Selini didn't move for a long moment. Then, slowly, she turned her head toward the cart.
Haut's voice again—weak, but clear: "Help me. Get me out of here. I'm dying."
She stared at the cart. At the blood-soaked ground around it. At the scattered remains of her soldiers.
Something in her chest cracked.
Then she stood, walked to the cart, and pulled him out.
"You're truly shameless, Haut." Her voice was flat. Dead. "I'll treat your injuries first. Don't think of using any tricks. I'm your only lifeline in this jungle."
She laid him on clean ground—away from the blood, away from the bodies.
"It's a pity I lost my soldiers. Maybe… maybe I shouldn't have left them."
Haut looked at her—really looked. Into her eyes. Then away, like a hopeless man.
Because he was.
What could a normal person do with a weak body and no special abilities? If she knew he was the culprit behind her soldiers' deaths—the blood trails, the deliberate baiting—she would peel his skin off before killing him.
Even his attempt to pull her into self-guilt hadn't worked much.
Humans are like this, he thought. They want people to understand them. But once someone understands them with high clarity—reaches their core self—people feel terrified. Everyone has secrets. Who wants to be seen naked? So they push people away.
The sky was beginning to pale in the east.
"You're kind, Selini." He didn't look at her. "Even though you're a pseudo-captain, I still believe in your capabilities. You act cold but have a warm heart. You can't see someone in pain because of your own inability."
"After I take care of your wounds, I don't want to talk." No expression. Not even a grimace.
Few hours later
"There's smoke coming from the mountainside." Haut pointed weakly. "Thickness and volume—must be a village. Safe place to rest before moving on."
Selini's expression remained calm. "Can you walk?"
"Barely."
"You'll have to. Village doesn't seem far. We'll reach by dawn. First, we hide the remaining weapons in a safe place."
He nodded.
They hid their weapons and materials in a cave, took what little food remained, and walked.
Two hours across flat grassy terrain. Finally—the outer periphery of a village.
Seeing them, the first guard straightened his spear. Another guard—black-robed—asked gently, noting Haut's condition, "Who are you two?"
An old woman arrived at that moment—happened to be at the lake. Several villagers followed. Two young men with refined looks and long hair. A young woman with purple-pink long eyelashes, beautiful dress, pale white skin.
They looked at the strangers with worried expressions.
Selini managed a smile. Haut forced himself to stand straight.
"We're merchants." His voice was raspy, but calm. "Headed to market. Attacked by beasts on the way. Lost our caravan—all our merchants and guards. Everything destroyed. We survived, but… nowhere to go. Found your village. Hoped we could stay a day or two, if you'll have us."
The old woman waved at the guards to let them pass. She looked at the two refined young people. "Help this young man. Take them to the resting room."
Then to Haut, warm smile: "First, we tend your injuries. You're in dire state. We'll discuss things later, after you're out of danger."
Haut looked into her eyes with hope and gratitude.
If she knew about the bounty on my head, would she still be this kind?
Heh.
"We're grateful." Selini followed them.
They laid Haut on a comfortable bed. Introductions followed.
"I'm Zarvis. This is my colleague, Cin Shi. Sorry for troubling your village."
Selini glanced at him—the fake name—but said nothing.
The purple-pink eyed girl chuckled. "I'm Yin Mei. This is my grandmother, Yin Huai—head of the village."
She looked at the long-haired man in brown robe. He understood.
"Huang."
The other young man—white-blue robe—laughed. "You really don't know how to say more than one line. Hah. I'm Sieyres. Glad you found our village. Otherwise, who knows…" He glanced at Selini. "So she's your colleague? Thought she was your wife. Hahaha!"
Huang elbowed him. "Don't."
"Relax. Just verifying."
The old lady smiled silently at Sieyres, then looked at Selini—who wore conflicting expressions. Finally, she looked at Haut.
"Don't worry. We can treat your injuries. You'll be better in less than a week."
Yin Mei stepped forward. Her eyelashes began to glow—purple-pink. One by one, strands plucked themselves and floated toward Haut, stitching his wounds. Quick, gentle, painless.
Within moments, every wound was closed.
"Three hours for complete recovery. The strands will disappear on their own. But your blood loss and burns—those take time. They heal naturally." Yin Mei explained patiently.
Yin Huai spoke: "A century ago, this was a large village. Our ancestor Yin Han helped a wounded silicone horse beast. It left three furs as gratitude."
"The first—sight fur. Grey. Recovered eye injuries and eyesight. Yin Han kept it.
Second—blue and white striped. Recovered bones and burns. Given to Yin Siu, Yin Mei's older sister. She went missing twelve years ago."
Yin Huai's expression darkened.
"Third—purple-pink. You've seen its power. Condition: once used, thirteen days for eyelashes to regrow. Use twice—three months regrowth. Cycle repeats. And it can only be used thirty-three times total."
Sieyres added: "After the ancestor died, beast attacks intensified. Village weakened. People fled—like monkeys. But we stabilized. Trade's still bad though. Never recovered."
Huang nodded.
Yin Huai continued: "Many villagers return injured from beast attacks. Using the fur gets expensive."
Haut understood the implication. "You're right. Rare privilege. We'll return the favor—help with trading business. I'm in your debt."
Yin Huai smiled lightly. "Rest now. We'll talk later."
"Legend says the silicone horse was actually a unicorn," Yin Mei added with a smile. "Gave four furs. Fourth was pink-purple. But only heard that—no evidence."
"Rest now. We'll meet tomorrow."