It seems things have gone awry by accident.
However, Li Yunlong and Xu Lin, though a step behind in calling out to Gu Shangse, were still quite reliable.
They stood on the rooftop and directly yelled down, "Gu Shangse, Su Ling is back."
The two spoke in unison, with such perfect coordination that their combined volume could be considered a small loudspeaker.
Whether Gu Shangse, who had dived underwater, heard them was unclear, but Su Ling, sitting in the lifeboat, certainly did.
Upon hearing the shouts, Su Ling stopped rowing the lifeboat and looked up towards the rooftop.
As she raised her head, she saw Li Yunlong and Xu Lin leaning over the edge of the rooftop, loudly calling Gu Shangse's name.
Su Ling vaguely guessed that Gu Shangse might have come looking for her because she hadn't returned all night.
This person, could he have dived into the water, intending to enter the building through yesterday's window to find her?
She wasn't in that building, and even if he entered through that window, he wouldn't find her.
With this thought, Su Ling glanced at the turbulent water surface and her clear, cold voice rang out, "Gu Shangse."
The only response Su Ling received was the surrounding silence, punctuated by the occasional roars from the building.
Raising her hand to her forehead in exasperation, Su Ling called out again, "Gu Shangse—"
With a splash, the sound of water came from behind her, and Su Ling whipped her head around.
Gu Shangse was not far behind her, having just surfaced from the water.
Seeing Su Ling safe and sound, Gu Shangse waved at her and then swam in her direction.
As for Su Ling, after seeing Gu Shangse, she let out a small sigh of relief and was about to speak when her heart suddenly leaped into her throat.
Not far behind Gu Shangse, a large snake was swimming in the water, its tongue flicking out as it approached Gu Shangse.
In the water, if Gu Shangse were bitten by the snake, his chances would be dire.
She mused that the continuous days of heavy rain must have caused snakes from a snake farm to escape.
Looking at the water, she wondered if there were any crocodiles.
Gu Shangse also noticed something amiss with Su Ling and sensed something following him from behind. Just as he was about to turn, Su Ling's voice rang out, "Don't turn around, swim forward."
Those six words instilled a sense of security in Gu Shangse, and he indeed did not turn back, swimming directly forward.
Su Ling snapped her fingers, and a ball of flame flickered at her fingertips. She transformed the flame into a fire blade.
Then, with a 'whoosh,' she sent the fire blade flying. The fire blade flew past Gu Shangse's head, just grazing his hair.
The large snake seemed to have gained sentience. As Su Ling's fire blade flew towards its tongue, it dipped its tongue underwater to evade the blade.
Once the danger passed, it raised its head from the water again.
As if to get a clear look at its attacker, it paused in the water, its snake eyes fixed forward.
After locking onto Su Ling, it saw the fire blade flying towards it again and submerged itself once more.
This time, it did not resurface after diving underwater, seemingly vanishing into the depths.
Meanwhile, Gu Shangse had already reached the lifeboat. Su Ling reached out and pulled him into the boat, where he sat, dripping wet.
Su Ling had already drawn her Tang dao from the umbrella handle strapped to her back. She stared intently at the rippling water surface.
That snake had clearly gained intelligence, and was likely lurking in the water now, waiting to ambush them!
After catching his breath, Gu Shangse spoke at the opportune moment, "Three o'clock from your position, it should be there."
Looking at Su Ling, Gu Shangse said.
Hearing his voice, Su Ling turned to look at Gu Shangse, "How do you know?"
Gu Shangse looked up, his clear eyes meeting Su Ling's, "It seems that besides being able to hear people's thoughts, I can also hear the thoughts of animals."