Yue Lan's eyes froze at the sight.
She could only watch as Li Feng and Shui Ruo disappeared into the entrance... swallowed whole by the surging black water, along with that monstrous presence.
Then—
Silence fell.
A suffocating, unbearable silence.
Liu Yanyue let out a quiet sigh as she slowly released her grip on Yue Lan.
Beside her, Jian Ruyi, who had been crying silently the entire time, also loosened her hold.
No one spoke.
Thud.
Yue Lan's knees hit the ground.
Her body gave out, as if the last thread holding her together had finally snapped.
Her breathing became ragged… uneven, almost choking, as her trembling fingers dug into the dirt, clutching a fistful of earth so tightly her knuckles turned white.
"Why… does this always happen…"
Her voice was hoarse and broken, barely a whisper.
Once again…she was the one who survived.
And once again…Others had died for her sake.
Her parents… sacrificing themselves just so she could escape.... just so she could live.
