Shen Fei sheathed his sword, turned, and left.
Sand and gravel crunched beneath their boots. Xiao Ning'er and the others followed behind him, keeping their footsteps light. The battle had consumed a good deal of Spiritual Power, and none of them wanted to linger on the Silver Wing Family's territory. The sooner they reunited with Nie Li, the safer they would be.
The wind in the passage carried the damp, earthy smell of soil, blowing in from both sides of the rock walls and stirring scattered scraps of feathers across the ground.
They had only taken a few steps when a hoarse shout suddenly came from behind them, low and edged with resentment and disbelief.
"Su Tian!"
Shen Fei stopped short.
He frowned and slowly turned around. On the ground, Sikong Hongyue was struggling to prop up her upper body. Dust clung to half her face, two of her silver-white wing feathers were broken, and disheveled plumage lay scattered over her shoulders and back. A trace of blood still marked the corner of her mouth.
She stared fixedly at Shen Fei's back, her eyes mingling anger, confusion, and a barely perceptible flicker of shock, as though she had mistaken him for someone else.
Shen Fei did not correct her. He simply stood a few steps away, his sword hand hanging loosely at his side, his expression calm as he waited for her next words.
Bracing herself against the cold ground, Sikong Hongyue struggled to sit a little straighter. Her brows knitted sharply when the movement pulled at the wounds on her back, but she stubbornly refused to make a sound.
The pride of a great family's scion was carved into her bones. Even in defeat, she would not show the slightest weakness before her opponent.
She lifted her head and