?Zhang Wei, his gaze unwaveringly fixed on the menacing, smoke-billowing volcano, responded with a nonchalant shrug, his shoulders lifting in an almost imperceptible motion. "Let's wait and see," he murmured, his voice steady yet distant.
"..."
Xie Meirong's eyes darted anxiously to the volcano's gaping maw, straining to discern the fate of Feng Xinyue amidst the murky depths, but the thick, swirling smoke veiled any clear view.
"Hmm, should we start pulling her up now?" Xie Meirong ventured, her voice laced with a mix of hope and uncertainty.
Zhang Wei gave a firm nod, decisiveness etching his features. "Let's pull her back." Instantly, the rope that snaked down the treacherous throat of the volcano, firmly anchored to Feng Xinyue's leg, began to retract at an astonishing speed, driven by their combined psychic powers.
The fear of Feng Xinyue smashing into the volcano's jagged walls loomed over them, the thought that the violent collision could shatter the volcano's — integrity. Yet, they knew such an impact wouldn't so much as graze her.
Snap!
Abruptly, the rope tore apart, sending a jolt of terror through Zhang Wei and Xie Meirong. Xie Meirong, her heart pounding, managed a nervous chuckle. "Hehe... I guess we have to wait for her to climb up."
Zhang Wei's face clouded with frustration. He had reinforced the rope against the searing heat, but its snapping was an unforeseen failure.
Whoosh!
With a heavy, resigned sigh, Zhang Wei propelled himself into the fiery maw of the volcano, prompting a startled twitch in Xie Meirong's eyes. "Is he seeking a joint demise? Sigh..."
"...Am I destined to be the lone chronicler of their tragic romance?"
Despite her despairing words, she hastened after him, half expecting to find him reduced to ashes.
Yet, to her astonishment, there he was, descending unscathed into the volcano's fiery belly, his clothing singed to tatters but his spirit undeterred.
_______
As Zhang Wei launched himself into the gaping maw of the volcano, a surprising transformation overtook him.
Instead of fear or resignation, his face broke into a wild, exhilarating grin. As he descended rapidly, the wind whipped past him, turning his descent into a freefall adventure.
"Whoo-hoo!" Zhang Wei's voice echoed triumphantly through the volcano's cavernous depths, a stark contrast to the deadly environment.
The intense heat and the swirl of ash around him seemed to fuel his adrenaline, adding to the thrill of his audacious plunge.
Far above, Xie Meirong watched in disbelief. The man she thought would be consumed by fear and heat was instead consumed by an infectious, almost childlike laughter.
His spirit, unbroken by the intense heat and danger, was instead uplifted, soaring freely as he embraced the raw power of nature in its most formidable form.
Booom! The sound thundered through the cavernous space as Zhang Wei finally descended above the molten dark rocks. The volcano, dormant yet formidable, radiated intense heat, a reminder of the power sleeping beneath its crust. Despite its inactivity, the environment was hostile, the air thick with the scent of sulfur and the oppressive warmth of the earth's belly.
Using his internal energy, Zhang Wei conjured an invisible barrier around himself, a shimmering shield that repelled the scorching air and allowed him to withstand the extreme temperatures. The heat, though stifled by his protective aura, still prickled at his skin, a constant reminder of the volcano's dormant fury.
Surrounded by the ominous, dark rocks, their jagged surfaces shimmering with the residual heat of the earth's core, Zhang Wei stood, his body bare and vulnerable against the harsh environment. His eyes darted around, searching through the dimly lit cavern for any sign of Feng Xinyue. "Where is she...?" he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible over the low rumble of the volcano. L1tLagoon witnessed the first publication of this chapter on N0vel-B1n.
Suddenly, his gaze halted, locking onto a small figure crouched near a fissure oozing molten magma. "Hm? There isn't even a scratch on her clothes?" he mused aloud, his voice tinged with both relief and confusion. With cautious steps, he began to approach her, his feet feeling the warmth of the volcanic floor through the invisible energy shield.
Squeeeek!
As Zhang Wei drew closer, a sight unfolded before him that made his face twitch involuntarily. There was Feng Xinyue, squatting on the magma-coated floor, her hand firmly grasping what appeared to be a chicken by its neck as it squawked in protest.
Scattered in front of her were several eggs, from which she was eating one by one with an air of nonchalance.
[HOST, SNATCH THOSE EGGS FROM HER HAND!! SHE IS EATING YOUR TREASURES!]
The urgent cry in his mind jolted Zhang Wei into action.
Whoosh!
His pupils dilated, a fierce determination taking hold. He moved with the grace and speed of a dragon, his hands transforming into claws that swiftly snatched the two remaining eggs from Feng Xinyue's grasp. "Give them to me!" he demanded, his voice echoing powerfully through the cavern.
"Eh!?"
Feng Xinyue popped up like a startled rabbit, the baby qilin still captive in her grasp—a mystical creature resembling a miniature dragon with elegant antlers and vibrant scales.
Her eyes shot daggers of anger, but upon seeing Zhang Wei, her expression morphed into a dramatic pout, complete with a foot stomp.
In her hands, the qilin let out a tiny sigh of relief, its delicate, ethereal body trembling. It had narrowly escaped becoming a snack, its tiny heart pounding in its chest. However, for the little creature, this was merely a transition from one daunting captor to another, from a mischievous little demon to a devil in human form.
The baby qilin seemed to think, 'Out of the frying pan and into the fire, but at least it's a fancier fire.' Her eyes, luminous and wide, reflected stars of gratitude as they gazed at Zhang Wei's handsome face. His aura, reminiscent of a majestic dragon, leaked slightly, enveloping him in an otherworldly glow.
He glanced at Feng Xinyue, his eyes softening despite the sternness in his voice. "Yue, you can't just eat my treasures every time!" he reprimanded, though a hint of amusement danced in his eyes.
"Heh!?" Feng Xinyue's mouth dropped open, a look of innocent shock painting her features. Her heart skipped a beat, a whirlwind of emotions swirling within her.
She wondered, puzzled, how she was at fault here?
Was she really the bad guy here?
?Zhang Wei, his gaze unwaveringly fixed on the menacing, smoke-billowing volcano, responded with a nonchalant shrug, his shoulders lifting in an almost imperceptible motion. "Let's wait and see," he murmured, his voice steady yet distant.
"..."
Xie Meirong's eyes darted anxiously to the volcano's gaping maw, straining to discern the fate of Feng Xinyue amidst the murky depths, but the thick, swirling smoke veiled any clear view.
"Hmm, should we start pulling her up now?" Xie Meirong ventured, her voice laced with a mix of hope and uncertainty.
Zhang Wei gave a firm nod, decisiveness etching his features. "Let's pull her back." Instantly, the rope that snaked down the treacherous throat of the volcano, firmly anchored to Feng Xinyue's leg, began to retract at an astonishing speed, driven by their combined psychic powers.
The fear of Feng Xinyue smashing into the volcano's jagged walls loomed over them, the thought that the violent collision could shatter the volcano's — integrity. Yet, they knew such an impact wouldn't so much as graze her.
Snap!
Abruptly, the rope tore apart, sending a jolt of terror through Zhang Wei and Xie Meirong. Xie Meirong, her heart pounding, managed a nervous chuckle. "Hehe... I guess we have to wait for her to climb up."
Zhang Wei's face clouded with frustration. He had reinforced the rope against the searing heat, but its snapping was an unforeseen failure.
Whoosh!
With a heavy, resigned sigh, Zhang Wei propelled himself into the fiery maw of the volcano, prompting a startled twitch in Xie Meirong's eyes. "Is he seeking a joint demise? Sigh..."
"...Am I destined to be the lone chronicler of their tragic romance?"
Despite her despairing words, she hastened after him, half expecting to find him reduced to ashes.
Yet, to her astonishment, there he was, descending unscathed into the volcano's fiery belly, his clothing singed to tatters but his spirit undeterred.
_______
As Zhang Wei launched himself into the gaping maw of the volcano, a surprising transformation overtook him.
Instead of fear or resignation, his face broke into a wild, exhilarating grin. As he descended rapidly, the wind whipped past him, turning his descent into a freefall adventure.
"Whoo-hoo!" Zhang Wei's voice echoed triumphantly through the volcano's cavernous depths, a stark contrast to the deadly environment.
The intense heat and the swirl of ash around him seemed to fuel his adrenaline, adding to the thrill of his audacious plunge.
Far above, Xie Meirong watched in disbelief. The man she thought would be consumed by fear and heat was instead consumed by an infectious, almost childlike laughter.
His spirit, unbroken by the intense heat and danger, was instead uplifted, soaring freely as he embraced the raw power of nature in its most formidable form.
Booom! The sound thundered through the cavernous space as Zhang Wei finally descended above the molten dark rocks. The volcano, dormant yet formidable, radiated intense heat, a reminder of the power sleeping beneath its crust. Despite its inactivity, the environment was hostile, the air thick with the scent of sulfur and the oppressive warmth of the earth's belly.
Using his internal energy, Zhang Wei conjured an invisible barrier around himself, a shimmering shield that repelled the scorching air and allowed him to withstand the extreme temperatures. The heat, though stifled by his protective aura, still prickled at his skin, a constant reminder of the volcano's dormant fury.
Surrounded by the ominous, dark rocks, their jagged surfaces shimmering with the residual heat of the earth's core, Zhang Wei stood, his body bare and vulnerable against the harsh environment. His eyes darted around, searching through the dimly lit cavern for any sign of Feng Xinyue. "Where is she...?" he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible over the low rumble of the volcano. L1tLagoon witnessed the first publication of this chapter on N0vel-B1n.
Suddenly, his gaze halted, locking onto a small figure crouched near a fissure oozing molten magma. "Hm? There isn't even a scratch on her clothes?" he mused aloud, his voice tinged with both relief and confusion. With cautious steps, he began to approach her, his feet feeling the warmth of the volcanic floor through the invisible energy shield.
Squeeeek!
As Zhang Wei drew closer, a sight unfolded before him that made his face twitch involuntarily. There was Feng Xinyue, squatting on the magma-coated floor, her hand firmly grasping what appeared to be a chicken by its neck as it squawked in protest.
Scattered in front of her were several eggs, from which she was eating one by one with an air of nonchalance.
[HOST, SNATCH THOSE EGGS FROM HER HAND!! SHE IS EATING YOUR TREASURES!]
The urgent cry in his mind jolted Zhang Wei into action.
Whoosh!
His pupils dilated, a fierce determination taking hold. He moved with the grace and speed of a dragon, his hands transforming into claws that swiftly snatched the two remaining eggs from Feng Xinyue's grasp. "Give them to me!" he demanded, his voice echoing powerfully through the cavern.
"Eh!?"
Feng Xinyue popped up like a startled rabbit, the baby qilin still captive in her grasp—a mystical creature resembling a miniature dragon with elegant antlers and vibrant scales.
Her eyes shot daggers of anger, but upon seeing Zhang Wei, her expression morphed into a dramatic pout, complete with a foot stomp.
In her hands, the qilin let out a tiny sigh of relief, its delicate, ethereal body trembling. It had narrowly escaped becoming a snack, its tiny heart pounding in its chest. However, for the little creature, this was merely a transition from one daunting captor to another, from a mischievous little demon to a devil in human form.
The baby qilin seemed to think, 'Out of the frying pan and into the fire, but at least it's a fancier fire.' Her eyes, luminous and wide, reflected stars of gratitude as they gazed at Zhang Wei's handsome face. His aura, reminiscent of a majestic dragon, leaked slightly, enveloping him in an otherworldly glow.
He glanced at Feng Xinyue, his eyes softening despite the sternness in his voice. "Yue, you can't just eat my treasures every time!" he reprimanded, though a hint of amusement danced in his eyes.
"Heh!?" Feng Xinyue's mouth dropped open, a look of innocent shock painting her features. Her heart skipped a beat, a whirlwind of emotions swirling within her.
She wondered, puzzled, how she was at fault here?
Was she really the bad guy here?
