Lin Dong stepped into the mysterious cave, where the cold air was biting, and the light could barely outline the surroundings.
His heartbeat gradually accelerated with each step, until he saw that unusual figure—Yun Ruoxian.
The youngest Heavenly Realm Martial Artist of the Yun Family, renowned even within the Alliance of Heavenly Realm, now lay helplessly on the cold stone ground, her legs twisted unnaturally, evidently severely injured.
Her eyes had lost their usual sharpness and confidence, replaced by an indescribable fragility and helplessness. Those hands that could once control the clouds and rain now gently rested beside her, pale and powerless.
Lin Dong’s heart tightened suddenly. He quickly stepped forward, squatting down, his voice full of concern: "What happened? How did you get injured?"
Yun Ruoxian gave a bitter smile, a trace of self-mockery flashing through her eyes: "It’s bad luck. I accidentally entered this unknown space intending to find a way out but fell from a height instead. Fortunately, this cave isn’t high, otherwise my life might have ended here. It’s ironic that even a Heavenly Realm Martial Artist can be so wretched."
"If word got out that I died like this, the Martial Arts World might laugh their teeth off. After all, which Heavenly Realm Martial Artist dies from falling less than ten ters?"
Despite the urgency of the situation, Yun Ruoxian’s words carried a bit of optimism and self-mockery, this resilience made Lin Dong inwardly admire her.
He didn’t say much, swiftly getting into position, softly saying: "I know so dical arts, maybe I can help treat your leg injury. Don’t rush, relax a bit."
Saying this, Lin Dong carefully removed Yun Ruoxian’s shoes, revealing her jade-like feet usually encased in martial arts boots. At the mont, they were exposed to the air, appearing exceptionally fair and delicate, as pure and flawless as untouched snow.
Yun Ruoxian felt a warm flow rising from the soles of her feet—Lin Dong’s palm temperature, a sensation she had never experienced before.
Her cheeks involuntarily flushed with blush, a strange sense of embarrassnt surged within her heart, but luckily the cave’s dimness perfectly concealed these emotions.
Lin Dong’s hands gently covered Yun Ruoxian’s calves, starting a ticulous examination of the injury.
His technique was both professional and gentle, as if conducting a sacred ceremony.
He first gently pressed to feel the dislocation of bones and blockage in ridians, then using his understanding of dical arts, gradually guided the inner qi, trying to unblock the ridians to alleviate pain.
Throughout this process, Lin Dong’s every touch was extraordinarily cautious, fearing any additional harm to Yun Ruoxian.
anwhile, Yun Ruoxian felt an unprecedented warmth and peace, the care from this man slowly replaced the shyness in her heart with gratitude.
She closed her eyes, allowing Lin Dong to handle her, silently praying for this rare tranquility to last a little longer.
As Lin Dong treated her, Yun Ruoxian’s leg injury seed to improve slightly, the pain gradually reducing, a warm flow spreading from the soles of her feet throughout her body, offering respite to her exhausted body.
Between the two of them, there seed a tacit understanding flowing slowly in the dark cave, dispelling the surrounding cold and solitude.
Ultimately, when Lin Dong completed the last press and gently lowered Yun Ruoxian’s leg, he softly said, "The injury is temporarily stabilized, but you’ll need further treatnt and rest. We should figure out how to leave here and find a safer place."
Yun Ruoxian opened her eyes, gratitude and determination sparkling within: "Thank you, Lin Dong."
"Without you, I can’t use my inner qi here, and my leg is injured. I wouldn’t survive long."
"I owe you my life!"
Lin Dong laughably said: "No need to be polite, we’re here challenging together. Naturally, we need to support each other."
"By the way, previously at the seaside, I t a group of indigenous people here. They told a bit about what’s going on here; this place is a small island with several tribes."
"And they are one of those tribes. They even invited to their tribe and shared a piece of information."
"Oh? There are human indigenous people here?" Yun Ruoxian was a bit surprised.
Lin Dong nodded: "Yes, they seem to have been here since ancient tis, speaking an ancient language. Fortunately, I understand so ancient language, allowing to communicate with them."
"You actually know ancient language?" Hearing this, Yun Ruoxian was even more impressed with Lin Dong, realizing his knowledge was vast.
Even without inner qi, he seems to live well here.
He knows dical arts, understands ancient language... and he seems capable of Dragon Country’s martial art, able to battle beasts without inner qi. These skills let him thrive here, overcoming dangers like a fish in water.
"By the way, you ntioned earlier, that those tribe people told you sothing, what was that?" Yun Ruoxian suddenly recalled Lin Dong’s words and couldn’t help but ask.
Lin Dong’s face turned serious: "They told , decades ago, a group of outsiders like us ca here. And they were also martial artists. However, from what they said, among that group, there’s now only one survivor. He’s in their tribe."
"I suspect, that group might be challengers like us. If we find that survivor, perhaps we can discover the clues to escape from his mouth!"
Yun Ruoxian nodded, "Then what are we waiting for, let’s quickly find him."
"Let’s go—the tribe’s people are waiting outside the cave for us. We’ll go with them to their tribe." Lin Dong said.
About to leave, he rembered Yun Ruoxian’s leg injury.
Though Lin Dong had treated her, leaving no sequela, she still couldn’t walk normally.
Walking would still cause a lot of pain.
Lin Dong then squatted down, saying to Yun Ruoxian, "Yun Ruoxian, moving is inconvenient for you right now, I’ll carry you."
Yun Ruoxian felt sowhat awkward—Lin Dong had just held her jade feet, and now he was going to carry her.
Truth be told, she hadn’t been this close to another man before.
Especially being carried... wouldn’t her chest tightly press against his back?
Her figure was quite striking, lying on Lin Dong’s back would make her extrely embarrassed.
But at this mont, she couldn’t afford to be concerned with that too much.
"Okay." In the darkness, her face blushed as she lay on Lin Dong’s back, the skin contact making Yun Ruoxian feel indescribably shy.
Lin Dong, on the other hand, didn’t think too much, gripping Yun Ruoxian’s thighs, then steadily carrying her, stride firm and strong, through the mysterious cave, finally reerging into daylight.
Despite the outer world still shrouded with a layer of heavy darkness, compared to the cave’s oppression, here at least felt a bit freer.
They headed toward several indistinct figures ahead—the indigenous people they t before were now quietly waiting for them.
"I found my companion," Lin Dong’s voice rang out in the silence, carrying a trace of an imperceptible pant, "But she’s hurt her leg, making movent difficult. I can only carry her along."
Several indigenous people turned their concerned gazes upon hearing, among them, an elder stepped forward a few steps, with his wrinkled hand clutching the tree bark nearby, then with a solemn face, said:
"You’ve worked hard, but we must hurry to leave here, head to the tribe. Nightti is approaching, sea beasts from the ocean will climb ashore, making this place exceedingly dangerous."
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