Chapter 58: I Want to Bring Up the Rear with You
A cold voice sounded from above Xu Ruming. She froze and hurriedly looked up.
When she saw the cold expression on Shen Ling’an’s face, Xu Ruming’s heart sank, and a flicker of guilt at being caught flashed in her eyes.
But in a flash, she wiped all traces of it from her expression.
For now, Shen Ling’an was her only pillar of support. She couldn’t afford to have a falling out with him before she had secured Lu Jingyu.
Besides, if their plan truly succeeded, perhaps Shen Ling’an would be a good fallback option.
"Brother Ling’an, how could you think that of me? I just don’t understand how Xu Qingsui is able to soothe Lu Jingyu."
The light in Shen Ling’an’s eyes flickered. A moment ago, Xu Ruming had unequivocally ditched him to sidle up to Lu Jingyu.
He wasn’t blind. Her actions were a clear sign that her affections had shifted elsewhere.
But he had his own calculations. He still needed Xu Ruming, so he couldn’t let things get too hostile.
Once his plan succeeded and he secured a higher position, more talented and beautiful guides would flock to him of their own accord.
At that point, Xu Ruming would have outlived her usefulness.
’And when that time comes, if I so desire, even Xu Qingsui will have to submit at my feet.’
Shen Ling’an’s gaze shifted toward Xu Qingsui. He had seen the earlier scene as well. Lately, Xu Qingsui had thoroughly piqued his curiosity.
"Brother Ling’an, you haven’t started falling for Xu Qingsui again, have you?" Xu Ruming probed, noticing the direction of his gaze.
Shen Ling’an pulled his gaze away. "How could I? She’s just a woman I cast aside. Just like you, I’m simply curious as to how she did it."
As he spoke, they both turned to look at Lu Jingyu and Xu Qingsui, their eyes glinting, each lost in their own thoughts.
"Could it be that the Xu Family felt they owed you and concealed Xu Qingsui’s true level during the assessment? Or perhaps they swapped your results."
Xu Ruming looked at Shen Ling’an in astonishment, unable to understand why he would even suggest such a thing.
"How could they possibly fake something like that? There were so many people watching at the assessment."
"Besides, she’s just a lowlife from the backwoods. How could she possibly have a high-level assessment?"
After her vehement denial, Shen Ling’an simply gave her a look and didn’t say another word.
"Could it be that old bastard secretly gave her some treasure to boost her power? Something like that elixir you just took."
For Xu Ruming, admitting Xu Qingsui was stronger than her was a fate worse than death. Racking her brain, she recalled the elixir she had just handed over.
"That old geezer even gave her the Storage Space. Who knows how many other treasures he secretly slipped her."
The more Xu Ruming thought about it, the more convinced she became, and she couldn’t help but seethe with anger.
Shen Ling’an considered this for a moment and nodded. With no other explanation, he couldn’t rule out the possibility.
The pair fell silent, their gazes once again fixed on Xu Qingsui and Lu Jingyu.
Lu Jingyu had been soothed to sleep. Even though this was wasting time, no one dared to wake him.
Everyone found a spot to sit on the ground, resting and waiting.
[Congratulations, Host, for obtaining 70% trust and 70% dependency from SSS level sentinel Lu Jingyu. Reward: spiritual power +20, Lost Fragment x1.]
An hour later, as the Golden Octopus’s notification tone sounded, Lu Jingyu finally, slowly, opened his eyes.
Catching sight of Xu Qingsui’s profile in his peripheral vision, his heart gave a sudden, powerful thump.
’It’s her again...’
He vaguely remembered bits and pieces of what had happened during his frenzy.
Remembering the body that had brought him a cooling sensation and his own intimate actions toward it, Lu Jingyu’s cheeks heated up rapidly.
"You’re awake!" The searing heat radiating from him made Xu Qingsui realize Lu Jingyu had woken up.
Lu Jingyu grunted in acknowledgment. Realizing it was improper to continue holding the soft figure in his arms, he reluctantly let go.
The moment his gaze landed on Xu Qingsui, the image of their intimacy flashed through his mind.
His heart began to race, and not daring to meet her eyes, he turned away to look for his teammates.
"How much time did I waste?"
"Not long. Don’t worry about it. We’ll just have to pick up the pace from here."
After offering a few words of comfort, Xu Qingsui gestured that it was time to set off again.
Lu Jingyu nodded, immediately gathered the team, and prepared to head back the way they came.
As Shen Ling’an and Xu Ruming drew closer, Lu Jingyu shot a pointed glance at Xu Ruming.
"Looks like your luck isn’t so good. It’s one thing to be switched at birth, but to find your biological family is all glitter on the outside and rot on the inside... truly a misfortune among misfortunes."
Lu Jingyu wasn’t normally a talkative person, but he found he had more to say when the topic involved Xu Qingsui.
Ignoring Xu Ruming, who was blushing furiously, Lu Jingyu turned to Xu Qingsui. "By comparison, I’d say you’re the lucky one. Even though you were switched, you escaped that kind of family in time. So, why don’t you choose a path for us?"
As Lu Jingyu finished speaking, Xu Ruming’s teeth ground together with an audible crunch.
Xu Qingsui hadn’t expected Lu Jingyu to speak up for her like this, but hearing the sound of Xu Ruming grinding her teeth filled her with an indescribable sense of satisfaction.
She certainly wasn’t going to contradict Lu Jingyu at this moment, but she didn’t dare take on the responsibility for everyone’s safety either, so she chose her words carefully.
"I suppose that does make me lucky. However, I wouldn’t dare bear the burden of everyone’s fortune, good or bad, on my own. Once we get back, I can pick a path, and then we can all vote on whether to take it or choose another."
Unsurprisingly, Xu Qingsui’s words and actions, which placed the group’s safety first, earned her even more favor from the others.
Many gazes shifted between Xu Qingsui and Xu Ruming, and the contrast in how they were perceived was immediately apparent.
Feeling more and more eyes on her, Xu Ruming’s face flushed so red it seemed one could squeeze blood from it.
Lu Jingyu paid her no mind, gave a few instructions, and led the team back the way they came.
Seething with resentment, Xu Ruming lashed out as she passed a dilapidated coral cluster, kicking hard at the rubble.
RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
It was a careless kick, but it must have struck something, because the entire space began to shake with a tremendous roar.
Rubble and the Luminous Pearls used for light rained down from above as cracks spiderwebbed across the ground, expanding outward.
"This place is collapsing! Run!" Sensing the danger, Lu Jingyu shouted the command, grabbed Xu Qingsui’s hand, and started running.
Instantly, everyone began scrambling back the way they had come. Lu Jingyu was at the head of the group, but then he thought of his teammates behind him. He suddenly let go of Xu Qingsui’s hand and gave her a firm push forward.
"You run ahead! I’ll cover the rear."
Xu Qingsui knew what he was thinking and, without a moment’s hesitation, turned and went back to him.
"Didn’t you say I couldn’t leave your arm’s reach? Then I guess that means I have to cover the rear with you."
Lu Jingyu was at a loss for words. Looking at her determined gaze, he finally nodded.
He held out his hand to her, and she immediately placed hers in his.
RUMBLE!
The rumbling grew louder and closer, as if the collapse of the main chamber was now causing the tunnel to cave in as well.