"Don't worry, do as my sister says."
Wise's voice came through to everyone, settling their nerves.
"That voice... it's the other half of Phaethon!" Billy immediately recognized the sudden male voice.
"Bro, really! Don't suddenly use my channel to talk! You scared me." Belle pouted and complained to Wise beside her.
"Sorry... Your consciousness is currently synced with the Bangboo, so this is the only way to communicate," Wise explained patiently, though sounding a bit resigned. His tone then shifted, becoming slightly more serious. "Can you hear me? In any case, the route my sister mentioned earlier is correct."
"The space inside a Hollow is chaotic and disorderly, which means..." Anby, resting a hand on her chin, continued Wise's line of thought, "What looks like a dead end might be the way out, and a seemingly clear path could lead to a true impasse."
"Anyway, the escape route after getting out is also arranged. Just trust us," Wise added as a reminder. "Sis, you can cut the connection now."
"We'll hang up for now. Talk later~" Belle said goodbye warmly with a faint smile before cutting the connection.
"No more sound," Anby observed, looking at the suddenly quiet Eous. "It's turned back into an ordinary Bangboo."
"Seems so," Ye Qingfeng crouched down and poked the top of the now vacant-looking Eous's head with his finger. "It's really amazing that they can let a person's consciousness enter a Bangboo."
He then stood up and decisively took a step toward the wall in front of him. Anby and Billy didn't hesitate to follow closely behind.
With a strange sense of liberation, the three of them and the Bangboo passed right through the solid wall.
The feeling was completely different from when they entered. Ye Qingfeng opened his eyes again and immediately scanned the surroundings.
We're finally out!!
"The oppressive feeling of Ether is gone."
"We made it out! We're finally out!" Both Anby and Billy let out sighs of relief, relaxing their nerves that had been tense for so long.
Nicole was somewhat surprised to see the three suddenly appear. Although Phaethon had clearly explained it, she hadn't expected... "The time and place really are exactly as Phaethon said..."
But seeing them all emerge safe and sound, the heavy stone in her heart finally settled.
"Qingfeng!! Didn't I tell you to watch the car?! Why did you run off?!"
Nicole's pretty face was stern, her brows furrowed as she scolded Ye Qingfeng angrily.
She was the one who had personally brought Ye Qingfeng back to the Cunning Hares. Although she had only known him for about half a month... it's true this time it was an unexpected Hollow outbreak. If something had really happened to him...
Nicole thoughts wearing a complete scramble as she could barely keep one train of thought.
Even though this incident was caused by the sudden Hollow, a complete accident that no one would blame her for it. But during this time, she had already come to see him as a younger brother.
If something had happened to him, it would have been her responsibility!
"What are you hanging your head for?! I'm asking you a question!" Nicole looked at Ye Qingfeng, who had lowered his head, and wondered if she had been too harsh...
"N-Nicole, boss, calm down... Qingfeng is fine, isn't he..." This was the first time Billy had seen Nicole so furious, and he hurriedly stepped closer to her, carefully trying to placate her.
Anby was also seeing this side of Nicole for the first time, a flicker of unusual emotion crossing her typically calm eyes.
"What if something had happened?! Qingfeng doesn't have any combat power!" Nicole forcefully pushed away the approaching Billy and slowly walked toward Ye Qingfeng. "If Phaethon hadn't arrived in time or if you didn't have Ether adaptability, or if you had encountered Ethereals before meeting Billy and Anby."
Seeing Ye Qingfeng emerge safely from the Hollow already indicated he had a decent level of Ether adaptability. Although she never intended for him to get involved in these matters in the first place—just having him run errands with her or handle support work would be enough for her.
After all, even they couldn't guarantee absolute safety every time they entered a Hollow. Moreover, the authorities never disclosed information about Hollows to ordinary citizens, so most people were completely in the dark about them.
Only people like them—Hollow Raiders, Proxies, private companies in contact with Hollows, and the authorities—had a certain understanding of Hollows.
She had originally planned to slowly tell Qingfeng about these things but now looks like she'll have to find time to talk to him after this commission is over.
"This was really an accident..." Ye Qingfeng, seeing Nicole's serious expression, unconsciously softened his tone.
Ye Qingfeng understood that Nicole's anger came from genuine concern for him. When he was young, he believed that if he was good to others, they would be good to him in return. But what he got was.
Harsh words, cold rejection.
And those guys' reason was simply: He's an orphan without parents.
In their eyes, he became an outsider. During his school years, Ye Qingfeng never made any true friends. Combined with having no family, he gradually closed off his heart.
But he wasn't some genius from a novel. His academic performance was decent, but not top-tier. Apart from school and studying, he needed to work to support himself, never spending an extra cent on fun.
This continued into university. While working a part-time job, he enthusiastically helped a female student, only to indirectly ruin his own life.
Thinking about today's close call still filled him with a bit of lingering fear. He fell silent, not speaking further.
Seeing this, Nicole's anger gradually subsided. She opened her mouth slightly but ultimately said nothing.
"We'll wait for you in the car." Nicole gave him some time to collect himself, then turned to call Anby and Billy. "Hey, you two! Get in the car!"
Anby and Billy, showing understanding noded and in turned unison and walked toward the direction of the parked car. Nicole silently followed behind them.
Just then, the system suddenly popped up.
[Hollows really are dangerous, wouldn't you say?']
"You were the one cheering the loudest back in the Hollow!"
Ye Qingfeng now clearly understood that this world wasn't as harmonious as it appeared on the surface.
From now on, he needed to maintain vigilance at all times. Thinking of Nicole's concern warmed his heart.
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