135: Heart-to-heart talk

Inside the cave, firewood crackled, and the faint, savory scent of roasted fish still lingered in the air.

After a simple yet satisfying dinner, a brief sense of relaxation flowed between the two of them.

Xing Che's complexion seemed to have improved slightly from the warmth of the food; he leaned against the stone wall, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over Bai Yao, who was tidying up.

Just then, his eyes narrowed.

Beneath Bai Yao's rolled-up sleeve, a section of her wrist was exposed, tightly wrapped with a slightly rough binding strip made of animal hide clothes, the edges faintly oozing a trace of dried dark color.

That was no ordinary scrape.

Fragments of memory flashed suddenly: the vague sensation of warmth and a faint, sweet metallic taste felt while unconscious.

And that slightly cool hand that had always rested on his forehead or wound... Xing Che's heart sank abruptly.

“What happened to your hand?”

Bai Yao froze, subconsciously pulling her sleeve down, and said in a relaxed tone:

“It's nothing, I just accidentally scraped it.”

“Last night, you...”

Xing Che did not look away. His eyes, usually calm and deep, were now fixed on her, trying to find confirmation in her subtle expressions.

“I think... I smelled blood.”

The cave suddenly fell silent, broken only by the faint sound of the flames licking the firewood.

Bai Yao knew she couldn't hide it any longer.

She met his gaze, no longer concealing the truth. "It's exactly what you're thinking. But look, it's almost healed now."

She even shook her wrist, trying to prove it was no big deal.

Xing Che did not relax because of this.

He looked at her, as if truly seeing this Female before him for the first time.

Slitting a wrist to draw blood... even in Tribes known for the ferocity of their Beastmen, this was an extremely dangerous and painful method, usually only appearing during the most desperate sacrifices or vows.

And she did this just to save a 'companion' who was wary of her.

An extremely complicated emotion weighed heavily on his heart.

There was shock, disbelief, and, even rarer for him as the Great Priest, a strong sense of debt and emotional stirring.

“Why?”

Bai Yao sat down beside him and poked the fire, making the flames brighter.

“Why ask why? You saved me; I couldn't just watch you die.”

She spoke matter-of-factly, her profile softened by the firelight.

“Besides, my blood seems... a bit special. As long as it works, don't overthink it.”

She spoke lightly, as if she had only done a trivial thing.

Xing Che did not speak again.

He knew that some things had changed.

Bai Yao didn't overthink things as much as he did. After eating her fill, the reality of their predicament resurfaced.

Bai Yao looked at the curtain of water over the cave entrance, worriedly saying:

“What should we do next? That bird is haunting us; we can't hide here forever.”

Xing Che sat leaning against the stone wall. His body, having just recovered from severe injuries, still felt exhausted, and the power within him was sluggish and difficult to mobilize.

“We rest first. My injuries need time to heal, and our strength seems to be suppressed in this location.”

He analyzed calmly, "Going out blindly will only lead us back into a passive situation."

Bai Yao agreed with his assessment, but waiting passively for death was certainly not in her nature.

The feeling of powerlessness she experienced facing danger yesterday stung her deeply; she had to do something.

While Xing Che closed his eyes to regulate his internal energy, she quietly slipped out of the cave and quickly searched the nearby woods.

She needed a weapon, one that could counter an aerial threat.

Without modern tools, she could only rely on the most primitive materials.

She selected several highly flexible branches, stripped off sturdy bark to use as rope, and picked up a few hard stones of moderate size.

She was going to use these to make a simple slingshot.

Just as she ran back to the cave entrance clutching her "materials," a familiar shriek came from the sky!

The large bird was indeed still there.

It circled, its crimson eyes fixed on the cave, but it still feared the waterfall and pond and did not immediately rush in.

Bai Yao rushed into the cave, leaning against the rock wall and catching her breath, unable to stop herself from cursing under her breath:

“This persistent bastard.”

Xing Che inside the cave had been startled awake by the commotion. He had just finished a round of internal energy regulation, and the light of the totem on his back slowly faded.

Seeing the messy pile of branches and stones Bai Yao was holding, confusion appeared in his eyes: "What are you doing with those?"

“Making a weapon.”

Bai Yao steadied her breathing. "I can't always let you stand in front."

Xing Che looked at the crude materials and frowned slightly: "What kind of weapon can you make out of these?"

He could hardly imagine how these commonplace things could fight the fierce giant bird outside.

“Just wait and see.”

Bai Yao didn't explain further and began working on the branches and bark.

Her movements were quick and focused, and Xing Che's gaze couldn't help but settle on her.

Just then, Bai Yao looked up. Remembering the sight she had just witnessed, she asked curiously:

“Were you healing just now? I saw the totem on your back glowing. Was it protecting you? What exactly is the secret behind this totem?”

She threw out a series of questions, her eyes sparkling with pure curiosity.

Xing Che was slightly taken aback, then the corner of his mouth curved into an extremely faint, slightly teasing smile:

“My dear Female, everyone has secrets they prefer not to show others. Isn't it a bit impolite to ask so directly?”

Bai Yao laughed, feeling completely justified: "You already know all my secrets. Besides, didn't you say that no one can hide secrets from you?"

Blocked by her twisted logic, Xing Che couldn't help but chuckle.

Xing Che was silent for a moment, watching the flickering firelight. Perhaps it was the atmosphere of relying on each other, but he slowly began to speak:

“You're right. This totem is the source of my power.”

His voice deepened slightly. "It has existed since the moment I was born. It is the symbol of divine favor that the Fox Clan has not seen for a thousand years."

Bai Yao quieted down and listened carefully.

“The Tribe members regard it as a gift from the beast god, the hope for the revival of the Fox Clan.”

Xing Che's tone was calm. "But for me, it is also the shackles of responsibility. Since I gained consciousness, my life path has been predetermined: learning the most ancient knowledge."

“Mastering the most powerful strength, shouldering the heaviest responsibilities, never allowing a moment of slack, and certainly never... making a single mistake.”

Bai Yao looked at his calm profile and suddenly understood the burdens hidden beneath that halo.

She asked softly, "So... you never just played, like a normal Cub? Was your childhood... nothing but constant studying and working?"

“Childhood?”

Xing Che found the word slightly unfamiliar, but he understood what she meant.

He nodded slightly. "You could say that. While other Cubs were running and playing, my world only consisted of ancient texts, astrology, and the mastery of power."

Bai Yao looked at him. The admiration she had previously held in her eyes vanished, replaced by an understanding tinged with pity.

She murmured, "That sounds... a bit lonely."

“Lonely...”

Xing Che repeated the word, as if tasting it. It was an emotion he had never carefully considered.

Just then, Bai Yao suddenly thought of a crucial question. She blinked, a hint of slyness and curiosity in her eyes, leaned closer, and whispered:

“So... Great Priest, you've cultivated for so many years, exactly how old are you now?”

“...”

Xing Che was stopped short by her abrupt question, and the slight melancholic atmosphere that had just surfaced instantly vanished.

“What do you think?”