They remained suspended in the trap. The awkward positioning of Long Fei—with one arm holding Shui Yi, his legs jammed against the rocks, and an impaled arm braced against a jutting crag—was taking its toll. The last thing he wanted to do was alarm her with how much he was suffering. He couldn't risk it. Not when she needed him.
"Your Highness, are you hurt?" his voice faltered as his chest heaved. His hand, still clutching her shoulder, trembled slightly.
Sharp pangs shot through the arm braced against the crag where the spike pierced him. Poison blazed through his veins; his head throbbed, and his heart pounded. Dizziness clawed at him, but he stifled the urge to give in.
His ragged gasps echoed into the dark. Concern for the princess drowned out the searing pain. Could he protect her from the perils ahead, given his weakened state?
She twisted the hem of his cloak around her fingers, digging into the fabric until it tore. Slowly, she lifted her head, her eyes locking with his. The dim light of the cavern barely illuminated her face, silver strands brushing his neck as her breath quickened.
"I think... it's time you addressed me as Shui Yi. I'm not a princess anymore."
Silence stretched between them. His gaze softened, his brow furrowing.
His arm, wedged awkwardly against the jagged wall, burned from the poison coursing through him, but he couldn't bring himself to show weakness. Just endure. Not much longer. Yet, as the poison took hold, the pain in his limbs intensified, and his breaths grew shallow.
"Master, are you hurt?" she whispered, her voice shaky with concern.
"You may address me as Long Fei," he murmured, in between gasps. His grip tightened on her, anchoring them both. It was a silent promise he couldn't afford to break. He had vowed to protect her. But with the poison spreading like wildfire through his veins, his strength waning, the question haunted him: Would he be able to keep this up?
Ling Yue tossed the end of a sturdy rope down into the pit. "Master! Are you all right?" Her voice echoed from above, tinged with concern.
He exhaled, his breath shaky as he adjusted his hold. "Yes. Shui Yi, tie the rope. Ling Yue will pull you up."
He loosened his hold on the mermaid, keeping his arm close and upright. She carefully sat up and fumbled with the rope, her panic evident in her erratic movements. He tugged at the rope to ensure she had tied it securely.
"Ready for me to pull you up yet?" his guardian called from above.
"Yes," he responded, his voice strained. Despite his fading strength, he was determined to ensure the mermaid princess reached safety first.
Long Fei watched the mermaid ascend to safety. Once she was secure, he turned his attention to the spike still lodged in his arm.
He searched for a hold on the jagged wall with his free hand. His grasp slipped as he tore his arm free from the spike, and a sharp gasp escaped him. Blood gushed from his wound. The pain was unbearable as his muscles protested. He clenched his jaw, forcing the groan back down, focusing only on one thing: survival. His body screamed for rest, but he refused to cave in.
The rope smacked against his chest, just within reach. He exhaled, steeling himself. There was no time for rest.
"Master?" his guardian called again, her voice laced with unease, breaking through his daze. She sounded unusually worried; he couldn't let her down now.
He took a deep breath, channeling his qi to numb the pain. The air burned in his lungs, but it helped him focus, pulling him back from the edge of collapse. With a push off the wall, he ascended, using the rope to propel himself upwards. He landed next to the mermaid, grimacing as the poison surged, unable to hide it any longer.
He paused, studying her face before gently asking, "Shui Yi, are you all right?" His heart tightened at the faint tremor in her breath.
She remained silent, eyes lowered, gaze distant. Her hands trembled, her fingers twisting nervously in the folds of her clothes, as if trying to atone for actions she couldn't express.
She began to reach for him, but Ling Yue tugged him back, eyes narrowing with worry. "Stop moving. You're in no condition to keep going. Your face has changed shades." His guardian tsked as she noticed the blood pooling in his sleeve.
Her fingers faltered as she rummaged through her satchel for medicinal herbs. She plucked out bandages and pills.
***
Shui Yi watched Ling Yue tend to Long Fei; she pushed a pill into his mouth as he pressed acupressure points around his injury. "You need to rest, Master," she said, helping him sit down, her hands shaking as she dressed his wound.
She glared at the shaken princess as she tied the bandage. "I don't know what's more dangerous: this pit, or you rushing into it without thinking."
The mermaid flinched at her words; those words stung deeper than any superficial wounds. She wanted to retort, to say that she didn't mean to be reckless. But what was the point? She had no excuse.
She nodded weakly; too rattled to defend herself. She clenched her fists, her breath catching in her throat. It was her fault. Again. Why did she always make things worse?
She noticed Long Fei's restraint as his eyes surveyed the cavern, his breath coming in short rasps. "Be careful in here. Not everything is as it seems."
Guilt gripped her as blood seeped through his bandage. She wanted to apologize but no words could express how she felt.
Ling Yue crossed her arms, eyeing her one last time before letting out a huff. "We should be fine—assuming she doesn't dive into another disaster."
Shui Yi's cheeks burned as she buried her face in her arms. She could not face both of them after the trouble she had caused.