"You're lucky it's not deeper," Zhenfeng muttered, tightening the knot. "But you need proper treatment soon. This'll only hold for a while—"
Before he could finish, a familiar voice rang out behind them. "Gege! What happened!?" she panicked, "Move aside, Zhenfeng. You'll only make it worse."
Both men turned to see Qi Qi. She knelt beside Jianyu, brushing Zhenfeng's hands away without hesitation and untied the cloth that Zhenfeng tied to stop the bleeding. "Land monster's claws are usually highly poisonous. If it is not treated well, Jianyu Ge could die from it."
"Oh? Sorry, I didn't know," Zhenfeng said, his tone tinged with mild irritation but also guilt. He stepped back, giving Qi Qi room to tend to Jianyu.
Qi Qi pulled a small bottle from her satchel, its contents a shimmering blue liquid that sparkled faintly under the dim light. Zhenfeng's eyebrows furrowed, a flicker of doubt crossing his face. He didn't trust her completely, and it showed.
Before Zhenfeng could voice his concerns, Jianyu glanced up at him, a faint smirk on his lips. "Don't worry about it. Qi Qi's a doctor."
"Well, a medical student, technically. I never graduated," Qi Qi corrected, her tone matter-of-fact as she poured the glittering liquid onto Jianyu's wound.
The moment the glittering blue liquid hit his wound, his body arched violently, as if struck by lightning. Veins bulged against his skin, his muscles locking up as waves of unbearable pain ripped through him.
Jianyu's scream tore through the cavern like shattered glass, raw and gut-wrenching, leaving everyone frozen in place.
He clawed at the ground, his fingers scraping against the rough stone in a desperate attempt to ground himself. But it wasn't enough. With a gasp that turned into a strangled cry, his hand shot out blindly, latching onto Zhenfeng's arm in a death grip.
"Jianyu!" Zhenfeng's voice cracked, panic crashing over him like a tidal wave. He didn't hesitate—he dropped to his knees beside him, his heart hammering in his chest.
Jianyu's nails dug into Zhenfeng's arm, breaking the skin. Blood began to well up, but Zhenfeng didn't even flinch. His only focus was the man writhing in front of him, the agony etched so deeply into Jianyu's face it was almost unbearable to witness.
"It's okay, Jianyu! Breathe!" Zhenfeng's voice rang, his words frantic but steady enough to cut through Jianyu's screams. He clutched Jianyu's trembling hand with both of his hand.
Jianyu's screams grew hoarse, turning into broken gasps that raked his throat like shards of glass. Tears streaked down his face—he didn't even care to wipe them away.
The pain was too much. It was too much. His nails dug deeper into Zhenfeng's skin, leaving angry red crescents that bled freely, but Zhenfeng just clenched his jaw and stayed right there.
"Jianyu," Zhenfeng whispered, his tone softening, almost pleading. His thumb brushed against Jianyu's hand, the gesture small but grounding. "I'm here. You're gonna get through this. Just… hold on."
Jianyu's grip tightened even more, a silent scream twisting his lips as his head lolled to the side, sweat dripping from his temples. The cavern was eerily silent except for his labored breaths and the faint, metallic sound of Zhenfeng's blood dripping onto the stone floor.
For a moment, it felt like the world itself had stopped spinning.
Qi Qi glanced up briefly, her expression calm but firm. "It's the medicine doing its work. Land monster venom is stubborn—it has to burn itself out. He'll feel weak for a while, but it's saving his life."
The explanation did little to ease Zhenfeng's worry. He tightened his grip on Jianyu's hand, his other hand brushing the damp hair off Jianyu's forehead. "It's almost over. Just hang on. We got you."
Jianyu's screams gradually subsided into strained whimpers as the pain ebbed, leaving him gasping for air. His strength gave out entirely, his head lolling back against the stone wall, eyes half-lidded with exhaustion. "Hurts… like hell," he murmured, barely audible.
"It's supposed to, Gege." Qi Qi said, rising to her feet and slinging her satchel over her shoulder. She moved to support Jianyu, but before she could, Zhenfeng spoke up, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"I'll carry him. You shouldn't strain yourself."
Qi Qi hesitated, but then she nodded, stepping aside. Zhenfeng slipped his arms under Jianyu, lifting him effortlessly despite the weight. Jianyu groaned softly but didn't protest, too weak to argue.
Zhenfeng carried him deeper into the cavern, heading for a small, unused room tucked away from the chaos of the refugees. The space was alright. Gently, Zhenfeng set Jianyu down, adjusting him so he lay comfortably on his back.
"Stay here," Zhenfeng said, brushing dirt off his knees as he stood. His gaze lingered on Jianyu's pale face, the usual sharpness in his features dulled by exhaustion. "You've been messing with plants too much. No wonder you can't defend yourself. Once you're better, I'll teach you how to fight."
Jianyu managed a weak scoff, his lips twitching into a faint smile despite himself. "Sure… can't wait."
Zhenfeng muttered something under his breath before he stepped away from Jianyu. The cavern's walls glimmered faintly in the dim light as he gathered several jagged stones from the ground. His sword gleamed coldly as he began sharpening the rocks, the rhythmic scrape of metal against stone echoing softly through the chamber.
Hours passed as Zhenfeng worked tirelessly, shaping the stones into crude but effective weapons. His fingers were raw, knuckles bloodied from gripping the blade too tightly, but he didn't stop. He couldn't. The image of Jianyu lying helpless in his arms kept flashing in his mind, fueling his resolve.
"What are you doing?"
Zhenfeng startled slightly, turning to see Jianyu sitting up on his sleeping spot before, his voice still hoarse but steady.
"Making weapons," Zhenfeng replied coolly, tossing a newly sharpened stone to Jianyu. It landed with a dull thud on the cot beside him. "That one's for you. So next time, you don't get taken down by a baby cow."
Jianyu blinked, then picked up the stone, studying it. His lips quirked into a smirk, though his voice was laced with mock indignation. "It wasn't a baby cow. And you're giving me this to fight with?"
Zhenfeng raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. "You're lucky I didn't just leave you with a stick. Now shut up and rest. You'll need it."
Jianyu chuckled weakly, the sound barely audible but genuine. "Thanks," he muttered, his grip tightening around the makeshift weapon. For once, Zhenfeng didn't have a snarky reply. Instead, he simply turned back to his work, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.