"How are you feeling?"
Chen Xuan sat down by the bed, studying the woman before him with mixed emotions. He had assumed that after enduring so much torture, she would not wake up anytime soon. Yet not long after he left Room 202, he received word that she had regained consciousness.
She looked utterly haggard, completely unlike the Honglian from a few days ago. Her injuries were one thing, but the blow to her spirit was even more apparent. It was as if the light had gone from her eyes, leaving them dull and lifeless.
Like a flame that had burned to its end, with only a few embers remaining.
"Who... are you?" Honglian glanced at him and asked weakly. "And where... is this?"
"A place the Organization will never find. As long as you're here, you're safe." Chen Xuan replied. "My name is Chen Xuan. I'm Lin Qing's partner. You may not know me, but I've actually seen you many times."
Their earliest contact, in fact, dated back to when Joan of Arc was imprisoned.
"So... you're one of the people chosen by World Mind too..."
"You could say that."
Now that Honglian had been brought back to the Ability Store, there was no need to keep such information hidden. Besides, in her current state, there was no way she could return to the Dimensional Limit Organization.
"Where is Miss Lin? Is she here too?"
At that, Chen Xuan's heart suddenly grew much heavier. He shook his head. "To save you, she disappeared."
Honglian froze.
For a moment, the room was utterly silent.
Amid that long silence, Chen Xuan heard a faint sob. Startled, he looked toward the bed and found Honglian already in tears. She was biting down on her lip with all her strength, keeping herself from