Battles Within: Confronting Egos and Earning Forgiveness

Feng Wei gently touched Bai Lian's wrist, his spiritual energy delicately flowing into her body. He slowly guided this energy along her wrist, allowing it to spread through the meridians across her entire body.

Hours passed, his expression serious and focused as he tirelessly worked to expel the life-threatening poison. Intense effort left him sweaty and tired, but he didn't allow himself to falter, staying focused on the task at hand.

After the grueling process, Bai Lian regained consciousness, her senses gradually returning. Her body was weak, but her awareness was clear. As she assessed the situation, she immediately noticed her lack of clothing.

A shiver ran through her body, and her expression instantly hardened. Her eyes, slightly narrowed, opened wide, revealing a cold and deep intent to kill, a powerful energy that seemed endless.

Bai Lian's profound strength, on the verge of the Nascent Soul stage, was unparalleled. She was a respected and powerful figure in the clan, and few would dare touch her without permission. Until now, no one had even seen a part of her body, let alone touched it. Anger mixed with her intent to kill, creating a dominant aura that involuntarily radiated around her.

However, as her eyes fell upon the spiritual poison Feng Wei had expelled, relief washed over her. Her heart softened as she remembered the princess being attached to Feng Wei. This lessened the intensity of her threatening aura.

Consciously, she retracted the intent to kill, but a small portion remained directed at Feng Wei. Their proximity played a role in this. Feng Wei, in turn, was too close to completely escape this residual energy. The situation was undeniably tense.

Feng Wei, well aware of what was happening, recognized the opportunity he had. He decided to take the scene a step further. With notable effort, he forced a violent cough, simulating spitting blood and displaying extreme anguish.

Bai Lian's eyes remained cold, a sharp gaze like steel blades that seemed to pierce directly into Feng Wei's eyes. She spoke with a chilly voice carrying unquestionable weight: "If it weren't for you saving me, you wouldn't be alive to speak to me right now."

Their gazes clashed in a silent battle of wills, a struggle of determination and pride. Feng Wei met her eyes unwaveringly, his expression maintaining the façade of suffering even if it was contrived for the situation.

Bai Lian's words continued, colder than ever: "If you don't want to die, leave while I dress and never mention this to anyone!" Her voice had lost some of its previous intensity, but the firmness remained, a clear warning.

Despite their differences and misunderstandings, Bai Lian had spent enough time with Feng Wei to become accustomed to their interactions and to admit internally that she didn't hate him as much as she initially thought.

Suddenly, Feng Wei frowned, appearing genuinely irritated. "I'm tired of your arrogance! Even after all the efforts I made to save you! First, you take something I found without giving anything in return. Then, you disregard my warning not to touch the herb directly, or you'd regret it. And in the end, when I try to heal you, even damaging my daitan, instead of thanking me, you attack and banish me?!" He huffed coldly, revealing an expression of fury, something rare since his arrival in this world.

Bai Lian's countenance froze upon seeing the anger on Feng Wei's usually calm face, and a pang of regret surged in her heart. She tried to speak, but her words seemed caught in her throat.

Feng Wei, however, didn't wait for her to finish. He cut her off firmly: "You don't need to fulfill your promise anymore. At this moment, our relationship ends here." His eyes turned to the little dragon princess within the protective barrier, and he turned, walking away, a drop of his sweat falling quietly to the ground.

Seeing Feng Wei leave, Bai Lian was taken aback. "Was he crying? Someone who didn't waver under all the pressure I released, who didn't know fear, was crying because of me? Did I go too far?" Her thoughts were tumultuous as she processed the scene and the emotions that arose.

Memories seemed to flood her mind. Bai Lian reached out for an ethereal stone, and an image formed as she infused it with a bit of spiritual energy. She saw a boy, seemingly Feng Wei, struggling to heal someone.

At one moment, he appeared calm, but in another, desperation crossed his face as the person's heartbeat weakened. He began to shout, words escaping his lips: "You can't die, I won't allow it. I've lived my whole life alone. I finally found someone to call a companion." The image depicted his effort, the excessive release of spiritual energy causing bleeding from his nose and mouth. He continued to fight, saying he wouldn't let the person go, that he needed her to take care of the little dragon princess.

The image continued, showing how he calmed as she showed signs of improvement. Bai Lian saw when Feng Wei whispered words to her, expressing his concerns. When the image showed her about to wake up, Feng Wei quickly wiped the blood from his face so as not to worry her.

All of this was a whirlwind of emotions for Bai Lian. She stared at the ethereal stone in her hand, Feng Wei's words echoing in her mind. A sense of regret and understanding mixed in her heart. She had seen a part of him he hadn't shown before, a vulnerability she hadn't expected.

Bai Lian let out a sigh as the image in the ethereal stone faded. She looked at the ground, where a single tear from Feng Wei had fallen. With a mixture of emotions, she whispered to herself, "I... I..." Bai Lian suddenly bit her lip.

"I must find him. I must apologize."

*****

Feng Wei left the cave and returned to the waterfall where he used to train. His expression was serious, and his eyes held intense determination as he prepared to advance to the 7th level of the Body Refinement realm. He had chosen this moment to seek a breakthrough, wanting to further strengthen himself before facing the challenges awaiting him in the City of Crimson Chaos.

He sat in a meditative posture at the waterfall's edge, closed his eyes, and began to concentrate his spiritual energy. His breath became deep and rhythmic, and his mind merged with his body, guiding each flow of energy toward his meridians.

Meanwhile, Bai Lian remained attentive to her surroundings, tending to the young princess dragon in her evolutionary state.

As she waited, Bai Lian noticed subtle changes in the young miss's body. Her wings seemed to have grown slightly larger, displaying a greater wingspan, and her skin was notably smoother and more radiant.

After eight days of intense cultivation, an energy explosion occurred at the waterfall. Feng Wei's eyes snapped open, shining with intense light, and a powerful aura emanated from his body. He had broken through to the 7th level of the Body Refinement realm. His voice sounded serious: "It's time to return."