The Untamed 2: The Unlikely Hero -Book 1-3

22. Healing Wounds

HEALING WOUNDS

Huang Jin looked up as she sat with Nie Huaisang next to the unconscious form of Jin Ling. They both had been tending to the wounds on Jin Ling as best they could. Huaisang fed him what little spiritual energy he had left and could part with. Jin Ling's face was covered in a sheen of sweat and Chang Su could tell he was still in visible pain. "Chang Su. Is he alright?!" Huang Jin asked her voice cracking.

Chang Su smiled softly, but his brows were furrowed in concern. "He will live. But he will have lasting scars. It will take time for him to heal both mentally and physically." He walked over to them and sat down weakly and held his hands over Jin Ling, Nie Huaisang moving out of the way quickly. "I will do what I can in the meantime."

At that moment they could hear a loud commotion coming down the tunnel that led to the entrance. The loud and many footsteps echoing around the cave walls grew to a crescendo as the rest of the cultivators came clamoring into the main chamber of the cave, swords drawn Lan Xichen at the head of the group. His face searched the cave quickly and saw that there was no immediate danger. He lowered his sword as he saw the three he rushed forward. "What happened?"

Huang Jin smiled up at him, her body visibly relaxing as she saw that the vast majority of the cultivators had made it. The mist that had been visible was now gone. "Nice of you to join us..." coughing weakly a sly smile on her face.

"The demons were leading us farther and farther away. We had to wait til we could get away without them noticing but they suddenly left. We rushed back as soon as we could. I am sorry it took us so long. Where is Wangji?" He said looking around.

"They are helping Jiang Cheng." Chang Su said and he tried to raise himself up off the ground to stand. He lost his balance as his energy left him. Lan Xichen caught him in his arms. Chang Su's eyes were half closed, "Oh sorry. I guess I used up a bit more energy than I thought." He chuckled to himself as he again tried to straighten himself up. "Thanks for catching me." He smiled and looked at Lan Xichen, nodding.

Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangi came back from the tunnel carrying Jiang Cheng by his shoulders between both of them, his feet dragging on the ground. They eventually fashioned two stretchers to bring back the injured Jin Ling and Jiang Cheng.

Before they left, Lan Xichen, Lan Wangji, and Wei Wuxian all sealed the cave with a series of talismans and spiritual energy. They then began the journey back through the forest and back to the boats. The sun had just set as they were sealing the cave and by the time they made it back to the boats it was already the dead of night. It was a silent and solemn trek. Huang Jin and Chang Su walked slowly with each other, Lan Xichen and Nie Huaisang hanging back with them.

They loaded onto the boats carefully and headed back to Baofeng. The moment that Huang Jin could sit beside Jiang Cheng that was still on the stretcher, she did. She hadn't taken her eyes off of him since Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji had brought him back to the main part of the cave. He had looked so pale. His breath was steady though, and he didn't look like he was going to die. She could feel his core like a ball of fire in his chest. She had to resist the urge to grab his hand and hold it to her chest.

Wei Wuxian was also worriedly looking down at him as Lan Wangji was holding Jiang Cheng's wrist as he channeled spiritual energy into him. The dull blue glow emanating from around his fingers and into Jiang Cheng cast a beautiful glow around the boat.

"He's going to be alright." Wei Wuxian said through the silence. He reassured not only himself but Huang Jin. She hadn't taken her eyes off him since they brought him back from the cave. She was clearly in pain. Every once in a while he would catch her wince of pain or sharp inhalation as she moved wrong as they had made the long trek back. He looked at her now and watched as a single tear slid down her face. She reached up and wiped it away quickly.