Lucy Luan helped Sean Shaw over, settling him down on a stone and letting him lean against the tree trunk.
He looked horribly weak, and with the bloodstains from earlier, he seemed almost dead.
Still, the Soulbane Vine only drains a person's Divine Power—it doesn't actually kill.
A bit of rest and he'll be back to normal.
Lucy dug out a handful of qi-replenishing pills and stuffed several straight into his mouth.
He slowly refined the pills, and his complexion finally improved a little.
"Sorry, it's all my fault for being reckless," Lucy said guiltily. "I've seen an ink sketch of the Soulbane Vine before, but I just didn't remember it in time."
That sketch was just a few simple brush strokes—no color at all.
So earlier, it just didn't click for her right away.
"It's fine," Sean replied. "Don't worry about it. A little rest and I'll be good as new..."
After refining the pills, he closed his eyes and drifted into a deep sleep.
Lucy sat beside him, watching. Seeing sweat on his brow, she pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped it away for him.
As she wiped, her gaze got stuck on his lips.
A bit pale, but tinged with a flush of red.
He looked a little worn out, but somehow it made her want to just pounce on him and ravage him.
She covered her face with her hand.
Evil thoughts!
But seriously, how could one guy have so many sides?
Sometimes he's icy cold.
Sometimes he's shy.
Sometimes he's violent.
Sometimes he's downright adorable.
And sometimes, he's just so vulnerable.
No matter which side it is, each one is its own kind of extreme temptation.
Is he made of pure poison or something?
He just keeps pulling her deeper and deeper in.
She tucked away the handkerchief, pulled a cloak from her Storage Pouch, and draped it over him.
Just then, he suddenly stretched out his long arm and pulled both her and the cloak into his embrace, murmuring by her ear, "Xianyu..."
Lucy’s breath caught.
But after a long moment, nothing else happened.
Then she realized his breathing was perfectly steady.
He was still sound asleep.
Was he dreaming?
When he wakes up, he won’t remember a thing.
Lucy bit her lip, sat up, snuck a dozen glances his way, then finally sat beside him and, without realizing it, fell asleep too.
Somehow, at some point, her head tilted and ended up resting on his shoulder.
Warm sunlight, mountaintop, Spirit Tea Tree, gentle breeze—two people leaning on each other, fast asleep...
...
When Sean woke up, he found Lucy’s cloak draped over him.
She was asleep, leaning on his shoulder.
He froze for a whole minute, then—face burning red—gently put his arm around her to let her sleep more comfortably.
Her sweet, fragrant scent lingered around him, even better than in his dreams.
Her gorgeous, delicate face was right there, close enough to touch.
He stared at her without blinking, slowly leaned in, and pressed his lips to her forehead.
One little touch—and he only wanted more.
His gaze darkened, breath growing unsteady, as he stared at her soft, moist lips and leaned in closer.
Just then, something strange flared up behind them.
He turned to look—the Spirit Tea Tree was surging with spiritual power, almost trying to take on a human form.
Lucy was jolted awake by the commotion, and the two of them watched the tea tree together.
It tried several times, but for some reason, couldn't succeed.
"Who knows how many years this tea tree has lived—it's practically about to become a spirit," Lucy said.
Sean: "Yeah."
"Feeling better?" she asked, looking at him.
"After sleeping, much better," he replied.
"So, do you still want to go back down there?"
"I do, but... that Soulbane Vine is no joke."
"I know how to restrain it!" Lucy said. "Let's head to the Elderworld!"
"Elderworld?"
Lucy nodded. "If the Soulbane Vine gets its coils on you, odds are you won't escape. But there's one thing that's its natural enemy."
"What thing?" Sean asked.