Chapter 22: Quiet Moments and Plans
Chapter 22: Quiet Moments and Plans
Inside the magical space, the sound of laughter echoed through the lush, serene environment. The four older children were gathered around the twins, making funny faces and playful gestures. The twins, in their soft robes, giggled and clapped, their laughter a melody of pure joy.
Ling Xue, the youngest of the quads, leaned in close and gently poked one of the twins' cheeks, earning a delighted coo in return. Ren An was mimicking a bird, flapping his arms and chirping, while Jian Yu tried to balance a small wooden toy on his head, causing the others to burst into giggles. Qin Ze, ever the observer, occasionally joined in with a sly grin and clever jokes.
Li Wei watched the scene unfold, his hardened expression softening. A rare smile crossed his face as he looked at the twins. They were thriving, and for a moment, the weight of their troubles felt distant.
Lin Yue stood beside him, her eyes full of warmth. She reached out and took his hand, pulling him toward another room.
"We need to talk," she said softly.
---
Inside the room, Lin Yue paced slightly before turning to face Li Wei. "How do you think we can get out of Tianxian?"
Li Wei folded his arms, his expression thoughtful. "The problem is we don't know the layout of the country. If we could get our hands on a detailed map, that would give us an advantage."
Lin Yue nodded. "Without knowing the terrain, we'll always be at a disadvantage."
Li Wei sighed. "They've likely sealed off the borders by now. There's no way we'll get ahead of them unless we understand the landscape."
"I think I might have something that can help," Lin Yue said, her mind racing.
Before Li Wei could respond, Ling Xue poked her head into the room, her wide eyes curious. "Mother, what are you doing in here?"
Lin Yue's stern demeanor melted instantly. She walked over to Ling Xue and scooped her up, noting the crooked bunny headband the little girl was wearing.
"This must be Fei Feng's handiwork," Lin Yue said with a chuckle as she adjusted the headband.
Ling Xue giggled as Lin Yue smiled, redoing her daughter's hair. The soft moment of motherhood filled the room with warmth.
Li Wei watched the scene quietly. The peacefulness, the small joys—they were worth fighting for. He clenched his fist. I have to get us home. I'll protect this happiness at all costs.
---
After dinner, Lin Yue's thoughts returned to the idea of finding a way out of Tianxian. Suddenly, she remembered something from her inventory—a drone equipped with cameras and sensors capable of mapping terrain.
"That's it!" she exclaimed, rushing to the inventory to search for it.
Hours later, she was still rummaging through items, frustration building as she found everything but the drone.
Fei Feng flew in, his wings flapping in irritation. "What are you doing, scattering things everywhere?"
Lin Yue huffed. "I'm looking for a drone! You know, the one with the camera for mapping."
Fei Feng landed on a nearby crate and began picking up the scattered items. "Check near the tires. I saw something that looked like it there."
Lin Yue followed his advice and finally found the drone tucked beside a pile of spare tires. "I found it!" she cried, lifting it triumphantly.
Fei Feng grumbled. "Good. Now stop making a mess."
Lin Yue laughed and hugged the little phoenix, who squawked indignantly. "Put me down! I have to clean up your disaster!"
---
That night, while feeding the twins, Lin Yue told Li Wei about the drone and its capabilities.
"It can create high-resolution maps of the terrain. We can use it to find a safe path out of Tianxian without risking detection," she explained.
Li Wei nodded, his expression serious. "Good. We'll test it at first light."
As the night deepened, the space was filled with quiet determination. Lin Yue and Li Wei both knew that their time in Tianxian was running out. Morning would bring new challenges, but they would face them together.