Nie Li felt his face heat up the moment Xiao Ning'er's words registered.
"This is Inappropriate…" he muttered, rubbing his nose awkwardly, clearly flustered. "I–I'm actually a decent guy!"
A sharp glare shot his way.
"For the sake of healing," Nie Li snapped, clenching his fist, "one must also not be bothered by such things!"
Xiao Ning'er, on the other hand, had completely malfunctioned.
Her eyes went wide, face instantly turning scarlet as steam practically rose from her head. She made a strangled noise and turned away sharply, hugging her arms to her chest.
"—!"
Nie Li swallowed.
He sucked in a sharp breath.
Focus.
Focus.
She's like a sister-in-law!
Suddenly—
"Gulp."
Karma stiffened where he stood.
His eyes widened.
"…!"
A thin stream of red slid down from his nose.
Xiao Ning'er noticed and froze.
"…You're bleeding."
"…Oh no," he whispered.
Nie Li's eyes snapped sideways. "You."
"I SWEAR I'M NOT LOOKING!" Karma yelled immediately, slapping both hands over his eyes. "THIS IS A PURELY PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE!"
Xiao Ning'er turned red and looked away.
The forest around them was silent.
Above, the moon hung low, bathing the clearing in pale silver light. An owl perched on a branch nearby, blinking lazily as it watched the strange trio below.
"Hoo."
Karma glanced at it.
"…Don't judge me."
Nie Li turned back just in time to see the bruising along Xiao Ning'er's ribs.
His expression changed instantly.
"…Her ribs," he murmured.
The color there was far darker than the bruise on her foot—deep violet, tinged with icy blue.
"The discoloration is much worse than the one on her foot," Nie Li muttered, jaw tightening.
His fingers trembled slightly as soul force gathered again, glowing softly in his palm.
How could a girl this young endure pain like this…?
Blue soul energy wrapped around his hand as he carefully placed it near the injury.
"How can a young teenage girl withstand such pain and suffering," Nie Li said quietly.
Karma pressed his forehead against a tree trunk.
"…I suddenly feel very ashamed of all my life choices."
Above them, the moon shone silently.
Karma cleared his throat, breaking the tension.
"…For the record," he said solemnly, "I am witnessing this as a medical professional."
Nie Li didn't look up.
"You are not."
"…A concerned bystander?"
"Still no."
Karma sighed.
"…Then I'll just be morally supportive."
Despite herself, Xiao Ning'er's shoulders relaxed—just a little.
The blue glow faded completely.
Nie Li straightened, wiping the sweat from his brow as a wide grin spread across his face.
"It's done!"
Xiao Ning'er blinked, startled by the sudden cheerfulness. She slowly tested her breathing—
The stabbing pain was gone.
Only a faint soreness remained.
"…Thank you," she said softly, fingers brushing her arm as if to confirm it was real.
Nie Li nodded, satisfied.
"For the next few days, the pain may return briefly, but it'll be manageable. Once your body adapts, it will disappear completely."
Karma leaned back against a tree, hands raised dramatically.
Nie Li continued, regaining his serious tone.
"These next few days are crucial. You must not cultivate at night until you fully break through Bronze Rank."
He looked directly at her.
"If you ignore this, the consequences will be severe."
She nodded immediately.
"I understand."
Satisfied, Nie Li handed her the scroll back.
"Well then," he said, slinging it over his shoulder,
"I should go now."
Xiao Ning'er stepped forward suddenly.
"Wait."
Nie Li paused.
"Thank you," she said earnestly.
"If it weren't for you… the outcome would've been unimaginable."
Nie Li smiled faintly.
"It's nothing."
Karma pointed at himself.
"And me?"
She hesitated… then bowed slightly.
"…Thank you too."
Karma beamed.
Nie Li turned away.
"Let's go."
Xiao Ning'er looked up at him quickly. "Nie Li… if you ever need my help in the future, I'll definitely do everything I can."
He smiled at her—bright, confident, utterly sincere.
"If I need help," he said, "I'll come find you."
With that, Nie Li turned and leapt lightly into the bushes, his figure disappearing between the trees.
Xiao Ning'er watched his back until he vanished completely.
The forest grew quiet after Nie Li disappeared into the trees.
For a moment, only the sound of rustling leaves and distant insects filled the clearing.
Xiao Ning'er remained standing where she was, fingers clenched lightly at her side, her gaze fixed on the shadowed path where Nie Li had disappeared.
The pain in her body had eased, reduced to a dull warmth beneath her skin—but her heart refused to settle.
The night felt too quiet.
Beside her, Karma stretched lazily, rolling his shoulders as though the tension of the evening had never touched him.
"Well," he said casually, breaking the silence, "that was… intense. Now you are free of stress right?"
She startled faintly, then turned toward him.
Freedom?
"…Karma."
"Hmm?" He glanced at her.
Her voice lowered, hesitant. "You know I'm… engaged, right?"
He blinked.
"Engaged?"
"To Shen Fei," she said softly. "From the Sacred Family."
His expression darkened immediately.
"That playboy?"
She nodded.
Karma frowned, clearly displeased. "Then why accept it?"
"I didn't," she replied, fingers tightening.
"Then refuse."
Her lips parted, then pressed together again.
"…I can't."
He crossed his arms. "Why not?"
"My family won't listen," she said quietly. "Unless…they are convinced that there's a much better match."
For just a heartbeat, her eyes lifted to him.
The meaning was fragile. Unspoken. Hanging in the air.
Karma didn't notice.
"A better match…" he muttered. "So someone stronger than Shen Fei."
He snapped his fingers, confidence returning.
"Easy."
She stiffened.
"Just refuse and train harder," he continued. "If you become stronger than him and your family, no one can force you."
Her expression froze.
That wasn't what she meant at all.
Among the branches nearby, Nie Li paused mid-step.
…Idiot.
A faint sigh escaped him as he listened.
Karma, entirely unaware, went on.
"Anyway, don't worry about it tonight. You should rest."
She hesitated. "But—"
"If anyone gives you trouble," he added lightly, waving a hand, "just tell them you're under Uzumaki Karma's protection."
The words were careless.
Unthinking.
And devastating.
Xiao Ning'er's face flushed instantly, heat rushing to her cheeks as her heart slammed against her ribs.
"…U-Under your… protection?" she repeated faintly.
"Yeah," Karma said with an easy grin. "Problem solved."
High above, Nie Li pinched the bridge of his nose.
Then—silently—he gave a thumbs-up.
Hopeless… yet somehow impressive.
Then Karma notice her reaction.
"…Hey," he said, leaning closer. "Your face is really red. Are you okay?"
She startled, stepping back quickly.
"I-I'm fine!"
Her words tangled together as she turned away.
"I-I should go! I need to rest!"
Before he could respond, she hurried past him, nearly stumbling as she fled into the trees.
Karma stood there, staring after her retreating figure.
"…Did I say something wrong?"
No answer came.
Only the soft rustle of leaves remained.
From the shadows above, Nie Li watched Xiao Ning'er disappear into the forest, her steps hurried but determined.
She's stronger than she believes, he thought.
In his previous life, Xiao Ning'er had faced everything alone—too proud to ask for help, too burdened by illness to believe she deserved it. She had endured until there was almost nothing left.
This time… it's different.
Nie Li's gaze shifted back to Karma, who still stood in the clearing, scratching his head in confusion.
…Unbelievable.
Karma Uzumaki—once the Jade Emperor who stood beside him against the Sage Emperor—could face gods without fear, yet failed to recognize a confession even when it brushed past him.
And yet—
Nie Li's expression softened.
That same uncalculated sincerity. That instinctive need to protect without asking for anything in return. Those were the qualities that had once placed Karma at the front lines of fate itself.
He hasn't changed where it matters.
Xiao Ning'er needs someone who won't see her illness first. Someone who won't weigh benefits or outcomes.
Her family won't protect her.
The Sacred Family never will.
But Karma will.
Whether he understands it… or not.
Nie Li exhaled slowly.
Tonight, more than one fate had shifted.