Trust took root: Tony's first acceptance

Ye Mo pressed his fingers against the rock wall, a trace of coolness seeping into his fingertips. The heat signature at the end of the passage was still moving, but it had noticeably slowed, as though hesitating over whether to keep going.

He said nothing, merely raising a hand to signal a halt. Tony leaned against the wall, keeping his breathing as quiet as possible, his eyes fixed on Ye Mo's back.

The heat signature paused for a few seconds, then suddenly turned into another fork. The footsteps faded into the distance.

"Gone?" Tony asked quietly.

"For now." Ye Mo withdrew his hand. "A lone patrol. No hurry in his steps. Probably a routine check."

"That 'system' of yours is pretty accurate." Tony caught his breath, his legs still a little weak. "If you hadn't stopped me, I might've rushed out already."

"Then you'd be lying out there waiting for someone to collect your corpse." As Ye Mo spoke, he sealed the entrance tightly with loose stones again. "We need to move. It's too narrow here. We can't fight or escape."

Tony didn't argue. He knew Ye Mo was right. For the first time since being dragged into the cave, he felt he hadn't survived on luck alone.

"So..." He leaned against the wall, his voice slightly hoarse. "What exactly do you want from me? Money? Fame? Or are you going to turn me in for a bounty?"

Ye Mo turned and looked him straight in the eye. "What you should care about right now is getting back alive and building something that can protect you. I need someone who can help me access resources. We each get what we need."

Tony frowned. "Sounds like a transaction."

"That's exactly what it is." Ye Mo shrugged. "I'm not here to be a hero. I saved you because you're useful, not because you're pitiful."

Tony smiled wearily. "You really are honest."

"There's no point lying to you." Ye Mo crouched and drew a line on the ground with his finger. "Three paths ahead. The middle one leads to the main mine tunnel, with guards patrolling back and forth. The left is a dead end. This fissure on the right loops around to the north and leads to an abandoned vehicle parking area."

"How do you know?" Tony stared at him. "Even I only saw the plans for that place once."

"The system just updated the terrain data," Ye Mo said calmly. "Refreshed five minutes ago. It also included a heat map of patrol routes from the past twelve hours."

Tony fell silent for a moment. "So you're saying you have an AI in your head that combines navigation and surveillance? And it can connect to the network in real time?"

"More or less." Ye Mo nodded. "But it won't tell me why it can connect or explain how it works. Just like you wouldn't explain to a rice cooker how to cook rice."

"Ha." Tony shook his head. "You're pretty good with analogies."

"The system won't let me discuss anything too complicated." Ye Mo stood. "Says it could cause cognitive overload."

"The system again." Tony narrowed his eyes. "Can't you tell me what you think for once? Like what you think I should do right now?"

"What I think?" Ye Mo paused. "I think you should shut up and get moving. Otherwise, when the next group shows up, all you'll be able to do is discuss your dreams and aspirations with them."

Tony froze, then laughed. "All right. You've got a sharp tongue, but a clear head."

With that, he struggled to his feet and took a step forward, bracing himself against the wall. His knees buckled, and he almost dropped to the ground before Ye Mo caught his arm.

"Don't die here." Ye Mo propped him up. "I'm still counting on you to get me out."

"You really are practical." Tony gritted his teeth, struggling to stay upright. "Can't you say something nice? Like 'I believe in you' or 'We'll escape together'?"

"Save those lines for the movies." Ye Mo dragged him toward the northern fissure. "We're partners right now, not devoted brothers."

"Even partners need a little trust, don't they?" Tony said quietly. "You can't expect me to spend the whole way watching for you to stab me in the back."

"Then you can turn around right now." Ye Mo stopped. "Go find your guard friends and ask them to take you to a hospital. I won't stop you."

Tony didn't move.

He knew no one outside would save him. Those people only wanted to trade him for arms orders.

"So..." he finally said. "You're serious? Everything you said-transmigration, the system, your abilities... none of it was made up?"

"Believe it or not." Ye Mo kept walking. "But fair warning: a second patrol will pass through this area in five minutes. If we don't move now, we'll just be waiting to get caught."

Watching his back, Tony suddenly felt this man wasn't from Earth.

Too calm, too direct. Every word seemed calculated before it left his mouth.

Yet he had undeniably saved Tony time and again.

"Hey," Tony suddenly asked. "What if I said I wasn't going with you?"

"Then I'll go alone." Ye Mo didn't look back. "The keys are in the storage compartment to the left of the driver's seat. The fuel gauge shows three-quarters full."

"You even remember details like that?" Tony asked in surprise.

"The system told me," Ye Mo replied. "It also mentioned that the brake pads are badly worn. Drive too fast and it'll skid."

Tony opened his mouth, but all he finally managed was, "That system of yours... can it even predict what I'll have for breakfast tomorrow?"

"I don't know." Ye Mo glanced back at him. "But it just warned me that the wound on your left shoulder has started bleeding. If it isn't treated soon, it'll get infected."

Tony looked down. Sure enough, a dark red patch had stained his jacket cuff.

"Fine." He gave a bitter smile. "I give up. Wherever you tell me to go, I'll go. At least until you get me to a hospital."

"That's more like it." Ye Mo reached out to steady him. "Remember, we're in the same boat now. If you die, I'm in trouble too."

They moved slowly along the northern fissure. The passage grew narrower and narrower, forcing them to turn sideways at its tightest point. Ye Mo led the way, pushing aside hanging wire mesh to help Tony through.

"This used to be an escape passage for the miners," Tony said between breaths. "A cave-in sealed it later. I didn't think it was still passable."

"The system marks it as an emergency exit." Ye Mo looked up at the ceiling. "There's a ventilation duct above us, leading straight to the mountaintop."

"Are you treating me like a test subject?" Tony suddenly asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Everything you do feels like you're testing something." Tony stared at him. "Observing reactions, recording data, then making the optimal choice. You don't seem like you're saving someone. More like you're completing a mission."

Ye Mo's steps faltered slightly.

"Maybe," he said softly. "But the result is that you're still alive."

Tony said nothing more.

He knew Ye Mo was right. Whatever his motives, this man had indeed pulled him back from the brink of death again and again.

A faint light shone at the end of the passage. Dawn had yet to break outside, and the morning mist quietly seeped in.

"We're here." Ye Mo lowered his voice. "The parking area is fifty meters outside the exit. The jeep is on the left in the third row. No life signs nearby."

"You're sure?" Tony asked.

"The last patrol just left. We have seven minutes left in the safe window," Ye Mo said. "Enough to start the vehicle and get out."

Tony nodded. "All right. Your call."

Ye Mo pushed aside the last panel and leaned out first to survey their surroundings. Mist filled the air, limiting visibility, but through Thermal Vision, everything was quiet as usual.

He beckoned Tony to follow.

They advanced close to the rock wall, their footsteps making faint sounds on the gravel. When they reached the jeep, Ye Mo opened the passenger door and bundled Tony inside.

"Where are the keys?" Tony asked.

"The storage compartment on the left." Ye Mo walked around to the driver's seat. "The system says there's a spare battery inside. The vehicle's battery should be able to start it."

He opened the compartment and, sure enough, found a key and a black battery.

He inserted the key and turned it.

The engine coughed a few times but failed to start.

"Again," Tony said.

On the second attempt, the engine roared to life.

Ye Mo breathed a sigh of relief, shifted into gear, and pressed the accelerator. The jeep slowly rolled out of the parking area.

"You know how to drive an old manual like this?" Tony asked, leaning back in his seat.

"The system uploaded a driving tutorial ten minutes ago." Ye Mo tightened his grip on the wheel. "I just learned."

Tony looked at him, then suddenly smiled. "All right, Mr. X. If you insist on using a code name, that's what I'll call you."

"Whatever." Ye Mo kept his eyes ahead. "As long as you don't ask me whether I'm an alien along the way."

"I won't." Tony closed his eyes. "But I'm warning you, don't stab me in the back. Even if you're from a parallel universe, I can still drag you back to stand trial."

The jeep passed through the thick mist, heading out of the mountains.

Ye Mo didn't respond. He simply summoned the Gene Spiral Tower in his consciousness without a word. The first floor was still lit, and beneath the Thermal Vision icon, the cooldown reached zero.

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

A system notification sounded in his mind: first-level trust protocol established.