Hun Yu emerged from the water, feeling invigorated as the coldness washed away the remnants of blood.
He noticed that Huang Yi's breathing had stabilized, though she remained unconscious. Quickly drying off, he dressed in a fresh set of clothes from his storage ring.
As the sun began to rise, casting a gentle light over the waterfall and its surrounding flora, Hun Yu carefully lifted Huang Yi again.
She was lighter than he expected, her unconscious form appearing even more fragile. He needed to find a safe place for them to rest and for her to recover fully.
Walking through the forest, Hun Yu's mind raced with questions. Who were those guards, and why had they betrayed Huang Yi? He knew the answers would have to wait until she woke up.
After some time, he discovered a secluded cave behind a thick curtain of vines. It seemed untouched, a perfect hiding spot.
Hun Yu laid Huang Yi down on a makeshift bed of leaves and moss, ensuring she was comfortable.
Hours passed before Huang Yi stirred. Her eyes fluttered open, and she groaned softly. Hun Yu quickly moved to her side, offering her some water.
"Drink slowly," he instructed, his voice gentle.
She obeyed, taking small sips. Their eyes met, and for a moment, there was a silent exchange.
"This is the second time you've saved me," she murmured.
Hun Yu hesitated. "Well, I figured not saving you would bring more trouble than saving you."
"Thank you." She didn't care about his words; she was just grateful.
As she lay silently, she could smell the blood on her clothes. It was unbearable, but due to blood loss, she couldn't even stand.
She tried her best to sit up but failed to gather enough strength, biting her lip in frustration. If only she had been allowed to cultivate, a day like this wouldn't have come.
Seeing her struggle, Hun Yu decided to help, knowing that lying on her back might aggravate her wound.
As he assisted her in sitting up, he made sure she was as comfortable as possible.
"Can you help me change?" she asked, her face flushed with embarrassment.
"Um, okay," Hun Yu replied, trying to sound casual. Her clothes were damaged and soaked in blood, so it seemed like a reasonable request.
He moved behind her and slowly began to unbutton her dress. As the fabric fell away, it revealed her back, as white as cream.
Hun Yu gulped, feeling a wave of awkwardness. His hand accidentally brushed against her skin, causing her to blush even more.
Quickly, he tore the dress away, then handed her a blanket. "Here, cover yourself."
She wrapped the blanket around herself swiftly, her cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and relief.
Hun Yu tried to maintain a calm demeanor, though the situation was far from ordinary.
"I'm sorry, but we need to get you cleaned up too," he said, his voice steady.
Huang Yi nodded, avoiding his gaze. She knew he was right; the blood-soaked clothes were not only uncomfortable but also a risk for infection.
Hun Yu retrieved a basin of water and a clean cloth from his storage ring. He soaked the cloth in the water and gently began to wipe the blood from her back, being careful not to aggravate her wounds.
As he worked, Huang Yi's breathing slowed, the cool water soothing her aching body. Despite the awkwardness, a sense of calm settled over them.
When he finished, she was sitting nearby, wrapped in the blanket. Several hours had passed, and Hun Yu glanced at her.
"Why do you think those guards attacked you?" he asked, puzzled. "Why would they want to kill a princess as harmless as you?"
"I don't know," she said softly. "I haven't offended anyone. I don't pose a threat to anyone. I'm not even a cultivator. I don't know who would want to kill me."
Hun Yu decided to broach another topic. "I noticed you're not a cultivator. As a princess, shouldn't your talent be good? Why haven't you started cultivating?"
Huang Yi hesitated, unsure if she should reveal the truth. "Women of the Imperial Family are not allowed to cultivate," she said with a sad expression.
"I've always wanted to cultivate and become strong, but because of the rule, I've never been able to."
Hun Yu heard this and was at a loss for words. Is the Imperial Family brain-dead or something? he thought.
He decided not to comment but was interrupted by a sudden system prompt.
{Mission: Gain Trust of Huang Yi
Time limit: 1 month.
Rewards: Increase in Cultivation +1}
{Accept/Reject}
He pressed "accept."
"I see," he said thoughtfully. "That's a harsh rule. But for now, let's focus on figuring out who is behind this attack."
Huang Yi nodded, her eyes still downcast. "Thank you, I don't know what I would have done without you."
Hun Yu gave her a reassuring smile. "We're in this together now. We'll find a way through."
As the evening wore on, Hun Yu noticed Huang Yi shivering despite the blanket wrapped around her.
The cave, though secluded, was not very warm, and the night's chill was setting in. He stoked the fire, hoping to provide more warmth.
"Are you cold?" he asked.
"A little," she admitted.
Without hesitation, Hun Yu moved closer to her, wrapping his own blanket around them both. She looked up at him, surprised, but didn't pull away.
Their proximity created a strange but comforting intimacy.
"Better?" he asked, his voice low.
She nodded, her eyes meeting his. "Yes, thank you."
They sat in silence for a while, the fire crackling softly. Hun Yu could feel her warmth against him.
As the night deepened, Huang Yi shifted slightly, her head resting against his shoulder. Hun Yu's heart skipped a beat.
Three days passed in the cave, living in a quiet routine.
"You can move around, right?" Hun Yu asked.
She nodded.
He took out a pair of clothes, though they were his, he didn't mind lending them for a while.
"Wear this. You can't have this blanket wrapped around you all the time," he said, tossing the clothes towards her.
He turned around, his back facing her. "You can turn around now," she called out. When he turned, Hun Yu saw the princess wearing his clothes.
"Should we head back?" he asked, noting that she could walk now, and they should return to the city.
She nodded.
They walked towards the city at a slow pace. Huang Yi came closer to Hun Yu. "Why do you always wear a mask?" she asked.
She had never seen him without it, except for one brief glimpse of his face.
"What do you think?" he responded.
"Hmm, are you hiding from someone? Or trying to act mysterious?"
"No."
"Then why?"
"Because I'm so ugly that people get scared when they see me," he said.
Huang Yi knew he wasn't telling the truth. She had seen a little bit of his face and knew it wasn't ugly at all.
"And don't mention to anyone that I saved you. Just say an old man in a white robe did," he added, not wanting to attract attention because of the princess.
"But..." she stopped, understanding he didn't want to get involved with imperial family affairs.
"So, are we friends?" she asked, looking at Hun Yu walking ahead of her.
Suddenly, Hun Yu stopped. "Why do you think we are friends?" he asked, turning to face her.
Huang Yi was surprised by his response. "Aren't we friends? We've been through so much together, more than most friends."
"We are not friends."
"Then... how can we become friends?" she asked, embarrassed. This was the first time she had asked someone to be her friend.
"You can't."
"Why? Am I not strong enough to be your friend?" she asked, and surprisingly, Hun Yu nodded.
"You! Even though I'm not a cultivator, I'm a master in using sword and spear," she murmured.
Hun Yu's eyes softened for a moment before he looked away. "It's not about strength."
Huang Yi stepped closer, her voice resolute. "I don't care what you're saying, and I don't understand. I want to be your friend."
Hun Yu did not reply and just ignored her. He didn't want to link himself to her. The only reason he was there was because of the mission; otherwise, he had no interest in escorting her.