Under Ling Xi’s healing, Lin Xiao slowly began to regain consciousness.
That nightmare he had just escaped from had felt far too real — a chilling echo of a lifetime spent in emptiness. He had always lived alone, without a single friend. Even after meeting Zhang Nu and the others, he still feared that when faced with danger, they would cast him aside just like everyone else.
But now... things were different.
Zhang Nu and the others had stayed. They had stood beside him, shared words of comfort, and never left him behind. In his heart, he was truly grateful for their presence, and he cherished them deeply.
“Zhang Nu,” Lin Xiao murmured. “Thank you… Thank you for staying by my side.”
The three looked at him, startled and a bit confused. His sudden sentiment caught them off guard.
“Lin Xiao? What’s with you all of a sudden?” Zhang Nu blinked. “We’re teammates, aren’t we? Isn’t it normal to help each other?”
Lin Xiao smiled faintly and shook his head.
He had seen it before, the way villagers would band together, only to abandon one another the moment things turned dangerous. But Zhang Nu and the others weren’t like that. They had protected him without hesitation, shielding him through every peril. He considered himself lucky to have met such friends — loyal, steadfast, and true.
“Nothing,” he said softly. “I just feel like… with you all here, everything is going to be okay.”
Zhang Nu and Liu Hai both nodded. Lin Xiao had already become someone they trusted, and they, in turn, would never abandon him. They would walk forward together, growing stronger with every step, treasuring the bond they now shared.
Standing nearby, Ling Xi quietly watched the three of them, smiling as she took in the warmth between them. She wasn’t jealous, nor did she feel left out because she knew it wouldn’t be long before she, too, became part of this circle.
She had already expressed her wish to join them, and Zhang Nu had agreed. Soon, she would travel alongside them, not just as a companion, but as a friend.
Just then, as the three were still lost in the moment, Zhang Nu suddenly called over to her, “Ling Xi, come here!”
Liu Hai and Lin Xiao exchanged confused glances, not quite sure what Zhang Nu was thinking, though a part of them suspected what this meant.
“Zhang Nu… what are you…”
But before they could finish their thoughts, Zhang Nu had already reached out and pulled Ling Xi into their group.
“From now on, Ling Xi is one of us,” he declared. “She’ll be traveling with us, and we’ll help her find her parents.”
Lin Xiao and Liu Hai knew then that there was no point in objecting. Zhang Nu wasn’t asking for permission; he was informing them of his decision. But truthfully, neither of them had ever intended to exclude her.
After all, she had just fought by their side, risked her life for them, and proved herself time and again. Not to mention, her healing abilities were incredibly valuable. In the trials ahead, she could end up saving them all.
“It’s fine,” Liu Hai said with a casual grin. “If Ling Xi really wants to come with us, of course she’s welcome.”
“Just keep in mind, we’re all guys here, so you might have to put up with a little extra trouble.”
He meant no harm, just speaking with his usual blunt honesty.
Lin Xiao, however, wasn’t as relaxed. Their cultivation levels weren’t particularly high to begin with, and after what Ling Xi had sacrificed to help Zhang Nu level up, her strength had been seriously depleted. If they encountered danger again, could they really protect her?
“Are you sure about bringing Ling Xi along?” Lin Xiao asked. “Our cultivation is still too low. She’s already lost a lot of her strength helping you. If we run into trouble, we might not be able to keep her safe.”
Among them, Lin Xiao was clearly the most level-headed, always thinking a few steps ahead.
Ling Xi, hearing his concern, misunderstood his meaning.
“It’s fine,” she said quietly. “I can take care of myself. If something happens, you don’t need to worry about me. Just run.”
“I’ll work hard to recover as quickly as I can. I won’t be a burden.”
Lin Xiao frowned as he looked at her. She had clearly misread his intentions, but he wasn’t the kind to explain himself.
Zhang Nu chuckled at the expression on Lin Xiao’s face. It was rare to see such emotion from him.
“All right, Ling Xi,” Zhang Nu said, amused. “You don’t have to worry. Lin Xiao wasn’t saying no. He was just warning us to be cautious.”
“He already agreed to let you join us. He just wants you to be mentally prepared. You’re our teammate now. You’re also the only girl in our group. How could we possibly leave you behind?”
Ling Xi finally relaxed and nodded. If Zhang Nu had changed his mind because of what Lin Xiao said, she would’ve been furious.
Apologies everyone!! Due to some problems with the raw we had to delay the chapters, so we'll be doing double chapters today!