Chapter 101 Loran's Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

"Boom!"

After the last few loud explosions, this side of the passage fell into dead silence.

On the other side, smoke and dust filled the air.

You Lingyu, supporting his "injured" subordinate, staggered out of the danger zone.

But his face showed no sign of worry; instead, it was filled with excitement.

"Dean! This landslide was all because of Ning Shuyin! Her unstable F-level ability activated these vines in the ruins."

"I even suspect she is a spy from a foreign tribe."

You Lingyu threw out the most vicious accusation.

"Don't talk nonsense." Su Zhe wiped the dirt off his face and rushed over, saying, "She's not that kind of person."

Dean Sanger looked at the chaotic scene before him, his head throbbing with pain.

Missions, casualties, infighting...

The already high-risk exploration of ancient ruins has been made even more difficult.

"We must go back and rescue them immediately!" Su Zhe said urgently. "The passage is blocked, and they are trapped in great danger."

"Save us?" You Lingyu sneered, pointing to the still writhing vines behind him. "Do you want us all buried alive? To risk the lives of our entire elite squad for a single F-level spy?"

"Shut up, all of you!" Dean Sanger shouted sternly.

His gaze swept across the group and landed on Lisa.

Fortunately, another navigator was still on his side.

Sanger closed his eyes wearily.

He knew he had to make a decision.

“The mission is paramount, let’s move on.” Sanger deliberately avoided Su Zhe’s eyes. “…We’ll talk about the rescue when we get back.”

Su-cheol still wanted to speak up and try to persuade them.

Just then, the communication channel suddenly emitted a "buzzing" sound.

The signal interference is severe.

Sanger took a look.

It was a communication from Loran.

"Dr. Loran, how are things on your end? How is Miss Ning?"

Sanger's tone lacked confidence. His voice even dropped a few decibels towards the end: "Our situation here is dire; we're unable to organize a rescue operation for the time being. Could you... perhaps find a way to rejoin the team on your own?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the communicator.

Then came Loran's signature cold laugh.

"Hmph, I'll take responsibility for my own people."

"Your stupidity has nothing to do with me."

The moment he finished speaking, he unilaterally cut off the communication.

"Sizzle—"

At this very moment, on the other side of the passage.

The thick vines were still moving slowly.

It occasionally brings down some gravel.

"Ning Shuyin, how are you feeling?"

From the darkness came Loran's voice, so calm it seemed unreal.

“…I’m fine,” Ning Shuyin replied.

Fearing that it would trigger an environmental stress response, neither of them dared to turn on the flashlight.

Ning Shuyin tried to move a little.

However, a sharp pain came from my right ankle.

She felt around and found that her leg was pinned down by a stone slab.

Suddenly, a rustling sound approached.

She unleashed her perception.

It's Loran.

In the darkness, Loran's usually cold and fair face was covered in dust and looked somewhat dirty.

He crouched down, one hand supporting him on the ground, the other exploring in front of him.

Clearly, he was cautiously groping his way towards her, following the direction from which she had made her voice.

"Stop for a moment," Ning Shuyin suddenly said.

"What's wrong?" Loran asked.

Their voices were exceptionally clear in the darkness.

There's something in front of your right knee. Move to the left.

On the ground lay the remains of a small animal covered in thorns.

“Okay,” Loran replied.

In the darkness, Loran did not hesitate.

He moved according to Ning Shuyin's guidance, avoiding various dangers.

Finally, his fingertips gently touched her knee.

It's not just a simple search.

Rather, it is the sense of destiny that brings people together and helps each other in times of hardship.

"My foot is trapped under the stone slab," Ning Shuyin said.

Which way?

"right."

He followed her directions and touched the stone slab.

“The situation is a bit complicated,” Ning Shuyin said in a low voice, sensing the structure of the stone slab. “There are some loose stones supporting the slab underneath. You need to lift it up first, and then… push it back.”

Lorraine stood very close to her.

She was trapped and could not retreat.

As she spoke, her warm breath would gently brush against Loran's face.

In the darkness, Loran's face showed no disgust.

"Understood," he replied.

He slowly adjusted his posture and found the optimal point of force with both hands.

"Raise it up..."

"Okay, you can push it away now."

As soon as she finished speaking, Loran exerted his strength.

He flung the heavy stone slab behind him with a thud.

"Splash!"

The sound of the stone slabs rolling echoed in the small space, only to be absorbed by the surrounding vegetation.

"Watch your step," Ning Shuyin whispered.

Because Loran lifted her foot when she exerted force.

Now, he landed right on a round rock.

Lorraine reacted quickly. He bent over to gain leverage and steady himself.

But a wriggling vine just happened to pass by the ground.

Lorraine stepped onto a loose vine. Her body lurched forward due to inertia.

Ning Shuyin felt a gust of cold wind hit her face. The next second, a figure exuding a chilling aura completely enveloped her.

Lorraine instinctively reached out her hand, trying to brace herself against the ground.

When he landed, he placed one hand on her ear and the other on her waist.

This posture is really intimate.

His warm breath brushed against her neck, carrying the hurriedness caused by Zang Cai moving the stone slab.

Ning Shuyin's perception allowed her to see the helplessness filling his deep red eyes.

Time seemed to stand still.

After what seemed like an eternity, he spoke in a deep voice in her ear:

"……Feel sorry."

Then, with very restrained force, he lifted his body.

After creating distance again, he knelt down in front of her.

"Are you able to walk? Is there anything wrong with your equipment?" he asked her.

Ning Shuyin tried to move.

"My ankle hurts a bit, and the safety buckle on my shoe seems to be malfunctioning."

“Let me see,” said Lorraine.

Although he said that, he didn't do anything. He was seeking her opinion.

Ning Shuyin subconsciously hummed in agreement.

The next moment, a pair of hands reached out and touched her right foot.

“It needs to be taken off and re-secured,” Loran said.

"I can do it myself," Ning Shuyin said somewhat shyly.

However, despite her efforts, she was unable to overcome the complex pressure-sensing latches.

"It seems...not quite right," Ning Shuyin said awkwardly.

Loran shook his head in the darkness: "You don't understand the mechanics of the combat suit enough; you can't take it off like that."

There was a movement in the darkness. He had taken off his combat gloves.

The man's fingers moved to her calf and touched the emergency pressure mechanism under the leg of her combat uniform trousers.

Just a gentle press.

With a "clatter".

The boot surface bounces open to both sides like flower petals.

Her calves and ankles were suddenly exposed to the cool air of the cave.

The next second, cool fingers covered her ankle.

The contrast between cold and heat made Ning Shuyin shiver and her toes curl up.

In the darkness, both of them paused for a moment.

“No fractures,” he said, turning her foot around in his hand. “No soft tissue damage either.”

He released her hand, ending the examination.

However, Ning Shuyin's heart was pounding with difficulty.

This man with obsessive-compulsive disorder about cleanliness just now...

A sound arose again in the darkness. He pulled something out of his equipment bag.

"Let's use medical patches instead of boot buckles for now," he said.

Then, he touched and stuck the medical patch onto the inside of his boot.

A warm hand grasped her ankle once more.

He was very careful as he helped her put her combat boots on properly.

His fingertips inevitably touched her skin again, and he restrained himself, showing no emotion whatsoever.

The boot was pressed tightly, fitting perfectly with the medical patch.

"Alright." He let go of her hand. "Give it a try."

Ning Shuyin tried to move around a bit.

The medical patch has extremely strong adhesion, securing the boot surface very firmly.

"No problem."

"Hmm." Loran stood up and reached out to pull her up.

In the darkness, his presence remained close, enveloping her.

His voice remained absolutely calm.

However, Ning Shuyin knew that he was suppressing a great deal of emotion.

She reached out, wanting to take his wrist.

But she stopped a moment before she touched him.

"What's wrong?" Loran asked.

"There seems to be a space behind these plants... there's a space here."