After administering the antidote to the bandit leader, the herb-gathering girl felt uncertain.
She had no real connection with Xiao Fan and wasn't sure if the antidote he had described would be effective. However, with no better options, she could only treat a dead horse as if it were alive and hope for the best.
Having done all she could, the herb-gathering girl returned to her parents and joined the rest of the village. Until the leader's condition was clear, they would remain under the bandits' watch.
When she rejoined the villagers, they all looked at her with hopeful eyes. To keep everyone calm and to avoid showing weakness in front of the bandits, she gave them a reassuring look.
Even the burly second-in-command felt relieved seeing her confidence.
It seemed his elder brother might indeed be saved.
He couldn't help but regard the herb-gathering girl with newfound respect. He hadn't expected such a courageous and skilled healer in this remote village.
Amid the crowd, only the herb-gathering girl's mother noticed something unusual about her daughter. Whispering in her ear, she asked, "Girl, are you really confident?"
"Don't worry, Mother," the girl replied firmly.
She had no choice but to trust Xiao Fan.
Xiao Fan did not disappoint. About an hour later, a bandit ran to the second-in-command, exclaiming excitedly, "Second Boss, the Chief has woken up!"
"Woken up!" The second-in-command rushed to the carriage.
Inside, he found the previously unconscious and poisoned bandit leader now awake and gradually returning to normal.
"Brother, how are you feeling?"
After a brief conversation, the second-in-command confirmed that the poison had been neutralized. However, the leader was still too weak for any strenuous activity.
The second-in-command decided they would stay in the village for two days to recuperate.
Upon hearing this, the villagers were distraught.
Though the bandits promised not to harm anyone, living in close quarters with such dangerous men was unnerving.
They didn't dare voice their concerns, choosing to stay indoors until the bandits left.
The herb-gathering girl instructed her parents to stay inside to avoid any possible conflict with the bandits.
Returning to her home, she noticed that the medicinal decoction she had given Xiao Fan was untouched, which annoyed her.
This guy really didn't know what was good for him!
He had such a handsome face but didn't seem to care for his own wellbeing.
Striding up to him, she realized Xiao Fan had passed out.
It wasn't that he refused to drink it. He had exhausted himself helping her with the antidote and had fainted once the tension eased.
Worried, she checked his condition and frowned deeply. His pulse was weak, and he showed little will to live.
If this continued, he wouldn't last long.
She needed to get the medicine into him.
First, she tried to pour the medicine into his mouth, but he was completely unconscious, and it just spilled out.
Desperate, she glanced between his colorless lips and the bowl of medicine.
After a moment of hesitation, she bit the bullet and took the medicine into her own mouth before transferring it to his.
He had helped her save the village; this was her way of repaying him.
Besides, with such a handsome face, it wasn't too bad.
She administered the medicine mouth-to-mouth.
Outside the Haotian Mirror, the onlookers were stunned by this scene, glancing in shock at the Taiyin Empress.
They hadn't expected that to save the Underworld Demon Emperor, she would...
"My goddess's first kiss was stolen by that scoundrel!"
"The Underworld Demon Emperor must have faked unconsciousness on purpose!"
"I refuse to accept this! If I don't see it, it didn't happen!"
Her loyal followers were losing their minds.
The Northern Nether Empress, Leng Ruoxue, was trembling with anger, glaring at the Taiyin Empress.
It was utterly shameless!
There were many ways to administer medicine. This was clearly an excuse to take advantage of his looks.
The Jade Pool Empress sneered, giving the Taiyin Empress a disdainful look.
This shameless girl didn't deserve to be among the seven great empresses.
The Taiyin Empress's face was flushed as she watched the scene, her clenched fists trembling slightly in embarrassment and regret.
This moment was a stain on her life.
If she hadn't fed Xiao Fan the medicine, the subsequent tragedies would never have happened.
"Xiao Fan, I will tear you apart to avenge my pain!"
Her eyes burned with fury as she looked at Xiao Fan, now a living corpse in the Yuan Shen Imperial City.
Inside the Haotian Mirror, after feeding Xiao Fan the medicine, he gradually regained consciousness.
He stared blankly at the ceiling, knowing he was alive only because someone had been tirelessly trying to save him.
"You're awake!" A cheerful voice greeted him.
Turning his head slightly, he saw the girl with a soot-streaked face beaming at him.
"Why did you save me?" Xiao Fan asked.
The girl was taken aback, then angrily retorted, "How is it wrong to save you?"
"Besides, I'm a healer. Saving lives is my duty," she glared at him.
She thought if he weren't so handsome, she wouldn't have gone to such lengths.
Recalling how she fed him the medicine made her annoyed.
What a blockhead, she thought, feeling she had wasted her effort.
Her sharp rebuke left Xiao Fan speechless.
Indeed, she had saved him, and he had been ungrateful.
"I'm sorry, I spoke thoughtlessly," Xiao Fan apologized.
"That's better," she said, her expression softening into a smile.
Maybe this guy wasn't too annoying after all.