Chapter 43 A Moment Between Life and Death

Chapter 43 A Moment Between Life and Death

"Whoosh—!"

The crossbow bolt flew straight for Duan Lingwen's vital spot.

Suddenly, a blood-stained hand reached out from behind him, wrapped around his waist, and yanked him into an embrace.

At the same time, the bolt whistled past his scalp.

Had it been a split second later, even just the blink of an eye, that arrow would have pierced straight through Duan Lingwen's skull!

Duan Lingwen jerked his head up in astonishment, seeing that Pang Dan, having failed his first strike, was already aiming a second bolt at them.

It was so fast that Duan Lingwen had no choice but to slash through the rope binding Jing Su's other side, half-carrying and half-dragging the barely conscious Jing Su, stumbling toward a pile of wooden crates nearby.

Only when his back was against cover did Duan Lingwen dare to gasp for air. He held Jing Su tightly, his heart pounding like a drum in his chest. The cold sweat on his palms mixed with Jing Su's blood, making his hands tremble uncontrollably.

The water bandits who had been pursuing the two had already scattered in all directions, no longer paying them any attention.

"Jing Su..." Duan Lingwen called out in a trembling voice, carefully avoiding Jing Su's wounds. But the terrifying injuries were still streaming blood, and his face was frighteningly pale.

Jing Su's brow was tightly furrowed, and finally, succumbing to the pain, he fell unconscious.

Duan Lingwen anxiously called his name, "Jing Su... wake up..."

He could feel Jing Su's breathing growing fainter and shallower, his body colder, as if no amount of warmth could revive him.

Suddenly, heavy, thudding footsteps sounded from behind, each step pounding against his heart.

Duan Lingwen cautiously peered out and felt a chill run through him.

The person approaching was none other than Young Chief Pang Dan.

By now, the entire stronghold was in chaos.

The Jing Army's warships had broken through the final water defense line, and the sounds of battle cries surged from all directions, growing closer and closer.

The fleeing water bandits engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the advancing Jing Army soldiers. The bandits who had planned to make a last stand using their geographical advantage instantly lost their morale.

They scurried around like headless flies, fighting to escape, even drawing blades against once-sworn brothers over a small boat, blood staining the docks.

Unbeknownst to them, the entire stronghold had already been surrounded.

Deng Tong, clad in light armor and holding a bloodstained longsword, kicked aside a bandit charging at him, then grabbed a young bandit who was scared out of his wits beside him. He pressed the bloodied blade against the bandit's throat and coldly demanded, "Speak! Where is the merchant group that passed through here a few days ago? Are there any survivors?!"

The bandit's legs shook like sieves, and he stammered, "H-have mercy, brave sir... th-those people... are locked in the water dungeon..."

"Water dungeon?!"

Being held in the water dungeon meant there was a chance they were still alive!

Deng Tong fought down his excitement and pressed the blade closer to the bandit's throat. "Lead the way! Now! Take us to the water dungeon immediately! If you lie, don't blame me for showing no mercy!"

He shoved the bandit forward and sharply ordered the few men following him, "You few, come with me! The rest of you, continue clearing out the remaining bandits. Secure all key passages in the stronghold!"

The bandit stumbled from the push but didn't dare hesitate, scrambling on hands and knees to point in a direction. "O-over there... I'll lead the way, right now..."

The direction of the water dungeon was completely opposite to that of the arena.

"I should have killed you long ago," Pang Dan said with mingled affection and hatred as he raised his crossbow, aiming at Duan Lingwen's head.

After the extreme fear, Duan Lingwen's mind had instead grown calm. He said hoarsely, "It's not too late to do it now, but you won't escape either."

Pang Dan's crossbow remained fixed on Duan Lingwen's forehead, his killing intent firm.

At this critical moment, an expression of extreme shock suddenly appeared on Duan Lingwen's face. His gaze snapped to something behind Pang Dan, and he shouted without thinking, "Deng Tong!"

Hearing this, Pang Dan instinctively tensed, shoulders tightening, and turned to look.

In that instant, Duan Lingwen leaped up from the ground and threw himself at Pang Dan with everything he had.

"You tricked me?!" Pang Dan realized instantly, both shocked and enraged, and subconsciously pulled the trigger.

"Whoosh!"

The bolt was fired at extremely close range, but because Pang Dan had turned hastily, it was thrown off aim, grazing Duan Lingwen's side and tearing away a piece of fabric and skin. Duan Lingwen frowned slightly but his momentum unchecked, crashing headfirst into the wound on Pang Dan's shoulder.

The impact caused Pang Dan to grunt in pain, and the crossbow flew from his hand, landing several steps away.

The two fell heavily to the ground and instantly tumbled into a fierce struggle. Duan Lingwen, driven by a burst of savage determination, aimed his fists specifically at Pang Dan's injuries. Though wounded, Pang Dan was still stronger and quicker. The intense pain only fueled his viciousness as he blocked Duan Lingwen's punches and drove his knee hard into Duan Lingwen's abdomen.

Duan Lingwen's strength had long been exhausted, sustained only by willpower. After a struggle, his energy failed, and Pang Dan seized the opportunity, kicking him hard in the chest.

"Cough!" Duan Lingwen was sent flying, his back slamming into the wooden crates. His vision blurred, and the taste of blood filled his mouth.

He coughed violently, and through his hazy vision, he suddenly spotted the crossbow lying not far away.

At almost the same moment, Pang Dan saw it too.

Both lunged for the crossbow. Duan Lingwen was slightly closer. Holding his breath, he lunged forward along the ground.

Just as Pang Dan's foot was about to step on the crossbow, Duan Lingwen grabbed it firmly, then used his momentum to roll sideways, putting several steps between them.

Duan Lingwen knelt on one knee, breathing heavily. He lifted his head, his face smeared with blood, sweat, and dirt, but his eyes were strikingly bright, filled with nothing but icy, cold killing intent.

Pang Dan, seeing the crossbow taken, took a few steps back, frowning deeply. "You think you can kill me?!"

"Let's find out." Duan Lingwen aimed the bolt at Pang Dan's heart. There was only one arrow left in the crossbow, and he had only one chance.

Pang Dan felt a flicker of panic. If not for the two arrows Duan Lingwen had shot at Qing Guo earlier, he might not have been concerned.

At this moment, he could only grit his teeth inwardly before turning decisively to flee.

Duan Lingwen's gaze locked onto the moving figure. It was as if he could hear nothing but the drumming of his own heart. He murmured, "Third time's the charm..."

The first two times, he had failed to kill Pang Dan. This time... Pang Dan must die!

"Whoosh—!"

The bolt sliced through the air!

Pang Dan's forward charge froze abruptly. He looked down in disbelief at the arrow piercing through his chest, then slowly turned back to look at Duan Lingwen. His mouth opened as if he wanted to say something, but only a stream of blood poured out.

The resentment and unwillingness in his eyes finally faded into the stillness of death as his body fell heavily backward.

Duan Lingwen's body suddenly lost all strength. He dropped the empty crossbow and practically crawled toward Jing Su.

Exhaustion and severe pain washed over him. His arms felt too heavy to lift, and his legs were weak as noodles.

He dragged himself to Jing Su's side.

"Jing... Su..." he gasped, his trembling hand carefully touching Jing Su's cheek.

Jing Su lay there quietly, silent, his breathing barely perceptible.

Duan Lingwen wanted to go for help, but he didn't even have the strength to lift his own arm, and could only slump weakly beside Jing Su. His head gradually rested on Jing Su's shoulder as he whispered, "Jing Su... I'm so tired..."

His consciousness fought against the darkness.

Suddenly, a figure darted out from behind a pile of scattered wooden crates to the side—a thin, weak brigand with scratches on his face. His eyes were panicked, like a chicken with its head cut off, searching for a way to escape this desperate situation.

Their paths crossed unexpectedly, and both were startled.

The brigand was frightened at first, his steps halting abruptly, a flash of fear crossing his face. Then he immediately averted his gaze, pretending not to see anything, hunching his shoulders, and tried to slip past from the side.

"Wait... wait!" Duan Lingwen finally reacted.

The brigand stiffened, not stopping but instead quickening his pace.

He muttered under his breath, "Just my luck..."

He had joined this stronghold less than half a month ago, and now it was about to fall. He would have to become a beggar elsewhere again.

"Help... help us..." Duan Lingwen strained to squeeze a few words from his dry, burning throat.

The brigand said, "I can't carry you. Save yourselves... If you die, settle scores with your enemies, don't blame me. I even gave you a fruit—don't repay kindness with enmity..."

With that, the brigand left without looking back.

The sounds around him grew muffled and unreal. Duan Lingwen was too tired. He had many hidden injuries, and the blood from the deeper cuts on his arms had long since congealed, sticking his clothes to his flesh.

He could only pray that someone would find them.

A bone-chilling cold seeped into his bones, and the pitch-black darkness finally overwhelmed his consciousness completely. His heavy eyelids slowly closed.

He didn't know how much time had passed, but the battle within the stronghold had mostly died down.

The soldiers of the Jing Army were methodically clearing out the remnants and taking prisoners. The ground was strewn with bodies, and the air was thick with the smell of blood.

Deng Tong stood in the center of the main stronghold's square, his frown deepening.

"...Not found!" Team after team returned reporting no trace of Jing Su or Duan Lingwen.

The stronghold was not small, and there were many obstacles. People could still be hiding in some corners.

"Search again!" Deng Tong's voice was hoarse, a flash of pain in his eyes. "I want them found, dead or alive..."

Deng Tong couldn't stay idle either and began searching through the vast stronghold.

Dead silence... and endless darkness tightly enveloped and dragged Duan Lingwen down, sinking him deeper.

He heard a voice—it seemed to be his own, yet somehow different, carrying a weary compassion.

"Return..."

Duan Lingwen didn't understand. He shouted into the void, "Return where?"

No one answered.

An immense force dragged him upward. Duan Lingwen heard distant calls in his ears.

"Young master..."

"Madam..."

"Duan Lingwen!"

Duan Lingwen's consciousness broke free from its heavy shackles. He slowly opened his eyes. The sky was already dim; he didn't know how long he had been unconscious, but he'd regained a little strength.

Jing Su must have regained consciousness at some point—he had pulled Duan Lingwen into his arms. However, he had fallen unconscious again. Fortunately, he was no longer bleeding. If they could just hold on a little longer, they would be saved...

The calls were growing fainter. Duan Lingwen managed to raise his head with difficulty and shouted into the distance, "We... are here..."

His voice was extremely hoarse, quickly lost in the cacophony of shouts.

Duan Lingwen wanted to move closer, but the searing pain throughout his body made it impossible to take even a step.

At that moment, his gaze fell on the fruit in his arms. Now, he really had to thank that person.

With renewed hope, Duan Lingwen picked up the fruit and began tapping it on a nearby wooden crate, once, twice.

Though the tapping sound was also muffled, the persistent sound finally caught someone's attention.

"It seems like someone's over there..."

"Quick, go check!"

Duan Lingwen looked at Jing Su beside him and whispered softly, "Jing Su... we survived."

He had thought they would die here.

Countless times, they had teetered on the edge of life and death... but such is the cruelty of the battlefield. Since he had chosen this path, he should have known that one day, he might die at the hands of the enemy.

A faint smile crossed Duan Lingwen's lips. He took a bite of the fruit and stared into the distance.

To be alive... is wonderful.