The continuous rain had made the mountain path muddy and slippery. Kang Kang, holding an oil-paper umbrella, carefully supported A Yuan as they trudged through the woods, their steps uneven. A Yuan's face was paler than usual; though she tried to stay upright, her steps were clearly unsteady. The ambush a few days ago had clearly not been abandoned; their methods were becoming increasingly ruthless. Kang Kang had been grazed on the left arm by a stray arrow while protecting her. Although he had treated it promptly, the days of travel and being soaked in the rain had caused the wound to ache, becoming red, swollen, and hot.

"Ah Yuan, hang in there a little longer. There's an abandoned mountain god temple up ahead. Let's go in and take shelter from the rain. Let me check your injury." Kang Kang's voice was barely perceptible, filled with worry.

Although the knife wound on A Yuan's back had mostly healed, the days of bumpy rides and frights had pushed her body and mind to their limits.

"I'm fine, Brother Kang." A-Yuan bit her lip, trying to keep up with his pace. Rainwater soaked her temples and clung to her pale cheeks, making her look even more fragile.

Looking at Kang Kang's shoulders and left arm, soaked by the rain and with faint traces of blood showing through the bandages, she felt a sharp pain in her heart, as if she were being pricked by needles. She had dragged him down with her.

Finally, the dilapidated mountain temple came into view. The two huddled in a corner that offered only a meager shelter from the wind and rain. Kang Kang, disregarding his own safety, immediately helped A Yuan sit down, unbuttoned her soaked outer garment, and examined the wound on her back. Fortunately, the wound hadn't reopened; only the surrounding skin was slightly bluish from the cold and dampness.

"Thank goodness, it hasn't gotten worse." Kang Kang breathed a sigh of relief and took out a clean cloth and some warming ointment from the medicine box. "Quickly wipe yourself down and change into something dry." He turned his back and handed her one of his dry coats.

A-Yuan silently took the clothes, looking at his back, soaked to the bone, and the glaring crimson on his left arm. The fear, guilt, and an unspeakable emotion that had been building up over the past few days finally broke through her defenses. Tears streamed down her face without warning, mingling with the rain and hitting the cold ground.

"Kang Kang..." she choked, her voice breaking, "I'm sorry...it's all my fault...I've dragged you into this..."

Kang Kang froze, turned around, and saw A Yuan's tear-streaked face. His heart clenched. Ignoring any possibility of awkwardness, he quickly stepped forward, knelt in front of her, and clumsily but gently wiped away her tears with his fingertips. "Silly girl, don't talk about implicating me. Saving you was my choice, protecting you was too." His voice was gentle yet firm. "Don't be afraid, I'm here."

"But...they won't let me go..." A-Yuan raised her tear-filled eyes, which were filled with despair and deep fear. "Those people...the Queen's people...I...I'm not just an ordinary woman in distress..."

Kang Kang paused in wiping away her tears, looking at her quietly with calm and tolerant eyes, silently encouraging her to continue, as if to say, "Don't be afraid, I'm here for you."

A-Yuan took a deep breath, as if using all her strength, and finally revealed her deepest secret: "I am... I am Princess A-Yuan Xiling of Xiling Kingdom. My mother was my father's first wife, and she has long since passed away. The current queen... is the second queen. My father... he... intends to pass the throne to me, his eldest daughter..." Her voice was filled with bitterness and hatred, "The queen and her family will never allow a daughter who is not her own to inherit the throne! This ambush on the road... was sent by them! Brother Kang, you saved me, they will not let you go!" She tightly grasped Kang Kang's sleeve, her eyes filled with worry for him far exceeding her own.

The cave was silent, save for the gentle patter of rain outside. Kang Kang, processing this startling information, looked at the tearful, noble yet tumultuous girl before him. He felt no fear, only a surge of heartache and an even stronger urge to protect her. He took her cold, trembling hand in his, his voice as steady as a rock:

“Ah Yuan, whether you are an orphan girl from the mountains or Princess Xiling, in my eyes, you are the girl who needs my healing and protection. Since I saved you in the first place, I won’t give up halfway. The struggle for the throne is their ambition, not your fault. As for me…” He smiled slightly, his eyes clear and firm, “A wandering doctor, with the world at his home, what do I have to fear from petty villains? Let them come if they want. My needles can save lives, and they can also… make them suffer a little.”

A-Yuan stared at him, stunned. There was no shock or distance, no fear or retreat, as she had expected. He calmly accepted her identity, even downplaying the immense power struggle, focusing solely on telling her: he would protect her. This pure and powerful protection, like a warm current, instantly dispelled the coldness and despair in her heart. Tears welled up again, but this time, they were tears of gratitude and reassurance.

She suddenly threw herself into Kang Kang's arms, hugging his waist tightly, burying her face in his chest, which smelled of medicine, and burst into tears, as if to release all the fear, grievances, and pressure: "Kang Kang... thank you... thank you..."

Kang Kang's body stiffened slightly, then relaxed. He gently wrapped his arms around her trembling shoulders, resting his chin on the top of her head, offering silent comfort. The rain continued, but the dilapidated temple was filled with a sense of reliance after surviving a catastrophe and a quietly growing affection that transcended social boundaries. He patted her back gently and whispered, "Don't be afraid, A-Yuan. The rain has stopped, and we'll head south to Jiangnan. It's safe there."