Luo Feng did not waste a single second.
The moment the survivor's location was mentioned, he bowed quickly to the Guild Master, turned on his heel, and strode out of the hall. He went straight to the guild's stable, borrowed the fastest horse they had — a strong black stallion already saddled for emergency use — and swung himself onto its back.
Without a word to anyone, he kicked the horse into a full gallop and tore out of the capital gates, chasing the road north.
He did not stop to rest at night.
For two full days and two full nights he rode without sleep, pushing the stallion hard, only letting it drink and graze for short moments while he scanned the horizon. The Adamantite dagger stayed at his belt. The Cosmic Trident remained hidden in his Storage Bag. His face was calm, but his eyes burned with quiet urgency.
On the evening of the second day, he found her.
Miya's close friend — a young woman named Lina, only twenty years old — lay collapsed at the side of the dusty road, half-hidden by tall grass. She was skeletal from hunger, her clothes torn and filthy, her lips cracked and bleeding. She was too weak to even lift her head.
Luo Feng jumped down from the horse before it had fully stopped. He knelt beside her, gently lifting her into his arms.
"Lina… it's me. I'm here."
She was barely conscious, but she recognized his voice. A weak sob escaped her throat.
He carefully placed her on the horse, sitting her in front of him so he could hold her steady with one arm while gripping the reins with the other. He turned the stallion around and rode back toward the capital without delay, even harder than before.
Two more days of relentless riding passed.
When they finally reached the capital gates at dusk on the fourth day, the horse was foaming at the mouth and near collapse. Luo Feng did not care. He slid off, lifted Lina into his arms, and ran straight to the Adventurers Guild.
"Healer!" he shouted as he burst through the doors. "She needs help now!"
The same healer from before rushed over. Green healing light enveloped Lina's body, closing wounds, restoring strength, and chasing away the worst of the exhaustion and hunger.
After a few minutes, Lina's eyes fluttered open.
The first thing she saw was Luo Feng's face.
For a heartbeat she just stared. Then she let out a broken cry and threw her thin arms around his neck, hugging him with all the strength she had left.
"Feng…! Feng…!" she sobbed loudly, tears pouring down her cheeks without stopping. Her whole body shook against him as the horror of what she had witnessed poured out.
Luo Feng held her tightly, one hand gently stroking her matted hair, his own eyes dark and heavy with grief.
The entire guild hall had gone quiet again. Everyone watching knew exactly who she was and what she had seen.
Lina kept crying against his chest, unable to let go, the words she had carried for so many days finally ready to spill out.