Chapter 358: I’ll Get You Two Out First!

Xiao Qiao and her boyfriend took the clothes handed to them by the others. They were heavy and dripping wet.

Each of them threw on a jacket before heading toward the lowest part of the rocky edge.

If they wanted to escape this creek, they had to climb out. The problem was, even the shortest rock formations around them reached shoulder height.

That meant their hands and knees had to make contact with the surface.

But right now, the rocks were radiating intense heat. Just by looking at the steam rising off them, it was clear the temperature was extremely high. It would be like dipping their bare skin straight into boiling water.

The burns would be unimaginable.

“Protect your hands and knees no matter what,” Xiao Qiao said anxiously.

Her boyfriend was a surgeon. His hands were everything to him. His arms were already burned, he couldn’t afford any more injuries.

“Don’t worry. As long as we’re fast enough.”

“You remember the rock climbing techniques I taught you? Find a leverage point and put all your strength into it.”

“Got it.”

They exchanged a few quick words, wasting no time.

Her boyfriend stood on his toes in the water, testing his balance. He needed to use the water’s buoyancy to propel himself upward.

With a deep breath, he launched himself up two seconds later, grabbing the rocky edge in one swift motion.

A harsh burning sound filled the air, and white smoke burst out the moment the wet clothes wrapped around his hands made contact with the scorching rock.

“Be careful!”

Xiao Qiao quickly reached up, pushing against his back to help him up.

Fortunately, he was strong. Years of training and exercise paid off—he climbed up in one smooth movement.

“Here, grab my hand.”

Now standing firmly on the ledge, he turned around and stretched his arm down to her.

At the same time, his face twisted slightly in pain.

The heat from the ground was far worse than he expected. Even through his sneakers, it felt like his shoes were about to melt.

If they hadn’t been soaking wet, his feet would’ve been burned within seconds.

“I’m ready!”

Xiao Qiao was no damsel in distress. She was fast and decisive.

Kicking off the rock with both feet, she grabbed his hand, and with his pull, she was hoisted up in one go.

“Hurry back! The water’s getting hotter!” the blonde woman below shouted anxiously as she watched them climb out.

Xiao Qiao turned back to glance at her but said nothing. She really didn’t want to waste words on these so-called friends anymore.

If they all made it out alive, she never wanted to have anything to do with them again.

“Put this on. Breathe as little as possible.”

Her boyfriend handed her a wet cloth, covering his own nose and mouth with one as well.

Without hesitation, they sprinted in the direction opposite the explosion.

It was common sense—if there had been an explosion up ahead, the rescue team wouldn’t head toward danger.

Instead, they’d move toward safer areas.

A voice cut through the thick smoke before they could get far.

“Xiao Qiao!”

Both of them froze in their tracks.

“It’s him!”

Xiao Qiao’s eyes lit up. She immediately turned, ready to run toward the voice.

But neither of them noticed that above their heads, a burning tree branch, already weakened by the flames, was teetering on the edge of snapping.

A sudden gust of wind tore through.

Crack!

Like a fiery rain, burning leaves and embers came crashing down on them.

“Watch out!”

Wang Yun had already heard their footsteps earlier. The moment he arrived, he saw the danger unfolding right before his eyes.

There was no time to think.

He swung the branch in his hand hard at the falling debris.

Unfortunately, the branch was too thin. Out of the seven or eight burning leaves, he only managed to knock away three or four.

The rest tanned right on Xiao Qiao’s head and neck. Her boyfriend’s shoulder was also hit by a burning ember.

Screams of pain erupted.

“Ahhh! My hair!”

Xiao Qiao shrieked in panic.

Without a second thought, her boyfriend ignored the fire on his own shoulder and frantically patted at the flames on her head.

Wang Yun ripped off the cloth covering his face and whipped it toward them.

With one swift motion, the small flames were smothered out.

“Are you guys okay?”

After dealing with the fire, Wang Yun quickly grabbed his cloth back and tied it around his face again.

The smoke was getting worse.

His eyes were already struggling to stay open. His vision was starting to blur.

Would this damage his eyesight permanently?

He didn’t know. But right now, it didn’t matter. 

Xiao Qiao and her boyfriend barely had time to process their burns.

“We’re fine! But my friends are still over there!” Xiao Qiao pointed in the direction behind her.

Wang Yun followed her gaze.

‘Good.’ He had guessed right. That area was a water pit.

“Let’s go! I’ll get you two out first. They’re in the water, they can hold on a little longer.”

Without waiting for a response, Wang Yun grabbed both of them by the arms and ran. They stumbled a bit as they rushed forward, but there was no time to care. If they stopped now, their shoes would melt for real.

“Are you alone?” Xiao Qiao’s boyfriend asked between heavy breaths.