Chapter 63: Jiang Ying’s Earlobes Turned Red
Those words jolted Fu Yue’s muddled brain awake.
He cursed himself in his heart—he truly had been muddled by the fever.
The people outside were of unknown status; calling out for help recklessly would be unwise.
“Did you see them?” Fu Yue whispered into Jiang Ying’s ear.
The fact that Jiang Ying suspected the people outside weren’t a rescue team could only mean he knew someone wanted to harm Fu Yue.
Inside the dark cave, senses were infinitely magnified.
It was the first time Fu Yue had “felt” Jiang Ying so closely in the dark.
He could feel the weight of Jiang Ying pressing on him.
He could hear his controlled yet powerful heartbeat.
Those light-colored eyes remained bright in the dark, staring at him with focus.
There was no murderous intent there, only calmness.
Jiang Ying’s head gave a slight nod, indicating he had seen them.
Fu Yue stopped struggling.
He lifted his hand that could still move and gently tapped the back of Jiang Ying’s hand covering his mouth.
Sensing that Fu Yue was no longer resisting, Jiang Ying relaxed his hold on his body slightly.
Fu Yue leaned close to his ear and asked in a voice only the two of them could hear: “What if… it’s the rescue team?”
Jiang Ying was silent for a moment before uttering three words:
“Can’t afford to bet.”
If it were the rescue team, they would only lose an opportunity to be saved.
If it were the killer, calling out would be walking into a trap.
Comparing the two, the priority was clear.
At this moment, Fu Yue’s remaining suspicion and wariness melted away like ice and snow.
There was no need to continue testing Jiang Ying.
The footsteps lingered at the cave entrance for a while.
There seemed to be some blurry conversation, but because of the distance, nothing could be heard clearly.
Finally, the footsteps gradually faded, eventually disappearing.
Only after confirming it was safe did Jiang Ying completely release his hold on Fu Yue.
He didn’t get up immediately; instead, he rolled over and lay directly at Fu Yue’s side.
Their shoulders touched.
Jiang Ying’s previously controlled breathing was now obvious, his chest rising and falling slightly, clearly calming down from the tension just now.
Although they weren’t out of danger, Fu Yue felt as if he had survived a catastrophe.
He inhaled the damp air in large gulps and spoke to Jiang Ying with a hoarse voice:
“Jiang Ying, thank you…”
Click.
The flashlight lit up again, and Fu Yue turned his face to look at Jiang Ying.
He happened to meet the gaze that had turned his way.
In that instant, Jiang Ying’s gaze was deep, as if suppressing something. But the next second, he was the first to look away.
Jiang Ying turned his head to the other side, not answering him.
But under the light, Fu Yue clearly saw—Jiang Ying’s earlobes had turned red.
“There are about two hours until dawn.” Jiang Ying sat up. “I checked earlier; there’s no signal around here. At dawn, I’ll take you out.”
Hearing him say this, Fu Yue understood what he had been doing when he left the cave earlier—he was looking for a place with a signal.
Fu Yue looked at the somewhat complex man before him. “You… don’t you hate me?”
—
Morning light, a mix of pink and blue, bloomed in the eastern sky.
The rain had stopped.
The canyon was filled with a cold, damp mist. The search and rescue operation resumed immediately at dawn.
The Wuya security center became a temporary command post.
Ji Hanmo had stayed awake all night and had just returned with a squad.
“No news from your end yet?” He looked at the search captain in front of the command console.
The captain shook his head with a grim expression.
“All squads have re-entered the canyon, but we haven’t found a trace of Mr. Fu yet. Additionally… Mr. Jiang is also missing.”
“What do you mean by missing?” Shen Junnian ran over in a hurry, almost tripping.
“The rain was too heavy last night, and Mr. Jiang insisted on acting alone…”
Just then, a member hurried in, holding a plastic bag.
“Captain! We found this by a stream on the east side of the canyon!”
Inside the evidence bag was a piece of fabric stained with dark red blood, along with several empty first-aid kits.
Ji Hanmo’s pupils constricted suddenly.
He grabbed the plastic bag; he recognized the material of that fabric—it was from the white shirt Jiang Ying wore yesterday.
“It’s over.” Shen Junnian looked anxious. “Jiang Ying has either fled to avoid punishment, or… he has already harmed Fu Yue.”
“Don’t panic. We’ll look in that direction.” Ji Hanmo grabbed Shen Junnian, speaking seriously.
After that, he turned to Pei Luomian. “Notify everyone to seal off all exits of the island. Issue a high-priced bounty for Fu Yue—only alive.”
Pei Luomian and Shen Junnian looked up and instantly understood Ji Hanmo’s intention.
Ji Hanmo’s command seemed unusual, but it was actually precise.
If they pursued Jiang Ying, he might disregard Fu Yue’s safety to save his own life.
But issuing a bounty for Fu Yue—if Jiang Ying were innocent, he would naturally bring Fu Yue to safety.
If Jiang Ying were guilty, carrying such a large bounty target would make it impossible for him to move a single step on the island.
At this moment, on a remote road on the other side of the island.
Jiang Ying was carrying Fu Yue, staggering through the dense forest.
There were several broken branches among the shrubs, with fresh sap still seeping from the breaks.
Jiang Ying’s eyes were alert, and he quietly changed direction, heading toward a small path upstream of the creek.
Fu Yue, on his back, opened his eyes.
“Have you changed your mind… and want to kill me?” A hoarse voice came from beside his ear. “Do you want to throw me into the river for revenge?”
Jiang Ying turned his head, his cheek touching the tip of Fu Yue’s nose.
He let out a laugh, tightening his grip on the other man’s knees. “If I wanted to kill you, you’d have died last night.”
The wind from the opposite bank of the stream carried moisture; Fu Yue’s breathing was noticeably heavier.
Jiang Ying knew he wouldn’t stay conscious for long.
He spoke, finally saying those words he had suppressed for so long to Fu Yue. Then, he continued walking forward.
The distant footsteps had disappeared at some point.
When Jiang Ying walked out of the forest carrying Fu Yue, wobbling, almost no part of him was unharmed.
His clothes were torn, and his face and arms were covered in cuts from the shrubs and thorns. Beads of blood kept seeping out, mixing with mud and water; he looked wretched.
Fu Yue’s wounds were somewhat inflamed, and combined with the rain earlier, he had developed a genuine high fever.
Jiang Ying panted, his steps staggering.
At this point, lights appeared in the distance on the road.
An old van approached.
“Stop!” Jiang Ying put Fu Yue down and immediately rushed to the middle of the road, stopping it regardless of anything.
“What are you doing! Do you want to die!”
The window rolled down, and the dark-skinned driver hit Jiang Ying’s face with a water bottle.
Jiang Ying covered his face, his voice long since losing its usual pleasant quality. “Save us! Go to the hospital on the island, please.”
The driver looked at the two before him with hesitation.
One was covered in injuries, the other unconscious.
“I can give you money.” Jiang Ying pulled out his cash.
The driver’s gaze swept over their faces several times, showing calculation. “The medical center at the resort is very far away, and the road is very difficult.”
“Take us to the nearest clinic then,” Jiang Ying said, feeling his physical strength had reached its limit.
“Then we can only go to our village,” the driver said.
Jiang Ying hesitated. “Fine.”
“Off we go.” The driver got out, opened the back door, and helped carry Fu Yue onto the seat.
The bumpy van drove into a small village of indigenous people.
The clinic was located deep in the street and looked simple.
Jiang Ying stepped out of the car.
He had just breathed a sigh of relief when he felt his vision go dark and collapsed straight down.
At this moment, the van driver lowered his voice while talking on the phone outside the clinic:
“Hello, Elder? I’ve brought two men in. They’re at the clinic. Come quickly and catch them.”
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