Tomb raiding: Today is another day I don't want to go home.

Chapter 182: 7 Yu Returns, Rewards Announced

Ugh... my legs are so numb I can't feel them anymore. This sleep was truly inhuman!

As Yan Huai's consciousness gradually returned, he moved his left leg, only to feel a sudden emptiness. He finally experienced firsthand what it felt like when Zhang Qiling was entangled by his tail—it was excruciating, but incredibly torturous.

"You're awake too?"

The person in his arms remained motionless. Yan Huai subconsciously looked down and found that Zhang Qiling's eyes were clear, as if he was waiting for him to wake up.

"Are you hungry?" There were some dry rations in the prayer beads' space; they could give Zhang Qiling something to eat first, and then they could go hunt some game later...

Piang——

Before Yan Huai could recover from his thoughts, a wild rabbit, seemingly out of nowhere, landed in front of them. It was a clean, plump rabbit, practically ready to be roasted.

It must have been Yanchen who got it.

Yan Huai looked at it but couldn't make a move.

A flicker of doubt crossed Zhang Qiling's eyes; she was somewhat surprised that Yan Huai, usually so proactive, was being so obedient this time. A quick glance downwards, and she understood.

Without saying much, he threw off the blanket and tried to get up. With a flick of his wrist, the scabbard of his black-gold ancient sword struck Yan Huai's calf, seemingly intentionally or unintentionally...

At first, there was no reaction, but a few seconds later, Yan Huai's expression became somewhat distorted.

"What's wrong?" Only after the fire was started and the cleaned rabbit was skewered and placed on the fire did Zhang Qiling pretend to notice something was wrong with Yan Huai and walk over, asking knowingly. (Although there was no trace of emotion on his face, he was certainly full of inner turmoil...)

"It's nothing, my leg just went numb," Yan Huai said, somewhat amused, but when he looked up, he put on a pitiful expression and took the opportunity to tease Zhang Qiling, "Do you want to take revenge now? I won't resist."

Zhang Qiling was speechless for a moment. He just looked down at Yan Huai, who seemed completely submissive, and felt he couldn't bear to watch, so he turned his head away. But when he caught a glimpse of Yan Huai tensing up, bending his legs and rubbing them in agony while maintaining perfect composure, he finally softened...

A silent sigh dissipated in a corner unknown to anyone. Zhang Qiling half-squatted down, his right hand covering Yan Huai's numb leg. His fingertips moved from the calf to the outer thigh, gently kneading several acupoints, bringing a light warmth.

Yan Huai felt a pang in his heart. He was only stunned for a moment before he immediately grasped Zhang Qiling's right hand. A gentle warmth spread through him, masking the heartache in his eyes.

He couldn't bear to let Zhang Qiling massage his legs; it would be more appropriate for him to massage Zhang Qiling's legs.

"No need to be so careful, you can just get up and walk around in a bit." As their fingers intertwined and rubbed together, Yan Huai's gaze fell on Zhang Qiling's hair-twisting finger technique, and he couldn't help but ask, "Does it hurt a lot when you practice?"

Why are you asking this suddenly?

Zhang Qiling's attention shifted so quickly that she paused, unsure how to respond.

It didn't hurt because I got used to it and have forgotten about it now; it hurt because I was young when I practiced, but because of training, I wasn't allowed to complain about the pain. Which one should he say to Yan Huai?

After thinking for a moment, Zhang Qiling replied, "...It hurts, but it can save lives." It's his own, and it's someone else's, so it's worth it.

Yan Huai's eyes flickered, and he slowly lowered his gaze. He silently gathered Zhang Qiling's hands in his palms, and brought them to his lips, half blowing air and half kissing: "I won't let you feel pain anymore, but I hope you won't give me the chance to save my life."

Zhang Qiling was stunned for a long time upon hearing this. These words, which sounded like a promise yet also like a plea, echoed and impacted his blank soul again and again, each one landing firmly in his heart.

Is Yan Huai in love with him? It seems like he's always loved him...

"My legs are numb too."

"Let me massage it for you!"

Zhang Qiling shoved Yan Huai's face away, quickly stood up, and said, "Go gather firewood."

Seeing this, Yan Huai glanced at the large bundle of firewood beside the fire and mumbled a reply: "...Okay?"

"Congratulations, Master, on completing Mission Fourteen: preventing the Wang family from entering the Qinling Ancient Tomb and uncovering the true identity of Master Liang. The special reward for this mission is now issued: the ability to copy and share space (a one-to-one copy of the Buddhist bead space can be made and attached to a specific item; the Buddhist bead space and the attached space can be shared between the two)."

A familiar voice echoed in his mind, and Yan Huai paused in his movements as he got up.

Qi Yu?

"Why are you back?"

"Uh..." That's a question...

Qi Yu was speechless for once. It had become completely invisible to its master. Whose system was it anyway?

"The system energy has been restored. I figured Zhang Qiling's consciousness would no longer be in danger, so I came back."

Yan Huai pondered for a second, sensed his own mental power, and frowned.

Qi Yu instantly understood the expression and seized the opportunity: "Zhang Qiling agreed to this! He also asked me to bring back the spiritual power!"

The subtext is, this isn't my fault, you should look for your own problems!

Yan Huai opened his mouth but remained silent, unable to refute it. But... did the young man know something?

Yan Huai glanced furtively in Zhang Qiling's direction, but couldn't discern anything. However, this man was adept at hiding his emotions and possessed an astonishingly sharp observational ability. Furthermore, the timing of Qi Yu's return was remarkably coincidental... Therefore, he had most likely sensed something.

With this in mind, Yan Huai understood the situation.

"Now that you're back, let's get to work!" Yan Huai didn't ask whether Qi Yu had said anything to Zhang Qiling. He just walked towards the hot spring, and two towels appeared out of thin air in his hand. "Make a copy of the space and store it on Brother Xiao's Black Gold Ancient Sword."

"Okay, okay!" Qi Yu nodded like a chick pecking at rice; it couldn't help feeling guilty.

Two minutes later... a burnt smell suddenly rose up.

Yan Huai squatted down next to the hot fountain and sniffed. The next second, he looked at Zhang Qiling... and the roasted wild rabbit whose leg was about to be charred.

If we don't save it soon, the aroma of the rabbit meat and the smell of burning will fill the air.

As Yan Huai thought about it nonchalantly, he wrung out the towel in his hand, then stepped forward and handed it over.

"Let me do it, buddy, you wipe your face."

Zhang Qiling glanced at the hand extended in front of him, then at the wild rabbit burning fiercely in the flames, and finally pursed his lips before accepting the towel.

Not long after, Yan Chen, Xie Lianrui, and several members of the Yan family, who had disappeared overnight, reappeared from not far away, each carrying a wild game.

The fire was expanded, and everyone sat in a circle around it. It was a leisurely scene, but the atmosphere was extremely strange.

"Everyone, eat something first."

Yan Chen broke the silence, but then fell silent until everyone had finished eating. Only then did he ask, his tone slightly stiff, "What are your plans next?"

The person being questioned didn't say who it was, but Yan Huai still swallowed the last of his food and replied, "On the way here, we passed a water burial tomb. My brother and I were planning to take a look and do something while we were at it."