After a bumpy journey, the carriage finally returned to Heaven Dou City's Soul Master Academy just before dusk on the fifth day.
The atmosphere inside the carriage had been even more delicate on the return journey.
Although a healing Soul Master had treated Zhu Yuan's injuries and her high fever had subsided, she was still terribly weak.
She sat curled into a small ball in the carriage, leaning against Zhu Zhuqing's shoulder, as though only by clinging to her could she draw a little strength to stay alive.
From time to time, she closed her eyes and dozed, but the slightest jolt of the carriage or any noise outside would make her eyes snap open, her pupils filled with panic. Only after confirming there was no danger would she slowly relax again.
Ever since Zhu Yuan had learned at Spirit Hall that Zhu Zhuqing had saved her, she had seemed to latch onto Zhu Zhuqing completely, pressing close to her and refusing to leave her side.
When Zhu Zhuqing sat in the carriage, she sat beside her. When Zhu Zhuqing stood up, she rose too, her eyes glued to Zhu Zhuqing at every moment.
Lin Chen, meanwhile, had become the very person she guarded against.
If Lin Chen came even half a step closer, Zhu Yuan would immediately bristle all over. Her still-red, swollen eyes would turn wary in an instant, fixing on him as though she might spring at him and drive him away at any moment.
Lin Chen tried to talk to her, but instead of answering, she shrank farther behind Zhu Zhuqing and clutched the hem of her clothes, looking for all the world like a little beast guarding its food.
When they stopped to rest along the way, Lin Chen bought a few piping-hot meat pies