Chen Fei swiftly swept his gaze over Cao Feiyu's pale face and the blood at the corner of her lips. Several healing spiritual pills radiating gentle vitality were already clasped in his hand, ready to be offered at any moment.
The Array Puppet stood quietly behind him, the runes in its eyes dim. Clearly, the sustained high-intensity control and interference just now had greatly drained its spiritual source as well.
"I'm fine." Cao Feiyu raised a hand and casually wiped away the remaining blood from the corner of her mouth with her sleeve.
She turned to look at Chen Fei beside her, whose face was full of concern. Her own face was slightly pale from blood loss, yet not only was there not the slightest trace of pain upon it, a bright, radiant smile bloomed instead.
That smile scattered the chill between her brows, like ice and snow beginning to melt, spring returning to the earth.
Beyond her smile, an emotion entirely different from before churned within Cao Feiyu's eyes.
There was relief at surviving the calamity, admiration and gratitude for Chen Fei's precise judgment and seamless coordination, and a trace of closeness and recognition difficult to put into words.
That emotional stirring had arisen from choice and trust amid desperate straits.
When she discovered that Ke Muqing's strength had temporarily surged to Great Cang Realm Late Stage, Cao Feiyu knew she had no chance of victory, and even the hope of escape was faint. At that moment, she had twice told Chen Fei to leave first, intending to stay behind and hold the line, fighting for him a sliver of survival.
This was her responsibility as his senior sister. Yet Chen Fei's choice had exceeded her expectations and deeply moved her.
Chen Fei had not followed her suggestion and