The others set up camp around the Vertical Shaft and kept the lines of communication open, while Hao Ren and Vivian entered the pitch-black, bottomless ancient cavern together.
The light from above soon dwindled to a tiny speck, while they still couldn't see the bottom below. Vivian held Hao Ren around the waist from behind as they descended smoothly and rapidly. Hao Ren carried a silver-white spear in one hand and held up a lamp with the other to illuminate the path ahead. As he watched the steel supports and rails flash past them, Vivian's bat wings stirred the air beside his ears. "Come to think of it, we haven't flown together in ages."
"Yeah. I've spent all day following you to strange places, whether outer space or underwater. I've almost forgotten how to use my wings," Vivian's voice came from above. As she spoke, she subtly adjusted the angle of her wings, gliding in circles through the broad Vertical Shaft. "I still remember that the first time you went up into the sky with me, you seemed to get airsick, didn't you? Oh... I guess it wasn't airsickness. More like Vivian-sickness."
"Stop messing around. I was mainly startled back then. You dragged me into the sky without saying a word. What ordinary person would be prepared for that?" As he spoke, Hao Ren shifted slightly. The soft sensation against his back made it somewhat difficult for him to concentrate. Vivian immediately noticed and giggled. "What? We've flown together so many times, and you still haven't gotten used to it?"
Hao Ren curled his lips. "No matter how you put it, you're still a beautiful woman."
"...I've honestly never thought about that. You know, I usually have trouble just filling my stomach." Vivian blinked, then suddenly spotted a faint light