“If you truly want to be with Ling Xi, then you must earn their approval. Without it, you’ll never be able to be with her smoothly.”
When Lin Xiao heard Zhang Nu say this, he found it reasonable. That was why he cared so much about the people standing before him—because they could all be considered Ling Xi’s family. Precisely because they were her family, he had been showing restraint.
But if these people ever crossed his bottom line, he wouldn’t care who they were. They would pay the price.
“I understand everything you’ve said. That’s why I’ve been doing my best to control my temper… I know I can’t go too far with them.”
Zhang Nu nodded. As long as Lin Xiao understood, that was enough. What he feared most was Lin Xiao not realizing this, and later regretting it—that would be far more troublesome.
“As long as you know, then I won’t worry any further. Just stay here and wait. Ling Xi will not be in danger. Now that those YaoGuais are here, they won’t ignore her. Once her condition stabilizes, we’ll give her all the spiritual energy she needs, and she’ll recover her form.”
Lin Xiao nodded. He was deeply grateful to Zhang Nu—if not for him, they might not be in this situation at all.
“Zhang Nu, truly… thank you for saving Ling Xi. I don’t even know how to put it into words.”
But Zhang Nu felt Lin Xiao was speaking too soon. Ling Xi didn’t even know his true feelings yet; there was no need for Lin Xiao to be thanking him.
“There’s no need to thank me. You’re not anyone to Ling Xi right now—you don’t have that qualification. Save those words for the day she truly accepts you.”
Lin Xiao knew Zhang Nu was deliberately encouraging him. He also understood that if he really wanted a future with Ling Xi, it would be a long road.
He was born emotionally incomplete, only knowing how to hold Ling Xi tightly in his grasp. He didn’t know how to express affection. Sometimes that mindset was frightening enough to make Ling Xi feel repelled.
But Lin Xiao didn’t understand any of that—he only thought he was being good to her. As outsiders, Zhang Nu and the others could see clearly: Lin Xiao did care for Ling Xi. But Ling Xi also had her own desires and things she wanted to do, and Lin Xiao always considered things from his own perspective, stopping her from reaching for them. It was precisely this difference that would someday lead to arguments between them.
But all of that was still far away. For now, the YaoGuai continued treating Ling Xi. Her body was extremely complicated: once injured, it was very difficult for her to heal. And this time, her wound was especially severe.
It wasn’t an ordinary wound—it was inflicted by a talisman of protection.
The YaoGuais’ expressions remained grim.
Zhang Nu and the others approached, unable to hold back. “How is Ling Xi’s condition? What needs to be done? Is there anything we can do?”
But the YaoGuai didn’t look kindly at them. They laid all the blame for Ling Xi’s injuries on Zhang Nu and his companions, believing they had failed to protect her. If they had truly taken care of her, she would never have ended up like this.
Before Ling Xi left with them, they had already warned them—Ling Xi’s body was very unusual. Yet she was still injured.
“I remember telling you long ago that Ling Xi has a very special physique. But you didn’t take my words to heart, did you? If you had, she wouldn’t be lying here now.
“Her condition is extremely complicated. If she truly wants to recover, she’ll need an extraordinarily rare herb. One that only grows in places of extreme cold. Such herbs are nearly nonexistent in this world.”
Hearing this, Zhang Nu and the others were struck with despair.
No wonder the YaoGuai had been so shocked—no wonder they cared for Ling Xi so much. Her body was far more fragile than they had imagined.
But what now? They didn’t have such a herb.
“Then what should we do? If we head to the frozen lands now, will it still be in time?”