"It really is broken bones!"
Su Luo now understood completely the immense energy generated by the explosion and the destruction of the cave.
Given Li Tianjue's cultivation, the fact that he sustained such severe injuries while protecting her showed the extent of the danger. If not for his all-out protection, she herself would likely have...
After thoroughly examining Li Tianjue's injuries, Su Luo discovered he had five broken ribs.
He also suffered internal injuries that were not minor.
"No wonder even you cried out in pain, you're so badly hurt," Su Luo felt a pang of sympathy for the man. She said earnestly, "Senior Brother, I'll treat your injuries now. It might hurt a bit, so you'll have to bear with it."
Li Tianjue gazed at her without blinking, his eyes still holding a smile. "Mm, alright."
Su Luo felt uncomfortable under his gaze and couldn't help but playfully chide, "Hey, why are you looking at me like that?"
This rascal, after kissing her earlier, had been acting like this.
Li Tianjue's lips curved upwards, and he raised his hand to caress her face. Su Luo initially wanted to dodge, but considering his injuries, she feared disturbing them and could only allow him to gently stroke her face. She heard him say, "I've realized you're quite beautiful, Luoluo, really."
Su Luo's already flushed cheeks turned even redder.
Her heart was beating wildly.
"You're spouting nonsense even when you're injured. I never realized you could be so glib before!" she pretended to glare at him, then took the man's restless hand and slowly placed it back on the lounge chair. "Don't move, or if I accidentally hurt you, don't you dare cry out."
Li Tianjue seemed to understand her meaning and chuckled. "Got it."
Su Luo could finally focus on treating him.
Using her Divine Eye Mirror for observation, she thoroughly examined Li Tianjue's injuries, determined the treatment plan, and identified the necessary medicine. Su Luo then began to dedicate herself to the task.
To mend broken bones, bone setting was required first, followed by consuming bone-mending pills.
Internal injuries also needed to be healed, with broken meridians and wounds requiring attention one by one. Fortunately, Su Luo was well-prepared, with everything she needed in her storage ring. She took out the necessary items one by one, methodically resetting his bones, applying medicine, and treating his wounds.
Time passed slowly...
Li Tianjue suddenly said, "Luoluo, I want to tell you something."
Su Luo, without looking up, replied, "Mm?"
"I like you."
"Ah?"
"And you?"
Su Luo paused. Did this man have to say such things at this particular moment?
Li Tianjue lay on the lounge chair, his long hair spread across the floor. His complexion had improved, and his deep eyes gazed at her bright, clear eyes. He asked word by word, full of anticipation, "I want to know, do you like me?"
Damn it, he already knew and was still asking!
Su Luo's newly calmed heart began to race again. She was both overjoyed by his straightforward confession of liking her and slightly embarrassed by his relentless, direct questioning. Her hand involuntarily tightened.
"Hiss—!" Li Tianjue immediately bared his teeth. "Luoluo, why did you suddenly grip so hard?"
"You feel pain now? If you feel pain, then be good and shut up to rest."
Su Luo stared at him without mercy, though inwardly she was laughing uncontrollably.
The severe injuries seemed less daunting amidst their banter and teasing. Finally, Su Luo had treated Li Tianjue's injuries to about eighty percent. After bandaging him and changing his clothes, he regained his former elegant bearing and heroic demeanor.
Li Tianjue said softly, "Luoluo, I'm fine now. You should rest too."
She had been tired for so long, all for him.
Su Luo touched Li Tianjue's forehead, confirming he was alright, and felt relieved. "Then you rest well. I still need to find Da Hei, and check the surroundings to see how Fantian is doing."
These were all important matters she had to handle one by one.
Nearly an hour had passed. If not for Li Tianjue's serious injuries, Su Luo wouldn't have neglected the safety and whereabouts of the dragon hound. She needed to find Da Hei quickly.
"Da Hei... Da Hei!"
Su Luo stood up and began to search.
The surroundings were a mess of rocks. The entire dungeon of the City Lord's mansion had been destroyed.
They were at the bottom of a pit more than ten, even dozens of feet wide. Sunlight shone down from above, clearly revealing the devastation after the battle.
The colossal body of the Dark Kun was nowhere to be seen, having been blown into pieces, with black residue remaining on the scattered rocks. Su Luo leaped and jumped incessantly, finally sensing the dragon hound's aura beneath a pile of stones. She quickly leaped over.
Moving the stones piece by piece, Su Luo saw the dragon hound's large tail. She reached out and touched it, confirming that the dragon hound was not seriously injured, merely unconscious. She then breathed a sigh of relief.
"Da Hei, Da Hei, wake up!" Su Luo managed to dig the dragon hound out from under the stones and fed him a few pills. He slowly opened his eyes, his voice full of pain, "Su girl, I hurt so much..."
Su Luo couldn't help but laugh. "It's nothing, just a little injury. You'll be fine with some rest."
The dragon hound whimpered, "At least I'm alive..."
That was truly a close call.
Fortunately, it was that ugly monster who died, and they were all safe.
Carrying the dragon hound to Li Tianjue, Su Luo continued her search for Fantian.
This person was certainly not dead. His Sand Vein Body was practically an immortal body; no matter how severe the injury, he could survive. Unless... unless the Sand Vein Heart was completely destroyed, only then would his Sand Vein Body's abilities gradually weaken, and he would slowly become an ordinary person.
Su Luo was certain that the Dark Kun had not managed to devour the Sand Vein Heart. She had to find it quickly.
She released her divine sense, probing deeper underground.
Suddenly, Su Luo felt a familiar energy fluctuation, and her eyes lit up. "The energy of the Sand Vein Heart!"
With a flick of her toes, she sprang up, landing lightly about five zhang ahead. The energy there was even stronger. Although buried deep beneath the rocks and soil, she was certain that the Sand Vein Heart was located directly below.
Su Luo began to excavate the Sand Vein Heart by herself.
She pushed aside stones piece by piece, clearing them away, and gradually digging deeper. After fifteen minutes, a pit a zhang deep had been dug. A piece of gray-white brocade appeared before her. Su Luo's eyes sharpened. "Fantian?"
He was indeed alright and seemed to have found the Sand Vein Heart.
When Su Luo dug Fantian out from underground, she saw that he was holding a sparkling gem in his hand, which was precisely the Sand Vein Heart.
"He actually fainted before he could even properly retrieve it." Su Luo looked at Fantian's unconscious state. He still looked the same, but he was much thinner, clearly having exhausted his spiritual power fighting the Dark Kun earlier.
Upon examination, this was indeed the case. Fantian's condition was even worse than Li Tianjue's; he was close to being utterly depleted.
If he hadn't found the Sand Vein Heart within the Dark Kun's body at the last moment, he likely wouldn't have even been able to reform his human shape. It was truly a miracle he survived.
...
When Fantian woke up, it was two days later.
He looked around hazily. He was no longer in the deep, foul-smelling prison, nor was the terrifying and ugly Dark Kun present. Before him was a vibrant, lush forest, verdant and serene, allowing him to slowly relax.
His gaze suddenly fell upon a young girl beside him.
Su Luo!