By the time Cao Jinxing woke, night had fallen. He lay in a room at the guard station, with the shrunken Xuan Yuan Fourteen curled in the crook of his arm.
Fourteen had an innate ability to absorb energy and heal itself, and had woken before Cao Jinxing.
Seeing him open his eyes, Fourteen meowed and nuzzled under his neck, showering him with affection.
"You're all right now?"
Cao Jinxing held its plump body and sent out his true qi to examine it carefully. Once he confirmed that Fourteen's injuries had healed, he breathed a sigh of relief.
His own internal and external injuries had mostly healed as well, but he was still in the early stages of recovery. His whole body felt weak, his breathing was labored, and a faint, stabbing pain lingered in his chest.
The power of Aiyixiamu's palm strike had truly been terrifying.
Had her second strike landed solidly, even if he had withstood it, he would not have woken so soon.
Creak-
The door opened.
Like an agile black cat, Qin Xuanji quietly eased the door open, carrying a large bundle. Just as she was about to step inside, she looked up and saw Cao Jinxing.
Their eyes met.
It was a little awkward.
Cao Jinxing raised an eyebrow. "What are you..."
"Oh, Lord Zhao and the others asked me to bring you your spoils, and check whether you were awake while I was at it."
Qin Xuanji quickly recovered and lifted the bulging bundle in her hand.
She had nothing to be embarrassed about. She had only been moving carefully because she was afraid of waking Cao Jinxing.
Seeing that he was already awake, Qin Xuanji relaxed and strode into the room. "Are you feeling any discomfort? Lord Wang invited Xu Zifu, a renowned