32. Worry
The snow on the seventh day was particularly different. It was no longer the heavy, blanketing snowfall of the previous day. Instead, it was fine, hard ice crystals, carried by the strong wind and slamming fiercely against the roof and window frames, making a crackling sound, as if countless cold hands were constantly scratching at them.
The atmosphere inside the house was not much better than outside.
Xingchen's snow blindness had improved considerably under Mu Lin's meticulous care, but the boy remained afraid of light and spent most of his time in the dimly lit storage room. Ah Yan's anxiety reached a fever pitch. Unable to endure the feeling of being trapped and powerless, he paced back and forth in the small living room like a caged beast. Lei Qing, on the other hand, became even more silent. He spent countless hours inspecting every corner of the house, reinforcing every possible weak spot, his movements precise and tireless, like a perpetual machine.
Su Lin's eyes had returned to normal, but a deeper unease was brewing within him. Food was being consumed faster than expected. To withstand the severe cold, the body needed more energy. The firewood supply was dwindling at a noticeable rate. Mu Lin counted the supplies daily, the frown deepening each time.
"We have to reduce our daily rations even more," Mu Lin announced calmly at lunch, looking at the food on the table, which was noticeably smaller than usual. It was just a few hard, burnt wheat cakes and a small pot of thin vegetable soup.
A Yan looked at the pitiful portion in his bowl, his brows furrowed into knots, but he said nothing, just took a big bite of the wheat cake.
"I... I can eat less." Xingchen said in a low voice. He broke his cake in half and wanted to put it in Su Lin's bowl.
Su Lin gently blocked it and pushed the cake back in front of the boy. "You're growing, you need to eat more." He gave half of the soup in his bowl to Xingchen. "I'm not hungry."
Lei Qing silently placed his untouched wheat cake in front of Su Lin.
"Lei Qing..." Su Lin wanted to refuse.
"Eat." Lei Qing uttered a single word, his eyes filled with undeniable determination. He stood up and walked to the window, his back to everyone. His broad shoulders looked especially heavy in the dim light.
Su Lin looked at the rough wheat cake, his throat tightening. He knew this wasn't the time to be humble; maintaining his strength was his responsibility to everyone. He silently picked up the cake and ate it in small bites, finding it tasteless.
In the afternoon, the accident still happened.
There was a loud, dull thud outside the house, followed by the sharp sound of wood snapping. The whole house shook and dust fell from the ceiling.
"Roof!" A Yan was the first to jump up and rush to the door.
Lei Qing moved even faster, grabbing the tools leaning against the wall and flinging the door open. A gust of wind, tinged with icy particles, instantly rushed in, blinding the viewer. Through the swirling curtain of snow, he could see that a corner of the eastern roof had collapsed. Broken rafters, along with the thick snow, had fallen, blocking most of the doorway. It was only a few steps away from where they had stored some firewood.
"Damn it!" A Yan cursed and was about to rush out.
"Don't move!" Lei Qing shouted sharply. He stared at the rest of the roof, where more teeth-grinding creaking sounds were coming from. "The structure is unstable, it might collapse again!"
Mu Lin quickly protected Xingchen behind him, and Su Lin's heart was in his throat. The snow on the roof was too thick, far exceeding the load-bearing limit they estimated when reinforcing it.
"We must clear the snow immediately to reduce the weight, otherwise the entire east roof may be lost." Lei Qing's voice was still terrifyingly calm amid the howling wind and snow, but his hands, which were tightly gripping the tools and had white knuckles, revealed his nervousness.
"It's too dangerous!" Su Lin grabbed his arm. "If you go out now, you might be buried or hit by falling wood at any time!"
"We have no choice." Lei Qing looked at him, his eyes as deep as an ancient well. "If the house is gone, we won't survive this winter."
At this moment, Xingchen, who had been huddled behind Mu Lin, suddenly let out a suppressed cry of pain. The young man covered his eyes, his body trembling slightly. "My eyes... hurt again..."
Mu Lin immediately leaned over to check, his expression changing. "It's the tension and the strong light that's causing the recurrence. We must immediately get him back to the dark to calm down."
With the crisis of roof collapse in front and sudden injuries to companions behind, everyone froze in place for a moment, a chill of despair more biting than the wind and snow outside.
Su Lin looked at Xingchen, who was moaning in pain, then at the doorway, a world cloaked in snow and ruins, teeming with danger. Finally, his gaze settled on the solemn, resolute faces of Lei Qing and A Yan. An unprecedented feeling of powerlessness gripped him. He hated this feeling, hated that at this crucial moment, he could do nothing but worry and wait.
A strong desire to protect everyone surged and crashed through his chest like magma, nearly burning him. He unconsciously took a step forward, his eyes fixed on the chaotic world of ice and snow outside the door.
Stop!
A silent cry exploded in his mind.
Miraculously, at the moment when he focused his mind, an invisible, gentle wave spread out rapidly like ripples on water, with him as the center.
Mu Lin was the first to notice the change. He jerked his head up, looking at Su Lin in astonishment. In that instant, he felt the violent, icy energy in the air around him soften and calm, as if being gently caressed by a gentle hand. Even the razor-sharp wind that streamed in through the hole in the roof seemed to have lost some of its bite.
Then, A Yan was also stunned. He rubbed his eyes and said uncertainly: "...Do you feel that the wind... seems to have died down?"
Lei Qing's sharp gaze immediately turned to Su Lin. Being closest to him, he could clearly sense a reassuring power emanating from him. Though weak, it was incredibly resolute. He saw Su Lin's eyes tightly closed, his brow furrowed, beads of sweat oozing from his forehead, and his body trembling slightly, as if he were bearing a tremendous burden.
At this moment, Su Lin felt himself trapped in a strange state. He could neither see nor hear the outside world, yet his mind seemed to have established a vague connection with his surroundings. He could feel the restless, heavy snow on the roof, the ice crystals dancing wildly in the air. He concentrated all his consciousness, trying to soothe them, to sort out the chaos.
He didn't know what he was doing, he just felt instinctively that this was the right thing to do.
The effect is immediate.
The unsettling creaking noise from the roof subsided significantly. The wind, though still blowing, had lost its previous frantic, destructive force and had become more docile. Most miraculously, Stardust's moans softened. He released his hand from covering his eyes and murmured, somewhat bewilderedly, "...it seems...it doesn't hurt as much..."
Mu Lin immediately checked his eyes and found that the previous congestion and photophobia symptoms were rapidly easing. He looked at Su Lin in disbelief, and an astonishing guess formed in his mind.
It was obvious that Su Lin’s healing ability had no effect on this kind of pain before, how could this happen?
"Su Lin!" Lei Qing took a step forward and supported the staggering Su Lin.
That strange feeling of connection was instantly severed, and a strong sense of dizziness and weakness overwhelmed Su Lin like a tide. His legs gave way, and he collapsed into Lei Qing's strong arms, gasping for breath, his face as pale as paper.
"What's wrong with me?" he asked weakly, his voice hoarse.
"...You did it." Mu Lin's voice trembled slightly. He walked over to Su Lin and carefully sensed the energy ripples around him that had not yet completely subsided. "It was you who calmed the snowstorm, and it was you who soothed Xingchen's mental pain."
A Yan opened his mouth wide, looked at the roof, then at Su Lin, and finally pinched himself hard, "Am I dreaming? Su Lin, you...can't you only heal viruses and bleeding injuries?"
Lei Qing said nothing. He simply tightened his arms, hugging the frail Su Lin even tighter, warming his cold body with his own warmth. Those usually calm eyes now swelled with shock, worry, and a hint of hidden fear. Su Lin had just looked like he was about to burn himself to death.
"I... I don't know..." Su Lin leaned against Lei Qing's chest, feeling his steady and powerful heartbeat. His chaotic thoughts gradually calmed down. "I just... I don't want anything to happen to anyone..."
"This is a type of healing ability, also known as a 'territory' ability." Mu Lin took a deep breath and tried to explain in a calm tone. "It's extremely rare, and tends towards 'order' and 'comfort'. It can't directly create or destroy, but it can affect the environment within a certain range, calming chaotic energy, and even... soothing the mind." He looked at Xingchen, "The relief you just felt was not an illusion."
Xingchen opened his eyes, which had regained their clarity, and looked at Su Lin with admiration, "Brother Su Lin, you are so awesome!"
After a brief moment of shock, the reality remains. The roof crisis has only been temporarily alleviated, not resolved.
"How do you feel?" Lei Qing lowered his head and asked Su Lin in his arms, his voice softer than ever before.
"I'm a little tired... but I can still hold on." Su Lin tried to stand up straight, but Lei Qing didn't let go. He still half-hugged him to support him.
"How long can your ability last? What's the range?" Mu Lin asked the key question.
Su Lin shook his head. "I don't know... I just... was in a hurry..."
Lei Qing pondered for a moment and made a decision: "Su Lin, you stay at the door and try to maintain this... 'soothing' effect. A Yan and I will hurry to clear the snow and reinforce the roof. Mu Lin, you take care of Xingchen and keep an eye on Su Lin's condition."
This is the only feasible solution at the moment. Su Lin nodded.
When I opened the door again, the wind and snow outside had indeed become much milder. The ice crystals no longer struck like bullets, but fell gently. The wind had also died down. While still cold, it was no longer so cold that it made it difficult to walk.
Su Lin stood at the door, concentrating his mind, trying to replicate the mysterious feeling he had just experienced. This time, he was prepared, no longer as reckless and laborious as the first time. He could feel the invisible force field he had released, like a small, warm bubble, enveloping the area near the door, isolating the violent wind and snow, maintaining the "order" of this small world.
Lei Qing and A Yan, wearing thick clothing and goggles, quickly plunged into the dangerous cleanup work. A Yan was responsible for clearing the collapsed snow and broken wood with a shovel, while Lei Qing nimbly climbed onto the remaining roof structure to check other support points and make temporary reinforcements.
Su Lin stood at the doorway, his face still pale, but his eyes focused and determined. The cold wind whipped his hair across his forehead, and fine beads of sweat oozed out, quickly turning cold in the freezing temperature. He could feel his physical and mental strength slowly and steadily draining, as if an invisible tube were draining his body.
Mu Lin settled Xingchen in a safe corner, then walked over to Su Lin with a thick blanket and gently draped it over his shoulders. He didn't disturb Su Lin, but stood quietly behind him, keeping an eye on his condition and ready to take over at any time.
Time passed in a tense silence. Outside, the sounds of Lei Qing and A Yan working hard were heard, while inside, Su Lin's gentle breathing could be heard.
An unknown amount of time passed before Su Lin felt his consciousness begin to blur and his legs weaken slightly when a warm, large hand firmly supported his lower back. It was Lei Qing.
"It's OK." Lei Qing's deep voice rang in his ears, "The main danger has been eliminated."
Su Lin's mind relaxed, and the strength that had supported him instantly dissipated. His body softened, and he leaned completely into Lei Qing's arms, his eyelids so heavy that he couldn't lift them.
"He's overexerted." Mu Lin immediately stepped forward and put his fingers on Su Lin's wrist to sense his condition.
Ah Yan also walked in from outside, took off his goggles, his face a mixture of fatigue and excitement, "Done! It won't collapse for a while! Su Lin, you are amazing!"
Lei Qing said nothing, simply lifting the semi-conscious Su Lin horizontally, his movements as gentle as if he were handling a fragile treasure. He walked straight to the bedroom and carefully laid Su Lin on the thick fur-covered bed.
Mu Lin followed in and fed Su Lin some warm, soothing herbal juice. A Yan and Xing Chen stood guard at the door, their faces filled with worry.
Before Su Lin fell into a deep sleep, he vaguely felt that a rough and warm hand had been holding his hand tightly without letting go.
When he woke up again, it was already late at night. The firelight from the fireplace shone through the crack in the door, casting a faint light in the darkness. He found himself lying in bed, covered with thick fur, and someone was holding his hand.
He moved slightly, and Lei Qing, who was sleeping lightly on the edge of the bed, woke up immediately.
"Awake?" Lei Qing's voice was hoarse with sleep. He reached out and touched Su Lin's forehead. "How do you feel?"
"Much better..." Su Lin answered softly and found that his voice was a little dry.
Lei Qing stood up and quickly brought a cup of warm water. He carefully helped Su Lin up and held the cup to his lips. Su Lin took a few sips from his hand. The warm water moistened his thirsty throat and made him feel much more awake.
"What about them?"
"They're all asleep." Lei Qing put down the cup, but didn't let go of the hand that supported him. "Mu Lin stayed up until midnight. I just replaced him."
The room was very quiet. All that could be heard was each other's soft breathing and the sound of the wind and snow outside, which was still going on but had obviously become much milder.
"I...that ability..." Su Lin said hesitantly.
"Mu Lin said that it is a very powerful ability." Lei Qing continued. In the darkness, his eyes were particularly deep. "But it is also very exhausting. In the future, don't use it lightly unless it is absolutely necessary." There was unmistakable concern in his tone, even a hint of pleading.
Su Lin's heart moved and he nodded, "Yeah."
After a moment of silence, Lei Qing spoke again, his voice low and slow: "Today... I'm very scared."
Su Lin was stunned. He had never heard Lei Qing speak in such a tone.
"When you collapsed with a pale face," Lei Qing's grip tightened unconsciously, causing Su Lin to feel some pain, "I was afraid of losing you."
In the dim light, he could see the undisguised fear and seriousness in Lei Qing's eyes.
"I won't." Su Lin promised softly, holding Lei Qing's rough hand with his backhand, "For you, I will be fine too."
Lei Qing gave him a deep look and said nothing more. But he leaned down, his forehead gently resting against Su Lin's. It was a gesture devoid of lust, yet filled with dependence and affirmation. Their breaths mingled, and they could both feel the reassuring warmth and strength emanating from each other.
This silent action carries more weight than any words.
After a long while, Lei Qing finally stood up and said, "Sleep a little longer, it's almost dawn."
Su Lin lay down again and watched Lei Qing return to the chair beside the bed. His back, in the dim light, resembled a silent and reliable mountain. The sound of wind and snow outside seemed like a distant background noise. A strange sense of calm and warmth enveloped him.
The awakening of his superpowers brought new hope, but also new responsibilities and unknowns. But at this moment, he had only one thought in his mind:
No matter how many difficulties and obstacles there are in the future, they will face them together.
With this belief, he fell into a peaceful sleep again.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
