Li Xuan lay in Ling Yue's arms.
Unconscious.
His breathing shallow.
Around them—
A circle of Blackfire wolves had formed.
Thirty… forty figures in the dark.
Silent.
Still.
Their glowing eyes fixed on her.
The air grew heavy.
Cold.
Not a single sound broke the stillness.
Ling Yue didn't look at them.
Not yet.
She stepped forward—
Slowly.
Then stopped.
Without a word—
She lowered herself.
Carefully—
She placed Li Xuan on the cold stone ground.
Her movements precise.
Gentle.
A stark contrast to the danger surrounding them.
The wolves watched.
Bodies tense.
Claws pressed lightly against the stone.
A low growl trembled in the air—
Yet none dared to move.
Ling Yue's hand rose.
A pill appeared between her fingers.
Dark pink.
Faintly glowing.
Without hesitation—
She brought it to his lips.
Steady.
Careful.
The pill slipped into his mouth.
Her fingers paused—
Just for a moment.
Then withdrew.
Her gaze rested on his face.
Silent.
Still.
A thin trace of blood marked his lips.
Her eyes lingered—
For the briefest instant.
Then—
She stood.
Slowly.
Gracefully.
And finally—
She turned.
Facing the wolves.
Ling Yue's gaze rested on them.
Cold.
Unmoved.
The silence stretched.
Then—
A sword appeared in her hand.
Quietly.
Its blade angled downward—
Still.
The air tightened.
The wolves felt it.
Their bodies stiffened.
Low growls rippled through the pack—
Uneasy.
Ling Yue stepped forward.
Just once.
Then—
She vanished.
A pale blue streak cut through the darkness—
Like a flash of frozen lightning.
It passed through the pack in an instant.
Too fast to follow.
Then—
Stillness.
Several wolves froze in place.
Thin lines traced across their bodies.
For a single breath—
Nothing.
Then—
Slash.
Blood burst into the air.
One after another—
Their bodies split apart.
Frost spread across the wounds—
Ice fragments scattering as they fell.
Ling Yue stood beyond them—
Unchanged.
Her sword hanging loosely at her side.
Blood hung faintly in the air.
Thin streaks drifting downward—
Mixed with shards of ice that melted upon the stone.
Ling Yue stood where she was.
Still.
Unmoving.
Her sword lowered at her side—
As if it had never been used.
Her gaze lifted.
Settling on the remaining wolves.
Calm.
Indifferent.
An unseen pressure spread through the air.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
The Blackfire wolves felt it instantly.
Their bodies stiffened.
Ears flattened.
Low growls faded into uneasy whines.
Not one stepped forward.
A wolf at the edge moved back.
Then another.
The circle broke.
Fear replaced instinct.
Without warning—
They turned.
Retreating deeper into the cave.
Fast.
Uneven.
Until their presence vanished into the darkness.
Silence returned once more.
Ling Yue remained where she stood—
Unchanged.
Her gaze shifted.
Deeper into the cave.
Movement flickered within the darkness.
Not just wolves.
Other creatures.
Different forms.
All moving in the same direction.
Fast.
Uneven.
As if fleeing—
Or being drawn toward something unseen.
Her eyes lingered for a moment.
Watching.
Measuring.
Then—
She looked away.
Uninterested.
Whatever lay deeper—
It did not concern her.
She turned back.
To Li Xuan.
Ling Yue stepped forward and knelt beside him.
Her clothes were stained dark—
Blood from both wolves and man.
He lay still.
Breathing faint.
Unconscious.
Her gaze lowered to his arm.
The fabric was torn open.
The wound beneath—
Deep.
Severe.
But the bleeding had slowed.
The effect of the pill.
Her eyes paused there—
A fraction longer than before.
Then moved on.
Tracing the rest of his injuries.
Silent.
Careful.
Assessing.
Without a word.
Ling Yue's gaze lingered on him.
Quiet.
Steady.
Then—
She moved.
One arm slipped beneath his back.
The other supported his side.
Careful.
Precise.
She lifted him into her arms—
Slowly.
Mindful of his wounds.
His body leaned against her.
Unconscious.
Still.
Ling Yue rose to her feet.
Effortless.
Composed.
For a brief moment—
She paused.
Her eyes shifted toward the depths of the cave.
Dark.
Unseen.
Something stirred there—
Distant.
Unclear.
Then—
She looked away.
Uninterested.
Without hesitation—
She turned.
And began to walk.
Step by step—
Toward the cave's exit.
Her figure moved through the dim passage—
Silent.
Unhurried.
Carrying him away—
Leaving the darkness behind.