48. Library
A Yan's appearance instantly ignited the oppressive atmosphere in the mine. He was steaming with the heat of travel and the lingering rage. His fiery red hair, illuminated by Mu Lin's aquamarine light, resembled a burning wildfire. He carried his signature short axe on his shoulder, its blade still stained with a mixture of mutant blood and snow.
"Ayan!" Su Lin exclaimed in surprise. The emotions that had been suppressed by tension and weakness finally relaxed a little when he saw this familiar and bold face, and a genuine smile appeared on his pale face.
Lei Qing's tense jawline relaxed for a moment, almost imperceptibly. Though his eyes remained stern, the murderous intent he held against Ling Ye subsided slightly. He leaned sideways, allowing Ah Yan a clearer view of Su Lin, who was shielding him from behind.
Xingchen's eyes lit up. Although he was weak, he still tried to stand up straight. There was an imperceptible hint of dependence in his eyes when he looked at A Yan, as if he saw a reliable brother.
Only Ling Ye, when A Yan's scrutinizing and undisguised hostility swept over him, tensed his body slightly and subconsciously took half a step back, hiding himself deeper in the shadow of the rock wall.
"Damn it! You're really here!" Ah Yan strode over, his eyes fixed on Su Lin. He scanned him from head to toe several times, confirming that he seemed to be intact except for his pale face. He breathed a sigh of relief, then glared at Lei Qing angrily, "Lei Qing! You really brought this Black Stone bastard to rescue people?! If I hadn't been lucky enough to run into a few lone gray-robed bastards outside, force them to tell him some information, and then follow the noise to find you, are you planning to die in this ghost cave?!"
His voice was so loud that it echoed in the narrow mine tunnel, making people's eardrums buzz.
Lei Qing ignored his accusations and said coldly, "Why did you come back?"
"Nonsense! Of course I came back to save Su Lin!" A Yan jumped up and down like a cat whose tail was stepped on, "Do you want me to watch you get killed by this guy from Black Stone?!" His hostile gaze pierced Ling Ye again.
Ling Ye smiled bitterly, without any explanation, and just lowered his head in silence.
"Ayan," Su Lin spoke softly, his voice a little tired but unusually clear, "Ling Ye... provided key intelligence and help to rescue me this time." He did not say trust, but simply stated the facts.
Ah Yan was stunned for a moment. He looked at Su Lin, then at Mu Lin, whose face was grim, and Lei Qing, whose eyes were cold. Finally, he stared suspiciously at Ling Ye for a few seconds, snorted, and stopped scolding him, but the vigilance in his eyes did not diminish in the slightest. He scratched his hair in annoyance. "Alright, alright! I'm glad he's okay! This place stinks. Let's get out of here first!"
The pursuers from Guichen Sect may arrive at any time, so this is definitely not the time to argue.
Everyone said no more. A Yan and Lei Qing led the way side by side, Mu Lin supported Su Lin, and Xing Chen and Ling Ye stayed behind as they evacuated quickly towards the mine exit.
With the addition of Ah Yan, a powerful new force, it became much easier to clear out the scattered mutants blocking the exit. Wherever the blazing flames passed, they left behind a trail of charred debris.
When they finally breathed the relatively fresh, cool air outside, everyone felt as if they were in another world. It had already darkened completely, and the wind and snow seemed to have subsided, but the chill was even stronger. They were now located behind a rocky slope outside Black Mine Town, temporarily out of the immediate threat.
"What should we do now?" Mu Lin looked at Lei Qing, then at A Yan, who had just returned to the team. Xing Chen also looked up, awaiting a decision. Ling Ye consciously stood a little further away, minimizing his presence.
Lei Qing's gaze swept across the crowd, finally landing on Su Lin's still pale face. He said in a deep voice, "We need a safe place to rest. Su Lin needs to recover, and so does Xingchen."
Ah Yan immediately chimed in, "I know a place! About half a day's walk south, there's an abandoned library built on the edge of a cliff! It's easy to defend, but hard to attack. There's a guy inside who knows a bit about medicine, I think his name is... Bai Yan? I met him when I passed by. He looked frail, but he seemed okay. He wasn't involved with the Guichen Sect or the Black Stone Base."
A library? Someone who knows medicine?
This is undoubtedly good news. What Su Lin and Xingchen need most now is a stable environment and treatment.
"Is it reliable?" Lei Qing looked at A Yan with a sharp gaze. After what happened with Ling Ye, he was extremely wary of any outsiders.
A Yan curled his lips and said, "Anyway, he's much more reliable than some guy with unknown origins! That place is remote, and the Guichen Sect won't be able to find it for a while. And from what I see, Bai Yan is just a bookworm, he's not a threat."
Mu Lin pondered and said, "If there is someone who knows medicine, it will be beneficial to Su Lin and Xingchen's recovery. We are not in good condition now and need a relatively safe environment."
Su Lin also nodded. He felt the weakness in his body surge up like a tide and he really needed to rest.
"Let's go to the library," Lei Qing finally decided. He looked at Ling Ye, "You, follow closely. Don't try to act rashly."
Ling Ye nodded silently.
The team set off again, led by A Yan, and took advantage of the cover of night and snow to trek towards the cliff library in the south.
Along the way, although Ah Yan still treated Ling Ye with a cold scowl, he focused most of his attention on Su Lin. He would sometimes lean over to ask if Su Lin was cold, and sometimes complain that Mu Lin was walking too fast and making Su Lin tired. His cautious and awkward expression of concern was a stark contrast to his usual impulsive and irritable persona.
"Ayan, I'm really fine, just a little tired." Su Lin was a little amused by him, but he felt warm in his heart.
"Don't talk if you're tired! Save your energy, okay?" A Yan replied in a rough voice, but he calmly slowed down his pace so that Su Lin could follow more easily.
Although Lei Qing remained silent, he always walked on Su Lin's other side, using his broad back to shield him from the harshest wind. His eyes would occasionally pass over Su Lin, filled with a deep, almost instinctive protectiveness.
Xingchen trailed closely behind Su Lin, like a little tail. His mental energy was overdrawn, and his head still throbbed, but he endured it, trying to perceive his surroundings and keep Su Lin within his protection. His gaze toward A Yan and Lei Qing was less timid than before, more observant and learning, as if he were considering how to more effectively protect those important to him, just like them.
Ling Ye followed quietly at the end, maintaining a subtle distance from the group. He looked at the invisible yet resilient bond between the four people ahead, his eyes filled with a complex mixture of envy and a hint of loneliness.
At midnight, they finally arrived at the cliff library that A Yan mentioned.
It was a simple stone building, built against a steep cliff. Most of the windows were broken, sealed with wooden boards or thick animal hides. Only a single window on the top floor offered a faint, steady light. A narrow, ice-covered stone staircase, like a hanging ladder, wound from the cliff bottom to the library's unusually heavy oak door.
"That's it." A Yan pointed at the light, "Bai Yan should be up there."
Everyone climbed cautiously along the slippery stone steps. Lei Qing was the first to reach the front door. He didn't knock immediately, but instead carefully examined the hinges and surrounding marks.
"There are defensive runes, very weak, but very sophisticated." Mu Lin sensed it and whispered, "It's not offensive, more like a warning and reinforcement."
Lei Qing nodded, raised his hand, and knocked on the heavy wooden door with the handle of the knife.
There was silence inside the door for a moment. Then, a gentle yet slightly wary young man's voice came through the door: "Who?"
"It's me! A Yan! Open the door!" A Yan shouted impatiently.
Silence followed for a few seconds, followed by the creaking sound of sliding chains. The heavy oak door slid open a crack, revealing a delicate, refined face wearing gold-rimmed glasses. He appeared to be in his early twenties, with fair complexion and soft, light brown hair, meticulously combed. Even in this apocalyptic environment, he exuded a neat and tidy air of scholarly grace. He wore a cotton robe, washed to a pale white, yet still immaculate, over a thick fur vest.
This is Bai Yan.
His eyes quickly swept over the five people outside the door, lingering for a moment on the embarrassed but fierce A Yan, the cold Lei Qing, the weak Su Lin and Xing Chen, and finally, with a hint of imperceptible solemnity, he fell on Ling Ye who was standing at the back.
"Mr. A Yan," Bai Yan pushed his glasses on the bridge of his nose, his voice still gentle, but with obvious alienation and scrutiny, "You seem to have brought... too many friends. Moreover, the aura of one of them makes me feel uncomfortable." He was obviously referring to Ling Ye.
Just as A Yan was about to speak, Lei Qing stepped forward, slightly blocking Su Lin behind him, and looked at Bai Yan calmly: "We need a place to rest. Two people are injured and need treatment. In return, we can provide food or help you strengthen your defenses." He did not mention Ling Ye, nor did he explain too much.
Bai Yan's gaze passed Lei Qing and fell on Su Lin, who was protected behind him. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes when he saw Su Lin's overly beautiful features and pure yet weak aura. He then noticed Xingchen, who was supported by Mu Lin, with a pale face but a determined look in his eyes.
He pondered for a moment, as if weighing the pros and cons. Finally, he sighed softly and stepped aside to make way for the door. "Come in. It's not a big place, so please be quiet. And..." His gaze swept over Ling Ye again, "Sir, please be sure to control your... breath."
The interior of the library was more spacious than it appeared from the outside, but also more dilapidated. Most of the tall bookshelves had collapsed, and books lay scattered across the floor, covered in thick dust. The air was filled with a strange smell of moldy paper and herbs. Only a small area near the fireplace had been cleared, housing simple tables and chairs, a bed covered with clean animal hides, and several wooden shelves filled with bottles and jars containing various dried herbs and unidentified liquids. A small fire burned in the fireplace, providing limited light and heat.
Bai Yan gestured for them to place Su Lin and Xingchen on the beds. He first walked over to Xingchen and carefully examined his pupils and pulse. He then gently pressed his forehead, his brow furrowed slightly. "Your mental energy is severely overdrawn, and your sea of consciousness is showing signs of slight tearing... You need rest and calming medication." He turned and took a ceramic jar from a wooden shelf. He poured out some dark green, cooling powder, mixed it with water, and gestured for Xingchen to take it.
Xingchen looked at Su Lin, and when he saw Su Lin nod, he obediently drank the bitter medicine.
Then, Bai Yan came to Su Lin. He examined him more carefully, placing his fingers on Su Lin's wrist pulse. He closed his eyes and felt for a long moment, his face gradually filled with disbelief and shock. He suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Su Lin: "You... your life source... was it nearly exhausted before? But now... it's repairing and... growing at an incredible speed? How is this possible?!"
Su Lin was a little confused by his question and shook his head: "I don't know... I just feel like something has been stimulated..."
Bai Yan stared at him with burning eyes, as if he had discovered some rare treasure, but soon he realized his loss of composure, coughed lightly, restrained his expression, and returned to his previous gentle calmness: "Your situation is very special, I need time to study it. It seems that there is no danger to your life at the moment, but you are extremely weak and need a lot of rest and nutritional supplements." He also prepared some warming and nourishing medicine for Su Lin to take.
After arranging the wounded, Bai Yan turned to the others, his eyes sweeping over Lei Qing, A Yan and Ling Ye: "I have some simple food and water here, please help yourself. There are several relatively complete rooms upstairs where you can rest. But please remember to keep quiet and don't touch the books and items here casually." His tone was polite and distant, with the stubbornness and sense of boundaries unique to scholars.
Ah Yan was already ravenous, so he didn't hesitate to search for food. Lei Qing began to carefully examine the library's internal structure and possible defense loopholes. Mu Lin helped take care of Su Lin and Xingchen.
Ling Ye consciously found a corner away from the fireplace to sit down, closed his eyes and rested, trying his best to reduce his presence.
Temporary safety finally arrived.
Su Lin leaned back on the soft animal hide, feeling the warmth of the medicine and the busy, reassuring figures of his companions. His tense nerves gradually relaxed, and his heavy eyelids slowly closed. Just before he fell asleep, he felt a warm, rough hand gently tuck the corner of his quilt.
It’s Lei Qing.
And Xingchen, under the effect of the drug, also fell into a deep sleep, but even in his dream, his little hand was still tightly grasping a corner of Su Lin's clothes, as if that was his only source of security.
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