Desperate Flight

The lingering glow of the setting sun filtered through layer upon layer of leaves, casting dappled light and shadow across the forest like shattered gold scattered over the winding mountain path. The air still held the dense spiritual energy from within the cave, the unique aura leaking from the Companion Purple Crystal Source, mixed with the fresh scent of plants and the damp smell of soil. A single breath left one feeling refreshed. Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian carried bulging packs as they emerged from the cave hidden behind the waterfall—the cave walls still bore the marks from when they had mined the Companion Purple Crystal Source. Their packs were filled with rare medicinal herbs and several pieces of Purple Crystal Source glowing faintly violet, their weight pulling their shoulders down slightly.

Before they could even stretch their stiff backs from bending over for so long while searching for treasure, Xiao Yan had barely raised a hand to rub his aching shoulder when a steady, heavy set of footsteps came from the mountain path ahead. The footsteps rolled like muffled thunder, each step measured and heavy enough to make the fallen leaves beneath their feet tremble. They were accompanied by rough shouts and sharp metallic clashes—the scrape of curved blades against scabbards and armor pieces knocking together. The piercing sounds made the surrounding leaves rustle, startling the birds in the forest into scattering, their flapping wings shattering the mountain woods' silence.

Not good, a large group! Xiao Yan's heart tightened. The vigilance he had gained from years of training in the Monster Beast Mountain Range made him tense instantly, while Dou Qi began circulating through his body on instinct, ready for any sudden danger. He grabbed Xiao Yi Xian, who was still curiously looking around—she had been bending over to inspect a rare blue wildflower by the roadside, her finger just about to touch its petals, when Xiao Yan's pull made her stumble. He swiftly dragged her behind a dense thicket. The bushes stood over a person's height and were thick enough to conceal them completely. At the same time, he gently covered Xiao Yi Xian's mouth and gave her a grave look, signaling her to stay quiet. His fingertips could feel her warm breath and her trembling lips.

The two held their breath and peered through the gaps in the bushes toward the source of the sound. On the mountain path, a group of men in black fitted clothes strode forward, more than twenty of them in all. Each was powerfully built, with knotted muscles and gleaming curved blades at their waists. Their scabbards were engraved with savage patterns and clearly stained with plenty of blood. A ferocious wolf-head emblem was embroidered on every shoulder, its eyes stitched in glaring crimson thread, its fangs exposed, radiating a bloodthirsty aura as though it would leap forward and tear apart its prey at any moment.

"The Wolf Head Mercenary Group!" Xiao Yi Xian's mouth was covered by Xiao Yan's hand, so she could only make a muffled sound, her voice carrying an almost imperceptible tremble. She clutched Xiao Yan's sleeve tightly, her fingertips turning white and her knuckles bluish from the force. "They're infamous in the Monster Beast Mountain Range. They often rob travelers and merchant caravans. Once they set their sights on someone, not only will they take everything they own, it's hard to even keep your life. Their methods are extremely cruel. A small mercenary group was wiped out by them before..."

At their head stood a middle-aged man built like an iron tower. He was more than eight feet tall, broad-shouldered and thick-backed, standing among the crowd like a crane among chickens. His face was piled with flesh, squeezing his eyes into narrow slits. A long scar stretched from his forehead to his chin across the left side of his face. It was raised and dark red, as if some savage monster had clawed him, adding even more to his vicious appearance. His gaze was as fierce as a hungry wolf's, and as he swept his eyes over the surroundings, he carried an overbearing arrogance as though this entire forest were his territory. Even more terrifying was the faint layer of green Dou Qi wreathed around him. It was the sign of externalized Dou Qi that only a Da Dou Shi could condense. An invisible pressure spread outward like a mountain, making the air around them seem to freeze. He held a massive Mountain Splitting Axe, its thick blade as tall as half a man. Dark red bloodstains that had yet to dry still clung to it, dripping from the edge and leaving tiny bloody spots on the ground. The smell of blood drifted with the wind, mingling with the forest's scent and making one want to vomit.

"Boss, Third Brother said earlier that it was the cave around here. He saw two little brats go inside. There might be something good hidden there!" A tall, thin member of the mercenary group hurried over to the middle-aged man. His back was hunched, but his eyes were alert. His face was plastered with a fawning smile, and his respectful tone carried a hint of eagerness to claim credit as he pointed toward the cave Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian had just left.

The middle-aged man called Boss was none other than Lei Batian, the leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. Hearing this, he snorted coldly, his booming voice shaking the surrounding branches and sending leaves raining down. "A bunch of trash! You can't even handle two little brats who haven't grown all their hair yet, and you had to make me come personally?" He raised a foot and viciously kicked the tall, thin man in the backside. The man staggered back several steps and nearly fell down, yet he did not dare show the slightest resentment. Instead, his smile became even more ingratiating. Lei Batian continued roaring, "Pass down the order! Search carefully! Even if you have to turn that cave upside down, find everything inside! Daring to pick up bargains in my territory? You're tired of living!"

Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian heard everything clearly from behind the bushes and instantly understood what had happened. The Scarface bandit they had driven away in the cave earlier had not been a lone thief after all, but an outer member of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. After Xiao Yan knocked him unconscious with the Flame Splitting Wave Ruler, the first thing he did upon waking was run back to the mercenary group's base and exaggerate his report to Lei Batian. He claimed there were rare herbs in the cave that could improve Dou Qi, as well as treasure chests filled with gold, silver, and jewels, but that two ignorant youths had seized them first. He also said Xiao Yan was highly skilled and had injured him with strange flames, causing him to suffer badly. Lei Batian had always been domineering. In the central region of the Monster Beast Mountain Range, his word was unquestionable. Moreover, he was already a Da Dou Shi, practically able to walk sideways through this area. When he heard that someone had dared to "steal" things within his sphere of influence, his fury erupted. He immediately brought more than twenty elite subordinates, determined to reclaim the "treasures that belonged to him" and teach these two "reckless" youths a lesson, so they would know who truly ruled the Monster Beast Mountain Range.

"Lei Batian!" Xiao Yi Xian's face instantly turned deathly pale. She leaned close to Xiao Yan's ear and whispered in a voice only they could hear, her breath trembling. "He... he's actually a Da Dou Shi! He's an entire major realm above you! The Mad Wolf Strength he cultivates is known for its Explosive Power. After reaching the Da Dou Shi realm, his Dou Qi is solid as steel, and his attacks become even more ruthless. There was once a Nine-Star Dou Zhe adventurer who couldn't even last three moves against him. Almost no one he sets his sights on leaves alive! What... what do we do?"

Xiao Yan's heart suddenly sank to the bottom. His fingers clenched unconsciously. Though Da Dou Shi and Dou Zhe differed by only one word, the gap between them was vast. A Da Dou Shi possessed not only far more Dou Qi, but Dou Qi several times more refined. They could also begin to project their Dou Qi outward, crushing a Dou Zhe in both offense and defense. A Da Dou Shi like Lei Batian, who had fought and killed for years, possessed combat ability far beyond others of the same rank. Combined with more than twenty armed, Fearless of Death subordinates, fighting head-on would be like smashing an egg against a rock. He quickly surveyed the area, his mind spinning like high-speed gears as he desperately searched for a way out. His gaze passed over the mountain path ahead and the trees on both sides before finally landing on a rocky area not far away. There was a small, extremely concealed trail he had discovered while gathering herbs earlier. It lay hidden between two enormous boulders and could only fit one person at a time. Thorn bushes and vines grew thickly on either side, enough to leave anyone passing through covered in cuts. It was perfect for evading pursuit.

"Don't panic." He lowered his voice. His tone was so calm that it scarcely sounded like that of a youth, and he tried to make it sound dependable to soothe Xiao Yi Xian. "He hasn't found us yet. His attention is on the cave. There's a concealed path ahead. While they're searching the cave, we'll run through it. Once we get into the primeval forest ahead and use the terrain to circle around a few times, he might not be able to catch us!"

Xiao Yi Xian nodded hard, her eyes filled with trust as she tightly gripped Xiao Yan's hand. Her fingertips were sweating slightly from nerves. The two cautiously emerged from behind the bushes like agile wildcats, hunched over with their steps as light as possible. Every step landed on the thickest piles of leaves to avoid making even the faintest sound as they crept toward the narrow mountain trail at the side. The trail was indeed well hidden. Its entrance was completely covered by vines and weeds, while tiny thorns grew on the vines. Had Xiao Yan not stumbled across it before, no one would have noticed it.

But just as they had run a dozen steps and were about to slip into the trail entrance, Lei Batian seemed to sense something and abruptly turned his head. His sharp eyes swept over them like an eagle's. A Da Dou Shi's senses were already far beyond those of ordinary people, and after fighting in the mountains and forests for years, he was exceptionally sensitive to even the slightest changes in his surroundings. He frowned sharply, then instinctively sniffed the air, immediately catching an unfamiliar scent lingering there that did not belong to the forest. It was the faint spiritual aura leaking from the Companion Purple Crystal Source on Xiao Yan's body, entirely different from the forest's natural smell. Then he shouted, his voice carrying the unique vibration of a Da Dou Shi's Dou Qi, like thunder exploding beside their ears. "Who's there? Stop right now!"

Xiao Yan's pack had been stuffed too full, and several pieces of Purple Crystal Source had Collided with each other. As he turned around, they accidentally struck a nearby Tree trunk, producing a faint thump. This sound would have been almost negligible to ordinary people, but Lei Batian was a Da Dou Shi. His five senses had long been tempered beyond human limits, and even such a tiny noise immediately alerted him to something unusual.

"Not good, we've been discovered! Run!" Xiao Yan was startled. He no longer dared conceal their tracks and grabbed Xiao Yi Xian's hand, throwing himself fully into the Windwalk Steps. Dou Qi surged beneath his feet, forming a faint current of air that supported his body as he raced toward the depths of the mountain path like a phantom. Wind howled past his ears, while the trees on either side rushed backward and turned into blurred shadows. He Clearly felt the dense killing intent coming from behind them. It was almost tangible, carrying the pressure of a Da Dou Shi and making every Hair on his back Stand on end. Even breathing became difficult.

"Trying to run? Chase them!" Lei Batian roared. Dou Qi erupted beneath his feet, and green Dou Qi wrapped around his body like flames. His figure instantly became an afterimage as he pursued Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian like a cheetah. A Da Dou Shi's speed far exceeded that of a Dou Zhe. Every step he took covered several meters, and the fallen leaves beneath him were flung aside by his Dou Qi, leaving a Faint Trace on the ground. Xiao Yan had only cultivated the Windwalk Steps to minor mastery. Against Lei Batian, who combined his movement technique with a Da Dou Shi's Dou Qi, the difference in speed was immediately apparent. In mere moments, Lei Batian had closed most of the distance. The two could even feel the scorching heat radiating from his green Dou Qi, as though he would catch them in the next instant.

"Kid, leave what you're carrying behind, and I can Spare your life!" Lei Batian snarled as he chased them, his voice full of menace like a savage beast's roar. The Mountain Splitting Axe in his hand swung constantly as he ran. Green Dou Qi coated its edge, whipping up gusts of Strong wind that Cut in half roadside saplings as thick as bowls. Broken branches flew everywhere, frightening the nearby birds and beasts into fleeing in all directions. His gaze remained locked on Xiao Yan's pack. The spiritual aura of the Purple Crystal Source inside made him drool with greed. Cultivating as a Da Dou Shi required enormous resources, and he naturally would not let such treasure escape him.

Xiao Yan did not dare look back and could only run forward with all his strength. He knew that once Lei Batian caught them, not only would they lose the Purple Crystal Source and medicinal herbs, even he and Xiao Yi Xian would struggle to keep their lives. A single strike from a Da Dou Shi would easily shatter his defenses. Xiao Yi Xian followed closely behind him. Her stamina was already inferior to Xiao Yan's, and years spent refining pills had made her better at support than running. The prolonged sprint left her breathless, her chest Heaved violently as if it would burst apart. Fine Sweat Beads covered her face, sliding down her cheeks and dripping onto her clothes. The gravel on the mountain path painfully scraped Both feet. Her shoes had been torn, and blood seeped from her soles. Yet she did not complain at all. She only clutched Xiao Yan's hand desperately, her nails digging into his palm as she forced herself onward, unwilling to become one of his Burdens.

The mountain path became narrower and narrower. The thorns on both sides were like sharp little knives, constantly cutting their arms and cheeks and leaving bloody wounds of Varying depths. The cuts burned fiercely as blood seeped out and stained their clothes. But neither of them had time to care about pain. There was only one thought in their minds—run, run for their lives! Lei Batian's voice grew closer and closer. They could even hear his heavy Breathing sounds and the deafening crashes of his Mountain Splitting Axe cutting through trees. The sounds exploded beside their ears, mixed with the hum of green Dou Qi, as though that bloodstained axe would strike them at any moment.

"Xiao Yan, this can't go on. He's too fast!" Xiao Yi Xian said anxiously as she ran, her voice broken by ragged breaths and carrying a Crying tone. "Should... should we stop and Go all out against him? I have some Paralysis Powder here. It was refined from Bone-Corroding Grass and rosemary. It can temporarily paralyze a Da Dou Shi's Dou Qi circulation. Maybe we can trap him for a while!"

Xiao Yan was equally anxious. He knew that although Xiao Yi Xian's Paralysis Powder was powerful, against an experienced Da Dou Shi like Lei Batian, it could at most stop him for a brief moment. Moreover, once they revealed themselves, escaping later would become even harder. He quickly scanned the surroundings, trying to find another chance to escape. Then he spotted a steep slope not far ahead. It was nearly seventy degrees, covered in low shrubs and loose rocks. Below it lay a dense primeval forest, its towering trees and interwoven branches resembling a green ocean, perfect for cover. An idea flashed through his mind, and he shouted to Xiao Yi Xian, "Xiao Yi Xian, hold on tight! When I shout 'Jump,' we'll slide down this slope and use the forest for cover! Don't worry, the fallen leaves below are thick enough to cushion the impact!"

Xiao Yi Xian did not hesitate in the slightest and nodded firmly. She wrapped both arms tightly around Xiao Yan's arm, leaning most of her body weight against him. Her cheek pressed against his shoulder, and as she felt the warmth coming from him, much of the fear in her heart Dispelled. Just as Lei Batian was about to catch them, with the howling wind from the Mountain Splitting Axe infused with green Dou Qi nearly striking Xiao Yan's back, Xiao Yan's Gaze sharpened and he shouted, "Jump!"

The two leaped at the same time and slid down the slope. The shrubs and loose rocks threw their bodies off balance, and they rolled continuously like two balls. More wounds were cut into their bodies, while their clothes tore open and revealed bleeding skin beneath. Xiao Yan tightly shielded Xiao Yi Xian, using his back to block the sharp rocks and thorns. Even as his back was torn into a bloody mess, he did not notice. They gripped each other's hands tightly. No matter how their bodies rolled or collided, they did not let go, as though holding the other's hand gave them the courage to face every danger.

Lei Batian had not expected them to make such a move. Caught off guard, he abruptly stopped at the slope's edge and watched their figures tumble downward as he roared furiously, "You little bastards, don't run if you've got guts! I'll catch you, skin you alive, pull out your tendons, and show you what happens when you offend me, Lei Batian!" He looked at the steep slope and the dense forest below, his brows tightly furrowed. Though he was a Da Dou Shi, sliding down such rugged terrain would inevitably leave him Obstructed by loose rocks and thorns. Furthermore, the forest below was thick enough to block his Line of sight, making it difficult to lock onto them quickly. More importantly, the other mercenary group members were still behind him searching the cave. If he pursued alone and the pair had set a trap, even a Da Dou Shi might suffer. He had spent years in the Monster Beast Mountain Range. He might have been domineering, but he knew how to weigh gains against losses.

After hesitating for a moment, Lei Batian could only roar unwillingly at the forest several times. His voice was filled with rage and reluctance, carrying the vibrations of a Da Dou Shi's Dou Qi as it echoed through the valley for a long time, startling a flock of birds from the woods. He stomped down viciously, shattering the rocks beneath his feet with Dou Qi. Then he turned and roared at the subordinates catching up, "What are you standing around for? Search this area! Even if you have to dig three feet into the ground, find those two brats! They're carrying treasure, so they can't have gone far! Anyone who dares slack off will have his legs broken!" With that, he led his men toward the edge of the forest and began a sweeping search. Each held a curved blade coated in green Dou Qi, hacking wildly through the trees. The cracking sounds of trees being cut down rose one after another as they searched for Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian's trail.

Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian slid nearly twenty feet down the slope before crashing heavily into a pile of fallen leaves in the forest. The thick leaves were half a foot deep, like a soft carpet that cushioned most of the impact. Even so, the two were left aching all over, their bones feeling as though they had fallen apart. They lay sprawled on the leaves, unable to get up for a long while. Xiao Yan struggled to raise his head and spat out the leaves in his mouth. Seeing that Lei Batian had not followed them down but was searching above the slope with his men, the stone hanging over his heart finally fell away. He Exhaled a sigh of relief. Turning toward Xiao Yi Xian, he saw that her face was covered in dirt and leaves, her hair a complete mess. The fringe over her forehead had been soaked with sweat and stuck to her face. Her arms and cheeks were covered in tiny wounds, with blood and dirt mixed together, leaving her Utterly miserable. Yet she still looked at him with clear eyes full of concern. Her first words were, "Xiao Yan, are you all right? Is the wound on your back serious?"

The two Glanced at each other and saw the relief of surviving the Aftermath of disaster in the other's eyes, along with concern for one another. Seeing how miserable the other looked, they could not help laughing with a "Pfft." But as they laughed, Tears began to flow uncontrollably—the lingering fear of death, the joy of surviving, and the relief that the other was safe.

"Are we... are we safe?" Xiao Yi Xian panted. Her voice was weak, yet it carried a trace of joy at surviving the Aftermath of disaster. She raised a hand and gently wiped the tears and dirt from her face, frowning slightly when her fingertips brushed across a wound.

Xiao Yan nodded and struggled to his feet. Though pain wracked his entire body, every movement feeling as though countless needles were stabbing into his bones, and the wound on his back sent waves of piercing agony through him, he still forced himself to help Xiao Yi Xian up. "We're safe for now, but Lei Batian is a Da Dou Shi. His sensing range is much wider than an ordinary Dou Zhe's, so we can't let our guard down. We need to leave this place quickly and find somewhere more concealed to hide. Once it gets completely dark, we can take the chance to circle out of his search range."

Xiao Yi Xian nodded and relied on Xiao Yan's support as she staggered deeper into the forest. The sun gradually set, its golden afterglow slowly vanishing behind the mountains as night began to fall. The forest grew darker and darker, with only scattered remnants of sunset filtering through gaps in the leaves, barely enough to show the path beneath their feet. The surroundings were terrifyingly quiet. There were only their footsteps, breathing, and the soft rustling of crushed leaves. Occasionally, the roars of monster beasts drifted from the depths of the forest, distant and frightening, making the atmosphere especially tense. It felt as if fresh danger might descend at any moment—perhaps a hungry monster beast, or perhaps pursuers sent by Lei Batian.

After walking for about an hour, the sky had become completely dark, so black that they could not see their hands in front of their faces. With Elder Yao's perception within his sea of consciousness, Xiao Yan Avoided several monster beast territories. Elder Yao's Soul Power far surpassed that of ordinary people. Even as only a remnant soul, he could easily detect hidden dangers around them. Whether lurking monster beasts or traps on the ground, nothing could escape his perception. At last, beneath a concealed cliff wall, Xiao Yan found a small cave. It was tiny, its Cave Entrance only half a person tall and barely large enough for two people to sit side by side. Vines and weeds covered it completely. Small white flowers bloomed on the vines, and from the outside, it blended into the surrounding cliff wall, making it difficult to discover. Xiao Yan carefully inspected it, sweeping the cave's interior with Dou Qi to make sure there were no signs of monster beasts living inside or any other dangers—no poisonous miasma, no traps, only a thin layer of dust on the ground, showing that no one had come here in a long time. Only then did he support Xiao Yi Xian as they entered.

"You rest first. I'll get some water and firewood." As he spoke, Xiao Yan took out a prepared torch from his Storage Ring. It was linen soaked in monster beast fat, so it would burn for a long time with a strong flame. He lit it with flint, and the flickering fire instantly illuminated the small cave, driving away the fear brought by darkness and offering a trace of light. The cave walls were natural stone, and beneath the firelight, they glowed a warm yellow, making the place feel especially cozy.

Xiao Yi Xian nodded and leaned exhaustedly against the cave wall, closing her eyes. Unfallen tears still clung to her long eyelashes, while the dirt on her cheeks had been washed apart by sweat, leaving Faint Trace marks behind. Looking at her pale face and wounds, guilt rose in Xiao Yan's heart. If he had not insisted on going deeper into the cave to search for the Companion Purple Crystal Source, they would not have encountered the Scarface bandit, nor would they have drawn the pursuit of a Da Dou Shi like Lei Batian and made Xiao Yi Xian suffer so much because of him. Holding the torch, he carefully left the cave and found a clear stream nearby. The water babbled softly, reflecting the stars in the sky. He filled the waterskin he carried with him, then gathered dry branches and leaves from the area. These branches had grown in shaded places and held little moisture, making them easy to burn. Once he had finished, he returned to the cave.

He lit a campfire at the cave entrance. Its glow drove away the cave's chill and brought a trace of warmth. Xiao Yan handed the waterskin to Xiao Yi Xian and took out some compressed rations from his Storage Ring. They were made by grinding grains and dried monster beast meat into powder, nutritious and easy to carry. He handed them to her. "Eat something first and restore your strength. Your wounds need to be treated too. I have some Golden Wound Medicine. It was refined from Blood-Stopping Grass and Dew Condensing Flower. It works well and will heal your wounds faster."

Xiao Yi Xian accepted the rations and waterskin, eating in small bites. Though the compressed rations were bland and even somewhat dry, they were the most delicious food in the world at that moment. She took a sip of water, moistening her parched throat, and felt much better. The two ate in silence. Only the crackling of the campfire and the occasional sound of flowing water could be heard in the cave. The atmosphere was peaceful and warm, as if the perilous Hunt down from earlier had never happened.

"Today... thank you so much, Xiao Yan." Xiao Yi Xian suddenly spoke, her voice filled with gratitude and a trace of dependence that was difficult to detect. She lifted her head, her eyes shimmering with tears like stars in the night sky. "If it weren't for you, Lei Batian might have caught me already. He's a Da Dou Shi. We had no chance of resisting him at all. You clearly knew he was far Stronger than you, but you kept protecting me. You even used your back to shield me from the thorns..."

Xiao Yan smiled and reached out to pat her head. His movements were gentle, as though soothing a frightened little animal. "We're friends. Helping each other is only natural. Besides, if you hadn't taken me to that cave, I wouldn't have gotten the Companion Purple Crystal Source. It'll be a great help when I try to advance to Da Dou Shi. If anything, I should be thanking you." He deliberately used a relaxed, teasing tone, trying to lighten the mood. He did not want Xiao Yi Xian to remain trapped in fear.

Xiao Yi Xian laughed with a "Pfft," a faint blush appearing on her face as lovely as peach blossoms. She lowered her head and said softly, "Then in the future... can we still go treasure hunting together? But next time, we have to find out about the nearby forces first. Especially those Da Dou Shi-level experts—we absolutely have to avoid them. We can't ever be in such danger again. I can refine stronger Paralysis Powder and concealment medicine beforehand. Even if we encounter danger, we'll have another layer of protection."

Xiao Yan looked at her earnest expression, his eyes filled with warmth as he nodded solemnly. "Of course! But next time, we need to make thorough preparations. We must scout the terrain and local forces ahead of time, prepare more antidotes and traps, and even set up trigger-based poisoned-spike traps along the routes we have to take. Most importantly, I need to improve my strength as quickly as possible and Breakthrough as soon as possible to Da Dou Shi! If we meet a Strong enemy like Lei Batian again, I never want to be as helpless as I was today, only able to flee with you in such a miserable state. I want to be able to protect you head-on—to protect everything we want to protect."

The campfire flickered, illuminating their faces. Though they were covered in wounds and dirt, it could not hide the light in their eyes—their hopes for the future, their desire to grow stronger, and their cherishing of each other's friendship. Xiao Yan touched the cloth pouch against his chest and felt the fragment of a map inside. It was the key to his search for Heavenly Flames. He silently made up his mind: he had to improve his strength as soon as possible. Not only did he need to reach Da Dou Shi, he also needed to find the Heavenly Flames early and fulfill the Three-Year Pact with Nalan Yanran, making all those who looked down on him see him in a new light. More than that, he needed enough power to protect those beside him, so that the helplessness and misery of today would never happen again.

As the night deepened, the roars of monster beasts in the forest gradually subsided. Only the campfire continued burning quietly, its flames casting long shadows of the two across the cave walls. Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian leaned against the cave wall, nestled close to each other as they gradually fell asleep. Xiao Yi Xian rested against Xiao Yan's shoulder, her breathing even and a peaceful smile on her face. Xiao Yan gently held her shoulder, remaining alert to the movements outside the cave. Only after confirming there was no danger did he slowly close his eyes. In this perilous Monster Beast Mountain Range, this tiny cave became their temporary shelter from the storm. It also bore witness to the deepening friendship they forged through the trial of life and death. This thrilling escape became an unforgettable experience on their path of training, like a whetstone sharpening their resolve and driving them to grow stronger, so they could face the many future challenges and storms ahead.