Chapter 7 — Giao Giao’s Covenant

His gaze lingered on that thin, frigid mist for a long moment.

"Ice. My body temperature is significantly lower than that of an average beast-man. When my emotions fluctuate, the temperature around me drops. If I were to stay too close to you, you would suffer from the chill."

He raised his right hand, and within his palm, a crystalline ice flower condensed, radiating a freezing, azure glow.

"Last month, when you were burning with a fever, the tribe’s healer warned that you must not be exposed to the cold. I stood guard outside your bedroom door for an entire night, not daring to step inside. I was so cold, and I feared that the moment I crossed the threshold, your fever would only worsen."

"So, I taught myself to keep my distance. I refrained from touching you, I avoided drawing near, and I made sure not to linger in your presence for too long. I truly believed that by doing so, I was protecting you."

Upon hearing this, I violently swiped his hand away.

"Cloud Path, you think you’re so noble, don't you? Acting in my best interest, bearing the burden in silence, sacrificing yourself in the shadows—it sounds so incredibly moving, doesn't it?"

His eyes darkened.

"Have you ever once asked me?"

"Asked you what?"

"Asked me if I was actually willing to go along with your plans."

My voice grew louder with every word.

"Do you think loving someone means pushing them away? Do you think protection means never touching them? Do you really believe that these ridiculous excuses—these 'for your own good' justifications—can ever compensate for the three long years I spent waiting in despair for you to come home?"

"I do not need you to arbitrarily decide what is best for me. I wanted you to ask me! I wanted you to tell me your worries and let me make the choice for myself."

"Do you think I desire a man who is cold-hearted? What I desired was for you to be cold to others, but gentle with me. Not cold to everyone, including me!"

Cloud Path’s lips parted, but no sound escaped. I stared directly into his eyes, enunciating each syllable: "Your greatest flaw is not the ice, not your silence, and not your inability to smile. It is your arrogance. You always assume you know what is best for me, you always assume your judgments are infallible, and you always assume you have no need to consult me."

"You were wrong."

The cavern fell into a deathly silence. Wind Flame and Blue Lotus had returned at some point and were standing at the entrance, hesitant to step inside. Wind Flame’s tail hung limp, and Blue Lotus looked indifferent, yet neither dared to speak. Cloud Path bowed his head, staring at the ice flower in his palm. The petals began to melt, and droplets of water seeped through his fingers, pattering onto the ground.

"You are right," he said, his voice raspy. "I never once asked you."

"But please," he added, "do not abandon me."

I reached out and gripped his freezing fingers, then turned my head and shouted, "Blue Lotus! Is there any way to stop the bleeding?" Blue Lotus stepped forward, producing a glowing scale, which he pressed against the wound. The scale melted, transforming into a thin, transparent membrane, and the blood flow gradually ceased.

"His life is secured for now," Blue Lotus stated. "But he has lost too much blood. We must get him out of here immediately."

"Master, he is severely injured. We must return to the tribe as soon as possible," Wind Flame added, stepping forward with rare gravity. Before I could respond, my sister’s sharp voice suddenly echoed through the cave.

"Giao Giao! Are you down there?"

"I am!" I shrieked in response. "We are here! All four of us are still alive!"

A rope was lowered, and my sister descended to the rescue. The moment her feet touched the ground, she lunged toward me, pulling me away from Cloud Path to inspect me from head to toe.

"Are you injured anywhere?"

"No, sister, I am perfectly fine."

"Are you certain?"

"I promise."

She let out a heavy sigh of relief, then cast a sharp glance at Cloud Path, who was leaning against the stone wall. "How did he get injured like that?"

"He took a blow meant for me."

The corners of her mouth twitched, though she said nothing more. She signaled the search team to come down and carry Cloud Path out, then she took my hand and led me up. By the time we reached the cliffside, twilight had descended. The search team scrambled to bandage the wounded and tally the numbers, while my sister pulled me into a secluded corner.

"Sister," I asked, "how did you find us? This place is so incredibly remote."

She gave a sheepish, awkward grin. "I attached a tracking device to you."

"What?"

"That necklace you’re wearing. The pendant hides a tracking charm. I had it crafted with spiritual power; no matter what corner of the world you are in, I will always be able to find you."

I reached up to touch the necklace. It was the gift she had given me after my rebirth—a silver chain holding a pale green jade-like pendant. She had repeatedly warned me never to take it off, and I had dutifully obeyed.

"In our previous life, you ran away from home, and I spent three days and three nights searching for you. By the time I found you, you were already..." She trailed off, turning away to wipe her eyes with the back of her hand. "The moment I woke up in this life, the first thing I did was commission this charm. With it, no matter where you are in the tribe, I will find you."

I looked at her, my heart aching as if it were being squeezed.

"Sister..."

"I know it was intrusive," she said, turning back with reddened eyes, "but I had no other choice. Giao Giao, I could not bear to go through the feeling of losing you again."

I threw my arms around her and held her tight. "I am so sorry."

"What are you apologizing for? None of this was your fault." She patted my back, her voice thick with emotion. "It is that scoundrel Cloud Path’s fault. In this life, I will absolutely never let that happen again."

"Is that why you sent those two beast-men to follow me?"

"Exactly. I wanted Cloud Path to know that you are not lacking in suitors. If he doesn't treat you well, there are plenty of others waiting in line who would be more than happy to take his place."