Silent Protection and a Stirring Heart

The setting sun's afterglow painted the infirmary window frames a warm gold, and the air was filled with the faint scent of medicinal herbs. Xiao Xiaoxiao slowly woke from a deep sleep, her awareness gradually clearing like a beach after the tide had receded. The first thing she felt was the familiar stabbing pain still lingering between her brows, though it was much milder than when she had awakened from her last coma. Then she realized that her hand was being tightly held by a warm hand, slightly callused.

The moment she moved, that hand immediately let go, so quickly that it seemed like she might have imagined it.

Xiao Xiaoxiao opened her eyes. Her blurred vision slowly focused, meeting the pair of deep eyes beside her bed. Tang San sat there with his back to the window, his features somewhat obscured by the backlight, but his eyes were startlingly bright. Within them surged a complex, indescribable emotion she had never seen before—lingering fear, perhaps... or relief?

"You're awake." His voice was low and hoarse, carrying a trace of barely perceptible tension.

"Mm..." Xiao Xiaoxiao responded, struggling to sit up, only to find herself weak all over.

"Don't move." Tang San raised a hand in a restraining gesture, his movements somewhat stiff. "Your Spiritual Power is depleted again. You need to rest."

His gaze fell upon her face, examining it closely as if confirming that she was truly unharmed. When he saw the dried blood beneath her nose, his brows furrowed sharply.

Following his gaze, Xiao Xiaoxiao instinctively touched her nose, her fingertips brushing against a bit of dried scab. Her memories came rushing back in fragments—the castle training, the Centipede Remnant Soul, her forcing herself to cast an illusion in that critical moment, and then... Tang San's back, standing before her like a mountain, followed by that deafening crash...

"Your... your injury!" Xiao Xiaoxiao suddenly remembered that Tang San had taken that blow head-on. She hurriedly looked him over. He had changed into a clean academy uniform, but his face was still pale, and his lips were devoid of color.

"It's a minor injury. Nothing serious." Tang San looked away, his tone returning to its usual calmness as he rose to pour her a glass of water. "Teacher Shao examined me. A few days of rest will be enough."

He handed her the cup naturally, but Xiao Xiaoxiao keenly noticed that when he did, his right hand trembled ever so slightly. Though he steadied it at once, she had seen it.

That wasn't a minor injury... Xiao Xiaoxiao's heart clenched. She accepted the cup and took small sips. The warm water moistened her dry throat and settled her chaotic thoughts somewhat. A delicate silence fell over the room, broken only by their soft breathing.

"Thank you..." Xiao Xiaoxiao lowered her head, watching the ripples quiver in the cup. Her voice was very soft. "Thank you... for saving me again."

Tang San remained silent, not answering right away. He walked to the window and watched the setting sun gradually sink beyond the horizon, his back appearing solitary against the dusk.

"From now on," he suddenly said. His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable resolve. "Don't do something so dangerous again."

Xiao Xiaoxiao froze and looked up.

Tang San turned around and regarded her calmly. "Your illusion is important. But your safety is more important. Next time... stand behind me."

His words were still concise, even carrying a faintly commanding tone, but to Xiao Xiaoxiao, they were like a giant stone dropped into the lake of her heart, stirring up towering waves. An indescribable warmth instantly swept through her body, shattering every barrier of forced composure. Her nose stung, and her eyes grew hot beyond her control. She quickly lowered her head, afraid he would see how red her eyes had become.

He was worried about her... in his clumsy, almost overbearing way.

"Mm..." She nodded hard, her voice carrying a trace of a sob, but even more of the bittersweet tenderness of being cherished.

Tang San watched her lowered head and trembling shoulders. His lips moved as though he wanted to say something, but in the end, he simply fell silent again. He returned to the bedside and placed a small paper packet beside her pillow.

"Medicine to calm your mind. Teacher Shao said to drink it once you woke up." After speaking, he paused before adding, "I'll be outside."

Then, without waiting for Xiao Xiaoxiao's reply, he turned and left the room, gently closing the door behind him.

Xiao Xiaoxiao looked at the closed door, then at the packet of medicine beside her pillow. Her heart was filled with conflicting emotions. She picked it up and held it tightly in her palm, as if she could still feel the warmth left by his fingertips.

Outside the door, Tang San had not gone far. He leaned against the wall in the outer room, slowly closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. Only he knew the terror that had nearly stopped his heart when he saw her collapse, pale-faced and bleeding from the nose. Only he knew that when he used his back to take that blow, he had not thought about his own injury at all. All he had thought was that he could not let her suffer even the slightest impact again.

This unfamiliar, overwhelming emotion left him somewhat at a loss, yet... he willingly embraced it.

Inside the infirmary, Xiao Xiaoxiao poured the medicinal powder into the water and slowly drank it. The bitter taste spread through her mouth, but her heart was burning hot. She stroked the Silver Bell she always kept with her. Its chime was low, yet it seemed to carry a calming strength.

She knew that some things had changed. It was not merely that she had become part of the Eight Monsters, nor merely the trust between companions. Between her and Tang San, a deeper, indescribable bond had quietly taken root and sprouted amid their repeated brushes with death and his silent protection.

Outside the window, night deepened. The dangers of the Star Dou Great Forest and the accident during the castle training had all become nourishment for their growth. And the tender yet steadfast feelings in the hearts of the young man and woman were like the stars in the night sky—unostentatious, yet stubbornly shining, lighting the road ahead for each other.

The road ahead was still long, and the challenges would only grow greater. But at this moment, Xiao Xiaoxiao's heart was filled with courage. Because she knew that no matter what lay ahead, she was not alone.

The bell chimed softly, and the night was gentle. On either side of the door, two young hearts were silently drawing closer in their own ways.