Chapter 79: Cheers of Victory

Although Lin Mu had already entered the Spirit Gathering Realm and cultivated Zhenqi, he still hadn’t reached the Fetal Breathing state. Even though he could hold his breath much longer than an ordinary person, being without air for too long was still impossible.

Just then, Luo Bingyun had been unconscious for an unknown amount of time. Lin Mu didn’t dare delay even a second. Gritting his teeth, he held his breath and swam desperately outward with Luo Bingyun.

Water was still flooding the tunnel from outside, with tremendous force. Only Lin Mu could manage to swim against the current like this. Any other person would likely have been swept away long ago, especially while carrying someone.

After a frantic underwater struggle, Lin Mu himself started to feel faint. Finally, a sliver of light appeared on the water’s surface ahead.

He knew that was the way out!

With hope renewed, Lin Mu felt like getting a powerful boost. A burst of strength surged through his body as he swam fiercely toward the surface.

Splash!

Lin Mu’s head shot above the water.

He then lifted Luo Bingyun’s head above the water and slowly swam to a higher spot before hauling themselves up.

The crowd from both sides saw Lin Mu emerge from the tunnel, saving a woman. They cheered joyously, applauding the brave young man who rescued her and celebrating the fortunate girl who was saved.

Not stopping to talk with others, Lin Mu immediately laid Luo Bingyun flat on the ground. He brought his right hand together like a sword and placed two fingers on the artery in her neck.

There was no movement. Not even the faintest pulse.

Lin Mu didn’t panic. Drowning victims often fell into a state of apparent death. He had learned cardiopulmonary resuscitation in university for times like this.

Crossing his index fingers, he found the correct spot below her chest and began rapid chest compressions. For adults, the rate couldn’t be less than a hundred compressions per minute, or it wouldn’t trigger the heart to beat on its own.

At the same time, he continuously gave her artificial respiration to stimulate her lungs to breathe independently. As long as her heart and lung functions returned to normal, she would live.

After these repeated efforts, coupled with streams of Zhenqi Lin Mu secretly channeled from his palms to stimulate her, Luo Bingyun’s heart and lung functions finally returned. She coughed and began expelling large amounts of water.

Once most of the water from her lungs and stomach was out, Luo Bingyun regained some awareness. The moment she opened her eyes, she saw Lin Mu looking at her with deep concern.

“Where am I? This doesn’t look like heaven. Is it hell?” she murmured, still groggy upon waking.

“You’re not dead. We’re still in the human world. I saved you,” Lin Mu replied, gently lifting her up so her head rested against his chest.

“See? I have a heartbeat too. I’m alive!”

Feeling the powerful beat of Lin Mu’s heart against her ear, Luo Bingyun’s tears welled up and overflowed uncontrollably. The man imprinted in her memory at the last moment before drowning had miraculously appeared before her.

Against those terrifying currents, in that deep, pitch-black tunnel – she couldn’t imagine how he had managed to save her. The thought of Lin Mu battling the depths while holding her, swimming desperately towards the light, overwhelmed her. She tightened her arms around him in a fierce hug.

“Don’t cry, don’t cry,” Lin Mu soothed, gently patting her shoulder and stroking her wet hair. “Everything’s alright now. It’s all over.”

Just then, the support medical team arrived at the scene. A helpful viewer pointed towards Lin Mu and Luo Bingyun, and one paramedic in white approached them.

Lin Mu glanced at the approaching medic and gave a slight wave, signaling that they were fine and didn’t need assistance.

Clearly having heard of Lin Mu’s actions, the staff member gave an appreciative smile and a double thumbs-up before heading elsewhere.

“How… how did you find me?” Luo Bingyun asked after crying silently for a while. She was a strong-willed woman after all and quickly composed herself, lifting her head to look at Lin Mu.

“I just happened to be stuck here too,” Lin Mu explained. “Then I saw your car plunge into the water. Others tried to rescue you, but the current swept your car further away. They couldn’t reach you and had to turn back.”

“Then why didn’t you turn back?” Luo Bingyun asked, her gaze soft and distant, replaying memories that blended strangely with the real Lin Mu before her. “Didn’t you know diving that deep was dangerous? Everyone else knew it was too risky and left! Why were you so foolish?”

“You silly girl,” Lin Mu smiled tenderly, gently brushing the wet hair plastered against her cheek. “If I’d gone back and given up too… who else would have come to save you?”

That simple sentence triggered another wave of tears. Huge drops streamed down Luo Bingyun’s cheeks.

“You promised not to cry! What’s this now?” Lin Mu teased gently, wiping her tears and pretending to scold her with a light tap on her nose.

“Yeah, I won’t cry… not crying,” Luo Bingyun promised, attempting to wipe away the tear stains, but only creating fresh paths for more tears to spill. They simply wouldn’t stop.

The feeling of being brought back from death was something she would remember forever. Especially this man before her. When everyone else had given up, he hadn’t. He had stubbornly plunged into the flooded tunnel for her.

‘If I gave up too… who else would come to save you?’

This simple sentence etched itself deeply into Luo Bingyun’s mind. The person who had spoken it was also etched just as deeply into her heart.

“There now, enough crying,” Lin Mu said softly. “Let’s go change our clothes. You’ll catch a chill.”

He helped the shivering Luo Bingyun to her feet and, arm around her for warmth, led her away.

While Lin Mu was stuck midway, Zhou Shiyun had already reached Donghai University. She had seen the news at home about the tunnel flooding and blockage on the Zhonghuan route.

That tunnel was the fastest way to Donghai University. Lin Mu’s mobile phone was lost, so she couldn’t reach him. Worried, she decided to go to the university herself.

Taking the western ring road detour actually got her to Donghai University faster than Lin Mu could have arrived normally. Knowing which class he belonged to, Zhou Shiyun headed straight for the Teaching Building.

She scanned the classroom through the doorway but didn’t spot Lin Mu. She asked a student sitting near the entrance and learned Lin Mu hadn’t come in that morning.

“Oh no!” Worry flickered across Zhou Shiyun’s face. “Could something really have happened on the way?!”

After all, Lin Mu’s safety affected hers. If he died, she didn’t know where to find another person she could trust to practice the Inchlight Sun-Seizing Secret Art with her.

Just then, Xing Weilong ambled upstairs in his carefree, young master manner. As he entered the hallway, he immediately noticed an unfamiliar beauty standing anxiously near a classroom door, searching for someone.

“Hi there, beautiful!” Xing Weilong hitched up his pants and strode over to the woman, flashing what he believed was a charming smile.

Startled by the sudden appearance of what seemed like a mountain of flesh, Zhou Shiyun took a small step back. When she got a clear look at the person in front of her, a flicker of uncertainty crossed her face.

“You… are you… Fatty?” she asked.

Xing Weilong felt the blow deep in his soul. Wasn’t it obvious? How could his physique possibly be mistaken for a skinny guy?

Seeing his pained expression, Zhou Shiyun quickly waved her hands apologetically.

“No! Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that,” she said. “I meant to ask if you’re Xing Weilong?”

His spirits soared once more! Could this stunning beauty actually be looking for him?!

Praise heaven!

Choking back a victorious shout inside, Xing Weilong nodded eagerly. “Yes! I am Xing Weilong! What did you need, beautiful?”

“I heard Lin Mu talk about you,” Zhou Shiyun explained. “I’m here looking for him. Did you see him this morning?”

The feeling of falling straight from the clouds to the gutter, from heaven to earth – Xing Weilong experienced it twice in an instant. It was enough to make him weep.

“Oh, you mean Brother Mu?” he said, managing a smile despite the internal despair. “He hasn’t been at school for days. Didn’t see him this morning either. Why? Something happened? I could pass a message for you! Me and Brother Mu, we’re tight.”

While his heart silently bled, Xing Weilong filed her firmly under “Brother Mu’s women.” Better not to cause trouble.

“It’s okay, thanks,” Zhou Shiyun offered a weak smile in refusal. “It’s nothing urgent. You go ahead to class. I’ll just wait for him out here.”

She moved to stand in the hallway buffeted by strong wind and heavy rain, preparing to wait alone.

Xing Weilong sighed helplessly. Another devoted woman! Battling such terrible weather just to find Lin Mu, and now standing alone in the cold corridor to wait for him.

“What a sin!” he mumbled under his breath, shaking his head as he entered the classroom.

The morning passed quickly. Lin Mu didn’t show up. Zhou Shiyun stood in the corridor, growing colder by the minute. Her face had turned slightly pale, her lips drained of color. Just beyond the corridor wall, the storm raged with torrential rain.

“Fatty! Has A-Mu come today?” Ye Zixi’s voice rang out as she hurried up the stairs, Song Yuru and another girl close behind. She went straight to Xing Weilong as soon as she entered the classroom.

“Nope, hasn’t shown up,” Xing Weilong replied, pointing towards the corridor. “That lady outside? She’s here for Brother Mu too. She’s still waiting out there!”

The three girls turned in unison to look. They saw a delicate-looking beauty shivering violently in the fierce wind, showing no sign of leaving.

The trio exchanged a glance among themselves before walking out into the corridor towards Zhou Shiyun. Song Yuru stepped forward and asked gently, “Miss? Are you here for A-Mu?”

Zhou Shiyun turned to find three pretty young women looking at her. She nodded.

“Yes. Are you friends of Lin Mu too?”