As the words fell, Ye Ling's gaze swept over Qin Fuyue's entire body.
The other girl's clothes were torn in several places, with numerous scrapes marking her arms and neck. Several bloody scratches of varying depths were still oozing, making her look quite disheveled.
Ye Ling's expression softened slightly. She reached for the small coarse-cloth pouch at her waist, undid the button, and pulled out a few dried herbs.
The pale green leaves carried a faint, rustic scent of the mountains; this was the hemostatic herb she always prepared before entering the mountains.
Stepping forward, she pinched a leaf and crushed the stem and leaves between her fingers with a bit of force, immediately squeezing out a greenish juice.
Ye Ling's movements were very gentle. Avoiding Qin Fuyue's torn clothing, she applied the crushed herbs to the wound on her arm.
She then crushed a few more stalks and applied them to her neck and other scratched areas in turn.
“Applying these crushed herbs externally will stop the bleeding and ease the pain, and they won't leave any scars.”
Her actions were swift yet light. Once finished, she handed the remaining herbs to Qin Fuyue.
Qin Fuyue dithered for a moment before accepting them, a sudden warmth blooming in her heart.
The girl before her, who looked to be around her own age, was swift and decisive when killing, and straightforward when settling a debt, yet her mind was so attentive.
Despite having just saved her life, she still noticed these minor injuries and personally applied medicine for her.
At that moment, Qin Fuyue's fondness for her grew even stronger. Her gaze softened as she looked at Ye Ling, finding her both pure and warm.
Seeing her store the herbs away, Ye Ling turned around. Her gaze fell upon the three corpses on the ground, preparing to loot them.
Walking over to the leader of the rogue cultivators, she squatted down to search him. When her fingertips brushed against his waist, a bright light flashed in her eyes—it was a storage bag.
It was exactly what she needed most right now.
“I wonder which unlucky soul they robbed to get this, but it certainly benefits me now.”
She quietly removed the storage bag and tucked it away, then moved on to search the other two.
The inventory was quickly completed. Four bottles of Body-Tempering Pills and three bottles of Qi-Replenishing Pills—all common pills used by Houtian cultivators—along with a dozen gold notes, totaling a substantial amount.
She put away all the pills and gold notes, a hint of satisfaction hiding in her eyes. The murderous aura she had when facing her enemies was completely gone, replaced by a down-to-earth, pragmatic air.
Watching from the side, Qin Fuyue felt a strange sense of contrast.
On the battlefield just moments ago, Ye Ling had slain her enemies with a single strike, swift and decisive, cold and aloof like an otherworldly powerhouse who commanded absolute awe.
Yet here she was, carefully applying medicine to her and earnestly counting her spoils, her expression gentle and practical. Stripped of all her sharp edges, she was simple and genuine.
As Qin Fuyue watched, the corners of her mouth curved up unconsciously, and the distance she felt in her heart vanished completely.
Once Ye Ling finished gathering everything and stood up, Qin Fuyue spoke again, her tone sincere.
“In any case, thank you so much for today. May I ask where you live, Sister? I will surely visit to express my gratitude another day.”
Ye Ling shook her head and corrected her flatly, “There's no need to call me Sister. You are older than me.”
At these words, Qin Fuyue froze. Her eyes widened, filled with disbelief.
She carefully sized up the young girl before her. With her slender figure and youthful face, she looked to be only fourteen or fifteen.
Yet her strikes had been so swift, her strength so formidable, and her presence so steady that Qin Fuyue had assumed she was a youthful-looking senior. She never expected her savior to be younger than herself.
“H-how is that possible?” Qin Fuyue couldn't help but cry out.
“You are so powerful that I thought you had been cultivating for many years. I didn't expect you to be younger than me.”
“My name is Ye Ling,” Ye Ling said calmly without further explanation.
“Ye Ling?”
Qin Fuyue furrowed her brow in thought. Suddenly, a look of realization flashed in her eyes. “Are you a disciple of the Ye family from Baiyun City?”
Seeing Ye Ling nod slightly in confirmation, her curiosity grew, and she couldn't help but press further.
“The Ye family is quite prestigious in the city, yet I've never heard of you. With your strength and talent, you shouldn't be so obscure.”
Ye Ling replied casually, “I have always preferred closed-door cultivation and rarely go out. I don't participate in any gatherings or tournaments in the city. It's only natural that no one knows me.”
Having said that, she looked at Qin Fuyue and gave her a serious warning.
“The debt between us has been settled with the Spirit Gathering Grass; we are even. After you return, there is no need to mention my identity to the City Lord. Just say you were saved by a mysterious person.”
Qin Fuyue was taken aback, blinking in confusion.
“Why? If my father knew it was you, he would surely prepare a grand gift to thank you in person.”
Ye Ling shook her head slightly, her tone flat but earnest.
“I dislike trouble. Besides, my parents are already constantly worried about me training alone in the Baiyun Mountain Range, always on edge.”
“If the City Lord traces it back to me, the news will quickly reach my home. Knowing that I was involved in a deadly fight in the mountains will only make them more anxious.”
“It's better to keep it a secret. It saves everyone the trouble.”
Hearing this, Qin Fuyue immediately understood and nodded in agreement.
“I understand. I will keep it a secret. I'll only tell others that I was saved by a mysterious person, and I won't mention a single word about you.”
Ye Ling looked up at the sky. The sun was slanting, and dusk was gradually settling in.
“It's getting late. You've been in the mountains alone for so long; the news of your disappearance must have reached the City Lord's estate. They've likely sent people out to look for you.”
“I'll escort you part of the way. Hurry back to the city so everyone can stop worrying.”
Hearing this, Qin Fuyue's heart tightened, and she nodded quickly.
“You're right. I've been out for too long, and my family must be worried sick. Thank you for escorting me.”
The two traveled swiftly together, and before long, they reached the boundary of the Baiyun Mountain Range's forest.
The moment they stepped out of the woods, a clamor of voices rushed into their ears.
The outer perimeter of the mountain range was densely packed with guards clad in uniform martial attire, all wearing the insignia of the City Lord's estate.
Everyone looked anxious, standing in ranks with torches and search tokens, preparing to enter the mountains in groups to find her.
It seemed that because Qin Fuyue had entered the mountains alone and had not returned for a long time, the City Lord's estate had put the entire city on alert and mobilized all hands to search for her.
Ye Ling glanced at the guards, took half a step back to slip into the shadows of the forest, and spoke softly.
“The people ahead are all from the City Lord's estate, so it's not convenient for me to show myself. Go on by yourself, and return to the city safely.”
Looking at the familiar estate guards ahead, the heart that Qin Fuyue had kept in her throat all day finally settled back into her chest. She turned to look at Ye Ling, her eyes filled with reluctance to part and deep gratitude.
“I will always remember your great kindness today. If there is an opportunity in the future, I will surely repay you.”
Ye Ling nodded, her expression indifferent. “Don't take it to heart. Go on.”
Qin Fuyue said no more, turning to run swiftly toward the group of guards.
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