Netherworld Retrograde

Chapter 367: Chapter 175: Heading to the Wilderness_2

Bing He was Li Yunyan’s code name, and she indeed belonged to the Equipment Department. She couldn’t meet with the other members in person, but they could discuss and negotiate through the communicator. God knows what kind of bizarre things she saw online to have come up with something like the Thousand Mechanism Black Umbrella.

”You guys are really out of your minds, to indulge her whims like that,” Li Yelai complained after receiving the Big Black Umbrella.

Upon hearing this, the members of the Equipment Department seemed to hum proudly, ”This is just the beginning. Wait until we get to the second and third models, then you’ll really be amazed.”

Despite the many issues to poke fun at, it indeed had its advantages. At the very least, Li Yelai wouldn’t have to run around with the Spear on his back anymore—carrying the Big Black Umbrella was enough.

...

Elsewhere, in the kitchen of a family apartment, Doll, wearing an apron, was joyfully preparing dinner and looking forward to Li Yelai’s arrival.

Today was their scheduled biweekly dinner date.

So, she went shopping for groceries early, which is why you could see a clumsily cute frog Doll bustling through the nearby market, meticulously selecting various fresh ingredients.

Looking at the delicious and fragrant feast, Doll nodded in satisfaction.

Although, many of her friends’ suggestions weren’t very reliable.

But the strategy ”Win a man’s stomach first, then his heart” was definitely correct.

Moreover, at the behest of her friends, this time, her strategy had been upgraded once again!

They say a full belly breeds lustful thoughts, so Doll deliberately added some spice to the dinner and prepared three cases of beer.

”Ah, I’m really so bad (
’▽’
),” Doll thought with a blush.

She had already checked with the division, and this time, there definitely wouldn’t be an incident like last time when Li Yelai was called away halfway through.

After dinner, she could play some games with Li Yelai...

Then watch a movie...

Her friends had a lot of suggestions.

Not knowing why, Doll’s face turned a bit red.

Then, she heard the long-missed knock on the door.

...

Meanwhile, as the door opened, Li Yelai was greeted with a breathtakingly beautiful sight.

Doll was dressed in a black dress, shining like a dazzling star in the night sky.

The dress perfectly outlined her tall figure, and the skirt fluttered lightly like a beautiful melody.

Her long, slender legs looked like masterpieces carefully sculpted by nature.

With the black dress as a backdrop, they appeared even more fair and delicate, the skin shimmering with a soft glow like porcelain in the moonlight.

They enticed one to touch them gently, and yet also inspired a desire to leave certain marks more forcefully.

Her long hair was as smooth as silk, draped over her shoulders, swaying gently with her movements, casting an enchanting sheen.

A touch of blush on her face made her dazzlingly beautiful and set hearts racing.

”Sorry for being late,” Li Yelai’s voice broke the enchanting spell; he said apologetically, ”I had to visit headquarters, so the return was a bit late.”

”It’s okay, let’s eat first,” Doll replied with sparkling eyes as if there were stars twinkling within them.

However, after the meal, her joyful mood gradually faded.

Li Yelai informed her that he had to leave Giant City tonight to carry out a mission in the wilderness.

This visit was to say goodbye.

The moment she heard the news, Doll’s radiant smile visibly withered away.

After a few seconds of stunned silence, she asked softly, ”Are you leaving tonight?”

She had always been aware, deep down, that Li Yelai, now Ye Boshou, would eventually leave Giant City to head to the wilderness.

This was part of Ye Boshou’s duty.

But she subconsciously didn’t like to think about these matters because it meant separation between them. She didn’t like goodbyes...

”Yeah, it’s been moved up suddenly,” Li Yelai responded, ”It’s a secret mission, so I couldn’t notify you in advance.”

”I see...” Doll murmured, ”Well, it’s to be expected that Ye Boshou has to leave Giant City...”

Her voice carried an ache that could shatter a heart.

Doll suddenly remembered a strange voice she heard when advancing to Sixth Sense in the Void Realm.

It had said: ’I know...’

’You want to keep him by your side.’

’You want to hide him away, in a secret chamber unknown to anyone else, where you alone can enjoy his company.’

’And yet, you also want to flaunt him in public, to declare to everyone he belongs only to you...’

’I know everything, for I am you...’

Doll... had indeed entertained such fantasies, to keep him by her side.

But... she would not bind him because of her own emotions.

So, Doll suppressed the loss in her heart and responded in a low voice, ”Please be very careful not to put yourself in danger. Don’t worry about home, I will take good care of Xiao Yan.”

”Thank you,” Li Yelai quietly expressed his gratitude.

Doll shook her head slightly, ”I can’t leave Giant City easily, unlike Cheese who can fight alongside you. I can only do what I can.”

As the appointed time arrived, Li Yelai received a message from Little Mad King.

[Arrived, get in the car]

Thus, Li Yelai said to Doll, ”Well, I’m leaving first...”

Doll silently nodded but drew closer to Li Yelai, extending her arms toward him.

Her voice was as faint as a mosquito’s buzz, ”Hug...”

As if uttering these two words had exhausted all her courage, her complexion turned crimson, like a late sunset.

Looking at the beautiful girl, it seemed Li Yelai could not refuse this invitation.

It was March now, and the weather had warmed up.

Li Yelai wore a Ye Boshou coat, beneath which was a thin T-shirt.

Doll, on the other hand, was in a thin dress, and as the two of them got closer,

They could both feel each other’s body warmth and heartbeats.

This made both of their hearts beat faster, their breaths becoming gentle and lingering.

Li Yelai could feel the girl’s warm breath gently brushing his ear, tinged with traces of nervousness and shyness.

He could also feel the girl’s slender arms slipping into his coat, like a spring breeze over harp strings, lightly trailing across his back, sending shivers.

”You have to come back, you promised me,” the girl’s voice arose by Li Yelai’s ear.

Underneath the labyrinth, in the pitch-black tunnels, he had promised her that he wouldn’t stray far from her...

”Okay,” Li Yelai responded quietly.

Then, Li Yelai felt a moist touch on his left earlobe.

Li Yelai was startled, this was...

Before he realized what had happened, the beautiful girl in front of him blushed and darted back into the bedroom. Like a child who had done something wrong, she quickly hid herself away.

So much so that he wasn’t clear whether what had just happened was an illusion.

In the room, Doll sat with her head buried, feeling that she had been really bold. She had overstepped!

(...›ᴗ‹...)

....

”What are you thinking about?”

Inside the armored vehicle driving along the highway, Little Mad King, who was at the wheel, glanced at Li Yelai and asked.

On the passenger seat, Li Yelai, with a somewhat stiff expression, was pinching his left earlobe deep in thought.

Hearing Little Mad King’s question, Li Yelai replied, ”Ah, it’s nothing.”

Right now, he felt a bit dazed and at a loss, his thoughts somewhat chaotic.

Although he was now a powerful Ye Boshou, having faced many dangerous battles and carried out many arduous tasks,

In some respects, Li Yelai lacked experience.

So much so that he couldn’t understand certain Suggestion.

Could it be, Doll... But she’s so exceptional and special, could she really...

But did he... deserve it? Mr. Shadow... Blood God... Ark... He could distort at any moment...

Did he really have the right to respond to those feelings?

Li Yelai pondered, touching the little pouch in his arms, which contained the girl’s hair, his eyes filled with confusion.

Seeing this, Little Mad King didn’t ask any more and glanced into the distance.

High up on a skyscraper’s rooftop, a frog Doll was looking down, watching the vehicle move away.

Even at a distance, Little Mad King could notice the gaze.

’Really quite popular,’ thought Little Mad King.

Two hours later, the vehicle reached near the Hero Monument by the city gate of Giant City.

The two got out to pay their respects.

Every Ye Boshou venturing into the wilderness would pay their respects at the Hero Monument.

To soothe the departed, and in inheriting their disappointed aspirations, they would fight for humanity until their own names appeared there too.

Afterward, the two got back into the car, passed through the checkpoint at the gate, and entered the wilderness.

This marked the start of Li Yelai’s first mission since becoming a Ye Boshou.