Chapter Fifty-Six: Crisis in the Mountains

“Hmm, haven’t you noticed anything?” Yue Longze asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.

“Eiji and I were originally piloting Unit Two, patrolling and investigating this area when we encountered a powerful magnetic field that caused all our electronic instruments to fail. That’s why we crashed here,” Daigu explained, stopping the anxious rubbing of his hands. He glanced at the girl lying unconscious on the bed before continuing, “And we rescued that girl in the mountains.”

“I see.” Yue Longze nodded in understanding.

Meiko, still clutching the corner of Yue Longze’s coat like a wounded kitten, appeared soft and delicate. She seemed somewhat afraid of the Victory Team, even though the two young men before her gave off a harmless and gentle impression. Yet, some people are simply born with a fear of uniformed figures—be they from the Victory Team, the police, or the military.

Sensing Meiko’s unease, Yue Longze didn’t think much of it. He took her small hand gently into his own broad palm. The warmth of his touch washed over Meiko, filling her with a sense of security. Like a tame kitten, she rested her head lightly against his strong, solid back.

Daigu and Eiji both noticed this scene. Daigu smiled sheepishly, looking gentle and refined. The sight made him think of Lina—how wonderful it would be if that fiery girl could be as demure and gentle as Meiko, instead of her usual tempestuous self… With a heavy sigh, Daigu lamented inwardly.

Eiji, sitting on the edge of the bed, pouted, clearly unwilling to witness such a display of affection. He turned his head, staring out at the world of pure white snow beyond the window. As someone recently jilted by his girlfriend, the pain in his heart felt heavier than a mountain.

Yue Longze sensed the shift in mood and managed a bitter smile. How could he not understand Meiko’s feelings? Yet, he could not bear that affection, whether it was a fleeting impulse or genuine love. He could not betray Xiaoxiang, who was still waiting for him in another world.

With a sidelong glance at Meiko, who leaned gracefully against his back, Yue Longze turned to Daigu and Eiji. “Don’t get the wrong idea,” he said quietly. After a moment’s silence, he gazed up at the ceiling. “I’ve always thought of Meiko as my elder sister.”

“Your elder sister…” At these words, Meiko’s slender frame trembled ever so slightly, barely perceptible to the eye.

“I see…” Eiji and Daigu nodded in sudden understanding, though in their hearts, they remained convinced that even if the two were not lovers now, they would surely become so in the future.

“By the way, did you notice that strange meteorite?” Yue Longze, unwilling to continue down this path of conversation, shifted the topic. Meiko’s feelings sometimes weighed heavily on him, but he still cared for this strong yet fragile girl as a friend.

“The strange meteorite?”

Daigu and Eiji exchanged glances. “Where did you see it, Mr. Yue?” They were certain that the meteorite Yue Longze mentioned was the mysterious object TPC had detected falling into these mountains a week prior—the very reason for their investigation.

“I ran too fast and lost my way,” Yue Longze replied indifferently.

A fit of coughing drew everyone’s attention to the girl on the bed. Her delicate, oval face twisted in pain as she coughed a few times, struggling toward consciousness.

…

“You’re awake!” Eiji’s round face loomed over the girl as she opened her eyes in a daze, and he did his best to muster a friendly and dashing smile.

“Ah—ah!” A piercing scream rang out through the mountains. Eiji hurriedly covered her mouth. At such volume, there was real danger of an avalanche.

Fear filled the girl’s eyes as she struggled desperately, her slender legs kicking repeatedly at Eiji’s stomach. It was understandable; any girl would be terrified to wake and find an unfamiliar, awkward, and slightly greasy face looming over her, only to have her mouth suddenly covered. Who wouldn’t panic?

Yue Longze wiped the sweat from his brow. He recalled that in the original story, Eiji hadn’t covered the girl’s mouth… If only Eiji had used a normal expression, she might not have been so frightened!

“Let’s hope this guy doesn’t scare away his future wife…” Yue Longze silently prayed for Eiji.

…

After much effort and explanation, the girl’s emotions finally calmed. Suddenly, a commotion outside the house caught their attention. As Eiji cleaned his ears and stepped outside to investigate, he saw a large group of villagers approaching.

“Everyone’s back!” Eiji grinned, but his smile quickly faded as he noticed something amiss. The villagers wore twisted, menacing expressions. Their gait was unnatural, almost mechanical. Most disturbing of all, strange, disgusting pink growths—each roughly the size of two fists—protruded from their necks.

…

Yue Longze also saw the scene outside. He knew these were innocent villagers possessed by the monster’s parasitic tumors. It seemed the story was proceeding as expected, and Eiji’s future wife would not be lost after all.

Within a split second, Yue Longze sprang into action. He dashed out the door, grabbing Eiji, who was about to retreat inside, and yanked him back in.

“Hurry! Shut all the doors!” Yue Longze and Eiji shouted together. Daigu reacted before the two girls, slamming the wooden door shut and bracing it with his body. The girls quickly blocked the windows with whatever they could find.

“What on earth is going on?” Daigu cried, his body pressed firmly against the violently shaking door, anxiety and confusion etched across his face.

The only response was the villagers’ relentless pounding from outside.

Bang—crack!

The villagers battered the wooden door with whatever they had—hoes, axes, sickles… The already dilapidated door began to splinter, its structure giving way.

Yue Longze could see the door was on the verge of breaking. Anxiously, he said, “This won’t hold. Everyone, escape through the back window!”

An axe burst through the door, its cold, sharp blade grazing Yue Longze’s shoulder.

“Meiko, you two go first!” As the situation grew more dire, Yue Longze shouted to the girls. They hesitated for a moment, then hurriedly climbed out the back window.

“Yue!” Meiko, just before jumping out, cast a worried glance at Yue Longze, her beautiful eyes full of concern.

…

Once the girls landed safely outside, Yue Longze, Daigu, and the others followed in quick, orderly succession. Yue Longze was the last to leave; the moment he touched down, the battered door finally gave way under the villagers’ frenzied assault, collapsing with a thunderous crash.