Pain and exhaustion overwhelmed the girl’s body, reminding her that she was in control of her body once more.[\s]

… A rather cruel reminder, anyway.

 [It hurts…]

The salty tang of blood in her mouth caused the girl to contemplate her life.[\s]

Were her internals ruptured?

… Her slashed stomach continued to periodically send signals of pain.

The way of the sword was no stranger to injuries,

but it was the first time the girl had suffered these kinds of injuries.

[em italic color=#FAFAD2]If this is what victory tastes like…

then it’s so bitter.[/em][\s]

Li Sushang couldn’t help but let her mind run wild, even letting out a chuckle despite the resultant pain.

And once again, she grimaced in pain.

 [...Hey Raksha, you’re there, right?] The girl tried her hardest to speak, asking the moon up above.

Nobody answered her. However, she heard the pattering of footsteps-[\s]

Knock, knock.[\s]

-as someone neared her.

 [Hehe… It’s you, right?]

Li Sushang asked,

but her voice was too quiet, so much so that she couldn’t even hear it herself over the shifting sands.

 [Did you help me?] [Stop talking.] The golden-haired green-eyed Raksha knelt down next to her. [You’re very lucky. These aren’t serious injuries.]

[em italic color=#FAFAD2]Are you kidding?[/em]

Li Sushang wanted to ask, but she ended up not saying a word.

She laid there peacefully, waiting to see what other kinds of tricks were up the Raksha’s sleeve. Unsurprisingly, the Raksha opened his palm and allowed a golden-blue light to spill forth from the void, forming into an item.

From Sushang’s perspective, it looked like a white umbrella with some strange crests.

Its body was elongated and its tip was sharp.

 [Are you going to poke me with that?] [Stop talking.] The Raksha repeated. His falling hair covered his eyes, and Sushang saw a drop of something, either sweat or a tear, drip from his face. [\s]The Raksha held the pitch black handle of the umbrella, placing its tip on Sushang’s injury, and said:

[It won’t hurt, but it’ll feel a bit strange…

Probably a little numb or sore, can you try not to move?]

 Sushang wanted to nod, but the pain from her injuries caused her to blink in response instead. [...I believe you.] She didn’t even know if she was able to say that. The pain began to subside from the area the Raksha was touching with the tip of his umbrella. [\s]Using her Blade Mantra, Sushang could see that the Raksha was directing Ki into her injuries. It was clearly a costly endeavor judging from the sweat pooling on his face.

[em italic color=#FAFAD2]Do golden-haired people sweat gold too?[/em]

Li Sushang thought, slightly embarrassed, excited, shy, and a little sorry for thinking that of him.

 [There’s too much of a gap between the functionality of the simulated ones…] The Raksha said to himself. [It’ll need some time.] [Ok.] Both the Raksha and Li Sushang stopped talking.

The nightly breeze blew through the Raksha’s long golden locks.

Li Sushang could feel a slight tickling sensation from where it brushed past on her face.

She wanted to say something, but didn’t in the end.

She instead closed her eyes. [\s]

It was like what the Raksha said, she felt both numbness and soreness inside her. It was a strange feeling, but she could deal with it.

 [Sigh~] She thought about the past day. First, she defeated four desert bandits and got a taste of what being a prisoner was like. Then, she had an honorable duel with the man named “Eagle”, though she won by a thread. Despite seriously injuring the boss of the Golden Sand Gang, she was in pretty bad shape too. She also met this strange foreigner and was watching him heal her wounds with sorcery. [em italic color=#FAFAD2]What a long day…[/em]

The life and death experience she had today was a great step for the girl.

It was as if a lifetime had passed since this morning.

Satisfaction and emptiness. Joy and sorrow.

Unknown feelings swarmed and mixed together in Li Sushang’s heart.

Slowly, the pain disappeared. [\s]

What replaced it was the small plant of pride taking root in the girl’s heart.

 [Haha, you… You’re going to suffer later if you don’t know the ways of Shenzhou.] Li Sushang quietly said, looking at the silver moon hanging in the sky. [We’re not supposed to have outside help during a duel. [\s]There were a lot of spectators just now, and they’ll be sure to call you a weasel or evil. You’re a foreigner, so it’s best to not stir up too much trouble here.] [Fine. I could’ve just watched you die on the sidelines then.] [Hehe…] [Thanks. You’re not a bad Raksha. You, you're good…] [Ha.] The Raksha didn’t look at her. Instead, he was still focusing on transferring his Ki through that white umbrella to heal her wounds. [No need to thank me. I have something to ask of you too.] [Hmm? What?] The girl was suddenly curious. [Well let’s hear it. You saved my life, so no matter what it is that you need, I’ll give it my all.] [Just now underground, you said that your martial art was called the Edge of Taixuan? The exclusive teachings of the Celestial Phoenix?] The Raksha said casually. [Who’s that? And why do you call her a Celestial?] [Because she’s truly a Celestial, an incredibly powerful one too. They say that she’s immortal since she still looks like a maiden even after thousands of years.] The Raksha blinked, and the white umbrella disappeared into thin air. [Do you know where she is?] [Me? No idea.] Li Sushang bit her lips to hide her excitement. [But you’ve asked the right person. If there’s anyone who knows the whereabouts of the Celestial, then it has to be my master. Did you know that the Celestial took in seven disciples? Both my mom and my master were her disciples…] [Wait, do you want to see the Celestial?] [...] The Raksha stared at her and cracked a smile: [I do.] Perhaps he didn’t realize that this was the first time he’d smiled so freely and joyfully after leaving the west on his journey to Shenzhou. Li Sushang didn’t know his past nor his pain, but she knew just how big his smile was right now. [\s]An impulse claimed the girl’s instincts as she leapt up: [Then come with me! We’ll go back and get my master to take us to see the Celestial!] 伝記更新：「羅刹人」