At this moment, Bai Mulan had lost all sense of time. Had they been falling for five minutes? Ten? Thirty? She couldn't tell. The endless descent blurred her perception, leaving her uncertain whether they were still plummeting or simply suspended in this strange void. All she could do was wrap their bodies in a protective layer of qi, though deep down, she knew it would be useless if they crashed from too great a height.
Every so often, she pressed her ear against Chen Fan's chest, straining to hear the faint rhythm of his heartbeat. The reassurance was fleeting, drowned beneath the tide of her growing anxiety.
Even knowing that the man in her arms might be a protagonist—a heaven-favored child shielded by fate—did little to ease the turmoil in her heart. Her mind spiraled into chaos, conjuring the worst possibilities, drowning in uncertainty.
As she clung to him, memories of their time together in this place resurfaced—each moment playing out in her mind like an unfolding story. Her sudden outburst, his teasing smirk. Her tears, his guilt. The way he unconsciously positioned himself ahead of her when they navigated the cave, scanning for danger first. His reckless, unwavering decision to face the Nascent Soul cultivator alone, throwing himself into peril without hesitation.
Had it been mere impulse? A calculated move based on his superior strength? Or was it guilt, lingering from the moment he made her cry? She couldn't say for certain.
Yet, gradually—inevitably—these moments, these seemingly clichéd but undeniably powerful experiences, began to stir something deep within her.
She worried for his safety.
She found herself growing curious about him.
And more than anything… she longed to hear that mysterious voice again, whispering of their future.
Was she happy?
Was she satisfied in that life?
The questions weighed on her, unanswered, as they continued their endless descent into the abyss.
At some point during their descent, Bai Mulan caught sight of a faint crimson glow below them. Her eyes widened as the blurry light sharpened into a vast expanse of red liquid, stretching endlessly in all directions.
Splash!
A tremendous impact sent waves rippling across the surface as they crashed into the sea of blood below. The sheer force of their fall dragged them deep beneath the surface, but thanks to the protective qi wrapped around them, they avoided sustaining further injuries.
There was no time to dwell on her surroundings. Suppressing her curiosity about this eerie place, Bai Mulan swiftly swam upward, carefully keeping Chen Fan afloat. As soon as they breached the surface, she summoned her ice technique, freezing a portion of the blood-red waters to create a solid resting place. With great care, she laid Chen Fan onto the icy platform—only for her pupils to shrink in horror upon seeing his condition.
His right side was covered in severe burns, stretching from his face down to his body. Blood had hardened over some areas, while fresh wounds still bled freely. But the most shocking sight of all was the absence of his right hand. Crimson droplets dripped onto the ice, staining its surface with a stark, visceral red.
Bai Mulan wasted no time. She immediately retrieved a healing pill, and recognizing the severity of Chen Fan's state, she didn't hesitate—placing the pill in her mouth before pressing her lips against his, transferring it directly. When she realized he couldn't swallow on his own, she guided the medicinal energy into his body using her qi before pulling away.
As her breath steadied, awareness of her actions finally sank in, and her entire face turned scarlet.
"I could have just used qi from the start…" she muttered, pressing a trembling finger to her lips. The heat of embarrassment rushed through her, but before she could dwell on it further, her attention snapped back to Chen Fan's wounds. His bleeding had slowed, and the burn marks had begun to heal. However, regrowing an entire limb was beyond the pill's capabilities.
Determined, Bai Mulan quickly retrieved another pill—one that replenished a cultivator's qi. This time, she placed it on her fingertip, guiding it into Chen Fan's mouth with precision. As she observed his breathing grow steadier, a small sigh of relief escaped her lips. Yet, when her gaze fell upon his missing arm once more, a sharp pang struck her heart.
"Idiot… stupid…" she murmured, lowering her head as a storm of emotions threatened to overwhelm her.
Chen Fan had told her beforehand that he possessed a technique capable of instantly killing a Nascent Soul cultivator—as long as his opponent was immobilized for even a moment. She had, of course, considered the risk, but he had reassured her that he could control it, that the cost would be minimal. Reluctantly, she had agreed, knowing they had little choice.
But now…
Looking at the aftermath, Bai Mulan knew the truth. Even if their plan had gone perfectly, even if he had mitigated the damage, his injuries would have never been minor. A bitter weight settled in her chest. She had been a burden. Because of her, he had been forced to use such a desperate move.
She slapped her cheeks lightly, forcing herself to focus. Now was not the time for guilt.
Scanning their surroundings, all she saw was an endless sea of blood. Looking up, she suddenly froze. Suspended above them were three massive doors, each radiating an ominous glow. Without hesitation, she formed three ice needles and shot them at the doors to test their nature.
The results were immediate.
The ice aimed at the left door melted instantly.
The one aimed at the middle door simply vanished.
The ice directed at the right door shattered into countless particles.
Bai Mulan's expression turned solemn. She had no idea what would happen if she entered one of these doors unprepared, but she knew one thing for certain—Chen Fan needed treatment immediately. She couldn't afford to hesitate.
Then, as if recalling something, her eyes brightened. She quickly retrieved the red token they had stolen earlier, sensing a faint connection between it and the doors. The moment the token was activated, the middle door creaked open.
Relief flickered in her gaze—only to be overshadowed by concern.
Her eyes drifted to Chen Fan's unconscious form, lingering on the circular tattoo etched into his left hand. The realization struck her like a hammer. The door might only allow the token holder to enter. But as long as Chen Fan was still alive, she had no way of transferring his tattoo to herself—not with her current cultivation level.
Gritting her teeth, she made a decision. Without hesitation, she slipped the red token into Chen Fan's pocket.
If a miracle happens and we can both enter, then good. If not… at least he will have a chance.
Steeling herself, she lifted him once more and leapt toward the open door.
As they neared, she felt the tattoo on Chen Fan's hand react—glowing faintly before manifesting another red token. As if recognizing the door's authority, both tokens shone in unison. Without any resistance, they passed through the threshold.
For the first time since arriving in this wretched place, Bai Mulan felt a glimmer of hope.
Looking back, she saw that the door now displayed two glowing tokens, filling two of the five blank spaces. But before she could dwell on it further, a sudden force pulled her inward.
Darkness engulfed them.
When her vision cleared, they found themselves standing in an empty space, five torches circling around them. Beneath their feet, an unsettling black liquid shimmered in the dim light.
A low cough broke the silence.
"Ahem."
Bai Mulan's eyes widened as she glanced down—straight into Chen Fan's slightly pale face.
"Could you put me down? This is… kind of embarrassing."
"Ah—o-oh! Yes, of course!" Flustered, she hurriedly lowered him, though she still kept a steady hand on his back for support.
"I'm not that fragile, you know," Chen Fan chuckled, attempting to stand on his own. However, the moment he shifted, his body felt unbearably heavy.
He had regained consciousness the moment Bai Mulan slipped the token into his pocket, but he had remained silent, assessing the situation. It was thanks to that brief moment of awareness that he had been able to summon the token just in time.
Now, as he took stock of his body, his gaze finally fell on the empty space where his right hand should have been. A bitter smile tugged at his lips, but he quickly composed himself.
It's not permanent, he reassured himself. If I can raise my cultivation, I'll be able to regrow it with my medical skills. And if not… I can always go to my master.
Defeating a Nascent Soul cultivator while missing an arm was already an achievement in itself.
Turning his attention to Bai Mulan, he immediately caught the complicated expression on her face—guilt written all over it.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
Chen Fan flicked her forehead lightly, snapping her out of her daze.
Bai Mulan blinked in confusion, rubbing the spot where he had flicked her.
"You should be saying 'thank you' instead," he said with a smirk. Then, with a playful glint in his eyes, he added, "And I should thank you too—for not killing me. I thought you'd leave me to die after finding out your true colors."
"I'm not that shameless!" Bai Mulan huffed, pouting.
"So, you admit you're shameless?" Chen Fan teased.
"Hmph! I should just—" Bai Mulan started, but the words caught in her throat. She wanted to say, I should've left you behind, but the mere thought felt impossible to voice, even as a joke.
Instead, she grumbled, "I'll fulfill any condition, as long as you keep your mouth shut about this."
Despite her defiant words, her gaze drifted to his missing hand once more, and her expression darkened.
Seeing this, Chen Fan smiled softly and placed his hand on Bai Mulan's head. "It's okay. I can regrow it in the future."
However, the moment he realized what he had done, he quickly pulled his hand back. "Ah—sorry. I didn't mean to…" A flicker of frustration crossed his face. Since when did I develop this habit? he silently cursed.
But Bai Mulan didn't respond. She simply lowered her head, her hair falling over her face like a curtain.
At that moment, an unexpected warmth spread across her cheeks. Even she hadn't anticipated her own reaction. Everything that had happened—the battle, the close call, the desperate escape—flashed through her mind. And now, with Chen Fan smiling at her, reassuring her despite his own injuries…
The sudden intimate gesture, his casual touch, and the way he spoke so lightly despite his condition sent her heart into turmoil.
Overwhelmed, she quickly turned her face away, desperately trying to suppress the racing of her heart.
I really am an easy woman.