I'm being held captive by a monster

Chapter 258 Surprise
"It's been such a long, long time..."

"This thing... is for you, child, it's..."

He Bo's confused mutterings reached Lin Xing'an's ears.

Before me lay the coffin, which had been opened and lay on the ground.

"call……"

After taking a deep breath, Lin Xing'an immediately checked his physical strength.

There are still 30% left.

In other words, he had just returned using Si Que's method and had hardly used up any of his energy!
"What exactly is Si Que's ability...?"

Lin Xing'an frowned.

But after silently saying it in his heart, he established a connection with gloom.

Jiang Rong was still pacing outside and didn't come in.

In other words, the point in time he has returned to should be the point in time when Si Que had just woken up and entered his river of time to feast.

But this time...

Lin Xing'an closed his eyes and felt the flow of time.

Inside, Si Que lay listlessly on the silver threads, rubbing her swollen belly, crossing her legs, and swinging her little feet.

There was no violent struggle like last time.

"...What's going on..."

Lin Xing'an frowned.

He was discovered by Jiang Rong first, and then entered the River of Time to chat with Si Que.

Based on past experience, Si Que should be making a big fuss at this time.

But Si Que's current behavior makes it seem as if the two have just finished talking, and she is obediently waiting for Lin Xing'an to let her out on his own...

"Has cause and effect been reversed? Or rather...have the two points in time...switched positions?"

“Last time, I was discovered by Jiang Rong first, and then I talked to Si Que to calm him down.”

“This time I’ve already calmed Si Que down, but Jiang Rong still hasn’t come down…”

"Is this also Si Que's ability...?"

Lin Xing'an let out a soft breath.

Seeing that Si Que had really calmed down, he finally felt relieved.

Regardless of how it was done.

As long as Si Que doesn't cause trouble, even if Jiang Rong instantly drains his life force, he can still hold his own and not expose the River of Time.

Moreover, he was mentally prepared this time.

"coming……"

I sensed through the gloom that Jiang Rong had come down.

Lin Xing'an also squatted down and began to rummage through the coffin.

Sure enough, they found the red hair that Jiang Rong had taken out last time in a corner crevice.

After destroying it with gloom, he lowered his eyes and quietly waited for Jiang Rong to arrive.

"An'an? Old He?"

Half a minute later, Jiang Rong's voice came through.

Just like last time, Jiang Rong's expression changed drastically upon seeing the coffin.

After the inspection, they first asked Uncle He a few questions.

After confirming that Uncle He was truly confused and genuinely unaware, she turned to Lin Xing'an.

"An'an, was this coffin opened like this when you first saw it?"

Jiang Rong's question was exactly the same as last time.

Lin Xing'an also secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

It seems that it really only changed the order of the two events, severing the causal connection between them.

Nothing else has changed...

"……without."

Lin Xing'an answered exactly as he had last time.

Although she found nothing in the coffin, Jiang Rong still used the timeline to probe Lin Xing'an.

Then, he grabbed Lin Xing'an's hand.

"hiss!"

The instantaneous extraction and infusion of life force caused Lin Xing'an's face to turn pale.

But this time, without Si Que's interference, Lin Xing'an steadily suppressed the River of Time.

"Grandma, you..."

"The person in this coffin is extremely dangerous. Let me examine your body."

Jiang Rong gave Lin Xing'an a deep look before speaking.

"Grandma, how could there possibly be a human or animal in this coffin?"

"Why would the shrine use such a coffin... to house a human or animal?"

"And... this size, is this human being a baby?"

"Humans and animals are so weak, if they're put here, they'll die in less than three days, right?"

Lin Xing'an rubbed his wrist, which was being held by Jiang Rong, and asked a series of questions.

"..."

Jiang Rong remained silent for a long time.

"An'an, about what happened today—encountering this coffin and seeing this cruise ship—just pretend it never happened."

"Just pretend that I never brought you to see Uncle He."

"So keep all your questions hidden and buried."

"Can you do it? If not, I have ways to erase your memory."

She ignored all of Lin Xing'an's questions and spoke with utmost seriousness.

This tone made Lin Xing'an's heart pound.

This was the first time he had ever seen such an expression on Jiang Rong's face.

"...It can be done."

"You took me to Nancheng today, and then... Xu Ye and I have been staying at home."

Lin Xing'an opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

Finally he nodded.

"Okay, let's go, it's time to go back."

Jiang Rong didn't say anything more.

The ring on her hand transformed into vines, wrapping the coffin and its lid completely.

"Old He, Old He? He's gone! He's gone back!"

"You've already given Lin Xing'an everything you were supposed to give him; he'll pass it on to Yu Yu."

Jiang Rong picked up Uncle He's cane, patted him on the shoulder, and said.

"Huh? I... Ah! Yes, Yu Yu... I came to get Yu Yu's things..."

"Old He, we've taken everything! We can go back now!"

“…already…but…but I remember…”

Uncle He scratched his head, his confused eyes filled with bewilderment.

"Uncle He, look, these are all my mother's things."

"I will definitely give it to my mother when I get back."

Lin Xing'an held up the photo album and the small glass jar filled with sunlight as he spoke.

"Hehe, yes, that's all. Yu Yu left them with me. You can take them back to her."

"Yes, when my mother has time, I'll come to see you with her."

"Forget it, there's no need to come see me. It's so far away, there's no need, no need."

Uncle He waved his hand.

Lin Xing'an also helped him walk outside.

It was already 1:30 pm when I returned to the courtyard.

"Here, child, child, this is for you."

Uncle He pulled out a small glass jar, about the size of a thumb, from somewhere.

He then placed his hand into the basin of water that Lin Xing'an had poured into.

Before long, the basin of clear water, stirred by Uncle He's hands, slowly shrank into a small drop of "ink".

"rise!"

Guided by Uncle He, the drop of ink slowly drifted into the small glass jar.

"Child, feel it."

Uncle He chuckled and handed the jar to Lin Xing'an.

"This……"

Lin Xing'an blinked with some curiosity.

"So much water, but the core of it is this gloomy atmosphere."

"You can think of it as this wisp of gloom being able to hold countless amounts of water, as long as you can control it."

"Just like this weed, it can hold countless lives."

Jiang Rong glanced at the time and explained from the side.

Lin Xing'an pursed his lips.

It was as if it controlled the darkness, controlling the drop of ink in the bottle to fly out.

"Whoosh!"

It was like fireworks exploding!

The drop of ink seemed to spring up like a living spring in the air, giving rise to countless streams of clear water that changed freely in the air according to Lin Xing'an's thoughts.

Finally, Lin Xing'an spent a few more minutes turning them back into a drop of ink.

It landed steadily in the jar.

"call……"

Lin Xing'an wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Uncle He, standing to the side, smiled with satisfaction, "Good boy, you have talent, you have talent!"

He stroked his beard and sighed.

Jiang Rong, standing to the side, showed no surprise.

"Old He, then we'll head back."

"This is my phone number. I've left it with you. Feel free to contact me anytime if you need anything."

“But I’ll come back again after a while.” Jiang Rong left a phone number in Uncle He’s phone.

Judging from the appearance of this phone, Uncle He probably has never used it.

"Go ahead, go ahead, I won't see you off."

Uncle He waved his hand, leaned on his cane, and returned to the beach chair.

Looking at his back, Lin Xing'an suddenly felt a strange sensation.

"An'an, let's go."

Before Lin Xing'an could think it over, Jiang Rong snapped her fingers in front of him and waved to him.

"……it is good."

Lin Xing'an withdrew his gaze.

But a hint of gloom still quietly lingered on Uncle He's house and the beach.

"This child..."

Jiang Rong's car slowly drove away.

The chaos and impurities in He Bo's pupils slowly faded away.

He waved with a smile.

The faint shadow left behind by Lin Xing'an flew into his hand as if summoned.

"Snapped!"

Uncle He gently squeezed it.

The gloom dissipated.

……

……

"Grandma, these things..."

Lin Xing'an frowned as he flipped through the photo album in his hand.

It looks like just some ordinary photos that can be used as memories...

Nothing special about it.

Why did Yu Yu specifically ask to see him?
"You can keep it."

Jiang Rong glanced at it and then spoke.

It was clear that her mind was completely focused on the coffin.

Seeing this, Lin Xing'an also sensed the presence of the Magpie in the river of time.

Perhaps because he couldn't stay idle, Si Que was taking turns jumping rope along the timeline.

But in any case, they didn't cause any trouble.

"An'an, take some time to familiarize yourself with your weapons while you're in Nancheng."

"You can fill it with more water until you can't control it anymore, and then keep raising it."

"Don't slack off, the future... is unpredictable."

The car drove back into the city, and Jiang Rong said quietly.

"it is good."

Lin Xing'an felt the ink droplets in the bottle and nodded.

Although controlling water is not as effective as directly controlling darkness.

But controlling the shadows was ultimately his trump card that he couldn't play.

As for controlling the water, he would be able to show off his skills when he returned to the North City.

In any case, this is a boost for Lin Xing'an now.

and……

This skill seems to synergize somewhat with Xu Ye's [Chill].

"An'an, what did you do today?"

The car slowly pulled up in front of the apartment building, and Jiang Rong turned her head and asked.

"You took me to Nancheng, and Xu Ye and I have been staying at home ever since."

Lin Xing'an paused for a moment before speaking.

"Forget about that coffin."

Jiang Rong emphasized this point in conclusion.

Then he opened the car door.

"Grandma, here you go," and then... I went upstairs.

Lin Xing'an handed the pearl that Uncle He had given him, which belonged to Xiao Jing, to Jiang Rong.

"Go."

Jiang Rong stared at the pearl, clearly stunned for a moment.

Then a complex look appeared in his eyes, he waved to Lin Xing'an, and watched Lin Xing'an enter the corridor.

"call……"

Sitting in the elevator, watching the floors rise, Lin Xing'an closed his eyes and exhaled.

Although Jiang Rong did not test him again afterward.

But he was on edge the whole way.

The elevator stops.

Looking through the corridor window, Lin Xing'an watched Jiang Rong's car drive away. After patiently waiting for two more minutes, he knocked on the door of his house.

"Cough! Cough! Cough!"

Inside the house, Xu Ye's coughing voice came from inside. "Coming, coming!"

She opened the door.

When she saw Lin Xing'an through the crack in the door, a look of joy appeared on her pale face.

"Night……"

Lin Xing'an was momentarily dazed.

Although he went to the "future" by accident, he only stayed for half an hour.

But Xu Ye's capable and assertive demeanor there is so different from how she really is now...

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they're worlds apart...

"Welcome...cough! Welcome home."

Lin Xing'an's gaze made Xu Ye blush slightly.

"What are you doing standing outside? Come in quickly."

She coughed twice and took Lin Xing'an's hand.

After closing the door, she looked up at Lin Xing'an and blinked.

"What's wrong, Xiaoye? Are you feeling unwell?"

Lin Xing'an glanced at the two bottles of water he had left at home.

It's completely empty.

I glanced at the time again.

Xu Ye has been exposed to the virus for more than twelve hours.

The cough should be unstoppable now.

"Lin Xing'an, close your eyes, I want to give you a surprise."

Xu Ye cleared his throat and said, his face flushed.

"……it is good."

Lin Xing'an frowned, then stood still and closed his eyes.

"Oh! It's okay, it's okay! Don't open your eyes!"

Xu Ye exclaimed in surprise, but then immediately said...

Lin Xing'an only heard Xu Ye holding his breath, as if he was exerting force.

"Xiaoye, you..."

"I like you."

Lin Xing'an suddenly felt Xu Ye rush into his arms and hug him tightly.

Then his mouth was sealed with something soft.

"..."

Lin Xing'an opened his eyes in surprise.

Despite the somewhat strange posture, his legs and feet were shaking incessantly.

But Xu Ye actually managed to stand up on his own!

"Well!"

Finally, his legs gave way, and Xu Ye fell back into his wheelchair.

She licked her lips, panting but looking at Lin Xing'an with immense joy.

"Xiaoye, can you feel your legs again?"

"Hmm! My legs and feet, I actually felt something last night, but now it's even more noticeable, and..."

Before Xu Ye could finish speaking, Lin Xing'an excitedly picked him up.

"That's great! Xiaoye, I knew you'd get better!"

"I...I'm going to buy some groceries now. This is our first meal in Nancheng, so we have to eat something good!"

"After you finish eating, take a bath, and I'll massage your legs."

Looking at Xu Ye's flushed face, Lin Xing'an lowered his head and kissed Xu Ye again.

"...Lin Xing'an, why are you so good to me..."

Feeling that Lin Xing'an was genuinely happy for her, Xu Ye's eyes suddenly reddened.

"Because you don't need a reason to like someone."

Lin Xing'an rubbed Xu Ye's head and put her back in the wheelchair.

"I'm going to buy groceries, I'll be right back."

He picked up the keys, not giving Xu Ye any more time to speak.

"call!"

After closing the door, Lin Xing'an rushed into the stairwell.

Si Que, for some unknown reason, started running and jumping around in the river of time.

"..."

Lin Xing'an gritted his teeth and, after finding an uninhabited floor through some dark means, could no longer suppress the urge.

A whooshing sound came to my ears, and the river of time was suddenly released.

(End of this chapter)