As Fang Senyan awoke, the woman nodded politely. "Gang Feng man, you are awake? I am Elita (Spanish for nobility, pride), from Isengard. I have come to deliver friendship and truth to the Elves."

Fang Senyan checked the sky and realized it was already evening. He was lying beside a campfire, his head throbbing as if split by an axe, and moving his chest brought on sharp pain.

However, he could sense that under this woman's ministrations, his injuries were rapidly healing.

Fang Senyan nodded, mimicking the weak tone of his companion, Reef, saying, "I offer you my sincerest thanks. May your visage possess the immortal beauty of Minas Tirith."

Elita smiled with practiced formality, but the perfunctory nature of it was quite clear. Evidently, Fang Senyan's potent 'B-charm' was having a positive and effective influence, discouraging the woman from speaking more to him. Instead, she turned to those behind her and announced, "He's awake."

Following the sound of hurried footsteps approaching, Fang Senyan finally saw a familiar face—the Elven maiden, Wuge. Her large, pure eyes were red and swollen, filled with worry, even tears. The moment she saw Fang Senyan stirring, it was as if a cloud had broken, and she smiled through her tears. She looked no different than when they first met, but Fang Senyan could not help but recall the sight of her snow-white skin and the enchanting view of her long, graceful legs when she was pinned beneath that Orc. Wuge immediately guessed the lewd thoughts flashing through Fang Senyan's mind as his eyes swept over her. Two patches of red instantly bloomed on her delicate cheeks, and, mortified, she hastily retreated a few steps back to the fire pit. Yet, she kept stealing glances at him, checking if he required any assistance. Several other Elves were seated near the fire, and from their low murmurs, Fang Senyan learned that the disturbances near Rivendell had drawn their attention, and upon receiving Wuge's plea for help, they had quickly organized a search party.

After blowing up that Orc's backside, Fang Senyan had fled in desperation, running for at least ten li in haste. Even though the Elves arrived in time, he had been swept downstream by the swift current after falling into the water, and rescuing him had taken considerable effort. Because they were focused only on the rescue along the way, they had no time to discern direction. Consequently, even the Elven leader was lost upon reaching this spot. The leading Elder knew profoundly that traveling in the Misty Mountains after dark was extremely perilous, as they could easily be ambushed, so they could only make camp on the spot and wait for dawn. As for Reef’s whereabouts, they knew nothing at all.

Seeing that darkness had fallen, an Elven leader stood up. He appeared to be the equivalent of a human male in his fifties, named Elder Shaven Larch. Taking the torch, he circled the surrounding trees a few times before stopping abruptly before a large tree laden with thick foliage. He tapped the trunk with his staff and began chanting an incantation: "Great Nature, we thank you for the sun and the rain that brings forth abundant food from the earth, and we ask you to cleanse this food for us.

"We have partaken of the sun, the air, and the produce of plants, and now we shall rest in peaceful slumber."

"For only you have placed me in hope."

"Nature is with us through His grace and His love for humanity; ever thus from today until eternity, world without end."

Under the spell of the chant, the trunk of the great tree began to miraculously bend. Where Elder Shaven had tapped, the bark softened and thinned. Several branches drooped, and the leaves naturally curled inward.

Several Elves went to pluck the leaves, carefully carrying them over, and began to drink. The curled leaves resembled cups. Wuge glanced at Fang Senyan, then timidly handed him a rolled leaf, kneeling beside him, yet not daring to meet his gaze.

Fang Senyan observed the Elven maiden’s slender, delicate fingers, as fair and white as scallions, truly possessing a sense of purity washed clean by spring water. A momentary, indulgent warmth stirred within him. He took the rolled leaf and saw it filled with greenish sap, a faint shade of jade appearing within its clarity. Though the liquid was filled to the brim, it did not spill, as if an invisible barrier held it back.

Fang Senyan brought it to his lips and sipped the juice in the leaf-cup, finding it sweetly crisp. It felt as if the liquid slowly permeated from his throat into every limb and bone, silently dissolving pain and fatigue like a gentle rain nourishing the soil. He could not resist drinking it all down, then looked at Wuge and smiled, "Is there any more?"

Wuge's face flushed again, and she averted her eyes. She returned with two more leaf-cups. Fang Senyan inwardly wondered why this lovely little Elf blushed so easily, but he unceremoniously downed the contents of both leaf-cups and let out a sigh of satisfaction.

Then, two more Elves stepped forward. They dug out pieces of snowy white heartwood from the great tree's trunk, then plugged the tree's wound with soil. After chanting a few words, the tree returned to its original state. Eating the white heartwood raw yielded a faint, sweet flavor, much like fruit. When wrapped in wide leaves and roasted over a fire, it developed a distinct flavor, possessing the soft sweetness of bread.

Soon, after setting up several magical mechanisms and traps, the company began to rest. Fang Senyan, aware of the overwhelming dominance of his powerful 'B-charm,' exercised self-awareness: without the protection of his Golden Mine comrade nearby, he would not seek out other story characters to invite trouble.

His powerful contractor body had recovered seventy to eighty percent of his injuries, but in others' eyes, he was still considered seriously wounded, so he was settled alone in a shallow cave behind the temporary camp. The others rested at the cave entrance. Since the environment was secure, Fang Senyan naturally intended to rest promptly. However, just as he was drifting off, he suddenly heard light footsteps entering.

Fang Senyan startled and was instantly prepared to spring up, yet he found the situation unbelievable… With several Elven Elders of that caliber outside, even encountering "certain irresistible factors," they shouldn't allow an enemy to infiltrate so silently... But then Fang Senyan detected a distinctly fresh fragrance, a subtle, cool scent that was elegantly intoxicating.

Then a soft voice gently called his name a few times. The voice was cool, like clear spring water washing over clean white stones—it was the voice of the Elven maiden, Wuge. Fang Senyan was momentarily confused as to why she was there, so he closed his eyes and simply pretended to sleep.

Wuge called out twice but received no reply, yet she did not leave. She gently sat down beside Fang Senyan. Even in the darkness, Fang Senyan sensed she was looking at his face; Elves must possess some form of night vision. Her slender fingers lightly stroked Fang Senyan's cheek, like a passing breeze, bringing a cool comfort. Then her hand traced down his neck, slowly exploring his chest. Finally, the gentle Elven maiden slumped onto Fang Senyan's chest, pressing her hot cheek against him, murmuring sounds like one lost in a dream, making him think of the rustling of leaves in a spring forest.

"I... actually lied."

"I did not come seeking the seed of a Zhenqin."

"But to emerge for my rite of passage."

"So confused... and so unfamiliar with what I might encounter."

"That demon was terrifying, like a swamp of darkness; merely being near him felt like being eaten alive."

"My mind went blank at the time, I thought of... but then you appeared and saved me."

"Although my sisters found guardians during their rites of passage—trees, or stones, or eagles soaring in the sky, or spirited unicorns..."

"Never, never, never have they sought out a human."

"But I feel that you, who saved me from that nightmare encounter... must be the one I am meant to find for my rite of passage."

"By your side, I feel safe, very reliable."

"........."

Fang Senyan was taken aback by this turn of events, momentarily stunned, and then he suddenly felt a joyful and fresh aura pressing close to his face. The next sensation was a soft, soul-stirring warmth upon his lips—a feeling that was hard to describe in words.

People often say a woman is as pure as water, naturally formed.

Wuge's kiss, light as a dragonfly skimming the water, reminded Fang Senyan of a lake surface disturbed by a breeze, the faint freshness rising from the grass under the sun, and the budding blossoms on the branches in spring. At this moment, Fang Senyan shamefully completed a rapid shift in orientation, from 0 degrees to 90 degrees, and then to 180 degrees... (I believe all men, and many women, understand the profound meaning of this angular change.)

"You... you shouldn't worry too much; I only did what was necessary."

"Mmm, it's really bouncy! Ah! I didn't mean to! My hands were resting honestly at my sides! Why did they suddenly move like that?"

"I, I'm not used to being pinned down by a woman!"

"Hey, I'm really not used to being pressed down by a woman! Even an Elf maiden won't do!"

"........."

Just as Fang Senyan felt his blood boil and was preparing to disregard his injuries, raise his spear, and start dealing with the Wuge maiden sprawled on top of him, grappling with her upper-body vine-woven bodice... a scream suddenly rang out from outside!

A short, sharp scream!