The dust settled, gradually blanketing the whole town in shadow. An early owl hooted, and the lingering chirp of a cricket faded into the night. With just fifty meters remaining, they finally reached the healer's manor.
As they reached the edge of the courtyard, Li Haoran froze mid-step. An unusual figure loomed in the shadows, its eyes glowing—sharp and dangerous—a low growl rumbling from its throat.
This was no ordinary beast; it was the kind where a single second of carelessness could mean death.
As the lantern's light stretched across the yard, the creature was revealed.
Its fangs were long, ready to snap shut at any moment.
Li Haoran watched the beast's behavior closely.
For some reason, he sensed it wouldn't attack so easily in this territory—unless it sensed a genuine threat. Creatures like this one weren't meant for towns; they belonged deep in the forest, free to hunt their prey. Living here, it must be someone's pet.
He lowered his gaze to Yue Chan, finding her pale and clinging to life. Without his recent channeling of spiritual power, she wouldn't have survived until now.
A sudden crash interrupted the silence as the doors slowly opened.
The soft glow of a lantern spilled out, and Li Haoran winced at the sudden brightness. Finally, he saw who was emerging from the house.
A dark robe, embroidered with a gleaming purple moon and stars, marked the attire of the approaching figure. She moved quietly and with measured grace; yet when her face became visible, it was anything but frightening.
The woman, who seemed ancient—perhaps nearly a thousand years old—paused in front of them. Her hair was tied in a sideways bun, fastened with a dark hairpin adorned with moons and stars. Her makeup was simple, except for her lips, which were painted black. She lowered her gaze to Yue Chan's unconscious form, then shifted her attention to Li Haoran.
The woman didn't move for a moment—her eyes narrowed, scrutinizing them as if she were trying to recall where she had seen these two before.
Then, a moment later, the woman let out a sigh and knitted her brow in thought.
"It's been a long time. I thought you were dead."
The words struck Li Haoran like shattered glass. He was certain he'd never met this woman before—so why did she speak as if she knew him?
He wanted to reply, but his tongue failed him. Perhaps she had mistaken him for someone else; that was the only thing that made sense. Confusion washed over his face like a tide. His mind raced, but his body wouldn't respond.
The woman spoke again, snapping him back to reality.
"The poison is strong. She has two hours left—if this continues, you will lose her forever. Will you heal her, or let her die like before?"
Before? Is this woman insane? What is she talking about?
The thought flared like a sudden spark in Li Haoran's mind.
The desperation he'd felt moments ago twisted into something darker. Her strange questions left him speechless. Not only was her appearance unusual, but her demeanor was unsettling—as if she truly knew him from another life.
The woman snorted, a faint curve touching her lips before she turned her back on them.
"You want to save her? Bring her inside before it's too late."
With that, the woman walked away, and the beast fixed Li Haoran with a deep, rumbling growl. The woman paused, gently caressing the creature's head. She bent and whispered something in its ear—words only the two of them could hear.
Once she finished, the beast's gaze softened, turning calm and well-tamed. It padded away to a corner of the house and curled up, returning to its nap.
The woman spoke without looking back. "My pet recognizes those he's met before. He's settled now; you don't need to worry," she said, continuing on.
Li Haoran glanced once at the beast, then ignored it and strode forward, following the woman's lead.
Once inside the house, Li Haoran paused, scanning every corner.
The place felt a bit strange—empty jars were neatly arranged atop the table, while others were organized on a shelf near the simple fire pit. An empty bed stood by the open window; it looked old but comfortable.
Best of all, the air was fresh and calming, making the space relaxing and cozy for a patient.
"Put her down," the woman said, gesturing toward the empty bed. Li Haoran obeyed, settling Yue Chan down with care. He removed her boots so her legs could stretch freely.
At that moment, the woman handed him a bronze basin filled with warm water and a clean cloth.
"Wipe the blood off her face. Make sure she's clean before I examine her," she instructed. Li Haoran complied without hesitation. "How long has she been poisoned?"
He froze at the question, turning to her with a puzzled look.
"You could tell her illness just by looking at her? You guessed it right away. How did you know?"
The woman met his gaze with a flat expression.
"This is my job. I've been doing this for a very long time. How did she get poisoned?"
"We broke into a fight."
"And?"
"Those strangers splattered an unusual substance on her. Like a powder," Li Haoran replied directly.
The woman looked down at Yue Chan with a glint of pity in her eyes.
"It's been a long journey; I never expected you'd be my guest tonight. Such a miracle!"
Li Haoran didn't answer, simply staring at her with furrowed brows—puzzled, but fully alert.
This woman spoke so strangely. What was she, really? A healer? Or something more—perhaps a soothsayer?
"Are you done cleaning her?"
Li Haoran snapped from his thoughts and let out a soft sigh.
"Give me a second," he replied, quickly finishing the task.
Once done, he set aside the basin and cloth. He stood nearby and watched as the woman approached Yue Chan's unconscious form and sat beside her. The woman leaned in, studying Yue Chan's face closely.
For a moment, Li Haoran saw with his own eyes the woman's expression soften—she smiled sadly at Yue Chan, a gentle side revealed as she brushed the stray hair from Yue Chan's face with great care.
"How strange—still as young as ever."
Those words from the woman made Li Haoran's skin crawl beneath his robe.
Of course she's only twenty-two, he thought—there's no need to point it out. Why did this woman talk as if Yue Chan were already old? How absurd!
His mind churned with uneasy thoughts, a hint of bitterness flickering across his face.
Then, a glint of light caught his eye. Something peeped out from beneath the woman's sleeve—a jade bangle on her wrist.
It bore an uncanny resemblance to the one on his own wrist: the same form, texture, and design, differing only in color. The woman wore a violet jade bangle, while his was as pure and white as ivory.
He didn't say anything, his gaze fixed on the unexpected object.
The woman turned to him and stood, finishing her examination.
"The poison…" she paused, swallowing hard. "It's made from toxic foliage—collected, measured precisely, then dried until crisp and ground into powder. The symptoms are familiar; this is a notorious method, a common tool in certain crimes. In this town, it shouldn't even exist. Yet, every three months or so, about twenty percent of victims die from this substance. If she can't pull through, she'll be no exception."
Li Haoran felt his legs trembling beneath him as he absorbed the woman's words.
"What kind of foliage is it? Isn't there any cure?"
"We can suppress the poison, but it can't be completely cured," she replied. "Let me explain: the substance spread quickly through her body. It's made from deadly nightshade and hemlock. One causes severe poisoning; the other contains powerful alkaloids that can bring on respiratory failure once ingested. She inhaled all of it—the poison was absorbed so rapidly that it entered her bloodstream, causing her entire body to collapse."
Li Haoran clenched his fists at his sides, rage and helplessness warring inside him. He wanted to blame himself for Yue Chan's condition, watching her lie so helpless in the dim light.
"Is there still a chance? I'll do anything—just let her live."
The woman's face lifted with a glimmer of hope, though she concealed it behind a calm, steady demeanor.
"I still have the ingredients needed to suppress the poison in her body. But listen, young man, I've already warned you: the poison is inside her—we can suppress its effects, but we can't cure it. Do you understand? I suggest you gather additional ingredients to support her recovery. I'll give you three days. After that, you must take her home and continue her treatment. She shouldn't stay here any longer; I have other patients to care for. I hope you understand."
Trading is a form of cooperation. If gathering the ingredients was the only way to save Yue Chan, then no risk mattered to Li Haoran—not now.
As long as there was hope, he wouldn't hold back. Her life meant everything; nothing else needed to be considered.
"Deal."
After a brief moment of meditation, he stated it firmly, without hesitation.
The woman's eyes widened in surprise. She stepped closer, as if trying to read Li Haoran's resolve.
"Are you really willing to get those substances for me? Collecting the antidote ingredients is highly risky. No one dares attempt it unless they're either desperate or lucky. Are you sure about this?"
Jaw clenched, his voice was flat, his gaze distant and cold. "I'll take responsibility. Just tell me what ingredients you need, and I'll find them."
The woman stepped back, a faint smile on her lips, folding her arms in satisfaction.
"Moonlight Shade Lotus, Miracle Purple Orchid, Invasive Golden Vine, and Phantom Lily Leaves."
Li Haoran didn't respond at first. He wanted to, but his tongue hesitated—his lips parted, then closed again.
How had it come to this? These ingredients weren't just rare; they were desperately dangerous to obtain.
To gather them, he would have to challenge the fierce beasts that guarded them—creatures who had watched over these treasures for decades, perhaps centuries or even millennia.
He couldn't be sure which.
Of all the ingredients, the Moonlight Shade Lotus was the easiest to acquire. There was no beast, but reaching it required scaling steep, stairless mountain stone—a feat demanding careful precision.
The room's temperature seemed to drop as he fell silent.
Just then, the woman's eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering in her gaze.
"Don't tell me you're hesitating now. The choice is yours. If you think the ingredients are too costly, it's no problem. Take her and leave."
"Who said I was hesitating? She is my master—of course I'll take the risks for her. Just do your job. I will bring back everything you need," he spoke, his voice shaking with desperation.
The woman smiled at him, then added one more thing he hadn't expected.
"One more thing…" she paused.
Li Haoran's brows furrowed as he looked at her, waiting for her next instruction.
"I forgot to mention—the poison is unerringly accurate. You'll need to go to the Lufang Desert and find a sand viper. The poison in her body is highly concentrated with snake venom. You'll need to obtain viper venom and mix it with the other ingredients for the antidote. We can't suppress the poison completely, but at least we can purify it by neutralizing it with the right mix."
Hearing about the final toxin invading Yue Chan's body, Li Haoran felt as if his feet were weighed down by cement.
Venom wasn't a joke—once it entered the human body, survival was unlikely.
Now everything made sense.
The poison was a formidable predator.
Overwhelmed by emotion, Li Haoran wanted to scream or lash out—anything to release the storm inside him.
If he were anywhere else, he might have lost control entirely.
But he didn't. He stood there shaking, utterly devastated.
For Yue Chan's sake, and out of respect, he forced himself to stay calm, even though he was on the verge of an outburst. Her condition was all that mattered now. He wanted her to recover as soon as possible. This was the second time he had failed to protect her.
If things continued like this, he would insist on standing by her side, even if she tried to push him away for his stubbornness and disobedience. It was the only way he knew to protect her completely.
Closing his eyes, he let out a long sigh—a breath meant to release all the turmoil inside him. He looked up, fighting back tears. Calmly, he spoke, "Do whatever you can for her. I'll go find those ingredients."
The woman listened intently, then nodded, her expression unreadable.
"Three days… I'll get what you need. Just heal her. I want to see her still breathing when I return."
Li Haoran turned to leave, but paused mid-step as the woman spoke something strange.
"As you wish, my Lord."
My Lord? The title echoed in his ears, making him freeze.
He turned back, brows furrowed in confusion.
He wanted to say something—anything—but the words wouldn't come.
The woman bowed briefly, offering a faint smile before departing, leaving him unsettled.
Am I hearing things that weren't meant for me? Why did she address me like that? Does she know me? Who am I, really?