"Hiss..."
"Whew..."
After that punch sent Qingyu flying backward, only Duan Xiaoyu's trembling breaths remained in the Ice-Crystal Cave.
Still bent forward in her sword-gripping stance, Duan Xiaoyu seemed unable to believe what she had just seen. Her eyes brimming with wariness, she slowly turned to look behind her.
"Whew..."
Only when she clearly saw Xu Taiping's face beside her did relief appear on her small, blood-smeared face, and she let out a long breath.
"Open your mouth."
Xu Taiping poured a Qi-Gathering Pill into his hand and held it out to Duan Xiaoyu.
Duan Xiaoyu struggled to open her mouth.
At that moment, opening her mouth was all Duan Xiaoyu had the strength left to do.
Her depleted True Essence was replenished, and her breathing was no longer so weak.
Having survived the ordeal, the tears in her eyes suddenly began welling up at a visible rate.
"Don't cry yet."
Seeing that Duan Xiaoyu was about to cry again, Xu Taiping immediately stopped her.
With all her injuries, another violent emotional fluctuation might send her qi and blood rampaging through her body again.
"Mm..."
At his words, Duan Xiaoyu immediately bit her lip tightly, letting tears roll ceaselessly down her cheeks.
"Why didn't you come inside to find me?"
Xu Taiping took out a meditation cushion and helped Duan Xiaoyu sit down as he asked her, somewhat puzzled and pained.
"Huh?" Duan Xiaoyu's mind was working very slowly just then. She froze for a moment before understanding. "I... I think... I forgot..."
"That's just like you."
Xu Taiping had nothing to say.
"You're Xu Taiping?"
Just then, Qingyu got back to his feet. The violent Aura Fluctuation around him turned into an oppressive pressure that swept through the entire Ice-Crystal Cave.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Already on the verge of