Wen Yaxian was about to check on Xiao Fan when her father stopped her.
"Girl, it's dangerous!"
Wen Yaxian glared at her father. "Dad, look at him now. What's dangerous about him?"
"You fool! He just saved your daughter, and you want to repay him with ingratitude?" Wen Yaxian's mother scolded her husband.
Unlike the cautious and fearful looks from the others, Wen Yaxian's mother looked at Xiao Fan thoughtfully, lost in her own musings.
Feeling slightly wronged, Wen Yaxian's father mumbled, "I'm just worried about our daughter's safety!"
But her words made him realize he had overreacted. Regardless of what Xiao Fan was, he had saved their daughter.
Understanding this, Wen Yaxian's father hurried over to help his daughter carry Xiao Fan inside.
As Wen Yaxian examined Xiao Fan, her expression grew increasingly grim.
She had initially thought his frail condition was due to external injuries. But now, she realized that compared to his external wounds, the condition inside his body was far more alarming.
She couldn't imagine how a body could contain such an accumulation of toxins and still survive.
Looking at Xiao Fan's pale face, Wen Yaxian felt a pang of pity.
How painful it must be for him to live every day like this.
At that moment, she resolved to save this unfortunate man.
Outside the Haotian Mirror.
The Taiyin Empress, Wen Yaxian, clutched her chest. Even now, her heart ached.
Loving a man wasn't scary, but when you started to pity him, your life was over.
Her initial fondness for Xiao Fan had been superficial, based on his looks and knowledge.
But the moment she pitied him, she was doomed.
Inside the Haotian Mirror.
After some time, Xiao Fan woke up, finding his vision filled with void.
A bitter smile formed on his lips.
He had overestimated himself. Using his true energy to kill the bandit leader and his second-in-command had caused the toxins to surge to his head, not only making him faint but also blinding him.
"You're awake!" Wen Yaxian's joyful voice reached his ears.
Xiao Fan remained silent, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Wen Yaxian was initially annoyed at being ignored but noticed something off about his gaze. She waved a hand in front of his eyes.
When he didn't react, her heart sank.
She realized he must be blind, likely due to the toxins.
Trying to comfort him, she said, "Don't worry, I will cure you."
After a long silence, Xiao Fan finally spoke, "I need to leave."
He tried to get up, but Wen Yaxian quietly watched him, not stopping him.
At that moment, her parents entered.
Seeing Xiao Fan's actions, her mother asked, "What's he doing?"
"He wants to leave. Let him go," Wen Yaxian replied coolly.
She had her pride and wouldn't tolerate ingratitude. If he didn't appreciate her care, let him leave and see where his blindness took him!
Her father, misunderstanding, thought his earlier harsh words were driving Xiao Fan away. He regretted it deeply.
If Xiao Fan left, wouldn't that make him an ungrateful person?
Rushing over, he tried to stop Xiao Fan. "Xiao Fan, don't take what I said earlier to heart..."
But before he could finish, Xiao Fan stumbled and fell at his feet.
Stunned, Wen Yaxian's father was at a loss.
"I swear I didn't push him!"
Seeing her husband's confusion, Wen Yaxian's mother, with her sharp eyes, noticed something off about Xiao Fan's eyes.
She turned to her daughter, and after a silent confirmation, she said, "Everyone leave. I need to speak with Xiao Fan."
Her husband continued to protest, "You saw, I didn't push him!"
"Go!" she snapped.
"Come on, Dad," Wen Yaxian said, pulling him out, curious but hopeful her mother would persuade Xiao Fan to stay.
Once alone, Wen Yaxian's mother helped Xiao Fan to sit on the bed.
Without preamble, she asked, "Xiao Fan, are you a cultivator?"
Surprised, Xiao Fan hadn't expected her to know about cultivators. But thinking about it, she and her daughter didn't quite fit in with the rest of the villagers.
Wen Yaxian had inherited her mother's beauty.
He saw no reason to hide and admitted, "Yes, I am."
Relieved by his honesty, Wen Yaxian's mother began to share her story.
She came from a cultivator family that was wiped out, leaving her as the sole survivor. Rescued by Wen Yaxian's father, she married him and lived a quiet life.
Xiao Fan listened quietly, unsure why she was telling him this.
When she finished, she asked, "Xiao Fan, do you have any family?"
He shook his head.
After a long pause, she asked, "Xiao Fan, what do you think of my daughter?"
He understood her meaning.
Setting aside whether he liked Wen Yaxian, his health made marriage impossible. He never knew how long he had left.
Struggling to find the right words, he remained silent.
Seeing his hesitation, she sighed, "Xiao Fan, I'm not asking you to leave. You probably can't go anywhere in your condition. Stay and rest, but I hope you can let go of any thoughts my daughter might have."
He nodded slightly. "I understand."