Chapter 38
The sticky darkness like ink was left behind, and the distorted spatial halo closed behind him.
When their feet stepped onto the cold, solid concrete floor of the abandoned industrial zone on the edge of City C, the dazzling sunlight and the noisy voices of people suddenly came over them, making those who had just struggled out of the corridors of the abyss feel dizzy as if they were in another world.
The remaining members of the D City team supported each other, with fatigue on their faces from surviving the disaster and a hint of relief from gaining resources.
Lu Cheng tightly grasped Lin Yao's wrist, as if letting go would cause this treasure, now lost and recovered, to vanish again. He was whispering something to the captain, his eyes warily scanning the chaotic exit area.
Just then—
"Yaoyao!"
A hoarse cry, filled with great panic, ecstasy of recovery, and a trembling cry of disbelief, pierced through the noisy voices like thunder and hit everyone's eardrums.
Lin Yao's body stiffened slightly, almost imperceptibly.
Lu Cheng whipped his head around, his hawk-like gaze instantly fixed on the source of the sound. At the edge of the exit area, a tall figure desperately pushed aside the crowd blocking their path, charging forward like a runaway locomotive.
His hair was disheveled, his eye sockets were sunken, and his bloodshot eyes were filled with panic and tension that were almost overflowing, as well as the ecstasy that suddenly erupted when he saw Lin Yao, which was enough to burn everything.
Qin Feng!
The moment Lu Cheng saw who was coming, his face became as gloomy as the sky before a storm.
Qin Mu's brother! The Qin family member who used lies and illusions to take his beloved Yao Yao away from him and pushed him into the hell of City B.
He was actually here too? And... he actually dared to address Yaoyao with such an intimate, possessive name?!
Rage, like magma, instantly overwhelmed Lu Cheng's rationality. This was not only hostility towards his rival, but also deep hatred for all those involved in the conspiracy, a naked provocation.
"Get out of here!"
Lu Cheng practically roared as he stepped forward, tightly protecting Lin Yao behind him. Violent lightning crackled around him, unleashing the terrifying pressure of a peak S-rank master. The air seemed to be ionized, emitting a crackling sound.
Qin Feng's steps were stopped by this powerful aura, but he only had eyes for Lin Yao.
He ignored Lu Cheng's roar and murderous intent, his eyes fixed on Lin Yao's pale face. His voice was choked with broken sobs and unquestionable determination: "Yaoyao! Where have you been?! I've been looking for you like crazy, come back with me. I'll take you away from here!"
He stretched out his hand, desperately trying to grab Lin Yao's arm and pull him away from Lu Cheng.
"You're looking for death!"
Lu Cheng's eyes flashed with lightning. How could he possibly let Qin Feng touch Yao Yao again? Almost at the same time, he also reached out and grabbed Lin Yao's other arm.
In an instant——
Lin Yao's slender body became the center of the storm. Two equally powerful hands, each filled with irresistible will, simultaneously grasped his left and right wrists tightly like iron clamps.
"Let go!" Lu Cheng roared at Qin Feng, his eyes filled with rage and deep hatred. "As an accomplice, what right do you have to touch Yao Yao?! Let go of my hand!"
"Accomplice? Ha!" Qin Feng was not good at speaking, but at this moment he was completely ignited by Lu Cheng's accusation. He grabbed Lin Yao's wrist tightly, with such force that it almost broke his bones. His voice was icy and piercing, with extremely suppressed anger.
"It's you who should let go! Lu Cheng! You're a beast who would trade Yaoyao away just for resources. How much has Yaoyao been wronged and deceived in City D? Do you still want to drag him back to that hellhole?! Dream on!"
The two of them locked horns, neither giving an inch. Violent energy fluctuations clashed and surged wildly, centered around the two of them.
boom!
Silver snakes danced wildly around Lu Cheng, and a thick bolt of lightning struck uncontrollably at Qin Feng's feet, blasting a deep, charred pit into the hard concrete ground.
Buzz!
Qin Feng's eyes sharpened, and the force of space instantly twisted. The space around Lu Cheng felt as if being torn apart by invisible hands, emitting a tooth-grinding groan. If Lu Cheng hadn't reacted quickly and shielded himself with lightning, he would have been nearly sucked into the spatial rift.
The clash of peak S-rank experts, even just the aftermath of their aura and energy, instantly plunged the entire exit area into chaos and panic. Ordinary people screamed and fled, and the exploration team members from other cities also turned pale and retreated.
"stop!"
"This is City C! Private fighting is prohibited!"
Several powerful auras were rapidly approaching, and the patrol team from City C finally arrived. The leader was an S-level expert with a solemn aura.
Several energy barriers opened instantly, forcibly separating the two people who were about to engage in a full-scale conflict.
"Qin Feng! Lu Cheng! What do you want to do? Are you planning to tear down City C by fighting here?!"
The S-level leader of City C shouted harshly, his face livid.
The energies of Lu Cheng and Qin Feng, who were clashing with each other, were forcibly separated, but the hand holding Lin Yao's wrist still did not let go.
The two men were like lions fighting for their prey. Their eyes collided fiercely across the energy barrier erected by the C City team members, and there seemed to be real electric sparks crackling in the air.
The burning fighting spirit and determination to fight to the death in his eyes clearly told everyone - this matter is not over!
Lin Yao was held tightly by the two men. His slender wrists were tightened so hard that it hurt. His body was trembling slightly, and his face was as pale as paper. He looked frightened, at a loss, and fragile.
However, hidden under the drooping eyelashes, a cold, almost enjoyable pleasure was surging in those blue eyes.
Look.
What a fierce collision of emotions.
What a wonderful display of possessiveness and anger.
Without words, movements, or even a glance, just standing there, the two S-class warriors almost caused a disaster.
This sense of power to control everything and play with people's hearts is so intoxicating.
He could even clearly sense Qin Feng's ecstasy and panic at regaining what he had lost, and Lu Cheng's deep-seated anger and desire to protect.
These two completely different yet equally passionate emotions, like the most delicious nourishment, nourish his cold soul.
Especially... when Lu Cheng erupted in jealousy and possessiveness because of Qin Feng's appearance, a strange joy quietly grew deep in Lin Yao's heart, which he himself had not even noticed.
Although he immediately attributed this ripple to "observing a new, strong emotional sample", the subtle throbbing did exist.
Now, the choice is his.
Go with Qin Feng?
This is undoubtedly the most interesting choice. We can once again appreciate Lu Cheng's expression of utter despair after losing and regaining his love, only to be ruthlessly abandoned.
That would be great material, even darker and more devastating than last time.
Moreover, returning to Qin Feng in City B, as a victim "hurt by Lu Cheng again", would make it easier for him to obtain Qin Feng's unreserved protection and resource allocation, and it would also be more convenient for him to secretly investigate the movements of City A and the Purifiers.
Cold rationality clearly listed the various advantages of choosing Qin Feng in his mind.
However, the moment this thought arose, a picture flashed uncontrollably through Lin Yao's mind.
Lu Cheng, who was on the edge of the lava river, on the verge of death, breathing weakly but holding his hand tightly, murmuring with an illusory happy smile, "Yaoyao, we will never be separated again."
This scene is like a stone thrown into an icy lake, creating a circle of tiny but unignorable ripples.
He subconsciously looked at Lu Cheng, who was staring at Qin Feng intently, his eyes burning with desperate rage and a fierce determination to protect him. However, the hand that was holding his wrist was trembling slightly, as if he was afraid that he would really be snatched away.
Repeated material...no need to watch it again.
Lin Yao gave an indifferent explanation in his heart.
Just as the leader of City C cast a stern look over and was about to forcibly intervene in the distribution.
Lin Yao moved.
He exerted a little force, trying to break free from Qin Feng's hand.
Qin Feng felt his movements and his heart sank. His eyes were instantly filled with disbelief, panic, and hurt. He held on tighter, "Yaoyao? Don't be afraid. Come with me! I'll protect you! I won't let anyone hurt you again!"
He remembered Lin Yao's broken back as he silently shed tears in front of the window in City B, and his fragile appearance when he woke up from nightmares countless times, and his heart ached as if it were being cut by a knife.
It's all Lu Cheng's fault! This betrayer is to blame!
Lin Yao raised his head and looked at Qin Feng. Those beautiful blue eyes were filled with tears, filled with immense sadness, grievance, and a kind of… alienation that broke Qin Feng's heart.
"Master Qin Feng..." His voice was thick with tears. Gently but firmly, he pried open Qin Feng's fingers that were tightly grasping his wrist, one by one. "Thank you... but... I'm sorry..."
Every word was like a cold, blunt knife, piercing Qin Feng's heart.
He pried Qin Feng's hand away, then tilted his body slightly, leaning closer to Lu Cheng. He said nothing, only timidly looking at Lu Cheng with his tear-filled blue eyes, filled with dependence and "residual love," as if seeking shelter.
This action is worth a thousand words.
Lu Cheng's ecstasy erupted like a volcano. He suddenly hugged Lin Yao tightly in his arms with such strength that it seemed as if he wanted to rub the other person into his bones and blood.
He looked at Qin Feng with a look of triumph and a cold warning: "Did you hear me? Get out!"
Qin Feng froze in place, as if struck by lightning. He watched Lin Yao obediently embraced by Lu Cheng, and saw those blue eyes that once looked at him with such dependence now filled with alienation and resistance.
The immense loss, pain, and anger of being betrayed instantly overwhelmed him. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He could only stare at Lin Yao, his eyes broken and desperate, as if he had lost the light of the whole world.
Seeing this, the leader of City C immediately signaled his team to separate the two men and said to Lu Cheng in a deep voice, "Young Master Lu, take your men and leave immediately. Qin Feng, you must also return to the B City base immediately. If you dare to cause trouble in City C again, don't blame us for being rude!"
Lu Cheng snorted coldly and stopped looking at the distraught Qin Feng. He hugged Lin Yao tightly in his arms and, surrounded by the members of the D City team, quickly left the chaotic exit area with the attitude of a winner.
Qin Feng stood there, like a statue with its soul drained out. The sunlight filtered through the gray dome, casting a long, lonely shadow at his feet.
He looked at the direction where Lin Yao was taken away by Lu Cheng. The light in his eyes gradually dimmed and eventually turned into a bottomless, cold silence.
In Lu Cheng's arms, Lin Yao was hugged tightly, burying his face in the other's chest that smelled of blood and gunpowder, and a cold and satisfied arc quietly appeared at the corner of his lips.
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