Chapter 217 It Was to be a Secret

Chapter 217: Chapter 217 It Was to be a Secret

Laurel ignored him and closed the trade panel. Although losing so many crops hurt, she knew there was nothing more important than saving the people inside the fortress. If the valley really fell, the crops she saved wouldn’t bring the dead back.

"Where are Chris and Alexander?"

"They are still inside the house." Luo remained as he hovered above her shoulder.

Laurel immediately walked toward the house with Luo following behind her. When she entered, she found the two men still unconscious. Their complexions had already returned to normal, and the frostbite they suffered inside the cave had almost completely disappeared.

Laurel first walked toward Chris and placed her fingers against his neck. His pulse was steady, causing the tension in her chest to ease slightly. She then checked Alexander and found that his condition was also stable, although there was still a dark bruise behind his neck.

She stared at it for a moment before turning toward Luo. "Ling Xuan did that?"

Luo nodded. "She said he was about to wake up."

Laurel’s lips twitched. "She could have knocked him unconscious without almost breaking his neck."

Luo wisely remained silent.

Laurel looked between the two men. They couldn’t remain inside the space any longer. The fortress needed every capable person it could get, especially Alexander. Whatever problems existed between them, his knowledge of the fortress defenses would be useful.

"How are they recovering?" She asked, her brows furrowed with slight worry.

"Yes. Their bodies have mostly recovered." Luo said.

Just as they were talking, Chris brows furrowed before he slowly opened his eyes. He stared at the unfamiliar ceiling for several seconds before turning his head and seeing Laurel standing nearby.

"Laurel?" His voice was hoarse and tired.

Alexander woke almost immediately afterward. Unlike Chris, he sat up abruptly, looking around the room as if in shock. "Where are we?"

Laurel’s brows twitched with shock. ’Why the hell are they waking up now? They are not suppose to wake up now... what do I say? What should I do? Should knock them out and lie to them it was all a dream... this wasn’t part of the plan!’ Laurel cried inwardly.

She turned to Luo, who also stared at her with shock. She closed her eyes, trying her best not to freak out.

"Inside my ability." She drawled, unsure if that was the right to say.

Alexander turned toward her, his lips were chirped, and his skin was pale. The bruises on his neck made him grimace. "Your ability?"

"You already know I can store things." She said under her breath. She hated the fact that she was the one that had to do the talking. It was supposed to be a secret. Now Ling Xuan would think she was the one who intentionally woke them up.

Chris slowly sat up as well. His gaze moved around the room before returning to Laurel. "You can store people?"

"Apparently." She shrugged her shoulders, which was deflating like a balloon.

Chris stared at her for several seconds before a faint smile appeared on his face. "That’s convenient."

Laurel ignored the way he said it. She knew Chris was suspicious, but this wasn’t the time to explain anything.

Alexander suddenly raised his hand and touched the back of his neck. The moment his fingers reached the bruise, his expression changed. "What happened to my neck?" He asked with bewilderment.

Laurel looked away, unable to meet his eyes. "You were injured when the cave collapsed."

"A cave collapse hit the back of my neck?" Alexander asked, not fully convinced.’

"There were rocks everywhere." Laurel said, turning to meet his gaze.

Alexander frowned. "It feels more like someone hit me."

Chris turned his head away, but Laurel still noticed the slight movement at the corner of his lips.

Alexander glared at him. "What are you smiling about?"

"Nothing."

"You are obviously smiling."

Chris looked at him calmly. "You must still be dizzy."

Before Alexander could respond, Laurel interrupted them. "The fortress is under attack."

Both men immediately became quiet. Alexander lowered his hand. "What happened?"

"I don’t know yet. Communications are down, and we found destroyed fortress vehicles along the highway. There are also monsters coming from the direction of the valley." Laurel said, this time the nervousness in her voice was replaced with seriousness.

Alexander immediately stood up. "How far are we?"

"Less than ten minutes when I came inside." Laurel muttered.

Chris slowly got to his feet. He was still slightly pale, but his condition was much better than before. "Then we have to go outside and help."

Laurel sighed. "I know."

"Where is Tina?" Alexander suddenly asked.

Laurel’s expression stiffened. "I don’t know." The nightmare she had earlier suddenly flashed through her mind again. Tina’s bloody face, her trembling voice and the words she kept repeating caused Laurel’s chest to tighten. ’Save me, Aunty Laurel.’ She quickly pushed the memory away.

"We’ll find out when we return." She added. Before either man could ask anything else, Laurel contacted Ling Xuan. ’They’re awake.’

’What?... send them out... we have a lot of talking to do afterwards." Ling Xuan replied curtly.

’Hmmm...okay... What if someone sees them suddenly appearing?’

Ling Xuan glanced around the moving truck. Most of the soldiers were busy watching the road while Gabriel was near the front.

’Then wait.’

Laurel sighed. Sometimes she wondered how Ling Xuan could make everything sound so simple.

Outside, another round of gunfire suddenly erupted. "Commander, behind us!"

Ling Xuan looked toward the rear. Several monsters had appeared from the roadside and were chasing the convoy. One of them was much faster than the others and was already approaching the second truck.

"Open the rear door," Ling Xuan ordered.

Gabriel looked at her. "There are monsters behind us."

"I can see them." Ling Xuan didn’t bother to hide the annoyance in her voice.

Gabriel hesitated before signaling the soldiers beside the door. They immediately unlocked it and pulled it open slightly. Strong wind rushed into the truck, carrying the smell of smoke and the metallic smell of blood.