Walking down the town's streets, Shao Feng suddenly froze, stopping in his tracks…
"What's wrong, Shao Feng?" An opened her eyes from his arms, asking. Shao Xue, on his back, peeked over nervously.
"Nothing," Shao Feng shook his head slightly. The sensation of being shot wasn't pleasant. When a shadow clone vanished, its experiences flooded back into him.
As he spoke, the three remaining shadow clones returned, handing him the gem bag before he dispelled them.
Taking An back to the clinic, Shao Feng sighed softly.
Just moments ago, he'd killed over forty people.
Though not by his own hands, the feeling was no different.
He felt no regret for killing them, but the act still weighed on his mind.
"Shao Feng? Are you okay?" An's voice broke through.
He looked up to see her crouching before him, hands gently touching his face.
"I'm fine," he shook his head.
"You're crying. Are you hurt…?" Her voice carried unease.
"I'm fine," he repeated, taking her hands from his face. "I'm just… suddenly scared of myself."
"Shao… Feng…" Shao Xue hugged his neck from behind, pressing her face to his.
He shook his head, steadying his emotions. "I'm okay. I won't waver. I'll protect you both." He grasped An's and Shao Xue's hands.
"How are you, An? What did the doctor say?" he asked, turning to her with concern.
"It's nothing serious, just surface wounds. A few days' rest, and I'll be fine," she said, blushing. "The doctor gave me some medicine to prevent infection."
"Is that so?" Just surface wounds—Shao Feng felt relieved. After paying the clinic fees, he left with An and Shao Xue. It was nearly midnight.
"Where are we going?" An asked softly.
Shao Feng glanced at the dark streets, scratching his head awkwardly. "Uh, I don't know. Is there a hotel nearby?"
Seeing his embarrassment, An smiled. "I know a place. Follow me."
The three hurried through the empty streets, soon arriving at a brightly lit bar filled with raucous noise…
An pushed open the door and walked in…
"Yo, An? You escaped?" A bartender in a black uniform gasped from behind the counter.
His voice drew every patron's gaze to An at the door.
Ignoring them, An strode to the counter and shook her head. "Shao Feng saved me. Get us a room and some food."
"An, I'd love to help, but taking you in could cause trouble," the bartender said awkwardly.
"What?" An was caught off guard by his response.
She sighed, about to speak, when Shao Feng placed a gem on the counter.
"Do as she says. Don't worry about trouble," he said, his face turning serious. "I've already taken care of them." He smiled faintly.
His words silenced the bar. All eyes fixed on him.
"Hahaha…" The brief quiet erupted into mocking laughter. "You? This kid claims he took out the Money Pirates?"
"Don't worry, I handled them all," a drunkard slurred, stumbling over and slinging an arm around Shao Feng's neck, mimicking him with a wine bottle in hand.
The crowd roared with laughter.
At that moment, a man burst in, knocking over a table. "Bad news! The Money Pirates—48 of them—were just killed! All of them! Captain… we gotta run, probably some big-shot bounty hunter!" he panted frantically.
His words stilled the bar again.
Crash! A drunk dropped his bottle, shattering it.
The sudden noise startled everyone…
The man clinging to Shao Feng froze, his mocking grin stuck on his face.
"Really?" An, equally shocked, covered her mouth, staring at Shao Feng.
He gently pried the drunk's stiff arm off, took his bottle, and sipped casually. "I told you it's true. They hurt my friend." He shoved the bottle back into the drunk's hand.
To the bartender, he shouted, "Hey, what're you standing there for? Get us two rooms—the best ones."
Snapped out of his daze, the bartender stammered, "S-sorry, there's only one room left."
"One room?" Shao Feng echoed, frustrated, scanning the bar's patrons…
Their faces paled. "I… I'll check out…" a voice squeaked.
A scrawny man stood. "No need, one room's fine," An interjected, sensing the tense atmosphere.
"An, one room might be inconvenient," Shao Feng frowned.
"It's fine. Hey, lead the way!" An urged the bartender impatiently.
He scurried from behind the counter, guiding them upstairs…
In the room, An sighed deeply…
"What's wrong, An?" Shao Feng asked.
"What were you about to do back there?" She stood before him, staring into his eyes.
"Do what?" he asked, puzzled.
"Were you going to kill them to free up rooms?" she demanded angrily.
"What?" He blinked, then gave a wry smile. "What're you talking about? I never thought that. I hadn't even killed anyone before today."
"Sorry, Shao Feng." An hugged him tightly.
"Don't be silly. Why would I blame you?" He looked into her eyes softly.
The bartender brought food.
The lavish spread sparked their appetites, and they devoured it all.
"Shao Feng, help me apply the medicine," An said, blushing.
"Apply medicine?" He looked at her body, flushing too. "Uh, wouldn't that be awkward? Let Shao Xue do it." He waved to Shao Xue.
Licking her fingers, Shao Xue crawled over.
"Shao… Feng…"
"Yeah, help An with the medicine," he said, gesturing.
"??" She tilted her head, confused.
"Sigh, Shao Xue's no help." He looked at An awkwardly. "Guess I'll do it."
An nodded, slowly removing her clothes, revealing her body.
Crisscrossed with whip marks, it made Shao Feng clench his lips in anger.
He gently applied the medicine.
Letting that bastard die so quickly was too kind.
While applying it, he realized—doesn't he have healing ninjutsu?
Why not use it?
He stopped, opened the shop, and found Medical Ninjutsu.
Medical Ninjutsu was non-attribute.
Available options:
D-rank Healing Jutsu: Basic healing, focusing chakra in the palm to nourish wound cells for recovery.
A-rank Mystical Palm Jutsu: Fully activates cells, instantly healing wounds but consuming heavy chakra.
With 200,000 experience left, he spent 11,100 to master D-rank Healing Jutsu and 100,000 to learn basic Mystical Palm Jutsu.
Seeing him pause, An asked, "What's wrong, Shao Feng?"
"I found a better way to heal." He placed his hand on a wound on her back.
Feeling the warmth from his hand, An blushed. "What're you doing?"
As Mystical Palm Jutsu took effect, her wounds healed rapidly. "How's that?" he asked, grinning.
"Oh my gosh, that's incredible!" An exclaimed, watching her wounds close, then blushed. "I thought you were trying to take advantage of me."
"You're wrong about me. Am I that kind of guy?" he said, pouting.
"Hmm, I think so. You're the guy who wanted to run off with someone's concubine on day one," she teased, turning to him.
"No way!" His face reddened.
"Really? Keep healing then." She pointed to a red wound on her chest.
"Uh, maybe not that one," he said awkwardly.
"What's wrong?" She smiled. "Don't want to?"
"I…" Shao Feng grinned. "What do you think?"