53: Chapter 53 Lending a Helping Hand

"Ah! Mother, save me! Brother, help!" Mu Jin's pupils constricted as the steel needle pierced his neck. Sure enough, in just a second, his head slumped as he drew his last breath.

"Brother Xuan Xiao, spare us, please spare us! It was all Mother—it was all Mother who wanted to kill you! It has nothing to do with us."

"Please save us, I don't want to die yet!"

The other males, faces full of horror and bodies trembling, cried out to Xuan Xiao for help in heart-wrenching voices.

They didn't want to die; this female was truly terrifying.

Xuan Xiao listened to their pleas in a daze, his hands clenched into fists, his heart a tangle of various emotions.

He could no longer tolerate them. Even if they didn't die now, he would still have them executed once he recovered and returned to the Tribe.

"Help!"

Amidst Sang Qing's smile, several males shed tears of regret in despair.

The birds in the forest were startled into flight by the tragic screams, but everything quickly returned to calm.

Inside the cave, the bright firelight illuminated the gloomy space. A few beast bones were piled haphazardly on the ground, covered with withered leaves and soil. An unpleasant odor lingered in the air. Sang Qing frowned, her hands skillfully treating the wounds on Xuan Xiao's body.

How tragic. This beast was covered in injuries.

Especially on his face, shoulders, and legs; these areas were the most severe, to the point where she could see the bone.

If not for her pills, he certainly wouldn't have survived.

Sang Qing removed the blood-soaked gauze and reapplied medicine and bandages, a layer of sympathy coloring her brow.

As the disinfectant was poured onto the wounds, the stinging sensation made Xuan Xiao groan. His hands involuntarily tightened, and the veins on his neck bulged.

Hiss... Gasp...

The male's breathing was heavy and rapid, his eyes tightly shut. The entire beast looked as if he had just been fished out of water, his body completely drenched in sweat.

Sang Qing threaded the surgical needle and, with a slightly clumsy technique, began to stitch his wounds. By the firelight, she leaned close to his injuries, carefully and meticulously sewing up the hideous gashes.

Tsk, he looked just like the cat she had rescued before that fell from the tenth floor—covered in blood and at death's door.

Oh, wait, he couldn't exactly be considered at death's door.

As expected of a six-rank beastman. Her Father had told her that the higher a beastman's Warrior rank, the stronger their vitality. It seemed that was indeed true.

Sang Qing lowered her gaze, working meticulously. After all, she had to save his life to get the shell crystals.

However, without her knowledge, Xuan Xiao bit the tip of his tongue and struggled to open his eyes.

What met his sight was the flickering firelight. A strange scent mixed with the smell of blood permeated his nose. He wanted to move his body, but he didn't have a shred of strength.

A fuzzy head came into view. He pursed his lips, looking incredulously at the female before him who was performing strange actions. His mind went blank for a moment.

It was her?

So the one who helped him kill the beasts just now was also her? But she clearly looked so petite and weak.

Also, why would a single female appear in the forest?

The female's beautiful dress trailed on the ground, but she seemed not to notice, focusing intently on treating his wounds. Her jet-black braid hung over her chest, a hint of fair skin tightly wrapped. She knelt before him, her brow furrowing and relaxing at times, a thin white thread moving nimbly in her hands.

Fresh, hot blood surged through Xuan Xiao's stagnant heart. Though his body was stiff, his heart was incredibly soft at this moment.

Blinking, he felt his body gradually recovering, especially at the sites of his various wounds. He didn't know what she had used on him, but he felt much better than when he was on the verge of death.

"Uh..." Lacking scissors, Sang Qing lowered her head to his shoulder and bit off the suture with her teeth. Upon looking up, she saw his bruised eyes and a pair of dark green vertical pupils staring straight at her.

Sang Qing recoiled in fright and landed on her bottom, nearly knocking over the items beside her.

Xuan Xiao nervously lifted a hand, but he couldn't reach her body; he could only touch her vividly patterned skirt.

Did she fall? Why was she so timid? Did he scare her?

"You're awake?" Sang Qing exhaled, wiped the sweat from her forehead, put down the needle and thread, and began to bandage him.

"Thank... thank you!" Xuan Xiao's coarse voice was somewhat unpleasant. He pulled at the corners of his mouth, wanting to smile, but the wound on his face made it impossible.

"Let's skip the verbal thanks. Saving you cost me a lot of time and herbs. Remember to compensate me."

It would be best if he showered her with shell crystals.

Sang Qing thought happily, her movements becoming much more brisk.

Compensation? Xuan Xiao understood immediately and hurriedly nodded.

He definitely had to thank her properly.

After finishing the bandages on his body, Sang Qing's gaze fell on his face. That terrifying, hideous wound almost spanned half his face, from the corner of his eye to his jawbone. The flesh was severely mangled, showing just how cruel the beast who attacked him was.

Xuan Xiao's gaze had also been fixed on her. Seeing her frown, he couldn't help but feel a bit confused.

"What... is it?"

Sang Qing shook her head. This wound on his face was so deep; regardless of how well it was treated, disfigurement was inevitable.

But she wasn't close to him, so she certainly wouldn't buy him pills from the system for treatment. She would have to see how he thanked her later. If he was generous, she might reluctantly buy a pill to treat him.

"I need to treat your wound, but the injury on your face is very serious. It will likely leave a scar!"

She didn't hide it, pointing out the issue to him directly.

Xuan Xiao fell silent, his expression suddenly dimming.

It seemed he wouldn't be able to compensate her.

He knew how heavy the wound on his face was. No female would like a disfigured beastman, even if his rank was high.

This ugly scar would accompany him for life. It was already not easy that she didn't show disgust toward him now.

"It's fine. Go ahead."

Xuan Xiao's heart was bleeding. He looked at the female's lovely and enchanting face before him, clenching his fists and letting his nails sink into his palms.

"Ugh... Argh!" A low, suppressed growl came from the male in the cave. When the disinfectant was poured onto the wound on his face, his muscles tensed up, and he gritted his teeth in pain.

A smear of blood quickly soaked into his pale, thin lips. Xuan Xiao's upper body trembled as he gasped for air.

It hurt, it hurt so much.

The pain was immense, but it was precisely this pain that made his heart clear and hardened.

He would definitely have his revenge.

"Endure it a bit longer, it'll be over soon." Sang Qing felt a bit sympathetic, softening her movements as she spoke in a gentle, soothing voice.

A touch of warmth swept through Xuan Xiao's heart. He nodded slightly, his fingertips touching a corner of her skirt, enduring the pain of each stitch.

Her voice was so pleasant. He remembered their first meeting again. Under the sunlight, her smile was incredibly bright, and she wasn't afraid of him.

Back then, why hadn't he taken the handkerchief she offered?

Oh, he remembered. He said he had to remember Nan Ru's instructions not to talk much with females.

He was so stupid, truly too stupid.

As Xuan Xiao thought, he drifted off into a heavy sleep again, his consciousness gradually blurring.

In his dreams, Nan Ru's hideous face appeared before him. She berated him loudly, stabbing him over and over with a knife.

He was powerless to resist and suddenly woke up with a start.

Outside the cave, it was dark. The mountain wind blew, and the temperature of the fire was still scorching.

Xuan Xiao propped himself up to sit. The beast skin blanket on him slid off. He paused for a moment, touching the soft beast skin.

"...female?"

He seemed to have forgotten her name. Dammit, how could he forget her name?

He called out twice, but no beast answered. That figure had vanished without a trace.

He seemed to have been abandoned again.

The whole world seemed to become lonely in an instant. Xuan Xiao was silent for a long time. Feeling some itchiness on his face, he reached out to touch the wound. "Hiss—"

Pain!

He moved his body and lifted the beast skin, wanting to go out to relieve himself.

Just as he stood up by leaning against the stone wall, he noticed a portion of food next to the fire, along with some wood and even clean water.

She had prepared the things he needed before leaving?

Xuan Xiao's heart immediately filled with joy.

At the cave entrance, he smelled the scent of beast-repelling grass juice. He limped out and then limped back in. Sitting by the fire, he added two pieces of wood to the flames; this wood was enough to last him the whole night.

After taking a sip of water, a few specks of color flickered in the male's dark eyes. He expressionlessly began to roast the food over the fire, thinking about how he should return for revenge once he recovered.

Nan Ru could bewitch him, but she couldn't bewitch all the Tribesmen.

He still had time.

In the early morning, before the mist had dissipated, Sang Qing bit into a meat bun and leisurely left the Tribe.

She still had to go to the cave to find Xuan Xiao, see how his injuries were recovering, and offer a few words of concern.

Only then could she get the shell crystals she wanted.

She hoped he hadn't left the cave. Yesterday he had slept too soundly and couldn't be woken no matter what. She had to return to the Tribe early according to her Father's rules, so she left things for him and departed.

The wild beasts in the forest shouldn't do anything to him, right? She had even specifically sprayed beast-repelling grass juice; it smelled awful.

Everything outside the cave was normal. Aside from a single set of footprints, no other traces were found. Sang Qing stepped into the cave. A few embers were burning, and the cave had become somewhat chilly.

"Chieftain Xuan Xiao, are you awake?"

She called out tentatively but received no response, even though he was clearly lying right there.

He couldn't be dead, could he?

Sang Qing hurried forward, wanting to check his condition.

With his back to her, Xuan Xiao lay on the ground, wrapped in beast skin, clutching his arms, his body alternating between hot and cold.

He had indeed heard Sang Qing's call, but he couldn't answer. His body felt miserable, and his throat felt as if someone were choking it.

"Chieftain Xuan Xiao? Chieftain Xuan Xiao?" Sang Qing breathed a sigh of relief after feeling his breath and called him twice more.

But the cave was dark, and she hadn't noticed anything unusual until she rekindled the fire. Only then did she see his flushed face and pale lips.

His forehead was so hot.

Oh no, it must be an infected wound.

She forgot to give him anti-inflammatory medicine yesterday.

"So cold, so cold..."

Xuan Xiao's lips were pale, his eyes tightly shut as he murmured softly.

Sang Qing felt a hint of apology and quickly bought the appropriate anti-inflammatory medicine.

She used a great deal of effort to help Xuan Xiao sit up. Leaning him against her shoulder, she brought the medicine to his lips. "Chieftain Xuan Xiao, come, take the medicine and you won't be cold anymore."

Xuan Xiao's consciousness was hazy; how could he know to open his mouth?

Sang Qing tried to feed him several times, but he spat it out each time, failing to get it into his mouth.

Xuan Xiao shook his head, leaning against Sang Qing. His scorching body temperature almost burned her.

Too hot.

Sang Qing frowned and could only crush the tablets, mix them with water, and forcibly pry open his teeth to pour it in.

This was how she used to give medicine to small animals.

"Mm... cough cough cough..." Xuan Xiao resisted her rough methods but lacked the strength to oppose her.

Having finally gotten the medicine down, Sang Qing helped him lie back down and took a beast skin from her Storage Grid to cover him.

As the alternating hot and cold sensations faded, smelling a meaty aroma in the air, Xuan Xiao blankly opened his eyes. He was still in the cave.

A petite figure sat beside him. Was she roasting meat?

Xuan Xiao shook his still-heavy head. He wanted to reach out and touch her but pulled back, calling out weakly, "female?"

Sang Qing turned around. Seeing him awake, she immediately smiled. "How is it? Are you okay?"

The female's bright smile shook his spirit. He nodded dully, his lips moving. "Mm."

Much better. Did she feed him some medicine just now?

The charcoal in the fire made a slight crackling sound. Listening to the howls of wild beasts outside the cave, Sang Qing focused on roasting the meat.

Leaning against the stone wall, Xuan Xiao watched her quietly. Clutching the beast skin in his arms, he found a topic. "Am I very stupid?"

She must have heard Nan Ru and the others' words yesterday.

"Yes."

"..." Direct enough. Xuan Xiao was defeated!

The air suddenly became silent, accompanied by a hint of awkwardness.

Sang Qing's lips twitched, and she quickly waved her hand. "Oh, no, no, no, I didn't mean that. Don't misunderstand."

A slip of the tongue, a slip of the tongue. She had answered a bit too quickly.

Although he was a bit dim-witted, he had helped her once after all. She shouldn't say that about him.

"You're right. I am very stupid." Xuan Xiao stared directly at the brilliant fire, loneliness surrounding him.

"You said it, not me." It had nothing to do with her. It would be trouble if he used that as an excuse not to give her shell crystals later.

Sang Qing shook her head and spoke to him with a forced smile.

Xuan Xiao curled his lips in a self-mocking way, his heart bitter and stifled, his eyes drooping. "Mm."

Hadn't he come to this point today precisely because he was stupid?

For all these years, he had actually treated the evil female who killed his Father and Mother with wholehearted devotion. Who could be stupider than him?

"But it's okay. Just go back for revenge once you're better." Seeing his dejected look, Sang Qing offered a word of comfort.

He was only injured; he would recover soon.

Revenge was a certainty. If Nan Ru and Muller didn't die, the fury in his heart would never be appeased.

However, Xuan Xiao looked down at the wounds on his body. He estimated he would need several more days to return to normal. Moreover, Muller was no ordinary male; once he realized Xuan Xiao was missing, he would surely come looking for him.

As for Mu Jin and the others, they were all dead and couldn't tell Muller anything.

He couldn't stay in this cave for too long.

"By the way, female, what is your name?" Xuan Xiao's voice was soft as he asked Sang Qing with some shame.

"My name is Sang Qing." He still didn't know her name? Ridiculous.

Sang Qing pursed her lips, grumbling inwardly.

Sensing the resentment she was emitting, Xuan Xiao smiled bitterly. "I'm sorry. I should have remembered your name.

But don't worry, I won't forget it from now on."