TRT -Chapter 31 Disaster

After suffering such serious injuries and then falling from a great height, even if you don’t die, you’ll be crippled! But can Guo’er save two people at the same time? One of them is even a 1.9-meter-tall grown man! I don’t want Ying to die, but I don’t want to die either!

Question Five:
If both you and your best friend are in mortal danger and you can only save one, who would you want to live?

Just as I was standing there in shock, Guo’er had already grabbed me and pulled me into his arms. With one hand firmly protecting my head, he whispered:

“Hold your breath!”

We plunged into the rushing water like stones, surrounded by huge bubbles, sinking rapidly! Water instantly sealed my nose and mouth, and the pressure made my ears buzz with pain!

Question Five:
If both you and your best friend are in mortal danger and you can only save one, who would you want to live?

Answer:
Both!

Am I greedy?

Yes, I am. Especially when it comes to the people around me, I’m extremely greedy.

Just as Guo’er was dragging me toward the surface, I made up my mind. Gasping as I broke through the water, I shoved him away.

“Go save Ying! I can swim!”

He refused to let go.

“No. The current is too strong.”

“It’s fine. Go save him!”

“He’s injured, and the current here is fast. He’ll be hard to find, and even harder to save.”

Precisely because he’s injured, he might have passed out when he fell in. If he’s unconscious, as long as he doesn’t choke on water, his life won’t be in danger. But if we hesitate now, there really will be no hope!

I almost grabbed Guo’er by the collar and yelled:

“How would you know if you don’t try? I didn’t give up on you, so why are you nagging?!”

Then I tightened my grip on his hand and whispered:

“Go save him, or I’ll die right here.”

Guo’er froze, then turned and swam toward the distance.

I let out a breath of relief, then immediately tensed up again.

Swimming in a river with strong currents is nothing like swimming in a pool. Sometimes you can go faster by riding the current, but more often, chaotic flows disrupt your rhythm. If you lack strength, you’ll be swept away, smashed against rocks, or trapped in a whirlpool. If that happens, you might as well surrender…

Flailing helplessly in the water, I’d already bragged earlier—how could I call for help now?

I don’t know how long I struggled before my strength was slowly drained away. Eventually, I was washed into calmer water. The riverbank was right in front of me, but I had no energy left to climb up.

At that moment, all those newspaper stories about heroic rescues popped into my head… even my high school debate topic:
“Is it worth it for a college student to sacrifice himself to save a seventy-year-old man?”
Wait, was I on the pro side or the con side?

Suddenly, someone grabbed my waist and shoved me onto the shore. I collapsed, limp, gasping for air for a long time before I recovered.

Propping myself up, I looked around. Ying lay nearby, soaked and unconscious, his chest rising faintly. He should be okay.

Guo’er sat between us, facing the river, silently wringing out his clothes.

In the end, he still saved me.

Feeling a little embarrassed, I struggled over and sat beside him.

“Um… thank you.”

He didn’t respond.

I moved in front of him and looked straight at his face.

“I mean it. Thank you for saving both of us.”

He snorted lightly and turned away.

What is he sulking about now?

Right now, my lifesaver is the boss. I quickly tugged at his hand.

“Are you angry?”

He suddenly stood up, walked over to Ying, grabbed his collar, and dragged him toward dry ground.

Seriously, he’s injured! This guy is really rough with anyone outside his responsibility…

Guo’er tossed Ying down and pulled out his dagger. I jumped in fright.

What?! You don’t like him, but do you have to kill him now?!

Guo’er said coldly:

“His wound needs treatment. Go boil some water.”

Question Six:
In the wilderness with nothing, how do you make fire and boil water?

Answer:
Refer to The U.S. Army Survival Manual.

(Fire-making guide omitted for brevity)

In short, we made a fire, boiled water, removed the arrow, treated the wound, dried our clothes, and ate dinner. All three of us were exhausted.

But fate wasn’t kind.

At midnight, a sudden downpour began.

We barely managed to squeeze into a dry cave. After much trouble, Ying developed a fever.

“What do we do? You’re burning up!”
I kept changing the cold cloth on his forehead.

His voice was hoarse:

“Fever is good. It means my immune system is working. It’s like virus troops attacking, and my body’s defense army fighting back… no, that’s Japanese—uh, I mean my guard squad… fighting fiercely… so I’m burning up… hehe… cough…”

“You idiot…”

Yes, a big idiot.

Saving a stranger, getting badly hurt, grabbing me while falling, now feverish and coughing yet still joking to reassure me…

Seeing his flushed face and hearing his coughing made my heart ache.

“Stop talking. Sleep for a while.”

“There’s no…” His voice was weak.

“No what?”

“No pillow…” He looked at me pitifully.

I almost wanted to strangle him.

Does he even understand the situation?!

…Forget it. He’s sick.

“Rest on my lap.”

He immediately perked up and crawled over so fast I doubted he even had a fever. He settled into my arms, hugged my waist, and started acting spoiled.

“I want a lullaby.”

“I’ll kill you!”

“I’m sick… can’t I have a lullaby? Minmin is so cruel…”

“Enough! I’ll sing. Shut up and sleep!”

He tightened his arms around me and looked at me lazily with watery eyes.

I cleared my throat awkwardly and glanced at Guo’er by the fire.

His black outfit still clung damply to his body, outlining his panther-like figure. He sat upright, polishing his sword. His face was stunning, his aura cold and distant.

Only the murderous glare he shot at Ying ruined the beauty.

“Sing!” Ying urged.

I’d been staring at Guo’er.

Flustered, I turned away and began to sing—an old English song from the ’70s, full of sunshine and loneliness.

I looked down at the handsome man in my arms—high nose, deep eyes, blond hair, blue eyes. Silent, he looked like a foreign prince. Talking, he was just a goofy neighbor boy.

So tall, so broad-shouldered, yet like a big puppy who could act cute…

He looked at me lazily, smiling slightly—naughty, warm. His whole body was flushed with fever, sweat beading on his neck and collarbones. Very masculine. Very sexy.

The man in my arms was hot like the sun. The man opposite was cold as ice. Yet both had done everything to save me.

How strange.

Three people from different worlds, trapped together by a storm.

Outside, rain poured down. Inside, the fire crackled.

For a moment, I felt time blur—like I was back in my uncle’s house: thick carpets, warm fireplace, Christmas lights, gifts everywhere…

“Hey, close your eyes. It’s dark…” I whispered.

To him? To Guo’er? Or to myself?

Ying obediently closed his eyes and softly sang along. His hoarse voice was sexy and lonely.

When the song ended, the cave fell silent.

“It’s an old song,” Ying said with his eyes closed.

“Yes,” I replied. “You’re asleep.”

“It feels nostalgic.”

“Yes,” I said. “You’re asleep.”

“Mm. I’m asleep.”

I looked at the raging rain outside and felt a little desolate.

“Yes…” Guo’er suddenly murmured.

I looked at him in surprise. He was staring quietly at the rain.

The rain grew heavier.

None of us expected that this rain would last for seven days.