Chapter 468: Heaven Never Seals Every Exit

The sea was pitch-black, its waters bitterly cold. Soaked through in that freezing expanse, Zhu Ping’an’s body began to tremble uncontrollably. Clenching his teeth against the chill, he followed the direction of Li Shu and the little maid’s cries for help, forcing his numbed limbs to cut through the water.

All around him rose a chorus of wails and despair. Many had been swallowed whole by that sudden monstrous wave—dragged beneath the surface forever, never to rise again. The ocean accepted them without ceremony, without mercy.

Li Shu’s lips had already turned pale. Wave after wave of black, icy water rolled over her, stealing her strength bit by bit. Her limbs grew heavy; her body temperature faded as though warmth itself were abandoning her. When another surge dragged her beneath the surface, she found she no longer had the strength to struggle.

So this is it…

I wonder how that stinking toad is doing…

When Qu Yuan cast himself into the river, people had thrown rice dumplings to keep fish and turtles from gnawing at his body. No one would throw dumplings for her. She could only hope the fish would not tear at her flesh. She did not want to become some ugly drowned ghost. Even in death, she still wanted to visit that stinking toad in her dreams. If fish disfigured her… what if she frightened him?

The wedding chamber in Xiahe Village must already be decorated by now…

What a pity. She would never become that stinking toad’s bride.

Just as Li Shu resigned herself to sinking forever into the cold embrace of the sea, a powerful hand suddenly seized her arm. With fierce strength, she was yanked upward through the suffocating darkness.

Air—glorious, burning air—rushed into her lungs. She inhaled deeply, only to choke and cough violently, seawater spilling from her mouth.

“Hold on to me. I’m going to pull Hua’er up next.”

The voice at her ear was one so familiar it nearly made her weep aloud—the owner of that hand, the very person she had been thinking of moments before.

Her stinking toad.

“Wuu… why did you take so long…”

Li Shu clung to Zhu Ping’an’s arm as though it were the only solid thing left in the world. Having escaped death by a hair’s breadth, she could no longer restrain herself. Her lips trembled, and she began to sob softly, her voice breaking between gasps.

“It’s alright. You’re safe now.”

Zhu Ping’an felt awkward in the face of her tears, his movements clumsy as he offered comfort. Then he towed her two meters forward and reached for the little maid, who had nearly rolled her eyes back from choking. With effort, he hauled her up as well.

“Miss… Young Master… I thought I’d never see you again! Wuuu…”

The little maid clung to Li Shu and burst into loud, unrestrained sobs. Her round face was streaked with tears and snot alike, the terror of the moment having shattered her completely.

But though he had pulled them from immediate drowning, the danger was far from over. If Zhu Ping’an had been alone, surviving would have posed little difficulty. But carrying two people in a raging sea—even with lifebuoys—drained his strength rapidly. Each wave demanded that he fight anew to keep them afloat.

Time passed. His stamina ebbed away.

If his strength gave out, only annihilation awaited them.

“Zhu Ping’an… let go of us. Don’t mind us anymore,” Li Shu said, biting her lip as she forced herself to speak. Watching him grow more exhausted by the moment, she made a painful decision.

“Don’t talk. Save your strength,” he replied calmly, tightening his grip instead.

Wave after wave battered them. When Zhu Ping’an dragged the two of them above water once more, his arms felt numb. His muscles screamed. He was nearing his limit.

Yet Heaven does not seal off every path.

In a flash of lightning, he caught sight of something drifting not far away—a wooden cabinet. It must have been the very one Li Shu and the maid had hidden inside earlier. Large and sturdy, it floated high upon the water, almost like a small boat. With that, they could conserve much-needed strength.

Saved.

Hope flared within him, and with it, a final surge of power.

“Listen carefully. Grab onto my clothes with one hand. Paddle with the other—from front to back. I’ll steer. Over there—left front. There’s a cabinet. Once we reach it, we’ll be alright.”

His voice, though hoarse from seawater, was steady—filled with conviction. Hearing it, Li Shu and the maid felt hope rekindle within their chests.

Under his direction, the two joined in paddling. Zhu Ping’an memorized the cabinet’s direction in his mind and propelled them forward through the dark sea with both arms and legs.

It was not far. After roughly five grueling minutes, his hand struck solid wood.

He dragged the cabinet close and tested its buoyancy. Judging by its size, it could bear the weight of Li Shu and the maid—barely.

“Climb up. Both of you—try.”

“What about you?” Li Shu asked immediately.

“You first.”

He did not answer further. The cabinet could not possibly support all three of them. But if the two of them climbed on, he could at least cling to it and save strength.

Urged by him, they began climbing. The maid, accustomed to physical labor, managed with difficulty but succeeded. Li Shu, however—pampered and delicate, her fingers unused to rough work—struggled even to hoist herself halfway up.

The maid stretched down, grasping her hand, pulling with all her might. Li Shu climbed at an agonizingly slow pace.

Unable to watch any longer, Zhu Ping’an reached out to help. Without much thought, he placed his hand against her backside and pushed upward firmly. His palm pressed into a soft fullness, and with that single push, he sent her onto the cabinet.

The doer was unintentional; the recipient was acutely aware.

The sensation of being pushed like that made Li Shu’s face flush instantly, red as a bride on her wedding night lifting her veil. Even her ears burned scarlet. Thankfully, it was night—too dark for anyone to notice. Otherwise, the little maid would surely have made a great fuss asking what was wrong.

He definitely didn’t mean it… she told herself, though her ears remained hot.

“Hold tight.”

After pushing her up, Zhu Ping’an gave the same spot an absent-minded pat and reminded her to secure herself.

Smack—smack.

In the wet silence, the sound carried clearly.

Li Shu let out a soft sound, almost like a startled kitten.

Bad man…

Her face felt as though it might burst into flame. Biting her lip, she shot him a reproachful glare. If he had to pat—did it have to be that loud?

“What’s wrong?” Zhu Ping’an asked blankly, genuinely puzzled.

“You… you patted too hard,” Li Shu muttered vaguely, unable to state plainly that his hand had been in entirely the wrong place.

“Oh—sorry.”

Filled with sincere apology, Zhu Ping’an reached out and gently rubbed the spot.

Rubbed it.

He truly had not overthought it. In his mind, if he had hurt her, then naturally he should rub it better. Such a pampered young lady, he thought. So delicate—when I barely used any strength at all.

For someone so slender, she certainly had a surprising amount of softness there…

Wait…

Sudden realization dawned.

His hand froze mid-motion, then withdrew silently.

The night was dark. The waves were high.

And the atmosphere grew subtly, awkwardly still.