Silent Care in the Night

The clamor of the Training Ground gradually subsided, while heat steamed up from the sweat-soaked earth. The sun slanted westward, and at last, Master announced the end of the day's training. The eight of them were sprawled every which way. Even the most energetic Xiao Wu had only enough strength left to pant, leaning listlessly against Ning Rongrong with her injured arm dragging at her side.

"Go back and clean yourselves up. Gather at the Martial Soul Imitation Training Ground after dinner. Don't be late." After saying that, Master left first with Flender and Zhao Wuji.

"We still have to cultivate..." Ma Hongjun let out a miserable wail and flopped straight onto the ground, kicking up a small cloud of dust.

Oscar barely had enough Soul Power left to make sausages. He weakly kicked him. "Dead fatty, don't block the way..."

Dai Mubai took a deep breath and forced himself upright. Blood seeped through the bandages on his chest again. "Stop dragging your feet. We're covered in stinking sweat. It's unbearable." He looked at Zhu Zhuqing, his voice softening. "Can you still walk?"

Zhu Zhuqing nodded. Her face was pale, but her gaze remained cool and detached as she silently followed behind him.

Supporting Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong said to Xiao Xiaoxiao, "Xiaoxiao, shall we go together?"

Xiao Xiaoxiao felt as if her bones were about to fall apart, especially her head. It felt stuffed with cotton, heavy and swollen. She barely nodded, but just as she tried to take a step, her legs went weak, and she nearly lost her balance.

A hand reached over from beside her and caught her elbow in time. The grip was neither too strong nor too light, steadily supporting her sudden collapse.

Xiao Xiaoxiao froze and turned to see Tang San somehow standing at her side. He had already finished regulating his breathing and looked to be in slightly better condition than the others, though his bangs were soaked with sweat and clung to his forehead.

"Are you okay?" he asked. His voice was slightly hoarse after exercising, but his tone was as calm as ever.

"I'm... I'm fine. I'm just a little weak." Xiao Xiaoxiao hurriedly used his support to straighten herself. The warm touch where her arm met his made her feel a little awkward, and she instinctively tried to pull away.

Yet Tang San seemed not to notice the tiny movement—or perhaps he noticed but did not care. He did not let go right away, continuing to lightly support her arm until he was certain she had regained her footing. Only then did he naturally withdraw his hand, as if he had merely done something entirely ordinary.

"It takes time to recover from Spiritual Power exhaustion. Don't force yourself." His gaze swept over her still bloodless face. After saying that calmly, he took the lead toward the dormitory area.

Leaning against Ning Rongrong's shoulder, Xiao Wu waggled her eyebrows at Xiao Xiaoxiao. Ning Rongrong pinched her lightly with an amused smile, and only then did she settle down.

Xiao Xiaoxiao's face felt a little warm. Ignoring Xiao Wu's teasing, she quickly followed after them. She could smell the faint scent of sweat in the air, along with a crisp, refreshing scent drifting from Tang San, somewhat like Blue Silver Grass sap. It was not unpleasant.

After returning to the girls' dormitory, the three of them practically crawled upstairs. Only after fetching hot water and washing up did they feel alive again.

Xiao Wu sprawled across her bed, groaning. "I feel like Teacher Zhao threw me around another hundred times... My bones are all mush..."

Ning Rongrong carefully rubbed scented balm onto her skin and laughed at that. "Who told you to charge in so fiercely today? Did you really think the Shi Family Brothers' turtle shells were so easy to hit?"

"I just wanted to see if I could break through their defense..." Xiao Wu muttered. Then she looked at Xiao Xiaoxiao on the bed across from her. "Sister Xiaoxiao, your complexion still isn't very good. Can you cultivate tonight?"

Xiao Xiaoxiao was drying her wet hair with a towel. Hearing that, she rubbed her still-throbbing temples. "I should be fine after I regulate my breathing for a while. Master must have his reasons for arranging it this way."

In truth, she was not sure either. The feeling of Spiritual Power exhaustion was like having a taut string stretched inside her head. The slightest thought made it ache sharply. But that was Shrek's training pace. No one would stop simply because you were not in good condition.

After resting for about half an hour, the Bell Sound announcing dinner rang out. The three girls supported one another as they went downstairs.

Dinner was relatively quiet. Everyone was starving and focused on eating. Teacher Shao Xin had specially added extra dishes for them, saying they needed to replenish their vitality. Tang San ate quickly, but his movements remained refined. After finishing, he did not leave immediately, instead sitting there and waiting for the others.

Dai Mubai glanced at Tang San, then at Xiao Xiaoxiao, who was slowly sipping her soup. He grinned and did not urge anyone on.

By the time they finally finished eating, the sky had gone completely dark. The seven of them gathered again and headed toward the Martial Soul Imitation Training Ground in the academy's rear mountain.

The imitation training ground at night differed from how it was during the day. Under the cover of darkness and the influence of Soul Power, the various cultivation areas suited to different Martial Souls took on bizarre, dazzling appearances. Trees swayed in the forest areas, their shadows deep and dense. Dim blue flames danced in the fire area. The water region shimmered with rippling light...

Master was already waiting there.

"Based on your Martial Soul attributes, each of you should find the most suitable area and meditate deeply. Sense the energy in the environment that matches your Martial Soul, guide it into your bodies, temper your Soul Power, and consolidate your cultivation." Master was concise. "Tonight's focus is perception and absorption, not breakthroughs. Know your limits. Do not be rash."

Everyone responded and quickly dispersed.

Tang San walked straight toward the deep Blue Silver Grass Forest, where the Life Aura was most concentrated. Dai Mubai went to the Tiger Roar Rock Area. Zhu Zhuqing vanished into the Shadow Jungle. Oscar and Ning Rongrong chose the relatively gentle Gem Wasteland, while Ma Hongjun naturally headed for the Blazing Fire Area.

Xiao Wu's Soft Bone Rabbit was suited to forest environments, but she glanced at Xiao Xiaoxiao, then at Tang San, who had already entered the depths of the Blue Silver Grass Forest. Her eyes darted, and she grinningly gave Xiao Xiaoxiao a push. "Sister Xiaoxiao, I'm going over there to see if there are any carrots to munch on. Make yourself at home!" Without waiting for Xiao Xiaoxiao to react, she bounced into another patch of woodland.

Xiao Xiaoxiao smiled helplessly. Her Phantom Moon Fox Martial Soul was inclined toward Spiritual Power and Illusion Techniques, making it more compatible with moonlight, shadows, and certain special environments of light and shade. She looked around and chose a Moonlight Woodland near a small lake. Mist hung over the water, and moonlight filtered through the sparse trees, forming hazy patches of light. The place was quiet and slightly surreal.

She sat cross-legged on a smooth rock facing the moonlit lake, closed her eyes, and began trying to enter a meditative state.

However, things did not go smoothly.

The aftereffects of Spiritual Power exhaustion were far more troublesome than she had imagined. Whenever she tried to focus and sense the faint energies around her that belonged to moonlight and illusion, the stabbing pain between her brows intensified. It was as though a needle kept stirring inside her head, making it impossible for her to concentrate. Her thoughts were chaotic, and distracting ideas kept surfacing.

After several attempts, not only did she fail to draw in any energy, but her headache worsened. Fine beads of cold sweat appeared at her temples.

She opened her eyes irritably, looked at the calm lake, and sighed. Was she really going to sit here for the entire night? Would Master be disappointed?

At that moment, she vaguely sensed a peaceful yet rich Life Aura coming from nearby. It was gentle and full of resilience, silently spreading outward. It was not overbearing, but it was exceptionally stable.

It was the aura of Blue Silver Grass... coming from Tang San's direction.

Xiao Xiaoxiao looked over instinctively. Under the moonlight, that Blue Silver Grass Forest seemed deeper and darker than the rest. Every blade of grass appeared to be breathing, exhaling and drawing in faint glimmers of life. Tang San's figure within it was blurred, as though he had merged completely with the entire forest.

She suddenly remembered what Tang San had said that day about using the circulation path of the Mysterious Heaven Skill to guide Soul Power and nourish the Sea of Consciousness. She tried circulating her Soul Power again. This time, she split off a thread of attention and instinctively tried to catch, to approach, that peaceful and resilient Life Aura coming from nearby.

Something wonderful happened.

That external Life Aura seemed to produce a faint resonance with the Mysterious Heaven Skill Soul Power circulating inside her. It was like suddenly finding a solid foothold in a raging river. Her Spiritual Power, originally thrown into chaos by the pain, miraculously found an anchor and slowly settled.

The pain between her brows remained, but at least it was no longer unbearable. At last, she was barely able to focus and began sensing and guiding the tiny, cool particles of energy around her that belonged to moonlight and illusion. Thread by thread, wisp by wisp, she slowly drew them into her body.

The process remained slow and difficult, but at least it could continue.

She immersed herself in that delicate balance, using the peaceful aura from nearby to stabilize herself as she carefully repaired her depleted Spiritual Power and absorbed the moonlight energy.

Who knew how much time passed? When she opened her eyes again, she found that the pain between her brows had eased considerably. She was still far from fully recovered, but her condition had improved by much more than a little. Most of her Soul Power had recovered as well, and it even seemed to have improved faintly.

She let out a soft breath and looked up. The moon had already begun to sink westward.

The others seemed to still be immersed in cultivation. Her gaze drifted uncontrollably toward the Blue Silver Grass Forest again.

Tang San had somehow finished cultivating already. He stood at the edge of the forest, quietly looking in her direction. Moonlight outlined his lean figure, while his eyes could not be seen clearly in the darkness.

When he saw Xiao Xiaoxiao looking over, he neither averted his gaze nor spoke. He merely nodded slightly, as if he were only confirming that her cultivation had gone smoothly.

Xiao Xiaoxiao paused, then nodded instinctively as well.

Only then did Tang San turn around and silently head toward the gathering point, without disturbing anyone.

Xiao Xiaoxiao watched his back disappear among the trees, and that strange feeling surfaced in her heart again. Had he... been worried that she would not be able to cultivate properly? Was that why he had waited until now?

She shook her head, suppressing the thought, then stood and stretched her somewhat stiff body.

At the gathering point, Master inspected everyone's condition one by one and expressed satisfaction with their progress. When he came to Xiao Xiaoxiao, his gaze lingered briefly before he nodded. "Your Spiritual Power has recovered somewhat. Very good. Continue to stabilize it."

"Yes, Master."

On the way back to the dormitory, the night was deep and quiet. Everyone remained silent, immersed in the lingering afterglow of cultivation.

Xiao Wu sidled up to Xiao Xiaoxiao and hooked her arm around Xiao Xiaoxiao's uninjured arm, whispering in her ear, "Sister Xiaoxiao, how did your cultivation go just now? It looked like things went very smoothly over there?"

"Mm, it was fine," Xiao Xiaoxiao replied vaguely, unconsciously glancing at Tang San's back as he walked ahead.

Xiao Wu followed her gaze, giggled, and did not ask any more questions. She merely smiled like a cat that had stolen some cream.

The Night Wind blew past, carrying coolness and the fresh fragrance of grass and trees. Xiao Xiaoxiao took a deep breath and felt a new strength stirring within her exhausted body. The road ahead might still be difficult, but somehow, it no longer seemed quite so hard to endure.