Chapter 18: The Stone Beneath His Head

She didn't waste a second. With swift, practiced movements, she retrieved a small, exquisitely crafted bottle from her sleeve. Its deep blue surface gleamed under the light, delicate golden patterns swirling around its body, giving it an almost otherworldly appearance.

Blood Coagulation Pills.

The words were elegantly etched onto the surface in flowing script. Without hesitation, she uncorked the bottle, a faint herbal fragrance escaping into the air, and carefully slipped one of the pills into Yang Kai's mouth.

The effect was immediate.

A subtle red glow spread across his body, and within seconds, the blood that had leaked from his wounds stopped in its tracks. Almost as if time itself had reversed, the lost blood surged back into his veins, leaving his pale complexion restored.

She let out a deep breath, relief washing over her face. Good... he should be fine for now.

Just then, a voice broke the silence.

"Senior sister, thanks for healing senior brother Yang."

Like a whip, her head snapped toward Yan Xiu, her expression shifting into sheer disbelief.

"You almost killed him," she said, her voice dangerously calm, "and now you're thanking me for saving him?"

Her piercing gaze locked onto him, filled with confusion, anger… and something deeper.

"Well, I thought he would be stronger since he saved my life once..." Yan Xiu said with a faint smile. His tone was light, almost teasing, but there was an unmistakable sincerity in his voice. This wasn't entirely a lie—Yang Kai had helped him before. Not in this life, not in a way anyone else would understand, but in one of his simulations.

In that fleeting reality, Yang Kai had been more than just an acquaintance. He had been a friend—Yan Xiu's first real friend. Since awakening in this world, with no memories of his past life or even his true self, he had survived purely by instinct. He had quickly learned that most people only befriended others for personal gain. But Yang Kai had been different. He had shown kindness to him in the Inheritance Cave without expecting anything in return. That was why, even if Yang Kai had no recollection of it, Yan Xiu would always be grateful.

"He doesn't even remember it," Yan Xiu continued, his voice quieter, "but I'll be forever grateful to him."

Her anger wavered at his words. The warmth and honesty in his voice disarmed her, melting away her initial frustration. Her expression softened, and in the next moment, she lowered her head in apology, her face flushing red.

"I'm sorry, junior brother," she said earnestly. "I misunderstood you… I let my emotions get the better of me."

Yan Xiu returned her bow with a casual dip of his head. "No need to apologize, senior sister," he said with a chuckle. "Besides, you shouldn't be bowing to your younger martial brother."

With that, he stepped forward and hoisted Yang Kai's unconscious body onto his shoulder, adjusting his grip effortlessly.

The girl blinked. "What are you doing?"

"Taking him home," Yan Xiu replied simply. "Do you know where he lives?"

A strange look crossed her face. "Yes..." she murmured, hesitating slightly. Her cheeks burned as she recalled all the times she had secretly followed Yang Kai home, watching over him after each brutal beating he endured.

Yan Xiu noticed the shift in her expression and smirked. "You really like him, huh?"

"W-What?!" The girl's face turned crimson in an instant. She took a step back, flustered beyond belief. "W-What a-are you s-saying?"

Yan Xiu just laughed, adjusting Yang Kai's weight on his shoulder before walking forward. "Nothing, nothing… Let's get going."

A few minutes passed, and they finally arrived at Yang Kai's small, self-made wooden hut. It was humble, barely large enough to fit a bed of hay and a few sparse belongings. Yan Xiu stepped inside first, carefully laying Yang Kai down onto the crude bedding before turning to the girl.

"Senior Sister, we should leave now. Let him rest properly," he said, his tone calm and firm.

But she didn't move.

"No," she said, shaking her head. "The Blood Coagulation Pills only stopped the hemorrhaging, but he's still injured all over his body. Most of his bones are broken!" Without another word, she turned toward the forest. "I'll go gather some herbs to heal him. You can—"

Yan Xiu cut her off before she could finish.

"Senior Sister, he's fine." His voice was steady but unwavering. "He's a cultivator, and even if he's only at the Third Tempered Body Stage, his body can handle it. The Blood Coagulation Pills should be enough—you're overreacting."

"But—" The girl opened her mouth to argue, but once again, Yan Xiu didn't let her.

"Senior Sister, please stop." His voice was firmer now. "If you use too many herbs on him, their medicinal effects will clash, and you might end up harming him instead."

The moment those words left his mouth, Yan Xiu's eyes widened completely.

What?

When had he learned that?

His breath hitched, and a strange chill ran down his spine. Those things… They weren't something he had learned. They had just appeared in his mind, as if they had always been there.

The original Yan Xiu didn't seem to have any interest in alchemy—there were no manuals, no herbs, nothing even remotely related to it in his hut. So how did he know this?

The girl hesitated, her lips pressing together. Yan Xiu's knowledge caught her off guard, but he wasn't wrong. Overlapping medicinal properties could have unpredictable consequences, even for a cultivator.

She clenched her fists. "No, they won't if I—" She stopped mid-sentence, her eyes widening slightly.

She had almost said something she shouldn't have.

Yan Xiu took a deep breath, pushing aside his confusion for now. He looked at the girl and gave her a reassuring smile.

"So, Senior Sister, why don't you go?" he said. "If you're so worried, I'll stay here and assist him."

"No, I-I'll do it—" She stammered, but once again, Yan Xiu cut her off.

"No, Senior Sister, I'll do it." His voice was gentle but firm. "I want to repay him for saving me, and since I'm the one who put him in this state, I should also be the one to help him, right?"

The girl hesitated. Her eyes flickered between Yan Xiu and Yang Kai before she finally let out a sigh.

"Okay, then... I'll leave him in your care, Junior Brother." She gave him one last glance, then, in a blur, she disappeared into the night.

Silence fell over the small hut.

Yan Xiu exhaled slowly and sat down beside Yang Kai's still body. His mind was still spinning.

"So, where did that knowledge of alchemy come from?"

"Could it be... something related to my past life?"

Just as he was deep in thought, his gaze landed on something strange.

A perfectly rectangular black stone.

It was tucked neatly under Yang Kai's head, acting as a pillow.

Yan Xiu's eyes narrowed.

"How didn't I notice this when I put him down?"

To be continued...

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Sorry for not having uploaded last week. I am really, really sorry. I was in a martial arts campus with a japanese master, so I didn't have time to write, so please forgive me!

Be sure to check out my original novel Hyperborea!