"Where?" Xin Tingting spun toward the direction Liang Yi pointed. She saw two middle-aged men dressed in garments made of animal fur, each wearing a strange triangular pendant resembling a pyramid on their chest. Their long black hair hung loose and unkempt. They were seated upon camels, one per mount.
"Will those two uncles ride their camels past us? Their clothes are odd," Xin Tingting said, glancing at her companion.
"That's what I thought they're dressed very strangely. I don't know if they mean us well or ill, or if they're merely passing by. But with that posture and expression, I doubt it's benevolent," Liang Yi replied in an even tone, but her eyes glinted with caution as she kept her sharp gaze locked on the two strangers.
Then her eyes turned pensively to Xin Tingting, her elegant brows rising slightly in question. "You're the Goddess of Restoration have you ever fought, even a little?"
The question held no contempt, only genuine curiosity. Liang Yi's voice was pleasant to hear, yet her eyes remained alert and ready.
Xin Tingting let out a soft laugh in her throat, then spoke: "Me? No longer. I just lie around all day being lazy, sleeping and nothing else. I have no combat skill or power at all."
"In that case, you'd better hide behind one of the cactus plants," Liang Yi suggested, glancing at the two middle-aged men slowly approaching on camels. She studied them carefully; they seemed ordinary men of average martial skill, without any prominent aura of strength. They likely weren't beyond her ability.
"Hm~" Xin Tingting hurried off roughly to hide behind a cactus, as Liang Yi had instructed. She had only known Liang Yi for a few days, and still wasn't fully confident in her powers. Liang Yi was as petite as she was. Xin Tingting frowned lightly before turning back to look at her friend standing in the open.
"Liang Yi! I think you should come hide with me," Xin Tingting shouted kindly. She believed her comrade couldn't handle those two middle-aged men. Besides, Liang Yi was fragile like a delicate creature. How could she fight men with masculine strength?
A moment passed like a fleeting breeze. Xin Tingting, hiding behind the cactus, heard no reply from Liang Yi. She felt a slight anxiety why was her friend so unafraid, as if a resolute warrior ready for battle?
"Something's wrong with her," Xin Tingting thought, frowning harder. Why hadn't Liang Yi come to hide already? Didn't she realize that danger was near?!
Xin Tingting blinked several times, focus returning to Liang Yi's slender figure. It seemed she had no intention of retreating.
Just then, a strange beam of light flickered from the sky above. Alerted, Xin Tingting turned to peer at it with uneasy curiosity. The beam changed color then shot down, flattening a patch of dry yellow grass in that area.
The pale cloth wrapped around it gradually opened. Inside lay a sparkling clean blanket and an infant with round, bright eyes an adorable baby. Soon, Xin Tingting hurried over, driven by apprehension and curiosity, stepping onto the trampled patch of grass.
Her eyes widened in astonishment when she saw the baby wrapped in thick cloth. His countenance was irresistibly cute rosy, jade-like skin, long delicate eyelashes like a doll's. She gasped, an expression mixing surprise and hesitation. She blinked rapidly, then scanned her surroundings to see if anyone else was trailing the child.
But all she found was emptiness only a gentle breeze blew, the shadow of the cactus swayed in the wind. No sign of anyone, not even the child's parents.
Xin Tingting's heart raced. She hesitated for a moment, then gently knelt and reached out to touch the bundle. Warmth seeped through her fingertips steady, innocent breathing. This abandonment in the open world wasn't normal. She frowned, suspicion flooding her mind.
Her delicate fingertip softly brushed the baby's fragile nose. It was unbelievable! Xin Tingting was so astonished, she nearly stopped breathing. This newborn had an exquisitely handsome face from birth delicate features, fair and smooth skin, a well-formed nose, small rosy lips every aspect was flawless.
Though barely an infant, a strange elegance already radiated. Xin Tingting couldn't resist touching the baby's soft cheek. The touch was warm and evoked an unbidden sense of attachment.
She frowned slightly. A strange sensation stirred in her heart, as if something pulled her cannot look away from this infant. Her heart raced for no reason. A warmth flashed deep in her soul as if she sensed something profound, too peculiar to describe.
The longer she looked at the baby's face, the stronger the sensation grew. It wasn't merely care or pity for the abandoned child it was something deeper. As if she and this child were connected by an unseen bond.
She bit her lip, hesitated, then gently reached for the tiny hand emerging from the blanket. The moment her fingertips touched the soft skin, the odd sensation intensified like a current of energy flowing into her heart.
A fleeting look of astonishment crossed her face, and she breathed heavily. This infant must have been sent away by his parents into an unforgiving world of scorching sand. Given the child's exceptional nature, she acted without hesitation: she gently cradled him, holding the fragile body as if it were a doll.
The luminous beam enveloping the blanket slowly dispersed and vanished in an instant. Xin Tingting watched as the light dissipated into the air, her eyes reflecting both wonder and warmth.
She bowed over the baby; his round eyes were still closed, fine wisps of hair resting on his forehead. Xin Tingting unconsciously smiled softly, her slender fingers stroking his head gently, a surge of affection swelling in her heart.
The wind whispered. Dry leaves rubbed against each other in time like a lullaby. In this hush, Xin Tingting felt the warmth emanating from the infant in her arms. She couldn't tear her eyes away.
She pursed her lips and whispered softly, "This baby is probably a boy. He is so handsome how could his father and mother abandon him? I really don't understand."
"Haah…" Xin Tingting murmured in surprise as mysterious dark-purple mist slowly seeped from the baby's body. She felt a chilling, eerie power that made her skin prickle.
The dark shadows spread slowly, seeming alive, writhing as if struggling to cling to something. She hastened to study the baby's face with concern; his skin was turning abnormally pale, his lips drained of color, breathing so faint it was barely perceptible.
Or … is this baby being consumed by a potent poison, almost at the brink of death?
Merely thinking so made Xin Tingting's heart abruptly twitch, emotions churning in turmoil. Does that mean the child's parents abandoned him because of an incurable poison? Her gaze softened slightly, compassion overwhelming her. She couldn't let this little life wither away!
She quickly placed one hand over the baby's chest and unleashed a golden light mixed with tiny glowing stars from within her being. They seeped slowly into him. Xin Tingting, though a Goddess of Restoration lacking in combat power, possessed other abilities. Her innate power bore the symbol of a tiny golden star.
With sufficient training, her power could even bring the dead back to life. A goddess with restorative power by one's side would be akin to immortality. But at this moment, her power couldn't yet fully resurrect the dead, perhaps due to insufficient mastery.
Thus, she couldn't neutralize the dangerous poison within the infant's body. Even as she condensed all her healing power, it proved ineffective. She sighed heavily, burdened by pressure and worry. Her glossy lips parted slightly, eyes dimmed as the harsh reality unfolded.
'This poison is too vicious… even if I use all my power, I can't dissolve it. Moreover, my restorative power is still at the beginner training level. I can't neutralize the poison or preserve his life.'
Her eyes reflected hesitation as she lowered her gaze in thought. She understood her restorative ability was still too low to tackle such powerful poison.
'Only Grandfather can dispel this poison.'
At that thought, she clenched her fist, heart pounding with anxiety. If time passed, the infant might not survive. But this situation couldn't be dealt with by frantic action. She had to bring the baby to her grandfather as soon as possible. Her eyes glowed resolutely though her heart burned with urgency, she would not give up.