Cheng Duo suddenly realized, "When you saved me back then, you used it, right?"

He had heard a tiger roar before losing consciousness, but when he woke up, the only person he saw was Yong Ge. He thought he remembered it wrong.

"Yeah."

Cheng Duo nodded, but he didn't reach out to take the tiger bone whistle that was handed to him. While it might not be valuable in modern times, in this era where beasts and bandits roamed, it could be a life-saving tool in critical moments.

Moreover, Yong Ge had been carefully keeping it close to him, so it must have been important to him. Cheng Duo didn't want to burden anyone, so if that was the case, he couldn't accept Yong Ge's precious possession.

Yong Ge was infuriated by his stubbornness. He raised his hand to push the whistle into Cheng Duo's arms. "Fine, keep it if you want. Don't forget, you've also attracted wolves. The footprints around your home haven't disappeared yet!"

Cheng Duo's hands were covered in grease, so he could only raise his arm to refuse. He looked at Yong Ge's anxious expression and suddenly said, "If my fiancée finds out that I accepted something from another brother, she would definitely be angry."

Yong Ge's hands and feet turned cold. With the whistle in his hand, he froze, not knowing whether to give it or not.

He slowly lifted his eyes and met Cheng Duo's gaze. Cheng Duo's pupils were deep, his gaze steady and resolute. Under the scrutiny of those eyes, Yong Ge suddenly felt that his little schemes were exposed. Did Cheng Duo… already know?

Yong Ge's face turned pale, feeling extremely embarrassed and miserable. He suddenly thought, did Cheng Duo refuse this whistle because he was indirectly rejecting him?

And how absurd it was for him to think that their relationship would change after going through the wild boar attack. Why did he keep thinking about the meaning behind Cheng Duo's smile at that time?

Cheng Duo, on the other hand, regretted it. He could have found many excuses, so why did he say the most hurtful thing? His hands clenched and then relaxed, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down. "Yong Ge, I…"

"I… I should go back!" Yong Ge suddenly turned around, hastily picked up the things on the ground, and left.

"Wait!" Cheng Duo called out, and Yong Ge stopped in his tracks but didn't turn around.

He didn't know what he was thinking. Perhaps a glimmer of hope ignited within him, expecting Cheng Duo to say something different…

But Cheng Duo was destined to disappoint him. He turned around, picked up a hunting knife, quickly cut off two large chunks of meat from a basin, threaded them with hemp rope, and placed them in Yong Ge's hands. "Take these, they're what you deserve."

"Okay." Tears finally fell from Yong Ge's brimming eyes. He didn't look back, but responded with a choked voice, then fled.

Yong Ge opened the slightly ajar gate and happened to see Wei Ling standing by the door. He felt extremely embarrassed and forced a smile at Wei Ling before running away.

"Yong Ge!" Wei Ling was a little worried and instinctively wanted to chase after him, but when he remembered Yong Ge's tearful and difficult smile, he slowly stopped in his tracks.

For Wei Ling, Yong Ge's appearance had changed significantly. The first time they met at the camp's entrance, he was dark and thin, with rough skin, but his eyes were particularly bright.

But this time was different. Yong Ge had become fairer, changed his appearance, and revealed the clear contours of his delicate features. The cherry birthmark on his forehead was red and alluring, and his eyelashes were long and curled… Wei Ling simply couldn't believe that Cheng Duo had rejected someone like him!

Wei Ling, who had a good temper, had to suppress his anger. He entered the courtyard and faced Cheng Duo with a questioning tone for the first time. "Do you have a fiancée?"

Why was he getting close to Yong Ge when he already had a fiancée? These two were talking so familiarly in front of him, what was this supposed to be!

Cheng Duo hesitated for a moment and didn't deny it, "Yes, it's my parents' wish and the matchmaker's words."

"Then why did you still go to the military camp with Yong Ge? You're already engaged, don't you know to avoid suspicion?"

Wei Ling's aggressive attitude irritated Cheng Duo. Every time he thought about why Wei Ling cared so much, he couldn't help but have the urge to hit someone!

But when he thought of Yong Ge, he held himself back.

He couldn't deny that Yong Ge was a good person. He was kind, brave, diligent, and magnanimous, completely different from his own dark and despicable side. Yong Ge was like a ray of light that shone into his dark heart.

Even if he couldn't hold onto that light, he didn't want to ruin it because of his own selfishness…

Cheng Duo glanced at Wei Ling and slowly recounted the events that happened earlier. He explained, "Yong Ge was worried about his older and second brothers, so he asked me to take him to Twenty Li Slope to find someone. His intentions were good, and I didn't want to accept it intentionally, which led me to say hurtful things and made him cry. Yong Ge only sees me as a friend, and our relationship is purely innocent…"

You're just friends? I don't believe that!

Wei Ling knew Cheng Duo was lying but, because of Yong Ge, he had to go along with the pretense. "I think so too. How could Yong Ge possibly be interested in someone like you, a rough man?"

Wei Ling felt annoyed. It was the first time he said such harsh words in front of someone, especially when the target of his ridicule looked so fierce.

He thought that even if Cheng Duo didn't rush over and hit him, he would at least kick him out of the house. But to his surprise, Cheng Duo only sullenly accepted it, then turned around and went back to sorting the wild boar meat.

Now it was Wei Ling's turn to be stunned. He had been prepared, his whole body tense, expecting Cheng Duo to come and fight him. How could he teach the other person a lesson if Cheng Duo didn't fight back?

Although in a real fight, it wasn't guaranteed who would teach whom a lesson, but he wouldn't know until they fought!

Wei Ling thought for a moment and made a proposal, "You don't have to be in a hurry. How about we go outside and have a fight?"

Realizing Cheng Duo was looking at him, Wei Ling quickly put on a pretense, "When I heard Meng Ji mention you at the camp entrance, I was very curious and wanted to have a friendly exchange. Now that we have the opportunity, why not… have a match?"

Cheng Duo sneered inwardly. Wei Ling, the young general from a noble family, was indeed well-mannered. Even if he felt jealous and wanted to fight him, he still had to make up an excuse.

"Sure!" Cheng Duo promptly agreed. He was willing to help explain things for Yong Ge's sake, but it didn't mean Wei Ling could provoke him.

Since he asked for it, he shouldn't expect Cheng Duo to be polite!

The two walked out of the courtyard together. Just before they started, Wei Ling suddenly remembered that they didn't have any weapons… He frowned and said, "We don't have any weapons…"

When he came out, he only brought a bow and arrow. He couldn't fight someone with just a bow and arrow, right?

Cheng Duo moved his head and hands, "It's okay, we'll fight like this."

If they used weapons, he was afraid that Wei Ling, the young general, would be killed on the spot!

Cheng Duo had spent nearly half of the ten years before his transmigration outside the base. The zombies never tired, nor did they rest. Every move and technique Cheng Duo had was honed through battles.

Wei Ling was the same.

But Wei Ling was facing living opponents. They wouldn't stop or hesitate, even if their limbs were severed. The difference in their experience levels was already substantial, not to mention Cheng Duo's advantage as a power-enhanced individual. This meant that the game they were playing was a one-sided beating by Cheng Duo.

Cheng Duo was also particularly petty. Although he had already restrained most of his power, every time he struck, it was aimed at the handsome face of the young general.

As a result, Wei Ling's face swelled up like a pig's head, but he had no choice but to acknowledge Cheng Duo's superiority.

No matter what moves or methods he used, he couldn't even touch Cheng Duo's clothes. What could he do if he didn't admit defeat?

In fact, there were times when Wei Ling couldn't help but admire Cheng Duo and wanted to become his disciple. But when he thought about this guy being engaged and deceiving the innocent Yong Ge… Wei Ling was conflicted.

Although he knew Cheng Duo might not have done it intentionally, after all, if Cheng Duo wanted to pursue others, he wouldn't have rejected Yong Ge. But the fact that Cheng Duo had embraced Yong Ge was a reality, once in front of the military camp, and now when dealing with the wild boar. Although there were reasons for each time, which unmarried young man could refuse the hero saving the beauty… In the end, it was Cheng Duo who was too untrustworthy!

I have to say that Wei Ling is magnanimous. Even though Cheng Duo almost turned him into a pig's head, he still gave him a fair evaluation in his mind.

As for Cheng Duo, he felt a sense of satisfaction but also a little guilty.

In any case, both of them looked at each other with complex feelings. But men's thoughts are simple like that. After a fight, neither of them said anything further, and they reluctantly coexisted peacefully.

When Yong Ge passed by Li San's courtyard on his way home, he heard his aunt pestering Li San about why their family didn't get any meat.

Yong Ge originally wanted to take a detour, but his cousin, Feng Ge, noticed him. "Yong Ge!"

Wu Guihua saw Yong Ge with his hands full of wild boar meat and complained, "Why does Yong Ge get so much meat? Our family didn't get a single piece!"

She was about to rush over and snatch it, saying, "Did you take our meat? This is for our family, I'll take it myself!"

"Aunt, this is my meat, not yours!" Seeing that Wu Guihua was about to snatch the two pieces of meat Cheng Duo gave him, Yong Ge hurriedly dodged backward.

Li San also exclaimed in anger, "Yong Ge came to help, and no one from your family did anything. Why should you get a share of the meat?"

Wu Guihua turned a deaf ear, and she even took the opportunity to try to scratch Yong Ge's face during the commotion! At a critical moment, Li Wang suddenly appeared, grabbing Wu Guihua's hand and forcefully shaking her off, then protecting Yong Ge behind him. "Wu Guihua, what are you doing? You're acting like a thief, trying to steal our Yong Ge's things!"

"What stealing? It's obvious that Yong Ge took our meat!"

"San Ye already said it, your family didn't do anything, so you don't have a share of the wild boar meat!"

At this moment, Li San also arrived. "Wu Guihua, you've gone too far. I said there's none for you, so there's none! If you keep causing trouble, I'll gather the clan elders and convene a family meeting!"

Wu Guihua was a little scared, but she still felt dissatisfied. "Then why does Yong Ge get so much? What has he done? San Ye, you're being unfair!"

"Well…" Li San didn't know either. He had a rough idea of how much he gave Yong Ge, but it definitely wasn't this much.

Yong Ge couldn't bear to see Li San being troubled and spoke the truth, "It's from Cheng Duo."

Li San pondered for a moment and nodded, "Yong Ge, you saved Cheng Duo today. He sent you this much meat as a way to thank you, right?"

"What thanks? I think that hunter has been captivated by Yong Ge's current appearance," Feng Ge muttered with jealousy, "Could it be that he wants to become someone's little…"

Yong Ge couldn't believe Feng Ge would say such things. His transformation was too significant, and Yong Ge was starting to doubt himself.

The other side stared at him with a venomous gaze, as if they held deep hatred and resentment.

Yong Ge didn't understand how he had offended them. Could it be because of Cheng Duo?

That's right, Feng Ge was publicly rejected by Cheng Duo. Did he think that… Yong Ge hesitated to tell Feng Ge that he had also been rejected by Cheng Duo. He was slightly better off because it didn't happen in front of everyone, but it was still embarrassing because Cheng Duo rejected him twice…

Author's note:

I know everyone is probably thinking about the crematorium! But Cheng Duo can still save the situation, give him some time.

Cheng Duo has never been the favored one, which means he doesn't have any expectations. When problems arise, he can only handle them himself.

Feng Ge spoke with a composed tone, and the surrounding onlookers started discussing as well.

When they were hunting the wild boar, many people saw Yong Ge rushing to save Cheng Duo… Although there were reasons behind it, were these two getting too close?

Li Wang, of course, also heard about it and angrily retorted, "What Yong Ge wants to do is his business. Yong Ge is going to marry with proper ceremonies!"

Feng Ge's face turned pale in an instant. He knew he shouldn't have spoken ill of Yong Ge in public, but he couldn't control himself.

Every time he thought about losing his reputation and dowry, while Yong Ge became increasingly good-looking and even captivated that cold-hearted hunter, who even gave him meat… Feng Ge couldn't control the growing madness within him, like a venomous snake.

He was extremely jealous!

He envied Yong Ge, whom he used to look down upon. How could he become so good-looking? Could someone who is this good-looking still get married without a dowry? His reputation wasn't tarnished either, so he was always better than Feng Ge…

Feng Ge couldn't contain the malice in his heart. He thought his Second Uncle would swallow his pride as before, but he didn't expect his Second Uncle to completely sever ties with him this time.

Li Wang's words were like reopening Feng Ge's wounds and reminded him of that embarrassing scene…

Feng Ge gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, filled with hatred. He despised Yong Ge and Li Wang, even more than the "Young Master Yan" who deceived him of his dowry and Cheng Duo, who mercilessly rejected him.

In the end, Feng Ge was someone who bullied the weak and feared the strong. The "Young Master Yan" and his group disappeared without a trace, and Cheng Duo was too formidable and fierce. He could only hate Yong Ge, who became more attractive than him, and Li Wang, who refused to stand up and work like an ox for their family.

Wu Guihua persisted, "What do you mean, Second Brother? What do you mean by saying that Yong Ge can do whatever he wants? Explain it clearly!"

Li Wang ignored her and took Yong Ge home.

Back at home, he couldn't help but question Yong Ge, "Why did you go with Cheng Duo again?"

Yong Ge felt guilty and thought for a moment before telling the truth, "Cheng Duo's friend, Wei Ling, is serving in the Xiling Barracks. He might have news about Eldest Brother and Second Brother, so I went to listen."

"What? News about Big Brother and Second Brother?" Li Wang became excited. After all, they were his own sons, and it would be fake if he said he wasn't worried.

"It's not exactly news. Wei Ling said…" Yong Ge explained in detail the news that Wei Ling brought.

After listening, Li Wang became invigorated. Early the next morning, he carried a bamboo basket and left the house.

Yong Ge guessed that his father might want to find someone, so he found the clothes from his Eldest Brother and Second Brother's room, intending to wash and dry them to bring along.

Carrying a wooden basin, Yong Ge came out and happened to run into Wei Ling, who had a bruised face, wandering around the village. He was startled, "Wei Ling, what happened to your face?"

Wei Ling touched his face somewhat awkwardly, "It's nothing. I'm not used to sleeping at night, fell off the bed and bumped into something."

"Did you get hurt so badly?" Yong Ge believed him. Because he knew that Cheng Duo's house didn't have a second bed, and besides the main room, there was only one bedroom.

He thought it was because the two grown men were sleeping too close together, causing Wei Ling to accidentally fall off.

"Yeah." Wei Ling's eyes flickered. He couldn't help Yong Ge teach Cheng Duo a lesson, but instead, he gained the problem of falling off the bed for no reason. He felt extremely unjust!

You should know that soldiers, when exhausted, can sleep on the ground fully clothed. Sleeping on a stool at Cheng Duo's house is nothing. Cheng Duo at least laid out a bedding for him.

"Oh, by the way, Yong Ge, I… I accidentally overheard your conversation with Cheng Duo yesterday. Can I borrow a look at that tiger bone whistle of yours?" Wei Ling cautiously asked.

Yong Ge was startled. He heard their conversation, but how much did he hear? Actually, he shouldn't be surprised. After all, he saw Wei Ling standing outside when he opened the door… Even if he didn't hear their conversation, he saw his own sorry state.

Yong Ge lowered his head and uncomfortably rubbed his foot on the ground. "Why?"

Wei Ling also felt embarrassed. If possible, he never wanted to mention this embarrassing matter to Yong Ge. But he had a reason he had to do it. "I heard you say that the whistle can imitate a tiger's roar. If it can be replicated, it might come in handy in the future."

Yong Ge looked up and carefully examined Wei Ling. He could feel that Wei Ling had no ill intentions towards him, and besides, he was a pure Da Xia person. His past with the Wuhu tribe shouldn't concern him, right?

Moreover, the age difference was significant…

Yong Ge pondered for a moment. "May I ask, Wei Ling, how old are you this year?"

Wei Ling didn't understand why he was asking about his age, but he honestly replied, "I was born in June. I'll be twenty-two next month."

Four years older than himself, he was just a six or seven-year-old child back then…

"I just want to take a look, and I won't take it for free. How about I teach you archery as an exchange?" Wei Ling suggested when he saw Yong Ge hesitating.

"For real?" Yong Ge's eyes brightened. He witnessed Wei Ling's archery skills yesterday and felt both envy and admiration. If he had a special skill, he wouldn't have to worry about making a living in the future.

"Can I deceive you?" Wei Ling chuckled. Seeing Yong Ge's eyes shining with admiration as he looked at him, he really wanted to pat his head.

At the same time, he also felt regret. He brought a large iron bow with him, which might be too difficult for Yong Ge to handle. Otherwise, he could find an excuse to give it to him.

However, he had a precious piece of wood in his tent that was originally intended to make a handle for a powerful bow. He could modify it to a size suitable for Ge to use and use the remaining wood to create arrowheads.

Yong Ge readily agreed, "Alright, I promise."

So, at noon that day, when Cheng Duo returned home, he found Wei Ling holding charcoal and sketching on a piece of fabric. Although he quickly put it away, Cheng Duo had already seen the familiar yellow-white bone enamel pattern.

He had only seen that tiger bone whistle yesterday and had hurt Yong Ge badly for it…

Cheng Duo didn't ask anything. In the afternoon, when Wei Ling left the house, Cheng Duo discreetly followed him from a distance.

He watched as Wei Ling went to the front of the cave, saw Yong Ge join him, and then the two stood closely together. It seemed that Wei Ling was teaching Yong Ge how to shoot arrows.

Cheng Duo understood. Wei Ling used archery as an exchange and obtained Yong Ge's tiger bone whistle. If it were him, he would do the same. On the one hand, he would acquire a treasure, and on the other hand, he could get closer to the beloved during the teaching process.

Moreover, Yong Ge was still a child. If he couldn't bear to part with him, in the future, if he brought him back, it would be like returning the item to its original owner. Wei Ling wouldn't lose out.

Unexpectedly, this young general who appeared proper and disciplined had many hidden intentions…

It was not surprising that Yong Ge agreed to Cheng Duo. Compared to the tiger bone whistle, which could only intimidate wild beasts, having a special skill was clearly more in line with Yong Ge's needs. Why did Yong Ge work so hard? Wasn't it to support his family?

Cheng Duo seemed to be masochistic, sitting on a tree branch, observing for the entire afternoon. In the meantime, he coughed up blood again, taking a moment to recover.

As the sun began to set, Wei Ling bid farewell to Yong Ge. He left first, ensuring he arrived home before Wei Ling returned.

When Wei Ling saw Cheng Duo, he hesitated for a moment before saying, "Why don't I cook dinner tonight?"

Yong Ge's cooking was finished last night. Cheng Duo took care of breakfast and lunch today. Wei Ling endured and endured, not wanting to witness Cheng Duo's culinary disaster again.

"Fine," Cheng Duo was happy to pass the responsibility. Unlike ancient times, where guests were treated with respect, that concept didn't exist here. Otherwise, he wouldn't have let Wei Ling sleep on a stool.

After this afternoon of spying, Cheng Duo wanted nothing more than to kick Wei Ling out of the tent and enjoy the northwest wind! This guy was flirting with Yong Ge right in front of him. If he were more ruthless, he would have tied a sack around him while he slept at night. Let him complain all he wants!

Now in May, the weather was hot and humid. Wei Ling was sweating profusely in the kitchen. Cheng Duo not only didn't help but sat at the entrance, watching the spectacle.

"Your culinary skills don't seem to be that great," Cheng Duo remarked as Wei Ling clumsily dropped the vegetables on the floor. It seemed like Cheng Duo was better at cooking than him!

Wei Ling glanced back at Cheng Duo and thought to himself that at least he could cook things thoroughly and not burn the food or leave it raw!

The most unspeakable thing was the wild boar meat that Cheng Duo cooked… Wild boar meat had a strong gamey flavor. Wei Ling had a hard time finishing the stir-fried cabbage and meat dish at lunch. Even the communal dishes in the military camp weren't this bad!

Of course, in the military camp, it was rare to find a piece of meat in the communal dishes, so they wouldn't waste it. But when he could make something tastier himself, Wei Ling preferred to do it.

Thinking of Yong Ge's dispute with Cheng Duo at lunch yesterday, Wei Ling began to appreciate him. Yong Ge surely didn't want him to suffer under Cheng Duo's culinary "torture," which was why he insisted on helping with the cooking.

During the meal, Cheng Duo lazily took a bite of the dish, chewed slowly, and had to admit defeat—this guy, despite being a noble, was indeed better at cooking than him.

Wasn't it said that ancient people believed gentlemen should stay far away from the kitchen?

"How long have you been a soldier?"

"I followed my uncle to Xiling Pass at the age of thirteen. It's been nine years now."

"Twenty-two and still not married?" Cheng Duo nitpicked. He didn't stop to think that he was already twenty-seven and still single, while Wei Ling was much younger.

"A real man and great husband should first achieve merit and establish a career. It's not too late to get married afterward."

"Aren't your family members urging you?"

Wei Ling suddenly smiled. "My parents have passed away, and I only have my grandfather, grandmother, and uncle in my family. My grandparents are far away in the capital city, and if I don't go back, they can't do anything to me. As for my uncle…"

His uncle had it worse. He was over forty and still a bachelor.

"What about your uncle?"

"He doesn't mind what I do."

"I mean, would they agree if you wanted to marry a village boy from a humble background?"

Wei Ling realized what Cheng Duo was trying to probe. Could it be that Cheng Duo still hadn't given up?

Wei Ling thought for a moment. "My grandparents are actually very open-minded. Rather than being concerned about a humble background, they fear that I will end up like my uncle and remain unmarried for a lifetime. So, a humble background is not a problem, and neither is a boy."

After finishing the meal and tidying up the table, Wei Ling took out a piece of iron pine wood and started to shave it in front of the oil lamp.

At first, Cheng Duo couldn't tell what he was doing. It wasn't until the next day when Wei Ling placed the shaved iron pine wood over the fire, slowly shaping it, that Cheng Duo realized it was the limb of a wooden bow.

Considering Wei Ling's arm length, this bow was obviously too small for him. Cheng Duo guessed that it was for Yong Ge. After thinking about it, he quietly went to inquire with a blacksmith from a neighboring village and eventually obtained a well-tanned piece of cowhide and a dried cow horn.

"What's this…" Wei Ling was somewhat surprised when he saw what Cheng Duo silently handed over. He had originally planned to dismantle his large iron bow and transfer the materials to the limb of the iron pine wood. Although a hastily made bow and arrow would be rough and inaccurate, it would be sufficient for a novice like Yong Ge. And in another month or two, he could bring the carefully crafted bow and arrow made from the exotic wood. With Yong Ge's diligence and hard work, his archery skills would have improved by then, and it would be the perfect time to switch to the new bow.

"Take it, but don't tell Yong Ge it's from me," Cheng Duo said.

Wei Ling contemplated for a moment but didn't refuse. After having a fight with Cheng Duo and living under the same roof for three days, he felt a faint sense of understanding. As men, he could sense the subtle struggle within Cheng Duo, but he chose to uphold his responsibility. If he were in Cheng Duo's shoes, he probably wouldn't have handled it any better. Wei Ling thought about it and felt relieved. Besides, this was what Cheng Duo owed Yong Ge, so why should he refuse?

Wei Ling knew that he couldn't stay in Yang Village for long. When teaching Yong Ge, he had covered every detail and shared his experiences and techniques. The day before leaving, he presented the iron pine wood bow he had made himself. Worried that Yong Ge might refuse, he had prepared an excuse in advance, "This is something I made myself. It's not worth much, just consider it a parting gift."

Yong Ge was surprised. "Why are you so kind to me, Wei Gongzi?"

He gently touched the polished bow, clearly seeing the craftsmanship that went into it. If Wei Gongzi had coveted his tiger bone whistle, he had returned it the next day. If Wei Gongzi had any ulterior motives towards him, it was unlikely. From start to finish, Wei Gongzi had given him a feeling similar to his father…

"Because when I look at you, I see my own younger brother, and I can't help but want to treat you well," Wei Ling said with a smile, still not entirely sure. But even if he was wrong, it didn't matter. Yong Ge was so sincere and kind-hearted that he would still want to treat him well.

Yong Ge also felt a kinship with Wei Ling, but the other party's identity as a junior general made him hesitate. After thinking for a moment, he decided not to push it…

As for the bow and arrow, it was also very precious to him, and Yong Ge didn't know whether he should accept it.

Seeing his hesitation, Wei Ling added, "If you feel unworthy, next time I come, you can treat me with something you've hunted yourself. Let me test the results of my first time being a teacher."

Relieved that Wei Ling would come again, Yong Ge nodded after pondering for a moment and agreed, "Alright, I won't let my teacher down."

Wei Ling quickly added, "Just a way of speaking. Please, don't call me 'teacher'… I don't want to be called old by you."

If Yong Ge was really part of their Wei family, it would complicate matters, and his uncle would kill him.

"Oh…" Yong Ge felt a bit disappointed but quickly understood. Wei Gongzi was indeed too young, and calling themselves teacher and student might lead to misunderstandings?

Yong Ge's expectations were correct. Li Wang did want to go with Wei Ling to find someone. For this reason, he prepared a large amount of dry rations and water, and even divided the family's money into two parts, one for Yong Ge to take and one for himself.

"Son, I don't know how long this trip will take. You stay at home and behave yourself. I've privately asked Li San-ye to take care of you. If you need anything, feel free to go find him."

"Father, can I go with you…"

Li Wang waved his hand to interrupt him. "Do you think repairing the city wall is a place to be? It's inconvenient for eating, drinking, and even using the toilet. The ones working there are all prisoners… Father can handle it alone."

Li Wang could imagine that staying at the border for a long time, isolated from the world, even if it were prisoners, the soldiers guarding them would still have their eyes on the girls and boys. Under such circumstances, could he dare to bring Yong Ge along?

Yong Ge realized that it was indeed unrealistic and had to give up. "Well, Father, take care of yourself and find Eldest Brother and Second Brother as soon as possible."

Yong Ge felt a bit uneasy. He had never been separated from his father in his life. Moreover, his father had mobility issues. If they hadn't had a falling out with Uncle, it would have been better… Well, even if they hadn't fallen out, his Uncle and Aunt would not have agreed to help.

As for seeking assistance, they couldn't afford to pay so much money. His father was going to find someone, and it was hard to say how long it would take. They could ask the villagers for help for a day or two, but they couldn't expect others to neglect their own work and help them without any compensation.

So, apart from his father, they couldn't find anyone else in their family.

Li Wang left quietly without letting Yong Ge see him off. Before leaving, he instructed Yong Ge that if anyone asked, he should say that his father had gone out to work and could be gone for a day. He could deceive for at least one day.

Li Wang was also in a dilemma. Both choices had their downsides. Yong Ge would at least have Li San-ye and others taking care of him in the village. If Ah Da and Ah Er were really taken away to repair the city wall, they would be risking their lives every day. How could he not rush to find them?

Initially, Wei Ling planned to personally accompany Li Wang to the area around YuFang Mountain to find someone. However, when he reported back to the military camp, he learned from the personal guard that the Rong people were heading south, and the Wei family's army had already set off for Hangu Pass.

"Young General, you've finally returned! The General ordered me to wait here. I've already packed our luggage. Let's set off now," the personal guard eagerly said, leading out two horses, with Wei Ling's weapons and luggage hanging from the horses.

"This…" Wei Ling helplessly looked at Li Wang. "With military orders in hand, I can only apologize to Li Shu."

Wei Ling had thought of letting Li Wang wait for him to return, but his return was uncertain, and Li Wang might not be willing to wait.

Because of what Cheng Duo and the villagers had told him, Wei Ling didn't particularly like Li Da and Li Er. But he didn't have any ill feelings towards Li Wang. He had even considered finding the person first and seeing if they had truly repented. If they were still the same, he would keep it a secret from Li Wang and let those two rascals suffer a bit more.

Of course, he wouldn't harm them. Li Wang only had these two sons, and it would be too much to take someone's middle-aged child away from them.

Wei Ling thought for a moment, then wrote a letter for Li Wang, instructing him to reveal his identity when he found the person, and if Li Da and Li Er were truly mistaken for someone else and captured, the guards would naturally release them.

Li Wang expressed his thousand thanks, and after seeing Wei Ling off, he set out alone on the journey to find the person in the YuFang Mountain area.

Meanwhile, Wei Ling rode his horse for a day and night and arrived at Hangu Pass. He saw the entire army, from generals to soldiers, busy preparing to face the enemy.

As soon as the Grand General Wei Zhenyuan saw him, he grabbed him and brought him into the big tent. "Wei Ling, you've returned just in time. Several generals and I are discussing the defense arrangements. Come over and listen."

Wei Ling hesitated for a moment but decided not to show the drawing of the tiger bone whistle. Never mind, he should focus on facing the enemy. He couldn't afford to distract his uncle at this moment.

After Wei Ling left, Cheng Duo felt that his physical condition was worsening. It started with vomiting blood every two days, then progressed to once a day, and even twice a day… Each time it happened, the pain was unbearable, and afterwards, he felt like he had been fished out of water.

At the same time, his appetite became extremely voracious. He finished the seventy to eighty catties of wild boar meat in less than three days.

Cheng Duo couldn't go hunting, so he tried to buy as much food as possible in the village.

Yong Ge heard some news and became worried. After pondering for a while, he decided to visit Cheng Duo.

Fine, he would just take a look and then leave if Cheng Duo was fine.

The gate of Cheng Duo's house was tightly closed. Yong Ge knocked for a long time before someone came to open it. It was Cheng Duo, but he didn't let Yong Ge inside. He only opened a crack in the gate and asked, "Why are you here? What's the matter?"

He knew Li Wang wasn't there and hesitated for a long time, but he couldn't just leave Yong Ge unattended.

"I came to see you," Yong Ge felt a bit uneasy, but soon became puzzled. Cheng Duo was always straightforward about everything. Even if he didn't want to see him, he wouldn't refuse to open the door, would he?

When Cheng Duo noticed that Yong Ge looked inside, he unconsciously took a step back.

Although he tried to hide it, Yong Ge still saw his current appearance.

This man's cheeks were sunken, his forehead and neck veins were bulging, and he looked extremely emaciated. Yong Ge couldn't believe it. It had only been ten short days since they last met!

"Why have you become so thin?" A sense of unease crept into Yong Ge's heart. He realized that Cheng Duo was about to close the door, so he quickly put his hand in to stop it.

"Let go," Cheng Duo said.

Yong Ge ignored him. "You say you're fine, but is this how you look when you're fine? It's gotten so serious, why won't you see a doctor?"

Cheng Duo lowered his eyes and coldly said, "This is my business, you don't need to worry about it."

"If I don't worry, I'll end up burying you!" Yong Ge shouted angrily. Immediately regretting his outburst, he softened his tone and said, "Open the door and let me in."

Cheng Duo stood still as a mountain. "Aren't you afraid of me infecting you?"

"If I get infected, then so be it!" Yong Ge didn't know where he found the courage. Looking at Cheng Duo's current ghostly appearance, he was truly afraid that if he left today, this person wouldn't be alive tomorrow.

Cheng Duo remained silent for a while, then suddenly reached out and twisted Yong Ge's finger. "This is my business, let go! If you don't let go, don't blame me if I hurt you."

Yong Ge became furious. "Hurt me! My hand is staying right here today. If you want to hurt me, go ahead! What's the point of twisting my finger? Coward!"

Yong Ge not only held onto the door tightly with his fingers but also extended one foot inside, stubbornly refusing to leave Cheng Duo's house.

What could Cheng Duo do? He couldn't really break Yong Ge's finger, could he?

He fell into a longer silence this time, but in the end, he couldn't resist Yong Ge. Slowly, he opened the door.

Yong Ge saw Cheng Duo's appearance clearly and his eyes welled up with tears. This man, who used to be as strong as a bull, was now so thin, reduced to a mere skeleton… Tears flowed down Yong Ge's cheeks involuntarily. "What happened to you?"

As Yong Ge continued to speak, his voice became choked with tears. He threw himself into Cheng Duo's arms, and tears quickly fell.

Cheng Duo felt at a loss. It was false to say that he wasn't afraid of death, but when Yong Ge cried in his arms like this, he somehow felt that death wasn't as terrifying. Hesitant, he reached out his hand and patted Yong Ge's back. "I'm fine, stop crying."

"You say you're fine!" Yong Ge choked out. "Cheng Duo, don't be stubborn. Can I please call a doctor for you? Last time, you recovered from such serious injuries, and this time, with medicine maybe it could help you."

Seeing Yong Ge being so worried as he was, Cheng Duo couldn't help but soften his tone. "Fine, go ahead." But Cheng Duo suddenly started having a seizure.

Yong Ge's heart was in a panicked state. He recalled the two previous times he saw Cheng Duo having episodes, and now he saw how drastically he had lost weight…

He couldn't afford to think about anything else now. Releasing his grip on Cheng Duo, he wiped his face hastily and was about to leave.

This time, Cheng Duo stopped him. "Don't go."

At this point, Cheng Duo had nothing to hide anymore. "Yong Ge, it's not that I don't want to see a doctor, but rather, I know it would be useless. The era I come from is different from yours. I came from another timeline…"

Seeing Yong Ge's confusion, Cheng Duo picked up two stones to illustrate. "You can imagine it as two different places. Due to a temporal disruption, these two places briefly intersected, and I transferred from this stone to that stone… When you first met me, I had just crossed over."

Yong Ge's lips moved. "I don't understand… Are you saying you came from another place?"

Cheng Duo had escaped, right? It seemed to convey the same meaning?

"You can think of it as coming from thousands of years in the future. I came back from thousands of years in the future," Cheng Duo explained, perhaps finally free from constraints. Regardless of whether Yong Ge could understand or not, he told him everything. "In my world, there was a rare invasion of an extraterrestrial virus. The virus altered the human body, turning most people into walking corpses. Only a few of us, like me, gained different abilities. We call it them Psychs"

"Do you understand? My strength is not innate. All the energy comes from a crystal core. The way I am now, it's likely that the crystal core has malfunctioned…"

"What happens if it malfunctions?" Yong Ge anxiously asked. He couldn't comprehend terms like timelines, viruses, energy, or crystal cores, but he understood the meaning of the last sentence.

Cheng Duo, is he going to die?

"I don't know," Cheng Duo sighed. "In a better case, I might lose my abilities. In a worse case… I might cease to exist. Anyway, I should have died back then. The fact that I've lived a few more months is already a bonus."

He could feel his powers diminishing and his body rapidly deteriorating, resembling the latter scenario.

Cheng Duo looked into Yong Ge's eyes, who didn't seem to view him as a monster. "Aren't you afraid?"

Cheng Duo didn't deny it. Instead, he changed the subject. Yong Ge displayed an unusual moment of quick thinking, not letting Cheng Duo evade the topic and persistently pressed on, "So, you're saying you came as a refugee, and your fiancee was a lie?"

Cheng Duo saw the glimmer of determination in his eyes, unsure if he was burned by his fervent emotions, and awkwardly averted his gaze. "Aren't you afraid?"

Perhaps feeling that he was being cowardly, Cheng Duo looked elsewhere. "I mean, I told you all this… Aren't you afraid?"

Yong Ge didn't think Cheng Duo was a liar, and he finally grasped that. He smiled with teary eyes and slowly lowered his head, not wanting Cheng Duo to see him crying. This was enough for him to know.

Now Cheng Duo felt uneasy. His eyes glanced at Yong Ge, searching for words. "Afraid… Are you afraid?"

Yong Ge pursed his lips and nodded honestly. "A little."

But it wasn't that he was afraid of Cheng Duo. It was the description of the unknown world that frightened him. Yong Ge had lived for so many years, thinking that demons and monsters were the limits. Cheng Duo had presented him with a whole new realm, and it was natural to be scared. Just like how modern people would feel hearing about extraterrestrial worlds, superpowers, or the mythos—the more one knows, the more they fear their own insignificance.

Fortunately, Yong Ge had limited horizons and was only slightly scared. Moreover, he had already accepted Cheng Duo in his heart. Cheng Duo hadn't revealed any monstrous appearance, except for becoming alarmingly thin too fast. Yong Ge could still accept that.

Cheng Duo's heart softened, and he comforted him, "Don't be afraid. I won't harm you."

Although he didn't need to tell Yong Ge so much about his situation, Cheng Duo was on the verge of death. If Yong Ge didn't know his origins until the end, Cheng Duo would feel regretful.

It was similar to how he didn't want to reveal his feelings but still admitted, under Yong Ge's persistent questioning, that his engagement was a lie. The same feeling applied.

Yong Ge chuckled, "I know, and I'm not afraid of you."

Yong Ge probably didn't realize that tears glistened on his eyelashes, and his nose turned red from smiling. His clear and clean pupils reflected Cheng Duo's figure vividly. Cheng Duo had the urge to lean forward and kiss his eyes, comforting himself that everything was fine, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.

He was a dying man after all, so what did it matter?

Yong Ge seemed to sense something, blushed, and lowered his head shyly.

The two of them sat awkwardly for a while. Just as Yong Ge didn't know what to do, Cheng Duo's stomach suddenly growled.

Cheng Duo covered his stomach and awkwardly explained, "I've had a big appetite lately, and I get hungry quickly…"

Yong Ge had already heard about it. No wonder Cheng Duo bought so much food.

Yong Ge stood up, patting his buttocks. "Let me cook for you." He turned back and looked at Cheng Duo, offering his hand as naturally as possible. "Get up. I'll help you into the house to sit for a while. The food will be ready soon."

Yong Ge probably treated Cheng Duo as a genuine patient, fearing that he wouldn't be able to stand but hesitating to mention it.

Cheng Duo hesitated for a moment, then placed his hand in Yong Ge's. He felt Yong Ge's hand tighten around his the next second, and the warmth radiated through his palm. Cheng Duo suddenly regretted wasting ten years of his life.

It wasn't that he didn't regret before. Previously, he regretted the sacrifices he had made in vain, and his thoughts were mostly filled with darkness and hatred.

But now, he really wanted to live a good life with Yong Ge.

If he had known that he would time-travel and meet Yong Ge earlier, it would have been better. Yong Ge wouldn't have had to suffer so much, and Cheng Duo wouldn't have ended up in a research institute, ruining his own body…

Considering Cheng Duo's already large appetite, Yong Ge steamed enough steamed buns for ten people. He even thought that if Cheng Duo couldn't finish it all in one meal, he could save some for a late-night snack.

However, as soon as Cheng Duo declared that he was full, he devoured all the buns and dishes in no time!

Yong Ge stared in astonishment, "Aren't you going to burst from eating so much?"

"No, I feel like I can eat a little more," Cheng Duo patted his stomach. During the apocalypse, he often went hungry, but this extreme hunger was different. Sometimes, he even wanted to eat himself!

Yong Ge couldn't help but leave, but before he did, he steamed another pot of buns and reminded Cheng Duo with concern, "Only eat when you're truly hungry. Don't burst your belly."

Yong Ge left with great concern.

His worry was justified. Before going to bed, Cheng Duo had already devoured half of the second pot of buns.

Looking at the dim sky, he decided to sleep early. After all, if he continued eating like this, the meager food in the house would soon run out. It was better to sleep. Once asleep, he wouldn't feel hungry.

Cheng Duo carried the remaining buns into the bedroom and, guided by the aroma of food, drifted into slumber.

However, he had barely fallen asleep when he heard a loud thud in the courtyard. It was followed by the sound of something sharp frantically scratching at his front door.

Actually, with Cheng Duo's hearing ability, he would have heard something entering the courtyard at the first moment. However, his physical strength had greatly declined, and his senses were greatly diminished, making him less sharp than an average person.

Cheng Duo slowly sat up and glanced through the half-open window to see a group of wolves sneaking into the yard.

Despite having fenced the yard, these wolves must have found a hole somewhere. But compared to the previous two attempts, the lead wolf this time was much bolder, bringing along the entire pack, a dozen or so of them.

Well, these beasts were indeed quite smart, taking advantage of his illness to seek his life, weren't they?

The movement of Cheng Duo sitting up alerted the lead wolf, which quickly discovered the window as a shortcut. With a low growl, it called upon the pack to abandon the sturdy door and attack the window, which offered a better breakthrough.

Cheng Duo's window was just over a meter high. Usually, he used a wooden block to prop it open for ventilation due to the hot weather, leaving a palm-wide gap.

This convenience also played into the hands of the wolf pack.

Cheng Duo watched as a wolf jumped into the room. He quickly grabbed the hatchet from under his pillow, stood up, and faced the intruder…

Cheng Duo couldn't count how many wolves he had killed. Due to his weak body and significant energy consumption, he swung his weapon out of habit in the later stages.

Because he couldn't dodge quickly, his arms, shoulders, and thighs were all bitten by the wolf pack. The most dangerous moment was when the lead wolf almost bit his carotid artery!

However, Cheng Duo didn't make it easy for the lead wolf either. He wounded its hind leg with a single strike.

As the lead wolf became inflamed with the death and blood scent of its pack, Cheng Duo had no choice but to fight and retreat. Finally reaching the side of the main door with great difficulty, he quickly opened it and slipped outside, remembering to secure the door from the outside.

However, it wouldn't hold for long. A wolf followed him out, and there was a big hole in his yard!

Cheng Duo contemplated for less than a second and decided to run uphill. The gully where he lived was too far from the village, and the entire route was flat. With his current physical condition, he definitely couldn't outrun the wolves.

Once he fell, he would be doomed.

Moreover, his current appearance was not suitable for the villagers to see. People in ancient times were superstitious about diseases. Seeing his rapidly emaciating body in such a short time, they might think he was carrying a plague.

Instead of being bitten to death by wolves and then forced out of the village with his heavily injured body, it would be better to take a gamble. He tried to run towards higher ground, hoping to climb up a tree for salvation.

Unfortunately, the wolf pack didn't give him that chance and continued to chase him relentlessly. Fortunately, there were fewer wolves left at this point. Cheng Duo managed to deal with two more on the way and was left with only the lead wolf pursuing closely behind.

The lead wolf had an injured hind leg, and Cheng Duo had lost his hatchet while killing the last wolf. The two of them had been circling each other in the woods for an unknown period of time.

Suddenly, Cheng Duo's eyes lit up when he saw a deep pit and withered vines ahead.

Cheng Duo's throat was wheezing like an old bellows, making a huffing sound. Nevertheless, he used every ounce of strength and leaped forward. Swinging back and forth unsteadily, he managed to grab onto the withered vine.

However, the lead wolf wasn't so lucky. It plunged headfirst into the pitch-black pit, whimpered, and quickly fell silent.

Cheng Duo was about to breathe a sigh of relief when the withered vine in his hand suddenly rustled, and he felt himself falling.

At the critical moment, a hand suddenly reached out and grabbed Cheng Duo. "Hold on!"

"How did you get here?" Cheng Duo looked up and saw that it was Yong Ge.

Yong Ge had half of his body hanging off the cliff's edge to grab him, with only his remaining left hand clutching a vine as thick as a thumb.

However, because Yong Ge's strength was too weak to support the weight of both of them, the vine had already worn through his palm, and blood was dripping down the vine. Yong Ge was slipping and struggling to climb up, and both of them were on the verge of falling.

"Let go; otherwise, neither of us will survive!" Cheng Duo shouted.

Yong Ge clenched his teeth and ignored him. He had already exerted all his strength to grab onto that vine. Although Cheng Duo had become much thinner, he had a large frame. With his own weight added to the equation, he felt like he was about to be torn in half. It was all thanks to an astonishing tenacity that he managed to hold on.

"Yong Ge, I'm telling you to let go, do you hear me? I'm going to die anyway. You saved me, but I won't live much longer. I'm already grateful to you; you don't have to feel guilty or sorry for me!"

As Cheng Duo struggled, he was about to forcefully pry Yong Ge's hand open, but Yong Ge had already let go. However, he didn't release Cheng Duo; he let go of the vine. Both of them fell together.

Cheng Duo: "…"

Damn it, now we're really going to die together!

Author's Note:

The anguishing part is over; the rest will be all sweetness! I am a writer of sweet stories!

The last thing Cheng Duo was able to do for Yong Ge was to desperately hold onto him, protecting him in his embrace.

"Crack!" At the moment of impact, Cheng Duo seemed to hear the sound of his own bones breaking. He forcefully spewed out a mouthful of blood, and then everything went black. He passed out.

"Cheng Duo!"

The last image Cheng Duo saw before losing consciousness was Yong Ge scrambling off him in a panic, shouting his name loudly.

Although Yong Ge's face covered in blood looked extremely miserable, Cheng Duo felt relieved. It's fine like this, just like this…

In a dazed state, Cheng Duo felt like he had returned to the apocalypse. He saw a numb-looking old man rummaging through a pile of zombies outside the base, searching for useful things. But he had no luck; just when he managed to find a half-worn-out coat and a lighter, a young man nearby snatched them away.

The old man was knocked to the ground, and the lighter he held tightly was also taken. After the young man left, the old man took a long time to get up from the ground, limping back home.

Cheng Duo couldn't help but follow him, watching as he entered a shantytown right next to the base. Inside one of the dirty and dilapidated huts lay a young man paralyzed from head to toe.

His hair was messy, his cheeks sunken, and his lips cracked and peeling. Cheng Duo stared at him for a while before realizing that he was his half-brother, Cheng Zhao, whom he had hated.

The old man from earlier… was that their father?

No wonder Cheng Duo didn't recognize him. Cheng's father had long lost the vitality he once had, with a hunched back and a face full of deep wrinkles, filled with lifelessness.

With his dirty hands covered in grime, he dug out a plastic bottle from a pile of garbage, then fed a little bit of the greenish water to Cheng Zhao.

It was apparent that this water, which had already grown algae, was precious to them now. Cheng's father only gave a small amount to Cheng Zhao, and then he took a sip himself, moistening his lips before putting it away.

After a while, another familiar middle-aged woman returned to this home. She was just as dirty, wearing her shirt loosely and revealing many suggestive marks.

Fortunately, she brought back several bags of small biscuits. Grumbling, she tossed one bag to Cheng's father and another to Cheng Zhao before curling up by the side.

These biscuits had long expired, and some had even gone moldy, but the three of them didn't mind. They ate them ravenously.

Cheng's father seemed a little afraid of Cheng Duo's stepmother, but Cheng Zhao wasn't. With his father's assistance, he finished his bag of biscuits and immediately started arguing with his own mother. The stepmother was also full of complaints, and the three of them bickered like dogs biting each other.

Cheng Duo didn't see his younger sister, Cheng Wei, but she looked good and seemed to be imitating their stepmother. Perhaps she attached herself to a capable man and moved into the base.

Of course, it's also possible that she had died. Cheng Duo didn't know which one it was.

In a hazy state, Cheng Duo drifted to the underground research facility, which was now empty. Broken equipment and scattered papers littered the floor, and Cheng Duo seemed to see his own name written on them.

He leaned in to take a closer look, but the scene before him suddenly distorted and blurred, as if there was a layer of watery film separating him, causing a discomforting halo to sway.

Cheng Duo suddenly coughed, and the intense pain in his chest pulled him back to reality—

"Cheng Duo, you're awake!" Cheng Duo felt a pair of warm hands touching his face, gentle and cautious. The voice sounded both surprised and relieved.

Cheng Duo took a moment to gather his strength before hoarsely speaking, "Yong Ge."

"It's me!" Yong Ge's voice choked up. He was so scared that Cheng Duo would pass away just like that.

Unable to move, Cheng Duo could only look at Yong Ge's face in the flickering firelight. He was lying on Yong Ge's leg, and Yong Ge was looking down at him. Despite Cheng Duo's current state, Yong Ge's eyes were still filled with reliance.

As if as long as he was still alive, everything else was insignificant.

Something stirred in Cheng Duo's heart. "How long have I been sleeping?"

"Not long, it's still dark outside." Yong Ge carefully helped him tidy his hair. "Do you feel any pain? Would you like something to eat?"

He was in pain all over his body, but when it came to eating…

"What did you feed me?" Cheng Duo had a rusty taste in his mouth as soon as he woke up. Could it be that this silly little brother used his own blood to feed him?

"Wolf blood." Yong Ge looked a bit embarrassed. He couldn't find any water, so he fed Cheng Duo with the still warm wolf blood.

Realization dawned upon Cheng Duo. "Did you find that wolf?"

Yong Ge nodded, looking very pleased. "Do you want to eat wolf meat? I can roast some for you."

His habits hadn't changed. He not only carried a lighter but also had condiments like ginger and salt. If it weren't for the lack of water and a pot to cook in, he would have made wolf meat soup for Cheng Duo.

If it were someone else who had suffered such severe injuries, they probably wouldn't have had an appetite.

But Cheng Duo… he suddenly felt hungry again. "Okay."

Yong Ge became even happier upon hearing that Cheng Duo was willing to eat. He carefully moved Cheng Duo's head to the ground, placed some dried leaves beneath his neck, and then went to deal with the wolf.

Only then did Cheng Duo notice that Yong Ge's clothes were tattered, and his inner garment seemed to be missing. With a slight movement, his neck and chest were exposed.

His skin was indeed very fair, and the flickering firelight danced on his delicate and flawless skin.

Yong Ge hurriedly adjusted his collar, feeling flustered. Cheng Duo, feeling somewhat embarrassed, looked away and asked, "Why did you follow me?"

It was the middle of the night. Was Yong Ge really that worried about him?

Speaking of this, Yong Ge felt regretful. "I went to find Doctor Wang and got some tonics, but it's a pity. I spent two hours making them."

The medicine was expensive, costing him forty wen. He brought it here while it was still warm, but as soon as he arrived at Cheng Duo's place, he saw him being chased by a wolf up the mountain. He couldn't care less about the medicine and just followed after him, leaving the medicine bottle behind.

He glanced at Cheng Duo and couldn't help but defend himself, "You said our medicine couldn't cure you, but there's nothing wrong with tonics, right?"

Cheng Duo looked at him with a smile in his eyes. Although he wanted to tell him not to bother with these unnecessary things and bring him more meat instead, he couldn't bear to be too harsh. Besides, he hadn't forgotten how money-driven this little brother was when he first arrived. Now, he was even spending money on him…

Yong Ge felt a little uneasy under his gaze. "Why are you looking at me like that? What are you thinking?"

Cheng Duo fell silent for a moment. "When we were on the mountainside, why didn't you let go?"

Yong Ge's lips moved, and he lowered his gaze to the roasted meat on the fire, muttering, "Since it's come to this, we might as well die together."

He tried to sound tough, but it would be better if his expression didn't look so embarrassed.

Yong Ge also felt that he was shameless. Cheng Duo hadn't said anything to him, yet he wanted to die with him.

"Do you regret it now?" Cheng Duo's voice grew softer. "Look at me, I'm practically like a paraplegic. I might even become a corpse by tomorrow morning."

Yong Ge's hand trembled for a moment, but he quickly clenched his teeth. "Then what do you want me to do?"

He slowly raised his eyelids, glaring at Cheng Duo with resentment in his eyes. He was angry and felt wronged. "Yes, I regret it! Why did I follow you? You're so heartless, never said anything nice to me. Why did I shamelessly stick to you? Isn't it just being an idiot?"

"…," Cheng Duo was rendered speechless. He shouldn't have asked that!

Yong Ge was still angry, but the meat was cooked. He blew on it to cool it down and brought it to Cheng Duo's mouth. "Eat!"

Cheng Duo felt touched and amused at the same time. Despite Yong Ge's harsh tone, his actions of supporting him were not so rough, and his body leaning against him made it even more convincing…

Cheng Duo only ate half before indicating that he didn't want any more. Yong Ge thought about how much he had eaten the previous night and didn't insist. After eating some to replenish his strength, he kept the remaining wolf meat.

After daybreak, Yong Ge circled around the sinkhole but could only find a small, undried water pool after a lot of effort. He brought back a handful of water in leaves for Cheng Duo to drink.

After Cheng Duo finished drinking, he asked, "How about it? Can you climb up? If you can get out, go and find someone. I lied to you last night; I won't die anytime soon."

Yong Ge glanced at him. "You've lied to me more than once or twice."

Cheng Duo felt a bit guilty. "I really didn't lie to you this time. I feel much better."

In all fairness, he had lied to Yong Ge about the fiancée matter, hadn't he?

Yong Ge seemed to know what he was thinking. "Last time, you also said you were fine after coughing up blood."

"…," Cheng Duo couldn't argue with that. He couldn't get past this, huh? Just to save face, he would fight to live for a few more days!

Yong Ge looked at him with his lively and spirited appearance, secretly curling his lips, and then said, "Sorry for disappointing you; I can't climb up."

He was telling the truth. The sinkhole was too steep and deep. He really couldn't climb up.

"But there's an underground passage over there, don't know where it leads to."

Cheng Duo pondered for a moment. "Is there a draft inside?"

"Well… I didn't pay attention. I'll go take a look later."

Yong Ge quickly went and returned, informing Cheng Duo that there was a draft in the passage, but it was pitch black inside, and it seemed to be very deep and interconnected.

The two of them didn't venture in immediately. They stayed at the sinkhole for two more days, but no one came. They were running out of wolf meat when they had no choice but to enter the passage and take the risk.

Speaking of the wolf meat, Cheng Duo originally intended to save it for Yong Ge. However, Yong Ge knew about his appetite and was afraid that he wouldn't eat it if not urged, so he forced him to eat at every meal and got anxious if he refused.

Cheng Duo was really tired of him. Whenever Yong Ge's eyes turned red, he obediently complied.

Before setting off, Yong Ge packed up the remaining wolf meat and tied a small bundle of dry firewood for Cheng Duo to carry. Then he carried Cheng Duo on his back and started their journey.

Cheng Duo was worried that he was tiring himself out, but Yong Ge refused to leave him behind. In fact, Cheng Duo was also concerned that Yong Ge might encounter trouble in the underground passage. Even well-equipped exploration teams in the modern era had cases of missing members, let alone Yong Ge with nothing.

Forget it, if they were going to die, they would die together.

But before he died, should he tell Yong Ge what he had in his heart?