Chapter 58: Theory confirmed

A group of monkeys had gathered around something on the ground, their furry bodies forming a tight circle. The tension in the air was palpable.

The monkeys' gazes were filled with worry and sadness, and some let out low screeches, as if mourning.

Tang Chun Xi furrowed her brow.

Curious, she approached with careful steps.

As soon as she got a clear view of what was happening, her expression turned serious.

At the center of the circle, an older monkey from the troop lay fallen, its breathing irregular and weak. Beside it, the young monkey she had befriended looked at the elder with wide eyes, full of concern.

The metallic smell of blood and poison permeated the air.

'This monkey is going to die…' — The thought came instinctively.

The elder seemed to have suffered a deep wound, and the flesh around the injury was blackened—clear signs of poisoning.

The monkeys around seemed restless, unable to do anything to help.

Tang Chun Xi hesitated.

She didn't want to interfere in the troop's affairs, but seeing the sad look in the young monkey's eyes, she felt a tightness in her chest.

"If it were my father lying there... I wouldn't accept watching him die without doing anything either."

A thought crossed her mind.

'Maybe I can save him' — Her heart raced at the idea.

With quick steps, she approached the two monkeys.

The others backed away slightly, watching her cautiously, but didn't stop her.

The young monkey turned to her, its eyes reflecting uncertainty.

Tang Chun Xi crouched down, placing one hand over the elder's wound.

— "If you allow me, perhaps I can save him."

Her voice was serious but carried gentleness.

The young monkey seemed to hesitate. Its eyes shifted between her and the fallen elder.

Finally, it nodded slowly.

Tang Chun Xi let out a discreet yet determined sigh.

"Alright. Let's try."

The wound was severe, the flesh torn open to the point of revealing internal organs, and the poison had already spread.

"If it were anyone else, they'd already be dead."

But the Woody Rock Monkeys had incredibly strong vitality.

She quickly took out a detoxification ointment from her bag and began applying it around the wound.

As she did so, she felt the faint pulse of energy within the substance.

The ointment was powerful, but it needed something more to act quickly.

Tang Chun Xi took a deep breath.

Carefully, she pressed her palm over the wound and closed her eyes.

Then, she channeled two energies: Lunar and Star wood.

The two energies flowed into the monkey's wound.

"If my energy can heal me, why not others?"

The doubt she had carried for some time was finally being tested.

As soon as the energy entered the wound, something incredible happened.

The ointment reacted instantly, absorbing the energies and activating its purifying properties. The poison began to dissolve.

Meanwhile, the lunar energy nourished the elder monkey's body, while the star wood energy stimulated its vitality. The two combined were healing the elder.

The monkeys around grew restless. They felt the change in the air.

It was as if the environment around them was becoming purer.

Tang Chun Xi maintained her focus.

She could feel the flow of energy connecting to the monkey's body, coursing through its meridians and slowly restoring its internal balance.

But the cost was high.

With every second she felt her own energy being drained.

"This consumes much more than I imagined..."

Her body began to tremble slightly from the effort, but she didn't stop.

The elder monkey's breathing, once weak and irregular, began to stabilize.

The wound, which had seemed fatal, began to close slowly.

And then...

The elder opened its eyes.

Tang Chun Xi let out a deep sigh, feeling sweat drip down her forehead.

She had succeeded.

The young monkey, who had been watching everything in silence, widened its eyes in surprise.

For a moment, it was speechless.

Then, with an excited screech, it jumped closer to the elder, who looked at it with a tired but conscious gaze.

Life had been restored.

Tang Chun Xi slowly removed her hand and observed the effects of her technique.

She could still feel the remnants of energy flowing through the monkey's body, ensuring the healing continued even after the treatment ended.

And within her, a certainty blossomed.

"Definitely... it's possible to heal others!"

But it required a lot of energy.

The other monkeys seemed ecstatic.

There was a clear change in how they looked at her. If before there was only curiosity and caution, now there was respect.

The young monkey looked at her and, as if understanding that words were unnecessary, simply nodded in gratitude.

Then, it and the others began to carry the elder through the trees.

In a few moments, they disappeared into the forest.

Tang Chun Xi remained still for a few seconds, reflecting on what had just happened.

A slight wave of happiness washed over her chest.

"So, my energy really can be used to save lives..."

She smiled faintly.

But soon after, she felt the fatigue hit her all at once.

Her body felt heavy, the effects of the energy consumption finally taking their toll.

She turned slowly and began walking back.

— "It was a good night..." — she murmured to herself.

And then, she went to rest.

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At dawn, Tang Chun Xi woke from her sleep, her energy renewed.

She quickly packed her things and, with a leap, went to say goodbye to the monkeys. Especially the little monkeys and the young one.

When she arrived, she didn't need to search for long. The little monkeys were playing near their mother.

As she approached, they reacted happily and jumped on her. She petted them and explained that she was leaving, saying her goodbyes.

But before she could leave, the mother monkey stopped her and signaled for her to wait.

After a few minutes, several monkeys she had fought alongside the previous night approached, carrying fruits and containers that seemed to hold liquid.

— "Is this for me?" — she asked, surprised, and the monkeys all nodded. This was their way of thanking her for her help, for saving their lives in the battle.

The leader, the young monkey from last night, was also among them.

Tang Chun Xi felt a bit emotional again at how the animals were expressing their gratitude. The fruits might not be precious, but it was their intention that moved her.

She thanked them and bid farewell, leaving to continue her training. She didn't know if she would see them again, but the experience had left a mark on her.

But she didn't know that, as she left the monkeys' territory, a figure was following her, always seeming to avoid the area she would detect.