Favor

'What was that ?' he muttered to himself. 

The nightmare's horror clung to him even as he tried to ground himself in reality. His body felt heavy, and he was trembling uncontrollably. 

Before he could fully calm his racing heart, a wave of sickness overwhelmed him.

He bent forward, his body shaking with violent coughing.

Cough!

Cough

Cough

Blood spilled from his mouth, splattering onto the ground. Each one was agonizing, draining what little strength he had left and leaving him feeling weak and dizzy.

He wiped the blood from his lips with shaky hands, trying to make sense of his surroundings.

It took him a moment to realize that he wasn't alone.

Two figures stood over him, their faces partially obscured by the dim light.

Instinctively, he tried to get up and defend himself, but his body wouldn't cooperate, and he fell back down.

Fortunately, Asaad was there to catch him.

"Boy, are you okay? Don't push yourself," he said, his voice filled with concern . 

Fang Xuan squinted up at him, still feeling disoriented. 

"Who are you?" he asked, his voice shaky and strained.

The pain and weakness made him more cautious, and he wasn't about to trust anyone without knowing their motives.

"I saved you," Asaad said calmly. "You were about to be killed by two cultivators."

'Save me?'

His memory was foggy. The last thing he recalled was Cui Fang ordering Tao Bai to behead him. Everything after that was a blur.

It was hard to believe that someone would rescue him out of the goodness of their heart, so he didn't lower his guard.

"Thank you," Fang Xuan said weakly, though his voice carried skepticism. "But how do I know you're telling the truth?"

Demrah, who had been standing silently, stepped forward, her irritation barely concealed. "Are you serious? After everything we've done for you, you still doubt us?"

Her frustration was evident, she wasn't pleased with Fang Xuan's lack of gratitude. 

She turned to Asaad, her voice low but filled with annoyance. "Why are we even bothering with him? He's nothing but a potential threat."

"He's been through a lot. We should focus on helping him, not arguing." Asaad replied. 

"Typical. Always playing the hero while I'm left to deal with the consequences. It's the same every time." she snapped. 

Fang Xuan, could sense the underlying hostility in her tone. He became furious of her attitude. 

"I'm just trying to be cautious," he muttered. "I don't know you people," 

Demrah's eyes narrowed, and she muttered under her breath, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Ungrateful. " 

Asaad's face tightened at her words, and he tried to keep his voice steady.

"Let's not make this harder than it needs to be. Boy, we're here to help you. Demrah's frustration is understandable, but it's not going to help if we're at each other's throats."

"Thank you for saving me," Fang Xuan said, forcing himself to move and bow his head. "How can I repay you?"

Asaad was briefly shocked by the question. He hadn't expected anything in return for saving him, but if he said that, Fang Xuan would become even more suspicious.

"I'll think about it later, but be ready—my price for saving you is high," Asaad declared, making sure to sound firm to get his message across.

Fang Xuan felt a chill run down his spine, but at the same time, he felt relieved.

"I'll make sure to repay this favor!"