38. Xia Ling: Immediate Execution Commuted to a Suspended Death Sentence / 39. Xia Ling's Physical Condition

"Xia Ling." Theresa took a deep breath. "You... did you plan this injury all along?"

Hearing Theresa's trembling voice, Xia Ling couldn't help but shiver. She suddenly felt that Theresa's embrace wasn't so warm anymore.

"Just like what Reed said earlier... even in the beginning, you deliberately let yourself be captured, right?"

"Uh... I..."

Even though she couldn't see anything, Xia Ling could sense the gradual change in the atmosphere.

"Okay, okay, that's true... but I didn't intend for it to be this bad..."

"Originally, I just wanted to use my injury to stimulate Kiana's potential... but I didn't expect the Jackal to have such a trump card."

"Originally? Like the penetrating wound on your hand? And your fractured thigh?" Theresa's voice grew colder.

"Theresa, don't be angry... those minor injuries are nothing to me..."

"This time, the plan just ran into a slight problem. In that situation, I couldn't afford to worry about myself... I could only try to stabilize Kiana first..."

Sensing the anger hidden in Theresa's voice, Xia Ling shrank back and tried to defend herself.

"As expected, it happened again..."

"You always act like you don't care at all..."

"Can you tell me where you place yourself in your so-called plan?"

Theresa was really struggling to control her emotions. She stared into Xia Ling's lifeless eyes, her heart filled with a mix of anger, sorrow, and heartache.

"Clearly, many people love you too... Why can't you think about yourself...?"

"You always get yourself all ragged and broken, and then you tell us not to worry. What do you think you are? A tool that can be fixed once it's broken?"

Theresa became more and more excited as she spoke, and Xia Ling could even feel her chest heaving violently.

"Theresa...?"

Xia Ling panicked a little; she hadn't expected her unintentional words to elicit such a strong reaction from Theresa.

"Um, don't be so angry. I promise I won't do it again, okay? My injury will heal in a month at most... I definitely won't take such a risk next time..."

Xia Ling was completely unaware that Theresa's anger stemmed from the same thing as Mei's in "Elegy of the Sinner".

Her explanation only made Theresa feel more upset.

What Theresa finds most unacceptable is that Xia Ling never treats her as a living, breathing person; in her plans, she is always the one who bears the greatest risk.

If the plan succeeds, everyone will be happy; if the plan fails, then she will have to take the fall with her own life. For Xia Ling, her life is a weight that can be placed on a scale, moved and discarded at will.

"Not taking that risk... Heh, Xia Ling, do you still think I'm so angry because you're seriously injured...?"

"You still don't understand, Xia Ling... You've always been like this..."

Theresa closed her eyes in pain.

Now that things have come to this, Xia Ling suddenly feels fortunate that she was so badly injured.

She could sense that if she weren't in this miserable state, Theresa would definitely have given herself a personality correction punch.

Although she still didn't understand how she had offended Theresa, that didn't stop her from playing it safe.

After all, if a domestic violence incident were to actually occur, it seems she wouldn't be able to beat Theresa.

This is what happens when the Armor Break Line is too low. jpg

"You... never mind, I'll make you understand, Xia Ling."

"I'll let you know how important you are to me, and to us..."

Theresa felt Xia Ling's faint breath in her arms, and fearing that she might hurt Xia Ling, she could only calm herself down and slowly suppress her previous aura.

Chapter Thirty-Eight Xia Ling: Immediate Execution of the Suspended Death Sentence

Just as Xia Ling was wondering how to start the conversation in this awkward atmosphere, she sensed a familiar life force coming from afar.

She was very familiar with this thing; it was the creative power of the Black Abyss White Flower, and she had even personally used a replica drawn by Xi.

According to the original storyline, this should be the part where Kiana falls from the sky, is caught and healed by Durandal, and then taken away by her...

"That's... Durandal?"

"Why did she get here so early? Oh no, Kiana wouldn't..."

Theresa's eyes showed a hint of anxiety. She knew very well that Otto would not care about Rita's agreement with them, and Durandal would not just come to clean up the mess in Changkong City; she would definitely take Kiana away.

"Alright, Theresa, I'll talk about my matter when we get back... Let's go check on Kiana's situation first."

Xia Ling seized the opportunity to speak.

"..."

Theresa didn't speak, but Xia Ling could sense that she had taken action once again.

Xia Ling felt she had never been so grateful to Durandal.

So, what exactly is Theresa angry about...? Maybe we should ask Elysia later?

Xia Ling, a master of courting death, successfully chose the third option between delaying punishment and being punished immediately.

He was punished twice.

On the other side, under the central signal tower.

"You have excellent eyesight."

"But... that's not enough."

Durandal held the Black Abyss White Flower in one hand and cradled the unconscious Kiana in the other, exuding an imposing aura.

She arrived just in time to find Kiana falling from the sky. Kiana seemed to have suffered a lot during this time, and her mental and physical condition was extremely fragile.

After knocking Kiana unconscious in a few moves, Durandal took out the Black Abyss White Flower and treated Kiana's body slightly. However, as soon as the treatment was finished, Mei Raiden came knocking on her door again.

Unfortunately, Mei's timely arrival was of no use. With her strength, which was already difficult to deal with Rita, she couldn't even delay Theresa's arrival when facing Durandal.

"You do not yet possess the strength to match this will."

"With this kind of strength, you can't protect anyone."

Seeing Mei, who was exhausted and kneeling on the ground, Durandal gently shook her head, took Kiana, and transformed into a golden streak of light, instantly disappearing from Mei's sight.

A moment later, Theresa brought Xia Ling to the scene.

"Mei! Are you alright?"

Theresa rushed over and helped Mei was crying, to her feet.

"Did Durandal take Kiana away...?"

Knowing that the final part of the story would be just like the original, Xia Ling closed her eyes in relief.

Now, there are only two things left to do.

One is a small tail that still exists in Changkong City, but it doesn't matter. It's highly unlikely that anyone will notice it, and even if they do... someone will help her deal with it.

Another... how should I comfort Theresa, who is about to turn evil?

After all, although Theresa has not turned evil for the time being, Xia Ling is very clear that her current situation is like a suspended sentence rather than a full release.

When I feel better...

Thinking about Highmore's daily routine now, and then thinking about Flame Willow's outcome after the last mishap,

Xia Ling felt as if a huge "danger" had appeared above her head.

On the other side, Rita, who was wrapping up her work at Kamisato Pharmaceuticals, had a somewhat gloomy expression.

"Strange... It seems that all the data about the Stigmata Project has disappeared."

"Is it some kind of self-destruct program of the World Serpent? Or did someone take this data beforehand?"

Rita carefully examined the headquarters' database but found no relevant trace.

"As expected of the World Serpent... their intelligence secrecy is quite strong. It seems we'll have to leave empty-handed this time."

"I just wonder if losing this bargaining chip will have any impact on His Lord Bishop..."

"Hmm, what is this communication...?"

Rita took out her communicator and pressed the answer button.

"Durandal, how is your operation going?"

"Yes, I have taken Kiana with me. As per the bishop's request, I will take her directly to the experimental base in North Africa."

"As expected of Durandal... It's a pity that I'm holding back. I couldn't find any information related to the Stigmata Project in the Kamisato Pharmaceuticals."

"It's alright, Rita. That's why I contacted you."

Durandal's voice took on a serious tone.

"The bishop and I just spoke. He has read the action log you compiled and asked me to tell you."

"There's no need to keep looking for data from Kamisato Pharmaceuticals; he's not insisting on it."

"Let Xi and Alvit lead the team back to headquarters first. Meanwhile, the bishop requests that you secretly investigate another matter."

He wanted to know whether the cadre in the World Serpent named Jackal was dead or alive.

"If she survives, bring her back to Schicksal; if she dies, find a way to find the person who killed her."

"I understand, Durandal."

Rita's voice held a hint of confusion. "But... why is His Lord Bishop suddenly paying attention to this matter?"

"I've already asked about that. The main reason is still your task log."

"That's roughly what he said."

"Jackal's disappearance is too unusual. Under normal circumstances, she would not have disappeared without a trace when there was still a chance for the situation to turn around."

"Given the circumstances at the time, if they had abandoned the headquarters of Kamisato Pharmaceuticals and instead retreated to the central signal tower, they would have had a good chance to hold out until the engine was detonated."

"But the Jackal just disappeared like that, which is very inconsistent with her usual behavior. It's as if she was ambushed and killed on the way."

"But if she was killed by someone else, then another question arises: who killed her?"

"According to the mission log provided by Rita, it seems that no one was able to find the time to kill the Jackal at that time. Everyone has an alibi, which means that there was an outsider who was watching this conflict from the Changkong City."

"Find a way to locate this person and find out who she really is."

"I understand, Durandal."

Rita smiled confidently, "If there really is such a person in Changkong City, then her actions must closely overlap with the development of our situation."

"I've already got some clues."

... gull fin + dad ball abandoned Liu Yijun

"Himeko, how are you feeling?"

"I feel... a sense of satisfaction from watching my child grow up."

Under the cover of night, the three men stood not far from the central signal tower, silently watching everything unfold under the cover of darkness.

"But shouldn't we really lend a hand to them?"

"On this point, I still believe in Xia Ling; she will definitely be able to handle this difficult situation."

"In fact, I am quite satisfied with her performance."

"However, she may have left a small loose end unresolved."

Kal'tsit's eyes gazed towards the Kamisato Pharmaceuticals Building.

"Therefore, I need to stay here for a while longer to observe the situation."

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Xia Ling's Physical Condition

Amidst the chaos, the conflict in Changkong City quickly came to an end.

With Kiana being taken away by Durandal, the Immortal Blade, led by Yu, also quietly withdrew from Changkong City.