Chapter 201: So Hard to See Each Other

Translator: Tim Editor: Chrissy

Descending the cliff was much faster, but also far more dangerous. Ning Qingxue didn't know the rope's material, but it offered no purchase. She had lost her gloves earlier and after sliding only 200 meters, the skin on her hands was already ripped.

Even so, Ning Qingxue didn't dare relax. The pain heightened her focus. After another 200 meters, her hands grew weak and numb. She found a relatively large rock to rest on.

Her arms ached, but she knew that failing to reach the bottom in one go would be disastrous. She examined her palm—red and raw, the flesh exposed—but felt no pain, only numbness.

Catching her breath, she ate the remaining biscuits and drank her last water before continuing her descent.

Ning Qingxue didn't know how long she slid. When her arms ached too much to move, she rested, grateful for the occasional ledges. Otherwise, she couldn't have continued for so long.

Darkness fell. Ning Qingxue estimated she had descended nearly a kilometer, but the bottom was still out of reach. Reaching the rope's end, she froze—it wasn't long enough.

Below, a thick white mist obscured the bottom, and she had no way to continue.

Her determination had carried her thus far, but now, looking down, dizziness threatened to overwhelm her. Could she have truly come from that height?

With the rope too short to climb back up, her only option was to descend. She could slide down, but ascent would be impossible.

She stopped on a rock, feeling lost. Pulling on the rope above, she pondered her options. Should she attach her own? What if it, too, proved insufficient?

If only the rope were 200 meters longer… She looked upward, the top now invisible. She subconsciously tugged at the rope, hoping it was snagged, but knew it was impossible. She had come from above.

Just as she prepared to attach her 100-meter rope, the rope suddenly loosened. Her heart leaped into her throat. It was unravelling, sliding down the cliff. The anchor point had failed. She pressed herself against the cliff face, fearing that a large rock would dislodge and drag her to her death.

A huge rock plummeted from above, not far from Ning Qingxue. The wind whipped her hair.

By the time she reacted, the rock had crashed below with a deafening thud. She looked at her waist rope—still loose. Relief washed over her; she would soon reach the bottom.

Detaching the rope, she secured it to a rock and resumed her descent. After only 20 meters, she saw the bottom—a mere few meters away.

Relief flooded her. She spotted clothes hanging from a branch, seemingly recently placed. Were they Ye Mo's? The thought of Ye Mo spurred a surge of excitement. Her weakened hands lost their grip, and she tumbled the remaining distance, questioning whether she would succeed or die. At least, she knew Ye Mo was nearby.

Landing on the surprisingly soft ground, she was unharmed. Carefully retrieving her dagger, she searched the area. Besides some tattered cloth, she saw no sign of Ye Mo, a small comfort.

Although it was dark, the moonlight was bright enough. The bottom of the cliff was dimly lit, yet she could still see clearly, her torch remaining unused.

A few meters away, she found a large snake, bisected. The wounds were fresh. Ning Qingxue froze.

Tears welled in her eyes. Ye Mo was here, and alive.

However, the presence of the snake indicated further danger. She lacked Ye Mo's strength, having only a fireball charm and one bead remaining.

She then saw footprints—clearly visible despite the darkness. Ye Mo's? Suppressing her excitement, she focused her attention.

Following the tracks, after ten meters, the bead in her hand glowed, repelling a black shadow—a tailless feline form, perhaps.

Instead of fleeing, it glared at her, poised to attack.

Dagger in hand, Ning Qingxue stood her ground, knowing her powers were limited. With the bead gone, only the fireball remained.

The shadow resembled the creatures from the Sky Ditch—two eerie green eyes. Had it not attacked, she might have mistaken them for mere eyes in the darkness. Goosebumps erupted, but she had no alternative.

Unable to endure the standoff, she unleashed the fireball, shouting Lin's name.

The fireball's explosion shattered the silence. The shadow darted away, disappearing into the darkness.

Ning Qingxue was stunned. She hadn't expected the charm to work so effectively. While she possessed other charms, their use wasn't as readily apparent.

She realized this was her chance to escape. If the shadow returned, she would likely die. Her only weapon was the dagger—a symbol of her courage.

The fireball's light revealed a thorny path.

Could this be Ye Mo's handiwork? Without hesitation, she charged into the thicket.

A foul stench greeted her. Activating her minelight, she saw a sight that almost stopped her heart. Ye Mo lay amidst blood, beside a large snake.

Rushing to his side, she saw the snake cut into pieces by Ye Mo's sword. Feeling his chest, she found a pulse, relief washing over her.

If Ye Mo had died, she didn't know what she would have done. He was her anchor, her courage, her determination. Without him, she would have succumbed to despair.

She dragged Ye Mo to a clearer space near the cliff wall. His injuries mirrored hers—deep wounds marring his body. Tears streamed down her face.

After regaining her composure, she gently pressed on Ye Mo's chest. She didn't know if it would revive him, but it was all she could do.

Ye Mo, having fainted after slaying the snake, felt a pressure on his chest and opened his eyes.

"Ning Qingxue?" he gasped, astonished. Was this a dream?

Hearing his voice, Ning Qingxue felt a jolt. Freezing, she stared at him, then threw herself into his arms, weeping. All her fear, loss, and loneliness poured forth in her sobs.

Ye Mo saw the marks on her body, her matted hair, her disheveled clothes. He understood, although he didn't know how she found him. He instinctively embraced her. He started to speak, but she had fallen asleep in his arms, tears tracing paths on her face.