About half an hour passed before Mo Fan finally felt the discomfort in his body dissipate, replaced entirely by a sense of relief. Aside from the ability to unleash power in emergencies, his Demon Element's other function seemed to be strengthening his body, making it more resilient.
As Mo Fan got up, he noticed his clothes were soaked with sweat due to the earlier pain. He walked over to his backpack, pulled out some dry clothes, and quickly changed into them.
Afterward, he glanced over at Mu Ningxue. How had she not noticed his earlier suffering?
Curious, Mo Fan walked over, only to discover that Mu Ningxue herself was trembling. Her forehead was covered in cold sweat, and her face was pale as a sheet. Her silver hair was damp and clinging to her face, and her body shivered intermittently, as if she were battling an intense internal cold.
Mu Ningxue's mind was filled with fear and uncertainty. She wasn't sure if she could survive this ordeal, but she knew she had to endure.
"Mu Ningxue, are you okay?"
When Mo Fan reached out to touch her, his hand was instantly covered in frost.
"Sh*t..."
Realizing how serious her condition was, Mo Fan hesitated for a moment before deciding to take action. He moved closer to her, activating his Azure Flames to envelop his body as he pulled Mu Ningxue into his arms. The moment he did, steam began to fill the cave, caused by the collision of her icy energy and his fiery warmth.
Mu Ningxue's cold aura was intense, but Mo Fan's flames were equally potent. The two energies clashed continuously, but Mo Fan was careful not to release too much of his fire, unsure of the exact nature of her condition. His goal was simple—prevent her from freezing solid.
Under Mo Fan's warm embrace, Mu Ningxue's trembling gradually eased. She briefly opened her eyes and saw that it was Mo Fan holding her, but she quickly slipped back into unconsciousness.
Mo Fan remained focused, battling her cold without realizing she had briefly regained consciousness.
When morning light finally broke into the cave, Mu Ningxue slowly opened her eyes. She tried to move but was shocked to find herself unable to. Glancing around, she realized she was tightly held in Mo Fan's arms.
She suddenly remembered the events of the previous night—her cold backlash, and Mo Fan warming her. But now, why were they both... so exposed?
Mu Ningxue looked around, noticing that her clothes were gone. Then it dawned on her—his flames must have evaporated them.
Their skin was pressed against each other, allowing her to feel his heartbeat and breath. The intimacy of the situation made Mu Ningxue blush with embarrassment, yet there was also a strange sense of warmth and comfort.
As she stirred, Mo Fan also woke up.
"Ah, you're awake." Mo Fan said, clearing his throat.
"You can let go of me now." Mu Ningxue replied.
"Oh, right." Mo Fan quickly loosened his hold, jumping off the rock they'd been lying on. He tossed Mu Ningxue her backpack and quickly grabbed his own clothes.
Mo Fan was a bit flustered. How had things turned out like this? He couldn't help but think, Well, that escalated quickly...
Even though the situation was embarrassing, he couldn't deny that Mu Ningxue was stunning. Her flawless figure and the brief moment of closeness they shared left a lasting impression.
However, Mu Ningxue, after dressing herself, didn't react with anger or shock. Instead, she remained calm, reflecting on what had happened and how to face the aftermath.
"I only did it because you seemed to be in a lot of pain. I thought you were going to freeze." Mo Fan tried to explain, feeling a bit guilty.
Before he could finish, Mu Ningxue interrupted, "I understand. Thank you."
While the situation was indeed unusual, there was no denying that his actions had alleviated her cold backlash.
"You understand?" Mo Fan blinked in surprise.
"Yes. I'm feeling much better now." Mu Ningxue replied, her tone as cold and distant as ever, avoiding eye contact with him.
She seemed unfazed by the awkwardness, perhaps more focused on the fact that she was now healed.
"Does this mean you can start recovering fully?" Mo Fan asked, trying to change the subject.
Mu Ningxue nodded. "Yes."
"Great, then you should rest while I see if I can find some food for us." Mo Fan offered.
"No need, there's food in the backpack." she replied.
With Mu Ningxue insisting, Mo Fan didn't press further. The two of them ate a simple meal, and afterward, they each went into a meditative state to recover and train.
Mo Fan needed time to process his recent experiences, while Mu Ningxue was focused on replenishing her strength.
Meanwhile, in the abandoned city, Lu Nian scoured the area, searching for any trace of Mo Fan and Mu Ningxue. His instincts told him they were still alive, and capturing Mo Fan would be key to regaining his lost power.
For three days, Lu Nian searched relentlessly, even as his strength waned from his previous battle with Zhan Kong. He refused to give up.
During these three days, Mu Ningxue gradually recovered. By now, if Mo Fan tried to take any liberties, he would likely be frozen solid by her icy powers.
Despite their time spent together, Mu Ningxue remained guarded. Her dedication to her family and responsibilities kept her from fully opening up to Mo Fan.
"I need to return." she said finally. With everything that had happened, she knew her family would be worried, and the Mu Clan's situation in the capital was precarious without her presence.
"Do you have to leave so soon?" Mo Fan asked.
"Aren't you going back too?" Mu Ningxue asked, surprised.
Mo Fan wasn't in a rush to leave. He still had things to take care of—mainly collecting resources to afford a Star River Vein. The demon trials provided rewards, but not enough to meet his needs. He only had a few resources and needed more funds. Hunting monsters for materials might just be his best chance.
"What are you staying for?" Mu Ningxue asked.
"I'm short on money. I plan to hunt some monsters and gather materials." Mo Fan replied honestly.
Mu Ningxue looked at him for a long time before asking, "How much do you need?"
Clearly, she didn't want Mo Fan staying out in the wilderness, knowing that Lu Nian was still a threat.
(End of Chapter)