Awakening

Chapter 44: Awakening (Seeking Recommendation Tickets~)

"Forbidden city? Since when?" Shi Lan asked.

"The order was just issued today."

"How long will it be forbidden?"

"Until the City Lord's Mansion orders it to be lifted."

Shi Lan frowned and left helplessly.

In Shuangyue City, besides the restaurants, there was nowhere else to find a large amount of meat.

Under the innkeeper's smiling gaze, Shi Lan once again mourned for her wallet.

Returning to the medical clinic, Shi Lan informed Du Baisheng of the news of the forbidden city.

"It's too late to leave now," Du Baisheng sighed.

"I'll go to the City Lord's Mansion tomorrow to see what's going on before we discuss it further," Shi Lan comforted him.

The sun set in the west, the afterglow like blood.

Shi Lan stood at the entrance of the medical clinic, looking at the vast expanse of blood-red sunset in the sky, feeling an inexplicable sense of unease in her heart.

"Brother Shi Lan, the person you brought has woken up," Du Yue'er ran up to Shi Lan and said.

Hearing this, Shi Lan quickly turned and entered the medical clinic.

Shi Feng lay on the bed with his eyes half-open, feeling a weakness he had never experienced before spreading through his body, making him wish he could close his eyes and sleep again.

"Shi Feng, Shi Feng? How do you feel?"

Hearing the voice calling in his ear, Shi Feng tried his best to open his eyes wider, turned his head to look at Shi Lan.

Shi Feng's throat moved for a long time, and he finally managed to utter a dry word: "Water..."

Just as Shi Lan was about to turn to get water, Du Yue'er handed him a cup of warm water.

After thanking her, Shi Lan took the teacup, helped Shi Feng up, and fed him the water.

After feeding him the water, Shi Lan pulled a quilt from another bed, placed it behind Shi Feng, and helped him lie down.

"Are you feeling better?"

"Thank you for your concern, young master. I'm fine," Shi Feng forced a smile.

Du Baisheng, who had just walked to the bedside, heard the word "young master" and gave Shi Lan a deep look.

Shi Lan shook her head, "Just call me Shi Lan from now on."

Shi Feng remained silent, not replying.

Du Baisheng stepped forward to check Shi Feng's pulse and said with some surprise, "There's no sign of improvement in the injuries, yet the person has woken up. Strange."

Shi Feng was very clear about his injuries. Although severe, they were not life-threatening.

However, without healing pills, it would be difficult to recover within a year or two. His meridians were severely damaged, and he couldn't even absorb spiritual energy from heaven and earth to heal himself.

After learning about his current situation, Shi Feng thought for a moment and said:

"There must be pills to heal injuries in the Demon Suppression Army. If Young Master... Shi Lan, you really pass the selection, you might have a chance to get them. Once I recover some of my injuries, I can take you away from here."

Shi Lan nodded. This was the only way now.

"If it's not possible, don't force it. We'll think of other ways then," Shi Feng said, reminding Shi Lan.

"I understand."

Shi Feng was seriously injured. After saying a few words, fatigue overwhelmed him.

Seeing this, Du Baisheng asked Du Yue'er to quickly cook a bowl of restorative porridge for Shi Feng.

After drinking the porridge, Shi Feng fell into a deep sleep again.

After dinner, Du Yue'er pulled Shi Lan to the wooden table and untied the cloth, preparing to change the dressing.

Upon seeing the wound, Du Yue'er was somewhat surprised, "How did it heal so quickly?"

The wound, which was deep enough to see bone, had now become much shallower, with tender new flesh growing. It would take at least ten to half a month for an ordinary person to recover to this stage.

Shi Lan's cultivation had reached the seventh level of the Body Tempering Realm, and her Jade Body Forging Technique had also entered the third level. This body-tempering technique from the System had already begun to change Shi Lan's physique.

After changing the dressing, Shi Lan lay down on the bed and let her consciousness sink into the virtual space. She didn't know what the selection method would be tomorrow, so it was better to prepare in advance.

After spending a night in the virtual space, Shi Lan got up, washed, and headed towards the City Lord's Mansion in the morning light.

Along the way, Shi Lan saw many people rushing towards the City Lord's Mansion, clearly most of them were there to join the fun.

In less than half an hour, Shi Lan arrived in front of the City Lord's Mansion.

On the open ground in front of the main gate of the City Lord's Mansion, a platform nearly ten feet high had been erected overnight.

A black stone block nearly as tall as a person stood on the platform. Other than that, there was nothing else.

A circle of black-armored soldiers surrounded the platform, blocking onlookers from within ten feet.

Just after the hour of the Rabbit, a figure flashed onto the high platform. It was a middle-aged man in a white robe.

From the murmurs of the crowd, Shi Lan learned that this man was the City Lord of Shuangyue City, Nie Yangze.

"I won't beat around the bush today. Those who believe they have the ability to join the City Lord's private army, please come up to the platform," Nie Yangze said, raising his hand into a fist and striking a nearby stone. His arm sank into the stone as if it were tofu, disappearing up to the shoulder.

"Anyone who can leave a five-inch-deep fist print on this stone will receive a hundred gold and can join the private army." Nie Yangze withdrew his hand. The stone seemed to writhe like a living thing, and in a few moments, it returned to its original state.

Watching this somewhat magical sight, Shi Lan's gaze sharpened. She understood that this gold would not be easily obtained.

"Lord City Lord, may I ask how many people the private army is recruiting this time?" a young man in his twenties asked.

"We'll take anyone who qualifies," Nie Yangze replied indifferently.

"Lord City Lord, what if the fist print exceeds five inches?" a burly man in the crowd shouted.

"Leave a six-inch-deep fist print, receive five hundred gold; a seven-inch-deep fist print, receive a thousand gold; leave a one-foot-deep fist print... and be rewarded with ten thousand gold!"

As soon as Nie Yangze finished speaking, gasps swept through the crowd. Many people's eyes turned red with eagerness. Wasn't this just handing out money?

"Let me be clear: anyone who attempts this and cannot leave a fist print of at least two inches will not only receive no reward but will be heavily punished. I do not like people who lack self-awareness."

With that, Nie Yangze flashed off the high platform.

Two black-armored soldiers carried a wooden table onto the platform, on which writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones were neatly arranged.

A short while later, a squad of black-armored soldiers brought forward over a dozen wooden chests. As the chests were opened, a dazzling golden light flooded the sight of the onlookers.

Neatly stacked gold bricks emitted a tempting sheen under the early morning sun.

"I'll go first!"

The burly man who had asked earlier, his face flushed, shouted loudly and pushed through the crowd.

The black-armored soldiers did not stop him, stepping aside to let him pass.

Seeing the first person take the plunge, the rest of the crowd quieted down, watching intently.

The burly man was tall and powerfully built, with bulging muscles. He clearly possessed considerable strength.

The onlookers recalled how Nie Yangze had effortlessly plunged his entire arm into the stone earlier. They all felt that this man was sure to win gold, and the only question was how much.

Thanks to "How to Choose a Good Name" and "SSR-233" for their rewards! Thank you~