Xian Yue darted through the forest, her slender legs carrying her swiftly as she pursued the faint trail of dark energy. Her quarry, a minor demon, had been terrorizing a nearby village, and it was her duty to apprehend it.
As she leapt over a fallen log, a cry pierced the air, sending a shiver down her spine. Xian Yue's instincts kicked in, and she altered her course, following the sound to a nearby thicket.
Parting the branches, she found a boy, roughly her age, writhing in agony. A venomous snake had sunk its fangs into his arm, and his eyes were wide with fear.
Without hesitation, Xian Yue drew her dagger and carefully pried the snake's jaws open, freeing the boy's arm. She then produced a small pouch of herbal remedies from her belt and began to treat the wound.
As the boy's pain subsided, Xian Yue examined him more closely. He was dirty and malnourished, with no visible markings or tokens to indicate his identity.
"Who are you?" Xian Yue asked gently, but the boy only shook his head, his eyes welling up with tears.
Xian Yue's expression softened. She had seen many orphans in her travels, but there was something about this boy that tugged at her heartstrings.
"I'll call you Lin Zhen," she said finally, smiling. "It means 'forest tremble.' A fitting name, don't you think?"
The boy looked up at her, his eyes searching, and Xian Yue knew that she had made a connection.
Xian Yue carefully examined Lin Zhen's condition, her brow furrowed in concern. Despite her best efforts, the boy's fever refused to break, and his eyes remained sunken with exhaustion. She knew that he needed something more potent than her herbal remedies.
Without hesitation, Xian Yue made a decision. She would sneak into the ancient Immortal treasure hall, a forbidden place where powerful artifacts and rare elixirs were stored. Her target was the fabled Qīngyuè Wán, a pill made from the rare and precious Demon's Tear flower.
Legend had it that the Demon's Tear flower bloomed only once a decade, under the light of the full moon, and its petals held the essence of the demon clan's power. The pill was said to have the power to purify even the most corrupted of energies.
Xian Yue navigated the treacherous paths of the treasure hall, avoiding deadly traps and mechanisms designed to protect the precious artifacts within. Her movements were swift and silent, honed from years of training.
As she reached the inner sanctum, a pointed dagger shot out from the shadows, aiming straight for her heart. Xian Yue dodged the attack with ease, but the dagger's tip grazed her arm, leaving a trail of blood in its wake.
She gritted her teeth, ignoring the pain. Lin Zhen's life was on the line, and she couldn't afford to fail. With a deep breath, Xian Yue reached out and claimed the Qīngyuè Wán, its delicate petals glowing with an ethereal light.
Xian Yue's eyes widened in frustration as Lin Zhen refused to open his mouth. The Qīngyuè Wán was his only hope, and she couldn't let him slip away. With a deep breath, she made a decision.
She gently pressed her lips to Lin Zhen's, feeling a jolt of electricity run through her body. It was her first kiss, and she hadn't expected it to be like this – a desperate attempt to save a life.
As their lips touched, Xian Yue felt a flush rise to her cheeks. She was lost in the sensation, her mind reeling with thoughts she couldn't process.
But before she could dwell on the moment, Lin Zhen's eyes flickered open. He looked up at Xian Yue, confusion etched on his face.
"Who...are you?" he stammered, his voice weak but determined.
Xian Yue's blush deepened as she pulled away, trying to compose herself. "I...I'm Xian Yue," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lin Zhen's gaze narrowed, his eyes scanning their surroundings. "Where...am I?" he asked, his voice growing stronger with each passing moment.