Carson had lost track of how long he had been running with the children.
The sounds of battle behind him had long since faded, but his heart still pounded wildly in his chest, making his breathing ragged.
Dragging several children along, he stumbled through the pitch-black woods.
He paid no mind to the stinging branches scratching his cheeks or the sharp stones bruising the soles of his feet.
When one little girl tripped, he immediately bent down to scoop her up into his arms, keeping his pace steady as he continued to flee from the dungeon.
Behind him, several of the older children stumbled along in silence, too terrified to cry or speak.
Only when the children behind him were completely exhausted and could run no further did Carson finally halt.
A massive tree stood before them, its trunk so thick it would take two people to hug it.
Its exposed roots arched out of the ground, forming a hollow just large enough to accommodate a few people.
He gently set down the little girl in his arms and slid down against the trunk to sit.
He had no physical injuries, as Bai Xuan had already healed him earlier with the Holy Light Catalyst.
Although his old wounds had healed, his depleted vitality and energy were far from recovered.
His gaze quickly swept over the children around him, his fingers trembling slightly as he began to count heads.
One, two, three... He counted them twice, confirming that everyone was accounted for.
But this relief lasted only a moment before a heavy sense of loss shrouded his heart once more.
The girl he was looking for had not been among them from the very beginning.
He had checked every single cage in the dungeon, but that specific figure was nowhere to be found.
“Do any of you... know a girl named Yiyi?” his voice was hoarse, trembling with a hope he couldn't hide.
The children looked at one another in silence.
Only after a long silence did a little girl speak up in a tiny voice.
“I don't know her...”
The others shook their heads as well, their eyes blank and bewildered.
Carson slowly lowered his head, clenching his fists.
He knew better than anyone that in a place like that, a six-year-old child had likely already met a grim fate.
He closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and swallowed the words that rose to his throat.
He didn't ask another question, letting the guilt and powerlessness consume him.
Just then, the faint sound of footsteps rustling over fallen leaves echoed from deep within the forest, shattering the silence.
Carson instantly tensed, his hand instinctively darting to his waist.
But his waist was bare—his dagger had been lost long ago at the site of his abduction.
The children huddled closer together, their eyes wide with terror.
A figure slowly stepped out from the shadows.
Her long silver hair shimmered with a cool luster under the moonlight, and she cradled a double-bitted battleaxe that was wider than she was.
She appeared to be a girl of no more than thirteen or fourteen, her face expressionless and cold.
Her golden eyes slowly swept over Carson and the children, showing not a single ripple of emotion.
Startled, Carson instinctively gripped a dry branch beside him, bracing himself to fight.
But when he realized she was just a young girl, his tense nerves relaxed slightly.
However, as his gaze fell upon the massive battleaxe, his heart leaped back into his throat.
The weapon was wider than the girl herself, its edge gleaming with a deadly chill under the moonlight.
Phoebe stopped and locked eyes with Carson. Her expression remained placid, and she did not say a word.
Carson stared at her for a long time, suddenly finding her eyes familiar.
She looked remarkably like the healer from the dungeon.
The same calmness—not aggressive, but carrying an inherent aloofness that kept others at bay.
He silently prayed she wouldn't approach, hoping she was merely a passing stranger.
Phoebe didn't linger. After a brief glance at the huddled children, she turned to head back toward Bai Xuan.
But just then, another set of footsteps sounded from the darkness.
Accompanied by the soft tap of a staff against the ground, a figure carrying a strange staff emerged from the shadows.
As the moonlight fell upon him, the dark bloodstains on his clothes became clearly visible, and wet blood still clung to the tip of his staff.
Bai Xuan had caught up.
When he saw Phoebe, he paused, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
He had expected her to wait for him, not realizing she had quietly followed him.
“Didn't I tell you to wait for me?” His tone held no blame, only a touch of helplessness and concern.
Phoebe lowered her head slightly, her fingers tightening around the handle of her axe before slowly relaxing.
She looked up, her golden eyes shining in the moonlight, concealing an unspoken worry.
She had followed him simply because she couldn't help but worry.
Understanding her thoughts, a wave of warmth washed over Bai Xuan's heart. He said nothing more.
He simply nodded to her, then turned and walked toward the children, who were still shivering in fear.
Storing his staff in his Space Ring, he knelt down with a warm smile.
“Don't be afraid. I'm here to save you.”
The children remained timid, none of them daring to move as they watched him warily.
Seeing this, Phoebe took a loaf of bread from the bundle Bai Xuan held out.
She walked up to the smallest girl, knelt down, and offered her the bread.
The girl stared at the bread, swallowing hard. She cast a cautious glance at Phoebe's blank face before timidly reaching out to accept it.
With the first hurdle cleared, the other children gradually let down their guard and gathered around.
Bai Xuan took out the dry rations, water skins, and bread from his bundle, distributing them to the children.
Then he approached the injured children to heal them one by one.
The golden glow of the Holy Light Catalyst descended, enveloping the children's scraped knees and cut arms.
Some of the children cried from the stinging sensation, while others bit their lips to endure it.
Bai Xuan offered soft words of comfort while channeling his mana, the golden light in his hands never fading.
Sitting to the side, Carson watched the children devour the food before turning his gaze to Phoebe.
Having handed out the bread, she had quietly retreated, standing like a silent sentinel with her massive axe.
Once Bai Xuan finished his work, he walked over to sit beside Carson.
“The children are doing fine, just a bit shaken up. What do you plan to do next?”
Carson fell silent for a moment before speaking.
“I'll take them to Calais Town. The White family has a camp outside that can take them in. I know some of their people, so I can make contact. But...”
He paused and lowered his head, his voice thick with guilt.
“The child I'm looking for isn't among them.”
Bai Xuan remained silent, simply sitting quietly beside him.
Carson took a deep breath and stood up.
“I'll rest for a bit, then head out to search for her. I'll definitely be back before noon tomorrow. I leave the children in your hands.”
Bai Xuan nodded, then spread his perception to scan the surroundings.
Guided by the status panel, he quickly located an abandoned hunter's cabin with a clear stream running nearby.
The cabin was small, built of rough logs. Although a corner of the roof had caved in, it was enough to provide basic shelter from the wind and rain.
Leading the group toward the cabin, Bai Xuan turned to Carson.
“Go inside and get some rest. She and I will tidy up our gear.”
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