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Lei Yu and several team members moved Ning Gu to a flatter ground nearby. If the boss hadn't cushioned him, his face would have been hit directly on the debris.
"He's still injured," Lei Yu pressed Ning Gu gently a few times, "but I can't tell where. He probably can't hold on after using up all his abilities."
"Should I send him back to the Lost Valley first?" Li Liang squatted down and took a look.
"It doesn't look like a big problem. Let him lie down for a while. It would be best if he could go with Lian Chuan," Lei Yu said. "Otherwise, I'm afraid he'll be worried if he doesn't see Lian Chuan when he wakes up."
"Well," Li Liang turned his head and looked at the big pit over there. Long Biao and several travelers were going down into the pit. "I don't know what the situation is like for Lianchuan."
"Ning Gu's ability has protected him, he's safe," Lei Yu said, "Let's see if we can find a loading box or something to bring him back..."
Before he could finish his words, Long Biao yelled over there.
When Lei Yu, Li Liang and others ran to the edge of the pit, they saw that several people who had already reached the top of the experimental cabin had fallen into the pile of broken iron next to them.
"What's wrong?" Lei Yu asked.
"We have to wait until Ning Gu wakes up," a traveler said, "The protection he gave Lian Chuan is aggressive."
Long Biao shook his hand at Lei Yu, and his entire palm turned black.
"Wrap it up first, and let our uncle take care of it when we get back," the traveler said, "it will be healed soon."
"Thank you." Long Biao waved his hands.
Ning Gu lay on the ground for about a minute. Li Liang led people to look for the box for transporting Lian Chuan. Before he had taken a few steps, he suddenly jumped up from the ground.
Then golden light burst out from his hand.
The two travelers were startled and simultaneously put up their defenses to protect the people next to them.
Ning Gu was stunned for two seconds after landing before he put away his ability and asked, "Where's Lian Chuan?"
Long Biao pointed to the pit and said, "It's still down there. We can't get it out."
"I'll do it." Ning Gu rushed over and jumped into the pit.
"How are you feeling?" Lei Yu asked.
"Very good." Ning Gu jumped into the experimental cabin through the gap.
The water column cabin had been completely shattered. Ning Gu approached Lian Chuan. Lian Chuan was lying quietly in a pile of debris, with golden light still wrapping around his body.
Ning Gu carefully reached out his hand and touched Lian Chuan's face.
Lian Chuan must have been injured, but he couldn't tell how and where he was injured. Finally, the small dewdrops turned black one by one, and the last dewdrop that was destroyed was also completely black, which made him feel uneasy.
He remembered what Lianchuan had said about those little black dewdrops.
"It's me."
Liu Dong was successful. He put Lian Chuan in touch with Luzhu. However, Lian Chuan prevented Luzhu from devouring him and instead devoured Luzhu with incredible power.
If that's the case, when he finally split the dew and destroyed that world, would Lianchuan also be implicated
"Give me some clothes." Ning Gu looked up and shouted.
A long traveler's cloak was thrown down, and Ning Gu wrapped Lianchuan with the cloak.
He did not withdraw his ability, although he felt that part of the reason he released his ability in the beginning might be because Lian Chuan's clothes were gone, blocking him.
But now it may be useful as a form of protection.
He pulled Lianchuan up and carried him on his back.
Li Liang and his team found a transport truck. Its roof was blown off, but it was still drivable.
Ning Gu actually didn't want to ride in this broken car. It made him look too weak. As a bully in a ghost town, he had to carry Lian Chuan and drive the A01 back.
But he is indeed a little weak now. He felt a little strenuous when jumping out of the black iron pit. He used too much of his ability.
In this state, I am driving A01 with Lianchuan, what if I fail
For Lianchuan's safety, he could only temporarily put aside his face as a ghost town bully.
He put Lian Chuan on the broken car, sat in the car, and used his legs to support Lian Chuan's head.
"Let's go." Lei Yu said.
Li Liang drove the car, while Lei Yu and several travelers cleared a passable road ahead.
Long Biao led the remaining people to continue cleaning up the base. Liu Dong was still working hard for his paranoid goal until the last moment, so there were still a lot of weapons and supplies in the base. These things were the key to their continued survival in the future.
The car jolted a bit as it started.
Ning Gu reached out and supported Lian Chuan's head.
Li Liang looked back.
"It's okay." Ning Gu said.
"I finally have the chance to say, 'Thank you for your hard work,'" Li Liang said.
"I thought you were going to say something great." Ning Gu waved his hand.
Is it hard? It’s okay, not too hard.
Ning Gu didn't need anyone to thank him. When he first said he wanted to cut off the hand holding the revolving lantern, he was just unwilling to accept it.
Who decides our life and who decides our death
It's ourselves.
That's all.
In the days that followed, he also wanted to keep this world for himself.
He wanted to keep the people he cared about, the places he had not yet visited, and the memories he wanted to remember forever.
Although the ghost town is nowhere to be found, he believes that his companions who remain in the ghost town can also keep everything they want.
Ghost town bully.
Ning Gu hadn't thought of this title for a long time. Those days when he was arrogant and ignorant of the world in the ghost town seemed to be far away from him.
But until now, when he thought of this word again, he suddenly realized that compared to savior, he actually preferred this title.
The car stopped at the side of the previous tunnel.
Ning Gu collected his thoughts, laid Lian Chuan flat, and eagerly jumped out of the roofless car.
"Have you found Li Xiang?" he shouted.
"Found it," the captain's voice answered him loudly, "he's injured."
"Is it serious?" Ning Gu rushed over and saw Li Xiang who had just been carried out of the tunnel ruins, as well as three travelers and two city guards.
They were all injured, with scars and black ash on their faces, but no matter what, they survived.
These are the people that the Nine Wings did their best to protect.
There was still space in the broken car, so everyone carried the injured people into the car.
Ning Gu saw Jiuyi, and he followed his usual habit of finding the highest place to squat, not knowing what he was thinking.
He walked to the pillar where Jiu Yi was squatting: "Jiu Yi."
"How is Lianchuan?" Jiuyi jumped down, and its leaky wings flapped behind him.
"He hasn't woken up yet," Ning Gu lowered his voice, "Do you think I hurt him when I destroyed the dewdrop?"
"Is there any need to think about it?" Jiu Yi said, "Of course, he has been connected with Luzhu for a long time, but he dared to take this risk because he knew he had the ability to survive."
"You didn't tell me." Ning Gu stared at Jiuyi. When he wanted to curse him, he saw the deep scratches all over his mask and couldn't speak.
Everything they did, every decision they made at this critical moment, was made possible by the lack of alternatives.
"It's no use saying it. It will only shake you and affect your judgment." Jiuyi said.
"Why would I be affected?" Ning Gu frowned.
"You care about things, you are kind, and you are soft-hearted. You believe in hope," Jiu Yi raised his fingertips and counted, "so you will succeed in the end."
When I returned to the Lost Valley, part of the black ring that I had searched for had been returned.
Ning Gu could tell from their reactions that they had not found e, and the other part had not returned yet, but Ning Gu felt that they might not be able to find it.
Fulu was the last person to see e, but no trace of e was found at the location he said.
Ning Gu didn't ask any more questions. After settling Li Xiang and the others, he followed Fu Lu Shou Xi into the Lost Valley.
Lian Chuan was lying in the cave where he had been knocked unconscious by Jiuyi's punch, and there was no sign of him waking up.
Ning Gu withdrew his ability, sat next to Lian Chuan, and took his hand and held it.
Lianchuan's hands are warm.
This little bit of warmth made him feel at ease, and he held on to it without letting go.
He exerted force, and a small spot of light flashed on the back of his hand, and the spot of light on Lianchuan's hand also flashed.
It’s Lianchuan for sure.
Jiu Yi entered the cave, threw down a few boxes of rations and bottles of water, and turned to leave.
"Your wing," Ning Gu called him, "can it be repaired?"
"Not only can it be repaired, but it can also be replaced." Jiu Yi looked at him, "Are you envious?"
"I never noticed you had wings before. Where did you hide them?" Ning Gu looked behind him.
"Don't underestimate bats." Jiu Yi flicked his finger and went out.
“Look,” Ning Gu squeezed Lian Chuan’s hand, “How crazy is Jiu Yi now? I couldn’t sleep when I came to find you, and he actually punched me! Of course, if he didn’t knock me out, I don’t know when I could fall asleep... But he actually punched me! It’s really unbearable. I will still settle the score with him after you wake up.”
Speaking of this punch, Ning Gu felt a dull pain in his temple, and the wounds on his body that had been caused by Lian Chuan, which had not been painful to begin with, also started to hurt.
He leaned against the cave wall and closed his eyes.
What savior, what ghost town bully, anyone can be picked up and beaten up every day.
It's okay to hit Lianchuan a few times, but even a brainless monster like Jiuyi...
It was probably when everyone was fighting side by side. He was lying in the Lost Valley. Now when he falls asleep, he can still dream about the battle. He keeps running, jumping, and fighting...
I feel more tired when asleep than when awake.
He struggled to pause his dream and opened his eyes.
Lian Chuan was sitting next to him, looking at him.
Ning Gu sighed and closed his eyes again.
"It's not a dream." Lian Chuan said.
Ning Gu suddenly opened his eyes and stared at him.
"I'm fine." Lian Chuan said.
"Even the dog." Ning Gu said.
"Yeah." Lian Chuan responded.
"I know you'll be fine," Ning Gu said, "I'm not worried at all."
"Yeah." Lian Chuan nodded.
Ning Gu didn't say anything else. He stood up and rushed over to hug him, tightening his arms very tightly. He kept feeling that he was not awake yet and if he didn't hug him tightly enough, Lian Chuan would disappear when he woke up.
"Boss." Lian Chuan moved.
Ning Gu held him tightly and didn't let go, but just turned his head to look at him.
An ear and a round eye appeared at the hole.
"Boss." Ning Gu didn't know why his voice was filled with tears. "Lian Chuan is awake. He's fine."
The boss snorted and turned away.
"Let go," Lian Chuan said, "I want to drink some water."
"Oh." Ning Gu loosened his arm, took a bottle of water and handed it to him.
Lian Chuan drank all the water in one breath, and Ning Gu quickly got him another bottle.
Ning Gu looked a little absent-minded when watching Lian Chuan drinking water.
After Lian Chuan put down the bottle, he spoke after a long while: "I haven't been so relaxed for a long time. Just sit here and don't worry about anything happening again."
"It's all over." Lian Chuan said.
"We succeeded, right?" Ning Gu asked.
"Yeah." Lian Chuan responded.
"You said," Ning Gu looked at him, "if the Scavenger appeared because of you, then those worlds that are about to be destroyed can be saved, right? Because the Scavenger is gone."
"I don't know," Lian Chuan said, "This is the end for us, but I don't know if it's the end for other worlds."
"We are not destroyed," Ning Gu thought for a moment, "Does Ye Xi know?"
"It doesn't matter." Lian Chuan said.
“I want him to know,” Ning Gu said, “that no ending is inevitable.”
When Ning Gu and Lian Chuan returned to the Black Iron Wasteland, the cleanup team and the bats had already cleaned up the outpost outside the Lost Valley and were stacking up the various supplies they had collected.
Chun San jumped down from a supply box and walked in front of Lian Chuan.
"I'm fine." Lian Chuan said.
"I know." Chun San smiled and patted him gently on the face.
"What's going on now?" Ning Gu grabbed Li Liang who was passing by.
"As for cleaning up the mess," Li Liang said, "Chen Fei will resettle the civilians, and we will mainly be responsible for collecting the things that can still be used and clearing the ruins. Chun San will also have to rebuild the main city system."
"What system?" Ning Gu became nervous when he heard it.
"Without an administrator, the main city also needs a functioning system," Li Liang said, "and all kinds of facilities need to be restored slowly."
"Yeah." Ning Gu nodded.
"The tourists are all at the old shopping mall for now. It has not been damaged and many houses are still usable," Li Liang said. "The tour leader has brought people to clean it up."
"The traveler over there..." Ning Gu asked.
"Everything is fine. Are you asking about the nails?" Li Liang said, "The team leader said you would ask. He said the nails are safe."
"Thank you." Ning Gu said.
"Do you want to go to the old shopping mall?" Lian Chuan walked over.
"Nail is fine," Ning Gu said, "I want to look for E first. Do you think E is still alive?"
Lian Chuan didn't say anything.
"Dead," Ning Gu whispered, "right?"
"We all knew he would die in this battle," Lian Chuan said, "It was a miracle that he could hold on until the end."
Ning Gu didn't say anything else.
"Lei Yu said Jiu Yi went to look for E," Lian Chuan said, "Let's go and have a look. Maybe he can find some traces."
The former Black Iron Wasteland was much more desolate than the main city, or rather, it was completely desolate with nothing in it.
But after the war, the main city was in ruins, which made the Black Iron Wasteland look less miserable.
Apart from the huge cracks and the turned-up black iron, there is not much difference from before.
Ning Gu and Lian Chuan walked slowly into the depths of the wilderness, following the cracks, not knowing what they might find.
A sound was heard in the air.
Jiuyi spread his wings, which had eight hundred holes in them, and landed in front of them.
"Take a walk after dinner?" Jiuyi asked.
"Did you find anything?" Ning Gu asked.
"We didn't find him," Jiuyi came over. "This weirdo, I suspect he did it on purpose. Maybe when he was about to die, he jumped into the crack with one last breath and burned himself to ashes."
Ning Gu stared at him.
"But I found this," Jiuyi stretched out his hand, with a small black cube with a silver glow in his palm and a chain on it, "This light is obviously something from E."
This is a necklace.
Ning Gu took the small cube and looked at it.
He had never even seen E's face clearly, let alone knew whether he had the small square hanging around his neck.
But it was just like Jiuyi said, this light was obviously E, and when he held it in his hand, because of the same ability, he had a familiar feeling.
"You take it," Jiu Yi said, "I'm going back to repair my wings."
"Where did you pick it up?" Ning Gu asked.
"You are embarrassing me," Jiuyi looked at him, "How can I explain it clearly? There are three small cracks from here, and there is a trench with a molten fire pipe turned upside down. It is right below the trench."
After Jiuyi left, Ning Gu hesitated for a moment and hung the small cube around his neck.
"Do you want to go and see the place Jiuyi mentioned?" Lian Chuan asked.
"No." Ning Gu said, "E hid so far away, probably because he didn't want anyone to find him again."
The last small flame in the crack next to it went out, and the surroundings became pitch black. Only the main city, which was still lit in the distance, could be seen.
A small ball of gold appeared on Ning Gu's fingertips.
"What?" Lian Chuan asked.
Ning Gu slowly raised his hand to Lian Chuan's face: "I feel a little uneasy when I can't see you."
"Then hang a lamp under my neck." Lian Chuan said.
Ning Gu slowly moved his hand to Lian Chuan's chest and watched the golden light illuminate Lian Chuan's face from bottom to top.
"Forget it," Ning Gu raised his hand back to the side of his face, "This is just you. If it was Jiu Yi with the dog-head mask, I would have been scared to death."
Lian Chuan laughed.
Ning Gu laughed with him for a while, then raised his hand and touched his face: "This smile is not common."
"I haven't seen it myself." Lian Chuan said.
Ning Gu laughed at him for a long time: "That's it."
“… I’d better stop laughing.” Lian Chuan said.
"What do you mean?" Ning Gu asked.
"It doesn't mean anything." Lian Chuan said.
"Do I smile ugly?" Ning Gu said.
"Good-looking," Lian Chuan said. "Handsome."
"I… "
"Much more handsome than Jiuyi." Lian Chuan said again.