He forced his clenched jaw to relax, stretching his lips into sothing resembling a smile.
"Ha... ha ha," he chuckled, though his voice cracked. "You’re right. Those fools deserved it. I’ve told them countless tis not to touch what isn’t theirs. Discipline was overdue."
He waved his hand sharply, eyes narrowing at the groaning n. "Take them away. Don’t let see their useless faces again."
His tone was sharp, authoritative. But everyone in that corner of the camp could feel the truth: the authority now belonged to Ling Yu.
The surviving bystanders, the civilians who had been too afraid to intervene before, were staring at her with awe, as though she were a saint descended into the pit of wolves. They whispered her na under their breaths, their eyes shining with hope, gratitude... and a tinge of fear.
Ling Yu ignored them. She wiped her bloody hands on a rag one of the thugs had dropped, then crouched down beside the golden-haired man, her expression softening just slightly.
"You’re safe now," she said, her voice even, almost gentle. "Can you stand?"
The man flinched at her closeness but then nodded shakily. His lips parted as though to speak, but only a choked sound ca out. His beauty was almost unreal, delicate, radiant, like a celestial being who had stumbled into the mortal world. And yet that beauty had nearly cost him his dignity and life.
Fluffy, still perched on Ling Yu’s shoulder, tilted its head at him. It gave a little growl, its tiny body puffing up like a ball of defiance. The unknown cosmic deity seed to echo its sentint.
[Unknown Cosmic Deity sneers: "Pathetic worms dared to touch one under her gaze. They deserved to have their bones ground into powder."]
[Unknown Cosmic Deity adds: "But that healer... hmm. He slls of divinity. Keep him, little girl. He might be useful."]
Ling Yu’s expression didn’t change, but in her heart, she acknowledged the words. A world-class healing and potion-making skill combined, was beyond rare. It was practically priceless. The man wasn’t just beautiful; he was a potential lifeline in the apocalypse.
Shen Ming, anwhile, was forcing his laughter, clapping his hands together as though to brush off the awkwardness.
"Ha, ha! What a spectacle this morning has been," he said, his voice dripping with false cheer. "You’ve truly shown your strength, Miss Ling. My n have clearly learned their lesson. From today on, let it be known that you are not soone to be trifled with in this camp."
He glanced at her, eyes calculating, yet his forced grin never faltered. "You... did the right thing. Those n needed a good beating anyway. I was too lenient with them."
Ling Yu rose to her feet, tilting her head slightly as if assessing him. Then, she smiled again, that sa ethereal, dangerous curve of lips that made Shen Ming’s stomach knot.
"I’m glad we see eye to eye."
The unspoken aning was clear: I broke your n. And you accepted it without any condition. Therefore, I am the stronger one here.
"Well then, if it’s over, show to my place. I need to take care of his wounds before they fester." Ling Yu snickers softly as she helps the guy up, brushing past Shen Ming and starts walking without waiting for his response.
As soon as Shen Ming broke out of his surprise, he also began chasing after the two individuals as he took them to a new tent, prepared solely for special purposes.
***
Inside the dimly lit tent Shen Ming’s people had prepared, the stench of sweat and damp cloth still lingered, but at least it provided privacy. The faint lantern light flickered against the canvas walls, painting shadows that wavered like restless ghosts. Ling Yu sat calmly on a low wooden stool, her posture immaculate, while the golden-haired youth she had saved sat across from her, nervously fidgeting with the ragged remnants of his shirt.
She had already soundproofed the tent with her skill, so there was no fear of Shen Ming’s man lurking around and eavesdropping on their conversation, which left Ling Yu at ease.
But the boy before her seed to be the real problem here.
His beauty was arresting up close, almost inhuman in its delicacy. Long lashes frad large, watery eyes, his cheekbones fine and fragile, lips soft like rose petals. Even the blood drying at the edge of his nose only highlighted the porcelain quality of his skin, making him look more like a fallen immortal than a man. But it wasn’t just his looks, it was the way he held himself, as though apologizing for taking up space in the world, that stirred sothing sharp in Ling Yu’s chest.
’This guy looks like a walking disaster...’
Of course, Ling Yu’s train of thought always turned in a different direction.
She broke the silence first. "Your na."
The boy flinched slightly before lowering his gaze. "X... Xian Yu." His voice was soft, trembling, yet carrying a clarity that hinted at sincerity.
Ling Yu tilted her head, studying him. "Xian Yu. And before this... where did you live? What did you do?"
His hands clenched the fabric of his shirt tighter, his knuckles paling. For a mont, sha flickered in his eyes, but he forced a small, polite smile. "I used to work as a nurse... in Yanghai General Hospital. It was one of the largest in the city."
A pause. His lashes lowered as though he couldn’t bear to et her gaze. "I... I always liked helping people. It made feel useful. Even if it was hard, seeing patients smile when their pain lessened was enough for . That’s all I wanted."
Ling Yu’s eyes narrowed slightly. His sincerity was almost painful in its purity. Yet she could also read between the lines.
"What about your colleagues? Did any of them survive?"
Xian Yu flinched again, his fingers tightening further. His lips trembled before he gave a bitter smile.
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