Chapter 143: God’s Will
Lin Huai let out a quiet sigh. Crouching down beside the two weeping girls, she offered a calming touch. “Don’t despair just yet. Let me try something.”
She reached into her dimensional inventory and brought out an ornate, black-and-gold card.
“This is a Revive Card I earned from an earlier trial,” she explained, holding the shimmering artifact steady. “It might be enough to bring Little Yellow back.”
She laid the card gently across Flash Delivery Yellow Knight’s battered chest and commanded with clear authority, “Designated target: Flash Delivery Yellow Knight. Revive Card, activate immediately!”
The moment the words left her lips, the black-and-gold card dissolved into a burst of pure, radiant white light, creating a protective dome that completely enveloped his body.
Tiny, sparkling specks of luminescence separated from the dome, drifting down like warm embers and sinking smoothly into the young courier’s flesh.
Wherever those glowing clusters touched, the fatal wounds began to close. Deep lacerations knit together in seconds, the torn muscle fibers repaired themselves, and the brutal holes shattered through his chest sealed as if they had never existed.
Ten minutes later, Dragon Emerging from the Sea and the veterans had finished off the remaining attackers. They gathered around in a tight circle, watching the miraculous glow in breathless silence as they waited for their companion to stir.
The moment sensation returned to Little Yellow’s mind, his first thought was a lingering memory of sheer agony—it had hurt so terribly that he wouldn’t wish that pain on anyone.
He slowly blinked his eyes open. Looming above him were the familiar faces of his squadmates, each spattered in blood and looking as though they had just clawed their way out of a slaughterhouse.
The terrifying memories of his final moments rushed back in a flash. With a sudden jolt of adrenaline, he sat straight up, shouting in a panic, “Where is Sister Cai?! Did the Young Miss get away?! Where’s Brother He Ping? Did everyone make it out?!”
Before he could scramble to his feet, two heavy figures crashed into him, pulling him into a bone-crushing embrace.
Fastest Hand at SF Express, his eyes wet with tears, gave the boy a sharp, affectionate swat on the back of his head. “Who gave you permission to play the hero, you idiot?! Your Sister Cai is a walking war machine—she didn’t need you throwing your life away to shield her! You were literally dead, do you understand that?!”
Hungry Spirit Blue Knight was openly sobbing as he clung to them. “Exactly! Little Yellow, you can’t go doing reckless stunts like that again! If the Boss didn’t have a Revive Card tucked away, you’d be gone for good. You actually died once today!”
Listening to their frantic scolding, the reality finally sank into Little Yellow’s head: he had truly stepped past the threshold of death.
It was Lin Huai who had pulled him back.
He turned toward her, his face a whirlwind of shock, disbelief, and overflowing gratitude. “Boss… thank you… To burn such an irreplaceable treasure just to save someone like me… I swear I’ll scour the entire road to find something even rarer to pay you back…”
Lin Huai gave a firm shake of her head, her expression calm and unyielding. “No matter how rare a Revive Card is, it is still just an object. Items can always be gathered again through other trials. But you only have one life. Once that thread snaps, it is gone forever.”
“No stack of magic cards is worth more than the life of a companion,” she continued, her voice soft yet carrying absolute weight. “You don’t owe me any debt. Just survive, keep your head up, and walk alongside us until we reach the end of this highway. That is all the repayment I will ever ask for.”
Little Yellow wiped a sleeve across his eyes, nodding vigorously. “Mm!”
Lin Huai paused for a moment before adding gently, “And one more thing, Little Yellow… none of us have ever looked at you as a burden. Every member standing in this group is invaluable. Not a single person here is dead weight.”
“In our struggle to survive, there are only different roles to play—there is no superior or inferior work. Everyone brings a unique strength to the table, and that balance is what turns us into a true squad.”
“It’s true that in the early stages, circumstances forced me to focus resources on specific fronts, and I might have overlooked your personal progression at times. But from the moment I welcomed you into the Elite Squad, you became family. I have never seen you as a handicap.”
“Right now, the squad must prioritize upgrading certain utility rigs and key combat skills to handle sudden crises. It simply hadn’t reached your turn yet, but that doesn’t mean your needs were ever forgotten.”
Sniffling through red eyes, Little Yellow nodded with heartfelt conviction. “I understand, Boss. I truly do.”
Dragon Emerging from the Sea crouched down, clapping a heavy, calloused hand on the young man’s shoulder. “Rest easy, kid. When the next cache of specialized items or skill cards drops, we’ll make sure you’re first in line.”
Hearing Brother Long’s promise, a bright spark of hope lit up Little Yellow’s face. He cast a shy, hesitant glance toward Lin Huai. “Boss… would that really be okay?”
Lin Huai offered a warm smile. “Of course it is.”
Seeing the tearful tension finally break, Old Wang let out a hearty chuckle to lighten the mood. “All right, Little Yellow, dry those tears! Didn’t you hear the Young Miss earlier? She promised to give you an interest-free loan!”
He smirked playfully toward the heiress. “She even swore to pay for all the parts to upgrade your van! That’s the very first time that stingy capitalist has ever opened her purse strings like that. You’d better lock in the contract right now before she comes to her senses and denies the whole thing!”
The Young Miss, who had still been wiping tears from her cheeks, flared with sudden irritation. She rounded on him with fiery eyes: “Old Wang! Who are you calling stingy?! Are you itching for a beating?!”
Before he could answer, the two of them were already darting around the shattered pillars of the lobby, trading insults and bickering as if the bloody ambush had never happened. The familiar comedy brought helpless chuckles from the rest of the wearyChapter 143: God’s Will
Lin Huai let out a soft sigh. She knelt down beside the fallen boy and spoke in a steady, calming voice. “Don’t panic just yet. Let me try something.”
Reaching into her backpack, she pulled out a card with a sleek black-and-gold border.
“I received this Revive Card from the last dungeon instance,” she explained, holding it up. “With any luck, it can bring Xiao Huang back.”
She set the card flat against Flash Delivery Yellow Knight’s still chest and called out with authority, “Designated player: Flash Delivery Yellow Knight. Revive Card, activate immediately!”
As soon as the command left her lips, a brilliant white glow burst from the surface of the card. The radiant barrier expanded instantly, enveloping Yellow Knight from head to toe. Tiny specks of light separated from the shimmering shield, drifting downward like glowing dust before sinking deep beneath his skin.
Wherever the warm light touched, miracles followed. The gaping wounds ceased their bleeding and began to knit together with astonishing speed. Flesh reformed, torn skin sealed tight, and the dreadful punctures across his body closed until not a single mark remained.
Ten minutes later, Dragon Emerging from the Sea and the others finished off the remaining enemies. Covered in dust and sweat, they hurried over and gathered around, watching the spectacle with bated breath, silently waiting for the young courier to wake.
The very first sensation that hit Yellow Knight as his mind drifted back to reality was the memory of agony. It had hurt so badly that dying almost felt worse than continuing to breathe.
Slowly, his eyelids fluttered open. Blinking against the light, he saw his teammates standing over him. Every single one was stained with blood and breathing hard, looking as if they had just clawed their way out of a brutal warzone.
Then, the final moments before he collapsed rushed back into his mind. Panic surged through him, and he scrambled straight up into a seated position. “Where is Sister Cai? What about the Young Miss? And Brother He Ping? Did they manage to get away?”
Before he could finish his questions, two figures lunged forward, throwing their arms around him in a tight, bone-crushing embrace.
SF Express, How Can It Be as Fast as Your Hand? had completely red eyes. He pulled back just enough to swat Xiao Huang over the head, his voice cracking with emotion. “Who gave you permission to play the big damn hero, you idiot? Sister Cai is plenty strong; she never needed you to throw your life away for her! You were gone, do you hear me? You almost actually died!”
Hungry Spirit Blue Knight was openly sobbing, his shoulders shaking as he gripped the boy’s jacket. “He’s right, Xiao Huang! You can’t just act on impulse like that anymore! If the Boss didn’t have this Revive Card on her, you would be gone for good! You literally died just now!”
Listening to the raw grief and anger in their voices, the reality of the situation finally settled into Yellow Knight’s mind. He really had died. And Lin Huai had used an irreplaceable treasure just to drag him back to life.
Trembling, he lifted his head to look at Lin Huai. Shock, guilt, and deep gratitude fought for control over his face. “Boss… thank you… You wasted such a precious Revive Card on somebody like me. I swear, from now on, I’ll find something even more valuable to pay you back…”
Lin Huai shook her head, her gaze firm and resolute. “No matter how rare a Revive Card is, it’s still just an item. If it’s used up, we can find another one eventually. But you only have one life, Xiao Huang. Once that’s gone, it’s gone forever.”
She paused, making sure he heard every single word. “A thousand Revive Cards wouldn’t be worth your life.”
“You don’t owe me a thing,” she added gently. “All you need to do is stay alive. We’re going to reach the very end of this endless highway together, every one of us. That is more than enough.”
Yellow Knight swallowed hard, nodding rapidly. “Mm… I understand.”
Lin Huai softened her tone. “There’s one more thing. Xiao Huang, no one on this squad thinks you’re dead weight. Everyone here is an important part of the group, and no one is getting left behind.”
“In any fight, people have different roles to play. It’s not about who is strong and who is weak; it’s about doing your part so the machine keeps running. That’s what makes us a real team.”
She offered him an apologetic smile. “Maybe I did overlook you a bit in the beginning because of everything going on. But the moment I invited you into the main combat squad, you became family. I have never once considered you a burden.”
“Right now, we have to prioritize upgrades for certain vehicles or hunt down specific skill cards based on our immediate threats,” she continued. “Your turn just hasn’t come yet. That doesn’t mean I forgot about you.”
Tears spilled down Yellow Knight’s cheeks, and he sniffled, nodding repeatedly. “I get it, Boss. I really do.”
Dragon Emerging from the Sea crouched down, clapping a heavy hand onto the boy’s shoulder with a grin. “Relax, kid. The very next time a good skill card or gear piece drops that fits your build, you get first pick.”
Even though Yellow Knight had already accepted the situation, hearing that promise made his eyes sparkle with hope. He glanced nervously back toward Lin Huai, hesitant. “Boss… is that really okay?”
Lin Huai couldn’t help but laugh softly. “Of course it is.”
Seeing everyone sniffling and wiping their wet eyes, Old Wang let out a hearty chuckle, stepping in to break the heavy mood. “Alright, alright, dry those tears, Xiao Huang! Didn’t you hear what the Young Miss shouted while you were down? She promised to lend you money completely interest-free!”
He nudged the boy with his foot playfully. “She even said she’d fund your vehicle upgrades herself! That’s the first time in history our little penny-pincher has offered a handout. You’d better force her to sign a contract right now before she turns around and pretends she never said it!”
The Young Miss was still dabbing at her own wet cheeks, but hearing Old Wang’s teasing made her temper flare instantly. She rounded on him, fire in her eyes. “Old Wang! Who are you calling a penny-pincher?! Are you itching for a beating?!”
Before he could answer, she chased him across the grand hall, swinging her fists while Old Wang danced out of reach, laughing loudly. The absurd spectacle immediately broke the tension, and the rest of the squad burst into helpless chuckles.
With a hand from SF Express, Yellow Knight pushed himself up onto his feet. Looking around at the comrades who had fought so hard to keep him safe, a wave of warmth flooded his chest. He turned toward SF Express and whispered, “Big Brother… the Boss is so great. Everyone is so good to me…”
He exhaled a long breath, his voice thick with relief. “It really feels great to be alive.”
SF Express reached over and ruffled the boy’s messy hair. “If you know how good it feels, then stop rushing off to die. Milk Tea is the best healer on the entire server; as long as you’ve got half a breath left in your chest, she can pull you back from the brink.”
His voice grew softer, full of conviction. “And we’ve got the smartest, strongest leader in this whole game. She won’t let us die if she can help it. So don’t you dare go throwing your life away again.”
Yellow Knight rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a little sheepish. “To be honest, my head was totally empty back then. All I could think about was that Sister Cai and the others had to escape first, even if it cost me my life. I didn’t think twice… I just ran forward.”
SF Express let out a gentle laugh and patted him on the back. “Well, you held the line when it mattered. You’ve grown up, Xiao Huang.”
He paused for a second, glancing away thoughtfully. “Did I ever mention that I had a little brother once? If he were around today, he’d be the exact same age as you.”
Xiao Huang blinked, shaking his head. “No, you never talked about having family. Is he trapped inside the game, too? Do we need to look for him?”
SF Express shook his head quietly. “No. He drowned when he was ten years old. But if he were alive right now, he’d look a lot like you.”
Xiao Huang’s lips pressed into a firm line. He looked right into the older man’s eyes and declared, “From today on, Big Brother, I’m your younger brother. Your real one!”
Hungry Spirit Blue Knight immediately squeezed himself into the huddle, whining playfully, “Hey, what about me? Am I getting replaced already? Am I not your favorite little brother anymore?”
SF Express laughed out loud, throwing his arms around both of their shoulders. “Fine, fine! Real little brothers, both of you. The three of us are going to ride behind the Boss all the way to the end of the road. Nobody gets to drop out early!”
Watching the three delivery riders laughing and leaning against one another, Lin Huai couldn’t help but smile. Her thoughts drifted back to the dusty roadside where they had first met, remembering how foolishly and earnestly they had knelt down to swear an oath of brotherhood.
Thankfully, all three courier brothers were still here. Not a single one was missing.
Sparkling and Lovable watched the trio as well, stepping up quietly to stand beside Lin Huai. “Boss, don’t you think there’s something truly special about how we all met? Like it was meant to happen?”
Lin Huai smiled softly, nodding in agreement. “Perhaps. Some things really are guided by fate.”
She turned around, her expression shifting back to that of a focused commander, and raised her voice so everyone could hear.
“Alright, everyone, fall in! It’s time to clear this dungeon. Check your gear and prepare for combat. Let’s carve our way out!”
