A Choice in the Face of Grave Injuries

"Don't worry about me... you go first."

Lin Xiao's voice was hoarse like a broken bellows, each word carrying a scalding heat. His right knuckles gripped Lu Yuan's wrist tightly, with a frightening force, yet his fingertips trembled uncontrollably.

Lu Yuan did not respond.

He was staring at the crumpled sheepskin map on his lap. Almost two hours had passed since they left the mountain path, and Lin Xiao had developed a high fever; his wounds were red, swollen, and oozing pus, and ordinary herbs were no longer effective. If this dragged on any longer, he might die.

There are two roads on the map.

On the left, it's marked "Gray Stone Market." A small dot circled in red ink, with tiny print below. "Small Soul Beast Material Market, a melting pot of all sorts of people, where rare medicinal herbs occasionally dabble out."

To the right, a densely shaded area is marked "Ghost Cry Valley." The annotation is even simpler: Rarely visited by humans, teeming with ferocious Soul Beast; enter with caution.

Lu Yuan tapped his fingers lightly on his knee.

Go to Ghost Cry Valley, betting that Lin Xiao can pull through, and betting they'll be lucky enough not to run into any Soul Beast. Success rate? A mere 30%. There are too many variables; if one link fails, the whole thing is lost.

Going to Gray Stone Market is equally risky. It's a place with many people and eyes and ears; the Hundred Refinements Pavilion's spies, the next wave of people Teacher Sun might send, and even the Lin Xiao family's informants could all be there. But—there's medicine, information, and variables there. He can disguise himself, make transactions, and find a place for Lin Xiao to lie down.

The success rate might be around 50%.

But if exposed, it means death.

The wind rustled through the woods. Birds called out in the distance, their calls sharp and piercing.

Lin Xiao coughed again, aggravating the wound on his left shoulder, contorting his face. After coughing, he gasped for breath, his amber pupils unfocused, yet he still stared intently at Lu Yuan.

"Their target is you." He gritted his teeth, enunciating each word clearly, "I... I'll find somewhere to hide. If I survive, I will; if not... I guess I'm just unlucky."

He twitched the corner of his mouth, wanting to laugh, but didn't.

Anyway, I can't go back.

Lu Yuan raised his eyes.

He looked at Lin Xiao. The boy's cheeks were burning red, his lips were cracked, and his forehead was soaked with cold sweat, sticking to his forehead. His chin, which always carried a hint of arrogance, was now hanging limply. But the hand gripping his wrist was holding him tightly.

This person is putting on a brave face, but also telling the truth.

Leaving him behind and acting alone would greatly increase Lu Yuan's chances of survival. With a lighter burden and a smaller target, he could run faster.

but...

Lu Yuan recalled the look in his father Lu Qinghe broke through his bottleneck. He also remembered Shen Moxin whispering in the old library, "Perhaps it can shield those who come after us from the wind."

Some things can't be calculated using probability.

"Shut up." Lu Yuan used a rare strong tone.

He withdrew his wrist decisively. Then he put away the map, folded it neatly, and stuffed it back into his pocket.

Lin Xiao was stunned.

Lu Yuan stood up and dusted off the corner of his clothes. He looked northeast, towards the location of Gray Stone Market. The sky was already setting in the west, casting long, dappled shadows in the woods.

"Let's go to the market."

Lin Xiao opened his mouth.

Lu Yuan didn't give him a chance to refute. "The most dangerous place is sometimes the safest. The people from the Hundred Refinements Pavilion probably never imagined we'd dare to venture into crowded areas." He paused, then turned back, "Besides, you need medicine. I also need... to gather some information."

He walked back to the tree, bent down, reached under Lin Xiao's armpits, and forcefully lifted him up.

Sink.

Lin Xiao was taller and heavier than him, and now he could barely exert any strength as all his weight pressed down on him. Lu Yuan groaned, his back tensed, and his thin shoulders bore most of the weight.

Before Lin Xiao could say anything more, Lu Yuan had already supported him and started walking step by step towards the northeast.

The footsteps were heavy.

Each step he took crunched on the soft fallen leaves and pebbles. Lu Yuan walked steadily, but slowly. He had to conserve his energy and also take care of Lin Xiao's injuries.

Lin Xiao leaned on his shoulder, his head drooping, his breath hot against Lu Yuan's neck.

After walking a dozen steps, Lin Xiao suddenly whispered, "... Thanks."

The sound was very soft, almost drowned out by the footsteps.

Lu Yuan did not respond.

He simply adjusted his posture to make Lin Xiao lean more steadily, and then continued walking forward. The setting sun filtered through the gaps in the treetops, casting long, long shadows of the two of them on the ground.

The two shadows were close together, crooked and twisted, yet they never separated.

Like two wild grasses supporting each other in a raging wind, their roots intertwined, they stubbornly stumble forward toward the direction where there might be light.

Ahead lies Gray Stone Market.

It is chaos, it is opportunity, it is deeper danger, and it is also the only way out at present, with a glimmer of hope.

The night wasn't over yet. But at least they had chosen a direction.