Jiǔ Tiān approached Su Ning, who was tending to Xiǎo Hóng's wounds. Su Ning looked up, his eyes wary.
"Thank you for helping her," Jiǔ Tiān said, his voice kind.
Su Ning nodded, his hands moving swiftly as he cleaned Xiǎo Hóng's wounds. "It's the least I could do."
Jiǔ Tiān's gaze lingered on Su Ning's face before he spoke again. "You need something from her, right?"
Su Ning's hands faltered, his eyes darting up to meet Jiǔ Tiān's. For a moment, he seemed to consider lying, but then he admitted, "To be honest, yes. I really need to find someone, and I thought she might help."
Jiǔ Tiān's expression turned neutral, his eyes piercing. "Who is it you're looking for?"
Su Ning hesitated, his eyes dropping back down to Xiǎo Hóng's wounds. "Someone important. I'll do whatever it takes to find them."
For a moment Jiǔ Tiān's gaze lingered on Su Ning's face, his thoughts unreadable. Then he turned to face the now awake Xiǎo Hóng.
The cool night air brushed against Xiǎo Hóng's skin as she blinked awake, her surroundings coming into focus. She was being tended to, cradled gently by the sturdy arms of Bai Lin. The faint sounds of chatter and the scent of campfire smoke surrounded her. As her vision cleared, she saw unfamiliar faces: Su Ning, Bai Lin, Susu, and Li Yang, all hovering with a mix of concern and relief.
"Welcome back to the land of the living," Jiǔ Tiān said, a teasing smile playing on his lips.
Xiǎo Hóng's eyes narrowed as she sat up, brushing off Bai Lin's supportive hand with a glare. "Ungrateful," Susu muttered under her breath, arms crossed.
"I'm not ungrateful," Xiǎo Hóng shot back, her voice venomous. "I just don't want to be a pawn in your pathetic game."
"Right, because your life doesn't matter to us," Susu replied, raising an eyebrow.
"Exactly," Xiǎo Hóng snapped, her expression hardening. "I was fine before you all decided to play heroes."
Xiǎo Hóng tried to stand up, but Li Yang blocked her way. "You're not going anywhere. You're still weak from your ordeal."
Xiǎo Hóng's face twisted in anger. "Get out of my way, woman. I don't need your permission to leave."
Su Ning stepped forward, his expression calm. "Actually, I think it's okay if she goes. We can't keep her here against her will."
Susu's eyes flashed with annoyance, but Su Ning's words held weight. Xiǎo Hóng took advantage of the momentary distraction and pushed past Susu.
As she stormed off into the night, Jiǔ Tiān fell into step beside her. "You know, you could recuperate here, it's much safer," he said, his voice low and smooth.
Xiǎo Hóng glared at him, but Jiǔ Tiān just smiled. "General, take care of your group. I'll make sure she doesn't get herself killed."
Su Ning watched Jiǔ Tiān and Xiǎo Hóng disappear into the darkness. He exhaled, his shoulders slumping in relief. The situation had been tense, but at least it hadn't escalated.
He stepped from the tent into the cool night air. Stars twinkled overhead, the chirping of crickets filling the silence. He walked to a nearby stream and knelt, rinsing the blood from Xiǎo Hóng's wounds from his hands.
As he rinsed, his gaze lifted to the fireflies dancing around him. Their soft glow evoked the campfire smoke from the last time he'd seen Yínóu—fifteen years ago, a memory as fresh as a wound.
His thoughts drifted back to that fateful day. They had been searching for Yínóu when Mrs. Xiǎo vanished. He'd been searching for both ever since, scouring the land, pursuing every lead, no matter how insignificant. Yínóu's disappearance wasn't merely a personal tragedy for Su Ning; it shattered their carefully laid plans to ensnare Zhang Li. The Emperor's subsequent punishment—a year's confinement—was a direct consequence of this strategic failure. Though Su Ning retained his title, the Emperor replaced him with General Zhao and the immortal Lán Huā. The loss of Yínóu, however, only intensified Su Ning's resolve to find justice and bring Zhang Li to account.
Walking back to camp, his mind returned to his early training, his ascent to immortality. It had been grueling, pushing him to his limits. But he'd persevered, driven by his desire to find Yínóu and Mrs. Xiǎo.
He'd mastered their clan's magic, an internal art utilizing the power of archery—a unique and potent skill honed over years.
The rustle of leaves startled him. He turned, scanning the darkness. Finding nothing, he smiled wryly. Old habits die hard. He remained vigilant, even after all these years.
He sat on a nearby rock, watching the fireflies. They represented the sparks of hope that had sustained him. He would find Yínóu and Mrs. Xiǎo. He would bring them home.
The fireflies continued their dance, their soft glow piercing the darkness. Su Ning's heart remained steadfast, fueled by the promise of reunion and the memory of his sister's sacrifice.