The group returned to Su Lan's cottage after the intense battle in the cave. Lin Tian carried the weight of the Dragon's Heart within him, feeling its energy pulsating with raw power. The atmosphere among them was calm but charged with unspoken words.
That night, as Lin Tian sat alone outside, gazing at the stars, Su Lan approached him, her quiet presence breaking his solitude. She carried a small flask, which she offered to him.
"It's a tonic," she said softly. "To help you recover from the strain."
Lin Tian accepted it, their fingers brushing briefly. "You've done more for me than I could ever repay, Su Lan."
She lowered her gaze, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Perhaps you've already repaid me. I've been alone for so long, but since you arrived, it feels… different."
Lin Tian turned to her, his eyes searching hers. "Different how?"
Her cheeks flushed faintly, but she held his gaze. "You've reminded me of what it means to care for someone. To fight for something greater."
Before Lin Tian could respond, Zhao Yue's voice called from inside the cottage. "Lin Tian, are you out there?"
Su Lan stepped back, her expression guarded. "It seems I'm not the only one who cares."
Lin Tian sighed, standing. "I don't know what lies ahead, but I'll protect both of you. That, I promise."
Inside, Zhao Yue was waiting with an uncharacteristic softness in her expression. "You've changed," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Have I?" Lin Tian asked, leaning against the doorframe.
"Yes," she said firmly. "And it's… confusing. I never thought you'd become someone I could admire. Someone I could… trust."
Her words hung in the air, and Lin Tian stepped closer, his presence commanding yet gentle. "Trust is earned, Yue. And I'm not the man I was when I entered your family. But I'll tell you this—I won't let anything happen to you."
Their eyes locked, and for the first time, Zhao Yue felt her defenses crack. "Then don't leave me behind."