"Did he faint from exhaustion?"
The Seventh Seat and Third Seat looked at the Ninth Seat as Shen Qingzhu carried him to the bed, both of them visibly surprised.
Shen Qingzhu nodded. "We were smoking in the courtyard. He had just stood up when he swayed and passed out."
The Third Seat walked to the bedside, placed her hand against the unconscious Ninth Seat's forehead, and sensed him for a moment before nodding slightly.
"His Mental Power has indeed been severely depleted."
"Tch, is this idiot crazy? Why is he pushing himself so hard?" The Seventh Seat folded up the fan in her hand and rolled her eyes. "The Whisperer isn't even here. Who's he putting on this desperate act for?"
Shen Qingzhu raised his head and stared into the eyes of the woman in the cheongsam, icy killing intent flashing through his gaze.
"Woman, watch your mouth. It's because of people like you, who slack off and cut corners, that our progress has been delayed so much..."
The Seventh Seat narrowed her eyes at Shen Qingzhu. "Oh? You two are really close, aren't you? You're already standing up for him? Newcomer?"
Shen Qingzhu's gaze turned even colder.
"Enough, stop talking." The Third Seat spoke faintly. "Get out and let the Ninth Seat rest for a while... Oh, right, the manor is almost out of food. Tenth Seat, go out with the Seventh Seat and buy some supplies. Don't buy too much this time, just enough for a few days. Go and come back quickly."
The Seventh Seat shot Shen Qingzhu a glance, snorted coldly, and headed outside.
A sharp glint flashed almost imperceptibly through Shen Qingzhu's eyes.
"Understood... Third Seat."
Laboratory.
Pale golden sunlight streamed through the window, casting a faint halo across the silver-white laboratory table. A