“So, the airline made you sign a non-disclosure agreement, and the condition was that they give you these Little Elves?” Li Meng, holding her little fox and perching her pigeon, whispered indignantly into Zheng Qing’s ear, “That’s not fair! The Little Elves weren’t theirs to begin with.”
Zheng Qing held a large box, silent.
Among all the new students, only he had a relatively comprehensive understanding of this incident. Whether it was the deceased flight attendants or some of the things the banshee said, the airline had too many sensitive matters they didn't want the public to know immediately.
“That’s fair; these Little Elves were originally part of the evidence.” Xiao Xiao, dragging Li Meng’s pink carry-on suitcase, patiently explained from the side, “You can’t Breakthrough certain rules without paying a price.”
Zheng Qing nodded.
He had no concept of this non-disclosure agreement and wasn't interested in it.
He was here to study and didn’t want to get involved in any trouble.
Now, his only worry was these Little Elves; he didn’t know how long they could live without the potion.
The large cardboard box in his arms was a gift from several flight attendants. They had lined the box with wood shavings, padded it with velvet, and even installed crisscrossing seatbelts to help him settle the exhausted Little Elves inside.
The bloodstains on the Little Elves had been cleaned, and they were now wearing seatbelts, huddled together, embracing each other, and sleeping peacefully. A faint green light flickered with their subtle breaths, illuminating several not-fully-activated talismans pasted on the inner wall of the cardboard box.
These little guys needed rest too much.
Originally, the flight attendants planned to give them some tranquilizers, but Zheng Qing politely declined.
Any medicine has side effects, just as Xiao Xiao said, you cannot Breakthrough certain rules without paying a price.
Compared to those medicines, Zheng Qing had more confidence in his own talismans.
“I still think your choice was a bit rash.” The team was moving slowly, so Xiao Xiao, who was walking ahead, simply stopped and looked back at the box: “After those stimuli, what you need is a thorough release, not an overflow of sympathy and adopting these Little Elves.”
There was only one exit, and the lines of new and old students were all crowded together, moving at an incredibly slow pace.
Poseidon wriggled out of Li Meng's arm, climbed onto her shoulder, and poked his head into the large cardboard box Zheng Qing was holding, his tongue lolling out.
“This choice has nothing to do with kindness; I just feel they are equal lives, just like us.” Zheng Qing scratched Poseidon’s chin, pushing its head out of the box, fearing the creature might accidentally bite the Little Elves.
“Any life is worthy of respect.” Li Meng nodded in satisfaction from the side.
“Equality above all else. Typical Nine Provinces thinking.” Xiao Xiao scoffed: “Think long-term about everything, don’t always be so rash.”
“Small brain, too short a circuit, can’t think that far.” Li Meng replied righteously from the side.
Zheng Qing couldn’t help but laugh.
Listening to their bickering, his mood finally improved a little.
“Do we have to wear these clothes every day?” Shaking the wide sleeves of his red Court robe, Zheng Qing changed the subject.
As far as the eye could see, there were wide robes and large sleeves everywhere—both new and old students. However, the old students’ robe sleeves and collars had black trim.
“I’m not sure about other times, but you must wear them today.” Xiao Xiao said, waving his hand, dragging the pink suitcase, and turning into a carved small door.
The word ‘Exit’ was written on the door.
On both sides of the small door, a flight attendant stood, smiling and maintaining Order.
In the line opposite, an old student followed closely behind Xiao Xiao and turned in.
Then it was Zheng Qing’s turn.
“Hold the box tight.” A flight attendant said with a smile.
Another flight attendant and several old students coughed heavily at the same time.
Zheng Qing, suspicious, walked out of the cabin.
The view suddenly opened up.
A vast, white world appeared before his eyes.
Up, down, left, and right were thick mists, and the black skin underfoot was damp with dew, making a squeaking sound when stepped on, like Poseidon’s bark.
Zheng Qing turned his head; the little fox had already burrowed into Li Meng’s robe, with only its small head peeking out.
He reached out and touched the thick fog; a cool sensation slid across his palm, refreshing his spirit, and his previously dull mood lifted considerably.
The plane can land in this kind of weather! Zheng Qing couldn’t help but take a deep breath.
The cold air entered his warm lungs through his nasal cavity, and he couldn’t help but shiver.
“Hurry up and keep up, don’t fall behind.”
Xiao Xiao’s figure had already disappeared into the thick fog, and Zheng Qing could only see the senior student leisurely walking into the world enveloped in mist.
He slowly exhaled, tightened the cardboard box in his arms, and jogged to follow.
In a strange place, following others is always the right thing to do. He recalled Pan Lver’s advice to him in Hui Zi Market.
Was there a scream coming from the thick fog?
Zheng Qing saw the senior student in front turn his head, revealing a bizarre, somewhat schadenfreude-filled smile.
Before he could react, one foot he stepped out landed in the air.
Losing his balance, Zheng Qing plunged headfirst into the thick fog.
He opened his mouth, but before a scream could escape, the rushing air mercilessly poured into his throat, almost making him faint. His eyes were also stinging from the wind.
Zheng Qing closed his mouth, but he didn’t dare close his eyes.
Cold airflow enveloped his rapidly falling body, his wide school robe flapped loudly in the wind, and he vaguely heard Li Meng’s scream in his ears. He hugged the cardboard box tightly with one hand, and with the other, he reached into his pocket, pulling out several talismans. A fierce gust of wind blew, and the talismans in his hand were instantly blown away, disappearing to who knew where.
He was tricked!
The plane hadn’t landed; it was still in the sky!
This is what it feels like to fall from the sky!
Countless thoughts flashed through Zheng Qing’s mind, then these thoughts mixed together, tending towards Chaos.
His mind went blank.
Many people are not afraid of death. But everyone is afraid of emptiness and powerlessness.
And during this period of falling from a high altitude, Zheng Qing easily touched the feeling of emptiness and powerlessness.
His struggling limbs could not touch any solid support, the whistling of the wind was in his ears, and his keen mind seemed to pause at this moment, powerless.
So real and terrifying.
So despairing.
Li Meng’s scream still seemed to echo in his ears, and Zheng Qing struggled to look up. But in this vast white world, all he could see was thick fog; nothing was clear, only faint laughter and screams came from his ears.
Through the thick fog, below him was a deep blue sea.
An oval-shaped island, lush with trees, like an emerald, was embedded in this deep blue.
Looking up, white clouds drifted slowly above him, not far away, undergoing Deformation.
Seagulls and wild geese cackled as they flew past him.
A gentle pushing force appeared beneath Zheng Qing, slowly reducing his falling speed. This gentle force was like a large ball of cotton wrapping him, warm and comfortable.
Zheng Qing lowered his head; a wide white light band was tied around his waist.
The light band pulled him, slowly descending onto the island.
Until his feet touched solid ground, Zheng Qing’s brain was still in a state of Chaos, a blank, unable to recall anything.
The cardboard box in his arms was a bit misshapen from his tight grip, and the Little Elves inside were still sound asleep. The seatbelts held them securely in the box.
His legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground.
His eyes were filled with tears brought on by the strong wind, and his vision was blurry; he couldn't see anything clearly. He raised his sleeve and haphazardly wiped his face.
The world became much clearer.
Blue sky, white clouds, the sea.
And the new students sprawled on the beach.
Zheng Qing saw Lan Que’s disheveled long hair and Xiao Xiao’s crooked black-rimmed glasses and couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
At that moment, he felt his whole body trembling uncontrollably.