Ning Rongrong's taut nerves relaxed, and she could no longer hold back the fear in her heart.
She lunged forward and wrapped her arms around Su Yu's waist, burying her face against his chest, her voice thick with tears:
"Husband-Brother! I was so scared! Just now... just now, I felt like I really saw the sect burning..."
Feeling her trembling in his arms, Su Yu gently patted her back and soothed her softly:
"Don't be afraid. It's all over. That was only an illusion. Nothing happened. Everyone is fine."
Zhu Zhuqing, Ye Lingling, and Long Ling'er slowly gathered around as well, their faces still pale with lingering fright.
They did not show it as openly as Ning Rongrong, but they could hardly conceal their tension.
Su Yu loosened his embrace around Ning Rongrong slightly, then drew Zhu Zhuqing into his arms as she approached.
Feeling her cool fingertips and trembling shoulders, he said quietly:
"Zhu Zhuqing, you did wonderfully too. You weren't completely trapped by the illusion."
Ye Lingling had always been gentle by nature. Her eyes were slightly red now, and she hesitated a little as she drew near. Su Yu gently patted her arm and said warmly:
"It's all right now. I'm here."
Long Ling'er bit her lip, the terror of being imprisoned in the illusion still not entirely gone.
Only when she saw Su Yu look her way did she slowly approach. Su Yu reached out and ruffled her hair, his tone firm:
"No one will ever be able to hurt you again."
The girls nestled beside Su Yu, sensing his presence as the fear in their hearts gradually faded.
After a long while, Ning Rongrong was the first to raise her head. Tear tracks still marked her face, but some of her spirit had returned as