Lin Yiqiao had fallen quite painfully, but she didn’t wait long before scrambling up to check on Qi Jun.
The bleeding had worsened, so she quickly pressed her hand firmly against the wound. The man’s brows were tightly furrowed, his face pale, sweat trickling from his temples down to his jaw. Despite the pain, he didn’t make a sound.
Lin Yiqiao couldn’t help but stare at his lips. When Qi Jun lifted his gaze, he met her deep, intense eyes.
Caught in the act, Lin Yiqiao remained unflustered. She quietly averted her gaze and shifted closer to Qi Jun, the air around them growing noticeably warmer.
“People who lose too much blood are prone to hypothermia,” she paused before asking, “Are you cold?”
With a serious expression, she touched his large, well-defined hand.
“Not too bad,” Qi Jun replied, his dark eyes fixed on her. His fingers twitched slightly, but he didn’t pull his hand away immediately.
Lin Yiqiao fell silent again, tilting her head to look up at the sky, pretending to be calm.
But the blood from the wound she was pressing with her other hand suddenly began to flow more heavily. Lin Yiqiao grew anxious. “Press down hard yourself for now!”
After saying this, she walked to the edge of the pit, planted one foot on a tree root, grabbed the rim with one hand, and gave a forceful pull.
She landed with a spectacular thud, flat on her backside.
She quickly got up and rubbed the sore spot.
Qi Jun’s eyelids felt heavy. When he looked up, he saw Lin Yiqiao sprawled on the ground, but she immediately turned and ran back toward him.
“Don’t fall asleep. Keep your eyes open. Let me talk to you.”
“Alright,” he nodded.
Lin Yiqiao could hear the weakness in his voice. Her own hands were now covered in warm blood, but she no longer cared about attracting enemies. She shouted toward the sky,
“Is anyone there?!”
Her voice was swallowed by the vast forest. Lin Yiqiao’s voice trembled slightly, and she felt someone pat her hand.
“You should go out first…”
Lin Yiqiao shook her head. “What about you? I can’t leave you here. By the time I come back, you’ll have bled dry!”
But Qi Jun felt exhausted. Lin Yiqiao’s voice grew increasingly faint. Just as he was about to close his eyes, he heard someone whisper in his ear,
“Don’t sleep. I’ll tell you a secret.”
“I like you.”
The words struck like thunder. Qi Jun couldn’t help but lift his eyelids to look at Lin Yiqiao.
She smiled, and Qi Jun was fully awake again.
Lin Yiqiao tore another piece of cloth and tightly wrapped it around the wound. The man watched her motionlessly.
Meeting his dark gaze, she seemed to forget what she had just said. Her own bright, dark eyes shifted. “No, I still have to get out!”
This time, she mastered the technique and leaped out of the pit as if using qinggong.
Qi Jun leaned against the edge of the pit, pressing the wound Lin Yiqiao had bandaged for him, feeling as though a warm current flowed through his body.
After what felt like an eternity, hurried footsteps sounded from above ground.
Qi Jun knew it was her just by the sound.
Sure enough, a shadowy figure darted into the pit like a little lion. Her hair was slightly disheveled, falling messily to her chest, and she carried the damp chill of the night and the scent of pine from the forest.
Qi Jun watched as she chewed something vigorously in her mouth. Just as he was about to ask, he saw her spit out a green, unknown substance all at once.
Then she smeared it directly onto his wound!
Qi Jun’s mind went blank.
“What are you doing?”
“It’s a hemostatic herb. You’re really lucky.”
Seeing Qi Jun’s furrowed brows, Lin Yiqiao added, “Don’t look down on it. When I got hurt fighting as a kid, this was the most effective remedy,” she said while bandaging him. “It’s not easy to find, you know.”
“You used to get into fights when you were little?”
“Yeah.” Lin Yiqiao didn’t elaborate further.
She took out the water flask she always carried at her waist, unscrewed it, and brought it to the man’s lips.
Qi Jun hesitated for a moment before taking the flask. He tilted his head back, careful not to let his lips touch the spout.
Lin Yiqiao watched his moist lips and sharp jawline, pursing her own lips slightly. “So, after we get out of here, can I pursue you?”
Qi Jun choked suddenly on the water, and Lin Yiqiao hurriedly patted his back. “Drink slowly, no need to rush. No one’s going to take it from you.”
The man looked at her, his expression somewhat exasperated.
“We need to figure out a way to get out of here together.” Seeing that Qi Jun was feeling better, Lin Yiqiao jumped up and walked to the edge of the pit.
“This must be a trap dug by the commune members for hunting. They’re undermining socialism!” She glanced at Qi Jun and said indignantly.
Qi Jun leaned his head back slightly and said, “This place is very problematic.”
Of course it is—it got you injured like this.
Seeing her deep in thought again, the man coughed twice and spoke up. “Don’t waste your energy. Someone will be here soon.”
He seemed to have regained his usual sternness, yet there was a hint of warmth that made him feel somewhat approachable.
Lin Yiqiao stood on her tiptoes to look up at the ground, blinked, and thought of something.
You better seize this incredible fortune, Lin Yiqiao!
She turned and threw herself toward the man, kneeling obediently in front of him, her eyes sparkling. “How do you know?”
“Because,” Qi Jun stared at her and said, “they’ve already been dealt with.”
Seeing Lin Yiqiao’s hesitant expression, wanting to ask but not daring to, the man spoke up. “They were spies.”
Spies?!
Lin Yiqiao was shocked. She had guessed right.
Before she could press further, she heard shouts coming from the hillside. “Regiment Commander!”
But Lin Yiqiao didn’t respond directly. She placed a small hand over her lips and whispered, “Shh.”
Then, carefully standing on her tiptoes, she peered outside. Qi Jun couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of her back.
Lin Yiqiao saw rows of military-green uniforms and flashlights. Leading the group was Xiao Guohua. She was so excited she nearly burst into tears.
“Over here! We’re over here!”