When Nan Jiaxi took Ruthis along a covert water route to escape back to the Western Regions, they encountered a tsunami. He exhausted almost all his strength protecting Ruthis.
It took them a full half month to reach the Western Regions Coastal Border, and their feelings for each other seemed to have changed tremendously during that time.
That battle, which they had barely survived, had left Ruthis gravely wounded. For the first dozen or so days, he could hardly move. Without Nan Jiaxi's care, he likely would not have survived this long.
After reaching shore, Nan Jiaxi supported Ruthis as they made their way to the nearest village. Both were in a sorry state, looking as though they had endured a terrible calamity.
Fortunately, the villagers were all honest, kindhearted people. After asking roughly why they had come, they arranged a room for them.
Though the room was very crude, little different from a cowshed or a thatched hut, it was clean and offered shelter from the wind and rain.
And so Nan Jiaxi and Ruthis settled there for the time being. They had little money on them, making the journey back to the Capital City of the Western Regions exceedingly difficult. First, they needed to regain their former health and strength.
Otherwise, another mishap on the road would cost them more than they could afford.
Nan Jiaxi felt awkward staying in the villagers' house for free, so he went out every day to work alongside them, helping wherever he could. His diligence and likable looks endeared him to the villagers, who sometimes pressed coarse grains and steamed corn buns into his hands. With this food,
neither of them had to worry about going hungry.
After another half month of recuperation, Ruthis had almost fully recovered, but one of his