Inside, there was actually a sealed space, so quiet that only the sound of his own heartbeat could be heard.
Lin Ran slowly raised his head and noticed an opening above, through which the light revealed the dazzling crimson clouds of dusk.
Those clouds resembled a raging fire, or perhaps a painting drawn with the most vibrant colors, unfurling above him like a dream.
Turning his gaze to the dim walls, he noticed faint carvings etched into them.
Lin Ran frowned, a flicker of confusion flashing in his eyes.
He quickly pulled a flashlight from his bag, its beam slicing through the darkness like a sharp blade.
As he directed the light toward the stone wall, he saw a carving of a rock with two indistinct figures gazing upward.
The blurred outlines seemed to carry a mysterious power, drawing Lin Ran’s attention.
One appeared to be an adult, while the other was a child—small and exuding an air of innocence.
This is… A strange sense of familiarity washed over Lin Ran, his mind swirling with thoughts.[Little Black: "Damn, I gotta say, pure love really is unbeatable."]
Little Black’s exaggerated voice echoed in Lin Ran’s mind, laced with playful mockery.
Lin Ran recognized it now—this was the scene from that night when he and Luo Yao had stargazed together!
Back then, just like the figures in the carving, they had looked up at the stars, as if the world existed only for the two of them.
This place was likely Luo Yao’s secret hideout, and the realization made his heart race.
Just then, a sound came from outside.
"Ungrateful brat, we’re not lying—we really found Sun Wukong, but he disappeared somewhere."
The voice carried a mix of urgency and excitement, reverberating through the trees.
Lin Ran’s pulse quickened. Luo Yao must have returned.
Without hesitation, he dropped to the ground and peered through the opening.
Sure enough, he spotted the Luo Shuigou brothers and the person who had haunted his thoughts—little Luo Yao.
Luo Yao had grown since he last saw her, taller now, her once-short black hair now cascading past her shoulders.
She stood there, posture straight, already exuding the aura of a leader—though her tattered clothes made her look like a wildflower stubbornly blooming in the storm.
"There’s no Sun Wukong in this world…" Luo Yao frowned slightly, her bright eyes tinged with skepticism.
Just as she was about to speak, a sharp screech pierced the sky—an eagle’s cry—and the three of them fell silent.
Their expressions instantly turned wary, as if sensing an unseen threat.
"The drill has started. Let’s set up our ambush first. We’ll talk after it’s over."
Luo Shuimao’s voice was low and steady, his gaze firm.
They all knew the risks of this exercise and couldn’t afford to be careless.
With a shared glance, the three of them dashed toward a pine tree, scaling it with the agility of monkeys.
Lin Ran’s eyes widened in disbelief before he could even crawl out of the opening.
"Seriously, are these three part monkey?"
Lin Ran marveled inwardly. That tree was tall, its bark rough and scaly, the branches tangled—yet they climbed it effortlessly?
Anyone who’s climbed a tree knows pines are among the hardest to scale, requiring immense skill and strength.
Lin Ran had planned to greet them, but realizing they were in the middle of a tense drill, he held back, not wanting to disrupt their plans.
Before long, another figure emerged in the woods.
A girl, slightly older than the rest, strode toward the opening with deliberate steps.
Her eyes were sharp and ruthless, like a prowling leopard, scanning everything with piercing intensity.
After circling the cave and finding no one, she stepped back out, her expression unchanged—cold and calculating.
Then she began inspecting the surroundings.
When she reached a tree root, she suddenly froze.
Her gaze locked onto a rope half-hidden in the grass, her keen eyes missing nothing.
Above her, Luo Shuimao, perched on a branch, tensed up. He cursed inwardly—he’d forgotten to reset the trap.
His palms grew clammy, his breath held as he watched the girl below.
The girl smirked but didn’t look up. Instead, she stared into the distance, as if plotting something.
Lin Ran followed her line of sight and broke into a cold sweat.
Hidden in the grass was a sniper, completely concealed except for a pair of sharp, sinister eyes.
Worse, he already had an arrow nocked, aimed directly at Luo Shuimao in the tree—the bowstring taut, ready to release at any moment.
[Lin Ran: "Holy crap, how did you miss this sniper in the grass earlier?"]
Lin Ran’s mind screamed in panic.
[Little Black: "He just got here, okay?"]
Little Black’s exasperated voice echoed back.
Lin Ran was about to warn them, but Luo Yao acted faster.
"Idiot, you’re being targeted!" Luo Yao’s voice cut through the air.
Though quiet, it carried undeniable force.
About ten meters away, Luo Yao leaped down, her movements as graceful as a swallow’s.
She landed in a crouch, then shot forward like an arrow, charging toward the sniper.
The girl on the ground scowled, irritation flashing in her eyes.Follow current novels on NovᴇlFir(e).nᴇt
She hurled a throwing dagger at Luo Yao—its blade glinting coldly in the sunlight, swift as lightning.
Luo Yao’s eyes narrowed as she tilted her head slightly, effortlessly dodging the deadly strike.
The momentum sent the girl stumbling forward a step.
Seizing the opportunity, Luo Shuigou grabbed one end of the rope and jumped down.
His movements were swift and precise, yanking the girl off her feet.
Yet even as she was hoisted into the air, her composure didn’t waver.
Mid-swing, she flung another dagger at Luo Shuigou from an impossible angle—its trajectory vicious, like a beast lunging for the kill.