Jiang Wang still turned back. He, of course, knew the danger, and understood clearly that turning back meant a mere sliver of hope against certain death.

Yet, no matter what, Bai Lian had once saved his life. He could not simply walk away.

There was no way to feign ignorance of her plight, no way to listen as if deaf.

He crept carefully and cautiously, not daring to let slip the slightest hint of battle intent to be detected.

But the titanic clash between Bai Lian and Ji Xuan was truly earth-shattering in its might.

Even the residual waves were difficult for him to bear, forcing him to retreat time and again, circling around and around.

He had been seeking an opportunity, but a battle of this caliber was indeed not something he could participate in.

He shifted countless positions, found countless angles, yet was fundamentally unable to插手 (chāshǒu – intervene).

He had pressed his sword for a long time, but the sword could not be unsheathed!

He was waiting, waiting for that earth-shattering sword strike, waiting for that possibly most brilliant moment.

But Ji Xuan was not Xiong Wen, nor was he being completely suppressed by Bai Lian. The peak of the Inner Mansion realm was even more incomparable to the Tenglong (Ascending Dragon) realm.

After pushing open the Gate of Heaven and Earth, each realm is its own world. This saying is not spoken in vain.

To press the sword in such a battle, the benefits need not be expounded upon.

Crisis refines the heart, the Dao heart sharpens the sword.

If tonight he could strike a sword, the world would be different from then on.

……

After a dizzying array of clashes, suddenly, Bai Lian was utterly blasted away.

And she flew precisely over the patch of grass where he lay prostrate.

There was no time for thought; his body moved faster than his mind.

In an instant, he surged forth, catching Bai Lian.

The sword remained sheathed, but he had already struck this sword!

In a battle of Inner Mansion experts, the young man stepped forward.

*Puff!*

The moment he made contact with Bai Lian’s body, the residual force of Ji Xuan’s fist surged forth, like tearing through dry weeds and pulling up roots, ripping through his Dao Yuan defense.

A mouthful of fresh blood sprayed out.

He was blasted away, fell to the ground, and rolled.

He somersaulted to his feet, holding Bai Lian, and ran like a madman.

The Four Spirits Body Refining Art operated at full capacity, supplementing his physical strength; he had never run so fast before.

He heard only the sound of wind, wind, howling wind.

He knew in his heart that he might not escape, but he had to try.

Only when the roaring of giant waves erupted from behind him did he know that the situation behind had changed, yet he did not even dare to stop and turn back for a glance.

Thus, he was utterly unclear what had transpired behind him.

He did not run directly towards Maple Forest City, but first ran towards the direction of Wangjiang City, then turned east, then turned again and again, finally heading north.

With two Star River Dao Swirls established, his Dao Yuan was abundant; he could indeed run back to Maple Forest City in one breath.

But he did not do so. Instead, after clearing his traces, he randomly darted into a mountain forest.

He was unclear what had happened that prevented Ji Xuan from immediately giving chase, buying him precious time. But he was very clear that his speed was far inferior to Ji Xuan’s; once his tracks were exposed, he would be easily caught.

And a person madly running on the road tonight was undoubtedly the most obvious target.

So, he chose to find a place to hide.

He found a mountain cave, beat up the original occupant—an ordinary black bear—and then Jiang Wang, holding Bai Lian, hid deep within the mountain cave.

But he did not kill the black bear; instead, he continued to suppress it in the mountain cave, using it as cover.

Only then did he have time to examine Bai Lian’s injuries.

……

The mountain cave was very dry; this black bear evidently had high standards for its living environment.

He carefully and cautiously laid Bai Lian flat on the ground. Jiang Wang casually condensed a ball of fire, suspending it in the air for illumination.

That black bear was clearly somewhat frightened, but after Jiang Wang glared at it, it sat obediently in place once more.

Bai Lian had completely fainted; those pair of soul-stirring eyes were now closed.

Her black clothes were torn in many places, revealing fair and alluring skin. The black veil covering her face was intact; it must not have been an ordinary object.

Jiang Wang calmed his mind and breath.

The most serious wound was likely on her abdomen; the entire area was a bloody mess, fragments of robe mixed with flesh and blood, making it impossible to see an intact place.

The C-grade mid-quality Nourishing Yuan Technique was the only healing Dao technique Jiang Wang had mastered.

In principle, it was simply gathering Wood element vital energy to help the injured person restore vitality and promote self-healing.

For Bai Lian’s injuries, it was barely better than nothing.

But Jiang Wang could only try.

After forming the seals, a ball of green vital energy slowly approached Bai Lian’s abdomen, reacting with her wound.

But a flash of white light appeared, and this ball of green vital energy silently dissipated.

With the grade of Jiang Wang’s Nourishing Yuan Technique, it was fundamentally unable to treat the wound left by Ji Xuan.

But just as the green vital energy contacted Bai Lian, a wonderful change occurred.

Jiang Wang’s Four Spirits Body Refining Art, Azure Dragon chapter, was complete, making him originally very sensitive to Wood element vital energy. He clearly perceived the dissipation of the Nourishing Yuan Technique, and also did not miss the instant change in that black candle within his Tongtian Palace.

That black candle was lit.

Within the Tongtian Palace, it burned without a flame.

Very wondrously, Jiang Wang subconsciously understood that this black candle could burn for a quarter of an hour, then disappear.

But he did not know how it was lit, nor how it should be lit. He even did not know how to extinguish it before it burned out.

In short, everything was shrouded in confusion.

The only clear thing was that it probably had some connection with Bai Lian.

The black candle extinguished, shortened by a section.

It had resided in Jiang Wang’s Tongtian Palace for a long time, and aside from being entangled by the Dao脉 (mài – pulse) true spirit, it had shown no peculiarities. Yet now it had self-ignited and self-extinguished.

And with this instant of glowing fire, a Dao technique appeared in Jiang Wang’s mind.

Just this instant should absolutely not have shortened it by that much; it should be because of this Dao technique.

“Flesh gives birth to white bones, the soul returns to the rotten body…”

Jiang Wang subconsciously murmured, his right hand unconsciously forming the seals, which ended up covered by a layer of white light.

That light should have been ghastly white rather than dazzling white, inherently sinister, yet inexplicably possessing a kind of holy feeling.

Covering this ball of white light over Bai Lian’s abdomen, her abdominal flesh and blood actually wriggled up at a speed visible to the naked eye, beginning to restore.

In the end, Bai Lian’s breathing evened out.

And Jiang Wang did not even know where this ball of white light came from, what its principle was, or what power it used.

He only knew the name of this Dao technique in his mind—Flesh Birth Soul Return Technique.

That black candle that suddenly appeared in the Tongtian Palace… seemed to be something extraordinary.

Jiang Wang was focused on treatment, so he did not notice.

Behind him, that black bear had already completely shrunk into a ball, trembling with fear.

……

When Bai Lian faintly woke up, it was already daylight.

Sunlight even probed into the mountain cave, allowing Bai Lian to see that black bear very clearly.

It leaned against the cave wall, its sitting posture very honest, its two bear paws obediently placed in front, not moving.

Then she smelled a strange odor. Bai Lian’s line of sight shifted, and she saw Jiang Wang.

He was holding something that perhaps could be called a “bowl,” slowly walking towards Bai Lian.

Sunlight struck his face; Bai Lian inexplicably found him somewhat good-looking.

“You’re awake?” Jiang Wang said warmly.

“Mm.” Perhaps because she was just recovering from serious injury, Bai Lian’s voice was unexpectedly soft.

“When you were in a coma, you kept muttering something about rice.” Jiang Wang held the thing in his hand and explained, “I thought you were probably hungry. But it’s not convenient to make food right now. So, I foraged some wild vegetables and made a bowl of soup for you.”

“Rice…” Bai Lian was stunned for a moment, “For me… made?”

“Ah.” Jiang Wang was somewhat embarrassed, “When I was young, my family sold medicinal herbs, so I can distinguish between herbs and wild vegetables. Rest assured, none are poisonous. The bowl is a stone I temporarily hollowed out, and I used Dao technique to control the fire…”

“Bring it over.” Bai Lian interrupted him.

“Oh.” Jiang Wang walked closer, handing the bowl of wild vegetable soup to Bai Lian.

Bai Lian barely lifted her upper body, looked at it once, and immediately wanted to lie back down.

That “bowl” was already crudely made, at most just a pitted stone. And that soup… if that colorful and sticky liquid could be called soup.

Upon getting closer, the strange odor was even more terrible…

“Drink it.” Jiang Wang extended it again, looking very expectant and sincere.

“No one has ever made soup for me before,” Bai Lian said.

She steeled her heart and took the “bowl.”

“You are now a patient; you should receive care,” Jiang Wang said.

Bai Lian could not help but admit, overlooking the ugly appearance and bad smell, this bowl of soup brought her an almost never-before-felt warmth.

To be cared for…

She had never been cared for.