Lán Luòhǎi’s silence was finally broken by Shí Jīngxián’s choking cough. He bent down to help the person up from the grass mat and pulled out a bottle of potion from his own embrace.  

“… Huh?”  

As Shí Jīngxián propped himself up and sat up straight, the cool bottle’s mouth was pressed against his lips.  

“What is this?” he mumbled.  

“Medicine.”  

Lán Luòhǎi spat out a single word.  

Despite the cold and frightening expression and voice of the other party, Shí Jīngxián could clearly feel the careful tenderness in Lán Luòhǎi’s actions as he fed him the medicine. The arm wrapped around his lower back perfectly shared the burden of his body, allowing him to drink the potion in the most comfortable and effortless position.  

Lán Luòhǎi stared at him without blinking, watching until he had completely finished the potion.  

As the crystal bottle was moved away from his lips, Shí Jīngxián pressed his moist lips together, feeling a bit surprised.  

He himself was a high-level alchemist, with a thorough understanding of potions. But the potion Lán Luòhǎi had taken out not only had no taste, tasting just like plain water, but also gave off no energy fluctuations at all.  

But the strangest thing was that after finishing it, Shí Jīngxián realized he had truly regained his strength.  

The lingering pain throughout his body disappeared completely, and his previously weak body quickly regained its vitality. Unlike other potions that usually took time to take effect, as soon as the crystal bottle was taken away, Shí Jīngxián felt he had fully recovered.  

It was as if he had instantly returned to his best state.  

Even high-level recovery potions needed ample time to take effect; where did this prince find such a potion with no energy fluctuations that worked so quickly?  

The more Shí Jīngxián thought about it, the more curious he became, but Lán Luòhǎi had no intention of explaining. He simply said it was a high-level potion made by Dé Sī and his team and refused to say more.  

Now was not the time to discuss such matters, and Shí Jīngxián didn’t ask further. However, when he realized Lán Luòhǎi was going to carry him horizontally, he really couldn’t keep silent anymore.  

“… Your Highness, the medicine is very effective; I’m fine now. I can walk on my own.”  

Lán Luòhǎi fell silent for a moment. The light in the cave was dim, so Shí Jīngxián didn’t see the fleeting expression on his face that seemed to say—lifting a rock only to drop it on his own foot.  

However, Prince Lán had never been one to shy away from difficulties.  

He explained lightly, “If I can’t see you, I’ll be distracted. Besides, we’re short on time.”  

His gaze shifted to Shí Jīngxián’s right arm, and Lán Luòhǎi’s voice lowered again.  

“If we separate, I’m afraid I won’t be able to do well like before…”  

Shí Jīngxián struggled to suppress the urge to rub his ears with his now fully recovered right hand in front of Lán Luòhǎi.  

He cleared his throat and finally compromised, saying, “Then, how about you carry me?”  

At least that wouldn’t delay Lán Luòhǎi’s movements.  

Lán Luòhǎi had no objections. He bent his knees and squatted down, exposing his back clad in a strict military uniform to Shí Jīngxián.  

Shí Jīngxián reached out to rest his hand on Lán Luòhǎi’s shoulder, while his knee was firmly supported by Lán Luòhǎi’s hand.  

In the close distance, a faint fragrance wafted into Shí Jīngxián’s nose.  

Lán Luòhǎi’s movements were steady as he stood up, but after straightening his back, he didn’t immediately move forward.  

“Hold on tight, be careful.”  

Shí Jīngxián replied, “Mm.”  

Lán Luòhǎi still didn’t move.  

He said, “Just holding your shoulder isn’t safe.”  

Moreover, Shí Jīngxián’s upper body still maintained a considerable distance from his back.  

Shí Jīngxián hesitated for a moment. He understood Lán Luòhǎi’s meaning, but if he really wrapped his arms around the other’s neck, wouldn’t that mean he was directly grasping Lán Luòhǎi’s vital point?  

But seeing how insistent Lán Luòhǎi was, Shí Jīngxián thought that if Lán Luòhǎi encountered a deadly attack, he could still help block it.  

In the end, he still reached out and wrapped his arms around Lán Luòhǎi’s neck.  

“… Thank you, Your Highness.”  

The two of them exited the cave, and to ease the awkwardness of their current position, Shí Jīngxián quickly explained his plan to Lán Luòhǎi. The communicator on Lán Luòhǎi was still active, and without a hint of hesitation, he quickly set up orders according to Shí Jīngxián’s instructions.  

The cave was a safe zone that Lán Luòhǎi had specifically sought out. After walking for a while, they gradually encountered scattered Lièchǐguǒ. Shí Jīngxián remembered Lán Luòhǎi saying to “deal with the Lièchǐguǒ” and specifically reminded him to avoid conflicts with them to prevent any intelligent plants from holding grudges.  

However, to Shí Jīngxián’s surprise, as they entered the densely dangerous area, the surrounding vines still didn’t disturb them much. This was completely unlike the previously aggressive Lièchǐguǒ; to exaggerate, it was as if they were being controlled to take a detour.  

If it weren’t for repeatedly confirming with the now eighth-level Lán Luòhǎi that there were no other people around, Shí Jīngxián would have suspected someone was tracking them nearby, planning to ambush them.  

With the disturbance of the Lièchǐguǒ gone, thanks to Lán Luòhǎi’s strength, their journey was exceptionally smooth. However, Shí Jīngxián noticed that Lán Luòhǎi, who was steadily carrying him, seemed to be hiding some irritation.  

At first, he thought he was overthinking it, but after several branches that came to pick a fight were dealt with in a nearly brutal manner, Shí Jīngxián finally confirmed his thoughts.  

“Your Highness, are you alright?”  

“What’s wrong?” Lán Luòhǎi thought he had discovered something in the surroundings, “Is there danger?”  

“No, I meant you, Your Highness.” Shí Jīngxián said, “You seem to be in a bad mood?”  

Lán Luòhǎi fell silent for a moment. Since Shí Jīngxián was being carried, he couldn’t see his expression, only feeling the throbbing of the blood vessels in his neck under his arm.  

After walking for a while, Lán Luòhǎi suddenly spoke.  

“I didn’t expect you to get hurt.”  

“It was an accident; I didn’t expect it either.” Shí Jīngxián replied.  

“I could have protected you.”  

Lán Luòhǎi’s voice grew lower, almost murmuring. His tone was filled with an indescribable emotion.  

“I could have.”  

“…?”  

Shí Jīngxián felt a bit strange.  

“Why do you think that, Your Highness? My injury wasn’t caused by you.”  

Moreover, the awakening of his healing ability required toxin stimulation; otherwise, he wouldn’t have risked extending his arm out.  

Lán Luòhǎi didn’t speak again, but he still looked somewhat gloomy.  

Shí Jīngxián comforted him a few more times and shifted the topic to Yuán Xiāo, which barely helped lift his spirits.  

As they chatted, Shí Jīngxián increasingly felt that Lán Luòhǎi occasionally had a bit of a childish temper. He didn’t seem as composed and unflappable as he appeared on the outside, nor was he as hard to approach as others said.  

What puzzled Shí Jīngxián even more was that he found himself soothing Lán Luòhǎi… surprisingly adept at comforting him.  

Like him, the restorers all came from the mother planet, Nuòyǎ. The people of Nuòyǎ had long lifespans, but correspondingly, their reproductive capabilities were very low. Minors on Nuòyǎ were extremely rare; it was almost to the point where the birth of a newborn would lead everyone on the planet to celebrate together.  

Due to Shí Jīngxián’s own orientation, the tasks he took on were all about same-sex relationships. Whether on Nuòyǎ or the task planets, in Shí Jīngxián’s limited memory, he didn’t recall ever having experience in comforting children.  

So… where did this inexplicable sense of familiarity come from?  

Shí Jīngxián was puzzled, but soon, Lán Luòhǎi received a reply from his subordinates.  

Just as he turned off the communicator, Lán Luòhǎi’s shoulders suddenly tensed.  

Shí Jīngxián also sensed the situation not far away.  

To prevent Lán Luòhǎi from getting distracted again, he leaned closer to his ear and whispered softly, “Northeast direction, I’ll stay quiet; be careful.”  

For some reason, as he spoke, Lán Luòhǎi’s back became even tenser.  

It wasn’t until Shí Jīngxián began to suspect whether there was something else nearby that Lán Luòhǎi slowly relaxed.  

His concealment ability was extremely strong; even carrying another person didn’t affect him. Coupled with his ability to mask his energy, until the two could clearly hear the conversation coming from not far away, they remained undetected by the others.  

Standing not far away was a group of A country people under Yuán Xiāo, with a slightly thin man at the forefront scolding three subordinates who dared not raise their heads.  

Shí Jīngxián took a glance and recognized that those three were the injured people he had treated not long ago.  

And the man at the forefront was another alchemist under Yuán Xiāo, Fán Pài.  

“Where is Jì Xuānrán? Why haven’t you found him yet?!” Fán Pài’s voice was unceremonious. “He was surrounded by so many Lièchǐguǒ; where else could he run to? Are you all useless, letting a dead man slip away?”  

Before he finished speaking, Shí Jīngxián sensed a sudden surge of killing intent in front of him.  

Even though he couldn’t see Lán Luòhǎi’s front, Shí Jīngxián hadn’t forgotten the blood-red eyes he had seen in the cave before. He quickly reached out and gently pinched the shoulder of the person.  

Fortunately, Lán Luòhǎi was not a reckless person. Before his aura spread out, he had already hidden his energy presence. Until Shí Jīngxián reminded him to rein in his emotions, he hadn’t been discovered by Yuán Xiāo’s people.  

On the other side, Fán Pài was making new moves. He ordered the three fake injured people to get lost and then took out a handful of crystal stones, facing the air and chanting incantations.  

Before long, several extremely thick Lièchǐguǒ vines began to creep in from a distance. Fán Pài’s face immediately showed satisfaction.  

Shí Jīngxián, quietly hidden not far away, sensed Lán Luòhǎi’s silent surprise and gently squeezed his shoulder again.  

Yuán Xiāo had already mastered the ability to communicate with high-level plants—this was evident, which was why the Lièchǐguǒ could hide among the injured to find Shí Jīngxián.  

Soon, Yuán Xiāo, leading the A country team, walked out from the woods. They were unscathed, standing beside the fierce and thick Lièchǐguǒ, which made it even more eerie.  

Fán Pài respectfully bowed to Yuán Xiāo, “Marshal, the Lièchǐguǒ is ready to enjoy a feast everywhere.”  

Yuán Xiāo, sitting on his horse, showed no change in expression, as if he had anticipated this. He only asked, “Where is Jì Xuānrán?”  

Upon hearing the name Jì Xuānrán, a flicker of distortion flashed across Fán Pài’s respectfully lowered face. But he quickly adjusted his emotions and replied, “He was captured by the Lièchǐguǒ; I haven’t yet asked them about his whereabouts.”  

Yuán Xiāo looked down at him, his expression gradually growing colder.  

Fán Pài’s straight back began to bend, and obvious cold sweat appeared on his forehead. But he still maintained a respectful posture, gritting his teeth and remaining silent.  

Yuán Xiāo slowly said, “Was he captured, or did he escape?”  

Fán Pài suddenly took a deep breath, as if he had been suffocating for a long time and could finally breathe again, gasping violently.  

He reported in a stammer, “Yì Hào and the other three saw him being attacked by the Lièchǐguǒ, but the fight was too intense, and they couldn’t communicate with the Lièchǐguǒ, so they lost track of him in the end.”  

Yuán Xiāo listened expressionlessly, noncommittal.  

Fán Pài wanted to say something more, but he suddenly saw Yuán Xiāo turn his head.  

He immediately became alert and shouted loudly, “Who’s there? Come out!”  

The bushes rustled, and soon, a tall figure pushed through the obstruction and walked out.  

Fán Pài’s eyes widened in shock. “Jì Xuānrán!”  

He said fiercely, “You’re still alive?!”  

Jì Xuānrán covered his mouth, unable to suppress a couple of low coughs.  

Yuán Xiāo coldly asked, “Who else?”  

Jì Xuānrán coughed for a while before hoarsely saying, “Cough, cough, it’s the person who saved me earlier.”  

He frowned, looking disapproving. “They just heard what you said.”  

Fán Pài was suddenly startled and hurriedly looked at Yuán Xiāo.  

Yuán Xiāo’s expression remained unchanged: “Six people, the highest ability is only sixth level. What, is your savior that weak?”  

“Come here,” he called Jì Xuānrán like summoning a pet. “Come back here obediently, and I’ll spare your life.”  

It was more effective to let blood flow while still alive.  

Jì Xuānrán’s face was pale, looking as if he might collapse at any moment, but he still gritted his teeth and refused Yuán Xiāo’s words.  

“Yuán Xiāo, you actually made a deal with intelligent plants, framing ability users to die for nothing… You’re not worthy of being my marshal; I will definitely tell the core country about this…”  

Fán Pài, seeing him stubborn, sneered, “Still want to report? You think you have that much power?”  

“Everyone else has been fed to the Lièchǐguǒ; what do you think will happen if you know about this? Do you think anyone will believe you if you speak out, huh?”  

Compared to Fán Pài’s arrogance, Jì Xuānrán’s voice was very low.  

“Not just me; they all heard it.”  

Fán Pài scoffed, “They? Who? Those six people? Don’t worry; they’ll soon become the Lièchǐguǒ’s side dish.”  

After saying that, he turned to look at Yuán Xiāo. After receiving permission, Fán Pài quickly picked up the crystal stones in his hand and began chanting the unfamiliar language again. The Lièchǐguǒ quickly responded, glaring hungrily at Jì Xuānrán…  

And the hundreds of astonished ability users that appeared behind him.  

Fán Pài’s hand trembled, and the crystal stone fell to the ground, rolling away.  

Yuán Xiāo tightened the reins, immediately entering a state of readiness.  

He growled, “Jì Xuānrán!”  

Shí Jīngxián, who had coughed a couple of times, finally straightened up and turned to give the best view.  

His voice was calm, “I said, they all heard it.”  

The ones appearing behind Shí Jīngxián were not the six people he mentioned, but all the ability users that Yuán Xiāo had deliberately led to the Lièchǐguǒ thicket to die!  

In addition to the vast army of the core country, even the ability users from B country and C country were present. After hearing Shí Jīngxián’s plan, Lán Luòhǎi immediately ordered the core country’s army to split up and rescue the ability users in various places before returning to him.  

Under the energy barrier released by Lán Luòhǎi, the core country’s army and other summoned elite ability users… all clearly heard the entire conversation.  

Many of them had already engaged in a life-and-death battle with the Lièchǐguǒ. If it weren’t for Lán Luòhǎi’s coordination and rescue, they would have truly become the meals of the Lièchǐguǒ, just as Fán Pài had said.  

The fear of narrowly escaping death mixed with the anger of discovering the truth; these ability users had trusted Yuán Xiāo so much before, but now they hated him just as much. Many of them had already gritted their teeth and raised their weapons, wanting to demand an explanation from Yuán Xiāo.  

Yuán Xiāo had no intention of fighting.  

He tugged the reins, intending to lead the team to retreat.  

“Block him! Don’t let him escape!”  

“Charge!!”  

“Catch that damn marshal!”  

The outraged ability users quickly reacted, and the angry crowd surged like a tide. The first to bear the brunt was Yuán Xiāo’s brown horse, with numerous attack spells aimed directly at the horse’s legs, looking as if they would throw him off.  

“Get out of the way!!”  

A sharp voice cut through the noise.  

The thick Lièchǐguǒ swung back into action, forcing the crowd back half a step. Fán Pài, who had picked up the crystal stone again, looked disheveled, using the Lièchǐguǒ to threaten the ability users from getting close.  

His plan had indeed interrupted everyone’s attack, and the scene became chaotic again.  

“Marshal! Hurry and go!!”  

Fán Pài shouted loudly, using the Lièchǐguǒ to intimidate the crowd.  

Suddenly, he saw a familiar and hated figure.  

Jì, Xuān, Rán…!  

Fán Pài’s eyes widened, and he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood, but disregarding it, he began chanting the communication spell again, forcibly directing the Lièchǐguǒ to charge at the not-so-distant Jì Xuānrán.  

Capture him, kill him, and offer his corpse to the marshal! That way, he could gain the marshal’s favor and become the only one…  

Fán Pài fantasized, almost laughing out loud.  

But before his smile could form, a chill suddenly spread through his chest.  

“… Huh?!”  

Severe pain radiated out, and Fán Pài looked in disbelief at the silver blade that had pierced through his chest.  

“No…”  

He opened his mouth in terror, but could only emit meaningless screams.  

His defeated body was nailed to the thick Lièchǐguǒ, and the injured Lièchǐguǒ thrashed wildly, tearing his wound into a more horrific sight. The blood gushing out stimulated the Lièchǐguǒ, which, smelling the scent, quickly found the flesh pinned to the wound, opening countless fruits with sharp serrated edges, and literally tore Fán Pài apart.  

The tragic screams lingered for a long time, and this bloody scene made the agitated crowd quiet for a moment.  

As they retreated to avoid the Lièchǐguǒ’s attack, they instinctively looked at Lán Luòhǎi, who had raised his hand to release a water blade, directly impaling Fán Pài.  

Not far away, the man stood tall, expressionless.  

Unlike his usual noble and cold demeanor, at this moment, although he still had no visible expression, he exuded a strong aura of brutality and bloodlust that made anyone who looked at him shiver.  

Those azure blue eyes, colder than the sharpest blade, looked without warmth at the Lièchǐguǒ that was crazily feeding.  

There, Yuán Xiāo, who had been thrown off, had just stood up beside the dead horse.