Finally, he found the cave. It was daytime now, sunlight illuminating the area around the cave, which wasn’t particularly hidden—the outline of its entrance was clearly visible.
Lin Ran’s heart leaped with joy, thinking Luo Yao might be inside, so he walked straight in.
At a glance, there was no one inside. The cave was dim, with only the faint light from the entrance barely illuminating part of it.
Lin Ran grew anxious. "Did I come all this way just to miss Luo Yao?"
[Little Black: "These things depend on fate. If you don’t see her, you don’t see her. Let’s just go back."]
Little Black spoke carelessly, not wanting to waste any more time here.
Lin Ran exited the cave, unaware that two pairs of eyes were silently watching him.
They were eyes filled with wariness and curiosity, like phantoms lurking in the darkness, hidden behind the grass and trees.
Just as Lin Ran reached a certain spot, his foot suddenly jerked tight, and he was instantly hoisted into the air.
"Ah—what the hell?!"Lin Ran let out a startled cry, thrown into panic by the sudden turn of events. Hanging upside down, blood rushed to his head, making him dizzy. Little Black, meanwhile, tumbled inside the backpack, eyes darting around—it, too, was flustered by the unexpected situation.
[Little Black: "Why is it that every time I go out with you, we end up in danger? Are you cursed or something?"]
[Lin Ran: "It’s not like I planned this."] Lin Ran replied helplessly, stuck in an awkward predicament, unsure what awaited him next.
For a moment, he thought the trap might have been set by Luo Yao, and a flicker of hope stirred in his heart.
But then, from the shadows emerged two boys who looked about ten years old—twins with nearly identical appearances.
They wore tattered clothes, their faces smudged with dirt, but their eyes were sharp, like those of young wolves.
"Who are you? Why are you here?" one of the boys demanded, his voice still childlike but his tone stern.Thɪs
"I’m just a villager from nearby. I got lost," Lin Ran said, realizing neither of them was Luo Yao. He didn’t dare say more, afraid of causing trouble for her.
He tried to keep his voice calm, though his mind raced for a way out of this mess.
The other boy frowned. "Liar. There’s no one around here."
His eyes burned with suspicion, as if he’d already seen through Lin Ran’s lie.
Lin Ran retorted, "Then do you count as people? If you don’t, then neither do I. But if you do, then sorry—I’m just lost."
He tried to confuse the boys with his roundabout logic. The brothers seemed to short-circuit for a moment, their little brains struggling to process his words. It was as if two tiny figures were wrestling inside their heads, leaving them momentarily bewildered.
"Hey, hey, hey—can you at least put me down before we keep talking?"
Lin Ran’s head was throbbing from the blood rush. All he wanted was to get out of this upside-down position.
The boy shook his head. "No. Strangers who come here never leave alive."
His gaze turned fierce, as if he’d already sentenced Lin Ran to death.
Lin Ran gasped. "Damn, how can words so cold come from a body at 37 degrees?"
He hadn’t expected these two boys to be so ruthless.
Then the other boy spoke up. "Stop wasting time with him. Let’s just kill him. He might be a spy from the other side. A guy this big should last us a few days."
His calm tone sent chills down Lin Ran’s spine. The casual cruelty in his words made him sound like a demon.
Last a few days?
Lin Ran shuddered. This kid looked innocent, but his words were even more horrifying than the first one’s.
Heh. The world always had unexpected surprises waiting for him—though this one was downright terrifying.
"Hey! Hey! Hey! Listen, little guys, I’m a scholar—my meat’s sour! If you want something tasty, my backpack’s got food!"
Lin Ran desperately tried to divert their attention. The last thing he wanted was to end up as these two little demons’ dinner.
The boys noticed the backpack and approached, curiosity flickering in their eyes as they wondered what treats it might hold.
[Little Black: "You did this on purpose, didn’t you?"]
[Lin Ran: "I had no choice. Gotta think of something."]
[Little Black: "Then think fast! They’re coming!" Little Black grew frantic, not wanting to be discovered.]
[Lin Ran: "The only idea I have is for you to come up with one."]
Lin Ran tossed the problem back to Little Black.
[Little Black: "You mother— damn it, fine. Let’s just go back."]
Little Black cursed under its breath, ready to abandon the mission and escape this dangerous place. Lin Ran panicked.
"No!"
The boys blinked in confusion. "No what?"
They didn’t understand why he’d suddenly become so agitated.
Lin Ran’s eyes darted as he scrambled for an explanation. "I’ll tell you a secret—I’m actually... Ultraman."
He hoped the legendary hero’s name would intimidate them.
[Little Black: "You’re hopeless. What kind of garbage excuse is that?"]
Little Black scoffed at the ridiculous idea.
But the twins exchanged glances, then scowled in unison. "We hate anything Japanese."
Their eyes burned with anger, their hatred for Ultraman—a Japanese icon—undeniable.
Lin Ran paled and quickly backtracked.
"Wait, wait! I wasn’t finished! I’m Ultraman’s arch-nemesis—China’s Sun Wukong!"
He prayed this new identity would change their minds.
The boys looked at each other again. Since arriving in this forest, they hadn’t seen any cartoons.
Sun Wukong was one of the few animated characters they remembered.
But life here had been brutal—a constant struggle for survival that had nearly erased those childhood memories.
"You’re really Sun Wukong? Is Sun Wukong enemies with Ultraman?" They eyed him skeptically, a glimmer of curiosity breaking through.
Lin Ran’s eyes lit up. "Yes, yes, exactly! I am Sun Wukong. Hanging me up like this doesn’t hurt me at all—I’m just giving you a chance to redeem yourselves."