The inn was now quiet, with about an hour until dawn. Liu Bugun sat by the stove, the fire casting a red glow on his face, his thick brows furrowed, sweat pouring down his face from the heat. He glanced at Caitong lying on the bed, added more wood to the fire, making it blaze even hotter. Liu Bugun approached the bed, looking at Xu Caitong, whose face was ashen, his heart twisting in pain. He gently embraced her, kissing her softly. He blamed himself, thinking if only he had allowed her to bleed a little, perhaps those demons would no longer pursue her. Three hours later, Liu Bugun, holding the bowl of miraculous medicine, helped Caitong sit up and fed her the medicine bit by bit. Xu Caitong’s eyes were tightly shut, her teeth clenched, and the medicine Liu Bugun fed her flowed out from the corners of her mouth. In his anxiety, Liu Bugun took the medicine into his own mouth and fed it to her mouth-to-mouth, using his tongue to pry open her teeth, successfully administering the medicine. As he patiently fed her, Xu Caitong’s complexion gradually improved. About an hour later, she slowly opened her eyes. “You’re awake, you’re awake,” Liu Bugun exclaimed, embracing her tightly, fearing to lose her again. “What happened to me?” Xu Caitong asked weakly, seeing Liu Bugun’s haggard and anxious face. “I thought I would never see you again. It’s all my fault. I won’t let you suffer anymore.” “I remember now, we were on the mountain, and then I was dragged away by vines…” Xu Caitong trailed off, having fainted after being ensnared by the vines. “I won’t let you leave me again,” Liu Bugun said, his face close to hers, gently rubbing. “Yuanming Mountain…” Xu Caitong wanted to know if they had found it. “We found it. The god of Wufeng Mountain has informed me. We’ll head there once you’re feeling better,” Liu Bugun said, tucking her in. “Will it delay us?” Xu Caitong asked softly. “No, now you must rest and recover. Don’t think about anything else, okay?” Liu Bugun kissed her gently; Caitong was still very weak. Liu Bugun took meticulous care of her, ensuring she had everything she needed until she recovered, and then they left the inn.
Wufeng Mountain had informed him that Yuanming Mountain was over a hundred miles to the north, beyond the Wusu River, and another hundred miles from there to reach Yuanming Mountain. Liu Bugun and Xu Caitong set out towards Yuanming Mountain, unaware of what fate awaited them. Their mission was to stop Fu Xiu from destroying the world, even at the cost of their lives, which they were prepared to pay. Just as their black horse carried them five miles from the dilapidated town, there was a sudden mountain collapse and earth split, with thunderous noises shaking the ground. Liu Bugun quickly turned the horse around and rode up a nearby hill. Dust filled the air, engulfing Wuli Slope town in a cloud of dust, and Wuli Slope town sank into an abyss. Xu Caitong looked up at Liu Bugun, who gazed into the distance where the towering Wufeng Mountain had now collapsed. Liu Bugun’s eyes were filled with fiery hatred: “Fu Xiu, I swear I will make you pay in blood.” Turning the horse, he whipped it, and the black horse galloped away from Wuli Slope.
