Xu Nuo's shoulders were sobbing, and she cried with obvious regret and remorse. If he had gone up the mountain earlier, she wouldn't have had to stay there alone for so long.

She's so timid and afraid of the dark, and she stayed alone on the mountain for so long, getting soaked in the rain. I can only imagine how scared she must have been.

Li Xian's expression grew increasingly grim, and he clenched his teeth tightly.

The person in his arms stirred slightly, and he seemed to snap out of his daze as he asked her, "Are you hurt anywhere?"

It was too dark, and he was afraid she would get hurt, but he couldn't see her clearly.

Xu Nuo was probably tired from crying. She whimpered like a cat, neither confirming nor denying, and said in a drowsy voice, "Ugh, I'm so sleepy."

After speaking, he moved his head and found the most comfortable position on him.

When her plants and water dried up, she would become extremely sleepy.

Li Xian gently stroked her back to comfort her, but the worry in his eyes did not diminish in the slightest.

He braves wind and rain all year round, so getting a little rain on him is nothing to him, but for her delicate little body, it's hard not to get sick after all that.

Sensing her limpness and weakness, Li Xian picked her up and, like an adult comforting a child, let her rest on his shoulder, gently patting her back with his palm: "I'll gather some firewood at the cave entrance."

Xu Nuo cooperated by wrapping her arms tightly around his neck and letting out a soft hum like a cat.

He strode towards the cave entrance and gathered some dry branches and firewood around it.

A crack appeared in the rain curtain, and a thunderclap exploded in the sky.

Li Xian was afraid she would be frightened, so he turned around and went inside, gently patting her back to comfort her: "Don't be afraid, it's okay."

Unexpectedly, she just rubbed her head and didn't say anything.

She's fast asleep.

Li Xian's heart softened.

There wasn't enough firewood, and the fire was just a few scattered embers. The faint light blurred the man's face, softening his otherwise cold and hard features. He wrung out the corner of his clothes, which was wet with rain, and gently wiped the face of the woman in his arms.

The tear stains and ash on her face were gently wiped away. She was fast asleep, her little face slightly flushed, her little mouth unconsciously pouting, but her delicate eyebrows were slightly furrowed, showing some fear and unease.

Li Xian gently pressed his fingertips against her brow and whispered, "Nuonuo, don't be afraid."

Xu Nuo seemed to be aware of it, and made a soft "hmm" sound, then turned her body and snuggled closer to him.

A pair of hands gently gathered her wet hair in their palms and patiently dried it for her.

Outside, the wind and rain were raging, and the sound of the wind seemed a bit strange. Li Xian looked down at Xu Nuo and saw that she was sleeping soundly, so he didn't wake her up. He just carefully put his dried coat over her.

He quickly put out the fire, then picked up the person and ran down the mountain.

Xu Nuo was extremely drowsy. Despite the wind and rain raging around her and the thunder rumbling, she could only unconsciously whimper a few times on his shoulder.

Whenever she cries, a pair of gentle hands will pat her back softly, and a pleasant, deep voice will sound in her ear, patiently comforting her: "Nuonuo, don't be afraid."

She became addicted to whimpering; whenever the hand on her back stopped, she would start whimpering softly, and whenever she protested, that gentle voice would start again.

While keeping an eye on the way down the mountain, Li Xian also tried to comfort her.

Fortunately, although the wind was strong, the rain had lessened.

That way, I wouldn't wake her up by splashing water on her.

Li Xian was tall and had long legs, so he was much faster than the average person. In no time, he led Xu Nuo down the mountain.

It was already late.

He looked at Xu Nuo with some difficulty and could only take her back first.

…