Seeing that Nangong Min was silent, Mu Jin called him twice more, but there was still no response. She was anxious and hugged Nangong Min's shoulders, shaking him gently.
"Min...Eleven?"
His breathing was so light that it made Mu Jin feel uneasy.
Mu Jin choked up a little and said, "Eleven, don't scare me."
That was the first time Mu Jin had felt afraid because of Nangong Min since she had known him for so long; it was a fear that welled up from the depths of her heart.
She had always known that with Nangong Min's skills, he could have easily abandoned her and run away, but he didn't. Even though she had saved his life before, he had saved her time and time again during their time together, and she had already repaid him. Moreover, he had regained his memories and knew who he was, so why did he have to take the blows for her time and time again?
If it weren't for me, Nangong Min wouldn't be lying in my arms covered in blood, unable to wake up no matter how I called him. Before, he would always respond whenever I called him.
Mu Jin's eyes reddened. She pinched Nangong Min's philtrum and used silver needles to prick his acupoints. She tried everything she could think of, but no matter what she did, Nangong Min didn't respond.
Looking at Nangong Min like this, Mu Jin felt as if her heart was being torn apart, the pain making it hard for her to breathe: "Eleven, wake up!"
Mu Jin didn't know how many more people Su Mu had sent. If another wave came, they would be doomed. She couldn't stay here with Nangong Min; she needed to find a safe place first before making any further plans.
Mu Jin helped Nangong Min up, bent down and carried him on her back, and walked forward by the moonlight. It took her a full hour to find a cave halfway up a mountain.
The cave was filled with dust and stones. Mu Jin placed Nangong Min beside the entrance and walked inside. It was only about three zhang deep, one zhang wide, and a little over half a zhang high, so she had to duck to pass through.
Mu Jin cleaned up the rocks and dust in the cave, then went outside to find a lot of dry grass to spread on the ground, and then helped Eleven to lie down in the cave.
Mu Jin used a flint and steel to light a small bundle of dry twigs nearby. The cold air in the mountains at night could freeze people, especially since Nangong Min had lost a lot of blood. She needed to help Nangong Min keep his body warm.
After settling Nangong Min in, Mu Jin remembered that she had passed a stream when she went up the mountain, so she decided to go and get some water and some medicine for Nangong Min.
She walked to the cave entrance, glanced back at Nangong Min, then used dry branches to cover the entrance before stepping into the dark forest.
Mu Jin walked to the stream, washed off the bloodstains on her body, and, taking advantage of the moonlight, filled a broad leaf with water. Along the way, she also found some hemostatic vines and wild jujubes before heading towards the cave.
When Mu Jin returned to the cave, she saw that Nangong Min was still unconscious with his eyes closed. She raised her hand and placed it under Nangong Min's nose, and found that his breath was still very weak.
Mu Jin took out some medicine pills from her person and fed them to Nangong Min with water. After feeding him the medicine, Mu Jin took off Nangong Min's clothes.
Nangong Min had several deep wounds on his body and arms. Mu Jin quickly crushed the hemostatic vines she had found and applied them to the horrific wounds.
After doing all this, she added some more firewood to the fire before leaning against the cave wall to rest.
Mu Jin sat with her knees drawn up to her chest, resting her head on them as she silently watched Nangong Min.
Perhaps it was the fighting tonight, or perhaps it was because she had carried Nangong Min for too long, but she was already exhausted. Gradually, Mu Jin also drifted off to sleep.
In the early morning, Mu Jin slowly woke up. She opened her eyes and looked at Nangong Min, only to see him smiling gently at her.
Mu Jin rubbed her eyes, thinking she was seeing things. But when she looked again, Nangong Min spoke first: "I'm sorry for making you worry."
Mu Jin was overjoyed. She climbed to Nangong Min's side, looked at him, and shook her head with a smile: "It's good that you're awake. I was so scared last night."
Nangong Min tried to sit up, but Mu Jin pressed him down, saying, "You're injured, don't move."
Nangong Min shook his head, but still insisted on sitting up.
"It's nothing, my back is a little sore from lying down for so long."
Only then did Mu Jin realize that it must be the fatal sword wound that Nangong Min had shielded her from last night.
She quickly stepped forward to support him. She leaned him against her, but Nangong Min, afraid of putting too much pressure on Mu Jin, insisted on leaning against the cave wall.
The cave felt somewhat warm as the morning sun streamed in.
Mu Jin asked, "Are you feeling better?"
Nangong Min smiled and said, "Don't worry, I have a special constitution, these injuries will heal after a few days of rest."
Then, after thinking for a moment, he said with some helplessness, "It's just that the trip might be delayed by a few days."
Mu Jin smiled: "I almost forgot about the special nature of your body. Last night I thought, I thought~"
Mu Jin couldn't continue speaking; her eyes were slightly red.
Seeing how worried Mu Jin was about him, Nangong Min felt as sweet as if he had eaten honey.
"I'm sorry I worried you so much. But seeing you so anxious, I felt a strange sense of joy. It turns out you care about me too."
Mu Jin smiled and said, "What are you talking about? I've said it before, I've always considered you family. How could I not be sad if something happened to you?"
Upon hearing Mu Jin's words, Nangong Min's smile faded slightly.
Mu Jin asked, "Is it because I saved your life on the way back to the capital that you're so nice to me?"
Nangong Min stiffened, but remained silent for a long time.
Mu Jin said to him very seriously, "I saved you unintentionally. The one who really saved you was my elder brother. I only saved you because of his request."
Seeing that Nangong Min still didn't speak, Mu Jin continued, "I only saved you that one time, and you saved me several times in the capital afterwards. Even if it was a huge favor, it's all paid off. We're even now. You shouldn't have been so foolish as to put yourself in danger for me once or twice..."
“You have regained your memories, you still have your grandmother to support, and you have the mission of the Nangong Shenzong to bear. We will eventually have to part ways.”
Nangong Min couldn't bear to listen to what Mu Jin was saying. After a long while, he finally said in a dry voice, "I won't leave you."
“Why don’t you leave? I’ve already repaid your kindness. Now that I’ve seen you take back the Nangong Divine Sect, I’m leaving you to go find my father and my brother.”
Nangong Min did not answer Mu Jin's question, but stubbornly said, "I will not leave you."
Upon hearing Nangong Min's words, Mu Jin felt a strange, indescribable feeling well up inside her.
Mu Jin said in a low voice, "You can't stay with me forever."
Nangong Min was silent for a moment, then said firmly, "I want to follow you for the rest of my life."
Nangong Min's words startled Mu Jin. She opened her mouth slightly, looking into Nangong Min's eyes, and her face slowly began to burn.
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