Fan Dazhi quietly released True Qi from his palm, sending a wisp of warm, fire-aspected Primordial Energy into Lu Xuanji. In moments, it dried his soaked clothes, its warmth driving away some of the chill.
"Thank you... young heroes!"
Lu Xuanji's breathing was weak, his eyes filled with gratitude.
"We shouldn't linger here. Let's get aboveground first."
Qu Yong bent down and lifted Lu Xuanji onto his back, then swept out of the damp underground chamber. He found a sunlit pile of stones sheltered from the wind and carefully laid the Daoist down beside it.
Sunlight slipped through gaps in the ruined eaves and fell across Lu Xuanji's face. The light was faint, as thin as a veil, yet to a Daoist who had spent countless days immersed in the Water Prison, it was so dazzling that he could barely open his eyes.
He closed them. Two clear tears slid down his deeply furrowed cheeks, glittered briefly in the sunlight, and fell into his collar.
"I kept clinging to my last breath... thinking... I would never see daylight again..."
His voice faltered like a lamp on the verge of burning out. "I never imagined... I would meet you two young heroes."
"Senior, have some water first."
Qu Yong took out his waterskin and held it to Lu Xuanji's lips.
Lu Xuanji shook his head. Seemingly growing accustomed to the light outside, he slowly opened his eyes and studied Qu Yong and Fan Dazhi. His gaze moved from the Cangwu Sword at Qu Yong's waist to Fan Dazhi's clear eyes, lingering there for a long time.
"Thank you... young heroes..."
He took several ragged breaths. "My oil is spent... my lamp has burned dry..."
Before he could finish, he abruptly opened his mouth and spat out a pool of black blood.