After their meal, Xuan Yan stood up quietly and retrieved a white mattress and quilt from his storage ring.
He laid them neatly beside her and smoothed the quilt as he turned to look at her "You sleep on it."
Zhu Zhuqing stared at him, surprised yet again by just how prepared he was for surviving in the forest.
Her lips parted in hesitation "But… you…"
She didn't want him to endure the cold ground while she lay comfortably.
He simply shook his head "No problem. You can sleep on it. I'll guard the cave in case any spirit beasts come."
E-Eh? Hearing that, a sweet warmth blossomed in her chest.
She wanted to help him but her body was still weak, and she knew she would only slow him down.
So she nodded meekly as he walked toward a rock near the entrance and sat down with a sword resting across his lap.
When she finally lay down on the mattress, the quilt's warmth felt nothing compared to the comfort of knowing he was watching over her.
She glanced at him and a small smile curled on her lips "...Good night.. Yan."
Hm? Turning to her, he gave a nod "Night."
...
Four days passed in the blink of an eye.
During that time, Xuan Yan took care of her without a single complaint, feeding her, tending her wounds, and making sure she never lacked anything.
Her injuries had almost completely healed, yet he still insisted on feeding her, and she still had not seen his face even once.
So today, when he left to hunt spirit beasts, Zhu Zhuqing refused to remain behind in the cave like an abandoned kitten.
She stood up, followed him, and caught up with him before he could get too far.
She doesn't want to be a burden forever; she wanted to walk beside him, even if just a little.
He turned around when he sensed her presence behind him and saw the black-haired girl stepping through the thick plants.
With a soft sigh, he muttered, "Do you really want to come? Your injuries are…"
She met his gaze and replied "My injuries are almost healed. And it's boring in the cave… without you."
Xuan Yan exhaled deeply, "Alright then."
He turned forward again and continued walking, slicing through thick vines and plants with a simple sword in hand.
"Be careful and stick close to me," he instructed without looking back.
She nodded quickly and stepped closer, their shoulders nearly brushing as they continued deeper into the forest.
...
*HWOO!*
A sharp howl tore through the forest, vibrating the ground beneath his feet.
Xuan Yan narrowed his eyes and sensed a 4-meter Nether Wolf coming into focus fifty meters ahead.
Judging from the aura swirling around its body, he assumed the beast's age should be around five thousand years.
He turned toward Zhuqing and spoke "Zhuqing, wait here for a moment. I'll be back soon."
She nodded softly, "Okay… Yan."
With that, he stepped lightly, and in the next instant, his body shot upward like an arrow.
Within seconds, his figure vanished into the dense foliage ahead.
Zhu Zhuqing watched Xuan Yan disappear toward the source of the howl.
Leaning her back gently against a nearby tree, she exhaled slowly, letting the quiet forest settle around her.
Four days… four entire days of kindness, care, and calm had passed, and her heart was still struggling to understand it.
She closed her eyes for a moment and remembered the things that happened in these four days.
Hm? But something felt off, feeling a presence behind her.
She turned sharply and her eyes narrowed as she scanned the bushes behind her.
Before she could even release her martial spirit, a massive paw burst from the foliage with terrifying force.
Wha-
Her breath caught as she leapt back, but the beast was too fast.
The enormous paw slammed into her abdomen, and the impact sent her rolling across the earth before her back smashed against a tree.
"Argh-" A sharp gasp escaped her lips as she felt a sharp pain race acrioss her spine.
She struggled to stand, clutching her stomach, but the ground trembled before she could rise.
A gigantic tiger, which is eight meters long with blazing red fur, stepped out and its roar shook leaves loose from the trees.
A Blaze Tiger… and judging by its power, far older and stronger than anything she could face alone.
Panicking, she screamed silently in her heart 'Yan! Where are you?'
Just as the tiger lunged, a warm force enveloped her, lifting her from the ground in an instant.
EH? Before she understood what happened, she found herself cradled securely in a familiar arm.
Xuan Yan stood before the tiger with his left arm wrapped around her waist, as a violet sword materialized in his right hand.
With a sigh, he muttered "You really have terrible luck with tigers."
Zhuqing blinked in surprise 'Tiger..'
Xuan Yan faced the massive tiger and spoke "Blaze Tiger, you have chosen death today..."
The Blaze Tiger roared furiously, understanding his words, and its spirit power vibrated so strongly that the air shook.
Zhu Zhuying was dumbfounded 'The tiger understood his words? It means... the tiger must be more than 10,000 years old, can he really defeat it?'
Raising his sword, Xuan Yan slashed down, creating four violet arcs of slashes in the air.
*slessh* *sleesh*
Before she could blink, four violet rays tore through the air.
"Graargh!" They sliced cleanly through the tiger's four limbs, and the beast collapsed with a guttural cry.
He lowered his head to look at her injuries, "It seems you're seriously hurt…"
Closing his eyes for a moment, he sighed in his heart 'I shouldn't have brought her out here...'
"Grrghhh... GRAAARGHHH!"
Behind them, the tiger's agonized growling continued and hearing its noises annoyed Xuan Yan even more.
'Shut the fuck up...' muttering under his breath, he raised his hand and curled his fingers.
Zhu Zhuqing watched in horror as the beast floated into the air, its body twisting unnaturally.
A red glint flashed in the darkness around Xuan Yan's obscured face, and the tiger convulsed violently.
*Crack* "GRRAARAGHHHH!"
With each curl of his fingers, its bones cracked, its flesh strained… until its entire body exploded into a gruesome mist.
The remains splattered across the forest floor, and Zhu Zhuqing's breath stopped.
Her entire body trembled 'What… what power is that?'
Before she could gather her thoughts, he shifted her more securely and took her in his arms.
Without a word, he dashed through the forest with blinding speed, holding her tightly.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and closed her eyes as she felt his heartbeat against her cheek.
And in that warmth, all fear slipped away.
All she could feel… was him.