Stone dust still drifted gently through the ruined corridor where Shaurya had slain Gou Yan. The golden glow of his Divine Form had long faded, leaving only faint traces shimmering around him like the last breaths of a dying flame.
Shaurya rolled his shoulders once, exhaling through his nose.
His external injuries were healed thanks to Elder Wan's medicinal pill…
but deep inside—beneath bone and muscle—
something still throbbed.
A tender ache.
A weight.
A reminder of how hard Gou Yan had hit.
Wang Tian cracked his knuckles loudly.
"HOOOOH!! That was such a fight! Sect Master, you were INSANE!"
Luo Chen smirked, adjusting his sword sheath.
"You mean Shaurya carried you, dumb giant."
Wang Tian's face twisted. "Oi—what was that?!"
Shaurya smiled faintly.
The air felt lighter now.
The tension of battle had faded.
Now there was only the warmth of laughter and footsteps echoing across broken stone.
