Second Lead Syndrome (1-187) | ✓

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Author's note: Surprise update! It is my country's birthday, so here's to celebrating our birthday 😂.

K’xug grunted as he kept his bloodied wings, panting as he knelt on the ground. Hana supported him and Xue was still carrying Cecil in his arms. 

They were finally back at the surface, each of them relishing in the sun that bathed them in a warm light, especially for K’xug. He inhaled deeply, squinting his eyes at the sun and took in his surroundings, it was a peaceful moment for them all...until K’xug felt a dull ache in his back and he glared at the two culprits who subjected him to such misery.

Hana smiled sheepishly, patting K’xug on the back. “Sorry, K’xug!” 

“You don’t expect us to climb up that cliff with our bare hands, did you?” Xue questioned indifferently. 

K’xug had nothing to say in return, only sighing and he gestured to Xue and Hana.

“What are you trying to say?” Xue frowned at K’xug.

Hana hummed thoughtfully, tilting her head. “I think K’xug is trying to ask, what we are planning to do now?” 

K’xug nodded at Hana’s words. 

Hana smiled back at him. 

Xue was speechless. 

Even when she has lost her memories, she still has the ability to understand K’xug properly like how she always did in the past. 

Even when he didn’t speak out his mind in the past, Hana knew what he was trying to say. 

“We should head back to your house, Hana,” Xue suggested. “Both you and Cecil, I am sure your parents are worried by now.” 

Hana nodded eagerly, and she scrunched her nose. “And we stink too, we need to change out of these dirty clothes!” 

K’xug was puzzled for a moment. 

Even in the mortal realm, Hana has parents? What about her parents in…

“But...how do we get back from here?” Hana asked, blinking innocently. “I don’t know the way back at all.” 

K’xug shrugged. He was trapped in a cave for four decades, and he had never once explored the mortal realm, asking him to find the way back to their house was as good as telling him to find a needle in a haystack. 

“Xue?” 

Xue recalled that he was “transported” here by Veau, and he hung his head down and sighed in frustration. 

“I…”

“...you?”

“I...I don’t know the way back either.” 

“...”

“...”

“Then what should we do?” 

All of them looked at Cecil currently cuddled up in Xue’s arms, having the most serene look on her face after getting her most needed rest. 

They all had the same thoughts in mind, to ask Cecil. 

Xue opened his mouth, wanting to call out to Cecil to wake her up. In an instant, K’xug covered up his mouth and Hana tugged at his sleeves urgently to get his attention. A frown creased his forehead, and he narrowed his eyes at K’xug. 

K’xug shook his head. 

“Xue, did...did you forget what happened just now when we woke Cecil up?” Hana hissed at Xue.