SES Chapter 85 Part 2

But she forced some cheer. “If you can’t find a place, you can stay with me. Or borrow Luo Ren’s place—he’s got lots of rooms. And when we get back, Phoenix Tower might be opening soon. We can all help Uncle Zheng. Okay?”

Yan Hongsha gave a faint smile. “I just want to sleep.”

Mu Dai quickly stood to give her room. She watched as Yan Hongsha lay down. From her pack, Mu Dai pulled out the only silk blanket Luo Ren had brought and covered her with it.

Yan Hongsha fell asleep quickly, tear stains still on her cheeks.

Mu Dai stared at her blankly. When she was little, Aunt Hong had told her fairy tales about a dream-bringing fairy who would visit good, pretty girls at night, take out a beautiful dream, and blow it gently into their ears.

She wished she had that ability—to give Hongsha a good dream.

Mu Dai tiptoed out, closing the door softly.

Luo Ren was standing outside, leaning against the railing, lost in thought. Hearing her, he turned his head.

Mu Dai looked at him, and as she kept looking, a sudden sadness welled up in her. She walked forward a couple of steps and stopped in front of him.

Luo Ren reached out and rubbed her hair a few times. “Little Pocket, looking for comfort?”

“Looking for comfort.”

Luo Ren chuckled, paused, then spread his arms. “Come here.”

A lot of times, words aren’t necessary—an embrace is the best comfort.

Mu Dai leaned into his arms, listening quietly to his heartbeat. She murmured, “We still haven’t found Fatty Cao or Thirteen.”

“They’re not in that woman’s cave. Three possibilities: they’re dead, they’re wandering around the mountains like headless flies, or they’re at the savage woman’s lair.”

The word dead made Mu Dai flinch.

Luo Ren noticed. “That’s the least likely. If they’d died from the hornet attack, their bodies should’ve been nearby. But we’ve searched the area and found nothing.”

Then he added, “Mu Dai, don’t underestimate those two. Sure, they’re not skilled fighters, but think about it—Thirteen got kicked out of his village as a kid and still managed to scrape by all these years. And Cao Yanhua? He used to ‘rule’ Jiefangbei for a time. He’s dealt with all kinds of people and situations. They might not be any worse at surviving than you—in fact, they could even be stronger.”

Mu Dai whispered, “The stronger, the better. I want them to be strong.”

There was something magical about Luo Ren’s embrace. Her eyelids grew heavy, refusing to open, her head shifting against his chest, searching for the most comfortable spot.

Noticing her body sinking, Luo Ren said, “Mu Dai, you’re about to fall asleep.”

“Then don’t let me fall.”

He leaned back slightly, giving her a steadier angle, tightening his arm around her waist. “How could I?”

Then he asked, “Want to go inside?”

She shook her head. “Let’s talk for a bit.”

“Talk about what?”

Talk about what? A fleeting image suddenly flashed in Mu Dai’s mind.

“I had a nightmare a couple of nights ago,” she said.

Luo Ren smiled, lowering his head to look at her. He reached out and gently brushed her lips with his finger. She felt ticklish, frowning slightly with her eyes still closed.

In a place like this, with everything that had happened, it would be harder not to have nightmares. Luo Ren asked, “Dream about the savage?”

Mu Dai shook her head, her voice drowsy, like she was already halfway in a dream.

She sighed. “I got hit by a car.”

Luo Ren was quiet for a while. She breathed lightly, and just as she was about to sink headfirst into the soft, dark clouds of sleep, he suddenly asked, “And? Was it just the car?”

“Someone dragged me out. Dragged me, then tossed me onto the road… that’s when the car came.”

“What did the person look like?”

“Couldn’t see clearly. Just rouge… and amber-colored…”

He wanted to ask more, but she grew annoyed, rubbing her head against his chest like she was saying: Stop bothering me, I’m trying to sleep.

Dragged out, thrown onto the road… she had opened her eyes, but couldn’t see clearly. All she caught was a flash of rouge and amber tones.

That meant the person must have been bending over, hauling her from the shoulder area.

What she had seen… was the person’s neck.

A shadow flickered in Luo Ren’s eyes. He lowered his head and gently kissed Mu Dai’s lips.

A single spark could set a prairie ablaze—before the fire spread, the weeds had to be cleared.

Meanwhile, up in the mountain cave… or rather, the two “mighty men” in the mountain cave were scrambling to finalize their plan before the savage woman returned.

—“Friendly. We must be friendly!”
—“Use every trick you’ve got, Brother Thirteen. Staying alive is what matters. White cat, black cat—catching mice makes it a good cat!”
—“From her drawings, Brother Thirteen, maybe she’s got some artistic genes. Artists understand each other. Why not seize the chance to paint something on the wall? Crush her with your talent—crush her completely!”
—“Crap crap crap, she’s back, she’s back! Quick, everyone, get in position…”