She watched the man in front of her lower his head. His brows were furrowed, and his beautiful peach blossom eyes drooped slightly. Pain filled his tea-colored eyes.
His long thick lashes trembled slightly, as if something painful had been stirred up in his memories. He looked pitiful. Xyliana froze on the spot, not knowing what to do.
Being poked in a sore spot was surely unpleasant. For a moment, Xyliana blamed her own careless mouth. "Ah, never mind that.
You've been lying down for so long, you must be hungry. I'll cook something for you. Wait, you just woke up.
I'll make you some porridge. Sit here for a while, I'll be back soon." She pointed to the chair beside the small table, changing the topic.
The pain in the man's eyes faded slightly after hearing her words. He smiled and nodded at Xyliana, then limped toward the table and chairs nearby. He seemed to be in pain.
His face couldn't help but tense, and a flicker of pain passed through his pretty eyes. "Hey, hey, take it slow..." Seeing him like this, Xyliana hurried forward to support his arm.
"It's my fault. I actually forgot about your leg..." Then she thought of the pastries and wildflowers on the table. How far had he walked with those legs...
Xyliana felt a bit guilty. Not many doctors liked seeing their patients neglecting their own health. Sensing Xyliana's disheartened mood, the man quickly placed his other hand over her small one and gave it a gentle pat.
His slightly upturned peach blossom eyes looked straight into hers as he shook his head firmly. His tea-colored eyes were full of sincerity, as if he didn't want Xyliana to feel sad for him. Looking into those clear eyes, Xyliana didn't know what to say.
"Ahem... wait here for a bit and have some tea. I'll be back soon." She helped him sit down at the table and poured him a cup of tea, speaking a little awkwardly. Then she quickly left the yard and headed to the kitchen.
The afternoon sunlight shone through the thick branches above. Spots of light fell on the man, casting a patchy pattern. It was like a layer of golden light had been draped over him.
He looked at the busy figure in the kitchen. The corners of his lips curved upward, and his peach blossom eyes lifted slightly. The expression between his brows grew even gentler.
Everyone told him it was just a dream, but he refused to believe it. Her face and figure were fading from his mind, as if someone was trying to erase her completely from his memory. During those days, he stubbornly recalled everything about her in his mind.
He wrote down every detail like a madman. That was the only way he could feel a bit of security. That force wiped away her face from his memory, but those gentle eyes were still deeply etched in his heart.
He had clung to that prophecy he begged for and waited a long, long time. He didn't know how much time had passed or how long he had hoped. It had been so long, he almost believed it was just a dream.
In the delicate courtyard, tall trees and blazing red flowers surrounded him. Under the shade, the man's smile touched his brows. Deep within his tea-colored eyes seemed to be filled with starlight, soft as water.
His posture was graceful as he sat under the tree, like a painting. He simply sat there in the yard, quietly watching his moon. When she lifted the lid of the clay pot, a rich rice fragrance greeted her.
She added a few herbs to nourish the body, then covered the pot again. She tossed another piece of firewood into the stove. Flames crackled as they devoured it, and the stove snapped with sound.
She picked up the fan beside her and began fanning the fire. "Looks like I'll need to go gather more herbs..." Thinking about the man's throat, Xyliana began to worry.
With her current skills, she couldn't heal his throat. Besides, there were many herbs in this beast-world continent she didn't recognize. Sometimes, she couldn't be sure what they were.
"Looks like I'll have to visit the medicine hall and find a proper doctor..." She was deep in thought. Suddenly, the sound of the pot lid rattling broke through.
Steam pushed up the lid with a sharp popping sound. Oh no, the porridge. Xyliana quickly stood up and removed the clay pot from the stove.
"Ah!..."
Even though there was a thick cloth, she still accidentally got burned by the hot pot wall. The man sitting inside the quiet courtyard heard it and immediately struggled to stand up. Hearing the noise from the kitchen, Xyliana quickly shouted,
"It's fine, don't come over! Be careful with your leg!" Hearing this, the man stopped moving... but his brown eyes still showed a worried look. She rinsed her hand in the cool water from the vat and casually tore a piece of cloth to wrap her finger. Then she placed the cooked porridge and a few small dishes onto a tray.
After cleaning up, she picked up the tray and walked out into the courtyard. "You must be hungry from waiting. I made some porridge. I don't know if it suits your taste."
She reached out and pushed the porridge toward the man. "Oh, and here are some side dishes. I bought them from the market. Try them together with the porridge."
Xyliana smiled and quickly placed the dishes in front of him. When the man saw her bandaged finger, pain and guilt flashed through his brown eyes. His beautiful eyes lowered slightly, as if he was blaming himself.
Noticing his soft gaze, Xyliana smiled and waved her hand. "This isn't a big deal. I've already taken care of it. It doesn't even hurt anymore."
As she spoke, she quickly handed him the spoon and chopsticks. "Eat it while it's hot. It won't taste good once it's cold. Come to think of it, this is my first time cooking for someone..."
"I added some medicinal herbs. It might taste a little bitter, but it's good for your recovery." Hearing this, the man took the utensils and started to eat slowly. "How is it? Does it taste okay? Try another bite of this."
She picked up a piece of preserved vegetable and placed it into his bowl. Xyliana smiled gently, her eyes wide and filled with a sparkle of expectation. She looked very cute.
The man smiled, nodded, and then ate the small dish. The crisp texture spread through his mouth, slowly blooming. Looking at Xyliana's smiling face, a soft pink flush spread across his pale cheeks, and his heart started to race.
"Thump... thump... thump..."
Somewhere in a dark area. Inside a grand hall. A man in black ran quickly into the hall, crossed his arms over his chest, and knelt down to report.
"Honored Lord! Just now, the shadow guard at the Spirit Platform reported that the Emotional Soul Stone has reacted!" "Oh? Why the panic? Could it be that the third Emotional Soul Stone has been activated?" A lazy voice echoed from above the hall.
It was seductive and smooth, the end rising with a hint of allure. "Yes, Honored Lord, it's the red Emotional Soul Stone. The shadow guard said it seems... like it's almost full!"
The man on the main seat seemed intrigued. He lowered the leg resting on the throne and straightened slightly as he spoke. "That's unexpected... so soon... but it's good news."
His lips were slightly pressed together, curving into a faint, charming smile. Below, the kneeling guard in black looked excited. "Honored Lord, we've waited so many years. Now there's finally hope!"
The man gently opened his thin lips and said with a smile, "Don't rush. This is only the first step. Have you forgotten what's most important?"
His voice, seductive yet imposing, carried weight without effort. He waved his hand, and the guard bowed and left the hall. Slender fingers tapped lightly on the armrest beside him.
"Tap... tap... tap..." His long, pale fingers looked like they hadn't seen sunlight in ages, strangely alluring. Veins rose faintly under the skin, and under the flickering lights of the hall, they gave off a cold and dangerous feeling.
"...Since she arrived... things have really changed... But who knows when..." In the gloomy hall, a hoarse voice murmured. The soft ending carried a teasing tone.
Though the voice was captivating, it felt like a beast lurking in the night, cold and powerful.