Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Before Bai Qingqing could wave goodbye at Molly, all she could see was the latterâs back view.
She cast a helpless glance at her two mates but said nothing.
With so many people in the village now, if she wanted to make sure Anâan remained free from harassment, she definitely wouldnât be able to roam around in the village going forward.
After some thought, Bai Qingqing asked Parker, âIs it easy to navigate the roads of the iron ore mine? Iâd like to go there to take a look.â
âWith me around, there arenât any roads that are difficult to navigate,â Parker reassured.
âAlright, letâs head to the iron ore mine then.â Bai Qingqing decided.
Once they got out of the village, Bai Qingqing was carried since the terrain wasnât suitable for females to walk upon.
Although Parker claimed it was easy to move around, in actual fact, there were plenty of steep slopes all around. Moving up and down the undulating slopes, one misstep, and they might fall to their deaths into the valley.
But seeing the two males move quickly and steadily, Bai Qingqing felt like she was being alarmed over nothing.
With Curtis carrying Bai Qingqing, and Parker holding Anâan, the four of them very quickly arrived at the mining area.
There were few plants in the stone mountain, and no tall plants around. With the sunlight shining directly upon them, the temperature was scalding.
The heat made Bai Qingqing press closer against Curtisâs body.
âDo you find it hot?â asked Curtis.
âA bit.â
Looking up at the skies, Curtis held Bai Qingqing more firmly.
Parker, too, covered Anâanâs face as he said while pointing ahead, âSeems like thatâs the deep earth fissure1 Winston was talking about. Thereâs a spot next to it where we can rest. Letâs go over there.â
Bai Qingqing looked in that direction with her heart trembling a little. âYou mean the earth fissure where the eight-faceted crystals can be found?â
âMm,â Parker responded. âI havenât had the time to check this out until now. Letâs go over and take a look.â
Bai Qingqing creased her brows. âWhy go down? The mere look of it makes me feel uncomfortable.â
But there was a large rock over there, which made it convenient to rest, so Bai Qingqing didnât object to it.
The four of them went to the flat rock. It so happened that the stone mountain blocked the sunlight from this spot. Parker cleaned the rock briefly, then laid an animal skin over it and asked Bai Qingqing to sit down.
âQingqing, Iâll go down and take a look,â said Parker.
Bai Qingqing pinched his arm. âAre you really going down?â
âI just want to find out if thereâs only one of that kind of rock down there, or if there are many of them,â explained Parker.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Bai Qingqing cast him an unassured glance. âAlright. Go, then. But be careful.â
Parker grinned and speedily planted a kiss on her face, then jumped into the earth fissure in the blink of an eye.
âHooligan leopard!â Bai Qingqing scolded with a smile. She also walked to the earth fissure, but all she could see was pitch darkness and the movement of an indistinct black figure.
âItâs so dark.â
If it werenât for the knowledge that Winston had gone down once, Bai Qingqing would have called Parker to come back up.
âLeopards have an excellent nighttime vision.â Curtis had walked up behind her since god-knows-when. He flicked out his tongue into the crack, and his pupils shrunk slightly.
Although temperatures had been rising, the air seeping from the earth fissure was abnormally cold and sinister.
Gazing at the earth fissure, Curtis reached out to grab Bai Qingqingâs hand.
Still worried, she said regretfully, âWhy didnât you guys tell me earlier? If I had known we were going down, I would have brought along the luminous balls.â
âLight appears too striking in dark places.â Curtis said, âIf there are wild animals, the source of light will only put him in greater danger.â
âYouâre right.â Bai Qingqingâs brows drooped.
The shadow of a bird swooping by speedily was cast upon the ground, making Bai Qingqing look up at the skies.
Neither she nor Curtis was carrying anything in their arms. Bai Qingqing suddenly asked, âWhereâs Anâan?â