Kiana's Immersive Feeding Service

"In short, that's all the doctor said," Himeko placed the medical report in front of Sheng Jiu. "If it's really not working out, we can see how your body recovers in two weeks and then decide if you need to stay hospitalized. There's still time."

"I still think it's too ridiculous. A person with nearly full-body fractures can recover to a state of full vitality after just two weeks in bed? That's too strange."

Himeko waved her hand. "Forget it, we'll talk about that later. You focus on recovering. I'm leaving now. Someone will bring you food shortly."

"Wait, Teacher Himeko," Sheng Jiu called out to Himeko. "Why would a top-tier lower-rank Honkai Beast like the Herrscher of Honkai appear on the outskirts of Changkong City? That shouldn't be logical, right?"

Himeko frowned. "...Logically, a beast tide of this scale shouldn't have occurred at dawn today. What's happening now has exceeded the expectations of those higher-ups. I think Changkong City is about to undergo a major change."

...Watching Himeko leave the hospital room, Sheng Jiu, wearing a neck brace, lay on the hospital bed and fell into deep thought. Upon closer observation of this beast tide, it was clear that the Honkai Beasts' attack lacked strategy. It wasn't like a premeditated assault; it was more like they were instinctively trying to escape Changkong City after being startled, which led to the clashes with the city's defenders.

There are two possibilities for whatever could scare a being of the Herrscher of Honkai's caliber: either a more powerful Judgment-class Honkai Beast has appeared within Changkong City, but this scenario can basically be ruled out for now. Judgment-class Honkai Beasts are extremely rare. The last one registered was a subordinate of Sirin, the Herrscher of Void during the Second Honkai Outbreak ten years ago – the Dragon-type Honkai Beast Benares. Another possibility is...

"Hey, lazybones, are you in there? Wow! How did you end up looking like a dumpling!" Kiana's energetic voice echoed from the doorway, interrupting Sheng Jiu's thoughts.

Kiana entered carrying a thermos. As soon as she saw Sheng Jiu tightly wrapped in bandages and casts, she burst out laughing. "Hahaha, what happened to you? You weren't this heavily bandaged back at the field hospital. This is hilarious!"

"So, faced with such a big dumpling, does Miss Kiana have any urge to take a bite?"

"Go to hell!" In response to Sheng Jiu's teasing, Kiana unhesitatingly twisted his ear, turning it a full 180 degrees.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch! I was wrong, I was wrong!" Sheng Jiu, with both arms in casts and wearing a neck brace, was like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered. Even a child could beat him up, let alone the enraged Kiana before him.

After thoroughly "abusing" (rewarding) Sheng Jiu's face, Kiana released her grip, satisfied. "Next time, I'll twist your ear clean off!"

Kiana slowly opened the thermos and served Sheng Jiu a bowl of seafood congee. "Here, eat! Yae Sakura specifically made this for you because she knows you like it."

Looking at the fragrant seafood congee before him, Sheng Jiu showed no reaction.

"What's wrong with you! Do you know how long Yae Sakura spent making this pot of congee, and you dare to dislike it? Yae Sakura has never made congee for me before! Unbelievable!" Kiana, thinking Sheng Jiu found the congee unappetizing, got angry and prepared to twist his ear again.

"No, no, no, look at me. How can I react? I can't even hold a spoon right now," Sheng Jiu complained pitifully, looking at his casted arms.

Kiana's hand slowly retreated. "That's true! So what do we do? How about this, you just watch me eat, and you won't be hungry."

Kiana righteously picked up the seafood congee and made a show of about to drink it. Then, she looked at Sheng Jiu, who was gazing at her pitifully, and sighed. She scooped a spoonful of congee, blew on it, and with a blush, brought it to Sheng Jiu's lips. "Open up!"

"Ah?" Sheng Jiu stared at Kiana in shock.

The blush on Kiana's face deepened. "If you dare say a word about this, I'll kill you! Open up!"

"Mmm!" Sheng Jiu obediently opened his mouth, and a spoonful of seafood congee was poured in. "Is it hot?"

"Not hot!"

"Ah~ Open up!"

Two weeks passed quickly. During this time, many classmates visited Sheng Jiu in the hospital. Kiana came every day to bring him meals, and before the cast on Sheng Jiu's hand was removed, she personally fed him every day.

During these two weeks, just as the military doctor had predicted, Sheng Jiu's recovery ability was eerily strong. After the first week, the wound on Sheng Jiu's back had begun to scab over. By the end of the second week, Sheng Jiu had already had his cast removed and could walk independently.

In the early morning, Theresa sat by the bed, peeling an apple for Sheng Jiu. "...That's how the whole thing happened. Headquarters speculates that the recent severe hurricane caused changes in Changkong City's climate, which disturbed the Honkai Beast population, leading to this beast tide."

"I see," Sheng Jiu leaned against the hospital bed, flipping through his class notes. "I thought the beast tide occurred because a Herrscher appeared within Changkong City."

Theresa's expression suddenly turned grim, but she quickly regained her composure. She smiled and placed the peeled apple on the fruit plate. "You know, your imagination is getting wilder and wilder. Always thinking up nonsense. If a Herrscher had appeared in Changkong City, the people at Headquarters would have been restless long ago!"

"Perhaps I was overthinking it." Sheng Jiu also put down his notebook and looked out the window. The trees were lush, their leaves swaying gently in the breeze, rustling softly. Birds sang on the branches, adding a touch of life and vitality to the tranquil atmosphere. The lawn beneath the trees was like a green carpet, a scene full of vibrant life.

Theresa stood up and bid Sheng Jiu farewell. "I still have some matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving now. Get plenty of rest. You can be discharged tomorrow."

The moment Theresa walked out of the hospital room, the smile on her face vanished. She walked towards Himeko, who was leaning against the corner. "What were the detection results?"

"It's absolutely certain. I've had people re-examine it four times. The results are all the same: a Pseudo-Herrscher or an even higher-level existence has definitely emerged within Changkong City. Should we send troops into the city?"

"No need. I'll go myself in a few days."