Shen stared at Jin Yu for a long moment, then his eyes hardened with resolve.

  “We’re leaving. Now.”

  “But he hasn’t woken up yet,” Chen Haoran protested with a slight frown.

  The Elf healer hesitated too, a small crease between her brows—but she said nothing. After all, what sympathy did the Elves owe to a human?

  Shen didn’t waste another second. He bent down and carefully lifted Jin Yu into his arms.

  “Old Master will wake him up faster,” he said flatly and strode out without looking back.

  The others quickly followed.

  On the way out, Shen caught sight of an Elf lingering nearby and asked, “Where’s the nearest river?”

  The Elf looked them over with thinly veiled disdain, hatred simmering beneath his calm exterior. Without speaking, he simply pointed toward a distant path.

  As they walked away, Eldora and several Elven warriors silently trailed them, suspicion gleaming in their narrowed eyes. After all, the river lay not far from the Elven settlement.

  The river itself was otherworldly—mist floated atop the surface like low-hanging clouds, veiling it in an eerie, ethereal beauty.

  Without hesitation, Shen waded into the shallows, submerging Jin Yu’s battered body in the cool water. With practiced movements, he peeled away the tattered remains of Jin Yu’s clothes, tossing them aside. From a spatial ring on his finger, he summoned a clean cloth and gently wiped Jin Yu’s bloodstained face.

  Eldora stepped closer, her gaze unreadable.

  Chen Haoran and Haozi immediately bristled, eyes flashing with hostility, but didn’t dare act rashly—not after seeing her brutal strength firsthand.

  “Is he your son?” Eldora asked quietly.

  “No.” Shen’s reply was short, almost dismissive.

  “Your human prince, then?” she pressed.

  “No.” Another cold refusal, his tone growing sharper.

  “Which continent are you from? How did you arrive here? Your humans are… calmer than those human beasts.”

  Her voice was curious, almost casual, but Shen heard the suspicion buried beneath it.

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  Shen’s hand paused slightly, a flicker of irritation crossing his face before he resumed cleaning Jin Yu’s body. If Qi had been usable, this would have been easier—but now, every motion had to be gentle, meticulous.

  “You don’t need to know,” Shen said without looking at her. His voice was low and dangerous. “The only thing you need to worry about... is his father.”

  From behind Eldora, Chen Haoran’s voice cut through the air like a blade, dripping with cold fury.

  “If he demands an answer for this...” Chen’s voice dropped to a near whisper, every word like the toll of a death knell. “...you might as well start digging graves. For all of you.”

  Eldora’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t react much, merely flicking a glance sideways.

  “I see,” she said, almost lazily. “But a man who sends his weak son into a battlefield should be prepared for accidents. Perhaps you should ask the beastmen for an account... not the Elves. Hypocrites.”

  The careless venom in her words made Chen Haoran’s fingers twitch, but he said no more.

  “We’ll see about that,” he muttered darkly, turning his back to her and facing Shen.

  By then, Shen had laid Jin Yu’s body upon a large flat rock by the riverbank.

  Even Chen Haoran and Haozi, who had seen Jin Yu beaten and bloody not long ago, were stunned into silence.

  Gone was the frail, bloodied figure they had carried here.

  Jin Yu now looked... striking. His frame had filled out, lean muscles tracing the elegant lines of his body. His skin, washed clean by the river, gleamed under the misty light—smooth, healthy, almost luminous. His chest was sculpted yet not bulky, his limbs toned with a natural grace, strength hidden beneath his peaceful exterior. Even his face had subtly changed—sharper jawline, longer lashes, a quiet regality resting across his features.

  For a moment, Chen Haoran simply stared, his thoughts slipping dangerously off track.

  —When did he become so... manly?!

  Chen’s mind shouted, horrified at himself.

  Even his “little brother” looked...

  Fuck! I’m not a pervert!

  Chen quickly shook his head, cheeks burning slightly.

  Shen, ignoring them all, pulled out a set of clean clothes and dressed Jin Yu with care, every movement subtly gentle—like a father tending to a long-lost son.

  When finished, Shen gathered Jin Yu back into his arms, cradling him close with silent protectiveness.

  The river mist curled around them, hiding them from the world for a moment longer.

  Shen, aware of the Elves' growing suspicion, deliberately chose not to follow the path leading toward their settlement. Instead, he veered onto the trail the red-haired woman had led them through earlier.

  The others trailed behind him, their pace quickening.

  Just as they were about to disappear into the misty woods, Haozi suddenly stopped and spun around to face Eldora, his expression dark.

  “Where is Rainbow?” he demanded.

  Eldora blinked, a flicker of genuine confusion passing across her face.

  “Rainbow?” she repeated.

  “Yes. My young master's adopted daughter,” Haozi said stiffly, suspicion flashing in his eyes.

  Had the Elves... even harmed the little flower?

  At his words, Eldora’s brows knitted in surprise. She glanced sideways at the red-haired woman, seeking clarification.

  The red-haired Elf let out a scoff, clearly unimpressed. Without much ceremony, she reached into her wide sleeve and pulled out a small, colorful flower.

  “This? You meant this little thing?” she said disdainfully, holding Rainbow between two fingers as if she were a scrap of cloth.

  Chen Haoran’s face twisted with fury.

  “Thief! You even stole my brother’s child! Elves really are dishonest!” he shouted, his voice echoing through the misty riverbank.

  The tension between the two sides thickened, like a match ready to ignite a forest fire.

  Shen paused, glancing over his shoulder.

  His gaze, calm yet cold, swept across the Elves like a blade. Without a word, he walked back to them.

  The red-haired woman hesitated, but when Shen extended his hand, she placed Rainbow into his palm without resistance.

  The small flower quivered slightly, as if sensing its master's presence even in unconsciousness.

  Shen tucked Rainbow carefully into the folds of Jin Yu’s new clothes, right over his heart, and spoke for the first time since Chen’s outburst.

  “Be grateful,” he said quietly, his voice steady but chilling. “Because he wouldn’t have forgiven you.”

  The words hung heavily in the misty air.

  Eldora's lips pressed into a thin line. The other Elves behind her shifted uneasily but said nothing.

  Without giving them another glance, Shen turned and strode away, carrying Jin Yu with a quiet dignity.

  Chen Haoran and Haozi followed swiftly, their steps light but wary, their shoulders tense.

  No one tried to stop them. No more words were exchanged.

  Only the soft crunch of their footsteps and the whisper of the river filled the space they left behind.