Kerus slowly turned his head toward the direction from which the voice had come.
His vision was still blurry, but he could see a figure moving rapidly through the forest. Branches bent and snapped as the person leaped from tree to tree without slowing down.
"…Mei Ling," Kerus muttered.
His voice was weak, but his eyes softened when he recognized her.
She was moving very fast. Her breathing was uneven, her face pale, and worry was clearly written across her expression. Her robe was torn in several places, stained with blood and dirt that did not belong to her.
Behind her, several figures followed closely. Teachers. Senior disciples. Their expressions were grim. No one spoke. Their eyes scanned the forest with sharp vigilance, filled with tension and disbelief.
And it was natural because a demonic beast had appeared in the outer layer of the Black Fog Forest. A place where only low-level beasts should linger. Such an event was not just dangerous but also abnormal.
Mei Ling landed on the ground first.
Her eyes immediately locked onto Kerus.
"Rick!"
She rushed toward him without hesitation. The moment she saw his blood-covered body and shattered surroundings, her breath nearly stopped.
The teachers arrived shortly after.
One of them, an elderly man with white hair and sharp eyes, stopped abruptly. His gaze swept across the flattened ground, the circular crater, and the crushed trees.
"…This level of destruction," he muttered.
Another teacher bent down and examined the remains of black fog slowly dispersing into the air.
"A demonic beast… and it was killed here."
Silence fell.
Everyone present felt a chill crawl up their spines.
Kerus watched them quietly.
Only after confirming that Mei Ling and the others were safe did his body finally relax.
A deep sense of relief washed over him.
His legs gave way.
Kerus slowly sat down on the cold ground.
His shoulders slumped.
"…What a crazy day," he murmured weakly.
He looked at his worn hands. His fingers were stained with blood. His robe was torn beyond recognition.
"I just got a second chance in life," he continued softly, "and on the very first day… I fought a demonic beast."
His lips curved into a tired smile. "…Putting my life on the line."
His vision darkened.
Before he could say another word, his consciousness faded.
Just before falling completely, he felt someone grab him.
A hand that felt soft, warm, and gentle.
It supported his back carefully, as if afraid he might break.
"Rick… Rick, are you...?" a trembling voice called.
That was the last thing Kerus heard before everything went black.
Three days passed.
Sunlight came gently through an open window. Warmth spread across the bed.
A few moments later, Kerus slowly regained his senses.
At first, all he felt was pain.
A dull, deep pain that ran through every part of his body.
Then he noticed something else.
A soft pressure on his hand.
Kerus frowned slightly and turned his head to the side.
What he saw made him pause.
Mei Ling was there.
She was sitting beside his bed, her head resting against his hand. Her long hair fell loosely over her shoulders. Dark circles were visible beneath her eyes. She looked exhausted. As if she had not slept properly in days.
Kerus realized something.
She had been holding his hand.
For a long time.
His heart stirred slightly.
He looked around.
The smell of medicinal herbs filled the air.
Shelves lined with jars and scrolls stood against the walls.
"This is… the Medicine Hall," he thought.
Kerus did not want to wake her. Slowly, carefully, he tried to pull his hand back. Just a little. But even that slight movement was enough.
Mei Ling stirred.
Her brows knitted together, and she lifted her head.
Her eyes were half-closed at first, still clouded with sleep.
Then her vision cleared.
She froze.
"…Rick?"
Kerus met her gaze.
Their eyes locked.
Mei Ling's body jolted upright.
"You're awake!"
She stood up so suddenly that the chair behind her nearly fell over.
Her voice was filled with excitement, but beneath it was something deeper.
Fear.
Relief.
Worry.
The emotions she had been holding back finally overflowed. Tears welled up in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. She tried to wipe them away quickly, but more followed.
"I… I was so worried," she said, her voice trembling. "You didn't wake up for three days."
Kerus watched her silently.
He could see the redness around her eyes.
The exhaustion on her face.
She had stayed.
The thought made his chest feel strangely tight.
"Are you okay?" Kerus asked gently.
Mei Ling blinked and quickly wiped her tears again.
"Yes… Yes, I'm fine," she replied, forcing a small smile. "I was just… worried about you."
To ease the heavy atmosphere, Kerus spoke again.
"Where am I right now?"
Mei Ling took a deep breath and sat back down.
"You're in the Medicine Hall," she said. "The elders treated your injuries immediately. You were unconscious for three days."
Kerus's expression changed slightly.
"Three days…"
"That demonic beast injured you badly," she continued. "Your meridians were strained, and your qi was nearly exhausted."
Kerus nodded slowly.
That explained the pain.
After a moment, he asked, "What happened after I passed out?"
Mei Ling began to explain.
"The teachers evacuated everyone from the forest. The test was halted immediately."
She paused.
"When we found you… You were covered in blood. The ground was crushed around you."
Her voice lowered.
"We thought…"
She stopped herself and shook her head.
"But you're alive. That's what matters."
Kerus listened quietly to everything.
But then something crossed his mind.
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"What about the core?" he asked suddenly.
Mei Ling stopped mid-sentence.
"The core?" she repeated.
"Yes," Kerus said calmly, but there was a clear intensity in his gaze. "The demonic beast's core. What happened to it?"
Mei Ling hesitated.
"Oh… that thing…"
She looked away briefly.
"Teacher Liu Shen…"
Crack!
A sharp sound echoed through the room.
The wooden door burst open.
Both Kerus and Mei Ling turned their heads.
And a figure entered into the room...