"Aah—"
A sharp cry escaped Li Xuan as pain surged through his hand.
His body tensed.
Breath uneven.
His eyes flew open.
For a moment—
Everything was blurred.
Light.
Shadows.
Leaves above.
Then his vision slowly focused.
And the first thing he saw—
Was Ling Yue.
Kneeling beside him.
Treating the wound on his hand.
He stared for a heartbeat,
almost as if unsure whether he was still dreaming.
"…Ling Yue?"
His voice came out weak and hoarse.
Ling Yue lifted her gaze toward him.
Her expression remained calm.
"You're awake."
Li Xuan gave a faint nod.
"Yes… but—"
Before he could continue—
Ling Yue cut him off.
"Stay still."
Her tone was quiet,
yet left no room for argument.
"Let me finish treating the wound first."
She lowered her gaze again
and spread more medicinal powder across the torn flesh.
The medicine touched the wound—
"Aah—"
Li Xuan hissed through clenched teeth.
Ling Yue did not stop.
"Don't be childish."
Her voice remained cool.
"It will hurt."
"Bear it."
Her fingers continued moving—
steady.
Precise.
While Li Xuan could only grit his teeth and endure.
Ling Yue finished applying the medicine.
Then she took a clean strip of cloth
and began wrapping Li Xuan's injured hand.
Layer by layer—
Binding the wound carefully.
Neither spoke until she secured the final strip.
Only then did Li Xuan break the silence.
"What happened…"
His voice was hoarse.
"…after I fell?"
Ling Yue's hands stilled.
Then she answered.
In a calm voice,
she briefly told him what had happened—
the wolves,
the abyss,
and how she brought him out.
When she finished—
Silence returned.
Li Xuan stared ahead,
as if seeing that darkness again.
"I thought…"
He exhaled faintly.
"That was the end of my life."
His gaze shifted toward her.
"Thank you."
"For saving me."
Ling Yue met his eyes.
Then gave a slight nod.
"No need."
A pause.
Then—
"You saved me as well."
Her voice was quiet.
Yet those words carried unexpected weight.
Only the wind stirred the leaves overhead.
Li Xuan remained silent for a time,
as if turning something over in his mind.
Then he looked at Ling Yue.
"Why did you return to the cave?"
"You had already left."
Ling Yue answered calmly.
"I sensed something unusual."
"Something I could not understand."
She paused.
"Then I saw a group of Blackfire wolves moving toward the cave."
Li Xuan nodded slowly.
But his brows soon tightened.
"…But why would so many Blackfire wolves gather there?"
Ling Yue's gaze sharpened faintly.
"Not only wolves."
"There were other creatures as well."
Different beasts.
Different auras.
All moving toward the same place.
Li Xuan looked at her.
"As if drawn there?"
Ling Yue gave a slight nod.
"Something in that cave…"
"…was attracting them."
Silence followed.
The cave no longer seemed like a danger left behind—
But a mystery waiting in darkness.
Ling Yue looked at him for a moment,
then said quietly,
"Leave that matter alone."
"If you pursue it now…"
"…it will only bring you more trouble."
Li Xuan gave a slow nod.
After a brief silence,
Ling Yue spoke again.
"Your condition has stabilized."
"I should leave now."
Those words settled heavily in the quiet air.
Li Xuan looked at her,
then nodded.
"…I understand."
Ling Yue rose to her feet.
Her robes stirred softly in the wind.
Seeing her stand,
Li Xuan pushed himself up as well,
still hindered by pain.
Ling Yue glanced at him.
"Go somewhere safe."
"Focus on recovery."
Li Xuan gave a faint nod.
"And you…"
"…be careful as well."
For a moment—
Neither moved.
As if neither wished to be the first to turn away.
Just as Ling Yue was about to depart—
She rose lightly into the air.
But after only a short distance,
she stopped.
Suspended in silence.
Li Xuan looked up.
"What is it?"
Ling Yue gave no reply.
Instead—
With a slight motion of her fingers,
a jade token shot toward him.
Li Xuan caught it instinctively.
Cool jade rested in his palm.
He lowered his gaze.
One word was engraved upon it—
Dao.
Only then did Ling Yue speak.
"If your injuries worsen…"
"Go to the sect."
"Show them this token."
"They will help you recover."
Li Xuan tightened his grip on the jade and nodded.
Then after a brief hesitation, he asked—
"If I go there…"
"Where can I find you?"
Silence.
Then Ling Yue's cold voice drifted down.
"No need."
Before he could say more—
Her figure turned.
And in the next instant,
she became a pale blue streak,
disappearing into the distant sky.
Li Xuan remained standing beneath the trees,
the jade token held in his hand,
watching the empty sky where she had vanished.
Silent.
As if something had left with her.
In his palm—
The jade token still carried a trace of lingering warmth.