The rain intensified, bean-sized drops pounded against the window, scattering fine sprays of water. Occasionally, silver-serpent lightning tore through the night, illuminating the room as brightly as day.
Ma Xiaotao sat on the edge of the bed, watching the rain-blurred shadows of trees beyond the window, her fingers unconsciously tracing the window frame.
Though the burning pain in her chest had eased, the terror of being controlled by the evil fire still lingered in her heart like a tiny thorn.
She recalled Li Changsheng's back as he stood before her. His dark robes had been scorched black by the evil fire, and the burn mark on his arm was horrifying—he clearly had not needed to take such a risk.
"Changsheng..." she murmured softly, her fingers tightening slightly.
After years of torment from the evil fire, she had long grown used to enduring it alone. Yet the protection he had offered her just now sent ripples across the frozen lake of her heart.
Just then, a knock at the door shattered the silence, accompanied by a familiar voice, crisp and clear as the air after rain. "Sister Xiaotao, are you asleep?"
Ma Xiaotao's heart skipped a beat. She rose almost immediately and hurried to the door.
The instant she opened it, she saw Li Changsheng standing beneath the eaves. More than half of his dark robes were soaked through, water still dripped from the ends of his hair, but he held a plant in his hands. Its leaves spread like flames, glimmering with a faint golden-red radiance in the dim light.
"Changsheng?"
Ma Xiaotao froze for a moment, then quickly stepped aside to let him in. "Why did you come out in such heavy rain? Get inside, quickly. Don't catch a chill."
Li Changsheng entered the room, bringing a damp chill