113: Mu Yurou's past

The desolate mountain in the early morning under the cover of night, the cold wind carrying moisture, making the branches and leaves wail.

Lin Feng lit a small campfire in a leeward rock crevice; the orange flames flickered, barely dispelling some of the chill and darkness.

Mu Yurou curled up by the fire. Her originally exquisite dress was torn in several places by thorns and stained with mud. She held her knees, quietly watching the dancing flames, her face appearing somewhat pale in the interplay of light and shadow.

Lin Feng handed her a washed wild fruit, and Mu Yurou took it, taking small bites. After several consecutive days of fleeing and living in the wild, fatigue had touched the brow of this Fairy who had been pampered in the palace since childhood, yet she never uttered a single complaint.

On the contrary, whenever Lin Feng looked at her, she always tried to return a faint smile to reassure him. This silent trust and resilience were like a soft silk thread, unknowingly wrapping around Lin Feng's heart, tightening more and more.

"Are you cold?" Lin Feng took off his slightly worn outer robe and draped it over Mu Yurou's shoulders.

Mu Yurou was slightly startled and looked up at him, the firelight reflecting in her clear eyes, spreading a layer of warmth. She gently pulled the robe tighter and shook her head: "I'm not cold."

She hesitated for a moment and leaned closer to Lin Feng. Their arms touched lightly, sharing a meager warmth. Lin Feng's body stiffened for a second, but he did not pull away.

However, this brief moment of tranquility was soon broken. A familiar sharp pain struck without warning, causing Lin Feng to let out a muffled groan as cold sweat instantly broke out on his forehead. He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white, as he struggled to suppress his Qi which was about to spiral out of control.

"Brother Lin."

Lin Feng closed his eyes tightly, feeling that life-saving coolness engage in a fierce struggle against the rampaging heat within him. He could clearly feel Mu Yurou's fingers trembling slightly as she pressed them against his forehead, and her breathing became hurried as well.

After a long time, the sharp pain finally receded slowly like a tide. Lin Feng opened his eyes to see Mu Yurou fainting softly into his arms.

Lin Feng's heart tightened, and he quickly picked her up. She was startlingly light, like a feather, and there was no color at all in her pale face.

He carefully placed her in a corner lined with thick dried grass, covered her meticulously with his outer robe, and then stayed by her side, never leaving.

The flickering firelight reflected her peaceful sleeping face, her long lashes casting fragile shadows under her eyes. Every faint breath made Lin Feng's heart tighten in response.

Lin Feng gazed at her, worry entwining his heart like vines. Subconsciously, he used the heaven-stealing vine to probe Mu Yurou, wanting to confirm if she was alright.

However, this probe caused his soul to tremble violently.

Deep within Mu Yurou's Qi Sea, he sensed a pure, extremely Yin and cold Water Spirit Origin power.

Just a trace of aura emitted unconsciously caused the two restless Fire and Wood Sword Essences in his body to throb as never before.

Moreover, this power was not merely stored within Mu Yurou's body; it was symbiotic with her.

A bone-chilling realization flashed through Lin Feng's mind:

Mu Yurou's special ability to soothe his injuries originated from this terrifying Water Spirit Origin.

And Yun Tianhe, as well as the numerous schemes of the power behind him, were likely targeting this very thing.

To seize it would be equivalent to... Lin Feng abruptly retracted the heaven-stealing vine as if he had been burned. He looked down at Mu Yurou's defenseless sleeping face, and a wave of immense panic and unprecedented chill instantly submerged him.

After an unknown amount of time, Mu Yurou slowly woke up. Her long eyelashes fluttered a few times before she slowly opened her eyes.

Her face was still as pale as a sheet of transparent paper, but seeing Lin Feng keeping watch beside her, she still managed to pull a faint smile.

Looking at her forced smile, Lin Feng took a deep breath, suppressed all his emotions, and spoke with feigned calmness: "You're awake? How do you feel?"

He paused, then asked as if in passing, "That particularly pure Water Spirit power within you... seems extraordinary. Are all the Cultivation Techniques of Bishui Palace so unique?"

Mu Yurou didn't suspect anything. Hearing Lin Feng ask about this, a small spark of light appeared in her eyes instead, like a child being asked about a beloved treasure.

"Is Brother Lin talking about the 'tianyi true water'?"

"This wasn't obtained through Cultivation. Revered Master said that I was born with a 'Water Spirit Profound Body,' and this 'tianyi true water' is a supreme treasure nurtured by heaven and earth. Since the moment I was born, it naturally made a home in my Qi Sea and grew up with me."

She tilted her head slightly, reminiscing, her gaze somewhat hazy:

"When I was a child in Bishui Palace, while the other Senior and Junior Sisters were working hard to sense the Water Spiritual Qi, I didn't need to deliberately Cultivate; the surrounding Spiritual Qi would flock to me on its own."

"Revered Master would always stroke my head and say, 'Yurou, you are the lucky star of our Bishui Palace, a treasure bestowed upon the Sect by the heavens.'"

Her voice was full of nostalgia for those warm years of the past. "There was a very large Meditation Lake in the palace. When I was little, I loved to sneak to the lakeside and dip my hand into the water. At those times, the Water Spirit Qi of the entire lake seemed particularly joyful, dancing around me."

Speaking of this, she seemed to remember something funny, and a smile curled at the corners of her mouth:

"But Revered Master also loved to scare me. Every time I was playful and didn't practice my Cultivation Technique properly, she would pull a long face and say:"},{