The woman nervously searched for herbs around her, her eyes quickly scanning every inch of the land, her gaze anxious and focused. Beads of sweat continued to form on her forehead and trickled down her cheeks, but she didn't bother to wipe them away.

She bent down, carefully distinguishing the various plants, her hands frantically pushing away the weeds. She kept muttering to herself, "Where is it? I must find it, I must find it..."

The woman's breathing became rapid, her chest heaving violently. She hurried from one place to another, not missing any corner where herbs might grow.

She was also concerned about Xiao Yi's injuries from time to time. She would suddenly raise her head, look in Xiao Yi's direction, and shout loudly: "Hold on a little longer, I will find it soon!" Her voice was full of anxiety and worry.

Occasionally, she would temporarily stop searching, quickly walk to Xiao Yi, squat down, and ask with concern: "How do you feel? Is it more painful?" Her eyes were full of sincere concern and anxiety.

Then, he hurriedly got up and continued to busy himself in searching for herbs, muttering to himself, "Hurry up, find them quickly..."

After many attempts, Xiao Yi found that the woman's behavior was relatively normal and she did not reveal any flaws.

After each trial, Xiao Yi would silently review the woman's every move and every word in his mind. He would repeatedly recall the changes in the woman's expression, every subtle look, every muscle twitch, all being replayed and analyzed in his mind.

For example, when he pretended to be injured and needed herbs, the woman's anxious and nervous expression did not show any trace of artificiality. Her sweaty forehead, her slightly messy hair due to haste, and her sleeves scratched by branches because of her concentration on finding herbs, all the details made Xiao Yi feel real and believable.

When the route changed, the woman's initial doubt was brief, but her subsequent silent following was unremarkable. She didn't raise any excessive questions, nor did she attempt to resist or behave in an unusual manner.

Or in some other small temptations, the woman's reactions were consistent with the normal behavior of a person in trouble and eager for help.

Xiao Yi's frown relaxed slightly, and his suspicion began to waver. However, his years of experience made him still dare not let down his guard completely. He told himself that he needed more time and observation to confirm whether this woman was really trustworthy.

His suspicion of the woman gradually decreased, but he still did not completely let down his guard. Xiao Yi's heart was like a balance, the weight of suspicion was gradually reduced, but the end of the guard was still hanging firmly.

Every time he saw the woman's sincere and helpless eyes, Xiao Yi could feel the doubt in his heart fade away a little. Every gesture of concern and every anxious word she said were like a gentle breeze, slowly blowing away the haze of doubt in his heart.

However, the experience accumulated from struggling in the cruel world made it difficult for Xiao Yi to completely eliminate his guard. He would inadvertently observe the woman's small movements, wondering if there was a deeper intention behind each of her choices.

When the woman followed him quietly, Xiao Yi would recall in his mind the various experiences they had along the way, trying to find even the slightest unusual clue. Even if the woman just turned around inadvertently or was silent for a short time, it would make his nerves tense again.

At night, as he lay in his simple shelter, gazing at the starry sky above, his judgment of the woman continued to recur. The suspicion was like a beast lurking in the darkness, temporarily quiet, but ready to burst forth and take over his heart again.

Xiao Yi knew that in this world full of dangers and unknowns, even the slightest negligence could lead to fatal consequences. Therefore, even though his suspicions gradually diminished, that last bit of vigilance was like the weapon in his hand, which he would never easily put down until he was absolutely sure it was safe.

"I hope you are truly trustworthy." Xiao Yi looked at the woman and said lightly. His eyes were as calm as water, yet seemed like a bottomless pool, making it difficult to fathom his true emotions.

Xiao Yi's voice was very light, as if just a breeze was blowing, but every word was clearly transmitted to the woman's ears, carrying an invisible pressure.

His eyes locked onto the woman's, without the slightest evasion or avoidance. There was a hint of anticipation and a subtle worry in those eyes.

Xiao Yi's face was half bright and half dark in the afterglow of the setting sun, outlining his resolute outline. He pursed his lips slightly, his expression serious and solemn, as if these words were not only an expectation of the woman, but also a kind of uneasiness about the unknown future.

After saying this, Xiao Yi still stared at the woman quietly, as if he wanted to get more answers from her reaction, or as if he simply wanted to convey his inner thoughts to her.

As they continued forward, Xiao Yi and the woman were walking cautiously, when suddenly, a low roar broke the silence around them.

A group of gigantic, hideous-looking mutant beasts rushed out from the bushes ahead. Their fur had fallen off, revealing mottled skin. Their eyes shone with an eerie red light, and their sharp fangs gleamed coldly in the sunlight.

Xiao Yi instantly tensed up, protecting the woman behind him, and stared at the uninvited guests with vigilance. His hand unconsciously touched the weapon at his waist, his heartbeat accelerated rapidly, and his brain worked rapidly, thinking about how to deal with it.

The woman was frightened by this sudden scene and turned pale. She couldn't help but screamed. She grabbed the corner of Xiao Yi's clothes tightly, and her body trembled uncontrollably.

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