Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Min Nan held a short knife in his right hand. When he encountered a wall that was difficult to navigate, he would insert the short knife into the crevices of the wall to maintain his balance.
Min Nan wasn’t particularly skilled at rock climbing, especially in such treacherous cliff conditions, an experience he had never encountered before.
However, at this moment, Min Nan felt no fear. His thoughts were entirely consumed by Ye Ling’s well-being.
Ye Ling must have been injured. How severe were her injuries? She must have been terrified when she fell off the cliff… Just thinking about these things sent a sharp pang through Min Nan’s heart.
He took a deep breath, pushing aside any distractions from his mind.
Before long, Min Nan had descended to the midpoint of the cliff. He surveyed his surroundings and spotted a pine tree growing from the cliff face. Simultaneously, Ye Ling caught sight of Min Nan.
In the instant she saw Min Nan, Ye Ling was so startled that she nearly let out a scream.
Since she was quite a distance away from Min Nan, she initially failed to notice the rope. All she saw was a man moving almost vertically on the cliff wall. The scene was incredibly thrilling.
As Min Nan approached, Ye Ling finally saw the rope tied around his waist.
Min Nan drew nearer to Ye Ling, and as soon as he got a clear view of her, his heart sank, and his pulse quickened.
Ye Ling’s clothing was mostly stained red with blood, and her forehead appeared to be injured. Blood had caused her hair to stick together, and the red of the blood mixed with the brown of the earth, creating a jarring contrast that was deeply unsettling.
Min Nan was a soldier, accustomed to injuries from training and missions. He had developed some expertise in assessing the severity of injuries. Seeing Ye Ling in this state, he knew her injuries were serious.
Min Nan’s heart twisted into a tight knot, his chest felt heavy, and he berated himself for failing to protect Ye Ling.
“Big Brother Min Nan, are you alright?” Ye Ling asked with a hint of unease, noticing Min Nan lost in thought.
Min Nan snapped back to reality. Upon hearing Ye Ling’s voice, he felt an elation akin to regaining the most vital part of his life. Furthermore, Ye Ling’s voice sounded steady, indicating that she wasn’t in immediate danger.
Suppressing his complex emotions, Min Nan extended his arm toward Ye Ling. “I’m sorry I arrived late. Come here, I’ll help you up now.”
Ye Ling slowly straightened her posture, gripping the pine tree branch below her with nervous hands.
She glanced downward briefly and was immediately overcome with dizziness. They were on a cliff!
Ye Ling hadn’t been afraid of heights, but in this middle-of-the-cliff position, even she began to feel the onset of acrophobia.
Observing Ye Ling’s growing pallor, Min Nan recognized her fear. He moved closer and advised, “Don’t look down. I’ll hold you firmly. Trust me.”
Ye Ling lifted her head, meeting Min Nan’s calm, resolute gaze. Her fear dissipated significantly.
After a brief pause, Ye Ling extended her hand. Min Nan promptly clasped it and pulled her into his embrace. Then he said, “Given the circumstances, you need to hold onto me tightly.”
At Ye Ling’s words, her heart rate quickened. She was now leaning against Min Nan’s chest, enveloped in his presence, and he had asked her to hold him tightly…
The morning air in the woods was chilly. A gust of wind blew by, sending a shiver through Ye Ling’s body, snapping her back to reality.
This was not the time for such thoughts. They were still stranded on a cliff!
Any scattered thoughts in Ye Ling’s mind instantly dissipated. She immediately embraced Min Nan tightly with both arms.
Min Nan breathed a sigh of relief, confirming Ye Ling’s arms were secure.
After a brief pause, Min Nan looped an arm around Ye Ling’s waist, holding her close.
Ye Ling felt the strength of Min Nan’s arm, pressing their bodies together. She could even sense the resilience of his chest muscles against her.
Though her mind was no longer clouded by strange thoughts, Ye Ling’s cheeks still flushed naturally due to the intimate contact.
Anticipating Ye Ling’s potential fear during their ascent, Min Nan issued a reminder, “Close your eyes and don’t look down.”
Ye Ling readily agreed. “Alright.”
Min Nan gave the rope a shake and shouted again, signaling to Wan Hai and Dai Wei that they could start reeling in the rope.
Ye Ling felt a sway in her body as Min Nan gradually began to ascend the cliff, bringing her along..