Three-Way Struggle

Time passed slowly amid the drug-induced daze and intermittent attacks of pain. Lin Xiao was trapped in this high-tech yet cold medical room that felt like a cage. Every breath came with a dull ache in his chest and the empty, scorching burn brought by the -1.5 glow in his mind. Deep in his right leg, the Viper's Kiss core was like a sleeping venomous snake. Temporarily silenced under the suppression of the potent inhibitor, it nevertheless constantly reminded him of the bomb buried inside his body with its bone-chilling presence.

The "limited resources" Ye Qingyan had promised had yet to materialize. Only the caregiver, whose expression resembled a precision instrument, regularly delivered bland nutritional fluids and painkillers. Lin Xiao could sense that the Ye family was keeping him on the hook, maintaining his "useful" life with the most basic survival provisions while grinding away any unnecessary thoughts he might have, like taming a hawk, making him more "obedient."

He kept his eyes closed, seemingly resting, but his thoughts were like a trapped beast, futilely trying to dig out a trace of strength from the desolate desert of his exhausted soul. He could not even sense the fluctuations of the three Energy Stones in the brocade box against his chest. This utter weakness and helplessness in the hands of others made the ruthlessness in his heart grow wildly like weeds.

Suddenly, faint footsteps came from outside the medical room, different from the caregiver's regular steps and somewhat hurried. They seemed to be mixed with low voices engaged in discussion.

Lin Xiao's eyes snapped open, a trace of wariness flashing deep within his pupils.

Soon, the voices outside became clearer, seemingly stopping right outside the medical room.

A cold female voice carrying unquestionable authority pierced through the well-insulated door. Though muffled, Lin Xiao recognized it instantly—Qin Bing!

"...The Special Operations Ninth Division is investigating a case! This is a search warrant! We received a tip that the primary suspect and victim in last night's vicious martial artist attack in the old city's back alley may be receiving illegal treatment here! Cooperate with the investigation immediately!"

The Ye family guard's voice remained calm and restrained. "Sorry, Officer. This is private property belonging to Huanyu Group, protected by federal privacy laws. We have no knowledge of the suspect or victim you mentioned. Without authorization from the group's senior management, you cannot enter."

"Authorization from senior management? I now suspect that Huanyu Group is harboring a criminal suspect and obstructing law enforcement! Stand aside!" Qin Bing's voice suddenly rose, radiating unquestionable pressure.

Just then, another female voice, somewhat cool yet carrying a faint, barely perceptible urgency, cut in. It was not loud, but exceptionally clear. "I'm Su Qingxue, of the Su family. The person inside is my friend. I'm only here to check on his injuries. That doesn't violate any regulations, does it?"

Su Qingxue? She had come too?

Lin Xiao's heart sank. He had anticipated Qin Bing tracking him down, but Su Qingxue's appearance made the situation far more complicated and delicate. Was she fulfilling her duty as a "friend"? Or was she here because of their "three-day study" agreement? Or... both?

The confrontation outside had clearly escalated. Qin Bing's official identity and Su Qingxue's prestigious family background were clashing with the Ye family guards' refusal to yield an inch. Three forces had collided for the first time in such a dramatic fashion because of this tiny medical room.

The standoff lasted about a minute.

At last, the medical room's door slid silently to one side.

The first things to enter his view were two Ye family guards in black suits, their auras sharp and capable. They stepped aside to clear a path, their faces still professionally composed, though their eyes were keen.

Next, Qin Bing strode in wearing a crisp Special Operations uniform, her face icy. Her gaze swept across the room like a searchlight and instantly locked onto Lin Xiao on the hospital bed. Seeing him bandaged all over, pale-faced, and barely breathing, her cold pupils contracted almost imperceptibly. In the next moment, however, they were covered by deeper scrutiny and suspicion.

Almost at the same time, Su Qingxue appeared in the doorway. She was still wearing her cool, moon-white martial arts attire, though she had put on a light-colored warm coat over it. Her gaze quickly swept over Lin Xiao. When she saw his miserable condition, the ice-spring-like eyes showed the faintest ripple, but they soon returned to calm. Beneath that calm, however, seemed to lie some complicated emotion. In her hands, she was carrying an exquisite insulated food container.

Only then did Ye Qingyan appear.

She seemed to have come unhurriedly from another direction, still dressed in a sharp dark-blue skirt suit and holding the ultra-thin tablet. Her face showed little expression. She merely glanced lightly at Qin Bing and Su Qingxue, who had barged in, before finally turning her eyes to Lin Xiao. The corner of her lips curved into an extremely faint, unreadable smile.

"Captain Qin, Miss Su, what a rare sight." Ye Qingyan's voice was calm and emotionless, carrying the composure of a host. "Why have you all gathered outside my little medical room? Is there some misunderstanding?"

The little medical room was instantly filled with people from all three sides, and the air seemed to turn thick and heavy.

Qin Bing ignored Ye Qingyan's pleasantries completely. Her sharp gaze fixed on Lin Xiao. "Lin Xiao! Several members of the Blood Wolf Gang were killed in the old city's back alley last night. There were signs of intense combat and explosive residue at the scene! Were you involved? Who attacked you? Was it an internal conflict within the Blood Wolf Gang? What exactly was your connection to Viper Scorpion's death? Answer me immediately!" Her tone was aggressive, carrying the pressure unique to a criminal investigator. Every question struck directly at the core.

Lin Xiao lay on the hospital bed and began coughing violently. His face flushed unnaturally from the coughing, making him look utterly feeble. His voice was hoarse. "Officer Qin... what... what are you talking about... the Blood Wolf Gang? I... I don't know... I just... tripped and fell while walking..." His eyes were "confused" yet filled with "pain," perfectly portraying a seriously injured, dazed, and completely clueless victim.

"Tripped and fell?" Qin Bing laughed in exasperation. She pointed at the clearly weapon- and explosion-inflicted wounds covering Lin Xiao's body. "You got these injuries from falling? Lin Xiao, I'm warning you: cooperating with the investigation is your only way out! Otherwise..."

"Otherwise what?" Ye Qingyan interrupted coolly. She stepped forward and stood in front of the hospital bed. Though she was not as tall as Qin Bing, the icy aura of someone long accustomed to being in power was in no way weaker. "Captain Qin, are you threatening my people in my territory? Even if he is a suspect, he is still seriously injured and needs treatment, not interrogation. If you have evidence, bring an arrest warrant. If not, please leave."

"Your people?" Qin Bing snorted coldly, her sharp gaze turning toward Ye Qingyan. "Miss Ye, when did he become one of Huanyu Group's people? As far as I know, he's merely a street thug! Your protection of him makes it difficult not to suspect that Huanyu Group has some illicit connection to last night's attack—or even to the Blood Wolf Gang!"

"Captain Qin, watch your words." Ye Qingyan's expression turned cold. "Huanyu Group conducts legal business. How dare you slander it at will? Mr. Lin Xiao is a potential partner currently under evaluation by our company. After he was attacked, we provided medical assistance on humanitarian grounds. What's wrong with that? Has the Special Operations Ninth Division become so overbearing that it can interfere with ordinary business cooperation and charitable acts?"

The gazes of the two women collided in the air, one representing the iron law of the authorities, the other the financial behemoth of capital, seemingly stirring invisible sparks. The atmosphere instantly became charged and explosive.

Su Qingxue stood to one side, watching the scene unfold, her brows drawing together almost imperceptibly. She placed the food container in her hands on a nearby instrument stand and spoke in her cool voice, breaking the stalemate. "Officer Qin, Miss Ye, arguing over this is meaningless right now. Lin Xiao is seriously injured and needs rest. I'm only here as a friend to see him and bring him something."

Her gaze turned to Lin Xiao, her expression complicated. "Are you... all right?"

Lin Xiao's thoughts raced, but he forced a weak, grateful, roguish smile onto his face. "I'm... still alive... Thank you... for your concern, Miss Su, the campus belle..." He deliberately acted as though he and Su Qingxue were merely ordinary friends, avoiding provoking either of the other two sides.

Qin Bing looked at Su Qingxue, then Ye Qingyan, and finally back at Lin Xiao's face, which was filled with "innocence" and "weakness." Her teeth clenched tightly. She knew that with Ye Qingyan stubbornly blocking her and a member of the Su family present, forcibly taking Lin Xiao away or getting anything out of him was impossible today.

"Fine. Very fine." Qin Bing took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed her anger. Her icy gaze scraped across Lin Xiao like a blade. "Lin Xiao, you'd better stay this 'lucky.' The Special Operations Ninth Division will see this case through to the end! Let's go!"

She spun around and left the medical room in long strides, trailing a chill in her wake.

Once Qin Bing left, the pressure in the room seemed to ease by half.

Ye Qingyan looked at Su Qingxue. Her tone had softened slightly, though it still carried distance. "Miss Su, how thoughtful of you. But what Mr. Lin needs now is professional treatment and absolute rest. Visits should not be too long." Her words carried an unmistakable hint that she was seeing her out.

Su Qingxue understood naturally. She glanced at the "weak" Lin Xiao on the hospital bed, then at Ye Qingyan's calm yet unquestionable expression, and gently bit her lower lip.

"I understand." She nodded, took a small jade bottle from her clothes, and placed it beside the food container. "This is the Su family's secret Ice Heart Pill. It should help with internal injuries and stabilizing the flow of qi and blood. Goodbye."

She said no more. After giving Ye Qingyan a slight nod, she turned and left as well. Her moon-white figure disappeared through the doorway, carrying a trace of barely perceptible loneliness and worry.

At last, only Lin Xiao, Ye Qingyan, and the caregiver who had been as inconspicuous as a background prop remained in the medical room.

Ye Qingyan walked to the bedside and picked up the jade bottle. She opened it, gave it a sniff, and then set it down again, her gaze returning to Lin Xiao.

"Looks like quite a few people have you on their minds." Her tone revealed neither anger nor delight. "Rest well, Lin Xiao. Remember whose person you are now. Your 'value' needs to show itself as soon as possible."

After speaking pointedly, she turned and left as well.

The door closed silently once more.

Lying alone on the hospital bed, Lin Xiao stared at the ceiling and slowly exhaled a foul breath tinged with the smell of blood.

In his mind, the -1.5 glow remained cold.

Deep in his right leg, the dark-green tumor seemed to... twitch ever so faintly when Su Qingxue set down the Ice Heart Pill.

In this three-way struggle, his broken boat seemed not to have sunk yet.

But the waters were growing deeper and deeper.