novelraw Chapter 293 - 285: Two Injured People
Chapter 293 - 285: Two Injured People
"Host, ever since you saved Yang Fan’s team, your Gratitude Points have skyrocketed, and you’ve also received quite a few System Coins from this mission’s rewards. Take a look."
Cheng Xiaoxiao opened her character panel, "Eh! I completed the mission this time, how come I didn’t hear the announcement?"
"We’re now at Level Five, there’s a new feature to mute announcements when data comes in. You were busy at the time, so 77 decided to try out the new feature and muted it."
Level Five Host: Cheng Xiaoxiao
Star Age: Bone Age 13
System Coins: 24,117.0 coins
Strength Value: 110
Sensitivity Value: 52
Five Senses Value: 48
Special Skills: Healing Light
Rare Pet: Red Shadow Wind Fox (Juvenile Beast Stage)
Looking at the completed tasks displayed on the screen, Cheng Xiaoxiao felt it was a bit unreal. Without the announcement, she thought she hadn’t completed them.
"So that’s how it is! I thought I hadn’t completed the mission. In that case, it’s good. If it were an emergency, sudden sounds could be distracting."
But why does it feel like there’s a lack of achievement?
"The host has accumulated 48 points of energy this time. Take a look at where you’d like to allocate them."
Cheng Xiaoxiao’s eyes lit up. Her Inner Strength could reach another level, and at this rate, she’d soon become a martial arts master—just thinking about it made her blood boil.
"Strength is more important, so add 40 points to strength and divide the remaining points evenly."
"Alright, no problem."
A familiar electric current surged through her, every pore of her body basked in the sensation, like floating clouds, extremely comfortable. In an instant, her blood circulation accelerated, feeling fuller of energy; she felt so strong that even if Leng Qi appeared, she could take him on in a fight.
Thinking of Leng Qi, she wondered how he was doing now.
...
The cold winds howled over a vast mountain and ocean range, where a perilous location lay among the jagged rocks. Stars glimmered in the forest depths after nightfall, appearing exotic and eerie.
In one of the spacious rooms, a young man wrapped himself tightly in a quilt but still felt cold. The oil lamp flickered and wavered in the cold wind from outside, allowing the chill to seep in as if intending to freeze him into ice. The temperature dropped day by day, and the snow showed no sign of stopping, not a good omen.
The one staring out the window in a daze could only be Leng Qi, the one Cheng Xiaoxiao often mentioned.
"Achoo!"
He rubbed his nose; it seemed like his condition had worsened since his injury, even sneezing now.
"Creak~!"
The door was pushed open from outside, and Leng Er, bundled tightly, entered with a tray of steaming hot food. He placed it on the round table in the room, "Do you want to eat in bed or come down and move around?"
"Pavilion Master, still no news on Miss Cheng?" Leng Qi didn’t answer Leng Er but instead pulled off the quilt, slowly sat up, and slipped on his shoes with stiff feet.
After closing the window, Leng Er stepped over to the bed to help Leng Qi put on his coat.
"It’s getting colder and colder; you should keep the windows closed. You barely survived; don’t mess around." Supporting Leng Qi, they slowly moved towards the table.
"No news yet?" Leng Qi worriedly asked once more.
"Why, weren’t you dismissive of Miss Cheng before? Isn’t it better with no news? No one to get on your nerves."
Leng Qi was momentarily at a loss for words. If he’d known he’d be teased by his brothers every time, he wouldn’t have written complaints home.
Regretful, he awkwardly spoke, "After all that time together, Miss Cheng may have a sharp tongue, but she’s fine otherwise."
"Really? Who was suspicious she was a monster before?" Leng Er sharply revealed some of his secrets.
The team had all interacted with Miss Cheng, who was evidently a good person, and they were all trying to defend her. Yet this guy was the only one unable to compose himself, making him a source of teasing.
Indeed, convalescing was too dull, and teasing Qi a little lightened the mood.
Leng Er had to resort to a Secret Technique during the last battle to forcibly boost his strength, severely injuring himself and compromising his foundation. His current Power wasn’t even half of what it used to be. The Pavilion Master, acknowledging Leng Er’s protection, didn’t strip him of his name, allowing him to stay at the rear.
Usually serious and careful, Leng Er’s personality was forced to change under the pressure of worrying about his brothers.
When Leng Qi, almost lifeless, was carried back, it frightened Leng Er. He didn’t expect that meeting would nearly be their last. He subsequently reevaluated, realizing that though he couldn’t fight on the front lines for the Pavilion Master anymore, managing everyday affairs and taking care of Leng Qi was a form of growth as well.
Having indulged too much in slaughter over the years, perhaps this was destiny. Feeling despondent yet reflecting that Leng Qi was worse off than himself, he speculated Leng Qi might feel even more crushed.
As the elder brother, not only did he have to keep his spirits up, but he also had to comfort and tend to Qi. Once he came to terms with this, it wasn’t that hard to accept.
Leng Qi’s current condition was dire; he needed help even in daily tasks, with uncertain prospects for recovery. However, Leng Er’s worries didn’t manifest.
On awakening, Leng Qi was exceptionally calm—not hysterical or dispirited—but rather composed as if nothing had happened.
Initially, Leng Er thought Qi was too heartbroken to accept reality, prepared to enlighten him, only to find himself the one being enlightened.
He recalled what Qi said back then: "Getting another chance at life is heaven’s blessing already. Being able to return and see the Pavilion Master, who doesn’t consider me a useless person and allows me to recuperate here instead of being sent to the mountains to farm, I’m pretty happy. I’m also thankful for so many brothers caring for me. What more could I ask for?"
Both were injured in the mission to protect Miss Cheng, yet their mindsets were entirely different.
Inspired by Leng Qi’s candidness, Leng Er let go of his mental burden.
Nonetheless, dissatisfied with being taught a lesson by Qi, Leng Er would routinely tease him under the pretext of visiting, finding solace in it.
"Elder brother, please don’t keep bringing up the past."
"How can it be the past when I wasn’t aware of it? I want to hear more about Miss Cheng. You’ve followed her for so long; there must be many interesting stories."
Leng Qi rolled his eyes at the other person but kept eating his hot porridge.
He silently lamented: He wasn’t like this before the injury. Why has he become so gossipy now? Is it just to see him embarrassed? Such grand justifications.
"Rolling your eyes won’t help; it’s just the two of us who have free time right now."
Leng Er paid no mind to Qi’s eye-rolling and continued teasing, "Don’t you want to know the outside news? How about we trade stories—you tell one, I’ll tell one. That’s fair, isn’t it?"
Leng Qi was speechless; didn’t he know his brother’s nature? He only wanted one piece of news, but his elder brother wanted much more than that.