Chapter 26: Light in the Mountain Hollow

Cheng Xiangru had already given up hope after failing to reach Boss Zhou's number several times, but to his surprise, Chen Shangke's number actually went through.

However, the ringing tone continued for several moments until the call ended automatically, unanswered.

Cheng Xiangru did not give up and tried again.

By the third attempt, just as he was about to lose hope, the call finally connected.

"Hello! Brother Chen! Where are you? Are you all right? Just now—"

Before Cheng Xiangru could finish his anxious shouting, Leng Ying suddenly covered his mouth.

Leng Ying pointed at the phone, signaling for him to remain silent.

Cheng Xiangru stopped speaking, and the sound from the phone, no longer muffled, came through the earpiece: "Hehe... hehe..."

It was laughter.

The sound was extremely faint and lethargic. It could hardly be called laughter; it sounded more like someone pressing their mouth against the microphone and exhaling, a sound that made one’s skin crawl.

Cheng Xiangru could not tell if the sound was coming from Chen Shangke, and he began to panic.

He pulled Leng Ying’s hand away from his mouth and called out desperately, "Brother Chen! Say something!"

Yet, the only response was that same "hehe" sound, sending a chill from his head down to his heels.

Had something truly happened to Boss Zhou and the others?

What could have possibly occurred to make Chen Shangke answer the phone only to make such a sound into the receiver?

Leng Ying exhaled a soft puff of white mist and urged, "Hang up. There is no point in listening any longer; it’s just a waste of time."

Cheng Xiangru gritted his teeth and nodded, ending the call. He did not put the phone away, however, and stubbornly dialed Chen Shangke’s number again.

To his dismay, there was no ringing tone this time. Instead, a cold, automated female voice informed him that the user he was trying to reach was powered off.

Boss Zhou’s number could not be reached, and after that eerie laughter, Chen Shangke’s phone was now off.

Cheng Xiangru’s heart sank to the bottom of a pit, and his imagination began to spiral uncontrollably toward the worst-case scenario.

Could they have been killed?

Was Chen Shangke still alive just moments ago, but unable to speak, only able to exhale into the phone?

Cheng Xiangru closed his eyes, the image of the miserable corpse he had seen earlier flashing in his mind, and his body began to tremble involuntarily.

Leng Ying tried to offer some comfort: "Don't worry blindly, they might just—"

She trailed off, unable to continue. She suspected that even if Boss Zhou and the others were still alive for the moment, they were likely in a dire situation.

"Let's go!" Cheng Xiangru did not want to talk anymore. He buried his head, followed the snow tracks on the ground, and continued his search.

The pair climbed the hillside, searching all the way up until they reached the summit with great effort.

Cheng Xiangru had truly reached his limit.

Leng Ying was not doing much better; her hair and eyebrows were covered in fine ice crystals. She was panting heavily, her stamina clearly flagging.

They sat on the ground, and Cheng Xiangru fished out beef jerky, compressed biscuits, energy gels, and taurine drinks from his pack.

These were all items Boss Zhou and the others had prepared for him, fearing that if Cheng Xiangru couldn't find a ride, he would lack the necessary energy on the way back to the county.

Cheng Xiangru ate some beef jerky and, seeing Leng Ying staring at him longingly, offered her some food.

Leng Ying hesitated, shaking her head as if to decline, but her stomach betrayed her with a loud rumble. Embarrassed, she quickly covered her stomach, but she couldn't hide her hunger.

"Eat some. If you’re worried about me seeing your face, I can turn away." Cheng Xiangru held the compressed biscuits out further, his tone sincere.

Leng Ying had never removed her mask in front of Cheng Xiangru; he could only see her eyes.

Although her almond-shaped eyes were bright, clear, and beautiful, Cheng Xiangru had always assumed her nose and mouth must be terribly ugly, otherwise, why would she never take the mask off?

Perhaps behind it lay a bulbous nose, a crooked mouth, or even severe burn scars.

Although he had always been curious, with the fates of Boss Zhou and the others unknown, he had no heart to pry into her true appearance. He genuinely wanted her to eat and replenish her strength.

After all, no one knew what they might face next.

Leng Ying took the biscuits, still looking down in hesitation, not yet eating.

Cheng Xiangru braced his hands on the ground and shifted his body ninety degrees, turning his back to her to put her at ease.

Sure enough, a moment later, he heard the sound of her crunching on the biscuits.

Cheng Xiangru stayed in that position, eating his own food. Feeling his body temperature rise slightly and his strength beginning to return, he felt a bit more grounded.

"Are you finished?" Cheng Xiangru asked without turning around.

"Mm," Leng Ying replied, her voice muffled as if her mouth were still full.

Cheng Xiangru asked again, "Can I turn around now?"

"Mm," she gave a clear affirmative after a noticeable swallow.

Cheng Xiangru turned back and began to pack the empty wrappers and leftovers into a plastic bag, stuffing it all into his backpack. He did not once sneak a glance at her.

Leng Ying stood by, not helping, watching him with a faint smile in her eyes. "I didn't expect you to be such a considerate guy."

Cheng Xiangru managed a forced smile, noncommittal. After tidying up, he adjusted his mask and stood up to continue moving forward.

Leng Ying followed slowly behind him, once again thinking of that man. She suddenly felt that Cheng Xiangru was different from his father, and she wondered if his thoughtful nature was inherited from his mother.

As she was thinking, she suddenly saw Cheng Xiangru drop to a crouch and turn off his flashlight.

"What's wrong?" Leng Ying reacted quickly, switching off her own light and moving forward to crouch beside him.

Cheng Xiangru did not speak, instead pointing down the mountain.

The summit offered a wide view, and in the distance, in a mountain hollow below, there was light!

In this wilderness, where there was light, there were people.

Had this been earlier, Cheng Xiangru would have run toward the light without a second thought.

But after accidentally falling into a suspected tomb, seeing a horrific corpse, and hearing that eerie laughter on Chen Shangke's phone, he had to remain on high alert.

Leng Ying tightened her grip on her red-tasseled spear and whispered, "I’ll go scout the situation first."

Cheng Xiangru shook his head solemnly, his tone firm. "We go together!"

Leng Ying did not refuse, but she didn't agree either, clearly hesitant.

Cheng Xiangru sighed softly. "I know my own limits. Trust me, once we get close, I'll stay back and won't get in your way."

"I’m just afraid you'll be in danger," Leng Ying explained.

Cheng Xiangru nodded. "I understand."

Only now did he feel a twinge of regret.

Among the five volumes of transcripts he had, one was the *Volume of Body Tempering*.

He had leafed through the other four volumes repeatedly, memorizing them thoroughly because he felt those contents might help him find his father.

The *Volume of Body Tempering*, however, he had only skimmed, never studying it closely.

It seemed that if he could make it back to Rongcheng alive, he would have to study it carefully, improve his combat skills and physical condition, and ensure that if a similar situation arose again, he would not be a burden!

At the thought of this, Cheng Yimo’s sweet, smiling face appeared in his mind. He clenched his fists and silently swore to himself.

Regardless of what happened to others, he had to make it back alive!

His sister was waiting for him to come home!

"Fine."

Leng Ying said no more, lowering her body and taking the lead. The red tassels of her spear fluttered in the wind, light and gentle.