“Dark Kingdom, huh,” Xu Zimo muttered softly.
The night was the same as ever, thunder and rain intertwined, the whole world drowned in it.
Everyone fell into deep sleep.
In the middle of the night, a series of knocks on the door woke everyone.
“Brother Han, are you there?” someone shouted urgently outside.
Xu Zimo walked out of his room, and the Han brothers followed right after.
They opened the courtyard gate, and saw a haggard woman standing there.
“Old Sun’s wife, what’s wrong?” Han Shengxiao asked in surprise when he saw her. “It’s raining outside, why didn’t you bring an umbrella?”
“My child is injured, the village has no good medicine,” the woman said hurriedly. “I know you brothers often travel to the Dark Kingdom, I was wondering if you had some good healing medicine. I can pay.”
“What kind of injury?” Han Shengxiao frowned.
“He was being playful. Tonight in the rain, the road was dark and slippery, he didn’t see clearly and fell off the cliff.”
As she spoke, her voice choked with tears.
“If Old Man Chang hadn’t found him, he would probably already be a corpse.”
“Don’t panic,” Han Shengxiao quickly comforted her. He turned to fetch a medical box from the house and said, “Let’s go, we’ll take a look first.”
“Brother Han, can I come along?” Xu Zimo asked from the side. “I know a little about medicine.”
“Then come,” Han Shengxiao nodded.
……
The night air was cool, even somewhat cold.
It made goosebumps rise all over.
The group walked in silence.
The rain had lessened, now just a fine drizzle falling.
Ahead, a courtyard was lit brightly, surely the woman’s home.
“The Han brothers are here,” someone shouted from inside as they approached the gate.
Right after, a group of people came out to welcome them.
“Uncle Chang Liu, Master Sun Er…” the Han brothers exchanged brief greetings.
“All right, all right, let’s see the child first,” Uncle Chang Liu said. “Our little village’s medical skills are limited. The Dark Kingdom is some distance away, the child may not last that long. We have to rely on you two brothers.”
Han Shengxiao shook his head lightly and entered the house with them.
Inside was much warmer.
On the bed lay a child.
His face was pale, with no trace of blood.
But his chest looked terribly gruesome. It seemed as if it had been split open by sharp rock.
His heart, intestines, and other organs had even spilled out.
Though the bleeding had been stopped, his breathing was getting weaker and weaker.
“So serious!” Han Shengxiao exclaimed in shock.
“Yes, do your best,” Uncle Chang Liu nodded. “Don’t carry too much burden in your heart, everything is left to fate.”
Han Shengxiao carefully opened the box he brought, taking out a small jar of medicine.
“This is the best healing medicine I bought, said to bring flesh and bones back to life,” he explained.
He sprinkled the medicine on the wound, channeling spiritforce into his right hand.
Xu Zimo could tell most villagers here had never cultivated.
As for the Han brothers, though they had cultivated, their level was not high, only around the Paragon Meridian Realm.
The medicine spread across the wound, gathering spiritforce to the boy’s chest.
“Brother Han, this won’t work,” Xu Zimo said. “His internal organs are injured. Your medicine only treats external wounds.”
“Then what do we do? His internal injuries are too severe, I don’t dare touch them,” Han Shengxiao sighed.
“Forget it, I owe you a favor, it’s time I repay it,” Xu Zimo shook his head.
He slowly extended his right hand, a wisp of life energy coiling in his palm.
This was condensed from the Tree of Life.
“I kept this to save my own life,” Xu Zimo said to the others. “As long as there’s one breath left, this life energy can heal completely.”
He waved his hand, sending the life energy into the boy’s body.
At once, the boy’s face flushed red at visible speed.
The gruesome wound on his chest also began to heal.
Within seconds, the boy coughed, stunning everyone present.
“Mother...” the boy murmured weakly.
“Mother’s here,” the woman rushed forward, hugging him tightly, tears welling up and her nose stinging.
“Brother Han, let’s go,” Xu Zimo smiled lightly.
Hearing that he wanted to leave, everyone quickly expressed their gratitude, especially the woman who even wanted to kneel in thanks.
Xu Zimo, understanding the greatness of maternal love, left quietly with Han Shengxiao into the night.
……
The drizzle had almost stopped, only a few drops falling now and then.
“Little Mo, you’re a cultivator, aren’t you?” Han Shengxiao finally asked after a long silence.
“I practiced for a while,” Xu Zimo said with a smile.
“That’s not just ‘a while,’” Han Shengxiao laughed, but didn’t press further. “Tomorrow we part ways. I hope you travel safely, and that we’ll meet again someday.”
“We will,” Xu Zimo nodded.
When they returned home, Han Yanrou was standing at the door waiting. She finally let out a sigh of relief when she saw them.
“You’ll catch a cold in this weather,” Han Shengxiao said with some heartache.
“Father, is he okay?” Han Yanrou smiled, not caring about herself, only worried about the child.
“What’s there to worry about? Did you forget how they used to mock you?” Han Shengtai said harshly.
Xu Zimo also knew that in this village, because of her appearance, people didn’t treat Han Yanrou well.
Among adults it was just whispers, but children were crueler.
“That’s different,” Han Yanrou said with a smile, shaking her head.
“Don’t worry, he’s fine. Thanks to Little Mo, or the boy wouldn’t have survived the night,” Han Shengtai admitted.
After a few more words, the Han brothers slipped back into their rooms.
Outside, only Xu Zimo and Han Yanrou remained.
“Zimo,” Han Yanrou called softly.
“Mm?” Xu Zimo raised his head.
“You’re leaving tomorrow, right?”
“Mm.”
“Safe travels.”
“Okay.”
“Take care of yourself.”
“Okay.”
“If you ever miss this place, remember to come back.”
“Okay.”
“The rain seems to have stopped.”
“Mhm.”
“I’m a little cold… can we cuddle together?”
“Huh?” Xu Zimo looked up sharply, the cold wind whipping his long hair, the night roaring like a silent beast.
“Just kidding. I just wanted to see if all you can say are ‘mm’ and ‘okay,’” Han Yanrou smiled, but her smile was filled with bitterness.