Chapter 6

While walking and consulting the map, Zhao Yang suddenly slipped and tumbled down the mountainside. Reacting too slowly, he plummeted to the bottom, sustaining injuries in the process.

Unconsciousness enveloped Zhao Yang, and when he finally regained awareness, he swiftly assessed his surroundings. It appeared he was still within the forest, at the foot of the mountain. The terrain below was untamed, nothing like the scenery at the mountaintop. As he rose to his feet, sharp pain coursed through his body, serving as a stark reminder of how he ended up at the mountain's base. Zhao Yang reached into his pocket and retrieved a glass bottle containing pills he had prepared for treating minor injuries.

After consuming the pill and utilizing his elemental abilities to distribute its healing properties throughout his body, Zhao Yang experienced a rapid recovery, with his injuries vanishing and pain dissipating. It was still nighttime, and Yang contemplated attempting to climb the slippery mountainside. However, after a few futile efforts, he decided to abandon the idea and rest for the night. As he wandered through the dense forest, he eventually came across a cave. Zhao Yang approached cautiously, refraining from entering outright. He was wary that a slumbering beast might be inside.

Just as Zhao Yang stood at the cave's entrance, rain suddenly poured down, leaving him with no choice but to seek shelter within. With only two sets of clothing in his possession, he couldn't afford to get drenched. Once inside, he realized that the cave extended deeper than he initially thought, but he refrained from venturing too far. Zhao Yang settled on a large rock and, feeling hungry, rummaged through his space bag for snacks. Inattentive to his surroundings, he failed to notice a figure slowly emerging from the depths of the cave. Zhao Yang remained oblivious until a cold shiver ran down his spine.

Startled, Zhao Yang spun around, only to face a pair of large hands reaching towards him. Caught off guard, he was ensnared by the hands, rendering him unable to break free. His heart raced, and a sense of terror overcame him. There was no trace of sprite energy emanating from the cave, leading him to believe there was no sprite creature present. If it were a sprite animal, he might have stood a chance, but these hands belonged to a human. The fact that Zhao Yang failed to detect the person's presence meant they were likely much stronger than him.

The large hands covered his mouth and immobilized his own hands, making it increasingly difficult for him to escape. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Zhao Yang's instincts urged him to flee, as his chances of survival in this predicament appeared slim. With this in mind, he struggled vigorously, desperately attempting to break free from the grip. The more he struggled in vain, the greater his panic grew.

"Stop moving," a deep voice abruptly pierced Zhao Yang's ears, sending shivers down his spine. The man's voice possessed a chilling coldness, devoid of any emotion. From the sound of it, Zhao Yang estimated the man to be in his twenties, slightly older than himself. As he had his back turned to the man, he couldn't catch a glimpse of his appearance. However, he sensed that the man stood taller and more well-built than him. Dread filled Zhao Yang's heart, recognizing that this man surpassed him in every aspect, leaving little hope for escape. Although the chances were slim, he still clung to the possibility and brainstormed various escape strategies.

Lost in his thoughts, Zhao Yang failed to notice that he had stopped struggling and that the man had released him. Suddenly, he felt something fall onto his shoulders. When he turned to inspect it, his body froze. The man's heavy breaths brushed against his shoulders.

Although Zhao Yang couldn't see the man's face, he discerned from his labored breathing that he was injured. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Zhao Yang realized he had been released. The immense relief washed over him as he calmed down, knowing he was free.

However, the man still leaned on his shoulder, clearly in considerable pain. Suddenly, Zhao Yang felt the full weight of the man's body pressing against him, and he realized that the man had fainted. Reacting quickly, Zhao Yang turned around and attempted to support the man with both arms. But the man's weight proved too much for him, causing Zhao Yang to falter. Eventually, the man's body ended up atop Zhao Yang, and despite the heaviness, he did his best to remain upright. After taking a few deep breaths to regain his composure, he slowly dragged the man just outside the cave. Recognizing that the man was injured, Zhao Yang decided to show him kindness and help treat his wounds.

Once outside, under the moonlight, Zhao Yang could finally observe the man's features. He was strikingly handsome, with finely sculpted facial features including a strong jawline, sharp eyebrows, and an elegant nose. The man possessed a face that could easily grace the covers of magazines, and Zhao Yang found himself captivated by his appearance. It took him a while to snap out of his daydreaming and refocus his attention on the man's injuries. To his shock, he discovered a deep and untreated gash on the man's chest. Without hesitation, Zhao Yang retrieved the medicine he had prepared, despite having only a few doses left. Wanting to extend his kindness, he force-fed the man the medicine to halt any internal bleeding. Next, he retrieved additional supplies from his space bag and laid them out in front of him. Methodically, Zhao Yang began cleaning the wound and its surrounding area, determined to provide proper care. Although he would typically find himself admiring the man's perfect physique and abs, he recognized that now was not the time for such thoughts. Taking out a clean needle, he skilfully stitched up the man's wound.

The medical advancements in this world, compared to modern times, were nothing short of astonishing. The disparity was like comparing heaven and earth. Once he tidied up his work area, Zhao Yang removed the man's blood-soaked clothes. Using his last spare set of clothing, he dressed the man, managing to fit him with the outer robe. Using the inner fabric of the robe, Zhao Yang meticulously cleaned any remaining blood or dirt near the wound, ensuring it wouldn't become infected.

Throughout the night, Zhao Yang stayed awake, diligently looking after the man who was running a fever. With no water available, all he could do was administer the last of his medication. 

The following morning, Yang was roused by the rustling sound of clothes. As he opened his eyes, he saw the man struggling to get up from the floor. Quickly getting up himself, Yang moved beside the man to offer assistance. 

Speaking casually, as if they had been friends for years, Yang couldn't help but wonder why the man hadn't called for help while awake. Unaware of his own tone, Yang's words surprised the man, who swiftly reverted to his emotionless demeanor.