Chapter 121: The Blade of Death
It was even darker inside the cave than it was outside, making it nearly impossible to see the path ahead.
“Cheng Ge, hold on a second.” Wen Ling helped Cheng Ge to the wall, letting him lean against it while he fumbled his way along the rock face.
Cheng Ge watched Wen Ling’s movements, seeing him bent over in the darkness, working in total silence.
Wen Ling soon returned and helped Cheng Ge over to a makeshift bed of grass he had laid out.
“Cheng Ge, can you sit down?”
“I think so.” Cheng Ge sucked in a sharp breath as he spoke. He tried for a moment, only to realize that he still couldn’t manage to sit down on his own without it being too painful.
“I don’t think it’s working,” Cheng Ge said, his back pressed against the wall. “You might… you might have to hold me for a bit.”
Wen Ling wrapped his arms around Cheng Ge’s back. “Is this okay?”
“It’s fine. I’ll… I’ll slide down slowly.”
With great effort, Cheng Ge finally made it onto the grass mat. He shifted his broken leg to make some room and pulled Wen Ling down to lean beside him.
“Are you hot?” Cheng Ge smoothed a stray lock of Wen Ling’s hair; it felt a bit damp.
“I’m not hot.”
“Are you cold?”
Wen Ling shook his head again.
Cheng Ge’s hand brushed against the grass beneath them. “Did you prepare this grass the last time you came up?”
“Yes.”
Cheng Ge turned his head to look at the faint silhouette of Wen Ling. He rested his hand on Wen Ling’s back and fell silent.
The silence of the night was almost terrifying.
After a long while, Cheng Ge broke the stillness. “Does anything hurt? Let me see your hands.”
“It doesn’t hurt.” Wen Ling didn’t show his hands to Cheng Ge. Instead, he pressed his face against Cheng Ge’s neck and asked in a muffled voice, “Cheng Ge, is it very painful?”
“A little,” Cheng Ge said with a small laugh. “It hurt a lot at first, but it’s much better now. It’s about the same as when you bite me a bit too hard.”
“I’m fine, really.”
Wen Ling nodded but didn’t respond.
Cheng Ge squeezed the back of Wen Ling’s neck and asked playfully, “You aren’t calling me a liar in your head, are you? Thinking Cheng Ge is a big fat liar?”
“No.”
“Really?” Cheng Ge scratched Wen Ling under the chin.
“Really,” Wen Ling said, his lips brushing against Cheng Ge’s neck. “I trust you most of all.”
Cheng Ge tilted his head, cupped the back of Wen Ling’s head, and shared a kiss with him. “Me too.”
“Are you sleepy?” Cheng Ge continued to chat with him.
“Not sleepy.”
“If you get tired, just lie down and sleep against this leg of mine. I’ll sleep sitting up tonight.”
Wen Ling was quiet for a few seconds before sniffling. “I’ll sleep sitting up too.”
“I’m guarding the cave entrance. Why are you sitting up?”
“Then I’ll guard it too.”
“Your backside will hurt if you sit like that. You’re the one who said you have no meat on your bones.”
“I’ve put on a little weight lately,” Wen Ling said, his tone stubborn.
Cheng Ge chuckled. “Fine, have it your way.”
After another moment, Wen Ling sat up straight. “Cheng Ge, lean on me. Put your head here.”
“What are you doing?”
“Lean on me and sleep, okay?”
The two of them locked eyes in the darkness. After a moment, Cheng Ge laughed and yielded.
Cheng Ge carefully moved his fractured leg, adjusted his position, and rested his head lightly on Wen Ling’s shoulder.
Wen Ling began to gently stroke Cheng Ge’s head.
In that moment, Cheng Ge’s tense body actually began to relax.
“Were you scared today?”
Wen Ling shook his head.
“Xiao Wen is so smart, knowing to bring needles and blades.”
While in the car, Wen Ling had pressed a blade into Cheng Ge’s palm and let him feel the needles he had brought.
“I always have them with me.”
“That’s good.”
Their conversation drifted off. A long time later, Cheng Ge nuzzled into Wen Ling’s neck. “Are you afraid?”
Afraid of what?
Afraid of what just happened, afraid of right now, or afraid of an unknown tomorrow where the blade of death hung suspended over their necks.
“As long as Cheng Ge is here, I’m not afraid.”
Cheng Ge tilted his head up and kissed Wen Ling’s collarbone. “I’m here.”
“Cheng Ge…”
“Mm, I’m here.”
“Is your leg injury very serious?” Wen Ling’s voice was thick with suppressed tears, as if he had been holding them back for a long time.
Wen Ling was often slow to react, but in certain moments, he was incredibly sharp. Cheng Ge was clearly in a great deal of pain—so much so that he couldn’t even lie down.
Cheng Ge didn’t want Wen Ling to know, so he endured it. But with Wen Ling being this worried, how could he keep it hidden?
“What should I do?” Wen Ling’s tone carried a hint of helpless despair.
Cheng Ge wrapped his arms around Wen Ling’s waist. “Nothing. Just get some good sleep.”
“But you’re in so much pain.” Wen Ling’s tears began to fall.
Cheng Ge wiped the tears away. “I can handle it. If I can’t, I’ll tell you. Don’t cry. Seeing you cry makes my heart ache, and that makes the pain even worse.”
“Mm…” Wen Ling pursed his lips, trying his best to hold back the tears.
“It’s okay. We’re together, so don’t be afraid.”
“Mm…”
The night was quiet as the two of them huddled together and eventually drifted off to sleep.
When Cheng Ge opened his eyes, it was still pitch black. By the middle of the night, the effects of the painkillers had completely worn off. His skin, muscles, and bones—his entire body was throbbing with pain. He was cold, too, and could no longer stay asleep.
Cheng Ge slowly sat up straight, letting Wen Ling lean against his shoulder.
Wen Ling wasn’t sleeping soundly either. He gripped Cheng Ge’s hand tightly, his body shivering every now and then.
“Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid.” Cheng Ge pressed his cheek against the top of Wen Ling’s head and gently stroked his back.
When Wen Ling woke up, the sky was still a hazy gray. Cheng Ge had his eyes closed, his breathing a bit heavy.
Wen Ling carefully nuzzled into Cheng Ge’s neck and kissed his cheek before getting up to head out.
“Where are you going?” Cheng Ge suddenly grabbed Wen Ling’s hand, his brow furrowed.
“I… I’m going to take a look outside.”
“Look for what?”
“I’m going to see if I can find anything to eat. And some water.”
Cheng Ge squeezed Wen Ling’s hand. “Don’t go yet. Wait until the sun is a bit higher.”
Wen Ling stood there without moving. Just as he was about to speak, Cheng Ge added, “Stay with me.”
In the end, Wen Ling sat back down beside Cheng Ge.
“Are those pieces of wood over there dry?” Cheng Ge pointed to a few sticks in front of the grass mat.
Wen Ling picked them up and handed them to Cheng Ge to feel. “Does this count as dry?”
“I think so.”
Cheng Ge took out the small knife Wen Ling had given him and began to shave a branch.
“Have you ever heard of ‘drilling wood to make fire’?”
Wen Ling watched Cheng Ge’s every move intently. “I have.”
Cheng Ge gave a small smile. “I’m going to try it now. I don’t know if it’ll work.”
“Let me help you shave it.”
“Alright, you do it.” Cheng Ge didn’t refuse and handed the blade and the branch to Wen Ling.
Cheng Ge watched Wen Ling work, looking at his profile. He rested his chin lightly on Wen Ling’s shoulder and whispered, “Xiao Wen.”
“Mm?”
“I love you.”
“I love you too, Cheng Ge.”
The response was almost instantaneous. Cheng Ge watched as Wen Ling’s hands never stopped moving. With his brow slightly furrowed, he looked like a mature adult burdened with many worries.
A wave of sadness washed over Cheng Ge.
By the time the sky was fully light, they were ready to start the friction fire. Wen Ling wanted to go out again, and this time Cheng Ge didn’t stop him.
Cheng Ge had only seen a few survival documentaries when he was a kid. He couldn’t quite remember the exact technique for drilling wood to make fire, and with his leg injury, he was limited in his movements. It was unlikely he would succeed, but he worked at it with absolute focus nonetheless.
By the time Wen Ling returned, the hole Cheng Ge had drilled into the wood was completely charred and hot.
Cheng Ge smiled at Wen Ling. “I think I might actually pull this off.”
Wen Ling set down the dried grass and twigs he was carrying. His eyes cast downward. “What should we do, Cheng Ge? I couldn’t find anything.”
“Didn’t you bring back some firewood?”
“We can’t eat that.”
Cheng Ge brushed his hands clean and scratched Wen Ling under the chin. “I saw a video once where people ate wood ash.”
“Really?” Wen Ling’s eyes widened, his gaze finally lifting.
“I don’t know. The comment section was full of people swearing at them, anyway.”
Wen Ling blinked and looked at Cheng Ge with a slightly resentful expression, finally showing a bit of childishness.
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