Kind Caidie (2)

Night fell, and the desert temperature changed abruptly. Unlike the scorching heat of daytime, the temperature plummeted at night, making it bitterly cold.

Yet that gentle greeting was like a warm current, instantly dispelling the chill surrounding the two elders and reaching straight into their hearts.

The two raised their heads at the same time and looked toward the sound. Under the cold moonlight, the Second Young Lady they had once carefully looked after, but now had no choice but to face with weapons drawn, was carrying a clearly prepared meal as she stepped across the fine sand toward them.

Her figure looked somewhat slender beneath the moonlight, yet her steps were unusually resolute.

"Second Young Lady, what are you...?" Third Elder's voice trembled with disbelief. He already had a faint guess in his heart, but that guess was too wonderful for him to believe easily—after the earlier pursuit and conflict, how could the Second Young Lady...

Seeing the food in Caidie's hands, Fourth Elder's throat bobbed involuntarily. Then, as though something had stabbed him, he suddenly lowered his head and avoided Caidie's gaze. His rough hands clenched tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.

He was usually somewhat reckless, but he was not stupid. Besides, the situation was already so obvious that he had his own guess as to what the Second Young Lady intended to do.

The more she acted this way, the greater the guilt in his heart became.

Caidie walked closer, a warm and pure smile blossoming across her face, as though none of the earlier unpleasantness had ever happened.

She carefully placed the food, wrapped in broad leaves, onto the sand before them. As she untied the grass rope binding it, she explained in a light tone, "Oh, it's like this. I was cooking inside earlier and accidentally made too much. There was still quite a lot left after we finished eating, and I thought that since you were guarding outside, you might still be hungry, so I brought it out."

The leaves were lifted aside, revealing roasted meat and flatbread still steaming inside. Their rich fragrance immediately spread through the cold air, strongly stimulating their taste buds.

On this desolate, freezing desert night, such a simple meal seemed incredibly precious.

Upon hearing this, Fourth Elder lowered his head even farther, nearly burying it in his chest.

After his initial shock, an even deeper concern appeared in Third Elder's eyes. He cautiously lowered his voice and asked, "Second Young Lady, we appreciate your kindness. But... if you do this, will Senior Su... blame you?"

He knew well that the temperaments of Dou Zong experts were difficult to predict. Even if Senior Su had seemed to treat the Second Young Lady well before, who knew what the future held? He was now worried that Caidie would be punished because of this.

Hearing Third Elder's words, Fourth Elder, who had been hanging his head, abruptly looked up as well. For the first time, undisguised concern for Caidie appeared in his cloudy eyes.

Seeing this, Caidie hurriedly waved her hands. Her smile remained bright, carrying a reassuring strength. "It's fine, it's fine. Don't worry! The Young Master knows about it. I only dared bring it out because he nodded in agreement. So just eat without worry. You don't need to be concerned about me."

She paused, then continued in a gentle yet firm voice, "Besides, the Young Master has already agreed to my request. He won't make things difficult for the Snake-People Tribe afterward. You don't need to worry too much about the tribe's affairs either."

"Senior Su... agreed?" Third Elder and Fourth Elder froze almost simultaneously, as though they had been struck by an immobilizing spell, staring blankly at Caidie.

An indescribable tide of emotion, mixed with shock, shame, and boundless gratitude, instantly overwhelmed their hearts.

Just a short while ago, they had still been following orders to hunt her down, and Fourth Elder had even attacked ruthlessly, nearly causing an irreparable mistake.

Yet in the blink of an eye, the "rebellious" Second Young Lady in their eyes had not only repaid evil with kindness by bringing them food when they needed it most, but had also disregarded her own safety to obtain forgiveness and a promise from that unfathomable expert for them and for the entire Snake-People Tribe!

Looking at the face before them, exceptionally pure beneath the moonlight and wearing a kind smile, the two elders' thoughts drifted uncontrollably back several years.

Back then, although the Second Young Lady had not been strictly raised as a successor like the eldest young lady Medusa, and had always been somewhat playful and lazy, unwilling to handle tedious administrative matters, her innate kindness and innocence had been like a clear spring in the desert, nourishing everyone around her.

Compared with the eldest young lady, who had grown increasingly imposing and reserved in her emotions, the Second Young Lady Caidie was more like a child they had watched grow up, one who had not yet been completely tainted by worldly ways.

And now, after experiencing so many upheavals, her kind heart had not changed in the slightest. Even after they had done such things, she still chose to forgive and help them.

"Second Young Lady... I'm sorry!"

A dull, hoarse apology suddenly burst from Fourth Elder, who had remained silent until then. His voice was filled with regret, guilt, and a complicated sense of relief.

Caidie's delicate body visibly trembled upon hearing that apology.

The corners of her lips lifted slightly, forming an even gentler curve tinged with relief. She knew that voice too well. It belonged to Fourth Elder, the hot-tempered yet straightforward man who had once taught her fighting techniques.

"Mm!" Caidie answered softly. Her gaze swept over the two elders who had watched her grow up, and she spoke in a calm, sincere tone. "After all, you watched me grow up. The Snake-People Tribe... no matter what, it is still my home. No matter what happened before, as long as I'm alive, I'll certainly do my best to protect it."

She pushed the food a little closer to the two elders. "All right, don't say any more. Hurry and eat while it's still hot."

As she spoke, she took out a smooth jade bottle from an ancient-looking Storage Ring on her finger. She poured out two pills the size of longans, emitting a faint medicinal fragrance, and handed them to the two men. "This Storage Ring was given to me by the Young Master, and it contains some medicinal pills. These two are fifth-grade pills and are especially effective for internal injuries. Fourth Elder especially, your injuries are not light. Quickly take one and circulate your energy to heal."

Having done all this, Caidie seemed to have completed an important task and let out a soft breath. Without lingering any longer, she turned and hurried toward the cave, her figure quickly disappearing into the shadows at its entrance.

Third Elder and Fourth Elder stood rooted to the spot, their gazes following the direction in which Caidie had disappeared, unable to look away for a long time.

They looked at the steaming food on the ground, then at the precious fifth-grade pill in their hands. It was as though something had tightly blocked their throats. Countless words churned within their chests, but in the end, they could not utter a single one.

In the cold night wind, only the wisps of steam rising from the food proved that the warmth that had transcended all grudges truly existed.