651 Who Is It? (1/2)
Under the cliff, Dugu Chou panted harshly. Ling Xiaozui was equally fatigued and was worse off than the former. He had single-handedly fought against ten opponents and that battle itself had greatly exceeded the limits his body could take. Although he was yet to be on his last legs, he was still severely depleted and could hardly go on. Almost every breath that he took was tinged with the copper taste of blood.
”Treat their injuries first. Otherwise, they won't be able to last until we get back,” said Ling Xiaozui.
”Alright.”
Medicinal pills were retrieved and the vapor under the cliff was condensed into water before they were both poured into the injured men's mouths.
Gu Chaliang cried out, ”I can drink it myself… Oof…”
However, Dugu Chou and Ling Xiaozui ignored him and forced the solution down his throat. The former rested for a while; feeling their energy recovering slightly, they carried the other two men in a sprint to escape once more, making a distance of three thousand miles before finding a secluded cave to hide in.
”We can rest well here.”
Finding a flat surface and laying the two men down, Dugu Chou and Ling Xiaozui exchanged a look before walking out to have a quiet conversation.
”I don't have much medicine on me now. Do you have any that specifically targets internal injuries?”I
”I don't have much left either... I didn't expect things to escalate to this extent – I can't believe that the four of us have been forced into this situation despite working together…”
”Forget it then. Let us split up and find some along our way. This forest is exceptionally hidden and dangerous. Maybe there'll be resources we've never seen. Let's try our luck.”
”Yes, luck is probably the only thing we can try now.”
Both men went in different directions, according to what they said upon leaving the cave. They met up again after making an elaborate round, discreet and stealthy. Their rendezvous point was dozens of miles away from the cave.
”Who do you think it is?” Dugu Chou was grim and serious.
”What do you think?” Ling Xiaozui was hesitant.
”This is a tough question. Anyone is possible – no one is above suspicion!” sighed Dugu Chou.
”I haven't thought it through before, but now that I think about it, there're too many coincidences since things happen. These two men… How long has it been since they last made their appearances? It must be truly a great coincidence that they appeared at this time as well.”
Ling Xiaozui said thoughtfully, ”If it were one of them who had painstakingly planned this trap, can we – even with our capabilities– escape this death threat?”
”Not to such an extent,” said Dugu Chou, ”Both of us were even cautious against each other the moment we noticed we were ambushed… There has to be a premise when a fatal trap is set against people like us, that we won't make a break for it. The plan wouldn't work otherwise.”
”Weren't you on guard against the ambush of the person on your back when you carried him? We both know the answer. Even if they did ambush us, they can only cause little trouble or injure us slightly. Their hidden strike would not likely be fatal.”
”Indeed, I agree fully. If we didn't have them as baggage, our collaboration would be feared by anyone who intends to ambush us.”
”Don't be so optimistic just yet. You know that those eighteen people have the ability to keep us all here!”
Ling Xiaozui sucked in a breath and said, ”I am, instead, puzzled about the fact that they executed such a well-planned ambush, yet allowed us to bolt. It certainly doesn't fit the worst case scenario I had in mind.”
Dugu Chou wholly agreed to Ling Xiaozui's words.
”That's right. Still, the reality remains that we managed to break loose and the four of us have survived. We even know about their true capabilities! This in itself is already a massive gain, but to what end?”