Chapter 34: Bandaging

In the past, there were certainly instances where those with lower cultivation defeated those with higher levels, but many of those cases involved either surviving a desperate situation or having a sudden epiphany for a last-minute reversal.

Cases like this—where a team set a tight trap from the very beginning and implemented it step by step—were rare. Not everyone could pull it off. Anyone could see that every member's role was unique and indispensable, especially that sword cultivator.

"I-is this what a sword cultivator is? So terrifying... no wonder they say don't provoke a sword cultivator no matter who else you mess with."

"I'd definitely have to dodge those attacks... it's not that I want to, it's just that I can't control the urge to hide."

A disciple stepped forward: "The 'Five-Person Group' wins—!"

As they stepped off the stage, a swarm of disciples immediately surged toward them. Before they could get close to Zora, who attracted the most attention, they were blocked by a single arm.

It was the youth with the long spear. On the stage, he had also stood out because of his razor-sharp attacks. Like his spear, he was a rising talent of exceptional caliber.

Yiling Ke feigned humility: "Sigh, it’s nothing, really. I’m just an obscure formation master from the December Sect."

"Not at all, it was all Zora’s brilliant idea!"

"How do you unravel a Transposition Array? —You do a bit of this and that, then a bit of that and this!"

With Song Zhihuai as the center, no one dared approach within a few paces. Although Zora had been the most ferocious on stage, followed by Vane, the crowd instinctively backed away upon seeing him, not daring to "offend."

Song Zhihuai was completely unaware of this, his mood jubilant.

To have such rapport during their very first Great Competition—even many long-time friends couldn't achieve this, yet they had. It was clear he hadn't made the wrong friends, nor had he done anything wrong.

Turi Qi seemed to feel something and looked up.

The sky was vast and the sun was bright. Immortal Shu Ning sat under the eaves of the high platform, offering her a slight curl of the lips. Turi Qi couldn't quite describe the feeling, only that she felt an unprecedented sense of exhilaration.

In the past, when her teams lost, she hadn't felt surprised. She would instinctively worry about her junior sisters' and brothers' feelings, comforting them carefully. Many of them understood her difficulties and knew their own true abilities, so they held no grudges, only a natural sense of dejection.

But there were also some who didn't reflect on their own shortcomings and instead blamed the person leading them for not being strong enough. Truthfully, she had never been happy in those times; the Great Competition felt more like a busy, mandatory task to her. Carrying too many burdens had made her almost forget the taste of a cultivator's joy.

Turi Qi curled her lips and squinted her eyes, returning a bright smile to Immortal Shu Ning, as brilliant as the sunlight.

...

Zora felt her arm lose sensation. Turi Qi and the others had all asked after her with worry, but she merely shook her head, saying it was no big deal.

This was the truth.

Using spiritual power to stop the bleeding, Zora went straight back to her room. Unlike other teams who always celebrated wildly after a win, she was very calm, having no concept of celebration at all. Yiling Ke and the others knew her personality well; exhausted after the battle, they all went back to cultivate and regulate their breathing.

Zora took some medicine to replenish her blood and flesh, but unfortunately, the wound was caused by a powerful spiritual tool, so the effect wasn't very obvious. After some thought, she pulled back her sleeve to reveal her upper arm and began haphazardly tying it with cloth strips.

When Vane entered the room, he happened to see the girl with her arm exposed, winding a cloth strip with one hand while the other end was gripped between her teeth. As soon as it touched the wound, the cloth was soaked in blood, becoming heavy.

Her features were innocent, yet her movements revealed a primitive ruthlessness. Like something that had just stepped out of the forest into civilization, she was exceptionally unique and captivating.

Vane looked at her wound.

Zora released the cloth from her teeth: "Why did you come here? Is there something fun or delicious? If not, don't disturb me."

It wasn't morning or night, nor was it a time she needed a servant; Zora’s rejection was heartless.

He had simply noticed that her wound was gradually worsening and had smoothly made his way here without much thought. His state of mind was eerily calm. The youth had paused at the door for a second, dazed. He didn't know what he was dazed about or what he was doubting, so he immediately thought to himself:

If the wound isn't treated, it will definitely fester. We still have to enter the dangerous secret realm; her life is linked to mine, so naturally, I must help treat it.

Moreover, this was something a servant should think about and do.

Hearing Zora’s words, Vane’s brow didn't even twitch as he spoke smoothly: "I just asked the disciples of Drunken Man's Bay. They have formations and talismans everywhere, making it extremely easy to get lost or fall into an array. Of course, aside from the outer protective arrays and the Soul-Locking Array in the forbidden Mirror Sea, there isn't much major danger."

Zora looked puzzled.

He discreetly glanced at the dark red cloth strip, then met her eyes and smiled: "I heard someone once accidentally entered an array and saw a vision of the Underworld, and another met an old acquaintance. The arrays in Drunken Man's Bay rotate freely from time to time, so even the people here only know there are arrays, but not what kind or what the trigger conditions are."

Oh... feels like stepping into random gift boxes.

Zora pondered this, remaining expressionless, but her rounded almond eyes remained fixed on him.

Vane’s long lashes blinked as he continued: "Furthermore, someone was once teleported into a scroll by an array, gained deep insights, and advanced on the spot."

Her eyes were pinned directly on him; he gazed back calmly.

"Indeed, those are fun things."

After a long while, Zora reached a conclusion and stopped telling him to leave.

"We can go look today. Many sect disciples have already fallen in because they were wandering aimlessly," Vane glanced at her arm, as if giving an offhand reminder. "The cloth on your wound is dripping blood."

Zora couldn't wring it dry with one hand, so she summoned him naturally: "Bandage it."

Vane took off the cloth strip as a matter of course.

The wound wasn't too deep—it didn't show bone—but some of the flesh was turned outward like fresh red stamens. Zora’s old scars had long since faded with her cultivation, making the wound stand out even more.

"I got some medicine from the people of Floating Cloud Valley," Vane said with lowered eyes, not intending to act on his own authority but merely offering a suggestion. "It’s good for your wound. Want to try it?"

Zora didn't care: "Apply it."

He showed no extra expression, remaining perfectly plain. He didn't say any of those nauseating words about her needing to treasure herself. Vane never thought of such things because he was just like her; he wouldn't be moved by such words, and might even find them laughable. No one cherished their life more than he did.

Therefore, he naturally wouldn't say such feigned nonsense to Zora. In front of her, acting from the heart seemed best; their concepts were exceptionally well-matched in some respects.

The ointment was applied near the wound, feeling cool. Then he covered it with clean, soft fine-cloth bandages. Throughout the process, both were silent. She watched the wound with zero emotion, never crying out in pain. He acted as if he were performing a routine task, his face remaining indifferent until the bandaging was complete. A quiet breeze skipped in through the window, weaving between them. The golden light was soft, the atmosphere serene and harmonious.

Once bandaged, Zora immediately stood up to go try her luck.

They encountered Yi Qiurong, who laughed upon hearing this: "It’s quite good. These arrays were created a hundred years ago when Drunken Man's Bay was still Sinners' Bay. Countless formation masters had to guard the Mirror Sea, confined to a small space, seeing the same scenery all day. That’s why they created these arrays with different effects and let them rotate on their own, making every step a surprise."

As she spoke, she looked at the distant peaks hidden in the clouds, her lips gentle. She turned back to Zora: "Then I wish Fellow Daoist Zora a pleasant time."

Zora nodded and parted ways with her. She walked for a long time without triggering a single array; instead, it was Vane beside her who fell in. Although he came out quickly and caught up with her pace.

When Vane accidentally entered another array, Zora didn't keep walking; she stopped.

He's so lucky. I'll just wait for him to come out and follow him. I don't believe I can't fall in then.

Zora thought a bit unhappily.

Suddenly, a familiar silhouette came into view. Before she could react, Guan Qianyi said in surprise: "Miss Zora?"

He had intended to find Turi Qi, but found her so busy she was nowhere to be found, so he was returning in disappointment.

Zora gave him an expressionless stare, thinking it wasn't time yet, then shifted her gaze away just as expressionlessly. Guan Qianyi noticed her dislike and was taken aback.

Why is this?

However, since she was Turi Qi’s junior sister, she naturally had value in approaching.

He gave a gentle smile, making his face look as dashing and handsome as possible: "I heard Miss Zora was injured in the match? How is the injury? I have some medicine gifted by Floating Cloud Valley; it's very effective for sword wounds."

Zora: "No need."

"That won't do," he feigned seriousness. "Miss Zora is as beautiful as a peach blossom; if there is any damage, it would truly make one's heart ache. Moreover, if the injury worsens, it will be very painful. Miss Zora must cherish her own body."

Strange words. Zora looked at him with an inquisitive, puzzled gaze: "What does it have to do with my appearance? And of course I cherish myself."

That was why she wanted to live. She wasn't afraid of pain and was used to it, so she didn't consider pain a torture.

Guan Qianyi naturally didn't understand that the person before him had concepts completely opposite to his own. He spoke a few more lines, but she continued to meet him with a puzzled look. His smile began to falter again, and after a few casual words, he hurriedly took his leave.

As soon as Guan Qianyi turned to leave, Vane stepped out of the array.

Just as he stepped out of the maze, Vane saw that Zora was actually waiting for him. He was dazed for an instant and also saw the receding back in the distance, which disappeared around the corner in the next moment.

Just as Vane unobtrusively withdrew his gaze, Zora moved quickly to his side. His long lashes fluttered several times.

She grabbed his sleeve and said seriously: "You lead."

Vane’s sleeves were narrow, and his cuffs were tightly bound with cord to his wrists, so the sensation was exceptionally distinct when she tugged on them.

Vane: "..."

The youth walked like a guide—even though he was also walking at random.

"Was that a medicine cultivator just now?" Vane suddenly asked, then added, "I just thought that the cultivator who gave me the ointment was also a medicine cultivator, and I happen to need to restock some pills, so I wanted to find him again. But I don't know where medicine cultivators usually stay; maybe that person knows."

Zora didn't pay any attention to the long list of reasons he gave. His tone held no interrogation, sounding as casual as if he were asking in passing, so she held no ill will.

She thought for a moment and said: "A future enemy."

Vane: "?"

After a few steps, Zora urged: "How much longer until you fall into an array?"

"...I don't know."

Before she could let go, a passing Drunken Man's Bay cultivator warned: "There are several arrays ahead, but the trigger conditions are unknown. Please be careful, fellow Daoists."

Zora, having seen Vane stumble into them every single time, immediately gripped him tighter.

Vane: "..."