The Healing of the Safe Zone

Chapter 36: Healing in the Safe Zone

Morning light pierced the thin mist, refracting into pale golden ripples against the Safe Zone's barrier.

Chen An was hunched over the stone table, the Hide Notebook spread open on its cool surface, the still-wet ink of his records stopping at the end of "broth feeding."

He lifted his gaze to the straw mat by the fire pit—the black dog wrapped in deerskin bandages (he'd grown used to calling it "Little Black" in his heart) was still sleeping soundly.

Chen An's hand rested on the dog's spine; through the fur, his palm could clearly feel a vitality far more solid than the night before.

He leaned in, crouching to observe.

His eyes traced the winding path of the bandages, finally settling on the side of the dog's neck.

There, beneath the thick wrappings, the faint outline of a vicious wound was visible.

Even through the layers, the edge of the injury could be glimpsed—the flesh an unnatural dark red, a stark contrast against the surrounding ink-black fur.

This was no ordinary laceration. Its position and depth spoke of a killing blow, one meant to end a life in a single strike. Though the medicine had forcibly sealed it, it remained like a brand, silently telling the tale of a brutal battle.

The dark red scabs had deepened to a brownish hue, and the semi-transparent membrane covering the wound had thickened to the thinness of paper, faintly revealing the tender pink new flesh beneath.

Most astonishing were the shallow claw marks on its belly—the curled, exposed flesh beneath last night's layer of plant ash had already fully closed, leaving only a few faint silver lines, like moonlight's shattered reflection on a lake's surface.

"Abnormal healing rate..." Chen An scribbled rapidly in the Hide Notebook, the nib scratching across the paper.

"Spiritual Power concentration in the Safe Zone is 47% higher than outside (estimated based on dew condensation rate), suspected to accelerate cellular metabolism and energy conversion."

He added a line in smaller script: "Need to verify the specific catalytic effect of Spiritual Power on Demon Commander-level physiques."

As he was recording, the black dog on the straw mat suddenly stirred.

It wasn't a violent, earth-shattering struggle, but an extremely subtle, barely perceptible fluctuation of energy.

Like a single ripple stirred by a breeze on a calm lake, or the faint glimmer of a distant star flickering in the night sky.

This energy fluctuation was so small it could almost be ignored—but it was undeniably there.

Like the tiniest particles in the universe, insignificant yet carrying an influence that couldn't be dismissed.

Chen An keenly noticed that the pale silver threads of Spiritual Power flowing within the Safe Zone's barrier were gathering toward Little Black at a visible rate.

These Spiritual Power threads, as if drawn by an invisible vortex, seeped through the gaps in the bandages, condensing at the wounds into extremely fine, faintly glowing dewdrops.

The moment the dewdrops touched the flesh, they vanished like spring rain soaking into the earth, while the silver lines at the wound's edges brightened, spreading toward the center like a circuit being connected!

The black dog's eyes snapped open—

The pupils were no longer the unfocused, dazed orbs of yesterday, but like quenched glass—clear, deep, flowing with a glint of near-intelligent awareness.

Yet beneath that intelligence lay a layer of cold vigilance, like a predator lurking at the bottom of a deep pool.

Its gaze locked onto Chen An instantly. A low growl rumbled from its throat. Its body instinctively arched, bandaged front claws digging deep into the straw mat, as if ready to lunge at any moment!

Chen An froze, cold sweat beading on his palms. That look was nothing like an ordinary dog's—it was the gaze of a hunter who had weathered slaughter and understood danger, carrying the unique pressure of a primordial great beast. Though weak, it pierced straight to the soul.

The standoff lasted only an instant.

Little Black's arched spine suddenly relaxed. The sharp vigilance in its eyes receded like a tide, replaced by a complex, assessing look.

Its nostrils flared, as if catching the lingering scent of broth and herbal medicine in the air, or perhaps identifying the "mortal" quality of Chen An's complete lack of Spiritual Power. Finally, the ice in its eyes melted, revealing a faint trace of confusion... and a hint of something like gratitude?

It slowly lowered its head, resting its chin on its crossed front paws, letting out a long, almost sigh-like whimper. Its tense muscles fully relaxed, and only the tip of its tail brushed lightly against the straw mat, like a silent concession.

Chen An let out a long breath, only then realizing his back was soaked with cold sweat.

He tentatively offered half a bowl of warm broth. Little Black didn't resist; it even leaned toward the bowl on its own, taking small sips.

This time, its movements weren't driven purely by instinct, but carried clear restraint and grace—pausing every few sips, the wound on its throat rising and falling slightly with each swallow, yet no more blood foam seeped out.

As the sun slanted westward, Chen An changed Little Black's bandages. Peeling off the old dressing, he drew in a sharp breath:

The silver lines from the claw marks on its belly had vanished completely, the skin smooth as new;

The indentation on its neck had faded until it was nearly invisible;

At the torn wound on its back, new flesh had covered two-thirds of the injury, the edges showing a healthy pinkish hue.

"One day's work equals ten days or a month..." Chen An wrote the conclusion heavily in his notes. "The Safe Zone's spiritual energy has an extraordinary catalytic effect on Demon Commander-level injuries, and its mechanism may involve the resonance of high-dimensional energy with the laws of life."

As dusk settled, Little Black curled up on the straw mat, breathing evenly.

Chen An tended the fire, adding kindling. The dancing flames reflected in his half-lidded eyes, refracting a golden luster. When their gazes met, Little Black blinked extremely lightly for a moment.

In that instant, Chen An was certain—this was no ignorant beast. The intelligence hidden deep in those eyes, like an ancient mirror awakening, was reflecting back the vastness of the primordial wilderness and his own insignificant figure.

(End of Chapter 36)