief spread across her face. Then, she turned her head, curiously surveying the dark, rough, and unfamiliar passageway around her.
When her gaze fell on Chen Duo, who was still unconscious and being held in Nie Lingfeng's other arm, her big golden-red eyes instantly lit up, even brighter and more excited than when she saw Nie Lingfeng!
"Jie...jie!" she called out, her voice clearer and filled with dependence and joy. Her small body struggled, and she stretched out her two fair arms toward Chen Duo, looking as if she couldn't wait to be hugged.
Nie Lingfeng froze, stopping helplessly. He carefully adjusted his posture to allow Xiaoyun to reach Chen Duo. A strange sour feeling welled up inside him: So, he, the "papa," was just a transport tool, while Chen Duo, the "jiejie," was the real deal? The difference in treatment was too obvious! (￣▽￣*)ゞ
Xiaoyun successfully grabbed a strand of Chen Duo's hair and gently tugged it. She then pressed her face against Chen Duo's arm. Seeing that Chen Duo didn't react (still unconscious), a look of confusion and worry appeared on her face. She raised her head and looked at Nie Lingfeng with her clear, expressive eyes. Her small brows furrowed slightly, and she uttered mumbled, questioning syllables: "jie...jie...sleep...?"
That look, that expression, that soft, worried little voice... it's incredibly powerful!
Nie Lingfeng's steely, straight-man heart, hardened for over twenty years, inexplicably softened. He tried his best to make his voice sound gentle (though the effect wasn't great, it was still a bit stiff): "Yeah, my sister's tired, she's sleeping. Don't disturb her."
Xiaoyun blinked as if she understood, then nodded obediently. Sure enough, she stopped trying to wake Chen Duo. She just kept holding a strand of Chen Duo's hair tightly with her little hand, her little face pressed against Chen Duo's arm, staying quietly. However, her big eyes would occasionally glance at Chen Duo's face to make sure that her "sister" was still "sleeping".
"Tsk tsk," Wang Ye watched with great interest, stroking his chin and shaking his head as he commented, "Looks like Xiao Chenduo's position as 'older sister' is secure. Old Nie, your authority as 'father' needs some strengthening! The revolution is not yet complete, comrades still need to work hard! ╮(￣▽￣)╭"
"Get lost!" Nie Lingfeng's face flushed, and he cursed under his breath. He ignored the guy who loved to watch the show and continued his arduous journey, carrying the two "burdens" of one big and one small.
After walking for about half an hour, just as Wang Ye's face was getting paler and paler and he was about to collapse, and Nie Lingfeng was also feeling his arms go numb and his vision was going black, a difference finally appeared ahead - it was no longer an eternally dark passage, but a faint airflow, carrying a fresh scent of soil and plants!
"There's wind! It's the exit!" Wang Ye's spirits lifted, and a hint of joy appeared on his pale face.