I dreamt of the world's prosperity and beauty, of a carefree life with Shangguan Yao, and of my friends and family all together.
Just as I was lost in it, unable to extricate myself, a black demonic hand dragged me back into an endless cycle of nightmares.
The nightmare seemed to devour me. I struggled with all my might but to no avail. I was completely enveloped by darkness, my consciousness slowly dissipating.
In a daze, I faintly heard Luo Yating say, "Quick, give him something to eat, or he'll die."
Then I heard Guan Hai'er say, "Quick, wipe his sweat, don't let him catch a chill. If he keeps burning up like this, he'll be brain-damaged even if he doesn't die."
Immediately after, I heard Pan Lili and Shangguan Yao start to argue. Pan Lili, on the verge of a breakdown, cursed her as a bitch, saying it was all her fault they were trapped here.
So noisy, it gave me a headache!
I wanted to break free from the dream, but I couldn't wake up. My body felt alternately hot and cold, extremely uncomfortable, as if I were dying. One moment I felt like I was by a volcanic lava flow, the next in an ice cave.
I hazily realized that my current state was definitely more than just a fever. How could this be?
Could it be that sea snake was poisonous?
Damn it!
I had to wake up quickly; I couldn't remain unconscious like this. If I stayed out, who knows what kind of trouble would ensue. Just as I was about to break free from the dream, a cold, eerie wind pulled me back into the abyss.
I struggled desperately, but the eerie wind seemed to have a will of its own! It pulled at my body, making me unable to move. I used every trick in the book but couldn't break free from its hold, thus trapped by the eerie wind in this cold dreamscape.
I felt utterly powerless, believing I would die if I didn't wake up soon. I tried to do something, but my blurred consciousness prevented me from escaping the nightmare.
Suddenly, a beam of light shone into the cold, dark abyss. The light was so gentle, it dispersed the eerie wind that held me captive. My consciousness, bathed in this light, became less hazy, and my body felt less fatigued. I felt like a traveler in a world of ice and snow who had found an unquenchable flame.
What kind of feeling was that?
I had never experienced such warmth. I felt like a block of solid ice, slowly melting under the scorching fire.
In a daze, I nestled closer to the warmth, drawing quenching nectar from a mysterious spring.
The feeling was indescribable, both strange and familiar.
Gradually, I woke up, feeling as if I were holding a warm body in my arms. I forced my eyelids open and squinted to look, only to see Luo Yaqin!
She was nestled tightly in my arms, warming me with her own body heat.
I watched her quietly, she seemed to be asleep. Her delicate fragrance wafted into my nostrils, a unique scent that brought me immense peace.
It had been so long since I had felt such warmth. I wished time would just stop and not move forward.
She was a doctor, and she knew I had a fever, which surely had its issues, yet she resolutely used her body to physically cool me down, unafraid of being infected.
Thinking this, a warm current surged through my heart. It was truly in times of adversity that one sees true friendship!
Luo Yaqin didn't know I was awake and seemed to be having a dream, holding me tighter and tighter.
I managed to adjust my posture, holding her tightly in my embrace. Unconsciously, I fell asleep watching her peaceful sleeping face.
This time, I dreamt again. But this dream was not a nightmare; it was a beautiful dream. I dreamt that we had escaped this damned island, that we were all saved, that the gloom on everyone's faces had vanished, replaced by long-lost smiles.
Luo Yaqin held my hand and smiled, saying, "Thank you for saving everyone. Without you, we wouldn't have survived at all! You are the most important person in my life. Thank you, I like you, can we date?"
In the dream, Luo Yaqin's expression was shy, her face flushing slightly. Just as I was about to answer, I was suddenly awakened!
I didn't know who had come to my side and was fumbling around me. Dazed, I struggled to open my eyes and glanced over, only to see Li Degui, of all people!
No! He's trying to steal the gun!
The realization hit me, and my whole body jolted, instantly waking me up! If Li Degui got this gun, I'd be the first one he'd kill!
Ignoring the pain in my body, I dragged my weary frame and suddenly stood up, roaring, "You little bastard! You dare to steal my things again? You must be tired of living!"
Saying that, I flipped over and swung a punch towards his face. The commotion also woke everyone else up. Li Degui hadn't expected me to wake up so quickly. Instinctively, he covered his head with his arms and blocked my punch.
My heart sank. This was bad. My body had no strength at all now; my punch barely had a third of its usual force.
"Go to hell, you sickly ghost." Li Degui, seeing I was too weak to exert much force due to my illness, paused for a moment and then kicked me.
I used the momentum to roll backward, absorbing the impact on the ground.
Li Degui wanted to press his advantage. Ha! You got me once, but you won't get me a second time!
I lowered my stance, grabbed his legs, and lifted. Li Degui tumbled to the ground, and I flipped over, straddling him, and landed punch after punch on his face.
You son of a bitch, if I don't beat you to death today, my name isn't Lu Ziye!
Even a rabbit will bite when cornered. Li Degui, like a cornered dog, seized an opening in my attack and flipped me to the ground.
He used his hands and feet, scrambled over to where I lay, took out the gun I had hidden, fumbled to disengage the safety, and pointed the gun at me, laughing wildly, "Lu Ziye, Lu Ziye! So this is your day. Do you know how long I've waited for this moment? Honestly, it's thanks to your body not having recovered that I could take you down so easily!"
I looked at the black muzzle of the gun and let out a cruel smile. "Bastard, do you really think you've got it now? Do you even know how to use a gun!"
Li Degui sneered, "You idiot, save those words for your next life!"
"Stop!"
Suddenly, Shangguan Yao, who had just woken up nearby, let out a cry and lunged at Li Degui.
Li Degui was startled by the sudden shout and instinctively pulled the trigger.
With a loud "bang," the sound of the gunshot echoed through the cave!