Book 6 Waking Up

Chapter 304 Book 6 Waking Up

The mossy tang of the cave air, though faint, reached Li An's nostrils, a familiar comfort. But it was overshadowed by the searing pain that seemed to radiate from every fiber of her being. Her eyes fluttered open, gritty and unfocused, to the familiar rough-hewn ceiling of a cottage. She recognized it almost instantly – the hidden sanctuary she found deep in the forest.

"Li An? You're awake!"

The voice, warm and laced with relief, belonged to Mother Yuan. The middle-aged woman, her face etched with worry lines but her eyes kind, leaned over her, a damp cloth gently dabbing at Li An's forehead. The rhythmic thrum of crickets and the distant murmur of voices, softened by the cave's acoustics, were the only sounds.

"Mother Yuan," Li An rasped, her throat dry and raw. A wave of dizziness washed over her as she tried to push herself up.