CONGRATULATIONS, USER! ECHOES OF THE LOST CHILDREN: SHOU'S BURIED WRATH—COMPLETE.
The barrier that had held Xue Laohu at bay trembled, fractures running along its surface. The voice rang in Xue Laohu's head like a bell, hollow and detached, but he barely spared it a thought. Xue Tuzi was still in danger. His fingers tightened around his fan as he flicked his wrist, his breath shallow.
"Shizun!"
A familiar voice called out behind him Xue Laohu turned his head slightly, his sharp eyes landing on Li Zhameng who covered his face from the gust of wind but he made his way into the fire.
He strode toward the fire, his steps unrelenting. "Hey, yo, system!" he called out. His voice carried, but what answered him was the usual sickly, hacking cough, as if the system itself had inhaled the smoke.
WELCOME, USER, TO—
"Enough!" Xue Laohu snapped, coughing into his sleeve as he pushed forward. The heat licked at his skin, sweat gathering at his temples. "I need to put this fire out. Immediately. Grant me the power!"
The voice choked—actually choked—before clearing its throat, sputtering as though it too was suffocating on the flames.
NIMBUS WEAVE: ALLOWS USER TO MANIPULATE THE CLOUDS IN THE SKY, SUMMONING RAIN AT WILL. BY CHANNELING THEIR ENERGY, USER CAN CONDENSE MOISTURE IN THE ATMOSPHERE, CAUSING DARK CLOUDS TO FORM. THIS ABILITY IS USEFUL FOR EXTINGUISHING LARGE-SCALE FIRES.
Xue Laohu hummed thoughtfully, knocking aside tree branches and debris with an idle flick of his wrist as he carved a path forward. "Hmmm… what's the catch?" His brows furrowed as he sidestepped a particularly charred log, the embers still glowing beneath the ash.
THIS ABILITY IS WORTH 1000 LIFE POINTS.
Xue Laohu froze mid-step.
"ONE THOUSAND LIFE POINTS?!" he exploded, his voice raw with disbelief. "Are you kidding me? That's robbery! Do you know how long it took me to earn those points?!" He raked a hand through his soot-streaked hair, his teeth grinding together. It was as if the system existed solely to drain him dry—no matter how much he gathered, it always found a way to snatch it away. He inhaled sharply, forcing down his irritation.
"Fine," he muttered through clenched teeth, his voice dripping with bitterness. "At least this ability will be useful in the future."
THIS ABILITY IS A ONE-TIME USE. ONCE ACTIVATED, IT CANNOT BE USED AGAIN.
Xue Laohu stilled, his eye twitching.
"Fucking great," he grumbled under his breath. "Why do I even bother?" He exhaled heavily, rubbing his temple before throwing his hands up in exasperation. "Ugh, fine! Let's go!"
With a reluctant tap on the screen, he watched his hard-earned life points dwindle down to nothing. His gut twisted at the sight, but there was no time to dwell on it. Drawing his sword, he hopped onto the blade, the metal humming beneath his feet as he propelled himself into the air. The heat from the flames rose in waves, licking at his skin as he hovered above the inferno. His hands clasped together, fingers forming intricate seals as he chanted:
"By the breath of the sky, by the whispers of the storm, I call the clouds to gather, their essence to transform. Nimbus Weave, arise and pour, let the heavens cry. With this rain, the earth shall thrive—now heed my cry!"
The sky rumbled in response. Thick, dark clouds swirled overhead, rolling in like an ominous tide. A low groan reverberated through the heavens before, suddenly, the downpour began. Heavy sheets of rain slammed against the earth, hissing as they met the flames. Steam curled into the air as the fire fought back, but the storm was relentless. The inferno that had once devoured the land now dwindled, smothered beneath the torrential rain.
Meanwhile, deep within the charred remains of the forest, Shudu finally reached the cocoon—a shimmering, translucent barrier that cradled Xue Tuzi and Jiao Jiao within its protective embrace. The fire had licked at its edges, but the flames had never touched them.
"Good job, Xiao Jiao," Shudu murmured, his voice hoarse as he reached down and carefully pried the cocoon from the ashen ground. His arms tightened around it, but the moment he straightened, agony lanced through his body. His vision blurred, the wound in his torso pulsing with renewed pain. Blood seeped through his shirt, the warmth sticky against his fingers.
A sharp gasp left his lips as his knees buckled, sending him crashing to the ground. He groaned, his breaths coming in ragged pants. His gaze flickered toward the cocoon, his chest tightening at the sight of Xue Tuzi and Jiao Jiao curled up together within its confines. Even in unconsciousness, they clung to each other. A faint, weary smile tugged at his lips.
With sheer force of will, he pushed himself up again, his body trembling under the effort. Step by agonizing step, he dragged the cocoon forward, his muscles screaming in protest. He stumbled, collapsed, groaned—but did not stop.
By the time he reached safety, his strength had nearly abandoned him. His knees buckled once more, and this time, he did not rise.
"Shudu Gongzi!"
The familiar voice barely registered before Li Zhameng came barreling toward him, his expression stricken. He skidded to a stop, immediately kneeling at Shudu's side as the demon slumped forward. With the fires extinguished and the storm beginning to wane, the battlefield had fallen into a tense silence, the only sound remaining the soft patter of rain against scorched earth.
Xue Laohu descended from the sky, his robes billowing as he landed. His gaze swept over the scene before him, assessing the damage. Without hesitation, he turned to Li Zhameng.
"Quickly—to the sect," he commanded.
Li Zhameng nodded, hoisting the cocoon into his arms while Xue Laohu moved to Shudu's side. Without a word, he slung the injured man over his back, adjusting his hold with practiced ease. The weight was heavy, but Shudu's condition was worsening, they had to move quickly.
A sudden voice, desperate and breathless, rang out from the ruins of the forest.
"Wait! Wait for me!"
Xiao Zongzi stumbled toward them, her body soaked through, her hair plastered to her face. She gasped for air, her legs shaking as she pushed forward, refusing to be left behind. The moment she reached her master's side, she clambered onto Xue Laohu's other shoulder, her legs already moving to tend to Shudu's wounds as they made their way back to Sect Mount Dingbu.
The dim light of the evening filtered through the thin silk walls of the cocoon, casting a soft golden glow over the room. Xue Laohu stood in the doorway, his broad shoulders framed by the flickering lantern light from the hall. His short, shaggy hair was disheveled, and his usually pristine robes were stained with blood and dirt. Despite his disheveled appearance, his sharp, handsome features still carried an air of authority. His dark eyes, usually piercing and commanding, were now heavy with exhaustion as he stepped inside.
The cocoon, spun by Jiao Jiao, hung suspended from the ceiling like a delicate chrysalis. It had protected Xue Tuzi and Jiao Jiao during the aftermath of the battle, but now it was time to tend to their wounds. Xue Laohu approached it with a mix of urgency and care, his hands carefully slicing through the silk threads. The cocoon split open, revealing Xue Tuzi, pale and unconscious, his robes damp with sweat. Beside him, Jiao Jiao stirred weakly, his tiny form curled protectively near Xue Tuzi's chest. His injuries were minor—a few scratches and bruises—but his exhaustion was evident in the way his face scrunched.
"Xiao Jiao," Xue Laohu murmured, he reached in and carefully lifted the child, cradling him in his arms. "You've done well, little one. Rest now."
Jiao Jiao blinked up at him, his tiny voice barely a whisper. "Is…going to be okay?"
Xue Laohu's jaw tightened, but he gave the child a reassuring nod. "He's strong. He'll pull through." He carried Jiao Jiao to the cradle next to Xue Tuzi's bed, tucking him in with a soft blanket. The child's eyes fluttered shut almost immediately, his breathing steadying as he drifted into sleep.
Turning back to Xue Tuzi, Xue Laohu's expression darkened. His disciple's robes were torn and bloodied, his body wrapped in silk bandages that were already soaked through. A fever burned beneath his skin, his breaths shallow and uneven. Xue Laohu knelt beside the bed, his hands carefully unwrapping the bandages to assess the damage. The wounds were deep—claw marks and gashes from Xiao Hua's stinger—and though they had stopped bleeding, the risk of infection was high.
He dipped a cloth into a basin of warm water mixed with medicinal herbs, gently cleaning the wounds. Xue Tuzi stirred faintly, his ears twitching, but he didn't wake. Xue Laohu worked tirelessly, his movements precise and methodical despite his weariness. He applied a poultice to the wounds, the sharp scent of herbs filling the room, then rewrapped them with fresh bandages. By the time he was done, the first light of dawn was beginning to creep through the window.
Leaving Xue Tuzi to rest, Xue Laohu moved to the adjacent room where Shudu lay. The room was quieter, the air tinged with the faint metallic scent of blood. Shudu's regenerative abilities had already done most of the work—his wounds had closed, leaving only faint scars across his torso. He was sitting up on the bed, his usually braided hair hanging loose, the dark curls cascading down his back like a waterfall. His crimson eye, though weary, was alert as he turned his head toward the door.
Xue Laohu entered, carrying a steaming bowl of dumplings. The savory aroma filled the room, a small comfort amidst the tension. Shudu's gaze flicked to the bowl, then back to Xue Laohu.
"How is he?" Shudu asked, his voice low but steady. His fingers absently traced the scar on his torso, a reminder of the stinger that had nailed him to the tree.
Xue Laohu set the bowl on a nearby table and sighed, running a hand through his shaggy hair. "Still fighting a fever. But he's strong. He'll make it."
Shudu nodded, his expression unreadable. He shifted slightly, wincing as the movement pulled at his healing muscles. "And Xiao Jiao?"
"He's fine. Just exhausted. He's sleeping now." Xue Laohu crossed his arms, his gaze drifting to the window where Xiao Zongzi hung, spinning a delicate web. The spider demon's movements were slow and deliberate, her eyes reflecting the faint light as she worked.
"This venerable one will be leaving by sunset," Shudu murmured, tilting his head back against the pillow. His expression was unreadable, but the melancholy in his eyes betrayed him.
Xue Laohu, who had been sitting by the bedside, straightened at once. "Huh? What? No. Why?" His face twisted with something between confusion and concern, his brows knitting together.
Shudu exhaled softly, staring up at the ceiling as though it held the answers to questions he had long stopped asking. "The moment he wakes up, he'll try to kill me."
"A-Tuzi?" Xue Laohu asked, though he already knew the answer.
He hadn't been there to witness the full extent of Xue Tuzi and Xiao Hua's twisted exchange firsthand, but thanks to the system's stored video album, he had seen enough. The system, in its usual infuriating manner, had made sure to notify him of every critical moment he had missed. Most of the time, he kept those notifications on silent, but when it came to battle-related footage, he made sure to review it.
And what he had seen had left a bad taste in his mouth.
Xiao Hua had claimed to be Shudu's bride. Worse, she had boasted about how Shudu had benefited from the massacre of the orphanage children—how he had dual cultivated with her, soaking in the blood of the innocent.
Xue Laohu clenched his jaw, his fingers drumming against his knee. There was no way Xue Tuzi would let that go. The look in his eyes, the way he had sworn vengeance—Xue Laohu knew his disciple well. Even if Shudu hadn't wanted it, even if he had been forced into it, Xue Tuzi wouldn't care. His hatred ran too deep.
With a quiet sigh, Xue Laohu ran a hand through his hair. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he wanted to believe that Xue Tuzi could be reasoned with, that he would understand Shudu had no choice. But would he? His gaze shifted toward Shudu, who was still lying there, his usual confidence nowhere to be found. His striking features, usually charming and poised, were now darkened by an uncharacteristic gloom.
Xue Laohu sighed. "Leave it to me. I'll talk to him."
Shudu gave a quiet chuckle, but there was no amusement in it. "There is no need. His resentment knows no bounds."
Xue Laohu rolled his eyes. "Don't you like him?"
The reaction was instant.
Shudu's entire body tensed, his head snapping toward Xue Laohu with wide, scandalized eyes. A faint blush crept up his cheeks, betraying him before he could even open his mouth.
"You like him," Xue Laohu pressed, a smirk tugging at his lips. "I can tell."
Shudu quickly turned away with a huff, crossing his arms as though shielding himself from the accusation. "This venerable one was simply using him to advance his cultivation," he sniffed, his voice deliberately detached.
Xue Laohu wasn't buying it. "Oh? Then why are you blushing?"
"I am not—"
Before Shudu could finish, Xue Laohu flicked his fan open and smacked him squarely on the forehead.
"Ow! What the—?!"
"Stop being so damn stubborn and let me help," Xue Laohu barked, rising to his feet.
Shudu scowled, rubbing his forehead. "Grandmaster Xue—"
But Xue Laohu was already striding toward the door. His smirk faded as soon as he stepped into the hallway, his expression darkening.
Sweat beaded on his brow as he exhaled slowly.
Fixing things between Xue Tuzi and Shudu was going to be anything but easy. Despite their so-called "copulation," the two were far from drawn together by love—let alone anything unbreakable.
Right now, it was Xue Tuzi's heart that needed healing. And that… would be the hardest task of all.