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With a swift sidestep, Peng Falcon dodged the attack, bringing his sword up just in time to deflect another strike aimed at his neck. He countered with a fluid slash, the edge of his blade glinting as it sliced through the air. His opponent stumbled back, a fresh cut across his arm.

"Regroup at the eastern ridge!" Peng Falcon shouted, his voice carrying over the cacophony of battle. "We can\'t hold them here!"

Nearby, Mei Xian moved with the grace of a dancer, her sword an extension of her will. She faced two adversaries simultaneously—one wielded a long spear, the other a pair of curved daggers. The spearman thrust forward, but Mei Xian parried deftly, redirecting the spear\'s tip into the snow. The dagger-wielder seized the opening, slashing horizontally.

Mei Xian bent backward, the blade narrowly missing her by inches. She retaliated with a sweeping kick, knocking the dagger from his hand. As he stumbled, she spun around, her sword drawing a gleaming arc that forced both attackers to retreat.

"We need to cover the retreat!" she called out to Peng Falcon, her eyes scanning the battlefield for their comrades.

Lin Wei stood atop a slight rise, her hands weaving complex patterns in the air. Flames gathered at her fingertips, growing into a swirling inferno. With a fierce cry, she thrust her palms forward, unleashing a torrent of fire that roared toward the advancing enemy.

A wall of flames erupted, momentarily halting the Edsmith disciples\' advance. The heat melted the snow beneath, turning it into hissing steam.

"Go! I\'ll hold them off!" Lin Wei shouted, her usually calm demeanor replaced with fiery determination.

"Not alone, you won\'t!" Mei Xian retorted, dashing to her side. "We stand together!"

An Edsmith disciple with a sinister grin emerged from the shadows, wielding a chain whip that glinted menacingly. He swung the weapon with practiced skill, the chain snaking through the air with a haunting whistle.

Mei Xian anticipated the attack, raising her sword to deflect the whip. The chain wrapped around her blade, and with a flick of his wrist, the disciple tried to disarm her. She held firm, pulling back and freeing her sword with a sharp tug.

Undeterred, the disciple redirected the whip, the metal links slithering toward her like a serpent. Mei Xian dodged the initial strike, but the whip cracked back with unexpected speed. It grazed her arm, the razor-sharp edges cutting through fabric and skin.

A searing pain shot through her arm. She glanced down to see a thin cut oozing a dark, viscous liquid that sizzled against her skin.

"Poison..." she realized, her heartbeat quickening as dizziness began to cloud her senses.

The chain-wielding disciple laughed mockingly. "Feeling weak already? The Shadow Venom works fast."

Mei Xian\'s vision blurred. The sounds of battle around her grew distant, muffled. She stumbled backward, her sword feeling heavier in her hand.

"Mei Xian!" a familiar voice cried out.

Aric appeared beside her, his eyes wide with concern. He parried a strike from an approaching enemy, his movements swift and precise.

"Hang on!" he urged, catching her as her knees buckled.

"Aric... I can\'t..." she murmured, her strength fading.

The chain-wielding disciple sneered. "Two for the price of one."

Aric\'s gaze hardened. "You\'ll regret that."

He carefully lowered Mei Xian to the ground, positioning himself between her and the enemy. The disciple swung his whip again, aiming for Aric\'s legs. Aric leaped over the attack, using the momentum to close the distance.

Before the disciple could react, Aric struck with a palm thrust to the chest, channeling a burst of energy that sent the attacker crashing into a nearby tree. The impact splintered the trunk, snow cascading from the branches above.

Turning back to Mei Xian, Aric noticed the dark veins spreading beneath her skin. Time was running out.

"Lin Wei!" he shouted over his shoulder.

Lin Wei glanced back, her flames still holding back several enemies. "What is it?"

"Mei Xian\'s been poisoned! I need to get her out of here!"

Understanding flashed in Lin Wei\'s eyes. "Go! I\'ll cover you!"

An Edsmith disciple broke through the wall of flames, lunging at Aric with a curved blade. Aric met the attack head-on, steel ringing against steel. He deflected the blade and countered with a swift kick to the opponent\'s knee, forcing him to the ground.

Lin Wei intensified her flames, creating a fiery barrier that separated them from the encroaching enemies. "Hurry!" she urged.

Aric scooped Mei Xian into his arms, her head resting against his shoulder. She felt light, her breathing shallow.

As he dashed toward the treeline, Peng Falcon caught sight of them. Despite his own injuries, he fought his way toward them, cutting down an enemy who blocked his path.

"Get her to safety!" Peng Falcon called out, blood seeping through his clenched teeth.

"Be careful!" Aric shouted back, his voice laced with worry.

He vanished into the forest, moving swiftly among the trees. The sounds of battle faded behind him, replaced by the eerie silence of the winter woods.

The forest was a maze of skeletal trees and snow-laden branches. The moonlight filtered through the canopy, casting dappled shadows that shifted as the wind stirred. Aric\'s breath formed clouds as he pushed forward, his feet crunching softly in the snow.

Mei Xian stirred weakly. "Aric... where are we?"

"Somewhere safe," he reassured her, though his own anxiety was mounting. He could feel the chill of her skin, the poison\'s effects accelerating.

He spotted a rocky outcrop ahead—a cliff face with an overhang that offered some shelter. Icicles hung like teeth from the edge, and a narrow opening hinted at a shallow cave.

"This will have to do," he thought.

Carefully, he entered the alcove, the walls enclosing them in a cold embrace. He laid Mei Xian on a bed of dry leaves and pine needles, brushing the snow from her hair.

Her eyes fluttered open, pupils dilated. "I feel... so cold," she whispered.

Aric examined the wound. The cut was small but already surrounded by dark, spiderweb-like veins. He knew the Shadow Venom was notorious for its lethality.

"This is worse than I thought," he muttered, frustration gnawing at him. He rummaged through his satchel, pulling out various herbs and antidotes.

"None of these will be potent enough," he realized. His mind raced. "Think, Aric. There has to be a way."

His thoughts turned to the Shadow Phoenix Manuscript he had secured earlier—a forbidden text containing esoteric knowledge. Among its pages was a technique for purging deadly toxins through energy transference, but it required an intimate connection—a dual cultivation method.

He hesitated. "It\'s risky, and she might not agree. But it\'s her only chance."

"Mei Xian," he said gently, taking her hand. Her skin was cold to the touch. "I can save you, but it will require a special technique."

She gazed at him, her eyes reflecting trust despite her condition. "What... do you need me to do?"

"It\'s a form of dual cultivation," he explained softly. "By sharing our energies, I can draw the poison out of you. But it\'s... intimate."

A faint blush warmed her cheeks, a contrast to her pallor. "I trust you," she whispered. "Please... help me."

He nodded, determination steeling his resolve. "Close your eyes and focus on your breathing."

She complied, her breaths shallow but steadying.

Aric sat behind her, placing his hands gently on her back, aligning their energy centers. He closed his eyes, entering a meditative state. He began to channel his spiritual energy, creating a harmonious flow between them.

The air around them shimmered, tiny motes of light dancing like fireflies. A soft glow enveloped them, the cave illuminated by the ethereal light.

Aric could feel the dark energy of the poison, a cold, invasive force intertwined with her life essence. He guided his own energy to envelop it, gradually absorbing the toxin into himself.

Sweat beaded on his forehead. The process was taxing; the poison resisted, lashing out within his own channels. Pain seared through him, but he gritted his teeth, maintaining focus.

Minutes stretched into hours as they remained connected. The dark veins on Mei Xian\'s arm began to fade, the color returning to her skin.

Finally, the last traces of the poison dissipated. Aric released a shaky breath, his energy reserves depleted but relief flooding through him.

Mei Xian opened her eyes, clear and bright. "You did it," she said softly, turning to face him.

He managed a tired smile. "How do you feel?"

"Stronger," she replied, a hint of amazement in her voice. "Thank you."

She noticed the pallor of his own face, concern knitting her brow. "But you... are you okay?"

He waved off her worry. "Just a bit drained. I\'ll recover."

She reached out, her fingers brushing against his cheek. "You risked so much for me."

He met her gaze, sincerity reflecting in his eyes. "I couldn\'t leave you."

A moment of quiet understanding passed between them, the weight of unspoken feelings lingering.