Shen Mingyue slowly opened her eyes amidst a hazy fragrance of medicine. The scent was a mixture of the bitterness of mugwort, the sweetness of angelica, and a faint, peculiar aroma that seemed to linger at the tip of her nose, as if it could pierce straight through to her soul. This strange fragrance acted like a mysterious guide, pulling her back from the chaotic darkness into reality. Purple vines hanging from above swayed gently in the breeze, the dewdrops on their leaves refracting prismatic halos like a dreamlike beaded curtain. Each drop, sparkling with a mysterious glow in the dim light, looked like a meticulously carved gem, as if it were telling a story unknown to the world. She tried to rise, but instantly felt as if she were being pricked by countless silver needles; every muscle throbbed with a tearing pain that sank deep into her bones, as if she had just survived a horrific battle. She furrowed her brows, a light sheen of sweat breaking out on her forehead, and her lips trembled slightly from the agony.
"Do not move. You and Young Master Gu have just returned from the gates of death." An aged, gentle voice came from the shadows. An old man wearing robes patterned with the totems of the Witch Tribe walked out with a steady gait, leaning on a staff covered in runes. His face was a map of the passing years, every wrinkle like an ancient historical record etched with the vicissitudes and mysteries of time. His eyes, however, were as clear as deep pools, seemingly …
Chapter 86