Chapter 361 Do you like me?

The battle erupted instantly.

Shen Cong suddenly leaped up, his long sword slicing through a sharp, hard line as he charged toward the man in black.

The man in black instinctively stepped back.

"Walk!"

Taking advantage of the brief moment he had forced his opponent back, he turned and roared at Li Nanke.

In that brief moment of distraction, a long sword pierced his back.

"don't want!"

Li Nanke screamed and pounced forward, her whip swiftly knocking the opponent's sword away.

Suddenly, a foot reached out from the side and stomped hard on her calf.

Her leg hurt, she lost her footing and balance, and fell backward.

The feeling of weightlessness gripped her instantly; her heart felt like it was going to jump out of her throat, and the wind howled past her ears.

She waved her hands in mid-air, trying to grab onto anything she could use for leverage, only to find, to her dismay, that there was nothing on the bare cliff.

"Ke'er!"

A low growl came from above the cliff.

"Ninth Brother, no..."

Before she could finish speaking, Shen Cong had already leaped down, trying to reach out and grab her.

Li Nanke stared wide-eyed at Shen Cong.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment; all she could see was Chen Cong getting closer and closer.

"boom!"

The icy river water felt like thousands of steel needles, piercing her body instantly and chilling her to the bone.

The immense impact nearly made her faint. She struggled instinctively, her body swept away by the rushing river, sinking downwards.

A cold hand gripped her tightly!

It's Ninth Brother!

Li Nanke instantly regained his senses.

She can swim!

I had completely forgotten about that just now.

Li Nanke gripped Shen Cong's hand tightly with one hand, while swinging her other arm, trying to swim upwards.

Shen Cong could also swim, and the two of them worked together to quickly surface.

Suddenly, a huge wave crashed over them, engulfing them and breaking their tightly clasped hands.

Li Nanke was startled. The next moment, Shen Cong reached up with his other hand and hugged her waist tightly.

"Ke'er, hold me tight!"

In the darkness, Li Nanke couldn't see Shen Cong's face, but he could hear his tense voice.

She instinctively wrapped her arms tightly around his waist.

The two were swept downstream by the giant waves.

In the darkness, they had no idea how far they had been swept by the water until the waves gradually subsided, at which point they managed to swim ashore with great difficulty.

With difficulty, Li Nanke coughed up the river water that had choked his nose and mouth. The water had a fishy, ​​sweet taste and a metallic smell. He then lay down on the cold, wet gravel.

Death lay beside him, his face as pale as paper.

Their eyes met, and they spoke at the same time.

"How are you?"

Li Nanke shook his head. "Not good, it's so cold. Ninth Brother, you must be cold too."

She grasped Shen Cong's icy hand, trying to warm it with her own.

With her help, Shen Cong sat up, his voice hoarse.

“Those men in black could search along the river at any moment. This is not a place to stay for long. We must find a way to leave.”

Li Nanke looked around.

This is an extremely secluded river bend, with steep, insurmountable rock walls on both sides.

"This cliff is too steep; there's no way we can climb it."

Shen Cong's gaze paused slightly.

“Look over there.”

Following the direction he pointed, Li Nanke looked and, by the faint moonlight, discovered a dark cave entrance at the bottom of the cliff.

The river water swirled as it flowed in, as if it were being swallowed by the cave entrance.

"Let's go inside and hide there first."

Li Nanke helped Shen Cong, and the two moved step by step into the cave.

The entrance to the cave was so narrow that only one person could squeeze in by turning sideways and bending over.

As soon as you step inside, the moonlight is completely blocked out of the cave, and it is pitch black inside. You can only hear the sound of flowing water.

The water was almost knee-deep and icy cold.

Li Nanke couldn't help but shiver.

Shen Cong subconsciously tightened his grip on her shoulders, pulling her closer to him, and then took out a tinderbox and lit it.

Using the dim light, they slowly walked inside.

As you go further in, the water level gradually decreases. After walking for about two miles, there is no more water, and you can see dry ground.

"Let's sit here and rest for a while."

Shen Cong pointed to the stone next to him and helped Li Nanke sit down.

"I'll go see if there are any branches here to start a fire, otherwise we'll get colder and colder."

They were lucky; they found some branches not far away, probably brought in by a strong wind or a giant wave.

The branches weren't dry, but they could still be lit.

The firelight, accompanied by the crackling sound of burning firewood, dispelled the chill in the cave.

The two sat side by side and, without prior arrangement, first reached out their hands to warm themselves by the fire.

Their hands touched in mid-air. Li Nanke trembled, her pretty face flushed, and she withdrew her hand.

In the midst of the crisis, the two had held hands and hugged. Now that she had calmed down and come to her senses, she blushed and felt hot as she recalled what had just happened.

"What's wrong?"

Shen Cong seemed oblivious to her odd behavior, turning his head to look at her with a deep, unfathomable gaze.

Li Nanke's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly shook his head.

"No...it's nothing. Ninth Brother, take off your coat and warm it up in the sun so you don't catch a cold."

The two climbed out of the water, their clothes soaked through and clinging stickily to their bodies.

Shen Cong took off his outer garment and held it near the fire.

"You've taken off the grill too."

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned slightly to the side.

"Don't worry, I won't look at you."

Li Nanke's face grew even hotter.

After taking off her outer clothes, leaving only her underwear, she felt very uncomfortable.

Seeing Shen Cong turn around, she took off her outer garment and, while drying it, looked at Shen Cong's profile.

The firelight illuminated his profile, revealing glimpses of his long eyelashes.

Li Nanke hesitated for a moment, then asked in a low voice, "Ninth Brother, why did you jump down after me?"

Shen Cong's eyelashes trembled slightly. After a moment of silence, he said softly, "I brought you out here, so naturally I can't watch you get into danger."

This was not the answer she had expected. Li Nanke was somewhat disappointed. She took a deep breath, mustered her courage, and asked the question she had always wanted to ask.

"Ninth Brother, we've known each other for seven years. I want to know what you think of me? Do you... like me?"

Shen Cong's hand trembled, and the clothes in his hand almost fell into the fire.

He reacted quickly and managed to retrieve the clothes.

Her fingers unconsciously clenched her clothes, and she turned her head almost entirely towards the stone wall, not daring to look at Li Nanke.

After a long silence, he forced himself to speak in a cold voice.

"We've known each other for seven years, and you still don't understand me? Let me tell you, I have no intention of ever liking anyone in my life..."

"Ninth Brother!"

Li Nanke's voice sounded from behind, tinged with obvious trembling.

Shen Cong suddenly clenched his fist.

Damn, did he say something too harsh?

But by not saying anything too serious, she was giving him hope. What would Li Nanke do if the blood curse were to flare up in the future?

Shen Cong was caught in a painful internal struggle when suddenly his arm was gently tugged.

Li Nanke's voice was urgent.

"Ninth Brother, look what that is!"