"Wow!"
Zhang Haixing couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of thick, black liquid. Then, with excitement, she raised her hands to her eyes, and those dark veins really began to fade!
The black poison in her veins quickly disappeared, and Zhang Haixing felt her strength gradually returning.
"I'm really healed!"
Overjoyed, Zhang Haixing wanted to stand up, but she’d forgotten that her legs were still pinned under a large boulder. "Ahh, that hurts..."
The boulder had been launched by an explosion that Zhang Haike and the others had caused earlier, landing directly on the spot where Zhang Haixing had been standing guard.

"Your brother really knows how to handle explosives, huh? Didn't even check the direction; almost got his own sister killed," Zhang Qiming teased.
Blushing slightly, Zhang Haixing knew they had acted recklessly earlier.
"We had no choice in the heat of the moment. Why blame my brother?" she defended.
Zhang Qiming gave a mocking snort, then heaved the heavy rock off her leg, but as he moved it, he caught sight of a bare thigh!
Zhang Haixing immediately felt embarrassed, as the rock hadn't crushed her leg but had torn her pants with its sharp edges.
"Look again, and I'll gouge out your eyes!" she scolded, noticing Zhang Qiming's gaze, though her movements as she tried to stand exposed even more.

The two continued to search for other trapped people inside Zhang Fortress.
"I wouldn't have guessed you're so well-built for your age," Zhang Qiming joked as they walked through the long, monotonous corridors.
"Believe me, I'll kill you right now if you keep that up!" Zhang Haixing fumed, so angry that she could hardly stand him.
"Fine, fine. I won't say another word," Zhang Qiming surrendered, raising his hands.
"Listen, when we meet up with the others, don't you dare mention what just happened! Especially not to my brother, got it?" Zhang Haixing warned, glaring at him.
"About what?"
"Shameless! About you making me... you know, absorb..." she trailed off, embarrassed to say more. At just eighteen, such physical closeness was overwhelmingly awkward for her.
"Hey, I was saving you, wasn't I? Don't be so ungrateful," Zhang Qiming teased, hitting a nerve. She realized he wasn't exactly wrong, and her face softened.
"Fine, thank you for saving me! You’re a decent person after all," she said, meaning each word carefully. Deep down, she had her own worries.

In the Zhang family, to preserve their lineage and honor their ancestral traditions, members couldn't marry outside the clan. Violating this rule meant expulsion, and the family would never acknowledge them again. Under this strict rule, Zhang family girls had to marry someone within the clan. If anyone found out what happened with Zhang Qiming, how could she ever marry?

Sneaking a glance at him, she realized he was rather good-looking. Why hadn't she noticed before? But then again, Zhang Qiming was a weakling! Could she really spend her life with someone like him?

As they continued, Zhang Haixing was lost in thought. Zhang Qiming had no idea she was quietly contemplating all this.
Suddenly, Zhang Haixing blurted, "Ugh! This is so annoying!" startling Zhang Qiming.
"What the hell? What's with you?" he asked, irritated. Zhang Haixing thought it was all his fault.

Just then, they heard Zhang Jiuri’s voice from around the corner.
"Zhang Haixing... is that you? Ugh..."
The two of them hurried forward and saw Zhang Jiuri trapped under another boulder.

Seeing the dark veins on his skin, Zhang Qiming knew he’d been poisoned, too. Zhang Jiuri, being a tough guy, was still struggling despite the poison, but the boulder was too heavy for him to break free.
"Zhang Qiming? Didn’t I tell you to guard the entrance? It's too dangerous in here! Get out now!"
"Zhang Haixing, go find the little ghost. His blood can cure us."

Zhang Qiming laughed.
"Now you want help from him, huh? Weren’t you the one mocking him? If you’re so brave, then don’t let him save you."
Zhang Jiuri fell silent, realizing his error, though his pride kept him from admitting it. "Then what are you still doing here? Get out!"

While Zhang Jiuri wasn’t a bad person at heart, he could be hot-headed. Zhang Qiming raised an eyebrow, surprised that Jiuri seemed concerned for him.
"Oh, so you think I'm useless, huh? If we all get stuck here, you’ll be dead within fifteen minutes." Zhang Jiuri’s weak voice stirred Zhang Qiming’s frustration.
"Hey! Just because you’re helpless doesn’t mean I am."

At that moment, a bright light appeared around the corner. Zhang Haixing turned, alert, and saw it was the little ghost.
"Little ghost! Hurry and save me..."
The little brother quickly came over, holding his lantern, and with a strong shove, moved the heavy rock off Zhang Jiuri.
"A thank you would be nice," Zhang Qiming sneered.
"What’s that got to do with you, loser?" Zhang Jiuri shot back, glaring. Meanwhile, Zhang Haixing signaled him to stop.

"Wait, Zhang Haixing. Weren't you poisoned too? How are you okay now?" Zhang Jiuri asked, confused. The last thing she wanted was to talk about it, so she shot him an exasperated look.
"Now’s not the time. Where’s my brother?"

After drinking water mixed with the little ghost's blood, Zhang Jiuri spat out black poison and gradually recovered. Pointing to another passage, he said, "Zhang Nian didn’t think any of you would come back. As for Zhang Haike, I don’t know."
Hearing that Zhang Haike was missing, Zhang Haixing grew anxious.
"Alright! Nothing else matters right now. We need to find my brother!" she said, running toward the other corridor.

The little ghost glanced at Zhang Qiming. "Thank you," he said softly.
Zhang Qiming looked at him, puzzled. "Why thank me?"
"Aren't you the one who told the people of Ma'an Village to evacuate? Without that, everyone here would be dead."

Zhang Qiming shrugged, slinging an arm over his shoulder.
"Zhang family values compassion. It’s in our nature to protect others," he replied.
The little ghost glanced at the arm over his shoulder. Both orphans for years, he wasn’t used to such closeness. They walked a bit further until the little ghost heard a faint echo with his bat whistle.

They approached and found Zhang Haixing standing anxiously near an opening, urging Zhang Haike below to stay calm.
Ahead, the ground was cut off by a deep, bottomless pit. Zhang Haike and Zhang Nian, while escaping, had fallen into this abyss and were now wedged between rocks, both in grave danger.

Strolling to the edge, Zhang Qiming called down to Zhang Nian,
"Well, well, isn’t it my dear grandson? Need Grandpa to save you, huh?"