Xie Lingyu rushed back with Cui Hao and Lin Luoyu.
Li Yingling's position had been closer to begin with, and the teleportation formation she used was a dedicated one, so she naturally arrived before Xie Lingyu.
When Xie Lingyu stepped into the room,
only Li Yingling remained inside.
Xie Lingyu walked quickly to the bedside. She saw Chu Xingchen's pale face and dissipating Dao resonance, gently reached out to press against his pulse, and carefully probed with her divine sense. Then she softly asked Li Yingling beside her:
"Has anyone examined him?"
Li Yingling answered in a low voice:
"He's been seen to. Master is unharmed."
Xie Lingyu reached out and gently touched Chu Xingchen's face. The emotions in her eyes were beyond easy description.
Cui Hao stood behind the two of them.
His face, usually wearing a smile, was as solemn as Li Xingtian's. He gazed from afar at their master's pale face.
Lin Luoyu stood at Cui Hao's side, brows tightly furrowed, also silent.
"Where are Xingtian and Baiqing?"
Xie Lingyu's gaze swept back as she asked. The two of them cultivated at Tianyan Sect and were especially close to Chu Xingchen — how could they not be here at a time like this?
With Chu Xingchen's exact condition still unknown, Xie Lingyu knew better than anyone what needed to be done.
At the very least, none of his precious disciples could suffer any mishap before Chu Xingchen woke.
Li Yingling looked at Xie Lingyu and said slowly, "They've all come to see Master. They both have matters to attend to right now. They should be back before long."
Xie Lingyu relaxed slightly at her words:
"Good, as long as they're confirmed safe."
Li Yingling nodded gently, then looked at Lin Luoyu and Cui Hao:
"You two weren't affected either, I hope?"
Lin Luoyu nodded softly:
"Fifth Junior Brother and I are both safe and sound."
Li Yingling nodded slowly, then turned her gaze back to Xie Lingyu and said quietly:
"Bai Qianbei and Master returned together. With us here for now, Shishu Xie could go check on Bai Qianbei first."
Xie Lingyu was taken aback and looked at Li Yingling.
She saw only Li Yingling's haggard expression, none of her usual vitality remaining, a damp handkerchief clutched in her hand.
Sensing the subtle atmosphere, Xie Lingyu understood this was no time to step back — not for Chu Xingchen, and not for herself.
Xie Lingyu reached out and gently took Chu Xingchen's hand. She kept her voice as calm as she could:
"Your master is my Dao Companion. You are his disciples, which means you are as good as my disciples. I don't care whether you acknowledge me or not — I will do what I believe should be done."
Li Yingling sensed the emotion in Xie Lingyu's voice and quickly said:
"Master truly isn't seriously hurt. It's just that Bai Qianbei's battle armor was damaged when she came back. I only thought Shishu Xie should go see her."
Cui Hao stepped forward and said in a calm tone, "Shiniang, since Bai Qianbei was the one who brought Master back, she must have been part of that battle. Bai Qianbei was already unwell, and going through a major fight on top of that — she's bound to be hurt."
"After all, Bai Qianbei likely went only to cover Master's retreat."
"Since Master isn't seriously hurt, it wouldn't be too late for Shiniang to go see Bai Qianbei and then come back. Better than worrying the whole time."
"If there's a problem, we certainly won't stand on ceremony with Shiniang. And Shiniang shouldn't stand on ceremony with us either."
"After all, Master has said it himself — we're family."
Xie Lingyu looked at Cui Hao.
Li Yingling, having heard Cui Hao's words, steadied herself and said, "Shiniang, don't worry. I'm here."
Xie Lingyu nodded gently, her voice softening somewhat:
"I'll leave things to you for now. I'll be back in a moment."
With that, Xie Lingyu turned and left.
Cui Hao stepped forward and gently took Chu Xingchen's hand in his own, staring solemnly at their master's pale face.
Then he watched as their master slowly opened his eyes.
Cui Hao's eyes went wide. He had assumed that with Eldest Senior Sister looking so stricken, their master must be gravely injured and could be unconscious for who knows how long. He never expected him to wake up already?
Waking up this fast — did they really need to put on faces like their master was about to pass away?
Chu Xingchen slowly opened his eyes, glanced at his captured hand, and said with distinct disdain:
"Why… it's you."
Hearing those words, even Cui Hao was caught completely off guard.
Li Yingling heard the familiar voice and squeezed right up to the bedside. Lin Luoyu also pushed in as far as she could, craning her neck to look at Chu Xingchen.
Cui Hao looked aggrieved:
"I was worried sick about you just now, and the first thing you say when you see me is that?"
Li Yingling shoved the obstructing Cui Hao aside without hesitation, then grabbed their master's hand in a relay grip and quickly asked in a low voice:
"Master, is there anywhere that doesn't hurt?"
"If you're going to ask it that way, that's a lot to cover." Chu Xingchen gently squeezed Li Yingling's hand and said with a light laugh, "You should be asking where I feel even a little bit better."
"Then where does Master feel better?"
"Nowhere at all." Chu Xingchen's face fell. He glanced slightly toward Cui Hao, who had been squeezed to the side. "I thought I heard Lingyu's voice just now. I thought she was the one holding my hand. I open my eyes, and it's you staring at me expectantly instead."
"Tell me yourself — between Lingyu and you, who would I rather have holding my hand?"
Seeing that their master was awake and still speaking in that same familiar tone, the unease in Li Yingling's heart scattered quickly. A trace of a smile appeared on her face:
"Shiniang was the one holding your hand just now. But after confirming Master was alright, we had her go check on Bai Qianbei first."
Chu Xingchen perked up slightly at her words and asked:
"Right, how is Bai Qianbei doing? Don't tell me your master went through all that trouble for nothing."
Li Yingling snapped, "Bai Qianbei was able to fly Master back, so obviously she's in far better shape than Master. Why would it be your turn to worry about her?"
"Yingling is so fierce."
Chu Xingchen grumbled as if complaining, then tried to slowly prop himself up. Li Yingling, freshly complained at, immediately reached over to help their master sit up.
Li Yingling said with a put-upon expression, "After all, I'm the padded jacket that leaks wind from Master's own mouth. Of course I have to be fierce."
Cui Hao watched their eldest senior sister recover a trace of her former spirit and shook his head with a quiet smile.
Sure enough, Master was Eldest Senior Sister's calming pill.
Chu Xingchen's gaze swept across the room, then he asked curiously:
"Where are Baiqing and Xingtian?"
Li Yingling answered honestly:
"Second Junior Brother went to Xuanqing Heavenly Sect to verify what happened. Baiqing is packing things up, preparing to look after you long-term in case you don't wake up for a while."
Chu Xingchen nodded and didn't ask further about why Li Xingtian had gone. Some things were better left at the point. If you didn't press, there would be no follow-up.
He smiled. "Look at Baiqing, look at you — can you say I'm wrong about you leaking wind?"
"That would be unfair to Eldest Senior Sister."
Chen Baiqing stood at the door, looking at their master with wronged eyes.
Chu Xingchen quickly said:
"It wouldn't look good if Baiqing cried."
"Baiqing never looked good to begin with."
At this moment, the Chen Baiqing whom Chu Xingchen had just called unattractive broke into a beautiful smile.
Chu Xingchen could only sigh at the sight.
Sure enough, an enchantress. He had no defense against it. His heart would always warm and soften, time and again.
[
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