"Water's here!"
Before long, Jiang Xiaobai returned.
He held a broad leaf rolled into a cup, with a little clean water inside.
Reaching Chu Qingci, Jiang Xiaobai crouched down and carefully held the leaf to his lips. "Here, drink slowly. Don't choke!"
Chu Qingci lowered his head and took two sips. His parched throat finally felt a little better. He looked up at Jiang Xiaobai and said softly, "Thank you!"
"You're welcome!"
Jiang Xiaobai shook his head and sat beside him. "Ah, if you hadn't risked your life to save me, master, I'd probably be dead already!"
Indeed, when he fell off the cliff, he had already prepared himself to be dashed to death.
Who could have imagined that Chu Qingci would leap after him without hesitation and protect him all the way down into the river?
For a moment, a touch of gratitude filled Jiang Xiaobai's gaze as he looked at Chu Qingci.
Chu Qingci felt awkward under his gaze and turned his head aside. "I only did it... for the sake of your compositions!"
"My compositions?"
Jiang Xiaobai gave a helpless smile. "Ah, once we get back, I'll write you as many as you want!"
"All right!"
Chu Qingci paused, then answered softly and said nothing more.
Silence settled over the cave again, broken only by the occasional crackle of burning firewood.
To avoid the awkwardness, Jiang Xiaobai took the initiative to find another topic.
"It's been three days. The people from the Hidden Edge Sect should... find us soon, right?"
"Unlikely!"
Chu Qingci shook his head gently. "The cliff face here is too smooth. Getting down from above won't be easy."
"If they take a detour from outside, it'll take at least half a month!"
"Half a month?"
Jiang Xiaobai's eyes widened.
"Yes!"
Chu Qingci replied, "So