Yinghuo carried Cao Jinxing southwest, flying all the way. It did not know their destination, only that mortal danger lay behind them, and it wanted nothing but to get away.
There was no telling how long it flew, or how far.
Yinghuo's internal injuries worsened until it could no longer hold on, and it plunged into the towering mountains.
As they landed, Xuan Yuan Fourteen enlarged its body and cradled Cao Jinxing in its arms, cushioning him as they crashed into the mountain forest and struck a tree.
"Meow!"
Xuan Yuan Fourteen grimaced in pain, but its paws never parted. It held Cao Jinxing tight.
To conserve its strength, Yinghuo shrank to the size of a peregrine falcon after landing and lay sprawled on the ground, panting hard.
Of the man and his two pets, only Xuan Yuan Fourteen could still move. The [Fortune Creation Pill] took effect and stopped the bleeding, but the force of the "Ten Thousand Buddhas Hand Seal" remained inside Cao Jinxing, preventing his internal injuries from healing. The acupoints around his wounds had been sealed, and he could not circulate his energy either.
Cao Jinxing remained unconscious.
Xuan Yuan Fourteen found a nearby cave and carried the man and bird inside in its mouth. Then it gathered dry firewood, lit a fire, and took wound medicine from the Qiankun Bag to feed Yinghuo. Only then did it relax, enlarging its body to shelter Cao Jinxing and keep him warm.
Time ticked by.
A crescent moon hung high.
Night owls called.
Beneath the night sky, the mountain forest was especially eerie.
Yinghuo had only been caught by the force of the attack and suffered ordinary internal injuries. It recovered first and lay down beside Cao Jinxing to rest.
Suddenly, a faint, unusual sound reached the cave.