"Hang in there."

Shen Jintang glanced at Shen Huaixu, then grabbed his arm and put it on her shoulder.

Shen Huaixu was in so much pain that he was drenched in cold sweat, large beads of sweat sliding down his cheeks, but he bit his lip tightly to prevent himself from making a sound.

The broken arrow churned within his flesh with every movement of his body, each step feeling like stepping on a knife's edge, the pain almost causing him to lose consciousness.

"Bear with it."

Shen Jintang's voice remained cold, but her movements became much gentler to avoid causing him further harm.

The two walked for a long time, and Shen Jintang led him to hide and conceal themselves, finally managing to temporarily shake off the pursuers.

Shen Jintang then led him into a secluded cave. After settling him in, she quickly covered the entrance with withered branches and weeds, making it appear as if no one had been there.

"call--"

Shen Jintang calmly took out a tinderbox, blew on it, and placed it aside. It could only illuminate a small area in front of her, and the rest of the cave was still dark.

"Tear—"

In the darkness, Shen Huaixu heard the sound of fabric tearing, subtle yet clear.

"What are you doing?" Shen Huaixu asked.

The movement of sitting up was a bit too abrupt, which aggravated the wound.

Shen Jintang didn't want to waste his breath, but then he thought that if he could get Shen Huaixu to cooperate, the removal of the arrow might go more smoothly. So he patiently said, "The arrow is broken, and the arrowhead is still embedded in the body. It must be dug out."

As she spoke, she busied herself nearby.

First, he neatly folded several pieces of cloth to the side, then carefully placed the dagger above the tinderbox. The flame of the tinderbox leaped and crackled, and the firelight reflected on the dagger, gradually turning the blade red.

Shen Huaixu could only hear the crackling sound of the tinderbox burning, a sound that seemed to be pounding on his nerves, causing him to unconsciously furrow his brow.

He grew up in a noble family, and even if he suffered a minor injury, he would always be carefully treated by a doctor, and all the necessary medicines would be readily available.

He had never heard of, nor had he ever experienced, a treatment method like Shen Jintang's that used locally sourced materials.

However, he was also aware that the current conditions were limited, and if the injuries on his back were not treated in time, the consequences would be unimaginable.

So he could only grit his teeth, swallow his discomfort and complaints, and remain silent.

Seeing that he was ready, Shen Jintang slowly walked over and said in a steady and powerful tone: "Take off your clothes."

Upon hearing this, Shen Huaixu's ears instantly turned bright red, and his heart began to beat faster involuntarily, pounding rapidly in his chest like a drum.

He lowered his eyes slightly to hide his embarrassment, his throat feeling as dry as if it had been scorched by fire.

"Can't move?"

Seeing that Shen Huaixu had not moved for a long time, Shen Jintang couldn't help but ask, her voice tinged with impatience.

"without……"

Shen Huaixu licked his dry lips, which still seemed to taste of blood. He raised his left hand, which he could still move, and his fingers trembled slightly as he slowly unbuttoned his shirt.

His clothes were slowly pulled open, revealing a shocking wound on his right shoulder.

"Bear with it."

Shen Jintang frowned when he saw the purplish wound on Shen Huaixu's right shoulder and the short arrow embedded in it.

The skin around the wound was slightly swollen, as if it had been burned by flames, and its color was frighteningly dark.

She had initially thought it was just a common arrow wound, but the injury was much more serious than she had imagined, perhaps because the arrow had broken off and embedded itself in her flesh after she rolled down the cliff.

Fortunately, the arrow was not poisoned, which relieved her slightly.

She gently pressed the wound, and dark purple blood gushed out instantly.

"hiss--"

Shen Huaixu gasped. The pain wasn't the main issue; what was most unbearable was the icy touch, unfamiliar yet impossible to ignore.

Realizing it was Shen Jintang's hand, his fingers, hanging by his side, involuntarily curled up, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he felt somewhat embarrassed, as if he had become a puppet to be manipulated.

"Sinking... Ah!"

Shen Huaixu wanted to say something to ease his embarrassment, but before he could speak, a wave of excruciating pain surged through him, instantly robbing him of his voice.

The excruciating pain of the dagger piercing his flesh made him jerk his head back, his Adam's apple bobbing violently as if trying to squeeze the pain out of his body.

His body trembled slightly, like a leaf caught in a gust of wind, unable to control itself.

Shen Jintang swiftly stuffed a piece of cloth into his mouth, and the taste of blood immediately filled his mouth, almost suffocating him.

The fabric was rough and dry, carrying a hint of dust, but Shen Huaixu had no time to care about that.

The pain continued to surge like waves, and he could clearly feel his flesh being ripped open, blood flowing down the wound and dripping onto the rocks with a "drip-drip" sound.

His vision blurred, and in his daze, he saw Shen Jintang's blood-stained fingers. Her expression was focused and calm, as if she were doing something perfectly ordinary.

Her brows were slightly furrowed, but her eyes were incredibly firm.

Shen Huaixu's consciousness gradually blurred, and he only heard a crisp "clang" sound, like the sound of metal breaking.

He slightly opened his eyes and saw that the blood-stained arrowhead was casually thrown on the ground by Shen Jintang, making a dull thud.

Shen Huaixu finally collapsed against the rock wall, utterly exhausted. His body seemed to have lost all its strength, leaving him only gasping for breath.

Sweat streamed down his face, dripping onto his clothes and leaving damp patches.

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