Lin Qian had just finished checking Han Zhaofeng's pulse. Standing beside the bed, guarding and assisting her, was Luo Heng.
She washed her hands in a nearby basin.
She then sat on a chair and began writing a prescription, handing it over to Luo Heng.
Luo Heng accepted the paper, questions written all over his face.
Lin Qian smiled gently. "I apologize. But I cannot reveal Han Shengzun's condition to you… yet. There's a hierarchy here—I'm sure you understand."
Luo Heng nodded. "I do, Doctor. I really do. It's just… there's no one else but Captain Wu. We didn't have many captains to begin with, and now…" He choked slightly.
"Now, Captain Bai is in prison. Captain Wu is injured. Han Shengzun is injured. The other captains… are gone. Right now, only Yan Zhen and I are left."
Luo Heng wasn't the type to air ICEB's internal problems to outsiders, but he was truly at his wits' end. He and Yan Zhen were the only Enforcer team leaders remaining. No other authoritative figures remained in ICEB. They were either missing, in prison, injured, or dead.
ICEB's current condition was fragile—it could collapse at any time.
Luo Heng was feeling the pressure. Other Enforcers had been looking up to him and Yan Zhen for leadership.
"Team Leader Luo, I understand," Lin Qian said gently. "But if there is ever a time when you need to step up, this is it. I'm sure you want to help ICEB in any way you can. Well, you can. By keeping it together."
Luo Heng looked at Lin Qian. He nodded firmly. "I understand, Doctor. I'll do it. I can."
He smiled. "Now I'll go get the herbs." He ran out.
Lin Qian sighed. She felt sorry for the young man. He couldn't be older than twenty-two. Still a baby.
She sighed again, looked at Han Zhaofeng sleeping on the bed, then exited the room.
------------------------------
Xuan Tian opened his eyes. His irises were now dark brown, without the pearly shimmer in them.
Jing Xue lifted his head. "How are you feeling?"
Xuan Tian clenched and unclenched his fists a few times.
"I'll live."
Jing Xue rolled his eyes. "Don't take your injuries lightly. You used Resonance. Against an incredibly strong Saint. You need rest."
"I can't rest. Not yet." Xuan Tian got up from the bed. "I still need to rescue Bai Xunli."
Jing Xue shook his head. "Stubborn mule. I should've guessed."
Xuan Tian was already fastening his robe and belt. "Are you going to help me or are you going to skulk and be useless?"
Jing Xue just rolled his eyes and scoffed.
"Update me," Xuan Tian ordered.
"Han Zhaofeng is unconscious. Doctor Lin is currently with him. His condition's unknown to anyone but the doctor. She hasn't told anyone—not that there's anyone she can say it to."
"What do you mean?"
"Wu Zhenhai's injuries are quite serious, but he can't recuperate because of Mu Qingran. The Princess is scared out of her mind. She demanded Wu Zhenhai stay by her side. He's afraid to say no, because… you know."
"Because she's the Princess, and if she runs off to tell Mu Cangtian, ICEB won't survive."
"Exactly. Now, Yan Zhen and Luo Heng. They're not injured, but they're busy dealing with the Enforcers. From what I heard, these four people are the only leaders left. Right now, ICEB is like a chicken without its head. Clueless."
Xuan Tian was deep in thought. Things in ICEB were worse than he thought.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in, Doctor."
Lin Qian opened the door with a surprised look.
"General? Why are you up? What about your injuries? Your wound on your left…"
"I'm okay, Doctor," Xuan Tian cut her off. "How's Han Zhaofeng?"
"Alive," Lin Qian sighed. "His leg meridians have shrunk. He won't be able to walk again."
Xuan Tian blinked. "His legs? My attacks were nowhere near them. How…?"
"Executing Silence was not without repercussions," Lin Qian explained. "Wu Zhenhai told me to pay attention to Han Zhaofeng's body. He knew the risk."
Xuan Tian exhaled. A crippled Saint. Not the news he was expecting. Wait…
He locked his gaze with Lin Qian. "What about his cultivation? Is he…?"
Lin Qian kept her eyes on Xuan Tian. "He's still a Saint—I think. His cultivation is still higher than mine, that's for sure. But I don't know his exact level."
Xuan Tian made a move to exit the room. "Then I'll go check."
"Wait!" Lin Qian called out.
Xuan Tian turned around. "Yes, Doctor?"
"Sit down, General. I need to check that wound."
She lifted her hand, stopping Xuan Tian from speaking. "Please don't. Just sit down and let me check." Her voice left no room for discussion.
Xuan Tian stayed motionless for a second, then sat down and began disrobing. He pulled his entire left arm out, exposing his shoulder, clavicle, and the bandaged wound.
Seeing that, Lin Qian murmured, "I can't believe it worked."
Xuan Tian looked at her. "What was that, Doctor?"
Lin Qian began changing the dressing. "I said, I can't believe it worked."
Xuan Tian looked confused. "What worked?"
Lin Qian chuckled. "I imagined what Ling Yu would say—and I tried to mimic her tone. And it worked. I can't believe it worked, General."
Silence fell.
Jing Xue, who had been lying down like a regular dog, suddenly felt the air shift. He was stunned. He lifted his head and turned to look at Xuan Tian, just to make sure he wasn't hallucinating.
What he saw baffled him.
Xuan Tian—one shoulder exposed, his wound still open—was sitting there. But it wasn't the wound that stunned Jing Xue. It was Xuan Tian's entire body language. His expression.
His body was relaxed. All tension gone. And his expression… his expression…
Am I dreaming? Jing Xue couldn't believe his eyes.
Xuan Tian's features… became softer…
What's wrong with him? Where did my General go?!
Never in the years that I've known him, he is this… this… this… soft! Who is this Ling Yu?!
Jing Xue was so scared of what he saw, that he just froze and stared at Xuan Tian.
Xuan Tian didn't notice this at all. His brain was too busy processing what Lin Qian had said.
"Doctor, you… You've been keeping contact with Ling Yu?" Xuan Tian couldn't help but ask, in a nostalgic voice – which baffled Jing Xue further.
Lin Qian, too busy redressing the wound, didn't notice Xuan Tian's complete shift in tone.
She shook her head. "Unfortunately no. The last time I heard from her was four years ago, when I first came back to the Human Realm. She was in Ziyu Sect, happy. Then, I had no more contact."
She sighed. "It was my decision. I knew what I was trying to do was dangerous. I didn't want to involve her any deeper. So I stopped contacting her. She tried a few times after that, but I never replied. Eventually, her letters stopped too."
Lin Qian finished redressing the wound. "It's finished, General. All good. It's healing very nicely. How about your cultivation?" She cleaned up the bandages and her tools.
"Thank you, Doctor." Xuan Tian put his shoulder back into his robe. "And my cultivation is intact. I have much less spirit energy. But I'll be fine."
Lin Qian continued packing her medicine box, nodded. "That's good to hear, General."
She paused. "Wait. I heard Resonance would strain you physically. Are you okay?"
"I am. My muscles are sore. Nothing more." Xuan Tian replied confidently.
"And you're still planning to rescue Captain Bai?"
"Yes. But first, I need to check Han Zhaofeng."