The Lost Tomb : Sea Of Sands

Chapter 127: Friends

This could be considered a big gift, as Li Cu told them everything to watch out for in detail. By telling them the truth, the authenticity of his words was very high, and he could tell that the bearded man basically believed him. However, he still needed some proof.

Li Cu also told him what he didn't know. He could see that the core area wasn't very big when he looked at the floor plans before, so as long as they managed to get in, Li Cu felt that finding the hole should be a cinch if this guy's men were capable.

He also drew some sketches, and after looking at them and thinking for a long time, the bearded man put his arm around Yang Hao's shoulder and told him to get ready. He then said to Li Cu, "If you're trying to fool me, your brother here will be affected."

"I'm not lying." Li Cu said. "My leg's broken. It makes no sense for me to lie."

The bearded man patted Yang Hao on the shoulder and then left.

Yang Hao and Li Cu looked at each other, but didn't speak. Yang Hao's expression wasn't very good and looked rather gloomy. Li Cu knew he was thinking that he had betrayed him.

As a matter of fact, Yang Hao himself was in a very dangerous position, but Li Cu couldn't change his fate no matter what he did. All he could do was tell Yang Hao everything he knew about the area down below so that Yang Hao would have more chances of surviving.

Li Cu didn't complain, feel guilty, or get angry with his incompetence at not being able to save others. He just did what he should do according to reality.

"Why didn't you tell them that it's dangerous down there, and we'll all die if we go down?!" Yang Hao asked Li Cu. "What are you trying to do by saying so much to them? It's safe for you with your broken leg, but what should I do?"

Li Cu smoked a cigarette and looked at the top of the tent, but didn't answer.

"Do you want to exchange this information to get out?" Yang Hao's expression became furious: "What do you want me to do now? I don't want to go back under the sand, you fucking bastard!"

Li Cu didn't feel any emotions in his heart. How many times had he experienced such a scene? Yang Hao didn't know that Li Cu had made the best decision, especially because Li Cu always gave others an excuse to hate him.

Before becoming friends, he was already prepared to lose them, but every time something moved him— such as Su Wan and Yang Hao deciding to come to the desert with him—his heart would swell up with hope that he would stay friends with these people forever. But he was always afraid when he reached that peak in his emotions, afraid that once he thought such a thing, these people would leave him, and he wouldn't be able to bear it.

But facts proved time and time again that even his best friend would eventually leave him.

"Even if you betray me, I won't betray you." It was impossible for human beings to achieve this level of consciousness.

Yang Hao's anger distorted his expression, and he looked at Li Cu as if he was his sworn enemy. He was unwilling to accept the reality of the situation, and must have been very afraid of going underground again, but he had no one to rely on, and no one to blame... until he did.

He finally had someone to blame. He didn't even care if it was Li Cu, he just needed to find a scapegoat for his actions.

"You were willing to come to the desert with me, and I'm very grateful to you for that, but none of us could predict what's happening now. Everyone's responsible for their own choices, and what I'm doing is letting you face reality. It's in your best interests."

Li Cu wanted to say these words, but he didn't. And even though he knew he was right, he wouldn't say such things.

In the end, friends needed to save face.

He could also pretend to be pitiful and scared, and muddle his way through, but he didn't. In this case, doing such things were merely superfluous.

"If you're so afraid, then break both your legs. I'm sure there are a bunch of things here that can help you with this small problem. There's anesthetic in the car outside. You can look for it when you see those people go get it." Li Cu said. "If you seriously do it, I'll go down for you."

Yang Hao stared at Li Cu. He thought Li Cu was teasing him at first, but after looking at him, he found that Li Cu was serious.

"This is the only way; otherwise, how do you plan on convincing them to choose me instead? I'm a burden. If what I told them is vague and has no value, then they'll put all their hopes on you. Now, I've freely given them so much information, all of which is true. After entering the area below this desert, they'll find out that my information is more valuable than you. It's for the best if they can use the information themselves to achieve their goals, but if they find it's fake, then they won't continue relying on you." Li Cu said. "If my information is useful and you're useless, you'll be relatively safe as long as you can make it out alive again. And I'll never have any peace."

"That's a nice thing to say." Yang Hao sneered: "Don't tell me these absurd things. You know I can't make it out alive."

"What do you want me to do?" Li Cu asked.

"You tell them, tell them you can go down—" Yang Hao got to this point and suddenly froze. He obviously didn't think he could say such ridiculous words: "Your feet can walk—"

Li Cu didn't answer, suddenly feeling very tired. He wasn't the god-like hero in a Hong Kong and Taiwanese action movie who could stick it out until the end.

"Do you remember what I just told you?" Li Cu asked, knowing that he would soon say BYEBYE to his friend. He suppressed his emotions, wanting to help one last time even though this friend was obviously full of hatred for him. No matter what happened in the future, he would never be forgiven.

Don't think of yourself as the savior. There's no one in this world more pitiful than you, you who is as miserable as those you want to help. When you're unable to help others, go ahead and spare your conscience.

Yang Hao, however, didn't give him the chance to offer this last bit of help, and left the tent. Li Cu knew this might be the last time.

As the bearded man's vanguard entered the area under the desert that night, Li Cu went to sleep. He didn't want to suffer through the torment of waiting.

The news that came back the next morning was good—the information Li Cu had provided was confirmed. The next day went smoothly, and Li Cu was well taken care of as he used this time to rest. On the third day, the bearded man came in and ordered someone to take him out of the desert.

No one told him how things were progressing under the desert, but Li Cu knew from these people's conversation that others had obviously noticed the bearded guy's progress. Someone had tried to rob them, meaning that it was obviously unsafe here, and the bearded man hoped to transfer Li Cu to a safer place.

"If someone asks you, say your surname is Huo." The bearded man said. "You're a cousin of the Huo family that just came back from overseas. We'll say you're my brother. I'll tell you the situation in the car, and then take you to meet some of the upstarts here. Don't let the cat out of the bag, or they'll tear you up, and I won't be able to save you."