Chapter 69: Life After the Tribulation

Vision finally returned, heavy eyelids as if glued shut, she used all her strength to barely open a slit.

Yellowish light softly fell, outlining a blurry yet familiar silhouette beside the bed.

Li Qingxuan lay quietly beside her, one hand still tightly wrapped around her right hand, the other pillowing under his own neck.

He closed his eyes, brows relaxed, breathing even and long, obviously fallen into deep sleep.

That face, usually sharp and resolute, now in sleep revealed a rare softness and weariness.

Li Feifei's gaze was somewhat unfocused, blankly resting on his face for a few seconds; her consciousness remained hazy, as if shrouded in thick fog, unable to think or comprehend much.

But her body's instinct let the reassurance from that warm palm and her reliance on the familiar scent nearby completely loosen her tense heartstrings in silence.

A mix of immense fatigue, the dazed feeling of having survived the tribulation, and an indescribable peace, like warm tide, gently enveloped her once more.

Eyelids heavy as a thousand jin, she didn't even have time to glance again before overwhelming sleepiness surged, dragging her into dreamland.

Just before losing consciousness completely, she instinctively, with the last bit of her weak strength, lightly returned the grip of that warm hand.

In his sleep, Li Qingxuan seemed to sense something; the fingers resting on the back of her hand twitched slightly, tightening his grip on her cold hand, as if confirming her presence even in slumber.

Their clasped hands, in this fortress that had just endured a brutal battle and temporarily gained respite, became the sole warm reliance.

At six o'clock the next morning, the sky still dim, Li Qingxuan quietly opened his eyes; the surging power within his body settled during sleep.

Upon waking, like a dormant beast stirring, every inch of flesh and blood brimmed with astonishing vitality; his robust constitution brought not only healed wounds but a transformation akin to being reborn.

He gently drew out the arm that Li Feifei had been using as a pillow—the movement so delicate it seemed he was shifting not flesh but down, fearing to disturb her sleep.

His fingertips retained the faint coolness of her skin, but it was far better than the bone‑chilling cold of last night.

He gazed at her flushed, peacefully breathing sleeping face; the tight string in his heart not yet fully loosened, he rose silently, Li Qingxuan barefoot stepped onto the icy fortress floor.

His heightened senses let him clearly "hear" everything outside the room without needing sight.

The two little ones curled on the animal hide in the corner, emitting steady purrs; their tiny bodies rose and fell slightly with breath, and beneath the hide, newborn power slowly flowed.

Outside the fortress entrance, the Shadowy Thorns' vines, vast as an ancient beast, lay coiled; dark gold and purple veins flowed with an inward glow in the dim light, like armor forged from living magma.

The vine's surface barely undulated, like the breathing of a slumbering beast; the soft, regular rustle was it unconsciously drawing the lingering, meager energy and blood‑scent of the ancient king snake and its kin from the scorched earth.

The newborn spiked oral apparatus opened and closed slightly; a metallic cold light flashed and vanished, emitting a menacing ferocity that made the heart race, yet it remained utterly obedient in guarding this territory.

He walked to the window, gazing out at the dead‑silent world shrouded in thick mist.

The morning air carried a chill, laden with thick, inseparable stench of blood and rot, yet inhaling it brought only a crisp, stimulating sensation; the inner furnace of his body easily dispelled the coolness.

The fortress's city wall, repaired by him yesterday with materials, now in the dim light showed a fresh, sturdy outline; the Shadowy Thorns' vines, like a moat, coiled around it, nearly merging with the wall.

Without startling any being, Li Qingxuan flashed out of the fortress like a ghost.

He tapped the ground with his toes, his body lightly leaping several zhang; landing soundlessly, not even a speck of dust was raised.

His robust constitution gave him fine‑grained control over power; he circled the repaired city wall swiftly, scanning every inch of the wall and every battlement.

The Shadowy Thorns' vines sensed the master's aura; the glow on their surface brightened slightly, a few thinner tendrils swayed like spirit snakes, as if silently reporting the night's peace.

Outside the wall, most of yesterday's battle traces had been devoured by the vines, leaving only a few scorched marks and mottled bloodstains, attesting to yesterday's ferocity.

After confirming the fortress's defenses were intact and sensing no lingering serpent aura or approaching threat, Li Qingxuan's mind eased somewhat.

He returned to the fortress entrance, his gaze falling on the dark gold scales and poison‑blood‑stained stone fragments not yet fully consumed.

The vine's main stem seemed to sense his gaze; a few tendrils near the "food" twitched gently, the spiked oral apparatus opened and closed faster, emitting a low metallic hum, revealing a lingering greed.

He noticed that after a night of devouring, those scales and stones had shrunk another ring, their edges showing signs of corrosion and decomposition.

The dark gold pattern on the vine's surface appeared deeper and more refined than last night, as if it had precipitated more power.

Just then, a rustling sound came from within the fortress.

The two little ones woke up.

The Chi Tiger Cub darted out first, its body a bit sturdier than yesterday, its pale blue scales glowing faintly in the gloom; it gave a low growl, still dazed from waking, trotted to his feet and affectionately rubbed its head against his leg.

Close behind came the Swallow Sky Python Cub; it cautiously swam out of the fortress, its tiny vertical pupils first warily scanning the coiled Shadowy Thorn Main Vine, instinctively drawing back its neck before turning its gaze to Li Qingxuan, emitting a faint hiss as it slowly approached.

Li Qingxuan crouched, rubbing the heads of the two little ones; his fingertips felt a faint coolness, seeing them full of vigor, their scales smoother and tougher, he smiled with relief.

Their tiny wounds had fully healed, leaving no trace. Feeling their conveyed reliance and growth, a hint of relief briefly dispelled the heaviness in his heart.

Returning to the fortress, Li Qingxuan tidied the breakfast, went back to the bedroom, and saw Li Feifei already awake, her bright eyes fixed on him.

Those eyes, though still a little hazy from waking, had lost the dead‑stillness of coma, like stars parting clouds, clearly reflecting his silhouette.

She seemed to want to speak, her lips twitched slightly, but only a hoarse sound escaped; her chapped lips desperately needed moisture.

Li Qingxuan's heart eased; he hurried to the bedside, placed the tray on the low cabinet, leaned close to her, and spoke in an extremely soft voice, unconsciously gentle: "How do you feel? Where does it hurt?"

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