Time continued to pass. Bai Tian remained hidden in the mud pool, wrapping himself in silence for safety reasons. Finally, he decided to dive deeper, piercing the terrifying darkness beneath the surface.
At a depth of one hundred meters, he discovered a hidden cave. Bai Tian's mind whispered that this place might be safe enough to rest. He entered slowly, finding a spacious, quiet room, as if the cave had been waiting for his arrival.
At the edge of the pool, the other three continued to watch. Time passed, but Bai Tian did not emerge. They exchanged glances, fear taking hold, and eventually restrained themselves, unwilling to take any risks.
Inside the cave, Bai Tian explored slowly, each step echoing against the stone walls. Yet the cave remained silent, devoid of anything that could give him answers. He eventually sat down, calming himself, meditating to restore his energy to reach the peak of his abilities. His power limit was near. He could break through to the sEssence Gathering Realm at any moment, but Bai Tian restrained himself, holding back the urgent urges within.
Time continued to pass, and Bai Tian continued exploring the cave. Though he found nothing, he decided to return by the same route.
In a dark corridor, a pungent smell of blood suddenly pierced his nose. Bai Tian's instincts guided him to follow the trail. The dark corridor was long and silent, until finally he saw a glimmer of light in the distance.
When he arrived, the sight made him pause. Standing there was a girl dressed in green—Xuan Ying'er, the niece of the sect leader, whom he knew very well. Nearby lay two horned dragon corpses, their bodies mutilated and torn apart.
Bai Tian swallowed. The girl, though covered in blood, was breathing irregularly, her body weak, almost fainting. Carefully, he donned a new mask he had bought, hiding his identity, and stepped closer.
Xuan Ying'er sensed someone's presence. Her instincts made her hide, changing her clothes despite her wounds not yet healed. Exhaustion eventually overcame her body, and she fainted.
Bai Tian let out a long breath. The girl was indeed overly cautious, even in her weakest condition. He stepped closer, looking at the unhealed wounds, realizing he had to act quickly.
Carefully, Bai Tian carried her to a rarely traveled spot. He made a small hut from wood and leaves, placing her on a simple yet safe wooden bed.
The sun slowly sank on the horizon. Bai Tian treated Xuan Ying'er's arm and leg wounds with the few medicines he had, ensuring her body healed as quickly as possible. Once everything was done, he stepped out of the hut, venturing into the dusk to hunt for dinner, remaining vigilant against any threats lurking in the darkening night.
Moments later, Xuan Ying'er's eyelids slowly opened. Her vision was still blurry, but consciousness returned as she realized she was in a small, unfamiliar hut.
She lowered her gaze, seeing her leg and arm wounds neatly bandaged. The piercing pain had subsided, a sign that someone had cared for her. Yet instead of relief… her body tensed.
Breathing heavily, she checked herself—especially the parts she most wanted to protect. A dark thought crept in: Has my body… been tampered with again?
Her hands moved quickly to check. When she touched the wounds on her back and stomach that were not fully healed, she paused. Her breathing eased slightly.
Xuan Ying'er exhaled deeply, then pulled out a few pills from her sleeve. As she swallowed them, the wounds began to close, but her spiritual energy remained unstable, like waves out of control.
She stepped out of the hut, her legs still heavy. Her gaze immediately fell on the campfire. Over it, several rabbit pieces were slowly roasting, releasing a faint savory aroma into the air.
She stepped closer, eyes sharp, inspecting every detail. After confirming no poison or hidden traps, she took a bite. It tasted bland, but she swallowed, quietly suppressing the burning dissatisfaction on her tongue.
Soon, footsteps sounded. Bai Tian emerged from the darkness, carrying some spices. Seeing Xuan Ying'er awake, he slightly bowed, his voice calm yet polite.
"Greetings, Young Lady. How are you feeling?"
Xuan Ying'er stared at him, her gaze seeming to strip every layer from Bai Tian. From head to toe. Her lips curved thinly, but her tone was commanding,
"Hmm… Peak Elementary Realm… Make me a proper meal. The previous… was utterly trash."
Bai Tian only stared, saying nothing. But in his heart, he snorted, Damn you, crazy girl. Damn your "trash." Yet she still ate it.
Seeing Bai Tian silent made Xuan Ying'er irritated. She tried to exert her energy, but her body reacted violently. Fresh blood spilled from her mouth; her body staggered.
Bai Tian moved like lightning, catching her before she fell. He helped stabilize the chaotic energy in her body. During the process, his hands inadvertently removed the veil covering Xuan Ying'er's face, tossing it aside, then prepared to clean the blood from her lips and neck.
Instantly, Xuan Ying'er's eyes widened. Her face paled, her body trembling. Memories of the dark past surged into her mind. Tears, long locked away, suddenly fell and soaked her cheeks.
Seeing this, Bai Tian stopped. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.
Slowly, he seated Xuan Ying'er carefully, turned her body, and spoke in a low, sincere voice,
"I apologize for my rudeness, Young Lady. I… was only concerned."
Xuan Ying'er's aura gradually calmed. She wiped her tears, cleaned the blood from her body, and put her veil back on. Anger still lingered in her eyes, but she only said coldly,
"Fine. Quickly, make me a proper meal."
Without comment, Bai Tian began roasting the rabbit again, this time adding spices. When cooked, he handed it to Xuan Ying'er.
She cut a small piece, offering it back to Bai Tian. "Taste it first." After ensuring it was safe, she ate heartily—finishing five rabbits in a short time.
After eating, Xuan Ying'er cleaned herself with smooth, cautious movements. Without a word, she returned to the hut, set up protective formations, then fell asleep.
Bai Tian exhaled deeply. He climbed the nearest tree, sat on a branch, and pulled out a worn book titled: How to Maintain a Good Relationship Between Master and Subordinate. Under the dim light of the campfire, he read and smiled faintly. In his heart, he already knew… the next step.
That night, the wind whispered softly through the trees. The campfire had dimmed, leaving only faint glowing embers. Bai Tian still sat on the branch, eyes scanning the surroundings. The air suddenly changed—heavy and carrying a strong metallic blood scent.
His eyebrows furrowed. Blood… again?
Silently, he closed the book and leaped down, landing without making a sound. His gaze sharpened toward the dark forest to the east. From the darkness, a large shadow began to emerge. Something dragged across the ground—a weight too heavy for a mere snake.
Bai Tian glanced at the hut. Xuan Ying'er's protective formations were still active, but their spiritual glow began to flicker, disturbed from outside.
Not good.
From within the hut, Xuan Ying'er opened her eyes. Her face was pale, but her gaze was sharp.
"What's happening?" she asked, her voice low but alert.
Bai Tian only shook his head briefly. "Stay inside. Something is approaching."
Yet Xuan Ying'er was not foolish. She rose, dismantling part of the formation, and stepped out holding a thin sword engraved with a jade dragon. Her wounds were not fully healed, but her aura began to flare.
From behind the trees, a large shadow became visible. A ferocious beast resembling a black tiger, but with bronze scales and glowing red eyes, stepped out slowly. Blood dripped from its fangs, emitting a pungent, nauseating stench.
Xuan Ying'er frowned. "Iron snake blood… and this isn't an ordinary snake. Its level… matches the mid-stage Spiritual Sea realm."
Bai Tian held his breath. He himself hadn't fully recovered, and fighting this creature alone would be dangerous. But Xuan Ying'er's gaze implied one thing—she had no intention of fleeing.
Without much conversation, Bai Tian stepped forward half a pace, standing slightly ahead.
"Your wounds aren't healed. I'll draw its attention."
Xuan Ying'er almost objected, but seeing his stance, she only snorted.
"If you die, don't blame me."
The serpent growled, then lunged like lightning. Bai Tian moved like a shadow, evading the first attack and slashing at the beast. Black blood sprayed, but it was not enough to bring it down.
"Now!" Bai Tian shouted.
Xuan Ying'er leapt into the air, her sword glowing green. A slash struck the tiger's back, sending a wave of energy. The beast roared violently, becoming even more frenzied.
Attack after attack echoed. Bai Tian held the frontline pressure, while Xuan Ying'er rained strikes from behind. Though trust had not fully formed, their movements gradually synchronized—Bai Tian created openings, Xuan Ying'er filled them.
Finally, Bai Tian found the moment. He jumped high, spun, and drove his sword precisely into the creature's head. Xuan Ying'er followed, cutting the remainder until the tiger's head was severed. The massive body collapsed with a heavy thud.
Silence enveloped the night. Bai Tian panted heavily, and Xuan Ying'er clutched her chest, trying to steady her breath. Their gazes met—no words were spoken. Then Xuan Ying'er returned to the hut, reactivated her protective formations, and closed her eyes.