The Heart's Direction

It usually takes twenty minutes to walk from the ruins to the road.

Today it took nearly an hour.

Ning Rongrong supported Zhang Mo, shuffling forward step by step. Half his body weight pressed down on her shoulders, making them ache. But she gritted her teeth and said nothing.

Zhang Mo glanced down at her.

Her forehead was covered in sweat, streaming down her cheeks. Her back was soaked through, clinging to her. Her legs were trembling, shaking with every step.

But he didn't speak.

Because he knew she wouldn't listen even if he did.

After walking for a while, Ning Rongrong suddenly spoke:

"Zhang Mo."

"Mm?"

"How much do you weigh?"

Zhang Mo thought for a moment: "A little over 130 jin."

Ning Rongrong was silent for a few seconds, then said softly:

"I weigh 80 jin."

Zhang Mo didn't say anything.

She continued: "I've been carrying someone weighing over 130 jin for an hour."

Zhang Mo still didn't say anything.

She turned her head and glared at him: "Aren't you going to show some appreciation?"

Zhang Mo thought for a moment and said, "You've worked hard."

Ning Rongrong snorted and turned back to continue walking.

After a few steps, she spoke again:

"You should eat less in the future."

Zhang Mo was taken aback.

"Why eat so much," she muttered softly, "it's exhausting to carry you."

Zhang Mo couldn't help but chuckle.

Ning Rongrong heard him laugh, her face flushed. She wanted to say something, but in the end, she just snorted.

After walking for a while longer, she suddenly said:

"Zhang Mo."

"Mm?"

"Just now... you scared me to death."

Zhang Mo looked down at her.

She was still looking ahead, not turning back.

Her voice was muffled:

"I saw you collapse, and no matter how I called you, you wouldn't wake up. I thought... I thought..."

She didn't finish.

But Zhang Mo understood.

He was silent for a few seconds, then said softly:

"I'm sorry."

Ning Rongrong paused.

"What are you apologizing for?"

Zhang Mo said: "For making you worry."

Ning Rongrong was silent for a moment, then said softly:

"Then don't do that again in the future."

Zhang Mo said: "I'll try my best."

Ning Rongrong looked up and glared at him: "What do you mean, 'try your best'?"

Zhang Mo thought for a moment and said: "In future fights, I'll strive not to collapse."

Ning Rongrong stared at him for a few seconds, then looked away.

"That's more like it."

She continued to support him as they walked forward.

After walking for a while longer, Zhang Mo suddenly said:

"Rongrong."

Ning Rongrong froze for a moment.

He usually called her "Ning Rongrong" or "hey," rarely "Rongrong."

"W-what?"

Zhang Mo said, "Just now, did you use your blood to save me?"

Ning Rongrong stiffened.

Then she stubbornly insisted, "That didn't happen."

Zhang Mo lowered his head to look at her wrists.

On both wrists, the wounds had already scabbed over, but the marks remained. Deep teeth marks; one look and it was obvious she had bitten herself.

Ning Rongrong followed his gaze, quickly pulling her hands back and hiding them in her sleeves.

"What are you looking at?" she whispered. "I fell by accident."

Zhang Mo didn't speak.

Ning Rongrong felt guilty under his gaze, her voice growing quieter and quieter:

"It really... was a fall..."

Zhang Mo suddenly stopped walking.

Ning Rongrong was pulled to a halt along with him and looked up at him.

He looked down at her, staring for a long time.

Long enough to make her feel uneasy.

"W-what are you looking at?"

Zhang Mo said, "Don't do that again in the future."

Ning Rongrong was stunned.

Zhang Mo continued, "Using your blood to save me—don't ever do that again."

Ning Rongrong opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but he interrupted her.

"My life is not worth you trading yours for," he said. "Got it?"

Ning Rongrong stared at him for a few seconds, her eyes turning slightly red.

But she bit her lip, forcing herself not to let the tears fall.

She nodded and whispered:

"Got it."

Only then did Zhang Mo continue walking forward.

Ning Rongrong supported him, staying by his side.

After a few steps, she suddenly whispered:

"Then you aren't allowed to trade your life for mine either."

Zhang Mo's footsteps faltered.

He didn't turn back, just gave a soft "Mn."

The two continued to walk forward.

Moonlight spilled onto the road, stretching their shadows long. One tall, one short, pressed closely together.

After walking for a long time, they finally saw the highway.

Ning Rongrong let out a sigh of relief, her legs going weak, and she nearly collapsed. Zhang Mo steadied her and pulled her to the side of the road.

"Let's rest for a bit."

Ning Rongrong didn't try to be brave anymore; she plopped down on the curb, gasping for air.

Zhang Mo sat down beside her.

The two sat there like that, watching the empty highway.

The night was deep; there wasn't a single car in sight.

Ning Rongrong suddenly said:

"Zhang Mo."

"Mn?"

"What did that system say just now?"

Zhang Mo paused, then pulled up the system panel to take a look.

[Kill Huyan Li (Level 65 Spirit Emperor) complete]

[Obtained World Origin Point: 600]

[Obtained Soul Bone: Strength Boost Right Arm Bone (Absorbed)]

[Dual World Collision Delayed: 65 days]

[Current Remaining Time: 506 days]

[Next Crisis Summon Countdown: 7 days]

Ning Rongrong leaned over, read it, and was silent for a few seconds.

"506 days," she said, "more than a year."

Zhang Mo nodded.

Ning Rongrong thought for a moment, then said, "That soul bone, did you absorb it?"

Zhang Mo raised his right arm and clenched his fist. A warm power flowed through his arm, stronger than before.

"Mm."

Ning Rongrong stared at his right arm for a few seconds, then suddenly asked:

"Does it hurt?"

Zhang Mo thought for a moment: "It's a little swollen."

Ning Rongrong nodded and said no more.

The two continued to sit.

After a while, car headlights lit up in the distance.

Zhang Mo stood up and hailed a cab.

It was a night shift taxi. The driver, seeing the two covered in blood, was startled and almost drove away. Zhang Mo paid an extra two hundred yuan before he agreed to take them.

In the car, Ning Rongrong leaned on Zhang Mo's shoulder, her eyes closed.

Zhang Mo looked down at her.

Sweat still clung to her face, tear streaks remained un-wiped at the corners of her eyes, and her lips were chapped. Her hands rested on her legs, the wounds on her wrists exposed.

He watched for a while, then looked away, out the window.

Outside the window was the rapidly passing night scenery. Neon lights, overpasses, and occasional passing cars.

He suddenly remembered his childhood.

When he was seven, after his parents died, he lived alone with his grandmother. His grandmother was very good to him, but she also passed away when he was twelve.

From then on, he was alone.

Eating alone, sleeping alone, going to school alone, working alone.

He was used to it.

Used to facing everything alone.

But now—

He looked down at the person leaning on his shoulder.

She was sleeping soundly, her breathing even. Her brow was slightly furrowed, and he wondered what she was dreaming about.

He suddenly felt as if he wasn't quite so used to it anymore.

Used to being alone.

But used to having her by his side.

The car drove on the overpass, and the lights of the Oriental Pearl Tower in the distance shone brightly.

He looked at those lights and suddenly said softly:

"Rongrong."

Ning Rongrong didn't react; she was sleeping deeply.

He withdrew his gaze and looked ahead.

"Thank you."

His voice was very soft, so soft that only he could hear it.

Forty minutes later, the car stopped at the bottom of the old Western-style house.

Zhang Mo paid the fare and woke Ning Rongrong.

She opened her eyes groggily, saw where they were, rubbed her eyes, and got out of the car.

The two slowly climbed the stairs.

Once inside, Ning Rongrong collapsed directly onto the sofa, not wanting to move at all.

Zhang Mo went to the kitchen, poured a glass of water, and placed it on the coffee table.

"Drink some water before you sleep."

Ning Rongrong hummed in response but didn't move.

Zhang Mo sat on the chair beside her, watching her.

She closed her eyes, her breathing slowly becoming even.

He had fallen asleep again.

Zhang Mo stood up, took a blanket from the inner room, and gently covered her with it.

He stood by the sofa, watching her.

He watched for a long time.

Then he said softly:

"From now on, I won't keep you waiting too long either."

Ning Rongrong, of course, couldn't hear him.

She slept soundly, her breathing steady, her brows slowly relaxing.

Zhang Mo walked back to the chair and sat down, bringing up the system panel.

[Detected change in Ning Rongrong's affection level--]

[Current Affection Level: 85 (Life and Death Bond)]

[Note: She is willing to trade her life for yours. This is the highest level of trust.]

Zhang Mo looked at the line of text and fell silent for a long time.

Then he closed the panel, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes.

Outside the window, the sky was about to brighten.

A new day was about to arrive.