To Ning Yan, it was only natural that Bai Qingqing would be afraid—most ordinary men would find it hard to pass through here, let alone her. He even thought that if it truly proved too much, he could knock her out gently and carry her through.
The fear on Bai Qingqing’s face was plain to see. Her lips were pressed so tightly together that they’d turned pale from her biting them, yet she didn’t hesitate—she walked right up to the edge of the fissure. Swallowing hard, she turned to Ning Yan with a pitiful look and asked, “Can I… hold onto your clothes while we walk? I’ll pull very lightly…”
Her timid expression made Ning Yan chuckle, but at the same time, he was deeply moved by her courage. He stepped forward and took her hand in his. “I’ll hold your hand as we walk. But listen—if you feel unwell in any way, you must tell me. Don’t try to endure it, understand?”
Bai Qingqing nodded hard. Her hand, enveloped in his large, warm palm, seemed to quiet the storm in her chest.
The moment they stepped into the fissure, the unease became far worse than it had looked from outside.
The darkness inside was absolute. Eyes open or closed, there was nothing to see. Yet she couldn’t shake the feeling that something unseen was pressing in from all directions. Instinctively, she gripped Ning Yan’s hand tighter.
“Close your eyes and just follow me. Trust me.”
Ning Yan’s voice was low and steady, more reassuring in this place of silence. Bai Qingqing did as he said. Even though closing her eyes didn’t change the darkness, somehow, it made things better.
All she could feel was his hand—warm, dry, and firm—guiding her forward at a steady pace, never too fast or too slow. From time to time, he would gently warn her to watch her step.
It wasn’t… as terrifying as she’d imagined.
Her tense body slowly began to relax. Walking behind Ning Yan felt like walking behind a lantern—comforting and steady. As long as she followed him, she felt like she could face anything.
But as time passed—how long, she couldn’t say—the endless darkness and narrow passage seemed to stretch on forever, swallowing all sense of time. The stillness itself was suffocating, and a creeping restlessness began to rise from deep within.
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Bai Qingqing tried her best to soothe herself, repeating calming thoughts in her mind, but the sweat gathering in her palms betrayed her unease. It was getting worse. If this continued, she feared she might lose control.
“Ning Yan.”
“I’m here.”
The moment she heard his voice, Bai Qingqing was startled to realize—his voice soothed her.
“Ning Yan.”
“Mhm, I’m right here.”
“Ning Yan.”
“I’m with you.”
…
Every time she called his name, he answered with patient steadiness. It became her anchor—those three syllables and his unwavering replies—keeping her grounded as she pushed forward step by trembling step.
Ning Yan held her hand the entire time; how could he not sense her state? But he knew better than to draw attention to the panic rising in her chest. That would only magnify it. He could hear the tremor in her voice each time she called out, but he dared not offer words of comfort for fear of making it worse. All he could do was keep replying, again and again.
When a sliver of light finally appeared ahead, Ning Yan broke into a sweat himself. He had never felt time move so painfully slow.
Quickening his pace, he led Bai Qingqing toward the light, pushing past the leaves that veiled the cliffside exit. The moment they stepped out, he turned to check on her.
Her hand was ice-cold. Even though they were now outside, her eyes were still tightly shut. Tear tracks glistened on her pale face, and her skin had gone nearly translucent.
Her lips trembled. “Ning Yan.”
“I’m here.”
Ning Yan gently pressed her head against his chest, holding her close. “It’s over. We’re out. You did incredibly well. I mean it—I admire you. Not everyone can make it through that passage.”
At his words, the stiff form in his arms finally began to shake—not with tension now, but with faint, quivering sobs of relief and lingering fear.
As he fumbled for the right way to comfort her, a soft, teary voice rose from his embrace.
“R-Really? I was… that amazing?”