Love and Crown

The Gobi Desert was still blanketed in heavy snow at dawn. As I had done the past few days, I woke up slightly earlier than Xiao Huan, heated water for washing up, and went to the makeshift tent under the sandstone to feed the horses with fodder.

For convenience while working, I didn’t wear my outer robe. On my way back from the stable, I hurried toward the carriage.

The snow was deep, and I accidentally noticed a footprint. It wasn’t very deep and barely stood out against the pure white snow, but it was fresh—fresh enough that the falling snowflakes hadn’t yet covered its traces.

This footprint wasn’t mine—it was much larger. Xiao Huan hadn’t come out yet… so this belonged to someone else.

There was no time to think. A fierce gust of wind suddenly swept from behind the sandstone beside me. Instinctively, I dodged to the side as a longsword narrowly grazed past my shoulder.

The sword’s edge stirred the falling snowflakes, and suddenly, the snow layer beside me burst apart. A steel rod, accompanied by flying snow, swept toward my ankles from below. Even through my leather boots, the pain shot through sharply, and I lost my balance, collapsing into the snow.

At the same time, a deafening explosion rang in my ears. The carriage not far away erupted into a blinding fireball, sending waves of scorching heat. Debris from the carriage scattered chaotically amid the swirling snowflakes.

My face pressed against the icy snow as a burning snow fox fur robe landed with a hiss in front of me.

A thought flashed through my mind like lightning: Xiao Huan was still inside the carriage.

I scrambled up, frantically rushing toward the burning wreckage of the carriage, but suddenly, a steel rod pressed down on my shoulder, forcing me back into the snow. Fine snowflakes invaded my nostrils and eyes.

I kicked backward at the leg of the person pinning me down with the steel rod. He grunted, loosening his grip slightly. Seizing the moment, I swept my arm across, sending a flurry of snow flying. Amid the swirling snow, I slipped past the steel rod and leaped up, ignoring the longsword coming at me from behind, and desperately charged toward the carriage.

Before I could take another step, an arm suddenly wrapped around my waist. Without thinking, I elbowed backward toward the person’s chest—but stopped the moment I touched the fabric. A pure white fox fur robe, a faint scent of medicinal herbs—this was Xiao Huan.

King Wind sliced through the curtain of snow, meeting the descending longsword with precision. The sword broke silently into two pieces, and without pause, the azure glow of the blade lifted slightly before piercing the attacker’s throat.

As King Wind withdrew, droplets of blood scattered, tracing a mesmerizing crimson arc in the air.

Before that arc could fade, the sword’s light flickered again, slicing into the wrist of the next assailant.

A severed hand still gripping the steel rod flew into the sky alongside a spray of blood. Amid agonized screams, the white-robed figure clutched his arm and writhed in the snow.

Xiao Huan flicked the blood off King Wind, his calm voice tinged with sorrow. “Your Demon-Subduing Staff Technique has reached the fifth layer. You must hold a high position in Shaolin. Why serve another?”

In his pain-racked thrashing, the man’s hood had fallen off, revealing a shaved head marked with nine ordination scars. Hearing Xiao Huan’s words, he panicked, burying his face in the snow and screaming hoarsely, “I’m not a Shaolin disciple! I’m not a Shaolin disciple…”

Still shouting, he suddenly leaped up from the snow and smashed his head violently against the sandstone. Blood and brain matter splattered as his body stiffened and collapsed back into the snow.

I turned my head away, exhaling in relief, but couldn’t suppress a shiver. I wrapped my arms around Xiao Huan’s body.He also turned his head away, avoiding the sight of the corpse, and coughed lightly before tucking King Wind into his sleeve. Gently patting my shoulder, he asked, "Are you hurt anywhere?"

I flexed my ankle. Though it ached, there were no broken bones, and it didn’t hinder walking. The Shaolin monk who had wielded the staff must have gone easy on me.

I shook my head, and Xiao Huan seemed to relax slightly. He released his arm from around my waist, then bent forward slightly, pressing a hand to his chest as he coughed softly.

Only then did I notice the black smudges of gunpowder staining his pure white fox fur coat and the slight disarray of his loose black hair. I quickly steadied him. "Are you alright? Were you injured?"

He smiled and shook his head. "It’s nothing. Just the residual force from the explosion. I’ll be fine after some rest."

I nodded, recalling the violent shockwave from the carriage explosion. "Such powerful gunpowder—did someone from Jiangnan’s Thunderbolt Hall arrive?"

Xiao Huan nodded. "The three lying in ambush around the carriage were all from the Lei family of Thunderbolt Hall."

I glanced at the swordsman lying in the snow nearby. His narrow, flat blade bore the emblem of the Hainan Sect.

The attackers who had ambushed us belonged to three factions—Shaolin, Hainan, and the Lei family of Thunderbolt Hall—groups that typically had little to do with one another. The situation was undeniably strange.

Xiao Huan frowned in thought before finally exhaling and coughing again. He gave me a faint smile. "Since we’ve been found, we shouldn’t stay here any longer."

I looked at the charred wreckage of the carriage and let out a bitter laugh. With no food or shelter left, even if I wanted to stay, it was impossible.

Everything in the carriage had been obliterated. The worst loss was the medicine Mr. Li had left for Xiao Huan—completely destroyed, not even a trace remained. Fortunately, I had kept my dagger tucked in my boot, or else I’d be left weaponless.

Miraculously, the stove behind the sandstone had survived the explosion unscathed, and a pot of water was still boiling. I scavenged a waterskin from one of the corpses, filled it with hot water, then stripped a cloak from another body. Once I draped it over myself, I was ready to go.

As I worked, Xiao Huan stood waiting, occasionally coughing softly—likely still unsettled from the gunpowder’s impact.

I mounted my horse, holding the reins of the other in my hand, but instead of passing them to Xiao Huan, I extended my hand to him. "Get on."

He looked at me in surprise. I patted the empty space in front of the saddle. "Sit here."

He hesitated, eyeing the spot. Leaning down, I grabbed his hand and pulled him up without waiting for a reply. "In your condition, you’d fall off halfway if you rode alone. We’ll share this one and switch when it gets tired."

Once I had him settled in front of me, he chuckled but didn’t resist.

I instructed, "Tell me if the ride gets too rough, and we’ll stop to rest. If you’re tired, lean on my shoulder and sleep. Don’t push yourself, understand?"

He hummed in agreement. "Your shoulder’s too low. I can’t reach it."

I choked back a retort. I was indeed much shorter than him. With him seated in front, I had to peer over his shoulder to see the road ahead. Our position made it seem less like I was riding with him and more like he was the one carrying me from behind.I cleared my throat, trying to sound more authoritative. "Then let's head toward—"

He calmly finished my sentence, "Southwest. We need to go southwest." With a casual flick of the reins, he adjusted the horse's direction. "This way."

My pride took another hit, and I couldn’t help but retort, "How do you know this direction is southwest? And why southwest?"

"Winds in the wilderness follow patterns. After observing for a few days, you naturally learn the directions," he replied with a smile. "As for why southwest—the road we took earlier had the Turpan Basin to the south. Only the north leads to the desert. A desert reachable in half a night can only be one place. We’re likely in the gravel desert northeast of Bogda Peak. This area isn’t large, and the reason it took those people three days to find us was only due to the heavy snow."

I was speechless. After a long pause, I muttered, "A male concubine doesn’t need to be this capable..."

He chuckled. "Is that so?" Still laughing, he added, "Time is tight. Let’s hurry."

I nodded and urged the horse forward. As we rode, doubts lingered. "Are there many people searching for us in this desert? That explosion earlier must have drawn everyone nearby." After a moment’s thought, I asked, "What did you mean by 'three days'?"

His voice drifted back from ahead. "From the town where we stayed that night to the Central Plains Martial World factions’ camp at the foot of Bogda Peak, it’s at most a two-day journey. Su Qian could only conceal my absence for those two days. Once they reached the camp, news of my disappearance would spread, and the enemy would quickly mobilize forces to search along our path. We’ve been in this desert for five days. Subtract those two, and that leaves three."

No wonder he was only urgent for the first two days and then completely relaxed. I thought to myself, thankfully, he lost the urge to leave after that, so I stopped sealing his acupoints. Otherwise, in a situation like earlier, with Xiao Huan’s inner force still blocked...

The thought alone sent a chill down my spine. I shook my head and heard Xiao Huan’s faint voice ahead, carried by the wind. "How many will come? Our hoofprints along the way won’t be covered by snow. More and more will follow the trail. We don’t have time to waste with them... I hope we won’t have to resort to bloodshed..." His voice grew weaker, mixed with coughs, and his body trembled slightly against the wind.

I tightened my arm around his waist. "A male concubine doesn’t need to worry about so much. Just rest quietly for now. I’ll handle things."

He seemed to smile, murmuring a soft agreement as his weight leaned slightly more into my arm.

I spurred the horse faster, and it galloped ahead through the snowflakes swirling under the gloomy sky. The desert lay beneath thick snow, pristine and beautiful. But I knew—whether behind us on the snowy plains or ahead at the foot of Bogda Peak—nothing was peaceful.

I urged the horse onward at full speed. Even though this steed was one in a hundred, carrying two people through the snow eventually slowed it down.

Preparing to switch horses, I turned to Xiao Huan, who had been resting lightly against my shoulder with his eyes closed. "Time to change horses?"

No answer. Had he really fallen asleep? I turned to look at him.He had his eyes closed, his head slightly lowered, the wide hood covering his forehead. His long lashes cast faint shadows beneath his eyes, and the skin below was so pale it almost matched the color of the fox fur. His thin lips were pressed tightly together, tinged with a faint pink so subtle it was barely noticeable. A hexagonal snowflake slipped through the gaps in the fur and clung to the tip of his lashes, refusing to melt.

I held my breath unconsciously, as if standing before a statue carved from ice and snow—one careless move, and he might dissolve into the drifting snowflakes.

Time seemed to stretch endlessly. Finally, I exhaled a long-held breath, but he remained motionless. Another snowflake drifted in, joining the first on his thick, elegant lashes.

I released one hand from the reins and reached into the fox fur to grasp his hand. His fingers were slightly curled, cold as jade.

I tightened my grip and leaned closer to his cheek. "Brother Xiao..."

Without warning, his eyes suddenly opened. His deep, misty pupils held a faint trace of amusement. "Alright, let's switch."

I took a deep breath, feeling my face grow warm. I was too close—my lips almost brushed his cheek.

Since it was awkward anyway, I took another deep breath, closed my eyes, and pressed a quick kiss to his thin lips before pulling away and tightening the reins to stop the horse.

I dismounted first, then offered my arm to Xiao Huan. He steadied himself with my hand as he stepped down, but as soon as his feet touched the snow, he coughed several times. The coughing didn’t stop—he bent over, coughing until he spat a mouthful of blood onto the snow.

Supporting him, I pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the blood from his lips while stomping my foot in frustration. "This isn’t working. Do you remember the prescription Mr. Li gave you? Once we get out of the desert and meet Su Qian and the others, we must prepare more medicine."

He gave a soft "Mm" in response, leaning against the saddle with his eyes closed as he coughed quietly.

I slipped my hand inside his robe beneath the fox fur, half-embracing him as I rubbed his back to help him breathe. Through the thin fabric, his shoulder blades felt sharp against my palm—he had grown terribly thin. I freed my other hand to gently stroke his chest, letting him rest his weight against my shoulder.

I remembered Li Mingshang once saying that due to prolonged strain, Xiao Huan’s heart and lungs were far weaker than an average person’s. Even slight exhaustion or fluctuations in his True energy could cause him to cough up blood. Worse, infusing him with True energy at such times would only aggravate the damage, leaving only gentle medicinal remedies as an option.

With no medicine at hand, all I could do was soothe his back and chest to ease his discomfort.

After a while, his coughing subsided. He opened his eyes and smiled at me. "It’s nothing, Cang Cang. Clear away the snow and see if there are any plants on the ground."

I nodded, helping him lean against the horse before crouching down to brush aside the thick layer of snow. Beneath it lay the gray desert, dotted with needle-like camel thorns and sporadic patches of withered grass peeking through the gravel. Thanks to the melted snow, the land within a hundred miles of the Tianshan Mountains was lush pasture—we weren’t far from the grasslands beyond the desert.

I nodded. "There are some, besides the camel thorns."

He nodded in return. "Let’s mount up and continue southwest."I nodded in agreement, knowing that although we hadn’t encountered any enemies yet, the pursuers could catch up at any moment. Seeing that Xiao Huan had nothing else to say, I mounted the horse.

Once on horseback, I lowered my head and thought for a moment. Having Xiao Huan sit behind me would shield him from the wind and snow, but I was afraid he might not hold onto me tightly enough and could fall off during a gallop. Moreover, while enemies approaching from the front would be easier to defend against, if someone attacked from behind with hidden weapons or arrows, his position would be too dangerous. After some deliberation, I suddenly wrapped an arm around his waist and pulled him up: "Sit sideways."

Xiao Huan was half-dragged onto the horse by me. Glancing at his position, nestled sideways in my arm, he couldn’t help but laugh: "When Kumoer rode with me, he also had me sit like this in front of him."

I kept a straight face: "A Male Concubine should behave like a Male Concubine."

Without further delay, I whipped the horse’s flank, urging it to swiftly glide into the heavy snowfall.

Though snowflakes still found their way into the gaps of the fox-fur cloak, at least the biting wind wouldn’t directly hit his chest.

This time, Xiao Huan leaned against my shoulder as soon as he mounted, closing his eyes to rest. While I remained tense, fearing a sudden ambush from the snow, he seemed utterly at ease.

With that thought, I reached out to adjust his cloak, pulling it tighter around him and guiding his head to rest more comfortably on my shoulder. The position might have been awkward, but having something to lean on should help him sleep better.

As I did so, I caught a faint upward twitch at the corner of Xiao Huan’s lips, and his breath against my neck grew slightly heavier.

I quickly tightened my hold around his waist, about to ask if he was feeling unwell, when his voice murmured by my ear: "How did I suddenly go from being a Master to a Male Concubine…"

His tone carried a rare laziness, his warm breath tickling my earlobe, sending a shiver down my spine.

I released my grip on his waist and raised my hand to cup his chin: "What? Can’t I defy my Master and disgrace my ancestors?"

He chuckled softly, interspersed with light coughs: "To have taken on such a disciple—it seems my luck truly is poor."

I snorted lightly: "Too late for regrets now!"

He gave a faint hum, his coughing gradually subsiding as his voice grew quieter: "Yes… too late."

He said nothing more, resting against my shoulder as his breathing steadied, as if he had fallen asleep.

After traveling for another hour or so, we still hadn’t encountered any pursuers. But the snowstorm was blinding, the flakes as large as goose feathers, falling in thick clusters until even the path ahead grew indistinct.

As we rode, I thought I glimpsed a white speck flickering in the snow ahead—but when I focused, only chaotic snowflakes danced in my vision, and the speck seemed to vanish.

Were enemies lying in wait ahead? Should I wake Xiao Huan?

While I hesitated, the white speck suddenly moved again—not just one, but a cluster of them. Two, three, then more than five white dots darted sideways at incredible speed.

A sharp, piercing sound rang out. Countless white figures surged from beneath the snow like waves cresting in a tide. Beneath the snowy froth, the brown of horses emerged swiftly, silent as ghosts. The Snow-Robed People, appearing abruptly from beneath the snow, were closing in fast.I suddenly let go of the reins, pulled my arm back to tightly embrace Xiao Huan, swiftly drew my gun, and cocked it with one hand. The first bullet was about to be fired at the person charging at the front, whose features were now clearly visible.

Suddenly, my hand was covered by a pair of hands as cold as jade. Xiao Huan pressed down on my hand, took the reins, and pulled them taut. Our horse turned sideways, its hooves sinking deep into the snow as it came to a halt.

As if in response to us, the charging figures ahead reined in their horses half a zhang away and stopped. The Snow-Robed person at the forefront dismounted, followed by the others, who also stepped forward a few paces, bowing their heads and clasping their fists in salute.

After completing the salute, the Snow-Robed person raised his head with a smile. "We have been awaiting the Pavilion Master's arrival here for quite some time."

Only then did I see the face beneath the wind hood—pale ice-blue eyes, cold and clear, a handsome yet aloof countenance, and even the faint smile at the corner of his lips. It was Nie Hanrong.

Nie Hanrong’s mesmerizing, ice-blue eyes, which rivaled Xiao Qianqing’s in allure, swept over me as he curled his lips into a smirk. "Isn’t this Miss Ling, the Pavilion Master’s most favored confidante?"

His emphasis on "most favored" was unmistakably mocking. I coughed awkwardly, unsure how to respond, when Xiao Huan gently pried my arm from around his waist and dismounted. "You’ve waited here in the snow—thank you for your hard work."

"Many thanks for the Pavilion Master’s concern." As soon as Nie Hanrong spoke to Xiao Huan, his smirk vanished, and his delicate, almost feminine face became utterly devoid of any frivolity.

Xiao Huan nodded faintly. "Waiting here for me—the desert storms are the most biting. Many of the disciples must have frostbitten hands and feet. Remember to treat them promptly upon returning to camp."

Nie Hanrong clasped his fists in acknowledgment. His expression remained cool and detached, but the disciples of Phoenix Come Pavilion behind him, moved by this simple gesture of concern, wore expressions of gratitude and renewed vigor on their wind-chapped faces.

Xiao Huan lowered his head, covering his mouth as he coughed lightly. Just then, a disciple standing at the periphery suddenly drew his sword. "Who’s there?"

A figure in earth-yellow robes darted out from behind a nearby snowdrift, sprinting across the snowy plain.

Nie Hanrong let out a cold laugh. With a flick of his left hand, a silk thread shot out, slicing a bloody line across the fleeing figure’s leg. The man collapsed into the snow.

Nie Hanrong flashed before him, fingers dancing as fine, wind-like threads coiled around the man’s arms. With a slight tug, he hoisted him up. The razor-sharp threads cut through the fur robe, biting into flesh, and soon, streaks of blood seeped through the yellow garment.

Nie Hanrong pulled the man’s head close to his chest, bending slightly as he spoke in a chilling voice. "Speak. Who are you? Why are you here?"

The man howled in pain, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead as he stammered, "I-I’m not here to kill Bai Chi Fan for the ten thousand taels of silver! I was just scouting… The ones who want to kill him are behind me—" He broke into another wail.

Nie Hanrong smiled faintly, lifting him higher. "And who, exactly, are these people seeking to claim the bounty on the Pavilion Master’s head?"The man was staring directly into Nie Hanrong's eyes. Seeing him smile like that was as if he had seen a ghost. Whether from pain or something else, his entire body shuddered violently, and his howls quieted down: "Kunlun Sect's He Ruyu, Wudang Sect's Shen Wei, the three chiefs of Guanxi Qitian Stronghold, the Blue Robe Cult from Miaojiang... That's all I saw... I don't know anything else..."

"Quite a crowd," Nie Hanrong sneered. "A bunch of rabble."

The man nodded hurriedly: "Yes, yes..." As he spoke, the white vapor from his yellowed teeth sprayed right into Nie Hanrong's face.

Nie Hanrong frowned, retracting the silk thread and casually tossing the man onto the ground.

The man kowtowed repeatedly in overwhelming joy, "Thank you, Hall Master Nie, for sparing my life."

Nie Hanrong flicked his sleeve and glanced at him indifferently, "You don’t take me for a fool, do you, 'Eavesdropper' Shi Zeng? With your habit of never letting benefits slip to outsiders, would you really be willing to scout for others? Has your all-hearing ear not heard? When have I ever left anyone alive under my hands?"

Shi Zeng, still prostrate on the ground, stiffened before flipping over to flee, but blood suddenly spurted from his neck. His head, half-severed, dangled at a grotesque angle onto his back, and his body collapsed into the snow like a puppet with its strings cut.

Only then did I understand, "Someone offered ten thousand taels of silver for the Pavilion Master’s head?"

Nie Hanrong nodded, "Where else do you think all these pursuers along the way came from? Forces from all sides have been mobilized—it’s quite the trouble."

Xiao Huan continued to cover his mouth as he coughed, turning to say, "Let’s return to camp first."

I nodded and moved to support him, but his body suddenly swayed. He clutched his mouth as dark red blood seeped between his fingers, dripping onto his white fox-fur cloak.

I quickly embraced him, asking anxiously, "What’s wrong?"

He shook his head lightly, steadying himself by leaning on my shoulder, his back remaining straight for the Phoenix Come Pavilion disciples behind us.

Understanding his intent, I shifted to shield him, preventing the surrounding disciples from seeing his weakened state.

His body trembled slightly, his breathing rapid and uneven. With each violent heave of his chest, he coughed incessantly, yet his back remained rigid.

In just a few hours, his episodes had grown increasingly severe.

After hastily clearing the battlefield, we set off for the camp at the foot of Tianshan.

The distance wasn’t far, and within an hour, we arrived.

The Central Plains Martial World’s camp beneath Tianshan was a sprawling collection of tents divided into smaller clusters, enclosed by wooden fences.

The Phoenix Come Pavilion’s tents were situated in the northeast corner, adjacent to those of Shaolin and Wudang, forming the largest cluster among them. Moreover, the Pavilion had contributed the most to the assault on the Tianshan Sect.

Though the Phoenix Come Pavilion had suffered significant losses, its status as second only to Shaolin and Wudang in the Martial World was gradually being acknowledged by other sects.

Xiao Huan’s tent, prepared by the Pavilion, stood at the center of the cluster. Though not large, it was exceptionally well-insulated, even the doorframe lined with fur.

Dismounting in front of the tent, I hurriedly helped Xiao Huan inside to rest without even greeting Su Qian. He hadn’t been able to sleep the entire journey, coughing incessantly. Now, leaning on me, he let his full weight press into my hands. As soon as I helped him onto the bed inside the tent, he bent over, coughing up blood.

I quickly wiped the blood from his lips with a handkerchief, supporting him until his breathing steadied slightly before finally relaxing.

After settling him properly on the bed, I fetched paper and a brush, handing them to him with a smile, "You need to prepare more medicine, right? I’m afraid I might mishear, so it’s better if you write it yourself. What ingredients are needed for your medicine? Some might be hard to find here, but Su Qian and I will do our best to gather them."

He nodded, his slender fingers lightly tracing the brush in his hand, then suddenly asked softly, "Cang Cang, is the lamp lit in the tent?"My hand, which had been about to brush away the disheveled hair at his temple, froze mid-air. It wasn't night yet, but several thick candles had been lit here for light. Yet he asked me if we'd lit any lamps.

He noticed my hesitation and slightly raised his head, smiling. "It's nothing. My vision is just a bit dark right now."

I bent down, cradled his face, and gently lifted his head. Those once dazzling and profound double-pupiled eyes that resembled the night sky had now completely turned a silvery gray. What veiled his pupils was no longer a faint mist but thick, leaden clouds.

The surroundings were utterly silent as I held his face, unmoving.

He furrowed his brows slightly, reached out his hand, paused, then let it rest on my cheek before tightening his expression. "Cang Cang, are you crying?"

I pressed my face against his somewhat cold palm, wanting to laugh and say it was nothing, but tears kept streaming down uncontrollably.

His brows relaxed slightly before tightening again. Suddenly, he withdrew the hand supporting my face and pressed it against his chest, coughing lightly. "My chest hurts a little."

I gasped and quickly wrapped my arms around his shoulders, rubbing his chest. "How bad is it? Does it hurt terribly? Is it serious..." I froze. He had never once mentioned feeling pain anywhere before. Whenever asked, his most common response was always "It's nothing" or "Don't worry."

He smiled and patted the back of my hand lightly. "There's really nothing wrong with my eyes. They might improve a lot by tomorrow, so don't worry."

I sniffled. In my panic just now, the tears had actually retreated out of fright. In the end, it was still him comforting me—how pathetic.

I smiled and nodded, taking the paper and brush from his hand before sitting on the couch. "Then you dictate, and I'll write. If you explain each character clearly, there shouldn't be any mistakes." I chuckled again. "Actually, I originally wanted to see your handwriting. Your calligraphy is so beautiful, and since mine is ugly, I love looking at well-written characters."

He smiled, leaning back slightly to rest his head against the cushion, then slowly began reciting the names of medicinal herbs and their required quantities.

I carefully wrote each one neatly, double-checking them one by one before blowing the ink dry, folding the paper, and putting it away. When I looked up, Xiao Huan had closed his eyes against the cushion, seeming somewhat weary.

I stood and walked over, smiling at him. "Want to sleep a little more?"

He opened his eyes and nodded with a smile. I grinned, cradled his head, removed the cushion, and helped him lie down to rest. Once settled, he smiled at me. "Cang Cang, tell Xiaoqian to arrange a banquet tomorrow noon and invite all the sect leaders."

I nodded in agreement, tucking his fur blanket securely around him before leaving the tent to find Su Qian and hand her the prescription.

After she sent someone to gather the herbs, I found a disciple to ask about Mu Yan's condition before going to see him.

Despite his severe injuries, Mu Yan wasn't as disheveled as I'd imagined. He lay on the bed with his eyes closed, his face pale but peaceful, as if in deep sleep.

I didn't stay long. After checking on him, I hurried back to Xiao Huan's tent.

Fortunately, many sects had gathered at the foot of Tianshan, and most had brought medicinal herbs as backup. Before long, Su Qian returned with all the ingredients.

I brewed the medicine and helped Xiao Huan sit up to drink it. By evening, his breathing had deepened considerably, and he slept peacefully.By the second day, Xiao Huan had finally improved somewhat. Su Qian had already sent out invitations on his behalf to the leaders of various sects, arranging a banquet for noon.

Before the luncheon, I helped Xiao Huan lean against soft cushions and found a horn comb to style his hair.

His hair was soft and silky, like holding a length of glossy black satin in my hands. Dipping the horn comb in warm water, I parted some strands to drape over his shoulders while gathering the rest into a bun secured at the back of his head with a white jade ring. Two matching jade hairpins were inserted, their short lengths fastening the ends of the ring while tassel-like jade beads dangled from the tips, just revealing a glimpse near his earlobes.

After finishing, I examined my work seriously and nodded in approval: "Beautiful."

He had been reclining against the cushions with half-closed eyes, letting me dress him up. Now he smiled faintly: "A simple bun would suffice. Why bother with such an elaborate style?"

Grinning, I playfully gathered some loose strands over his shoulders: "Of course to make you even more handsome—so dazzling that when Xuezhen Dashi and Qiu Sheng Daoren see you, they'll be utterly enchanted and listen obediently to whatever you say."

He chuckled softly, having grown accustomed to my antics these past two days: "That would be quite something."

After another light laugh, he continued: "When we meet the sect leaders later, I'll officially appoint you as Deputy Pavilion Master of Phoenix Come Pavilion in their presence."

Thinking he was merely speaking casually, I was surprised by his serious intention to confer the position now. After a brief pause, I smiled: "Then I should first thank Master for your trust?"

Meeting my gaze, he smiled: "With your capabilities, you can shoulder this responsibility. There's no need for concern."

Since rising this morning, the heavy mist in his eyes had somewhat dissipated compared to last night. Now those dark pupils had regained their brilliance, becoming almost too dazzling to behold directly.

I returned his smile and clasped his cold hand in mine.