Gods: Start with Goblins

The night was deep, and the atmosphere in the airtight tent was solemn and depressing. The conversation between Luo Dan and Buck Yun seemed particularly clear in the silence.

"Bak Yun, you said to choose the place where several parties meet. What is the specific basis for that?" Luo Dan frowned, his face full of confusion, staring straight at Bak Yun, trying to find the key clue from him.

Buck Yun straightened his back slightly, his expression serious, and he spoke slowly: "Boss, think about it, imprisoning Shangguan Bowen at the intersection of several parties will be of great benefit to all parties." He paused for a moment, picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, moistened his throat, and continued: "Each force can arrange people to guard him, which is equivalent to multiple pairs of eyes watching. If Shangguan Bowen wants to reveal the news to others, it will not be so easy, because there are guards everywhere, and any movement will be noticed. Moreover, all parties do not want Shangguan Bowen to be kidnapped. After all, he holds key information, so they will do their best to ensure his safety. Once something happens, several forces will be involved, and no one dares to slack off."

Luo Dan nodded slightly, a hint of recognition flashed in his eyes, and his fingers tapped lightly on the table unconsciously, as if thinking about something.

Seeing this, Buck Yun's tone became more confident: "Also, if an external enemy comes, the major forces can rush to support at the first time because of their close proximity. This forms a situation of mutual restraint and mutual cooperation, ensuring the safety of the detention location. Therefore, comprehensively speaking, the intersection of the several parties is the most likely detention location."

Luo Dan stood up and paced back and forth in the tent, thinking about what Buck Yun said in his mind, trying to find more useful information. His footsteps echoed in the silent tent, and every step seemed to be at the key point of the rescue plan. The mysterious place of imprisonment was like a treasure hidden in the fog, waiting for them to explore.

Luo Dan raised his head, his eyes passed through the dim room and fell on the bed where Xiao Bai was lying. Her figure looked particularly thin in the weak candlelight, as if a gust of wind could blow her away. Xiao Bai's face was still as cold as before, pale and almost transparent, as if her life was slipping away bit by bit. Luo Dan's heart couldn't help but tighten. The last time he saw her in his memory, her eyes were filled with a hint of indescribable complex emotions, but now, she just lay there quietly, as if isolated from the world.

"Speaking of which, before she left me, I saw that her eyes seemed to have turned red. Do you know what happened?" Luo Dan's voice was low and hoarse, with a hint of uneasiness and confusion. His eyes moved away from Xiao Bai and turned to the peach blossom demon standing beside him. The peach blossom demon was wearing a light pink long dress with fine patterns embroidered on the hem, as if it would float into petals at any time with her movements. Her long hair fell like a waterfall, with slightly curled ends, exuding a faint peach blossom fragrance.

The peach blossom demon was stunned for a moment, her brows slightly furrowed, and a trace of doubt flashed in her eyes. She gently raised her hand, and her fingertips drew an arc in the air, as if she was thinking about something. After a while, she shook her head, her voice soft but with a hint of uncertainty: "I don't know, I have never encountered such a thing." Her eyes fell on Xiaobai, with a trace of worry in her eyes, "Why don't you ask her what happened after she wakes up."

Luo Dan nodded, but his heart was still restless. He walked to the bedside, sat gently on the edge of the bed, and reached out to hold Xiao Bai's cold hand. Her hand was slender and soft, as if she had no strength at all. Luo Dan's fingertips trembled slightly, and an indescribable emotion surged in his heart. He lowered his head and whispered softly: "Xiao Bai, what on earth have you been through? Why did your eyes turn red? What are you hiding?"

The atmosphere in the room became heavy, with only the candlelight flickering and making slight crackling sounds. Peach Blossom Fairy stood aside, quietly watching Luo Dan and Xiao Bai, with a complicated look in her eyes. She sighed softly, walked to the window, opened it, and the night wind blew in with a hint of coolness, curling her long hair. The night sky outside the window was dotted with stars, as if countless pairs of eyes were watching this small room.

"Luodan, what are you going to do?" The voice of Peach Blossom Demon broke the silence. Her eyes were still fixed on the starry sky outside the window, as if looking for some answer.

Luo Dan raised his head, looked at the back of Peach Blossom Fairy, then looked down at Xiao Bai, feeling confused. He shook his head and said in a low voice, "I don't know... Xiao Bai can't leave now. I plan to rest here for a while and wait until she wakes up."

The peach blossom demon nodded, turned around, and looked at Luo Dan with gentle eyes: "Okay, although this place is simple, it is still safe. You can rest assured, I will be here to watch over you."

Luo Dan looked at the Peach Blossom Fairy with gratitude, and his heart was a little relieved. He stood up, walked to the window, and stood side by side with the Peach Blossom Fairy. The night breeze brushed across his face, bringing a hint of coolness. He looked up at the starry sky, but his heart was still restless. Why did Xiao Bai's eyes turn red? What on earth did she go through? These questions kept circling in his mind, like invisible threads, entangled in his thoughts.

"Peach Blossom Demon, have you ever heard of anything like this?" Luo Dan suddenly spoke, with a hint of anticipation in his voice.

Peach Blossom Demon was silent for a while and shook her head gently: "No, at least as far as I can remember, I have never heard of anyone's eyes suddenly turning red. Unless..." She paused, a hint of hesitation flashing in her eyes.

"Unless what?" Luo Dan asked anxiously, his eyes fixed on the Peach Blossom Demon.

The peach blossom demon sighed and said in a low voice: "Unless there is some special power in her body, or...she has been corroded by some kind of power."

Luo Dan's heart sank suddenly, and his mind flashed back to all the abnormalities that happened before Xiao Bai left. Her eyes became cold, and her tone became strange, as if she had completely changed into a different person. Could it be that some kind of power was affecting her? Luo Dan clenched his fists tightly, and his knuckles turned slightly white due to the force.

"No matter what, I will find the answer." Luo Dan's voice was firm and powerful, with a hint of determination in his eyes.

The peach blossom demon looked at Luo Dan, with a hint of admiration in her eyes. She nodded slightly, and said softly: "I believe you, Luo Dan. Xiao Bai is lucky to have a friend like you."

Luo Dan smiled bitterly and shook his head: "No, I owe her. If it weren't for me, she might not be like this now."

The peach blossom demon didn't say anything more, just patted Luo Dan's shoulder gently, as if to comfort him. The night wind was still blowing, with a hint of coolness, as if to remind them that time was passing by little by little.

Luo Dan sat back on the bed, his eyes still on Xiao Bai's face. Her breathing was steady and weak, as if it would stop at any time. Luo Dan's heart surged with a strong desire to protect her. He secretly vowed that no matter what, he would find the truth and save Xiao Bai. The candlelight in the room was still flickering, reflecting Luo Dan's determined profile. Tao Hua Yao stood aside, watching them quietly, with a complicated look in her eyes. In the night sky, the stars were still twinkling, as if silently watching this small room, waiting for an unknown ending. Luo Dan gently pushed open the door, holding a wooden tray in his hand, on which were placed a few simple meals: a bowl of steaming white rice, a dish of stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and a small bowl of stewed broth. The aroma of the food spread in the room with his footsteps, like a ray of warm sunshine, dispelling the dullness and loneliness in the room. He placed the tray on the small table beside the bed, moving slowly, for fear of waking up Xiao Bai, who still had her eyes closed.

Xiaobai's nose moved slightly, as if attracted by the aroma of food. Her brows slightly frowned, and then relaxed, as if she smelled something reassuring in her dream. Luo Dan stood aside, watching her with interest, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised, revealing a smile. He knew that Xiaobai had actually woken up, but just didn't want to open her eyes to face him.

"What? You still don't want to wake up?" Luo Dan's voice was a little teasing, and his tone was relaxed and gentle. "I made this meal myself. Although it's not as good as a chef's, it can at least fill your stomach. If you don't get up, I'll eat it all myself."

Xiaobai still had her eyes closed, but she clenched her fists slightly, then loosened them, as if she was trying to suppress some emotion. Although her movements were subtle, Luo Dan saw them clearly. He couldn't help but laugh out loud, with a hint of pride in his voice: "Don't pretend, I know you're awake. You can't hide this little action from me."

Xiaobai finally opened her eyes reluctantly, and looked at Luodan with some resentment. Her eyes were still as clear as water, but there was a trace of fatigue and complexity in them. Her face was still pale, but it was much better than before. She sighed softly, her voice a little hoarse: "Can't you let me sleep a little longer?"

————————————————
Luo Dan saw that she finally opened her eyes, and the smile on his face became even more intense. He held the food in his hand and looked at Xiao Bai with a smile on his face, not feeling embarrassed at all by his teasing. He naturally picked up a pair of chopsticks and handed the bowl to Xiao Bai, saying gently but firmly: "Sleeping too long is not good for your health. Eat something first. When you are full, you can sleep as long as you want."

Xiaobai looked at the bowl and chopsticks in Luodan's hand, then looked at his smiling face, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart. She reached out to take the bowl and chopsticks, and her fingertips accidentally touched Luodan's hand. Feeling the warmth of his palm, her heartbeat accelerated a bit. She lowered her head and gently fiddled with the food in the bowl, her voice so low that it was almost inaudible: "Thank you, Luodan."

When Luo Dan heard her thank you, his smile deepened. He pulled a chair over and sat beside the bed, holding his chin with both hands, looking at Xiao Bai tenderly: "What are you thanking me for? Do we really need to be so polite to each other? Eat quickly, it won't taste good if it gets cold."

Xiaobai nodded, picked up a piece of green vegetables with chopsticks and put it into her mouth. The green vegetables were fried just right, crisp and refreshing, with a hint of sweetness. She scooped another spoonful of broth, the soup was rich and melted in her mouth, and the warm feeling spread from her throat to her stomach. She couldn't help but speed up her eating, as if these simple foods were the most delicious food she hadn't tasted for a long time.

Luo Dan watched her eat with gusto, and couldn't help but feel relieved. He knew that Xiao Bai must have been through a lot during this period, and was under great pressure both physically and mentally. He patted her shoulder gently, with a hint of concern in his tone: "Eat slowly, don't choke. If you feel it's not enough, I'll get you another bowl."

Xiaobai raised her head, with a grain of rice still on the corner of her mouth, and a satisfied smile in her eyes: "No, these are enough." She paused, with a hint of hesitation in her voice, "Luo Dan, you...you don't want to ask me what happened?"

Luo Dan was stunned for a moment, then shook his head, his tone relaxed and firm: "When you want to talk, just tell me. I won't force you. The most important thing now is to take care of your body. We can talk about other things later."

Xiaobai looked at Luo Dan's sincere eyes, and a complex emotion surged in her heart. She lowered her head and gently stirred the food in the bowl, her voice so low that it was almost inaudible: "Luo Dan, you are always like this...always thinking about me."

Luo Dan smiled and reached out to ruffle her hair, his movements gentle and doting: "Silly girl, if I don't think about you, who else can I think about? Eat quickly, don't think too much."

--------

Xiaobai nodded and continued to eat. The room was quiet for a moment, with only the slight sound of dishes and chopsticks colliding and the gentle breathing of the two people. The sunlight from outside the window poured in through the half-open window, shining on the two people, as if coating them with a layer of warm halo.

Luo Dan looked at Xiao Bai quietly, but his heart was not completely calm. He knew that Xiao Bai must have hidden many things from him, but he was not in a hurry to ask. He believed that one day, Xiao Bai would be willing to open her heart to him. And now, he just wanted to stay with her and watch her recover little by little.

Xiaobai finished the last bite of rice, put down the bowl and chopsticks, and gently wiped the corners of her mouth. She raised her head with a hint of gratitude in her eyes: "Luo Dan, thank you...really."

Luo Dan smiled, took the bowl and chopsticks from her hand, and said in a relaxed and gentle tone: "What are you thanking me for? If you really want to thank me, get better soon and don't make me worry anymore."

————————————————————

Xiaobai nodded, a hint of determination flashed in his eyes: "I will."

Luo Dan stood up, put away the dishes, and turned to leave the room. When he reached the door, he suddenly stopped, turned back to look at Xiao Bai, and said with a hint of ridicule: "By the way, don't pretend to sleep next time, your acting skills are not very good." (End of this chapter)