Yu Sheng was not unfamiliar with the rapid healing of minor wounds.
This was a natural effect of his immortality, a part of his special ability. Only severe injuries that damaged bones or muscles would take longer to heal. Yu Sheng had treated Zhan Xiaotian’s wounds several times before and was most familiar with this process.
However, Yu Sheng was still stunned at this moment.
Immortality?
Wasn’t Zhan Xiaotian supposed to have gained this ability only after falling off the cliff, thanks to him? But the system had said that it was now the past. Yu Sheng had even confirmed the current year through some passersby. Logically, Zhan Xiaotian should still be an ordinary person at this point, right?
But the wound—he saw it with his own eyes—was healing rapidly, without leaving a single scar.
Such a reaction didn’t surprise Zhan Xiaotian, who seemed accustomed to it. He probably assumed Yu Sheng had never seen such a miraculous healing speed.
Yu Sheng raised his eyes and noticed that Zhan Xiaotian was staring at him intently, not blinking. His heart skipped a beat. For a moment, he almost suspected that this Zhan Xiaotian had crossed over with him.
Fortunately, he quickly snapped back to reality. He realized that the Zhan Xiaotian before him still looked younger and that his gaze was different—full of curiosity, examination, and unfamiliarity.
Yu Sheng breathed a sigh of relief. Although his face had been seen, and they had met face-to-face, he could still back off and leave without causing too much damage.
He waved his hand and turned to leave.
But after taking just a few steps, he saw the wild beast he had driven off earlier coming back—this time, followed by two more reinforcements that were much larger than the first one.
Yu Sheng: "..."
Had he stirred up some trouble?
Yu Sheng glanced back in worry, intending to confirm Zhan Xiaotian’s attitude. In his memory, the protagonist had been quite weak in the early stages, and he wasn’t sure if he could handle the beasts now. Moreover, these beasts seemed to be spiritual beasts, not the kind that could be beaten just through physical strength.
Before he could turn around, a shadow rushed out and engaged with the three beasts.
It was a full-on brawl, punches flying. Yu Sheng watched, feeling tired just by looking at it. As he was about to step in, he realized Zhan Xiaotian had concealed a dagger. He waited for the right moment and struck the beast’s neck.
Blood splattered, dyeing the flowers beside them red.
This truly was a brawl, and Zhan Xiaotian wasn’t clueless about combat. Although he was relying on instinct and strength, he inadvertently infused some spiritual energy with each strike, targeting vital points.
If left alone, Zhan Xiaotian could protect himself. His fighting style might not be refined, but it was direct and effective.
However, if Yu Sheng intervened with his techniques, it could leave too deep an impression on Zhan Xiaotian. The reason was simple: the difference in power between them was so vast that anyone would remember a powerful figure who helped them.
Yu Sheng hesitated, then decided to put away his dust whisk and used a few stones to strike the joints, throat, and eyes of the beasts, increasing Zhan Xiaotian’s chances of victory.
But just as the last beast was about to die, it seemed to sense defeat and let out a furious roar. It gave up its life force and exploded.
The beast was indeed a spiritual one, and it detonated its core, latching onto Zhan Xiaotian in an attempt to take them both down. The explosion was too close, and Yu Sheng couldn’t save him in time. He could only watch as a blinding light erupted nearby.
When he blinked repeatedly, his vision finally cleared, and what he saw was a scene of devastation. The bodies of the three spiritual beasts were scattered, and Zhan Xiaotian lay on the ground, bloodied and unmoving.
Yu Sheng couldn’t care less about the flesh and blood falling from his body. He rushed over, pale-faced, and checked for Zhan Xiaotian’s breath and pulse.
Then, his legs gave way, and he collapsed beside him.
It was over...
On the first day of his journey back to the past, he had run into the protagonist and accidentally caused his death.
It was his fault, wasn’t it? Yu Sheng’s head buzzed as he realized that if it weren’t for him, the three spiritual beasts wouldn’t have come together.
According to the story... before the plot began, Zhan Xiaotian should have been safe. Even if he hadn’t blocked the spiritual beasts’ attack, with his strength, he would’ve only sustained minor injuries.
Yu Sheng’s hands and feet were icy. After sitting for a while, he managed to calm himself down, used his techniques to clean the blood on his body, then lifted Zhan Xiaotian and began walking toward a distant cave.
The scent of blood would only attract more danger, so they needed to leave the area first.
Once back in a nearby cave, Yu Sheng gathered some dry branches and straw to make a makeshift bed and laid Zhan Xiaotian down. At this point, there wasn’t much else he could do. He didn’t have many medicinal pills, and his techniques weren’t strong enough. All he could do was pray that Zhan Xiaotian really did have immortality and would recover on his own.
Although... his body was already cold, and his breathing and heartbeat had stopped. He looked like a cold, lifeless corpse.
Yu Sheng stayed by his side for three days, feeding himself with wild flowers, herbs, and dew from nearby streams. The rest of the time, he meditated and checked on Zhan Xiaotian’s condition every hour.
By the third day, there was finally a faint breath from Zhan Xiaotian. He no longer looked like a corpse. Yu Sheng, still worried, stayed a few more days, not daring to stray too far. When Zhan Xiaotian began showing signs of recovery, Yu Sheng cleaned and bandaged his wounds and realigned his bones.
By the fifth day, Yu Sheng was shocked.
For injuries of this severity—broken bones, internal injuries, burns, and so on—he remembered that with the golden finger, it would take Zhan Xiaotian about ten days to heal. But now, Zhan Xiaotian’s injuries were almost completely healed. He was still unconscious, but there were no signs of serious injury, and even the bandages could be removed.
Yu Sheng could finally breathe a sigh of relief...
He placed some fruit he had gathered in one corner of the cave. Although it was rather sour and a bit harsh, it was better than eating flowers.
As he saw Zhan Xiaotian about to wake up, his eyelids fluttering and his hands nervously groping around, Yu Sheng quickly placed the dagger aside and turned to leave—this was the best time to exit, and he couldn’t afford to miss it!
Just as he reached the entrance of the cave, he suddenly remembered that without the ability to hear or see, he would have no way of knowing if Zhan Xiaotian had truly woken up or if he was alright.
After hesitating for a moment, Yu Sheng stealthily approached the entrance, hiding behind the hanging vines. He poked his head out slightly to peek inside.
Ugh...
Their gazes met.
Yu Sheng immediately pulled his head back and started to leave. Since Zhan Xiaotian was still too weak to move, he didn’t chase after him.
Though Yu Sheng couldn’t truly relax, he didn’t go too far. He continued to check on Zhan Xiaotian every day. He would leave food and drink at the entrance before leaving. Once he confirmed that Zhan Xiaotian was able to get out of bed and walk, feeling that he had recovered enough, he stopped returning.
Since Zhan Xiaotian was living nearby, it wasn’t safe for Yu Sheng to remain on the mountain any longer. One foggy dawn, he randomly chose a direction and began walking out of the forest.
However, just as he reached the edge of the woods, Zhan Xiaotian caught up to him, having fully recovered from his injuries.
Yu Sheng was startled by his sudden appearance. Zhan Xiaotian opened his mouth, seemingly about to say something, but then he realized Yu Sheng couldn’t hear. He then pulled out a piece of tattered cloth.
Written on it were neat words: Are you leaving?
Yu Sheng nodded.
Zhan Xiaotian grabbed the corner of his clothes, sat down on a nearby fallen tree, and pulled out a small wooden stick to write on the cloth again.
Are you a god?
Yu Sheng: "..."
He was both amused and helpless at Zhan Xiaotian’s strange way of thinking. Yu Sheng waved his hand, not confirming it.
Zhan Xiaotian suddenly looked at him with surprise, then quickly lowered his head and wrote more words.
You're not mute. Your laughing voice is very pleasant.
Yu Sheng was once again helpless. He wondered if Zhan Xiaotian had chased him down just to chat. Had he been stuck in this desolate place for so long that he’d become bored?
Yu Sheng wasn’t mute, but that didn’t mean he wanted to talk…
Just a moment ago, he hadn’t even realized he’d laughed out loud. If anyone else heard him speak, they might be annoyed by how he couldn’t control his volume or tone.
Whether it was pleasant or unpleasant, too loud or too soft, he couldn't judge for himself.
Yu Sheng shook his head, took the "pen" from Zhan Xiaotian—a burnt piece of wood—and wrote his reply.
I don’t want to talk. I’m not a god, and you don’t need to follow me.
Seeing these words, Zhan Xiaotian’s expression became anxious. He quickly flipped the cloth over and scribbled furiously on the back.
I don’t have a home or family. I can go anywhere. Can’t you let me come with you?
Seeing Yu Sheng hesitate, Zhan Xiaotian wrote again.
I know you helped me these past few days. I heard that good people should repay kindness.
Yu Sheng replied.
Heard?
I also heard that in the forests, there’s a god who lives in the morning mist and guides lost travelers. When the mist clears, the god leaves…
Yu Sheng realized that Zhan Xiaotian had really misunderstood.
This version of Zhan Xiaotian seemed mentally young, still in the phase where he would believe any bizarre legend!
Wait, did Zhan Xiaotian get lost too?
Was he hoping Yu Sheng would help him find a way out?
I also heard that these gods are handsome and live off flowers and dew…
Yu Sheng yawned.
He had indeed been eating flowers for several days. Now, when he burped, it smelled like flowers, and his body smelled nice too. But still, this... As long as one’s cultivation was high enough, they could stop eating human food. He didn’t think there was anything special about him.
He didn’t want to affect the course of history. If he led Zhan Xiaotian out of this mountain, the plot might change drastically.
With this thought, Yu Sheng reluctantly took the pen again and wrote.
I don’t know the way out either.
After all, the area was surrounded by dense fog, and the forest hadn’t been cleared. It was believable that he, a normal person, couldn’t find his way out.
Zhan Xiaotian smiled brightly when he saw the response.
It’s okay. I know the way. Just come with me.
Yu Sheng: "..."