Blazing Armor

After Gong Yingxian was ready, Ren Yi began to use a fire extinguisher to dilute the ammonia gas that had leaked into the control room. As long as the ammonia concentration was low, a spark wouldn’t pose a threat.UIScMzacAurENmMVICxlGxpIvjJdLy

After using two bottles of the fire extinguisher, Ren Yi still felt uneasy. He took off his mask and checked the ammonia concentration with his own senses. It was a bit choking and irritating, but the concentration wasn’t too high yet.jYFalkvQPijDHjPKmfcLxlmIWBDwTu

Gong Yingxian moved the makeshift tools to the side of the door and left the wires for Ren Yi: “When I say to power it on, you power it on. If you can’t hold your breath anymore, come over and switch with me.”MwydyOLPvWdXKxyWpZczEorHyruJaf

Ren Yi replied, “It’s fine, I can manage to breathe.”pqjHACKoaclpoHwloHChgFfTUSVXnh

Gong Yingxian frowned and glanced at Ren Yi. Although he felt pained, he knew they had to break through quickly. He said, “Power it on.”JuFedXRtxvUZHotzxsiWatsgJVElrP

Ren Yi twisted the two wires together and connected them to the power source.BpiiqWYbmUHAUEaTMyGlUBjSrqLNmB

The electric heating wire in Gong Yingxian’s hand began to spark. The principle of this makeshift electric cutting machine was to use resistance to generate a large current, creating sustained high heat to melt metal. However, the one made with limited tools had very little energy; it could cut through some plastic, but when its end touched the aluminum alloy door in front of them, it could only melt a pit the size of a grain of rice each time.PegFGqbCUvmExYoguxtqGyVOosKbgG

But this was their only remaining hope.vwrRtXjntcocFrbsYGowEsgsBMSUWk

Gong Yingxian used this crude tool to try to burn a hole big enough for a hand to pass through at the position of the doorknob, bit by bit.nqAVhphzsXVcMciwcMqHifCkXRbrqQ

In just twenty short minutes, the two of them kept holding their breath and taking turns to breathe oxygen. Even with this careful usage, the air tank was down to only ten percent.wklGlOurMVzEifflaNSoCCCbRnTPDz

Ren Yi watched as the ammonia gas leaked more and more. He simply took off his rescue suit to block the pipe. The temperature inside the room had been continuously dropping, and it was probably now below minus ten degrees. After taking off his clothes, he was even colder, shivering all over.cUVBKSnRGuLALrhBeSLoONHBueRWKO

Cold and lacking oxygen, this pain made him feel like he could faint at any moment. He ran back to Gong Yingxian’s side, connected the mask’s tube to Gong Yingxian’s air tank, and took a deep breath. As the pure air flowed into his lungs, he felt a fleeting sense of being purified from the inside out, but this redemptive feeling was too brief.ssKOmcDSMgmudBTmNCMRwVRZMLZnrM

Gong Yingxian was still focused on melting the door, and a round indentation had already appeared on it.EOanijHwZrgRicTdyXRHGagRSgjQJV

Ren Yi took a few breaths and wanted to return the air tank to Gong Yingxian, but Gong Yingxian shook his head and said softly, “Save it.”hfUgGGewhVUPfQTXahXaLrpgxlLkSY

Leaning against the door, Ren Yi felt his strength draining away. He had inhaled quite a bit of ammonia gas, and his throat burned painfully, his head spun, he felt nauseous, and he couldn’t stop coughing.nOyqvlqvRHTTZnOniMISiotFacXAiJ

So cold, it felt unbearable.NZPBConwGfsRbMddzdrVSikMxQxIXK

Gong Yingxian looked at Ren Yi with red eyes: “Hold me.”GhXBhkpOMldpmWetqfqfKYKvrOrPBI

Ren Yi moved closer and hugged Gong Yingxian from behind, trying to use his body heat to warm them up. Perhaps this embrace wouldn’t alleviate much of their physical plight, but at least it provided some psychological comfort.FFPRdjfJnLIHuYnIzJqDgGmTxWbhfY

Gong Yingxian anxiously watched the melting pit on the door, hoping for it to go faster, just a bit faster.GzLnsBHvjRoYJAdXEOvNyfSYmEVCLP

Finally, the cutting machine melted a complete round shape. Gong Yingxian said, “Where’s the hammer? Let’s try it.”eNXpKFyyzaLwgXyJgArtfVasMorHBw

Ren Yi brought over a screwdriver and a hammer. Gong Yingxian inserted the screwdriver into the melted pit and struck it hard with the hammer. After dozens of strikes, he finally broke through a hole.sMCFNfGYGTZwpYRUapjKBqLphDbHzq

Ren Yi exclaimed excitedly, “It’s through, it’s through… cough cough cough cough…”FmazWDZFekUgsCTvnwCypbjQQcUZRn

“Ren Yi!” Gong Yingxian connected the air tank to him, “Breathe.” Seeing his pale face and bloodshot eyes, his heart ached.sSgGxfCjrxOJgJnlGNJQQlYcQKCXiU

Ren Yi took a breath but was reluctant to use more. He shook his head, “Don’t worry about me, let’s hurry… cough cough… time, I’ll break it, you keep deepening this pit.”tIDmCohndSmKIrfmNpOWrAHSvnafiu

Gong Yingxian squeezed Ren Yi’s hand tightly, then took off his rescue suit and forced it onto Ren Yi.UEUKIlUOgZZryKuPodBoWojVnGlCgs

“No need, I can still hold on.”gJVWXTPGmcGQYWUJdpQzlpKxTjKEaI

“Put it on.” Gong Yingxian grabbed Ren Yi’s arm, “Put it on. If you feel warm, I won’t be cold.”ZAknkhrjlmhEiBzBnqDcsEZwLFEPPa

Ren Yi felt a pang in his nose and forced a smile, “Then let’s take turns wearing it.”VaMpxtBpfwRyXelRVYejZDvsZtlCkz

Gong Yingxian handed the hammer and screwdriver to Ren Yi. He continued to use the cutting machine to melt the metal, while Ren Yi used the last of his strength to strike desperately. When they couldn’t hold on anymore, they would take a breath of air until the air tank was completely exhausted.MdkflaGqJlonascUjjBkZoIeBXepSZ

Ren Yi simply took off the mask, gritting his teeth as he continued to strike. He could already see outside through the hole they had made. Although it was still shrouded in smoke, he knew that at the end of that smoke was the hope of survival.qclOuAgRNPbBXbFbeLIEXaVLoIGWja

The two of them kept coughing, their heads pounding, and breathing became difficult. The low temperature made their hands almost unresponsive.GlOkMeCkFHaiiCYLdWnSKHDhNJxVFf

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through Ren Yi’s hand, and his pained cry was stuck in his throat as the tools fell from his grasp.YTEQhlEVPbRLjegyiuqLqoruXAeaPE

“Ren Yi!” Gong Yingxian grabbed Ren Yi’s hand, which had been injured by the hammer, and futilely blew on it, his eyes reddening with anxiety as he didn’t know how to alleviate his pain.PLzGDtVCuEtItyUQWvfnRNXXdyAMgX

Ren Yi endured the pain: “It’s… it’s fine, you keep going.”HysdnViLSBTvKBBdKUDmUDaBqNnXRp

Gong Yingxian picked up the screwdriver and hammer, continuing to strike with all his might. Finally, a small hole was chiseled open in the door. He quickly reached out his hand, feeling for the latch.AtJrAZYJeXuSkgPIIipYLEIjMgFBGB

Ren Yi looked at him with hope.UCBRMyjNWAMRLnvnUFywUcKxvZifdA

But Gong Yingxian’s face seemed to be shrouded in shadow as he trembled and pulled his hand back: “…It’s locked.”PCtaFIljkxecSicoJXXhXpHSdahuAc

Ren Yi froze. The despair of that moment felt like he had exerted all his strength to climb up, only to be kicked back down.tqKKGbxHSOFvEipRZlkJPqtgrAUsXr

Ren Yi’s knees went weak, and he slid down against the door to the ground. Gong Yingxian squatted down beside him, hugging Ren Yi and tremblingly asked, “How are you?”pMmxmiQqckniakKBjoFvdffxKqpSvd

Ren Yi shook his head: “I’m a bit dizzy, and… a bit cold.” He simply took off the mask; it was useless now anyway.bYCMLYaizyGBXvlGCGyCRoELqNRCTG

Gong Yingxian also removed his mask. He held Ren Yi’s face and kissed him hard: “Ren Yi, you have to hold on. We will definitely get out.” Then he hugged him tightly.MSOkBwFKsvmAqPUSPrSxPjaXLMxbjo

Ren Yi also held Gong Yingxian tightly: “So cold, you’re cold too, right?”BnbgXBhkWCbkXBrcxbAwJfGUCYsrql

A thin layer of white frost had formed on their hair, and the low temperature had slowed all their bodily functions, including their thoughts.RDDUKpAKNUZyphkisYRjJoQsIcVUmh

Gong Yingxian pressed his face against Ren Yi’s: “Your skin is warm.”xdMEbzcmCKuMFdZeIkPAALGWIgsVey

“So are you.” Ren Yi felt drowsy.wpGxuabHWixrYOrhcJMuinjZHQOtuI

“Don’t sleep, talk to me.”yWAPvbbsqesDDnSUWqsFhxBlCdYNZG

“Feilan, I wonder how she’s doing.”wTprTellBhpUDUwgZnXvgAGnGVMoAw

“She should be better off than us.” Gong Yingxian held Ren Yi tightly, wishing he could merge him into his body. “Today was supposed to be a really good day.” Today was the day he planned to confess to Ren Yi. He had never confessed in his life; he had made many preparations, following those social customs that he found silly and boring. He bought flowers, wrote cards, prepared gifts and wine, and anxiously waited for that moment. He vaguely knew that Ren Yi cared about him and probably liked him too.AsOkMyeCODSPuaiEXCUoOWzyCebREb

He had imagined many outcomes, but none of them involved them being trapped in a freezing container at minus twenty degrees.wVvwxgyoLiqJroPAlFRaQRitzzybNQ

“Yeah, it’s a day I’ll never forget.” Ren Yi self-deprecatingly said, “Who knew my life was about to end.”KOYXKaEtkYQpVDrFSJIQLdgRUZClwp

“Impossible, I still have many things to tell you, we still have many things to do. We won’t die here.” Gong Yingxian gritted his teeth, “Maybe someone will come to rescue us.”tfENaPpsnRiRabmsVccwnHPHhYbBVs

“We don’t know… we’re missing, cough cough, there’s no signal inside. Even if we knew, it would be too hard to find someone here.”EYGAYgWyQlHGWajusMYkxvtvNtDcnC

“There must be a way, there must be a way.” Gong Yingxian was unwilling to accept it; he absolutely could not die here. His past had unfinished missions, and his future had Ren Yi. He would never give up on a future with Ren Yi!bjsIVLmAtueSMcVppzdrxqPklDCsiU

“So cold.” The toxic gas and low temperature had already made Ren Yi delirious. “Yingxian, so cold.”lPMkBunKohxTxrvuIitmaLpsjeAATh

Gong Yingxian held Ren Yi tightly. His superior brain had never been so sluggish; the cold made his thoughts difficult. He hated fire, but at this moment, he craved its warmth.yDADJMxYuezcLBkhfLffwgXnaYSrqY

Wait, fire! “Fire…” Gong Yingxian unconsciously said.bweJKtEepUqaSsvqTwsrOxabtaESOg

Ren Yi coughed and laughed, “You can’t start a fire here… it’s better to freeze to death than to burn to death.”EvoxoDXwNDWYwIrLAxdwPZIurvCRHg

Gong Yingxian’s eyes suddenly regained clarity. He struggled to get up: “I have a way.”LPcCjTwtYrOwhLDZczAznyXlqFFlIS

“What?”DPYlwifqOwYOExivOVYRkeWFHSmLuu

Gong Yingxian trembled as he said, “There’s ammonia gas leaking outside too. As long as we ignite it, firefighters will come to put out the fire.”YZyRZEfHECzgzJcobpCMfMRnmwrVeL

Ren Yi was stunned, unsure if he was shivering or nodding, mumbling, “Right, right.”lbrHDWMHLfuEAGJsEYcKOGIdmXpoUE

Gong Yingxian picked up a cardboard tube from a roll of toilet paper, then reconnected the device to the power source. After igniting the cardboard tube, Gong Yingxian threw it out through the hole they had just chiseled.FFQVsWHCCXBixFnmKGnyencUGGXTIE

As soon as the ammonia gas met the open flame, it was instantly ignited in large patches. The flames emitted a pale blue light, floating like ghostly fire on the ground in the darkness.nBPhHBYyDvGBSjPDeJMKAaAcCZhHbe

Gong Yingxian began to hammer the aluminum alloy door, the sound echoing far in the vast cold storage.nfalvklLTAUNULvJOIfJOAxamNtQlJ

Ren Yi lay on the ground, his consciousness gradually slipping away from his body. He heard some indistinct sounds, unable to discern what they were, and he didn’t care anymore. In the haze, he instinctively searched for Gong Yingxian, wanting to grasp his hand, no matter where they went, whether in life or death; he wanted to hold Gong Yingxian’s hand.UMTKDiBUjMVqSWvtneWowthSncUwIP

Then, he fell into a warm and strong embrace, seeing a pair of familiar and anxious eyes.vCEJgXwNmJgqIJbuiJPJBtmryFHfeV

Ah, I’ve got you.WUVwfeMdvkKuaUXRrvpWRUNIaBKqzD