The herbs Elder Mei left behind still lingered in the room, releasing a faint warm scent that softened the air. Lin Tian remained beside Xueya long after the elder stepped out, watching the steady rise and fall of her breathing. She looked calmer—less strained—but her fingers still twitched every few breaths.
Xueya lay slightly turned toward him, the blanket pulled up to her collarbone. Her robe beneath it had loosened again, exposing part of her shoulder and the dip across her collarbone. The faint trace of blue frost had vanished from her skin, replaced by a fragile warmth that made her look even more breakable.
A soft sound escaped her throat.
"…Tian…"
Lin Tian leaned closer immediately. "I'm here."
Her eyes opened, slow and unfocused, as if waking from a heavy dream. When she saw him still sitting next to her, concern flashed across her expression before she hid it behind a weak smile.
"You should rest," she whispered. "You've been awake all day."
"And you nearly collapsed in front of me," Lin Tian replied quietly. "Resting can wait."
She lowered her gaze.
"You shouldn't worry this much…"
"I'm engaged to you," Lin Tian said simply. "Isn't it normal to worry?"
Her ears warmed faintly. She tried to shift upright, but her arm trembled halfway through the motion. The blanket slipped slightly, revealing more of her shoulder—smooth skin, faintly flushed from strain. She quickly grabbed it with her free hand, cheeks reddening.
"I—I can sit by myself."
Lin Tian steadied her anyway, one hand supporting the small of her back. Her breath hitched in surprise at the contact, and her robe slipped a little further before she pulled it tightly around her chest.
The tremor in her fingers worsened.
"Xueya," he said softly, "your body hasn't healed yet."
"I know." Her voice was barely audible. "It's… more unpredictable than I thought."
Her head lowered, strands of silver hair hiding part of her face.
"I didn't want you to see me like this," she murmured. "I thought if I rested long enough, it would fade like before."
Lin Tian frowned. "You've dealt with this alone for days?"
She stiffened almost imperceptibly.
"…Yes."
Lin Tian's hand curled into a fist on his knee. Xueya saw the tension and looked away quickly.
"I didn't want to worry you," she whispered. "You finally started cultivating. The last thing you need is my problem holding you back."
He leaned closer.
"You are not holding me back."
Xueya's breath trembled.
"I don't know that," she said. "Your first steps into cultivation should be peaceful. Not tangled with my problem."
Lin Tian gently brushed the hair from her cheek. She froze under the touch, eyes widening just a little.
"You stayed with me when I had nothing," he said. "Now let me stay with you."
Her lips parted—but before she could form a word, a shiver cut through her body.
A sharp, involuntary tremor.
Lin Tian immediately steadied her shoulders. "Xueya!"
"I'm fine," she forced out. But her voice cracked, betraying her completely.
The trembling spread down her arms. Her legs tightened beneath the blanket, curling slightly toward him. Her robe slipped again with the motion, exposing more of her chest than she intended. She clutched the fabric tightly, but the strain in her fingers was obvious.
"Xueya, breathe," Lin Tian said, shifting closer so she could lean against him.
She exhaled shakily, but another tremor struck before she finished. Her shoulder bumped against his chest, her forehead brushing his collarbone.
"It's colder…" she whispered. "Everything is colder than before…"
Her body curled unconsciously toward his warmth.
Lin Tian wrapped an arm around her without hesitation. She gasped softly at the sudden closeness but didn't pull away. Her cheek rested against his shoulder, breath warm against his skin.
Her trembling lessened—slightly.
"…Tian," she whispered, gripping his sleeve. "Don't… let go."
"I won't."
She closed her eyes, trying to steady her breath. But every few seconds another ripple passed through her—small, sharp, uncontrollable.
Her fingers tightened.
Her voice grew softer.
"I hate this…" she murmured. "I hate that my body reacts like this. It's embarrassing…"
Lin Tian shook his head. "There is nothing embarrassing about needing help."
She didn't respond, only pressed closer, as if afraid that a single inch of distance would let the cold return.
Another tremor hit her. Stronger.
Her robe slipped open slightly at the front. She gasped and grabbed at it, but her arms trembled too much to keep the fabric secure. Lin Tian reached forward quickly, adjusting the blanket to cover her. Their hands brushed—her cold fingertips against his warm ones.
"…thank you," she whispered, her face burning.
Lin Tian didn't move away. She needed warmth; he could feel how her body leaned toward his instinctively.
"You shouldn't be alone when this happens," he said. "Why didn't you tell me?"
Her eyes lowered. "Because you would worry too much. Because you'd stop thinking about your own growth. Because I—"
She stopped herself.
Lin Tian waited.
"…Because I didn't want you to see me weak," she finished quietly. "Not like this."
He reached out and gently lifted her chin so she would meet his eyes.
"I don't care if you're weak," he said softly. "I care that you're hurting."
Her breath caught.
For a moment, her trembling paused—just long enough for her to lean her forehead against his chest.
"…Tian," she whispered, voice fragile, "I'm scared."
He held her shoulders carefully, guiding her into a more stable position against him. Her knees bent, curling toward his side. Her hair brushed his jaw.
"I'm here," he murmured. "I'm right here, Xueya."
Her breath warmed his skin.
But then—
A violent tremor seized her. Her whole body jerked, and she gasped, clutching the front of his robe desperately.
"Tian—!"
Her voice wavered, not from fear alone but from the instability tearing through her meridians.
She collapsed against him fully now, barely able to keep herself upright.
"I can't—" her voice cracked, "—I can't stop it this time…"
Lin Tian wrapped both arms around her, holding her tightly against him. The blanket slipped, revealing part of her bare shoulder again, but neither of them cared now.
"Xueya, stay with me. It's okay."
"Don't let me fall…" she gasped. "Please… don't let me—"
"I won't," he whispered fiercely. "I promise."
Her breathing hitched. Her eyes squeezed shut. Her fingers dug into his chest through the fabric of his robe.
And then—
She slumped.
Her body went limp in his arms, trembling uncontrollably.
Lin Tian caught her, lifting her carefully.
"Xueya."
Her head rested weakly against his shoulder, breath shallow, robe slipping again as her body lost all strength.
He pulled the blanket around her and held her tightly.
He couldn't wait anymore.
He couldn't let her suffer another moment.
"Xueya…" he whispered, voice shaking with something he didn't fully understand.
"I won't let you break."
End of Chapter 15