If not for the overwhelming scent of blood, the two would not have been able to find the person immediately.
In the depths of the secret chamber, in that hidden corner, Zhang Qiling was curled up quietly, occupying only a small space, his black clothes almost blending into the darkness.
Zhang Qiling was thin.
Wu Tianzhen and Fatty had known this for a long time.
But their impression of Zhang Qiling was the back that blocked the way time and again, the mountain-like sense of security that rushed towards them, and the reliable teammate in times of crisis…
Such strength had previously masked his slender physique very well.
But now, when that strength was completely shattered, this leanness was exposed with a shocking intensity.
As Wu Tianzhen lunged forward, for a moment he thought he would see Zhang Qiling look up with those calm eyes and gaze at him, as he had countless times before. But until his legs, unable to control their force, heavily struck the ground, the shadow under the hood remained motionless.
A drop of blood slid down his pale, slightly bluish cheek and dripped onto Wu Tianzhen's hand, so cold it made him tremble all over.
…Zhang Qiling… was dead?
“…Xiao Ge?” Wu Tianzhen barely knew how he had uttered the sound. He held that extremely cold hand, his mind blank for a moment.
At this point, he instead fell into a strange calm. The anxiety, worry, and pain from before now seemed like reefs at the bottom of the sea, leaving no trace of their existence on the calm surface of the water.
But Wu Tianzhen knew this was not true peace, but a sense of detachment caused by an overload of emotions. xxs壹贰
“How could this be? This is impossible…” Repeating meaningless words over and over, Wu Tianzhen refused to believe this fact.
This was too ridiculous!
Zhang Qiling, that Zhang Qiling, could also die?! Wasn't this utterly absurd?
So miracles could disappear, and the miracle himself could die in the dust-filled darkness.
Wu Tianzhen chaotically thought back to the first time he met Zhang Qiling in Changbai Mountain, when he truly thought he saw the Snow God of Changbai Mountain.
Then he suddenly remembered their final parting in Changbai, he recalled the vast snow, the cold wind, and Zhang Qiling's "Thank you."
“…Thank you?” Wu Tianzhen suddenly became furious, his cheeks flushed red, almost as if he had lost his mind. “Zhang Qiling, get up, get up… You ran off after saying thank you, and you’re going to die in this godforsaken place for one person?! Zhang Qiling—!”
“…How could you die? Stop pretending, I know you’re fine. If you get up now, I’ll forgive you.”
“……”
Wu Tianzhen thought he had shouted with all his might, but in fact, to Fatty, he was just whispering quickly and softly next to Zhang Qiling, his expression even seeming somewhat gentle.
“…Tianzhen, Tianzhen!” Fatty heavily patted Wu Tianzhen awake.
He dragged the Black Gold Ancient Saber with all his might, leaning it against a wall next to Zhang Qiling. The surface of the saber, which had faintly exuded pressure, now looked ancient and worn, appearing exactly like the materialized Black Gold, its radiance completely concealed, turning it into a blunt knife.
“Tianzhen… tidy up Xiao Ge,” Fatty squatted down, looking at Zhang Qiling with grief, wanting to firmly remember that face that remained calm even in death. “We have to leave immediately, although… at least let’s take Xiao Ge’s body out.”
Wu Tianzhen did not reply. He remained motionless for a long time, as if turned to stone. After a long while, he suddenly trembled as if regaining consciousness, and slowly took out bandages from his backpack.
This was what Fatty called “tidying up.”
Although Xiao Zhang didn't say much usually, they all knew he was a clean person and cared about his image, not wanting to appear too weak.
There was nothing more they could do now, but at least they could tidy up Zhang Qiling.
Wu Tianzhen finally dared to directly start undressing him. During their previous adventures, he had suspected Zhang Qiling's injuries countless times, but always feared to offend him out of reverence.
But now, even if he took off Zhang Qiling's pants and put them on his head, Zhang Qiling wouldn't be able to say anything.
Wu Tianzhen thought messily, finding his own persistently erratic train of thought amusing, yet deep down, a vague, immense despair kept surging, unsure when it would fully surface.
He slowly wrapped the bandages, noticing that the white, rough surface of the bandages was gradually obscuring the eyes of the Ink Qilin tattoo…
Wait, the Ink Qilin tattoo?!
“Fatty!” he subconsciously called out, startling Fatty, who was quietly wiping away tears in the corner. “Did you heat Xiao Ge?”
“Wasn’t it you, you bastard?” Fatty almost suspected Wu Tianzhen was hallucinating. “What would I heat it with? A microwave? A rice cooker? My 300 pounds of fat?!”
He turned around grumbling, but suddenly found Wu Tianzhen excitedly stroking the motionless Zhang Qiling, looking particularly indecent.
Fatty: …
“Holy shit!” He lunged forward and pulled Wu Tianzhen away, delivering a rapid series of slaps to snap him back to his senses. “Tianzhen, are you crazy? What the hell are you doing?!”
Wu Tianzhen received two stinging slaps to the face, but his expression seemed even more agitated, looking utterly perverse.
“Fatty, let go of me first, I’m fine, I won’t touch him anymore…” His eyes fixed on Fatty with fervent intensity, he uttered a shocking statement, “Quick, you go touch Xiao Ge, you go!”
Fatty: ?!!!
“Holy crap, don’t slander me, I’m not into that!”
Wu Tianzhen was stunned by this remark, but soon realized something, and his face began to turn green.
“…I’m not into that either!!! What do you think I am in your eyes? Even like this, how could I possibly—”
“No, that’s not important,” he quickly changed the subject. “Xiao Ge, Xiao Ge is acting strange, he’s getting hot, even his tattoo is burning through!”
Upon hearing this, Fatty said nothing, directly spun around like a sunflower, pounced forward, and felt him. Indeed, he was burning hot.
Although Zhang Qiling was still not breathing, he was radiating heat, almost about to ignite.
“…Damn it, could Xiao Ge still be thinking about us starving, and is acting as a sacrifice to the tiger, acting as a barbecue grill?” Fatty muttered, yet a spark of hope quietly ignited in his heart.
And under their eager gaze, the Qilin tattoo became more and more distinct, more and more lifelike—
Then, a flash of dark light!
The Black Gold Ancient Saber regained its radiance!