North Wind Musters the Generals

About half an hour later.

Yun Qingyue's long lashes trembled a few times before she slowly opened her eyes.

At first, her gaze was still dazed and unfocused. But it quickly sharpened, and she saw Lu Chen standing guard beside the couch, his face slightly weary but bearing a relieved smile.

Memories came flooding back like the tide. Capture, being implanted with Gu, torment, despair... and then, that face appearing amid the hopelessness, as though carrying light itself.

"Lu... Chen?" Her voice remained weak and hoarse, yet incomparably clear. Her eyes instantly misted over. "Is it... really you? Am I not... dreaming again?"

"This isn't a dream." Lu Chen took her hand, feeling some warmth return to her palm, and smiled. "The Gu poison has been removed. You're safe now, Qingyue."

Feeling the bone-clinging chill that had devoured her from within completely vanish, replaced by a frail yet pure and vigorous vitality, Yun Qingyue finally believed that she had truly been saved.

Tears slid down her face soundlessly—joy at surviving a great calamity, and an indescribable gratitude.

"Thank you... thank you..." A thousand words ultimately condensed into those simplest of three words, yet they weighed heavier than a thousand catties.

"There's no need for thanks between us." Lu Chen gently patted the back of her hand. "You've only just purged the Gu poison, and your body has been severely depleted. You need to recuperate properly. Rest first. We can talk about everything else later."

Yun Qingyue truly felt waves of weakness and dizziness wash over her. She nodded, obediently closed her eyes, and soon fell into a deep sleep with a faint, reassured smile on her lips. This time, it was truly peaceful sleep.

Lu Chen watched her quietly for a moment. Only after confirming that her breathing was steady