38. Overdraft

"Tell me what to do."

Su Lin's voice was quiet, but it was like a thunderclap, shattering the dead silence on the frozen lake. He held Xingchen, whose breathing was growing weaker and whose face was flushed strangely. He looked up, and his beautiful eyes, always filled with tenderness and a hint of confusion, were now filled with rock-hard determination. He didn't even ask the price, nor did he consider his own equally frail body.

Mu Lin saw the undeniable light in Su Lin's eyes, and the words of dissuasion on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back. He took a deep breath and spoke rapidly, "Hold his hand. Imagine your mental power—no, the most fundamental life energy within you—as a warm stream of water and channel it into his body, targeting his heart and damaged lungs! Don't try to detoxify the toxins; simply flush and purify them with your purest life force! Remember, it's about guiding, not brute force! Your energy level is far higher than this toxin, but you must control the flow, otherwise..."

Mu Lin didn't say what would happen otherwise, but everyone understood. Xingchen's body was too weak, and Su Lin's bottomless life energy, if not properly controlled, would be like a flood breaking through a dam.

"Su Lin!" Ah Yan shouted urgently. He wanted to stop her, but seeing Xingchen's pained expression, he swallowed his words back. He could only clench his fists anxiously, his knuckles turning white. He glared at Ling Ye, who stood beside him, with a murderous look in his eyes.

Ling Ye's face still wore that expression of shock, a hint of innocence and bewilderment, as if none of this had anything to do with him. But his fingers, hidden beneath his worn sleeves, twirled slightly, barely perceptible.

Lei Qing said nothing. He stepped behind Su Lin, knelt on one knee, and placed a broad, warm hand firmly on Su Lin's trembling back. He said nothing, but the steady strength and silent support he felt was more powerful than any encouragement. His other hand tightly gripped the hilt of his hunting knife. His cold gaze, like that of a loyal guard, scanned the surroundings, especially Ling Ye, whose origins were unknown.

Su Lin felt the solid warmth and strength on his back, and his heart was certain. He closed his eyes, trying to banish all distracting thoughts—worry about Xingchen, fear of his own weakness, doubts about Ling Ye. He sank his entire consciousness into his body, sensing and calling upon that dormant power.

At first, there was only a cold darkness and the stinging pain of exhaustion. His mental strength was like cracks in a dry riverbed, weak and scattered. He gritted his teeth, relying on his extreme concern for Xingchen's safety and his unyielding determination to force his consciousness to focus.

A faint, warm golden light finally lit up in the depths of his consciousness. It was so tiny, like a candle in the wind, but it carried an indescribable, majestic and pure breath of life.

That's it!

Su Lin carefully, as if protecting a newborn bud, wrapped the golden light with his own will, guiding it along his arm, and flowing to the palm that was holding Xingchen's.

The process was slow and arduous. Beads of cold sweat oozed from his forehead and trickled down his pale cheeks. His body trembled uncontrollably from the intense concentration and draining energy. Lei Qing's palm, pressing on his back, immediately increased its force. A gentle yet resolute warmth flowed through the point of contact. While it wasn't an energy boost, it greatly stabilized his nearly collapsed spirit.

Finally, that tiny yet extremely pure golden energy entered Stardust's body.

The moment the energy entered, Su Lin "saw" it. Not with his eyes, but through a strange introspection. He "saw" a twisted, ominous gray-green energy swirling within Xingchen's tiny body, madly eroding his lungs and heart. Wherever it passed, life rapidly dimmed.

Without hesitation, Su Lin controlled the golden warm current, like the most dexterous weaver, gently wrapping it around the gray-green toxins.

"laugh--"

Like cold water dripping into boiling oil, a subtle yet distinct sound of energy annihilation echoed through Su Lin's perception. The seemingly ferocious gray-green toxin, upon contact with the golden energy, melted and dissipated like ice and snow in the sun!

efficient!

Su Lin's spirits lifted, and he immediately concentrated his mind, guiding the golden energy like a stream washing away dirt, carefully and patiently washing every inch of Stardust's lungs and heart that was corroded by toxins.

This process was immensely draining on Su Lin. He felt his body being hollowed out, his consciousness like a bowstring stretched to the limit, ready to snap at any moment. His face turned from pale to a transparent gray, his breathing so weak it was almost imperceptible. But he held Xingchen's hand tightly, not loosening it at all.

Mu Lin nervously sensed Xingchen's condition, his face gradually filled with disbelief and shock. He could clearly "see" the violent toxin being purified and eliminated at an astonishing rate. Xingchen's damaged tissues were glowing with new vitality under the warm golden light! This effect was a thousand times better than if he had used up all the herbs and supernatural powers!

Ah Yan looked at Su Lin's almost shaky but still clinging figure, then at Xingchen's gradually regaining steady breathing and fading flush on his cheeks. His eyes reddened uncontrollably. He turned his head abruptly, wiped his face vigorously, and cursed under his breath, "...idiot!"

Lei Qing's palm, pressed against Su Lin's back, was soaked with sweat. He could feel the flame of Su Lin's life flickering violently, as if it would be extinguished at any moment. An unprecedented panic gripped his already frozen heart. He almost wanted to interrupt the process, but seeing Xingchen's obvious improvement, he held back. He could only cling closer to Su Lin, trying to use his meager body heat to warm the rapidly hypothermic body.

Time flows in suffocating silence.

I don’t know how long it took, it seemed like a century.

Su Lin's body trembled violently, and a mouthful of blood suddenly gushed out of his mouth, staining the white fur collar on his chest red. The golden light in his eyes suddenly extinguished, and his body fell limply backwards.

"Su Lin!"

Lei Qing was horrified and suddenly tightened his arms, holding the unconscious Su Lin tightly in his arms. He reached out to feel Su Lin's breath, but it was as weak as a gossamer, and the cold body temperature made his heart stop.

"Brother Su Lin!" Xingchen opened his eyes at the same moment. The toxins in his body had been completely cleared, and he even felt lighter and stronger than before. But when he opened his eyes, he saw Su Lin vomiting blood and unconscious, tightly embraced by Lei Qing. The young man instantly understood what had happened, and a huge panic and self-blame overwhelmed him like a tsunami. He rushed to Su Lin's side, looking at that beautiful face that was bloodless and seemed to be asleep, and tears fell heavily. He wanted to touch it but didn't dare, and could only sob helplessly: "Brother Su Lin... I'm sorry... It's all my fault..."

Mu Lin immediately stepped forward, his fingers trembling as he placed his pulse on Su Lin's wrist. His expression instantly turned even uglier than Su Lin's. "His vital signs are extremely weak... His supernatural powers have been severely overdrawn, damaging his essence..." His voice trembled uncontrollably. "We must find a place for him to rest immediately. He can't be moved!"

Ah Yan turned abruptly, his red eyes glaring at Ling Ye like a mad tiger. He placed his short axe, blazing with flames, directly on Ling Ye's neck. His voice was distorted with extreme anger, "It's you! It must be you! Did you deliberately lure Xingchen into touching that poisonous mushroom?!"

The cold axe blade and the scorching flames irritated his skin, and Ling Ye finally revealed a hint of genuine panic on his face, but he remained composed. "It's unfair! I...how could I do such a thing? I have no grudge against you! I just want to survive, to find a way out..."

"Bullshit!" A Yan roared, the axe blade moving closer, almost slicing his throat. "Something has been wrong since you showed up! Those snow wolves, and these poisonous mushrooms! How could such a coincidence happen in the world?!"

"Enough." Lei Qing's cold voice echoed, a calmness born of extreme repression, yet even more chilling than A Yan's roar. He lifted the feather-light Su Lin horizontally, carefully handling him as if he were holding the most fragile treasure. He stood up, his gaze, like a thousand-year-old ice, fixed on Ling Ye.

That gaze contained no emotion, only pure murderous intent that was enough to freeze a soul.

Ling Ye shuddered involuntarily under that gaze, and all the words of defense were stuck in his throat.

"You, go ahead." Lei Qing's voice was flat. "Find a place that is sheltered from the wind and hidden enough. If you can't find it, or if there are any more accidents..." He didn't say anything else, but the unfinished threat was more weighty than any words.

This was their only option at the moment. They needed a safe place for Su Lin to recuperate, and Ling Ye, this man of unknown identity and full of doubts, was better kept under their watch and exploited for his potential value than leaving him in the dark.

Ling Ye's expression changed several times, but he finally succumbed to the overwhelming pressure of Lei Qing's strength and cold murderous intent. He lowered his head, hiding the complex expression that flashed across his eyes, and said in a hoarse voice, "...I know there's an abandoned hunting lodge nearby that's probably still in good condition."

"Lead the way." Lei Qing ordered.

A Yan reluctantly put away the hatchet, but still followed Ling Ye closely as if he was escorting a prisoner, his eyes cutting into his back like a knife.

Mu Lin helped Xingchen, who was still crying and blaming herself, up and whispered, "Don't cry, Xingchen. Save your energy, we still need you. Su Lin... wouldn't want to see you like this."

Xingchen wiped away his tears and looked at Su Lin, who was being carefully held in Lei Qing's arms. He took a deep breath and forced all the sadness and self-blame back into his heart, leaving only the stronger will to protect him. He nodded and took the initiative to walk to Lei Qing's side, guarding the unconscious Su Lin with him.

The team set off again, but the atmosphere was heavier and more tense than before.

Ling Ye led the way silently, passing through a patch of snow-covered bushes and skirting several snow-covered mounds. His steps were steady, and he seemed quite familiar with the terrain.

After walking for about half an hour, we found a small hut half-embedded in the mountain, built of rough logs, at the foot of a leeward cliff. The hut looked shabby, with a thick layer of snow on the roof and a crooked door, but the structure was generally intact, making it a rare shelter from the wind.

Lei Qing gestured for A Yan and Xing Chen to go in and check first. They quickly entered, emerging a moment later and nodding to Lei Qing, indicating that there was no danger inside, just some dust and fallen leaves.

Lei Qing then carried Su Lin and walked into the hut. The room wasn't large, but it was more than enough for them. In the corner lay some dry weeds, seemingly beds once used by the hunters.

Lei Qing carefully placed Su Lin on the straw mat covered with their own fur, his movements as gentle as if he were placing a piece of rare porcelain. He took off his coat and carefully covered Su Lin with it. He then tested the temperature of his forehead with the back of his hand. The cold touch made his brows furrow.

Mu Lin immediately stepped forward and examined Su Lin again, his brow furrowing ever deeper. "The situation is very grim," he said in a heavy voice. "His life energy is nearly depleted, and his bodily functions have reached their lowest point... I can only use my water powers to barely keep him alive, but his recovery... depends on him, and time itself."

Ah Yan punched the wooden pillar nearby, making a dull thud and sending wood chips flying. He gritted his teeth, his chest heaving violently, but he couldn't utter a word.

Xingchen silently walked over to Su Lin, knelt down, stretched out her small hand, and gently held Su Lin's cold fingers, as if wanting to warm him with her body temperature. He lowered his head, his expression unclear, but his small body was straight, like a silent, sad little mountain.

Ling Ye stood at the door, looking at the heavy and depressing atmosphere in the room, his eyes flickering, not knowing what he was thinking.

Lei Qing stood up and walked in front of Ling Ye. The shadow cast by his tall figure almost completely covered the other person.

"You, stay outside and keep watch." Lei Qing's voice was as firm as the frozen surface of a river, leaving no room for negotiation. "Without my permission, you are not allowed to set foot inside the house."

Ling Ye opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but under Lei Qing's cold gaze, he finally closed his mouth and silently retreated into the wind and snow outside the house.

The door of the cabin was gently closed, isolating the cold and unknown dangers outside, and also locking a heavy burden of worry and sadness inside.

The oil lamp was lit, and the dim light danced in the small space, illuminating Su Lin's lifeless pale face, as well as the faces surrounding him, each of which was filled with fatigue, worry and determination.

Hope is like the howling wind and snow outside the house, vague and cold.