They arrived at the top of the stairs in silence. Xuan Tian scanned the surrounding. It was a back area of a building. He didn't recognize it. They didn't enter thru here.
Chen Wei and Ling Yu were behind him, still holding hands. Ling Yu also scanned the surrounding. "It's Xue Qin Lou. If you go that way," she whispered and pointed to the right, "Over there is the maids' rooms."
"If you go that way," she pointed at a corridor in front of them, "That way is the main building. Exit is that way," she pointed out to the left. "That's the exit that used by maids."
Xuan Tian looked at the left, "It's already around 7am. Let's get out quietly. I'll take you to a safe place. There, we can talk. I have some questions for you." Xuan Tian didn't indicate a specific person.
Both Ling Yu and Chen Wei looked at each other, agreeing that that's the best option for them, they nodded in silence.
The three of them walked to the exit cautiously. They managed to reach the door unhindered. One more step, and they're free.
The door was barred with a wooden door bolt, placed across the door, preventing the door to be opened from outside. To lift that bolt, usually needed one person with both hands, or two people. Our escapees were in awkward hand chain.
Xuan Tian alone is strong enough to lift the bolt with one hand, and he was about to do it with his right hand, when Ling Yu stepped forward, trying to help him with her left hand.
They stepped forward at the same time, cannot but bumped into each other. Ling Yu felt like she hit a stone wall. She bounced back because of the impact. It was so strong that she almost fell backward. Xuan Tian moved instinctively. He caught Ling Yu with his only free hand, his right hand.
And now, they were in even more awkward position, a crooked circle, with Chen Wei still standing, Xuan Tian to Chen Wei's right crouching down, stopped Ling Yu from falling backwards.
Silence.
Then—
"Let me go!"
"Ouch! Why did you let me fall?"
"You—you said let go…"
Ling Yu fell back onto her rear, her face contorted in pain.
Xuan Tian, still half-crouching, stared in horror. He couldn't believe that he had just let her go.
Chen Wei stood with his jaw dropped, unable to comprehend that someone as dignified as Xianren had actually let a young woman fall.
Xuan Tian extended his right hand, offering to help Ling Yu stand.
Ling Yu, her left hand flailing as she struggled to balance herself, reached out instinctively.
Her hand caught his. Without thinking, she pulled herself up, relying on the strength of his grip. This time, that right hand didn't let go. Instead, it pulled her up steadily, a clear indication of the owner's strength.
Now, all three of them were standing in a perfect circle, hand in hand.
Chen Wei was the first to break the silence. "The door…"
Xuan Tian snapped out of his thoughts and moved toward the door. "I'll get it." Only then did he realize he was still holding Ling Yu's left hand. His gaze dropped to their joined hands, and he let go as if scalded.
He swiftly lifted the bolt and set it aside. Ling Yu stepped forward and pulled the door open.
Seeing the door swing wide, Xuan Tian exhaled in relief. He stepped outside first, leading them into the street.
They continued walking in their awkward hand-chain for a few blocks before Xuan Tian finally said, "You can let go now."
Chen Wei immediately released his grip, sighing in relief. Ling Yu did the same but huffed quietly.
"Follow me," Xuan Tian instructed, taking the lead. Ling Yu and Chen Wei followed, though both felt a sense of unease—especially Chen Wei, who couldn't shake the feeling of exposure. He hurried his steps, staying close to Xuan Tian, as if the proximity would ward off his nerves.
They finally arrived at an inn. Without pausing, Xuan Tian headed toward the rented courtyard. Before stepping inside, he had already scanned ahead, confirming that the others were still at the inn—Lei Wen in his room, Lin Qian in the courtyard, Zhao Zhi and Xu Yun preparing to leave for their shift at the Zhang Clinic.
Xuan Tian sent a voice transmission to them, calling for a meeting in the courtyard.
He led Ling Yu and Chen Wei inside. Lin Qian was already waiting when they arrived. A few moments later, the other three entered the courtyard.
Lei Wen's brows lifted. "Miss Ling Yu?"
Ling Yu grinned. "Doctors. Nice to see you again."
Lin Qian's gaze flickered between Ling Yu and Xuan Tian. "Miss Ling Yu, nice to see you again. Why are you with Xuan Tian?" Her eyes widened in realization. "Were you caught as well?"
Zhao Zhi and Xu Yun entered the courtyard. "I thought I saw Miss Ling Yu. I was right. I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me," Zhao Zhi grinned.
Xu Yun looked at Ling Yu and Chen Wei with curiosity.
Growl.
All eyes turned to Chen Wei. He looked back at them, embarrassed.
Lin Qian smiled in understanding. "It's breakfast time. Our old and new guests need to eat to regain their strength. I'll go get it."
"I'll help you," Xu Yun said, following Lin Qian.
"Old guests?" Ling Yu asked.
Before anyone could answer, Lei Wen caught Chen Wei as his body swayed. "Whoa, looks like you need to sit down. Come on."
Lei Wen guided Chen Wei to an empty room, helping him onto the bed before checking his pulse.
Everyone followed them into the room, waiting for Lei Wen's diagnosis.
After finished checking the pulse, Lei Wen looked at Chen Wei and his friends, and sighed. "He has a core. It's stable." He then turned to Chen Wei, "You are now an Immortal."
Chen Wei's eyes widened in surprise, jaw dropped. After a while, his eyes glistening, tears rolled down his cheeks.
Lei Wen's voice gentle, "It's not a good news for you?"
Chen Wei, now sobbing, "NO! It's good news! I'm crying because I'm happy!" He turned to Ling Yu, "You were right! You were right!"
Ling Yu smiled so widely, her eyes became slit. "I'm always right."
"Congratulations," Xuan Tian deadpanned, unclear who's he's congratulating.
"Food's here!" Lin Qian's voice rang from the dining room.
Xu Yun appeared in Chen Wei's room, peeking inside. "Food's here. Let's all eat in the dining room. I'll call the others as well." She left to gather A-He, Xiao Lan, and Madam Hao.
In the dining room, Lin Qian was arranging an impressive spread of food. As the others gathered, she quickly realized that the table wasn't big enough to accommodate everyone. With a simple wave of her hand, the table expanded, growing larger with enough space for all of them.
Five mortal eyes widened in awe, staring at Lin Qian.
She laughed awkwardly. "Come, let's all sit together."
All ten of them took their seats. While Celestials didn't require food, that didn't mean they didn't enjoy eating.
According to Celestial social customs, the highest-ranking or strongest individual was expected to take food first. At this table, Xuan Tian was both. To the Celestial doctors, it was obvious that Xuan Tian should take the first serving. So none of them moved, waiting for him to start.
Xuan Tian was just about to take his food when Ling Yu suddenly stood up and began serving Madam Hao, the oldest-looking person at the table.
His right hand, hovering above his chopsticks, froze. He glanced at Ling Yu.
Coincidentally, Ling Yu caught his eyes. She saw the confusion in them.
"It is always the oldest first. The younger ones should wait until the elders finish taking their food. It's called polite manners."
Is she accusing me of having no manners?
The doctors' minds were in chaos. Lei Wen's audible gasp broke the silence. Lin Qian was frozen. Zhao Zhi, stunned at first, was now desperately trying not to grin. Xu Yun stared at Ling Yu in horror, her gaze flickering between Ling Yu and Xuan Tian, as if bracing for an explosion.
After serving Madam Hao, Ling Yu turned to the doctors. "Please, Xianren doctors, go ahead."
The doctors didn't move. Their eyes drifted to Xuan Tian.
He sighed. "Please, go ahead. Don't mind me."
Zhao Zhi grinned and moved first. The others exchanged glances before quickly following suit. Their movements were noticeably faster than usual.
Ling Yu blinked several times, watching the doctors rush through their servings. She turned and glared at Xuan Tian.
What did I do now?
The doctors finished taking their food in record time. Then, Ling Yu stood up again, motioning for the three teenagers to take food next. "Chen Wei is hungry, he's weak, and he just went through an ordeal. You're not going to ask him to wait behind you, right?" She looked directly at Xuan Tian, her tone carrying an unmistakable challenge.
Lin Qian lowered her gaze, her expression unreadable. But Lei Wen was fairly certain she was hiding a smile.
Xuan Tian met Ling Yu's stare, then closed his eyes and shook his head.
"Good," Ling Yu nodded approvingly before continuing to help the three teenagers serve their portions.
Then she took food for herself, sat back down, and declared, "I got slammed into a wall and fell on my behind. My back and my behind still hurt. I need to eat to recover."
The moment her words left her mouth, the doctors all turned to Xuan Tian with varying degrees of accusation in their eyes. Lei Wen coughed. Lin Qian glanced away, clearly holding back laughter. Zhao Zhi raised an eyebrow, smirking, while Xu Yun, looking genuinely alarmed, asked, "Xianren… you didn't… push her, did you?"
Xuan Tian's gaze darkened as he slowly lifted his head, pinning them all with a cold glare. The doctors immediately busied themselves with their food, their expressions neutral, as if they had never said anything at all.
Now, everyone at the table—except Xuan Tian—was eating.
Xuan Tian sighed once more before finally reaching for the food himself.