When Xie Liufeng arrived within the Hanshui Marsh area, it was already past midnight.

He hurried along while listening to Ning Yuanzheng report the progress at the scene.

Still no news.

Chu Xinghui’s cultivation was at the Golden Core stage, already outstanding among his peers, but the evil spirits inside the seal… their strength far exceeded the Golden Core stage.

Moreover, this matter was strange, it was very likely not only about the evil spirits inside the seal.

If not for Chu Xinghui’s soul lantern still shining, most people would probably have assumed something had happened to him.

Xie Liufeng was terribly anxious.

He confirmed the direction and continued heading toward the cold pool at the seal.

Not long after he left, he suddenly saw something familiar flying in the night sky.

Xie Liufeng was startled and stopped in his tracks.

The area nearby was deserted, the black bird had searched for a long time but hadn’t found anyone who could help. With Chu Xinghui unconscious, it dared not leave him too far, so it had to try another way to save him.

It flew nearby, trying to find some usable herbs. After much effort, it found a usable herb and immediately dove from midair, attempting to claw and bite it out from the soil. At that moment, it spotted Xie Liufeng passing by.

Excited beyond measure, it forgot about the herb, rushed over, bit his clothes, and tried to drag him in a certain direction.

Xie Liufeng realized what was happening, pulled the bird off his clothes, and said directly: “Lead the way.”

The black bird immediately flew ahead, leading him to where Chu Xinghui was unconscious.

After about half a quarter-hour, they reached a streambank.

Xie Liufeng immediately saw the person lying in the sword light and hurried over.

The spirit sword was stuck into the muddy ground nearby, the spiritual light forMing a simple defensive circle around Chu Xinghui.

However, without the owner’s spirit power driving it, the sword’s own power was greatly diminished, the defensive spiritual light was dim and could only block some wild beasts and low-level demons.

Chu Xinghui had indeed been unlucky this time.

This place was on the edge of Hanshui Marsh, Ning Yuanzheng and the others had been watching around the seal, yet no one had found him.

His current condition looked really bad.

His face was very pale from blood loss, clothes stained with blood and mud, and herbs applied messily by the black bird stuck all over him. Because his wounds hadn’t been properly treated, some parts had turned pale from prolonged water exposure.

If not for his chest still rising and falling, he almost looked like a corpse.

Xie Liufeng half-crouched down and carefully examined his injuries. His hand trembled, somewhat afraid to touch him.

He composed himself, fed Chu Xinghui a few pills, and gave a simple treatment to the wounds. Carefully avoiding the worst injuries, he carried the man horizontally.

Chu Xinghui seemed to sense a familiar aura, opened his eyes vaguely and drowsily. Not seeing anyone and lacking strength to speak, he soon fell back into a tired sleep.

Before losing consciousness, he used his remaining strength to clutch tightly at Xie Liufeng’s clothes.

Xie Liufeng was frozen in place by this grip.

He reached out and gently touched Chu Xinghui’s eyelids.

He had lost vision before, so he was familiar with this state.

Suddenly, he realized something.

Chu Xinghui’s eyes… had a problem.

…

Chu Xinghui didn’t know how long he had slept. When he regained consciousness again, he heard familiar voices.

Xie Liufeng seemed to be talking with someone.

He asked the person opposite: “What about his eyes? How are his eyes…?”

The other person explained: “Brother Chu’s eyes seem to be poisoned by something, he probably can’t see anything now.”

Xie Liufeng asked again: “Is there a cure?”

The other person was silent for a moment, then honestly said: “This kind of poison is rare. I can’t identify it, and it’s hard to say whether it can be cured, nor can we be sure if Brother Chu’s vision will fully recover after detoxification.”

Perhaps because Xie Liufeng’s face looked so grim, he sighed and comforted him: “I am inexperienced and have limited understanding of such cases. Symptoms I cannot recognize, other seniors or peers might be able to. When Brother Chu’s condition stabilizes, Sword Sovereign can take him elsewhere for examination.”

Chu Xinghui vaguely listened to this, tried to open his eyes, but felt as if something coated them and failed to open successfully.

Nearby seemed to be the auras of several familiar people, including Xie Liufeng.

He moved his fingers.

Ming Xiao, who had been watching at the bedside, immediately exclaimed joyfully: “He’s awake!”

Chu Xinghui recognized Ming Xiao’s voice and felt a slight headache from his noise.

Ming Xiao was unaware and kept shouting to Xie Liufeng: “Sword Sovereign, he’s awake!”

Xie Liufeng immediately hurried over.

Chu Xinghui couldn’t see where anyone was, so he asked: “Xie Liufeng?”

Xie Liufeng had already composed himself and responded steadily: “Mm.”

Chu Xinghui confirmed again: “You came?”

Xie Liufeng came to the bedside patiently and said: “Yes, right beside you.”

He asked Chu Xinghui: “Where does it hurt?”

Chu Xinghui felt carefully and replied truthfully: “Chest, left shoulder, ribs, leg… Oh, and my eyes, they feel uncomfortable.”

He instinctively tried to touch his uncomfortable eyes.

Xie Liufeng reached out and stopped him: “Your eyes have medicine on them, don’t touch with your hands.”

Chu Xinghui obediently lowered his hand and asked: “Where are we now?”

Xie Liufeng told him: “The sect is at the campsite in Hanshui Marsh, this is your tent.”

Chu Xinghui was silent for a moment, suppressing the chaotic feelings in his heart, then asked about others: “Is Senior Brother Ning here?”

Hearing his name, Ning Yuanzheng, standing nearby, immediately spoke up: “Junior Brother Chu.”

After confirming everyone was here, Chu Xinghui first recounted all his previous experiences in detail.

Whether it was the black-robed person resting under the seal or the truth about those strange snakes in Hanshui Marsh, these were the most urgent matters now. Other things could wait a little, the information obtained had to be told to others first.

…It was just a pity that he had been unconscious for too long, and the cave was already flooded. Whether the black-robed person was still there now was uncertain.

Ning Yuanzheng finished listening and immediately planned to go out to arrange manpower.

The information Chu Xinghui brought back was very sufficient. Since they now knew the origin of those snakes, they naturally had to find a way to take people over to investigate that strange cave.

However, if that black mist was too powerful… the fellow disciples here might not be able to handle it.

While pondering the deployment of personnel, Ning Yuanzheng couldn’t help but glance at Xie Liufeng.

Xie Liufeng understood his meaning and nodded to him: “You go first, I’ll come with you later.”

Ning Yuanzheng looked back at Chu Xinghui, who was still lying on the bed, knowing the two still had things to discuss, so he planned to leave first.

Ming Xiao was still a bit worried about Chu Xinghui’s condition and lingered, unwilling to leave, wanting to say a few words to him.

Ning Yuanzheng glanced at this unlucky junior disciple and forcibly dragged him away.

After Ning Yuanzheng left, Chu Xinghui finally relaxed a bit and began to think about his own matters.

He reached out quietly and grabbed Xie Liufeng’s sleeve.

Xie Liufeng said nothing and quietly accompanied him.

Chu Xinghui was silent for a moment, then repeated the diagnosis he heard: “I don’t know if my eyes can still get better, maybe they won’t.”

He called out Xie Liufeng’s name: “Xie Liufeng.”

Xie Liufeng responded: “I’m here.”

Chu Xinghui asked him: “What if I can never see you again?”

Xie Liufeng asked back: “Will you forget what I look like?”

Chu Xinghui shook his head and said firmly: “No.”

He would never forget Xie Liufeng’s appearance.

“So you don’t have to be afraid of not seeing me,” Xie Liufeng’s voice was gentle as he promised: “Besides, I will cure you. I already said that if the sky falls, I’ll hold it up for you. Your eyes, I definitely can fix.”

Chu Xinghui slowly let go of Xie Liufeng’s sleeve and reached to hold his hand.

Xie Liufeng didn’t move, waiting for him to hold on.

At the moment he touched Xie Liufeng’s hand, Chu Xinghui suddenly hesitated.

He was always a very straightforward person and rarely hesitated.

But this time, he unexpectedly learned to feel nervous without any teacher.

Xie Liufeng noticed his momentary hesitation and asked: “What did I tell you before?”

Chu Xinghui lowered his head and was silent for a moment, then said firmly: “You wouldn’t give up on me.”

He finally, like countless times before, actively squeezed Xie Liufeng’s hand: “I can’t see, I might get lost, so now, before my eyes recover… you have to hold me tight.”

Xie Liufeng avoided the wounds on his body, bent down carefully to embrace him, and said: “Okay, I will hold you tight.”

 

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