Ling Yue carried Li Xuan in her arms—
Moving through the cave in silence.
Step by step.
Her footsteps were light against the cold stone.
Unhurried.
Steady.
The dark passage stretched ahead—
Dim and endless.
Only the faint sound of water echoed through the cave.
Li Xuan rested against her.
Unconscious.
His breathing weak.
His wounds still fresh.
Ling Yue held him carefully—
Mindful of every movement.
After several steps—
She rose gently from the ground.
Her figure lifted into the air.
Floating rather than flying.
Slow.
Controlled.
She moved forward at a measured pace—
Carrying him as though even the wind should not disturb his injuries.
Ahead—
A pale glow appeared.
Faint at first.
Then growing brighter.
The cave's exit.
Ling Yue drifted toward it—
And passed through the opening.
Leaving the darkness behind.
Cool forest air brushed past them.
The first light of day touched the world beyond.
Time passed into afternoon.
Ling Yue moved through the forest skies—
Flying at a calm, measured speed.
Searching.
Below—
Ancient trees spread like a green sea,
their towering crowns casting deep shadows across the land.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves in scattered rays.
For several minutes she flew on,
looking for a place where Li Xuan could recover.
Then—
Her gaze settled on a small hill hidden among great old trees.
Secluded.
Silent.
Protected.
Her figure descended.
Lightly—
Her feet touched the earth without a sound.
Still carrying Li Xuan,
she stepped beneath the shelter of towering trees.
Then slowly—
With careful hands—
She lowered him onto the ground.
Mindful of every wound.
His body rested upon the soft earth.
Ling Yue knelt beside him.
Her pale blue robes, stained with blood, stirred faintly in the forest breeze.
For a moment—
She simply watched him.
Silent.
Unreadable.
Yet she did not move away.
Then—
She moved.
Carefully—
She lifted Li Xuan slightly and adjusted him into a seated position, supporting his weight so she could reach the wounds across his back.
His robes were torn and stained with blood.
Parts of the fabric had nearly fused to the wounds.
With steady hands—
She loosened the damaged cloth and removed his upper robe, mindful not to disturb the injuries.
The wounds beneath were revealed.
Several deep claw marks crossed his back.
Raw.
Severe.
Though the bleeding had slowed—
The injuries were far from light.
Ling Yue's gaze stilled.
For a brief moment—
Her fingers paused.
(…I should have returned sooner.)
The thought surfaced quietly.
Had she arrived even a little later—
…
Silence.
Her expression returned to calm.
But her hands moved more gently than before.
Ling Yue lifted a hand.
With a faint flicker—
Several small bottles appeared beside her,
along with folded strips of clean cloth.
Her fingers reached for one jade vial.
She opened it.
Inside lay a fine white medicinal powder.
A faint herbal fragrance drifted into the air.
Without hesitation—
She began applying the powder across the wounds on Li Xuan's back.
Slowly.
Carefully.
The powder dissolved lightly into the torn flesh.
Her gaze remained fixed upon the injuries.
Deep.
Severe.
Though the medicine would aid the wounds—
It was not enough.
He would need time.
Rest.
Further treatment.
Still—
Her hands never stopped.
She treated each wound one by one,
until nearly all the claw marks had been coated in white.
Only then did her hand pause.
Recovery had only begun.
Ling Yue reached for the strips of cloth.
Then—
She began wrapping the wounds.
The bandage passed across his back,
around his torso,
then returned again.
Layer after layer—
Binding the medicine in place.
Firm enough to hold,
gentle enough not to disturb the injuries.
Each turn of cloth was carefully placed.
At last—
The wounds were fully wrapped.
The final strip secured.
She set the remaining cloth aside.
Then moved closer.
Supporting Li Xuan,
she eased him back against a broad stone behind him,
letting him rest in a seated position.
His breathing had steadied.
Though unconscious—
He seemed less fragile than before.
Ling Yue remained beside him.
Watching in silence.
Her gaze lowered to his hand.
Slowly—
She reached out and took it gently in her own.
The wound there was worse than she had expected.
Deeper even than those across his back.
Claw marks had torn through flesh.
Dried blood dark along his arm.
Her eyes lingered on it.
Then rose to his face.
Pale.
Still.
For a brief moment,
something faint stirred in her calm eyes.
"Li Xuan…"
His name left her lips in a low whisper.
Soft.
Almost weighed down by regret.
Then she opened the medicinal vial once more.
Fine white powder gathered at her fingertips.
Carefully—
She began spreading it over the wound on his hand.
The medicine touched raw flesh—
And in the next instant—
Li Xuan's body tensed.
"Aah—"
A sharp cry escaped his lips.
His fingers jerked.
Breath caught.
His eyes trembled—
Then slowly began to open.