Li Yun tried to offer some words of appreciation. He took a spoonful of the stew, his face immediately betraying his true feelings. He struggled to find the right words, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.
"It's… um… it's definitely… unique?" Li Yun said, forcing a smile.
Kim Jae-In shrugged and said, "It's acceptable. We should let the girls have some face."
Alex and Si Xing immediately retorted. "Acceptable? Have you lost your taste buds, Brother Jae-In?" Alex asked, laughing. "I wouldn't feed this to a dying man!"
"Yeah, Brother Jae-In, you must be losing it," Si Xing added, wiping a fake tear from his eye. "This is cruel and unusual punishment!"
Lisa and Ayesha:...
Lisa and Ayesha, despite the teasing, took it all in good humor. They exchanged glances and shrugged.
"Fine, you win this round," Lisa said, throwing her hands up. "But next time, someone else is cooking."
As the laughter died down, they settled into a more relaxed conversation. Alex, still grinning, leaned back and said, "You know, despite the taste, it was kind of nice to have a home-cooked meal, even if it was a bit… experimental."
Lisa raised an eyebrow. "Experimental? Is that what we're calling it now?"
Ayesha chuckled. "I'll take that as a compliment."
Li Yun, having recovered from his earlier struggle, nodded. "It's true. We’re all just grateful to be together and safe. The taste doesn't matter as much as the effort and care you put into it."
Kim Woojin added, "Next time, maybe we should all help. Cooking together might be fun and less risky for our taste buds."
The suggestion was met with enthusiastic nods and agreement from everyone. The idea of working together in the kitchen was appealing, a way to strengthen their bond and 'ensure' better meals.
--
After a day, They decided to wait and see until the next floor opens. Kim Woojin decided to give some lectures to the children.
Kim Woojin stood at the front, his expression serious but kind. "Alright, everyone," he began, "today we're going to learn about some basic survival skills. These are things that will help you stay safe and healthy in the Eternal Labyrinth."
The children, a mix of various ages, listened attentively. Woojin started with the first skill.
"Number one: Always find clean water. Without clean water, you can't survive for long. Look for clear, flowing streams, and if you can, boil the water to make sure it's safe."
He drew a simple diagram of a stream and a fire on the board. The children nodded, some taking notes on scraps of paper.
"Number two: Learn to identify edible plants and berries. Not everything that looks good is safe to eat. Avoid anything you don't recognize, and if you can, find someone who knows what's safe."
As Woojin continued with the third skill, the door to the classroom burst open. Li Yun stood there, his face pale and eyes wide with panic.
"Woojin! A pregnant lady is going into labor. It's the first child born in our room!"
Kim Woojin's eyes widened in surprise and concern. He quickly turned to the children. "Alright, everyone, stay here and keep practicing what we've learned. I'll be back as soon as I can."
The two men rushed out of the classroom and made their way to the hospital in Town. The atmosphere was tense as they arrived. Ayesha and Lisa were in the middle of the operation.
The hospital room was small but clean, equipped with basic medical supplies they had managed to gather. The woman in labor was lying on a bed, sweating and groaning in pain. Several people, including some elderly residents, had gathered outside, whispering anxiously.
Ayesha looked up briefly, her face tense but composed. "It's a difficult delivery, but we're doing everything we can. Lisa, pass me the forceps."
Lisa, equally focused, handed over the instrument. "We've got this," she said, her voice steady.
The minutes ticked by painfully slow. Outside, the murmurs grew louder. An older woman, her face lined with worry, whispered to her companion, "I've never seen a birth like this. What if something goes wrong?"
Li Yun overheard and stepped outside to address the crowd. "Everyone, please remain calm. Ayesha and Lisa are doing everything they can. Trust them. Everything will be fine."
Inside the room, the tension was palpable. Ayesha and Lisa worked in perfect sync, their movements precise and deliberate. The woman's cries grew louder, and Lisa wiped her brow, murmuring words of encouragement.
"You're doing great. Just a little more," Lisa said softly.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, a baby's cry pierced the air. The sound was like a balm to the nerves of everyone present. Ayesha carefully wrapped the newborn in a clean cloth and handed the baby to the exhausted mother.
"It's a boy," Ayesha announced a tired but triumphant smile on her face.
The room erupted in cheers and applause. The old woman who had been worrying earlier now had tears of joy streaming down her face. "A miracle," she whispered. "A miracle right here in this place."
As the excitement died down and people began to disperse, Li Yun took a moment to thank Ayesha and Lisa. "You two did an amazing job."
Lisa, still catching her breath, smiled. "It was a team effort. And next time, we must be better prepared."
Ayesha nodded, "We can't be here all time, Let's train some doctors for emergency."
Li Yun took it in his mind and decided to implement the plan in a while and lead to rest.
Suddenly all the rooms across the Eternal Labyrinth heard a notification.
As the excitement began to settle in Room 20,000, a sudden chime echoed through the labyrinth, reverberating through every room. A notification appeared in the air, shimmering with a mystical glow:
[A miracle has occurred within the Eternal Labyrinth. A new life has been brought forth, marking the first child born since the labyrinth's creation. This child is blessed by the spirits of the labyrinth. Rejoice, for life persists even in the darkest of places.]
The announcement sent ripples of shock and wonder through the labyrinth. In every room, people paused, their eyes widening in disbelief and curiosity.
In Room 1
Lee Joon-ho was strategizing with his team when the notification appeared. His sharp eyes flickered with interest, and a smirk curled at the corner of his lips. "A child, born here? Interesting. It seems there's more to this place than we thought."
He leaned back, folding his arms. His eyes sharp and full of unknown meaning.
In Room 12
Zuo Luoyang was in the middle of a training session with his team. The notification caught him off guard, and he paused, his usually calm demeanor showing a flicker of surprise. "A child? Here? This changes things. We need to find out more about this blessing."
In Room 117
Yi Xinji was reading a book when the message appeared. He raised an eyebrow, his mind racing. "A new life in the Eternal Labyrinth..."
In Room 345
Wei Yijun was practicing his sword techniques. The notification made him stop mid-swing. He clenched his jaw, thinking about the implications. "A blessed child... "
He thought with a frown.
In Room 678
Arun Patel was tending to his plants. He looked up, his eyes widening in wonder. "A child... blessed by the spirits. What is going on?"
In Room 1,232
Jun Lan's eyes narrowed as he read the notification. "A child, born here? This could either be a blessing or a curse. We need to find out who these people are."
In Room 13,002
A man and A woman glanced at each other, They smirked, "A new player in the game, blessed by the labyrinth? This just got interesting."
"Seriously interesting."
In Room 14,444
Choi Eun-Ji was meditating. The notification made him open his eyes, a serene smile spreading across his face. "A new life... even in this labyrinth."
In Room 15,256
Araishi Riku and Jin Xiuyang were sparring. They both stopped, reading the message with interest. Araishi laughed, "A child, huh? Didn't see that coming."
Jin Xiuyang put away his sword. "We will see when time come."
In Room 19,764
Han Wuzhou and Sato Haru were discussing strategy. They read the notification, and Han Wuzhou smiled, "This child might bring us some surprise."
Sato Haru rolled his eyes, "Yeah, whatever."
Back in Room 20,000, the atmosphere was filled with a mix of relief and pride. The baby, now safely nestled in its mother's arms, was the center of everyone's attention.
Li Yun and others looked at baby with crucious eyes, the cute and small flower of their room.
Alex, despite his nature of nonserious attitude, looked serious. "We need to protect this child. Everyone will be curious, some might even want to take advantage of this blessing."
Si Xing added, "We should prepare. If people come looking for us, we need to be ready."
Li Yun smiled. "For once, I agree with you both."
Arial laughed, "Cause they have track of being idiots."
Kim Woojin, standing by the window, looked out into the Town. "This is just the beginning."
The baby's mother suddenly looked at Li Yun.
"Leader, If you hadn't found me in the farm...I might have lost my baby, Thank you, Really."
Li Yun quickly shook his head. "That's why I was made the leader, No need to be so tiring."
The lady smiled and said. "I have a request, Leader. Please name the baby. His father's surname is Xiao."
Li Yun felt stuck, he looked at the lady and then at the baby, So cute and small. His father must be a handsome man, his mother is also pretty.
Ayesha and others looked forward to the name.
"Xiao...Xiao Tianyu." Li Yun smiled and said.
Lin Xueyin smiled. "Heavenly universe, You mean hope. Right?"
Li Yun nodded, I hope he lives to the day we return. He lives happily and healthy.
"Mama, I saw Uncle Lee kiss Uncle Li!"
Xiao Tianyu-5 year old.
Comments (0)
See all