Chapter 117: Power of Rules

Chapter 117: The Power of Rules

Meng Shu encountered this situation for the first time, and his eye twitched even more violently. "It's not working. I can't seem to go back."

Can't go back.

Those four simple words fell heavily on both their hearts.

The last trace of a smile on Ling Qingjue's face completely vanished, and he spoke each word forcefully: "The passage between the two worlds was established by the highest law—and yet it had failed..."

Today was the third day of Meng Shu's stay in this world.

He had to go home.

Ling Qingjue's breathing quickened. He wrapped one arm around Meng Shu's waist and, without a word, lifted him up and then sprinted forward at full speed.

It was too fast; before Meng Shu could react, Ling Qingjue had already smashed through dozens of walls like a meteor.

Flying debris grazed his face, and Meng Shu was terrified by Ling Qingjue's reckless move. His voice was drowned out by the wind and crashing sounds, "Cat... stop! Don't rush, Cat!"

Faster!

Need to go even faster!

This maze was so huge. If they advanced slowly, they wouldn't reach the center before dark.

If that Boss were tough, and Meng Shu stayed in this world longer than three days, his life force would be drained.

Meng Shu didn't even know where he got the strength to be held so tightly by one arm, unable to break free. "Calm down! If you keep smashing like this, you won't be able to take it! What if there's a trap in the center—"

"Boom!"

Another punch came down!

A crack appeared in the middle of the stone wall.

It didn't shatter.

He could no longer break through.

Ling Qingjue failed to smash that wall, and he was forced to stop, his eyes turning scarlet. Magic gathered in his fist as he prepared for another strike.

Meng Shu finally got his feet on the ground and immediately grabbed Ling Qingjue's wrist. "Cat! Enough! What are you, crazy?!"

The crimson slowly receded from Ling Qingjue's eyes, and he dropped his head weakly. "...Can't break it anymore."

Meng Shu lifted Ling Qingjue's hand—it was battered and bleeding, trembling slightly.

So much blood.

Meng Shu's heart ached for him. This was someone who would yelp if pricked by a needle, yet now he was this badly injured without making a sound. "Stop smashing. I'll just go home a little late. It's no big deal. Let's explore the maze slowly."

He pretended to be calm and unconcerned. "Going back a bit later won't affect much. At worst, I'll lose a few days of life. I'm still young, I can spare a few days."

Before Ling Qingjue could speak, he rattled on, "But you, turning yourself into this mess, don't you know it hurts?"

Ling Qingjue pressed his lips tightly together. "...I'll get you out."

He pressed his uninjured left hand onto Meng Shu's shoulder, dropping his head slightly. "I will definitely get you out."

"I know." Meng Shu's eyes curved, not blaming him for his recklessness. "I just don't want to see you hurt. Let's take it slow. There's still plenty of time. Don't rush."

Ling Qingjue kept his eyes lowered, lost in thought.

"Alright, heal yourself." Meng Shu reached up and touched his cheek, soothing him. "Really, it's fine. With you here, I'm not afraid. Don't blame yourself."

The more Meng Shu spoke, the lower Ling Qingjue's head hung, until finally he buried his face in Meng Shu's shoulder and neck, not saying a word.

Meng Shu let out a soft sigh and patted his back. "Come on, it's just a small thing. Isn't it just a dungeon? We'll clear it slowly. Don't worry."

"...I used to be able to just punch through everything." Ling Qingjue's voice was muffled. "I shouldn't have brought you in."

Meng Shu was caught between laughter and tears. He had sensed this dungeon wasn't simple, but Ling Qingjue, proud and above all else, would never have bothered with a mere dungeon.

Good thing he had followed him in; otherwise, Ling Qingjue would have faced this alone and would have been terrified.

At that thought, Meng Shu let out a long sigh of relief and continued coaxing him. "It's okay, don't blame yourself. I believe you can get me out."

Ling Qingjue rubbed his cheek against Meng Shu's neck, acting stubborn.

"Are you crying?" Meng Shu teased him deliberately. "Lift your face and let me see. A big cat like you, crying?"

"...No way." Ling Qingjue clung to him tightly. "I'm not crying."

"Then let me see?" Meng Shu's tone was light, as if the current situation hadn't affected him at all.

With a playful grin, he reached for Ling Qingjue's face. "Let me see, are you crying?"

Only then did Ling Qingjue lift his face. He wasn't crying, but the corners of his eyes were a little red, making him look pitiful.

Meng Shu chuckled. "What's the big deal? Crying over this? Can't you be a bit tougher?"

"I'm not crying!" Ling Qingjue's voice raised a pitch, but then dropped back down, lacking confidence. "Really, I'm not."

"You're not, you're not. Our cat never cries." Meng Shu nodded repeatedly, going along with him. "Pull yourself together. Let's move forward together, okay?"

After a long moment, Ling Qingjue finally nodded.

The maze was intricate, and the walls they had smashed had somehow already repaired themselves. Going back the way they came was now impossible.

Meng Shu summoned the Cat Sword. "Since there's no retreat, let's just push forward."

He held Ling Qingjue's hand with one hand, and grasped the sword with the other, his eyes smiling. "There should be monsters in the maze. I'll handle them and level up the Cat Sword."

He had been smiling since entering the maze.

Even though Ling Qingjue had led him into such a dangerous area, he wouldn't utter a single word of blame. "I was just wishing for a chance to upgrade the Cat Sword. This is perfect."

Sure enough, at the corner of the maze, there were two monsters, roughly eighth-rank. Meng Shu effortlessly cut them down with one swing.

Ling Qingjue was a mage.

Magic.

But most of Meng Shu's skills were physical attacks, and this dungeon didn't restrict him much.

Moreover, the Knight's Guild skills had a natural holy aura, dealing double damage in this dungeon.

After cutting down countless monsters along the way, they reached an intersection. Meng Shu's wrist, which held the sword, ached faintly. He inconspicuously flexed his wrist. "Cat, which way now?"

Ling Qingjue closed his eyes to sense the direction. "Left."

Meng Shu, full of energy and showing no sign of fatigue, replied, "Got it!"

Just as he was about to head left, Ling Qingjue gently tugged at his sleeve, his voice low and hoarse. "I think... I can barely hold my human form anymore."

Meng Shu's heart jolted, but his expression remained unchanged. "Is it because the magic skills are restricted here?"

Shapeshifting is also magic.

Ling Qingjue had managed to maintain his human form here for so long in defiance of the rules. Now, as they drew closer to the maze's center, the rules' authority grew stronger, and Ling Qingjue could no longer hold his human form.

Meng Shu calculated the time—he had been in this world for five days. Ling Qingjue had also been fighting the rules for two days.

He sheathed his sword, stroked Ling Qingjue's cheek, and lifted his head and kissed him. "It's fine. I'll get us out of here."

Ling Qingjue froze for a moment, then lowered his head slightly and kissed back.

"I'm sorry," he said.

Seconds later, the man in front of him disappeared.

In Meng Shu's arms now lay a green-eyed black cat.