Chapter 10: The Aura of an Exiled Immortal, Supreme Charm
"Pu-chi!"
A venomous arrow, aimed at Die, shot forward with lethal precision and pierced deeply into Chen Mo's back.
Immediately, a muffled groan of pain escaped his lips before he collapsed into Die's arms.
Blood soaked Chen Mo's back, and foamy crimson spurted uncontrollably from his mouth, staining Die's clothes.
Die stood frozen, staring blankly at the scene. Memories of her time with Chen Mo flooded her mind, and tears streamed down her cheeks as she cried out in agony toward the heavens, "No!"
---
[Ding! Favorability +1, gained 1 Favorability Coin. Intimacy Bonus triggered, obtained Tier-1 Alchemy Proficiency.]
[Ding! Favorability +1, gained 1 Favorability Coin. Intimacy Bonus triggered, obtained a Sky Thunder Blood Hawk Beast Flame at the Dou Huang level.]
[Ding! Favorability +1, gained 1 Favorability Coin. Intimacy Bonus triggered, obtained a One-Star Dou Huang Experience Card.]
[Ding! Favorability +1, gained 1 Favorability Coin. Intimacy Bonus triggered, obtained a Tier-1 Detoxification Pill.]
[Ding! Favorability +1, gained 1 Favorability Coin. Intimacy Bonus triggered, gained one rank in cultivation.]
[Ding! Ten consecutive Intimacy Bonuses triggered, obtained the Heaven and Earth Sword Physique (Upgradeable).]
---
"Wuwu... Chen Mo, it's all my fault! If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have been hurt. Please, you must not die!" Die sobbed uncontrollably.
She dared not pull out the poisoned arrow but instead pressed against the wound to slow the bleeding, her heart filled with sorrow.
"Cough, cough! I won't die... but if we don't leave soon, I really will die here."
Chen Mo coughed up two mouthfuls of blood and forced a weak, pale smile.
"Ah! Chen Mo, you're still alive! You scared me to death! Let's go, we have to leave now!"
Die, her eyes swollen from crying, sniffled as she hurriedly helped Chen Mo up. Seeing that the mercenaries had all been knocked down by him, she supported him and quickly fled into the distance.
"You useless trash! Get up and chase them! That brat took my poisoned arrow—he won't get far!"
The sinister-looking man roared.
---
Stumbling through the endless yellow sands, Chen Mo felt exhaustion creeping in. His eyelids grew heavier with each step.
Not long after, his vision blurred, and his body could no longer endure. He staggered a few more steps before his legs gave out, and he collapsed.
Die, who had been urging him to stay awake, fell alongside him as he hit the ground.
Chen Mo was already at his limit, and with this final fall, darkness swallowed his consciousness completely.
Yet, unbeknownst to him, as he blacked out, his head landed upon something soft and trembling.
Die let out a faint gasp but paid no mind to where Chen Mo's head had ended up. She gently patted his face and called out, "Wake up... Wake up..."
But no matter how she called, Chen Mo remained unresponsive. Panic rose in her heart as she reached out to touch his forehead—his skin was burning hot.
Instinctively, she glanced at the wound where the arrow had struck, only to see that the flesh around it had turned pitch black.
"That arrow was poisoned..." Die murmured in shock, tears once again spilling from her eyes.
"It's all my fault. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have been hit. Why are you so foolish?"
Blaming herself, she cast a fearful glance behind her, knowing that the mercenaries could catch up at any moment. Gritting her teeth, she hoisted Chen Mo onto her back and continued to flee.
Yet, without realizing it, something inside her seemed to be awakening, and her speed increased significantly.
---
[Ding! Favorability +2, obtained a Tier-1 Qi Recovery Pill.]
---
"This is impossible! A severely injured Dou Shi and a snake girl who can't use Dou Qi—how could they have disappeared?"
The sinister-looking man's expression twisted with rage as he roared.
"Boss, it's true! By the time we caught up, they were already gone!" a trembling mercenary reported.
"Vanished? Do you think they grew wings and flew away?!" the man bellowed.
Just then, a rough voice cut through the desert wind.
"The two you're talking about—where did they go?"
A shadowy figure appeared before the mercenaries.
---
Lost in unconscious darkness, Chen Mo felt something being drawn out from his body. He groaned instinctively, vaguely aware of a sensation at his back, something warm pressing against his wound.
He couldn't resist the darkness, nor see what was happening.
"Pah!"
Die, kneeling behind him, pressed her red lips against his back, sucking out the poisoned blood before spitting it onto the sand.
Over and over, she repeated the process, ensuring every trace of the poison was removed. Once she was certain the venom was gone, she carefully examined his injuries.
Aside from the arrow wound, there were only a few blade cuts from earlier.
Die tore off a piece of Chen Mo's black trousers and used it to bandage his wound—her own short skirt wasn't suitable.
After dressing his wounds, she rinsed the bloodied cloth clean and gently wiped Chen Mo's body.
She worked meticulously, her gaze focused.
First, she wiped the dried blood from the corner of his lips, then carefully cleaned his face.
---
This was the first time Die had truly seen Chen Mo's features up close.
Last time, though they had been close, the darkness had concealed his face.
Now, under the faint moonlight, she could see it clearly.
His features were strikingly handsome, sculpted like a masterpiece. His well-defined eyebrows framed deep, starry eyes, brimming with a natural charm that could ensnare anyone's heart.
As she continued to look, her mind wandered to everything he had done for her.
If not for the fever burning his skin, she might have stared even longer.
After wiping his face, she moved to his back.
She washed the bandages at least ten times, each wrung-out drop of blood making her heart ache.
Once everything was taken care of, she suddenly heard Chen Mo murmur, "...Water... Water..."
Hurriedly, she scooped some water in her hands and brought it to his lips.
But then, a problem arose.
How could he drink it?
Chen Mo was still unconscious, his lips firmly shut.
Die hesitated. She bit her lip lightly, then made a decision.
She took a sip of water, holding it in her mouth, then lifted her long hair and leaned down.
Her lips met his.
---
[Ding! Favorability +1, gained 1 Favorability Coin. Kiss Bonus triggered, obtained the Aura of an Exiled Immortal, Supreme Charm.]
---
As she pulled away, her face burned red.
She had kissed him.
Staring at him for a long moment, she thought, That little bit of water might not be enough.
So she took another sip and kissed him again.
"That should be enough... right?"
Feeling Chen Mo's body still burning with fever, a hint of shyness flickered in her eyes.
Remembering how she had helped cool his fever last night, she hesitated, then gently pressed herself against his back, wrapping her arms around him tightly.
---
It was unknown how much time had passed before Chen Mo finally emerged from the darkness of unconsciousness.
His blurred vision slowly cleared.
The first thing he saw was a spacious cave. The walls were riddled with small gaps where beams of light filtered through.
As he tried to move his sore body, a soft dripping sound reached his ears.
Turning his head, he saw a small water pool nearby.
Above it, water dripped steadily from a crack in the stone ceiling.
****
Advanced Chapters in my ko-fi
https:**//ko-fi.**com/salsita2k