Not far downstream from the waterfall, where the raging river gradually became calm once more, a graceful woman dressed in flowing green and blue robes stood knee-deep in the crystal-clear water.
Despite standing in the river, not a single drop of water touched her robes. Her long jade-green sash fluttered gently in the breeze as an elegant and refined aura surrounded her. A few meters away, a little girl no older than seven sat cross-legged beneath the water with only the top of her head visible.
Tiny streams of bubbles escaped from her nose as she silently practiced a breathing technique. The woman smiled faintly. "Very good... your control has improved." Just as she was about to continue instructing her daughter, something caught her attention.
Far downstream... A body floated lifelessly on the river's surface. Her expression immediately changed. "Su Lan!" "Come out of the water. Quickly." The little girl's head popped out. Her cheeks puffed up in dissatisfaction. "Mama, why?" "I'm still practicing the **Art of Water Breathing**." "I haven't mastered it yet."
The woman did not answer. Her gaze remained fixed on the body drifting toward them. With a gentle wave of her sleeve— Whoosh! She disappeared from where she stood. The next instant, she appeared beside the floating body as though she had crossed space itself. She reached out and lifted the unconscious child from the water. The moment she saw his face, surprise flashed across her beautiful features.
"A child?"
He appeared to be around the same age as her own daughter. His face was pale. His breathing was weak. His pulse was barely detectable. Without hesitation, she released her Spiritual Sense. A gentle wave of spiritual energy swept through his body. Moments later, understanding dawned on her face.
"A Rank One Blue-Eyed Water Python..." "He was bitten by one."
"The venom entered his bloodstream, and the waterfall's impact forced his body into unconsciousness." She immediately retrieved a small jade bottle from her spatial ring. Opening it, she poured out two emerald-colored medicinal pills. Gently opening the boy's mouth, she placed both pills inside. The instant they touched his tongue, they dissolved into pure medicinal essence and flowed throughout his body. The poison that had been spreading through his meridians immediately began to retreat. Far behind her... "
Mama!" Su Lan's voice echoed across the river. "Who is that?" She quickly ran over, water dripping from her clothes. Seeing the unconscious boy in her mother's arms, curiosity immediately filled her bright eyes.
"Is he dead?"
Her mother ignored the question. She remained completely focused on examining the child's injuries. Seeing that she had been ignored, Su Lan pouted. Normally she would have thrown a tantrum. But after years of watching her mother treat injured cultivators, she understood that a healer could not afford distractions.
She quietly stood beside her mother, though the grievance on her little face was impossible to hide. "Hmph..." "So now I'm less important than some strange boy..." After several moments of careful examination, the woman finally nodded to herself. "The poison has been stabilized." "The remaining injuries will heal with rest." She raised a slender finger.
A gentle emerald light flowed from her fingertip. The surrounding spiritual energy gathered together, weaving itself into a soft floating bed made entirely of pure spiritual power. The unconscious Xiao Feng slowly settled onto it as though lying upon the gentlest cloud. The woman stood. "Come." She looked toward Su Lan. "We're taking him home." Su Lan blinked. "Home?" "You mean..." "...he's coming to live with us?" The woman smiled softly but offered no answer. With another wave of her sleeve, the spiritual bed floated into the air and followed obediently behind her. Though confused, Su Lan hurried after her mother. As the three figures disappeared into the dense forest, neither of them noticed the faint blue-and-gold light that briefly flickered beneath Xiao Feng's skin before vanishing once again. The Dragon-Tiger Inheritance had begun quietly healing its new master.