Chapter 15: It Is I

“Xi, Xi Qi,” Lin Chuyi almost burst into tears, clutching Lin Qiyue’s arm tightly, her body trembling.

Lin Qiyue turned around, looking at her in confusion. “What’s wrong?”

“I… I’m trapped,” Lin Chuyi’s voice trembled with sobs. She stood frozen, unable to move. She tried to ignore the strange sensation on her ankle, but the more she tried, the clearer it became. The icy, chilling touch on her foot made her want to cry.

Lin Qiyue was startled as well. He quickly brought the lit tinderbox close to her foot, and sure enough, a bloodied hand was gripping Lin Chuyi’s ankle tightly.

“Don’t be afraid,” Lin Qiyue thought anxiously. Though he was a boy and felt a pang of fear himself, he couldn’t show it—otherwise, Chuyi would only become more unsettled.

He suddenly crouched down and used the tinderbox to burn the bloodied hand. The hand recoiled, and Lin Qiyue breathed a sigh of relief. That thing was indeed afraid of fire.

Just as he was about to continue, a hoarse and weak voice sounded out, “It’s me.”

Lin Chuyi’s tense nerves immediately relaxed at the faint voice, and then she collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

She was terrified—she had truly thought a ghost had come to capture her.

Lin Qiyue also relaxed. He now knew who it was. He moved the tinderbox forward and saw a bloodied man lying weakly on the ground, looking as if he could die at any moment.

“Yi Yi, go light the fire,” Lin Qiyue said, freeing the inconsolable Lin Chuyi. Handing the tinderbox to her, he then busied himself with his own tasks.

But with the dim light, he could only grope his way forward. “Yi Yi, hurry and light the fire.”

Lin Chuyi stared drowsily at the tinderbox in her hand. Only when Lin Qiyue urged her again did she snap back to attention.

She was quick, and soon the fire caught, brightening the cave instantly.

With the fire’s glow, Lin Qiyue’s speed increased. He had just poured a bowl of medicine for Mo Yu to drink and was now tending to his wounds.

As Lin Chuyi prepared to kneel beside him, Lin Qiyue’s dissatisfied voice rang out.

“What are you coming over here for? I’m dressing his wounds,” he implied she was a girl and it was inappropriate for her to be so close, so she should go about her own business.

Lin Chuyi looked at Lin Qiyue with a hint of grievance. “But I’m scared.”

Seeing her pitiful, little face, Lin Qiyue considered for a moment but still said, “Then sit behind me. Don’t look this way.”

Lin Chuyi nodded eagerly, like a chick pecking at rice, and quickly moved to sit behind him, leaning against his back. Only then did she feel safe.

Noticing her movement, Lin Qiyue shook his head helplessly. He felt more like a big brother than anything else.

After a brief moment, he resumed his work. He couldn’t deny Mo Yu’s injuries were severe.

Several wounds exposed bone; even Lin Qiyue, a man, involuntarily gasped. He couldn’t fathom how anyone could survive such grievous injuries.

While marveling at Mo Yu’s will to live, he couldn’t help but look up to see that Mo Yu was coldly watching him.

Feeling awkward, Lin Qiyue greeted, “Uh, hello.”

Mo Yu nodded and studied Lin Qiyue and the girl huddled behind him.

Seeing this, Lin Qiyue said no more and returned to his work. Once Mo Yu’s wounds were mostly treated, Lin Qiyue exhaled deeply.

Although the injuries were not his own, they were frightening to look at. Had it not been for what Yi Yi said earlier, he might have deeply admired this man.