The joyous moments were always fleeting. As soon as the tent was set up, Qu Xiangyun eagerly threw herself into my embrace and gave me a deep kiss.
My breathing gradually grew heavier. Beneath this ice layer, no one knew what we would encounter next. My hands involuntarily began to wander over Qu Xiangyun's body…
After the passion subsided, Qu Xiangyun's face was flushed, and she was completely devoid of strength. I suddenly felt a bit thirsty. I searched left and right and found my water bottle outside the tent. I had no choice but to tiptoe and lift the tent flap, preparing to go out and get my water bottle.
What the hell!
The moment I lifted the tent flap, I suddenly saw someone standing outside, which startled me.
"Are you sick! Hiding outside the tent eavesdropping!"
Standing before me was Hathaway. Her face was flushed, and I didn't know how long she had been standing outside the tent.
Seeing me emerge, she shrieked in fright and turned to flee. But for some reason, her legs buckled, and she fell straight into my arms.
I instinctively caught Hathaway. Looking at her up close, I immediately noticed something amiss.
Hathaway's complexion was a sickly red, nothing like the shyness one would expect after being discovered.
More importantly, Hathaway's eyes were tightly closed. I called her name repeatedly, but received no response.
Was she for real or faking it?
Skeptically, I reached out and touched her forehead.
I immediately withdrew my hand after just one touch.
This woman's body temperature was high enough to boil water!
I am not a professional medical worker, after all. I first helped Hathaway to lean against the side of the tent, then quickly called Qu Xiangyun out. Xavier, who was in another tent, heard my voice and hurried over.
Qu Xiangyun, having experience in outdoor exploration, understood basic medical knowledge. She first felt Hathaway's temperature, then took out the medical equipment she carried from her backpack and meticulously examined Hathaway's body.
After a while, Qu Xiangyun finished examining Hathaway's body, her beautiful eyebrows furrowed tightly.
"Strange, Hathaway doesn't seem to have a fever; rather, it looks like she's been poisoned…"
Upon hearing this, I immediately thought of the glazed coffin she had told us about earlier. Could it contain a virus that infected Hathaway?!
"I don't have any good solutions right now. I have some antidote here. We can only try our luck and inject her with it."
After obtaining Xavier's consent, Qu Xiangyun skillfully rolled up Hathaway's sleeve and injected a tube of blue medicine into her wrist.
Indeed, the antidote Qu Xiangyun carried seemed to have some effect. Hathaway had been delirious from the fever, but after the injection, although she hadn't regained consciousness, her body temperature had noticeably decreased.
I don't know what poison she contracted, but I've heard that some viruses can damage the brain's nervous system.
Hathaway kept rambling incoherently. I hope she'll be alright.
Although Hathaway and her group are not my companions, the current predicament has not been resolved. Having one fewer person means one less source of strength. So, I could only pray silently in my heart that Hathaway would recover.
For the next period, the three of us took turns resting, one person on guard duty while the others cared for the still unconscious Hathaway.
Perhaps the potency of this virus was not that strong. After about three or four hours, Hathaway's condition slowly improved. Her breathing shifted from rapid to steady, and the grimace on her face disappeared.
Seeing that she had fallen asleep, I yawned and waved to Xavier, who was coming to take over, then crawled into the tent to sleep.
I don't know how long I slept when I suddenly heard someone calling my name in a soft voice, as if doing something illicit.
I woke up instantly and was about to get up when Qu Xiangyun stopped me.
"Darling, this underground palace doesn't just have one entrance and exit. According to our current progress, we'll soon reach a location my father left behind. It's a passage that allows us to leave the palace. When the time is right, I'll signal you, and you should leave here quickly."
Qu Xiangyun's voice was as faint as a mosquito's, but her words invigorated me.
We could finally leave this wretched place. However, I soon detected something amiss in Qu Xiangyun's words.
Did she mean for me to leave alone and for her to stay behind?
Before I could speak, Qu Xiangyun made a shushing gesture and then bit my ear.
"Listen to me, darling. The chip implanted in my body has been there too long; I can't escape it. But you're different. After you leave, quickly use a knife to dig out the chip, and you'll be free from Xavier's control."
Qu Xiangyun paused here, her expression suddenly turning sad.
"Besides, finding my father's traces is the greatest wish of my life… Darling, don't worry about me. When you get out, deliver the item I gave you; that will be the greatest help to me."
Looking at Qu Xiangyun's pretense of strength, my heart felt as if it had been shot.
This foolish girl…