Ivan barely slept. As the sky began to brighten, he left the tent alongside Tuoweisi.
“This part of the mining area does not look like it has any ore. Since you wanted to change locations yesterday, shall we pack up and go together?” Hubaiguo lifted Kele into his wheelchair and crouched down to put on his shoes. Seeing Ivan and Tuoweisi emerge, he proposed the plan.
After all, they could resolve the issue with Yinsa while searching for ore, and Hubaiguo wanted to leave the mining zone as soon as possible.
Tuoweisi glanced back at Ivan without a word. Ivan gave a subtle nod. With neither side objecting, Tuoweisi began to pack the tent.
Kele was unaware of the situation from the previous night. Hearing that Ivan would be traveling with them, he pushed his wheelchair forward happily. “That is great! You can continue the story you did not finish yesterday.”
During the day, while the two Zergs mined, Ivan would tell Kele fairy tales to pass the time. Yesterday, he had reached the story of the farmer and the serpent, but Ivan, feeling far from the mood to continue, managed only a forced, faint smile.
When Ivan remained silent, Kele looked puzzled. Hubaiguo, however, did not give them a chance to converse, diverting Kele’s attention by handing him a pouch of nutritional supplement.
Soon, the tent was packed away and they departed. Other than the scattered rubble, there were no traces left to indicate anyone had ever been there.
Deeper in the mining zone, the mountains became more densely packed. Hubaiguo pushed Kele in front, while Ivan and Tuoweisi followed a step behind.
Ever since learning he had been poisoned, Ivan felt increasingly unwell. Whether it was psychosomatic or not, his limbs felt weak and heavy. Pingzi Star, usually devoid of sunlight, saw a rare glimpse of the sun today. Even though the light was not hot, it left Ivan drenched in a cold sweat.
Tuoweisi walked beside him, constantly observing his state. When Ivan’s legs gave way and he nearly fell, Tuoweisi grabbed his arm. Looking at Ivan’s pale face, he asked with a frown, “Are you alright?”
Ivan steadied himself with Tuoweisi’s help and shook his head. Kele cast a curious glance toward them at the sound.
Tuoweisi’s brows locked tightly, his eyes flickering with a dangerous, fierce light. Kele, clearly confused, was frightened by this menacing look, and his eyes instantly welled up with tears.
Ivan tugged at Tuoweisi’s arm. “I am fine. Do not be like that.”
Hubaiguo stared at them coldly, about to issue a warning, when a deafening roar erupted not far away. Their focus immediately shifted.
“There is something going on,” Ivan said, looking toward the distant dust clouds caused by a collapse, his expression thoughtful.
Hubaiguo said no more. They temporarily set aside their differences and headed toward the explosion. However, after what had just transpired, the atmosphere between them could never return to what it once was.
Deep in the mining area.
“Is it really here?” Yinsa stood beside a dusty crater, covering his nose as he looked down.
Jieli stood to the side, looking at the ore detector in his hand, which flickered with a faint red light. “The detector cannot be wrong. There must be ore nearby.”
“Good.” Yinsa took the detector and jumped into the pit without hesitation. “Wait for me up there.”
Jieli remained silent, casting a downward glance at his own arm, which still lacked strength, and a dark cloud passed through his eyes. He then turned his focus back to Yinsa, who was digging in the pit.
“I found it!”
Moments later, Yinsa’s excited voice echoed from the pit.
Jieli had been watching Yinsa the entire time, so he knew the moment the ore was unearthed. Seeing Yinsa throw the ore up to him instead of climbing out first, Jieli’s lips curled into a satisfied smile.
“We can leave!” Jieli caught the ore, inspected it thoroughly, and, satisfied, placed it into his backpack. He then extended his hand toward Yinsa, who was clinging to the edge of the pit, his eyes softened with a faint tenderness.
Yinsa gripped Jieli’s uninjured hand and vaulted up. Before he could even steady himself, a detestable voice shattered the stability of the moment.
“Where do you think you are going?”
Hubaiguo pushed Kele out from the shadows, his fierce face full of murderous intent toward Yinsa.
Yinsa narrowed his eyes unpleasantly. Seeing Ivan and Tuoweisi appear as well, the smirk on his lips vanished. Jieli zipped his backpack shut and stared at them with guarded intensity.
“Tuoweisi,” Hubaiguo said coldly.
According to their agreement, Hubaiguo stayed to protect Ivan, while Tuoweisi was to take care of the two Zergs. Tuoweisi did not hesitate and charged forward.
Ivan remained where he was, leaning against a protruding rock face to alleviate his physical discomfort, his eyes filled with a trace of worry as he watched Tuoweisi’s back.
Tuoweisi arrived in front of Yinsa in an instant. The crushing pressure of an S-rank Zerg blanketed the entire area. Even Hubaiguo, standing further away, felt a slight discomfort, let alone Yinsa, who was directly facing the pressure.
But Yinsa did not retreat, throwing a punch toward Tuoweisi. Jieli, though struggling to move under the mental pressure, tried his best to hinder Tuoweisi from the side.
Tuoweisi dodged the punch, seized Yinsa’s arm, and delivered a knee strike to his abdomen.
Yinsa reacted quickly, pulling back, only to be met by a swift, powerful side kick from Tuoweisi. He blocked with his arms, but the impact sent him stumbling backward.
As Tuoweisi pressed the attack, Jieli assaulted him from the flank. Tuoweisi was forced to stop his pursuit to dodge Jieli’s attack.
The difference in rank was stark. If Yinsa could trade a few blows with Tuoweisi, Jieli fell behind the moment they clashed, especially with his wounded arm.
Tuoweisi knew Jieli’s weakness and struck at it. He slammed his foot into the already injured arm, causing Jieli’s expression to twist in agony.
Seeing Jieli further injured, Yinsa flew into a rage. Ignoring Hubaiguo’s interference, he risked a strike to his own midsection to lunge wildly toward Ivan and Kele, determined to take them down with him.
“Kele!” Hubaiguo’s expression changed drastically as he raced back to help.
Tuoweisi pushed his S-rank Zerg explosive speed to the limit, flashing like lightning toward Ivan to intercept Yinsa’s attack.
But Yinsa was one step faster.
Ivan only had time to push Kele to the side before the crushing pressure of the A-rank Zerg’s mental attack reached him.
His body seemed to lose all control; he could not move a muscle. Aside from Yinsa, who was inches away and intent on killing him, and Kele, who lay on the ground in a panic after being pushed away, the last thing Ivan saw was Tuoweisi racing toward him.
Before losing consciousness, Ivan felt as if he had been pulled into a pair of warm, powerful arms. In his ears, he heard his own name, distorted, followed by the sound of a rapid, powerful heartbeat.
“Ivan!”