Chapter 137: Dust and Smoke Filled the Air

In the dangerous Mysterious Domain, even a small mistake could be deadly. Staying alert and careful every second was crucial.

“Remember the door-breaking method I taught you. Install the remote bomb on the internet cafe’s Iron Gate in fifteen minutes. After setting the bomb, get far away—at least a whole street. Hide behind a sturdy building. Only detonate it once you’re safe from the blast.”

“I remember.” Liu Hui nodded at Lü Yang again.

“Go.”

Lü Yang really had nothing more to tell Liu Hui, so he just said it.

“Oh…” Liu Hui murmured. She took a few steps down the hill, then turned back to look at Lü Yang.

“I’ll be waiting at the internet cafe over there. Bring these things to me once you get there. I’ll guide you from there. The rest of the way… trust yourself. You can do this!” Lü Yang called out, using the kind of voice a parent might use to cheer on a child.

Suddenly, Liu Hui dropped all her gear on the ground. Sobbing, she ran back toward Lü Yang and threw her arms around him, holding him tight.

“Don’t be scared. You’ll be safe going that way,” Lü Yang comforted her. He lifted a hand as if to pat her head but stopped halfway and dropped it back down.

“I’m not scared,” Liu Hui cried harder. “I just don’t want to leave you. Not for a moment! Do you have any idea? After we separated last time, I looked everywhere for you… I thought about you all the time. I missed you so much I was going crazy…” Her crying grew uncontrollable.

Clearly, resentment lingered deep within her. Lü Yang had promised to wait for her outside the Police Station, but he’d disappeared.

Lü Yang scratched his head. Miss me? That much? So much it drove her crazy? Even Yi Yi never loved me that intensely.

Liu Hui was clearly dependent, even childish—someone who hadn’t grown up.

“Stop crying. You did find me, didn’t you?” Lü Yang sighed, forcing out more comfort. This weeping couldn’t go on—who knew how they’d complete the Task?

“I… I think… I’ve fallen in love with you. I’m afraid if I don’t tell you now… I’ll never get another chance. I… I…” Burying her face in Lü Yang’s shoulder, Liu Hui let out fresh sobs—though hard to tell if they were real. She avoided his eyes.

Lü Yang sensed her feelings. But he hadn’t expected her to confess so boldly, so soon…

He had no room for romance right now. No strength to carry this love.

When Yi Yi was around, Lü Yang saw her as his girlfriend. Sure, he’d felt lustful thoughts about Yi Ya and Sister Mei, but he’d never acted. Even later, caught in that strange fling with Sister Mei in the Mysterious Domain or Zhang Min in the lawyer’s office… those were purely physical moments with no responsibility attached.

After that long, hand-holding talk with Yi Ya one night, Lü Yang knew his heart belonged to her. He felt nothing for Liu Hui—maybe because he disliked her tears, thought she was too clumsy, too dependent, or came from a different world. When he’d rescued her before, he’d only ever seen her as the girl next door.

Now, with Yi Ya trapped by the Death Killer, Lü Yang’s thoughts were even further from romance. Liu Hui’s timing was simply wrong. They weren’t meant to be.

“Xiao Hui,” Lü Yang gently pushed her back, holding her shoulders, his voice heavy with apology. “Thank you for your feelings. But… one night not long ago, I promised to protect Yi Ya. Right now, her life hangs in the balance. I’d risk my own life just to get her back! Xiao Hui, you’re a wonderful person. You’ll find your happiness someday.”

“I don’t want your ‘nice guy’ speech!” Liu Hui stared back, desperate. “D-did you ever love me? Even a little?”

“Sorry.”

Lü Yang lowered his head, unable to face her devastated gaze. Love, or the lack of it… explaining that would only make things harder. It was better to be clear.

“My dad’s dying,” Liu Hui whispered between sobs. “Until that night… that night on Donkey Head Mountain… you, your smile, your words… they brought me back to life. They made me hope again…”

“I thought hard these past days. If… if I could be with you forever, I’d hold on. But if I couldn’t? My life… would lose all meaning… Once my dad… passes… I’ll… I’ll leave with him… go where he goes…” Her breathing hitched violently as she cried.

“Xiao Hui, stop crying! I need you now. I need you strong. I’ll wait for you in that internet cafe.” Lü Yang’s voice was drained. Part of him knew he should just say comforting, empty promises to get through the Mysterious Domain. But that… would be cruel to her. If he promised but broke it later, would he just be pushing her toward the edge?

“Hold me,” Liu Hui murmured, going limp. Lü Yang had to catch her before she collapsed.

With no choice, he held her, patting her back lightly while scrambling for ideas to gently trick her into leaving—fast—for the Internet Cafe.

“Could you… kiss me?” Liu Hui lifted her head, tears glistening, lips trembling pink.

Lü Yang shook his head firmly. His mind was chaos. Any other time, he might’ve given in. But Yi Ya’s fate was unknown, trapped in the Death Killer’s grasp—staying alive might already be a miracle. Holding Liu Hui now felt almost sinful.

“You really hate me that much?” Liu Hui slumped further into fresh misery.

“Xiao Hui,” Lü Yang asked sharply, pushing her back and locking eyes. “You say you love me?”

“If I lie, let me die a sudden death! I love you—only you! Without you by my side… I’d rather be dead!” Her voice was steel.

“I believe you,” Lü Yang said, gripping her shoulders tighter. “But… Xiao Hui… right now, I love Yi Ya just as deeply. If she’s gone, my own life would have no purpose. She’s held captive by the Death Killer. Her life hangs by a thread. Every second I stay here, it hurts like my heart’s been knifed… I know you understand love. Please… I need your help to save her. Without it… Yi Ya is lost.”

“I understand…”

Liu Hui finally murmured back, tears starting again. After a long silence, she finally calmed herself. Gently, she pushed Lü Yang’s hands away and turned her back.

“Xiao Hui… I’ll wait for you on the other side. Don’t be scared!” Lü Yang called again. Ending this Mysterious Domain depended entirely on her ability to carry out her Task.

“I’m not scared.” Liu Hui turned back, her gaze lingering on Lü Yang a long moment before finally slipping the gear sack back onto her shoulders. Determination settled over her face as she turned again and walked down the hill.

……

Watching Liu Hui go, Lü Yang slipped into the shadows. Timing it carefully, he fired his remaining two Flares high above Donkey Tail Town. He hoped they’d guide this super lost girl safely to the Internet Cafe.

Truthfully, the Portable Searchlight Liu Hui carried should be bright enough. But for her, disoriented and emotionally shaky? Lü Yang wasn’t reassured.

Only once the light’s glow neared the Red Heaven Internet Cafe did Lü Yang step back out. He sprinted uphill. The path crawled with Dark Predators. Yet they ignored Lü Yang, recognizing his own Black Fog Armor.

While moving, thoughts nagged at Lü Yang: Back there… I could’ve just sweet-talked her… Promised things, held her, kissed her… once we leave the Mysterious Domain, she won’t remember a thing…

Forget it! Lü Yang pushed the thoughts aside. He just prayed she’d do exactly as instructed. No slip-ups.

He ran much farther before ducking into a thick patch of night shadows. Finding a huge tree, he held its massive trunk and handcuffed himself to it with the cuffs he carried. He deliberately kicked the key out of reach.

Then, he “logged out” of this third ‘simulation,’ shifting his consciousness back to his True Body seated before a computer screen inside the Internet Cafe.

……

Minutes crawled past.

……

BANG!

A thunderous explosion tore the Iron Gate off its hinges. Dust and smoke filled the air.

“Warning! Warning! Internet cafe intrusion! Dark control lifted over Donkey Tail Town…” An Electronic Voice boomed across the roof.

……

Every Dark Predator near Donkey Tail Town jerked its head toward the sound. Angry howls erupted from their throats, faces twisting with savage fury.

One massive Dark Predator stood near the base of a giant tree. Its arms were cuffed, pinned helplessly against the thick trunk. It snarled, thrashing violently—but the shackles and the massive tree held it trapped, a terrifying rage with no escape.

……

“Lü Yang! Lü Yang!” Liu Hui’s shaky voice pierced the settling dust.

“See? Didn’t I say I’d be here? Wouldn’t lie to you.” Lü Yang stepped from a smoky corner, swatting ash off his hair and clothes.