Chapter 234
Cao Yanhua waved frantically at Wan San on the other side. They were too far apart to make out each other’s faces clearly, but Wan San waved back as well—and from his body language, he was definitely excited.
That excitement was quickly doused by reality.
How were they supposed to get him across?
Even Yan Hongsand’s voice trembled. “Luo Ren, think of something!”
Luo Ren frowned deeply. The platform was almost completely bare—aside from that strange door and the snapped rope Mu Dai had used earlier to pull him up.
He tested the rope’s straight-line length. By eye alone, it was nowhere near long enough. And even if it were, there was nowhere on either side to secure it—how could they build any bridge?
Yan Hongsand soon stopped urging him on. She told herself to be reasonable—there was no point in pressuring someone to do the impossible. Even the cleverest cook couldn’t make a meal without ingredients.
Looking up, the sky seemed to press lower. The harsh, grating laughter faded into a long, ominous sigh.
The platform and the tunnels weren’t just eroding anymore—they were crumbling into powdery dust, flaking away at terrifying speed. Wan San, standing at the tunnel entrance, looked as though he were floating in midair.
Luo Ren turned to Mu Dai and the others. “I don’t have a good plan right now. Everyone thinks. Everyone suggests something. Now—no wasting time.”
His tone was serious. Yan Hongsand swallowed nervously. “What I’m thinking sounds ridiculous… it’s impossible.”
“Say it anyway. In desperate situations, the only way out is often hidden inside the impossible.”
“Fine,” she said, bracing herself. “If Wan San could fly, that would solve everything.”
Luo Ren gave a wry smile. Definitely impossible.
He turned to Cao Yanhua.
Cao Yanhua stammered, “Back in ancient times, they had catapults—like a seesaw—you slam one end down and the other side launches into the air… or like a cannon—stuff Brother San into it and fire him across.”
When Luo Ren looked at Mu Dai, she was gripping the rope and murmuring, “Why are we only thinking about getting Wan San over here? Why can’t it be us going over there?”
Yan Hongsand blinked. “Is there really a difference?”
There was—there had to be. Luo Ren considered her words carefully. Mu Dai’s thinking was always unusual; she rarely gave clear answers, but she often pointed to the right starting point.
—Why can’t it be us going over there?
Suddenly, Luo Ren had an idea. “Mu Dai, you’re good at light-foot techniques. Can you do flips in midair?”
“Yes.”
“Not upward—forward. Covering distance.”
Mu Dai stared at him, her eyes lighting up. “Yes.”
“I’ve got a plan,” Luo Ren said.
At first it sounded wildly unrealistic—but the more they thought about it, the more it seemed… possible.
First: extend the rope.
Second: tie one end around Mu Dai’s waist—she would go across to reach Wan San.
Third: Luo Ren and Cao Yanhua would work together, locking hands and launching her from the platform like a human slingshot. With that initial force, Mu Dai would perform aerial flips, possibly getting close enough to Wan San.
If the rope were long enough and Mu Dai could grab onto the tunnel entrance, she could stabilize herself and bring Wan San back.
It sounded simple when explained—but imagining it made Yan Hongsand break out in a cold sweat.
Everything depended on Mu Dai. Luo Ren looked at her. “Can you do it?”
Her lips went dry as she ran through the process in her mind. As long as the rope stayed tight, she’d probably be fine—at worst, some bruises and bumps, nothing fatal.
“I can.”
Cao Yanhua jumped anxiously. “What good is that? We don’t have enough rope!”
“Take off any cotton or linen clothes you’re wearing—give them to me.”
While Cao Yanhua shouted instructions to Wan San across the gap, Luo Ren spread several underlayers—shirts and pants—on the ground. With Mu Dai and Yan Hongsand’s help, he slit the fabric into long strips with a dagger.
Soon they had a pile of cloth strips. Luo Ren quickly instructed them: twist each strip into a cord, then braid the cords together into a rope thick enough to bear weight.
They worked in tense silence, hands moving fast. Cao Yanhua joined them, and soon the loose fabric became sturdy braided lines. Luo Ren tied the segments together with knots suited for high-risk climbing.
When finished, the rope was about half again as long as the original—but still barely enough.
They would have to try.
Luo Ren tied one end around Mu Dai’s waist. “Hold onto the rope with your hands too,” he told her quietly. “Spread out the force, or your waist will take too much strain.”
Yan Hongsand could barely breathe. “Luo Ren, make sure it’s tight—what if—”
Luo Ren smiled faintly. “I know exactly who I’m throwing out there.”
The other end of the rope was secured to both Luo Ren and Cao Yanhua. Cao Yanhua planted himself in a horse stance, afraid his footing wouldn’t hold.
When they were ready, Luo Ren rolled up his sleeves. He and Cao Yanhua locked hands and crouched low. Mu Dai stepped onto their wrists, bracing on their shoulders.
Yan Hongsand stood guard nearby with Luo Ren’s dagger, watching for danger. If the malevolent entity appeared, Luo Ren had told her not to hesitate—stab it full of holes first, ask questions later.
Wan San clenched his fists nervously on the other side.
“One—two—three!” Cao Yanhua counted.
They put everything they had into the launch—so much force that they nearly flew off with her themselves.
“Dig your feet in! Grab the rope!” Luo Ren barked.
Sena Rachma On [QTC] MBDT Chapter 1085