Chapter 29: Ling Huai's Desperation
The cave was unnaturally quiet, the only sound the soft, labored breaths of Tu Tu as he lay limp in Ling Huai's arms. His tiny form was battered, covered in red, swollen bite marks, the once soft fur now drenched in blood. Her heart twisted as she gently pressed him closer to her chest, feeling the weight of his life slipping away.
"Tu Tu..." Her voice cracked, barely more than a whisper. His tiny chest rose once, then fell—too slow. He didn't breathe again.
Ling Huai's world stopped. Her mind screamed as her hands shook, his frail body growing colder with every passing second. Her thoughts scattered, but the one thing that anchored her was the feeling of his lifeless body in her arms. No, not him. Not now.
Panic gnawed at her insides. But she refused to let it consume her. She moved quickly, impossibly fast, running with Tu Tu in her arms, the stars in her eyes dimming with the weight of everything crashing down on her. She reached a small clearing, heart thudding painfully in her chest.
"Bai. Omen. Herbs. Now," she ordered, her voice strained, almost as if she didn't have the strength to say another word.
Bai looked horrified, but didn't hesitate. The Omen, ever silent, gave a sharp nod, and they both disappeared into the forest. Ling Huai barely noticed them leaving as she looked down at Tu Tu, her eyes filled with helplessness. His fur was stained, his breathing faint. Her hand shook as she tried to assess the damage. He can't die. Not like this.
His body felt like ice in her arms, but she didn't stop. She couldn't.
"Three-leaf clover. Wisteria. Purple ginger... lillith root..." She barely spoke the names of the herbs. Her voice was strained, barely audible. She looked at Tu Tu, his face pale, his eyes closed as if he were already gone. No. Please.
Her hands trembled as she placed him down gently, her breath ragged. She needed to act fast. She needed to save him. Please.
When they returned, Bai handed her the herbs with trembling hands, while the Omen watched quietly. Ling Huai ground the herbs together without a second thought, her fingers slick with blood. Her heart raced as she mixed the concoction, then held it up, her eyes frantic.
"Shock the potion," she ordered, her voice flat, devoid of emotion. She didn't have time to care. She didn't have time to breathe.
The Omen didn't question her. He summoned his lightning powers, sending a crackle of energy into the mixture. It glowed faintly, casting eerie shadows against the walls of the cave. Ling Huai barely noticed. She grabbed the potion and poured it into Tu Tu's mouth, but he didn't respond. His body remained limp.
"Tu Tu... please. Please don't leave me." Her voice cracked again, but there was no answer.
Her hands, stained with his blood, reached for the needles in her pouch. Her body shook as she worked quickly, pressing the acupuncture points that might restore his breath. But nothing. No movement. No sign that he was still fighting.
"No..." The word escaped her lips in a whisper, desperate and full of despair. He can't... He can't just die.
Her hair, once bright, seemed to darken with every passing second, her eyes fading into shadows, her breath quickening as her hands shook uncontrollably. She tried to steady herself, but the trembling wouldn't stop.
Bai, eyes wide with fear, stared at her helplessly. "Ling... what's happening to him?"
She didn't answer. She couldn't. The feeling of Tu Tu's life slipping away was too much. It felt like everything around her was falling apart.
Then, suddenly, the Omen was gone. His footsteps disappeared into the night, leaving Ling Huai with nothing but a heart full of panic and the lifeless form of Tu Tu.
Ling Huai didn't notice the time passing. She barely felt the weight of her own exhaustion. All that mattered was Tu Tu. All that mattered was keeping him alive.
Minutes stretched into hours. Ling Huai's body was weak, her hands slick with blood. She couldn't stop shaking, the cold creeping into her bones. But then, without warning, the Omen returned, blood splattered across his clothes. His eyes were cold with anger, his lips pressed into a thin line.
He didn't speak a word. Without hesitation, he handed her a small vial, and Ling Huai didn't even question it. She took it from him, uncorking it with shaking hands and pouring it into Tu Tu's mouth. He didn't move. His body was so still, it was as if he were already gone.
But Ling Huai refused to give up. She waited. And waited. Her hands shook with fear as she watched him, her heart pounding in her chest.
Then, after what felt like a lifetime, Tu Tu coughed violently. His body convulsed, and a thick, black blood spilled from his mouth. Ling Huai's breath caught in her throat as she held him, watching in a haze of disbelief.
Bai quickly moved to clean him, his water powers flowing over Tu Tu's body, washing the blood away. Ling Huai, still unable to breathe, carefully poured a blood regeneration potion into his mouth. His body twitched. His chest rose slightly, but then fell again. His breathing was shallow.
Ling Huai collapsed back against the stone floor, her body trembling, exhausted. But at least... at least he was still breathing.
Bai looked at her, a mix of shock and relief on his face. But Ling Huai didn't have the strength to smile. Her heart was still heavy, the fear still gnawing at her insides.
Tu Tu was still alive. But how much longer would he stay that way?