Li Xuan's body drifted through the abyss.
Endless darkness surrounded him.
The faint light above was fading—
Slowly disappearing into nothing.
Cold air brushed past his face.
His body turned slightly in the void—
Weightless.
Uncontrolled.
Yet he did nothing to resist.
…
His gaze dimmed.
The last trace of light vanished.
Only darkness remained.
For a moment—
His thoughts surfaced.
(…So this is the end.)
A quiet stillness filled his mind.
(All my struggles…)
(All of it ends here…)
There was no anger.
No fear.
Only a faint sense of acceptance.
His eyelids lowered slowly.
Then—
Closed.
He let himself fall.
Deeper.
Further.
Into the silent abyss—
Like a leaf drifting without purpose.
Vanishing into the dark.
Then—
Something changed.
The air grew colder.
A sharp chill spread through the cave—
Lifeless.
Unnatural.
The stillness shattered.
In the next instant—
A streak of light tore through the darkness.
Light blue.
Brilliant.
Blinding.
It moved too fast to follow—
Cutting across the cave like a flash of lightning.
A powerful gust swept through the space—
Dust and loose stones lifted into the air.
The wolves froze.
Their bodies stiffened instinctively.
A low growl died in their throats.
They didn't dare move.
The streak of light didn't slow.
It passed them in an instant—
Leaving only a faint trail behind.
Then—
Without hesitation—
It shot past the broken edge of the cave.
Diving straight into the abyss.
Fast.
Precise.
As if it had a purpose.
As if it was chasing something.
The streak of light descended rapidly through the abyss.
Faster.
Closer.
Until—
It reached him.
Then—
It slowed.
The rushing wind faded.
The violent descent stilled.
For a single moment—
Time seemed to stop.
The brilliance of the light softened—
Fading just enough to reveal the figure within.
Ling Yue.
She hovered silently in the darkness.
Her expression calm.
Cold.
Unmoved.
Her gaze rested on Li Xuan's falling form—
Steady.
Unwavering.
For the briefest instant—
Her eyes lingered.
Then—
She moved.
Her hand reached forward.
Precise.
Without hesitation.
Li Xuan's body drifted in silence.
Unconscious.
Blood trailing faintly in the air.
Her fingers closed around him.
Firm.
Secure.
The fall stopped.
Just like that.
The endless descent—
Cut off in an instant.
Ling Yue held him against her.
Suspended within the abyss—
As if the darkness itself had lost its claim over him.
Suspended in the silent abyss—
Ling Yue remained still.
Li Xuan rested in her arms.
Unconscious.
His breathing faint.
Her gaze lowered.
For a moment—
She studied his face.
Pale.
Marked with dust and blood.
Her eyes paused there—
Just briefly.
Then shifted.
Tracing the wounds across his body.
Deep.
Unhealed.
Fresh blood slowly stained the edge of her sleeve.
She didn't react.
Her expression remained calm.
Cold.
…
"…Li Xuan."
Her voice was soft.
Almost lost within the darkness.
No response.
Only silence.
Then—
A faint movement.
His eyelids trembled.
Slowly—
They opened.
His vision was unfocused.
Blurred.
A familiar figure hovered before him.
Distant.
Unreal.
"…Ling Yue…"
His voice was weak.
Barely a whisper.
As if unsure whether she truly existed.
For a moment—
His gaze lingered on her.
Then—
His eyes closed again.
His body went still once more.
Ling Yue descended through the darkness.
Slow.
Controlled.
Until—
Her feet touched solid ground.
Without a sound.
She came to a stop.
Li Xuan remained in her arms.
Unconscious.
His breathing faint.
For a brief moment—
She stood still.
Then—
Her gaze lowered.
To his arm.
The wound was deep.
Torn open.
Blood dripped steadily—
Falling onto the cold stone below.
Each drop echoed softly in the silence.
Her sleeve—
Once pale blue—
Was now stained with dark red.
His blood.
Her eyes lingered there.
Just for an instant.
A faint tightening in her gaze—
Barely noticeable.
Then—
It was gone.
Her expression returned to calm.
Cold.
Unchanging.
…
A low growl broke the silence.
Rough.
Cautious.
Shadows shifted in the darkness.
One by one—
Blackfire wolves emerged.
Their glowing eyes locked onto her.
They circled slowly—
Forming a loose ring around them.
But—
They did not rush in.
A faint pressure filled the air.
Subtle.
Yet suffocating.
The wolves hesitated.
Instinct warning them.
Ling Yue stood there—
Still.
Unmoving.
With Li Xuan in her arms—
As the pack gathered—
Watching.
Waiting.