Ch. 508: Mr. Edwards’ Unraveled Life Chapter 508

Chapter 508

The two sat in silence for a long time, their hearts still racing from the close call. Even the bravest souls would feel a chill recalling how close they’d come to disaster. Kevin turned to Norah, pulling her into a tight embrace and pressing a kiss to her forehead.

“It’s okay,” he murmured. “I’ll check the cave thoroughly this time. Nothing like that will happen again.”

“I don’t blame you,” Norah reassured him. “No one could’ve guessed there’d be a snake in here.”

She knew better than anyone that a damp, dark cave like this was the perfect habitat for snakes. They’d accidentally invaded its territory, and now they’d killed it. It felt almost unfair, but survival had no room for guilt.

Kevin relit the torch and carefully inspected the cave. Once he was sure it was safe, he gathered stones to block the entrance. With that done, he started roasting the snake meat. They didn’t know how long the journey ahead would take, and they needed to keep their strength up.

Meanwhile, things weren’t going well for the Yi tribe. The warrior who had earlier reported the battle crawled back, his leg badly injured.

“Quick! Get help!” he shouted, his voice strained. “The chief—he’s hurt!”

His cries drew immediate attention. Freyja rushed over, her voice trembling. “Where is he? How bad is it?”

“On the ridge,” the warrior managed before collapsing, unconscious.

Freyja grabbed her weapon and barked orders. “You, take him to Pharaoh. The rest of you, follow me to find the leader!”

The ridge was only about ten meters from the battlefield. If the enemy broke through, they’d surely find Baimo. Freyja couldn’t bear to think what would happen if they captured him—or what would become of the Yi tribe without their leader.

Thankfully, when they arrived, the warriors had managed to push the enemy back temporarily. But the sight of Baimo made Freyja’s heart sink. He was unconscious, his body riddled with cuts, his right hand still clutching his bow. His right foot was bleeding heavily, the blood pooling beneath him, staining the ground a deep red.

“Those who aren’t injured, go back to Pharaoh and prepare for treatment. The rest, help me carry the leader back,” Freyja commanded, forcing herself to stay calm.

By dawn, Baimo was still in critical condition. Freyja sat by his side, cleaning up bloodied bandages and glancing at him anxiously every few moments. Each time she saw he hadn’t woken, her heart grew heavier. She bit her lip, tears streaming down her face.

“Young Master Baimo, you have to pull through. You can’t—no, you won’t die. You’ll be fine. You have to be.”

She picked up a basin of bloody water, intending to dump it, but hesitated, afraid Baimo might wake while she was gone. Instead, she set it back down and returned to his side, gently tucking the blanket around him and checking his forehead for fever. Thankfully, there was none.

As morning broke, the fog clung heavily to the mountains, dampening the grass and soaking Norah and Kevin’s clothes. Their situation was far from ideal. Though they’d made it through the night safely, they’d nearly tumbled off the cliff while leaving the cave. The soil at the entrance was soft, and after pushing the heavy stone aside, they’d lost their balance and almost plunged over the edge. Norah had even face-planted into the mud, earning a mouthful of dirt.

They laughed at each other’s狼狈, finding humor in their shared misfortune. But as they walked away, Norah couldn’t shake the feeling they’d missed something. She turned back to stare at the cliff.

Kevin noticed and teased, “What, you want to spend another night there? Not afraid of meeting that snake’s mate?”

“It’s just… that cave is damp, perfect for snakes. What if the horse chestnut is in there?” Norah mused. It was just a guess, but the cave’s conditions matched the herb’s needs—shade with a hint of sunlight. It was a paradox, like loving someone but needing to live among others.

Kevin considered her theory. “I’ll go check. You wait here.”

“No, we’ll go together. If the snake’s mate shows up, we’ll have each other’s backs.”

They shared a knowing smile, their默契 speaking volumes.

After a thorough search, they found it—horse chestnut, growing lush and vibrant in a sunlit corner deep within the cave. Nature had carved an exit there, allowing just enough light for the herb to thrive. It stood out like royalty among the common weeds.

Kevin reached to pick it, but Norah stopped him. “You can’t just grab it. If we damage the roots, it’ll die before we get back. We have to dig it out carefully, like it’s our own child.”

Kevin groaned. “It’s got the life of a princess and the temper of one too.”

He held her coat as she worked, his voice softening. “Be careful. If it’s too much trouble, we’ll find another one. You’re more important, okay? I can’t face Cooper if something happens to you.”

“I’ll be fine,” Norah assured him, her hands moving with precision. The roots were delicate, likely due to the cold environment. She dug carefully, taking extra soil to keep the plant hydrated during the journey.

With the herb secured, they prepared to leave. Norah was eager to get back to her child, and Kevin was just as ready to put this place behind them. But as they walked, the fog grew thicker, reducing visibility to barely a meter. They held hands, and eventually, Kevin wrapped an arm around her, guiding her forward. He wasn’t taking any chances.

“Wait,” Norah suddenly said, pulling away and examining a tree trunk. “This is one of our marks.”

Kevin’s eyes widened. They’d started marking trees near the cave, which meant they’d been walking in circles. The fog had disoriented them completely.

“We’ll have to wait for the fog to clear,” Kevin said, pulling her close. “We can’t risk getting even more lost.”

Norah nodded, her heart sinking. They were stuck, and every step could take them further from safety.