Although this place is no longer as lush and green as it used to be, nor does it have abundant water and grass, and there is no sufficient food source, Fei'er still willingly calls this place "home".

Everyone is doing well. Although there are occasional minor squabbles, they are not annoying.

Just then, Xu Ling, who was holding a wooden stick and still teasing Thanos, glanced to the side and immediately exclaimed with a beaming smile, "You're back?"

She happily tiptoed and waved cheerfully to Fei'er and the elf who were getting closer and closer. "Is it all done so quickly?"

Xu Ling was somewhat surprised to see them return so quickly.

After all, according to old John, the Barren Lands were quite large!

That's a place even ordinary explorers wouldn't dare to risk taking!

Of course, Fei'er and the elf are not ordinary people, but to be able to make a round trip in just two days is simply too amazing!

Xu Ling tossed the wooden stick aside and walked briskly to meet him.

Walking up to Fei'er, and as the tall figure of the Moonlight Silver Wolf completely enveloped her, Xu Ling asked again, "Are you injured?"

As she spoke, she walked to the left to look at Fei'er's body, and then to the right to look at her body.

However, the Moonlight Silver Wolf's fur was thick and dense, and apart from some dust, Xu Ling did not find any wounds.

It's good that you weren't injured!

Xu Ling immediately breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Moonlight Silver Wolf with a smile, "It seems everything is going very smoothly?"

Although it is a question, it clearly carries a certain degree of certainty.

And that is indeed the case.

Fei'er, who hadn't had a chance to answer before, finally managed to reply with a smile: "Thanks to you, sir, everything is going very smoothly!"

"The poison is cured?" Xu Ling's eyes sparkled. Although she was already certain of the answer in her heart, at this moment, she still wanted to hear Fei Er say the answer herself.

As expected, a joyful smile appeared in Moonlight Silver Wolf's silver-gray eyes. He nodded to Xu Ling without hesitation and uttered two words crisply: "Yes."

Almost instantly, Xu Ling beamed with joy and couldn't help but cheer, "That's wonderful!"

That's wonderful!

They can finally go find Ruth!

"Then let's... let's go!"

Before she could finish speaking, the elf, who had been silent until now, suddenly moved and stepped between her and Fei'er.

What is she trying to do?

Xu Ling was momentarily stunned, and subconsciously took a step back, looking at the elf with a puzzled expression, as if asking a silent question.

Seeing that she was completely oblivious to the situation and had obviously forgotten her promise, a hint of grievance couldn't help but show on the elf's exquisite and aloof features.

"Didn't we agree before? I'll take Fei'er to cure the poison, and you'll give me a chance to talk things out properly."

Xu Ling: ······

To be honest, even now, she still isn't used to the elves who speak softly to her.

Suppressing the urge to leave immediately, Xu Ling stammered for a couple of minutes before finally managing to utter two words: "I...I haven't forgotten!"

Her memory isn't that bad!

How could I possibly forget a promise I made just two days ago?

She simply believed that conversations could take place anytime, so there was no need to rush...

But to everyone's surprise, the elf was in such a hurry!

The moment the two words "I haven't forgotten" reached Emerald's ears, a slight smile curved her lips. "Then—let's talk about it in the past?"

She stepped aside as a gesture.

Seeing this, Xu Ling muttered something unintelligible, but still obediently lifted her foot and walked to the side.

As soon as they stopped, before Xu Ling could even ask what was going on, Emerald immediately began to explain.

There was no other way; as things stood, she didn't want Xu Ling to avoid her like the plague, so she had to prove herself!

"I really didn't mean anything by it! I just really like the scent you have, which is similar to the scent of the Mother Tree!"

His tone unconsciously carried a hint of urgency, and his light yellow eyes revealed a look of tension.

Her gaze was fixed on Xu Ling, her heart pounding as she awaited her answer.

However, before anyone knew it, Xu Ling had already lowered her head.

Her long black hair cascaded down her sides like a waterfall, perfectly obscuring the elf's vision.

Therefore, no one noticed that Xu Ling's cheeks were flushed red, and she was already filled with immense shame and indignation.

She never expected that what the elf wanted to "talk things out" was actually this matter!

I never expected that the truth would be like this!

Thinking back to the words I said back then, so full of self-delusion...

"Give up!" "I like men!"

Ahhhhh—!

If there's a hole in the ground, please allow her to crawl in immediately!

Unfortunately, in reality, although the ground beneath her feet was not very flat, it didn't magically conjure up a hole for her to hide in!

Xu Ling lowered her head even further, almost as if she wanted to hunch her chest in front of her.

Time seemed to stand still at that moment; no moment had ever been more agonizing for her.

Xu Ling wanted to escape; she desperately wanted to escape.

However, as soon as she turned slightly to the side, the elf standing opposite her immediately moved as well, blocking her path completely.

After doing all this, Emerald did not urge Xu Ling, but her actions were clearly telling Xu Ling something in silence.

She stubbornly demanded an answer.

Undeterred, Xu Ling changed direction again. The result was exactly the same as before; once again, her path was silently blocked by Emerald.

All right!

Xu Ling was forced to give up her urge to escape.

She stopped and mustered her courage to look up. The elf's exquisite face came into view again, but before she could even meet the emerald's pale yellow eyes, she immediately lowered her head again to avoid it.

Her face flushed again, and she stammered an apology: "I...I'm sorry, Emerald, I'm so sorry..."

She mumbled "I'm sorry" and "excuse me" repeatedly, but Xu Ling had no idea how else to apologize.

She knew that a few words were hardly a sincere apology.

But... compensation?

She... doesn't seem to have anything worthwhile to offer in return.

What should we do then?

Helpless, Xu Ling could only bite her lip in resignation.

Fortunately, for Jade, her apology was enough.

No, or rather, she would be content as long as Xu Ling no longer avoided her.

The elf's expression softened, and a smile involuntarily appeared on her lips.