Once the mounted party had gone far into the distance, Hu Xiaotian carried Sumeru Heaven on his back and continued onward. In a village near Cangmu City, he found an abandoned thatched cottage and pushed the door open. Sumeru Heaven took out a Fire Starter, while Hu Xiaotian found an oil lamp inside and lit it. He surveyed the cottage by its dim yellow light. It was reasonably clean; apparently, its owner had not been gone long.
After several fierce battles in succession, Sumeru Heaven could not help feeling drained. Supporting herself against the head of the bed, she slowly sat down on its edge and said weakly, "Go find some water. I'm terribly thirsty."
Hu Xiaotian nodded. Outside, he found a well in the courtyard, its windlass and bucket still intact. He drew a bucket of well water and carried it into the room.
Sumeru Heaven leaned against the corner with her eyes tightly shut. To defeat Li Chang'an tonight, she had willingly put her own body in the blade's path, and the Lone Moon Slash had almost pierced through her left shoulder. Had she not been trying to rescue Hu Xiaotian, she would never have endured such pain.
Hearing Hu Xiaotian's footsteps, Sumeru Heaven slowly opened her eyes and said softly, "Boil some hot water, too. Help me treat the wound."
"Let me take a look first," Hu Xiaotian said.
Sumeru Heaven nodded and pointed to her left shoulder. Hu Xiaotian carefully pulled back the clothing covering it. By the lamplight, he saw a bloody gash about an inch long that went straight through the flesh of her shoulder. It was a horrifying sight.
Hu Xiaotian frowned. "It went clean through. I don't know whether it damaged the bone. It needs debridement and stitches."
Sumeru Heaven did not