Chasing after her husband? Is it even possible to win him back?

"It's a good thing you woke up, otherwise I was really afraid you would just fall asleep and die." Chu Xunfeng took a step back, sat down on the ground with a thud, and let out a long sigh of relief.

The young people are also not in good condition.

Having fought two earth-shattering beasts and battled the man in black, he had been on edge the whole time, and his physical strength and energy were severely depleted. Even though he hadn't relaxed yet, his head was spinning.

“We…” Xu Bailing wanted to ask where the two were, but she only got the first word out before swallowing the rest.

"Anyway, we're safe for now." Chu Xunfeng untied the cloth bag from his waist and emptied its contents all at once.

"Miss, take whatever you can use."

"Hmm." Xu Bailing looked at the pile of things that Chu Xunfeng was rummaging through.

The porcelain bottle likely contained pills, six or seven medicated plasters for treating external injuries, some dried meat, five bottles and jars of seasonings, a short dagger, and some materials from demonic beasts. The only remaining items were three secret manuals: Blood Refining Technique, Dragon Soaring Step, and Wind Fury Kick.

The small brocade pouch contained essentially all of Chu Xunfeng's wealth and life.

"Chu Xunfeng, help me take off my clothes." The young lady looked at Chu Xunfeng.

The young man paused for a moment, then nodded, stood up, and walked around to Xu Bailing's side.

"Please put some medicine patches on my back and shoulders."

"Ah."

The two, who were pretending to be calm, could actually sense each other's embarrassment, but they couldn't care less at this moment.

Chu Xunfeng slowly peeled off the woman's clothes. The scabs had already stuck to the torn clothes. Chu Xunfeng's movements were very careful. Xu Bailing pursed her lips and remained silent.

Xu Bailing could sense the gentleness in the young man's movements.

Chu Xunfeng could also feel the young lady's body trembling.

Although the cave was dark, this level of darkness did not prevent the two of them from seeing in the dark.

Chu Xunfeng could naturally see Xu Bailing's body clearly, but as her clothes were peeled off, his attention gradually shifted away from the young lady's delicate body.

My gaze fell on the wounds on Xu Bailing's body. The wound on her shoulder wasn't very deep, but the wound on her back was quite exaggerated, with the skin and flesh rolled up.

"Should we just stick it on?" Chu Xunfeng was a little undecided. In his understanding, the wound on the young lady's back required stitches.

"Put it on and press it down hard."

"...Hmm." Chu Xunfeng didn't know what he was feeling when he helped the young lady apply the medicine patch. He only remembered that he had tried his best to be as gentle as possible, but every time he pressed the patch, Xu Bailing's body trembled violently as if it were a leaf.

"Do we need to put stickers on other places?" The moment he opened his mouth, Chu Xunfeng realized that his voice was terribly hoarse.

"No need," Xu Bailing said, her voice trembling.

Returning to the young lady's side, Chu Xunfeng looked at her and said, "Young lady, take some pills first to recuperate. I'll go outside the cave to take a look."

"You..." Xu Bailing raised her head, staring at Chu Xunfeng's face, "...could you stay...with me for a while?"

Chu Xunfeng only realized what was happening when he heard the young lady's soft words, which carried a hint of pleading.

Unlike her two previous lives, Xu Bailing is a young girl, probably only in her early twenties, or even younger.

but……

Chu Xunfeng squatted down, pressed down on Xu Bailing's shoulders, stared into her lake-blue eyes, and solemnly promised, "Miss, I promise you, I will be back in half an hour at most. We need firewood and water."

"Half an hour?" Xu Bailing felt that she was far too weak at this moment.

She clearly understood that she was different now than she usually was, but she was also genuinely afraid that once this young man disappeared from her sight, he would never appear again.

"Hmm, half an hour." Chu Xunfeng helped the young lady pull up her clothes, covering her collarbone and neck. "You should meditate first and wait for me."

“…Okay.” Xu Bailing took a deep breath.

The young man stood up, gave Xu Bailing a gentle smile, and then looked away, walking towards the wider side of the cave under Xu Bailing's gaze.

Chu Xunfeng's footsteps gradually faded into the distance.

Xu Bailing struggled to sit up straight. She picked up a porcelain bottle from the ground, trembling as she poured out a pill to treat internal injuries, put it in her mouth, and then assumed a posture with her five hearts facing the sky, silently entering a meditative state.

Enter a meditative state and regulate your breathing.

He'll definitely be back when I wake up.

Xu Bailing thought to herself.

On the other side, after walking nearly a hundred meters along the cave, Chu Xunfeng finally saw light. He slowly walked up, and the cave exit appeared before him after the young man turned a corner. Along with the light came the sound of a babbling brook, which made Chu Xunfeng unable to help but show a hint of joy.

The entrance to the cave was completely blocked by bushes nearly as tall as a person. The young man carefully pushed aside the bushes and crawled out of the cave.

He paused.

Trees so large that it would take dozens of people to encircle them are everywhere. Only slivers of sunlight can penetrate the dense canopy to reach the ground. Not far from the cave entrance is a shallow stream.

He didn't see any monsters around, and after carefully examining the stream for a while, he found no trace of them.

These discoveries made him breathe a sigh of relief. Although he didn't know the exact location he had been teleported to, the presence of water and the absence of monsters were truly exciting news.

First, gather some firewood from the local area, then use a container to fetch water.

Exploring the surrounding area is definitely not what we should be doing right now. The most important thing right now is for Ripple to let the young lady recover from her injuries, and I really need to rest too.

He hurriedly searched the surrounding area and soon found some dry shrubs and rotten trees.

Carrying firewood and feeling relaxed, Chu Xunfeng exhaustedly crawled back into the cave, unable to resist wanting to tell the young lady the good news.

Inside the cave, upon hearing the approaching footsteps, Xu Bailing suddenly opened her eyes.

If your mind isn't calm, you can't enter a meditative state. Although she was anxious, she shouldn't be so anxious that she couldn't even feel the time. Chu Xunfeng has only been gone for less than half an incense stick's time, right?

"Chu Xunfeng?" The young lady's weak voice came from the cave.

“Young Miss, there’s water outside the cave. I’ve gathered some firewood. Let’s start a fire first, and I’ll go fetch water later.” Chu Xunfeng’s voice was excited, filled with heartfelt joy.

"Mmm." Xu Bailing also smiled, staring at his bright smile, and her heavy heart couldn't help but relax.

Unfortunately, Chu Xunfeng, busy gathering firewood and starting a fire, didn't notice the young lady's smile.

The smile that appeared because of him.

Chapter Thirty-Two: Mutual Dependence

A blazing fire.

Water that produces white steam after boiling.

Dried meat sprinkled with spices and roasted until slightly charred, exuding a strong aroma.

Nothing provides a greater sense of security in such circumstances than these three things.

The dark cave was illuminated by the firelight, and the shadows of the two people around the campfire were stretched long and pressed against the rock wall.

"Tomorrow I'll explore the area and try to figure out where we are now." Chu Xunfeng swallowed the dried meat and looked at the young lady staring at the campfire.

"Well, I'll focus on recovering from my injuries as soon as possible. Even though I lost my sword, at least I won't be a burden to you." Xu Bailing raised her gaze and looked at the young man's face.

"That's not true." Chu Xunfeng looked at her and shook his head solemnly.

"Yes, there is." She looked away, avoiding Chu Xunfeng's gaze, and chewed the jerky in small bites.

Chu Xunfeng was amused by the young lady's childish answer.

It's a good thing that people have the energy to bicker.

Chu Xunfeng smiled and poked at the campfire with a dry twig. The young man stared at the rising sparks and suddenly spoke.

"Young Miss, everyone has moments of vulnerability. If you can't handle it on your own, it's good to rely on others."

"Bai Ling." The woman turned her head and stared at Chu Xunfeng's face. She was once again preoccupied with the matter of how to address him.

"Let's just call her Miss. Calling her Miss Bai Ling sounds too formal." Chu Xunfeng looked up and met her gaze.

Xu Bailing subconsciously looked away, glancing at the consequences of the fire, and softly hummed in agreement.

“When I was struggling in life, I was helpless and had no strength of my own. I could only grit my teeth and do things I didn’t want to do, and force myself to smile, thinking that if I kept going, things would gradually get better. But after smiling so much and holding on for so long, I didn’t even realize that I couldn’t hold on any longer.”

"You can fool others by forcing yourself to hold on, but you can't fool yourself. If you keep pushing yourself until you really can't hold on anymore, you'll collapse completely..."

"What?" Xu Bailing looked at Chu Xunfeng's smiling face through the campfire.

Gentle and serene, but devoid of emotion, as if a mask were stuck to one's face and could not be removed. Does he have no emotions, yet he also loves to laugh?

“You suddenly have nothing left.” Chu Xunfeng raised his eyes and looked at the young lady.

Xu Bailing suddenly understood that Chu Xunfeng was telling his own story, but he was also telling her one.

It silently conveys a single sentence.

Don't become like me.

"And now?" Xu Bailing asked softly. She felt that Chu Xunfeng was not in the state of having nothing left, as he had said.

"Fortunately, I have found my goal and the meaning of life, and I have gradually emerged from the shadows of the past, like now."

"Now...?" Xu Bailing asked, puzzled.

"Teach the young lady of Baidi City a lesson, so she won't follow in my footsteps." Chu Xunfeng laughed for real this time, feeling somewhat smug and teasing.

“I understand.” Xu Bailing nodded solemnly. “Chu Xunfeng, come here.”

"Hmm?" The young man got up in confusion and walked to the young lady's side.