XiShi gently placed the newborn girl beside her exhausted mother, a wave of protectiveness washing over her. She straightened, a warrior's stance settling on her like a familiar cloak. On guard, she surveyed their pathetic situation. Shitty didn't even begin to cover it. XueLing well........ It was a universal law, she was convinced: that man was perpetually absent whenever you desperately, really, actually, for real needed him. Just like clockwork. As if to punctuate her internal grumble, she heard the telltale crunch of leaves―someone was approaching the cave. Ah, yes, the good old days. Back to square one, just like she had anticipated.

But this time, the stakes were different. She had a helpless mother and her brand-new infant to protect. Her jaw tightened.

The approaching figure emerged into view: one of the attackers. She wasn't sure if she was supposed to be thrilled that the idiot had waited until the childbirth was over before deciding to show his face, but whatever. Before he could even take a step inside the cave's entrance, a blinding white streak of ice shot him, hitting him square in the chest. Serves the dumbass right, she thought, a sliver of grim satisfaction flickering through her.

XiShi allowed herself a tiny, almost imperceptible relaxation of her shoulders. Ah, she thought, HaoYue. Always a man of action, that one. That Gojo look-alike was living up to his reputation. The man was currently the strongest person there, out on that battlefield, and he knew it. He came barrelling into the cave, panting like a dog who'd just chased its tail at a marathon pace.

"XiShi, my life..." he gasped, each breath a struggle. "Please... I need to get you all inside the mountain..."

She shook her head. "Listen, I'm not leaving you alone. Everything else be damned, okay?"

"The first thing I need to do is escort this woman and her baby to the mountain," she stated firmly.

HaoYue's brow furrowed. The snakes weren't stopping and his sweetheart didn't want to leave?

"Have ShangYun do that. BaiDi can probably hold out for a while, but ShangYun can't..." she insisted, urgency dripping from his voice. And, as always, whatever she said, he, the biggest dummy ever, obeyed without question. It was hard enough to get them there......the snakes had smartly occupied the area that stopped them from leaving......

And so, XiShi found herself inside the cave once more; BaiDi and HaoYue outside, forming a formidable bulwark against anyone who dared to approach their sanctuary. Where was SangYe? Still not back, she noted with a touch of worry. Something must've gone sideways with him and ShenYang.

She could have left, really. She had her escape route. But HaoYue? She'd only known the man for a few days, and yet... she loved the big idiot. There was absolutely no way she could just walk away, not like that.

Not after he'd come running right to her.

No way.

Get back, XueLing you hoe―