The Lost Tomb: Mission Progress Bar – Chapter 15
The Lost Tomb: Mission Progress Bar – Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Zhang Qiling saw that Wu Xie wasn’t speaking, so he tilted his head forward, pressing his forehead against Wu Xie’s.

“Wu Xie, I need to go to the Bronze Gate again.”

In an instant, Zhang Qiling was pushed away. He looked at Wu Xie, whose eyes had turned red with fury, glaring at him.

Realizing he had lost control, Wu Xie closed his eyes, taking deep breaths to suppress his emotions. He kept telling himself over and over: This is fake, fake, fake, fake, fake!

But suddenly, something soft and cool pressed against his lips.

It shattered all of his mental defenses.

“Don’t cry… Trust me, I’m real.” Zhang Qiling’s voice was soft, as he left gentle kisses trailing down. “I came here with you from ten years in the future. Please, believe me, Wu Xie.”

“Trust me—I’m real. I’m your Little Bottle!”

Wu Xie’s lips trembled, his throat tightening as if something was stuck inside. He could barely form words. There was no way he could deny this face. Even if it wasn’t real, he was already too deep to pull away.

Zhang Qiling’s hand moved slowly, tracing soothing circles on Wu Xie’s back, comforting him.

After Wu Xie had let out all his emotions, Zhang Qiling pulled him onto the bed, patiently telling him about the future—things that only the two of them knew.

“So how did you come back? And what proof do you have that everything you’re saying isn’t just something I imagined?”

Wu Xie said this, but deep down, he knew he was already too far gone. He wanted this Zhang Qiling to prove that everything was real.

“At that time, I was with Yuchen in the deeper underground. My strength was taken away, and my body was fading.” Zhang Qiling paused, watching Wu Xie’s shocked expression before continuing. “I saw you standing in front of the Bronze Gate.”

He didn’t mention how he had seen Wu Xie severely injured, barely able to stand.

“So if we go back to the Bronze Gate again, we can return?”

Zhang Qiling didn’t respond. He wasn’t sure. But there had to be a way to prove that this world was real.

“Maybe… there’s an answer.”

Wu Xie thought for a moment. He couldn’t let Zhang Qiling go alone. If he did, what if he was forced to wait another ten years? That would be unbearable.

“We go together. Don’t try to convince me otherwise, and don’t try to knock me out. Either we go together, or if you leave without me, I’ll drown myself in the lake.”

Wu Xie was certain this would be enough to threaten him—because he was certain this was the real Zhang Qiling. If it wasn’t, he wouldn’t have known about their secrets, their habits.

Sure enough, Zhang Qiling nodded in agreement.

Lying in bed, Wu Xie couldn’t sleep at all. Suddenly, he sat up, lifted the covers, and reached for Zhang Qiling’s shirt.

Zhang Qiling, disturbed by the movement, caught Wu Xie’s restless hands. “What are you doing?”

“I…” Wu Xie’s voice was hoarse. “I want to see the scar.”

“It’s already healed.”

Hearing Zhang Qiling’s indifferent tone, as if it didn’t matter, made Wu Xie’s heart ache even more.

If… if he hadn’t hesitated back then, Zhang Qiling would have died at his hands.

Wu Xie turned over, pulling the blanket over his head. His muffled voice came through the fabric.

“…I’m sorry, Bottle boy.”

Zhang Qiling listened to the familiar nickname, smiling as he wrapped Wu Xie in his arms, nuzzling his head against the blanket.

When Fatty got up, he saw the two of them already dressed in expedition gear, backpacks ready, sitting in the living room.

“Hey, what’s this? What’s up, guys?”

He mumbled through a mouthful of toothpaste, eyes still half-asleep.

“Fatty, we need to go to Changbai Mountain. Are you coming?”

Wu Xie stood up, holding out Fatty’s gear. At first, they hadn’t planned on bringing this ‘Fatty from ten years ago’ along, but… how could the Iron Triangle be missing a member?

Right?

“Of course I’m going! Little naïve one, you’re finally back to normal?” Fatty quickly rinsed his mouth, threw on some clothes, and checked his gear.

“Heh, still got a few detonators left.”

Leave A Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

@

error: Content is protected !!