Free Web NovelChapter 83: Chapter 83: Will the Bridge Collapse?
But Shen Ningning hesitated.
She turned her head and shouted, "Ren Yu, you go first!"
She remembered that Ren Yu was terrified of being left here.
Shen Ningning’s words stunned everyone.
Now that there was finally a chance to leave, why would she give it away to someone else?
Qin Fangmei watched from the side with cold eyes, inwardly cursing Shen Ningning for being a fool.
’A bridge like this is obviously sturdiest right after it’s fixed. The more people who cross, the greater the chance the cliff face will crack again!’
But Shen Ningning wasn’t afraid.
Even if the bridge broke, it didn’t matter if she was the last one to cross.
Because she had her Immortal Realm, she wouldn’t die even if she was left behind.
But it was different for the others.
Ren Yu walked over with tears in her eyes and hugged Shen Ningning tightly.
"Ningning, thank you. I... I really don’t know how to thank you."
A guard said hesitantly, "Miss Shen..." freewёbnoνel.com
’The Crown Prince is most concerned about her safety, so why is she giving her chance to someone else?’
But Shen Ningning didn’t want to explain further. "Guard, please tie the rope on her!"
Once the rope was secure, Ren Yu gripped the bridge’s guide ropes and slowly shuffled across, one hesitant step at a time.
The guard followed behind her, protecting her.
On the opposite cliff.
Chen Shaobei sighed softly. "Is Miss Shen’s kindness so great that she’d disregard her own safety?" ƒreewebɳovel.com
Mo Lingwei’s gaze was fixed on the small figure in the distance.
His tone was cool and pleasant. "She’s just that pure. Whatever kindness she has, she shares with others. Otherwise, why would I consider her a friend?"
Hearing this, Chen Shaobei nodded in agreement.
He had grown up with the Crown Prince and knew his peculiar temperament all too well.
Besides Shen Ningning, there wasn’t another girl who could get along with him so well.
This made Chen Shaobei even more curious about what had happened between them in the Wolf Cave.
After Ren Yu reached the other side, her knees went weak and she collapsed to the ground.
She sobbed, "Father, Mother, I’m saved!"
That was absolutely terrifying!
The wind howled up from the valley, and the bridge began to sway.
It was no exaggeration to call it a brush with death!
The guard took the rope and returned once more.
This time, Shen Ningning offered the chance to Lu Shaoyuan.
Chen Shaobei teased, "Oh? A male classmate."
Mo Lingwei raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
But Lu Shaoyuan refused to go.
"I’ll go after you," he said.
Seeing his resolute attitude, the little girl didn’t force him.
She then gave the chance to another classmate who was looking on eagerly.
After that, everyone else slowly made their way across.
Chen Shaobei watched the other side. Lu Shaoyuan remained standing behind Shen Ningning the entire time.
He chuckled again. "This male classmate is quite loyal, sticking with Miss Shen all this time."
Mo Lingwei shot him a cold glance. "Will it kill you to stop talking nonsense?"
Chen Shaobei pressed his lips together and shut his mouth.
Suddenly.
A scream came from the bridge.
The guards on Mo Lingwei’s side quickly pulled the ropes taut.
The men’s expressions changed as they looked forward.
A strong wind had risen in the valley, and the bridge began to sway violently.
On the bridge was one of Shen Ningning’s female classmates, named Xiang Qian.
She was timid and the wind frightened her so much she didn’t dare take another step.
"Waaaah, I’m going to die!" Xiang Qian screamed, breaking down completely.
Everyone watched with their hearts in their throats. The bridge was shaking so violently that even the guard behind Xiang Qian, tasked with protecting her, couldn’t keep his footing.
Shen Ningning cupped her small hands around her mouth. "Xiang Qian, don’t be afraid! Don’t look down, look forward!"
Xiang Qian’s eyes were blurry with tears. "But I’m too scared..."
The little girl continued to encourage her, "Do you want to see your parents again? I heard your mother is pregnant! Don’t you want to find out if you’ll have a little brother or a little sister?"
Xiang Qian sniffled.
’That’s right... my family is still waiting for me to come home.’
’And my mother is about to give birth.’
Just then, the wind began to die down.
Xiang Qian gripped the ropes again and shakily got to her feet, her legs trembling.
She did as Shen Ningning had told her, looking only forward and never down.
"Mother... I have to go back and see my mother..." Xiang Qian kept repeating this to herself as she moved forward.
By the time she realized it, she was already standing on the opposite cliff.
A guard dragged her, weak-kneed and trembling, to the side.
Xiang Qian collapsed to the ground, thinking, ’If it hadn’t been for Shen Ningning, I would have fainted from fear just now.’
Now.
On Shen Ningning’s side, only she, the three teachers, Lu Shaoyuan, and Qin Fangmei were left.
Qin Fangmei’s foot was injured, which would make it even more difficult for her to move.
The three teachers were determined to wait until all the students had crossed before leaving themselves.
So, this time, the guard finally fastened the rope around Shen Ningning’s waist.
The little girl looked at Lu Shaoyuan. "Are you sure you don’t want to go first?"
"I’ll go after you’ve crossed," Lu Shaoyuan said.
Shen Ningning could only nod and say softly, "Okay, then."
Just then, Qin Fangmei limped over to the little girl’s side.
"Ningning..." Her eyes were swollen like walnuts from crying. "Can you let me go first? My foot hurts so much."
Shen Ningning stared at her with wide eyes. "If I let you go, will you tell the teacher what really happened with that poisonous insect?"
Qin Fangmei froze.
’This little orphan really saw through everything!’
"I..." She started to speak, but then trailed off.
Shen Ningning tightened the rope around her waist with her small hands and adjusted the small bundle on her back.
Her little face was expressionless.
"Why should I help you, Qin Fangmei? You bullied me so much before. You may have forgotten, but I remember."
With that, she stepped onto the broken bridge.
Qin Fangmei gritted her teeth in anger.
’Shen Ningning is so selfish!’
’She acted so generous, letting others go first, just to make them feel indebted to her.’
The little girl walked onto the broken bridge, taking slow, careful steps, not daring to look down.
The guard following her kept reminding her patiently, "Miss Shen, be careful. Don’t step on that broken plank ahead."
Suddenly.
The strong valley winds whipped up again, and the broken bridge began to sway violently.
Mo Lingwei watched, his brow furrowing slightly.
He was truly worried.
Fortunately, Shen Ningning didn’t panic. The little girl took a breath and comforted herself.
"Don’t be scared... don’t be scared! Just get across, and you can go home!"
Only when the wind gradually subsided did she shuffle forward again.
Just then, Qin Fangmei noticed that the rope anchored on their side had actually come slightly loose!
If it wasn’t re-secured quickly, the broken bridge would collapse again!
When that happened, Shen Ningning would be doomed.
Qin Fangmei saw that the teachers and Lu Shaoyuan were all focused on Shen Ningning. No one had noticed the loose rope yet.
A vicious smile appeared in her eyes.
’In that case, Shen Ningning deserves to die. This is her fate!’
But the rope was loosening very slowly.
Shen Ningning was already nearing the end.
Qin Fangmei wished she could rush over and kick the anchor rope loose herself.
But she didn’t dare, afraid that the Crown Prince and the others on the opposite side would see her.
She could only pray inwardly, ’Hurry up and break, rope! Let Shen Ningning fall! It would be best if she’s smashed to pieces!’
Mo Lingwei kept his eyes fixed on Shen Ningning.
When she was just a few steps away, he started to walk onto the bridge himself.
Chen Shaobei blocked him. "Your Highness, be careful, it’s dangerous."
Shen Ningning was getting tired from walking.
The sun had made her mouth dry and her throat parched.
The little girl wiped the sweat from her forehead, raised her eyes, and gave Mo Lingwei on the other side a smile full of childish innocence.
’I have to thank him properly later!’
Suddenly!
The loose rope snapped taut and then broke!
The entire broken bridge tilted to the left.
The students’ screams rose and fell in waves.
The guard grabbed Shen Ningning instantly, but he lost his own footing and plunged downward.
Pulled by his grip, the little girl tumbled down with him!
"Shen Ningning!" Mo Lingwei roared, striding onto the broken bridge in a single step.
He snagged the whipping, broken rope with one hand, but the momentum pulled him down as well.
"Crown Prince!" Chen Shaobei cried out in alarm.
And at almost the same time.
The bridge collapsed completely, sending splinters of wood and clouds of dust flying everywhere.
