They remained suspended in the trap, suffocating in its silence.
"Your Highness, are you hurt?" Long Fei's words faltered slightly as his chest heaved, and his hand, still gripping her shoulder, slightly trembled. He could feel the sharp pangs in his arm where a spike had impaled him. The poison spread like fire through his veins, dulling his senses and clouding his thoughts, the pain searing through him. He was starting to feel dizzy, but the concern for the princess drowned out the pain. At that moment, a question lingered: Could he protect her from the perils ahead?
The princess' fingers twisted into the hem of his cloak, digging into the fabric until it ripped. Slowly, she lifted her head, her eyes locking with his. The dim light of the cavern barely illuminated her face, and he could feel 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. Not in front of her. Yet, as the poison took hold, the pain in his limbs intensified, and his breaths grew shallow. The awkward positioning of his body—with one arm holding her, his legs jammed against the rocks, and an impaled arm—was taking its toll. The last thing he wanted to do was show her how much he was suffering. He couldn't afford it. Not when she needed him.
"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?
Above them, Ling Yue tossed a sturdy rope down into the pit. "Master! Are you all right?" Her voice echoed, 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."
The mermaid fumbled with the rope, her panic evident in her erratic movements.
"Ready for me to pull you up yet?" his guardian called from above.
"Ready," he responded, his voice strained. Despite his fading strength, he was determined to ensure the mermaid 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. His grip slipped as he tore his arm out, and a sharp gasp escaped him. Blood gushed from his wound. The pain was unbearable as his muscles protested the movement. He clenched his jaw, forcing the groan back down, focusing only on one thing: escape. His body screamed for rest, but he refused to let it win.
The rope smacked against his chest, just within reach. He exhaled, steadying himself. There was no time for rest.
"Master?" his pet called again, her voice laced with concern, breaking through the fog in his mind. She sounded so 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 weakness. 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, but refusing to let it show. He paused, eyes studying her face, before asking,
"Shui Yi, are you all right?" His voice was gentle, but his heart tightened as he noticed the faint tremor in her breath. It pained him to see her in such a state. She remained silent, her eyes lowered and distant. Her hands trembled, her fingers twisting nervously in the folds of her clothes, as if trying to atone for her actions she couldn't express. She started to reach for him, but Ling Yue tugged him away, her eyes narrowed in concern.
"Stop moving. You're in no condition to keep going." His guardian tsked as she noticed the blood pooling in his sleeve. Her hands slightly fumbled as she dug through her satchel for medicinal herbs.
***
"You need to rest, Master." The guardian helped Long Fei sit down, her hands shaking as she dressed his wound.
She glared at the shaken princess. "I don't know what's more dangerous: this pit, or you rushing into it without thinking."
Shui Yi flinched at her words; it 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 weakly nodded; 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 observed the cavern, his breath in short rasps.
"Stay cautious," he murmured. "There are more dangers here than meets the eye."
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 giving a huff. "We should be fine—assuming she doesn't dive into another disaster."
Shui Yi's cheeks burned as she buried her face into her arms, she could not meet their eyes.