Exiled!? Ha! I have An Infinite Space-Chapter 51 -

The moment Fu Li’s eyes fully opened and she recognized me standing before her in the dim, flickering torchlight, her entire expression collapsed so suddenly that it was as though all the fear she had been suppressing finally broke free at once, her lips trembling uncontrollably before the tears came rushing down her mud-streaked cheeks.

"S-sister-in-law..."

And then she burst into loud sobs.

The sound echoed sharply within the walls of the pit, raw and desperate, her shoulders shaking violently as though the reality of everything that had just happened was only now sinking in.

"Weeeehh!"

For a brief moment, I simply stood there, slightly stunned by the intensity of it, because although I understood perfectly well that she had just survived something truly horrifying, I could not help the small cringe that flickered across my face.

"I-I thought I was going to die...!"

Her voice cracked between sobs, her entire body trembling from exhaustion and lingering fear.

Rainwater continued streaming relentlessly into the hole around us, muddy puddles forming rapidly along the uneven ground, the water rising noticeably with each passing second. I glanced briefly at the accumulating pools, then back at Fu Li, whose crying showed absolutely no signs of stopping.

"...Fu Li."

She continued sobbing.

"Fu Li."

Still nothing.

The urgency of the situation tightened painfully in my chest as the rainwater crept closer around our feet, the mud beneath us growing softer.

Finally, my patience gave way.

"Fu Li, enough!"

She stiffened instantly.

Her tear-filled eyes widened as she looked up at me, startled by the sudden sharpness in my tone.

"This is not the time for this," I said firmly, stepping closer as I grabbed her arm without hesitation. "Look around you."

Confused and shaken, Fu Li blinked through her tears, her gaze slowly drifting across the pit until realization struck her almost immediately.

The rain was pouring endlessly down, Her face drained of color.

"We need to move," I told her, my voice now edged with urgency. "If we stay here any longer, this hole will turn into a muddy grave."

Panic instantly replaced her sobbing as she frantically wiped at her tears, nodding rapidly while struggling to steady her trembling body.

I wasted no time pulling her toward the rope’s reach, the robe tied around my waist tightening slightly as I positioned her beneath it. Her movements were unsteady, her limbs weak from exhaustion, but fear proved to be an excellent motivator.

"Hold this properly."

Fu Li obeyed immediately, her shaking hands gripping the soaked fabric.

Yet even then, hesitation flickered in her eyes.

"Sister-in-law... I am scared..."

I grabbed her shoulders firmly, forcing her to focus on me.

"Listen to me carefully." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Her breathing was uneven, her body trembling.

"Just keep climbing," I instructed, guiding her hands securely onto the rope. "Do not rush, because rushing will only make you slip, and slipping is the last thing either of us can afford right now."

The rainwater swirled around our ankles.

"Climb slowly."

Her grip tightened.

"Climb carefully."

I leaned slightly closer, ensuring my voice cut through her panic.

"I am right behind you."

Fu Li swallowed nervously, then gave a weak nod.

With visibly trembling limbs, she began climbing, her feet slipping slightly against the muddy wall before finally finding balance against exposed roots and uneven patches of compacted soil. Above us, the guards tightened their hold on the rope, their silhouettes shifting faintly in the distant light.

And as Fu Li continued her slow climbing, I stayed close behind her.

......

As Fu Li and I continued climbing upward through the rain-soaked walls of the pit, the tension above us grew heavier with every movement we made.

The guards held the rope firmly despite the mud and rain, their bodies braced with effort, while Fu Sheng stood closest to the edge, his eyes locked onto us without blinking, both hands already stretched forward, waiting, ready to grab us the moment we came close enough.

Fu Li climbed ahead of me.

Her movements were slow, careful, but visibly strained from exhaustion.

Rainwater streamed endlessly down the muddy walls, making every surface slippery, every foothold uncertain. Still, we were making progress. The distance between us and the surface was shrinking, and relief slowly began creeping into my chest.

Just a few more climbs.

Just a little more.

We were almost there.

Fu Li reached forward, her breathing uneven as she searched for something stable to support herself. Her hand found a protruding rock, and without hesitation, she grabbed hold of it, her fingers wrapping tightly as she shifted her weight upward.

For a brief moment, Everything seemed fine.

Then suddenly..

The soaked fabric around the rock gave way.

The robe she had been holding for support slipped violently from her grasp, sliding downward along the mud-slick surface before disappearing into the darkness below.

And in that exact moment, Fu Li lost her balance.

Her body jerked backward and her feet slipped.

"Sister-in-law—!"

Her terrified scream tore through the storm as her body tilted dangerously away from the wall.

My heart nearly stopped.

Without thinking, without hesitation, I lunged forward, my hand shooting out instantly as I grabbed her arm with all the strength I had left.

The sudden force pulled hard against me as my own footing collapsed.

Mud crumbled beneath my shoes and within seconds both of us were no longer climbing, we were dangling.. suspended helplessly in the air.

Gasps erupted above.

The rope strained violently under our combined weight, the guards’ bodies jerking forward as the downward force pulled sharply against their grip.

Fu Li clung to me desperately, her body shaking uncontrollably as fear overtook her completely.

"Sister-in-law!"

Above us, panic spread instantly.

"Hold the rope!"

"She slipped!"

"Do not lose your grip!"

The Head Guard moved forward sharply, his voice cutting through the chaos.

"Steady yourselves!"

The guards adjusted frantically, their boots slipping slightly in the mud as they struggled to stabilize their footing.

Fu Sheng’s face lost all color.

Without hesitation, he dropped to his knees at the edge of the pit, his hands stretching forward even further, his voice filled with raw panic.

"SU LONG!"

’’’’’’’’

Su Long’s body remained suspended in the cold, rain-filled air, the rope digging painfully against her waist as the storm continued pouring relentlessly around them. For a brief moment, everything felt frozen, as though time itself had paused to witness the fragile balance between disaster and survival.

Slowly, she lifted her gaze.

First toward Fu Li.

Then upward.

Toward Fu Sheng.

He stood at the edge of the pit, leaning so dangerously forward that it seemed as though he might fall at any second, both hands stretched desperately into the darkness as if sheer willpower alone could somehow make them longer, make them reach further, make them save them both.

Su Long’s chest tightened.

There was no time and room for hesitation, she had only one choice.

Her eyes shifted back to Fu Li, whose face was completely drained of color, tears mixing helplessly with rain as fear consumed every inch of her trembling body.

"Fu Li."

Her voice was calm.

Steady.

Even in that terrifying moment.

Fu Li’s tear-filled eyes lifted weakly.

"Sister-in-law..."

"I need you to listen to me very carefully."

Fu Li’s breathing shook violently.

"Take a deep breath."

Fear flickered across Fu Li’s face.

But Su Long’s grip tightened.

"Close your eyes."

Fu Li hesitated.

"Trust me."

For a brief second, uncertainty lingered.

Then... slowly, Fu Li closed her eyes.

Her trembling body obeying.

Su Long inhaled sharply, gathering every ounce of strength left within her exhausted limbs, her muscles already screaming from strain, the rain making everything heavier, colder and way more difficult.

Then before Fu Li could react and before anyone could understand what was going on.

Su Long moved.

With every bit of force she had, she swung Fu Li upward.

The motion was sudden and it was quite dangerous.

At the exact same moment, Su Long loosened her own hold.

Releasing the support that kept her anchored.

And let herself fall.

Fu Li’s body shot upward through the rain-filled darkness, the momentum carrying her toward the surface with shocking speed.

Above, Fu Sheng’s eyes widened.

"Fu Li!"

Without thinking, he lunged forward.

And caught her.

His arms wrapped around her instantly as the guards tightened the rope, pulling her steadily upward, away from the pit, away from danger.

Fu Li clung to him desperately, her body shaking violently as she was dragged fully onto solid ground.

Then, realization struck.

Her eyes widened in horror.

"Sister-in-law?!"

She twisted frantically.

Searching.

But Su Long, was gone.

Swallowed by darkness.

One of the guards reacted instantly, gripping the rope tightly.

"Pull!"

He yanked hard.

But the resistance never came.

Instead —

The entire rope came flying upward.

Empty.

Rainwater dripping from its length.

The guard’s face paled.

"...She let go."

Silence fell like a crushing weight.

Because everyone understood exactly what that meant.

Su Long, Had fallen back into the pit.