Escape from Death

As Jia Ruo opened his eyes, a burning pain in his back instantly engulfed him.

He struggled to lift his left hand. Since his right hand was holding You Meng at the time, he had grabbed the short spear with his left.

Now, his left arm was swollen, turning a bluish-purple, and numb.

Phew, I'm already ahead just by being alive.

"Jia Ruo, you're awake."

Beside the bed, Neeko's large eyes were red.

"The Hall of Tranquility invited the best Life Mage in Placidium. They said they've done everything they possibly could..."

Neeko threw herself into Jia Ruo's arms.

"Neeko thought you wouldn't wake up..."

"Don't cry, don't cry."

Jia Ruo gently patted Neeko's back with his right arm.

"Where are we?"

"In a side hall of the Hall of Tranquility. Master Percy is very self-reproachful and often comes to see you."

"Often? How many days have I been unconscious?"

"Four days already."

"No wonder, I'm starving. I feel like I could eat a cow right now. Neeko, quickly get me something to eat."

After a while.

Jia Ruo licked his lips, still unsatisfied.

"You can't eat anymore, you'll burst."

Neeko looked at the three large bowls on the tray. Although they were all easily digestible meat congee, she was still very worried.

"Jia Ruo, you're awake!"

Suddenly, a sturdy figure appeared at the doorway.

"Master Percy."

Jia Ruo couldn't stand up yet, so he could only greet him from his lying position.

"I'm sorry, I didn't expect such an accident to happen. This is my responsibility."

"It's alright, Master Percy. Look, I'm not dead, and my arms and legs are all still here."

"I was just worried something might happen to you, and Yi would come looking for me and beat me up."

"Master isn't that kind of person. Speaking of which, Master Percy, this counts as a work injury for me, right? What about the medical expenses..."

"The Hall of Tranquility will cover those expenses, of course. Furthermore, until you recover, the Hall of Tranquility will not assign you any more tasks."

"Then... was the Azure Carved Golem finally killed?"

Master Percy nodded, seeing what Jia Ruo wanted to ask.

"Don't worry, everyone has seen your efforts. This time, you will receive a more generous reward—a whole bottle of Sorcery Potion. Once the Crown of Insight is stripped and dismantled by the Council Elders using Secret Arts, you will receive it."

"Thank you, Master Percy!"

Jia Ruo smiled even more happily.

Although he was seriously injured, he also gained extra rewards.

"Then rest well. I need to get back to my official duties."

"Goodbye, Master Percy."

When Jia Ruo turned his head, Neeko had already fallen asleep, clinging to his right arm.

She must have been worried sick these past few days.

Jia Ruo carried Neeko to the bed and placed her in his arms, letting her rest her head on his uninjured right arm.

He then began to ponder the anomaly of the Azure Carved Golem.

Why had the Azure Carved Golem kept chasing him? From Master Percy's words, this had never happened before. This meant there must be something special about him.

After much thought, Jia Ruo concluded there was only one possibility: the Azure Carved Golem had sensed the power of the World Runes within him.

It seemed the Azure Carved Golem was indeed related to the Rune Wars of the past.

But how had it sensed the World Runes within him? And why had it tried to kill him?

Sigh, his head hurt. He should just go back to sleep.

Jia Ruo gave up thinking.

Three more days passed. Jia Ruo and Neeko moved back to their Cabin Seventy-Nine from the side hall of the Hall of Tranquility.

The mage responsible for treating Jia Ruo had said he was no longer in critical condition.

To keep the wound on his back ventilated and prevent bacterial growth, Jia Ruo was going around shirtless all day.

At this moment, he was sitting at the dining table, drinking a bitter, dark medicinal soup.

This was made from herbs the old Weaver had brought yesterday, said to have the effect of accelerating wound healing.

Although Jia Ruo felt it was unnecessary, Neeko still brewed it for him.

Jia Ruo pinched his nose and drank it down in one gulp, letting out a long sigh.

"It seems the Life Mage's magic is very effective. The scattered scratches on my body have already healed, and the abrasions on my back have completely scabbed over, though they're very itchy now."

"That's new flesh growing."

Neeko slapped away Jia Ruo's hand as he reached to scratch his back and took the bowl he had finished drinking from the table.

"You're so lazy now, you even want me to take the bowl to the sink for you."

"Aiya, I'm a patient right now, see."

Jia Ruo held up his left hand. Although it was still mottled with purplish-blue, the swelling had gone down.

"Don't you still have your right hand? You lazy bum!"

Neeko turned around indignantly and went to wash the dishes.

Knock, knock, knock. The sound of knocking on the door.

Jia Ruo got up and ran to open it.

"Master Percy, why have you come? Please, come in."

Opening the door, Jia Ruo saw the burly man who almost filled the doorframe.

"I came to see you today, and to give you this."

Percy squeezed through the door and took a delicate wooden box from the Clerical Monk behind him.

"My reward?"

Jia Ruo asked in surprise.

Percy nodded and handed the wooden box to Jia Ruo.

"My advice is to wait until you've fully recovered before drinking it."

Jia Ruo lifted the lid of the wooden box. Nestled among the anti-collision cotton balls was a glass bottle with a slender neck and a large belly.

Inside the glass bottle, it was filled with blue potion.

"Jia Ruo."

Master Percy took out a small cloth bag from his embrace again.

"This is a small gift from me to you."

"Master Percy, You... are too kind. This accident wasn't your fault."

"Take it. It's just a small token of my appreciation. It can help you recover."

"Then, thank you, Master."

"Mm, I'm leaving."

After seeing Master Percy off, Jia Ruo opened the small bag and took out the item within: a pale green bead, the size of a longan, strung on a thin hemp rope.

Isn't this the Healing Orb, commonly known as a green bean?

Jia Ruo hung the Healing Orb around his neck. A warm current flowed out from it, slowly spreading throughout his entire body.

The itching sensation on his back intensified. It seemed this was also a magical item.

He wondered how much it was worth. Amidst his gratitude, Jia Ruo thought pragmatically.

Humming a little tune, Jia Ruo picked up the wooden box containing the Sorcery Potion and ran back to the bedroom.

Once his injuries healed, he would be able to use the Sorcery Potion. He wondered what effects it would bring.

This was a truly priceless magical item.