Long Jinyu turned at the sound, only to see Doctor Luo hurrying over.
"Hm? Doctor Luo? Why are you... I told you to watch Xiaotao practice... Ow!"
Before he could finish, someone flicked him lightly on the back of the head.
He clutched his head and turned around, meeting a pair of blazing phoenix eyes.
Ma Xiaotao had appeared behind him at some point. Her cheeks still held a faint flush from her recent recovery, but her eyes had regained their usual brilliance. She looked at him with a hint of reproach.
"Senior? You... you're better?"
"Mm..." Ma Xiaotao replied. Her gaze swept over his somewhat pale face, and her voice softened unconsciously. "It's all thanks to you. I've... recovered quite well. Besides, how could I sit out when people need saving? You look like a gust of wind could knock you over. How could I feel at ease letting you go alone?"
Alone?
Liu Tao: "???"
The medical staff: "???"
"Oh, sure. Then..." Long Jinyu's heart warmed. But just as he finished speaking, he suddenly cried out, "Hey, hey, hey—!"
Without another word, Ma Xiaotao bent down, swept one arm beneath his knees, and wrapped the other around his back. With a little effort, she scooped him up in a perfect bridal carry, then pushed off and flew toward the Rescue Airship.
"Senior! What are you doing?! Put me down! Men and women shouldn't touch! In front of all these people, this is completely inappro—"
Long Jinyu's ears turned scarlet. His hands and feet had nowhere to go as he struggled to get down. Being carried like this in front of so many people was painfully embarrassing.
"Quiet!" Ma Xiaotao's ears were burning too, but she tightened her arms around him. The corners of her lips curled up. "You're embarrassed now? It's not like I've never carried you before. Have you forgotten how many times you've carried me?"
Long Jinyu choked, remembering that because of certain "unavoidable circumstances," he really had carried her plenty of times...
But was that situation even remotely the same?
He weakly protested, "Ahem... But, but was there ever a time I did it willingly? It was always..."
Ma Xiaotao said nothing. The hand behind his back quietly slid to his waist and pinched a small fold of soft flesh, twisting it ever so slightly.
"Ow! I was wrong, I was wrong! Senior! Senior Xiaotao! You're the best! Stop pinching me! It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!" Long Jinyu instantly turned into a coward, squirming around in her arms.
"Hmph~" Only then was Ma Xiaotao satisfied enough to let go.
As they horsed around, a faint warmth drifted beneath Long Jinyu's nose, scented with the subtle fragrance of flames. Somehow, his taut nerves relaxed, and even his exhaustion eased. He secretly shifted into a more comfortable position and nestled into her arms without a shred of guilt, secretly delighted.
Looks like... I really do prefer being doted on by a big sister. Being carried by Xiaotao is way more comfortable than carrying her~!
Once aboard the airship, Ma Xiaotao carefully set him down in a seat and handed him a fully charged Soul Guidance Milk Bottle. "Here, I got this oral Milk Bottle from Doctor Luo. You've used up too much energy. Recover quickly; we'll need your life energy to save people later."
"An oral Milk Bottle? They make ones you drink? I've never heard of that. Is this some Medical Pavilion cutting-edge technology?"
Long Jinyu took the bottle and slumped against Ma Xiaotao's soft, warm embrace, greedily absorbing the pure Soul Power inside. At last, his parched meridians felt a little relief. "All right. Thanks, Senior~!"
As he recovered, he didn't forget what mattered. He nodded to Liu Tao beside him. "Vice Dean Liu, there's no time to waste. Let's go immediately."
Liu Tao answered at once. "Dean... rest assured. The moment you drove off the Evil Soul Masters, I had already sent several elite medical teams ahead."
"Good. Well done." Long Jinyu praised him, while asking the system in his mind, System, how are the scan results? How are Tang Ya and the others?
[Scan complete.]
[Explosion location: outside the main gate of Shrek Academy.]
[Total people affected by the explosion: 100+; deaths: none; on the brink of death: 7; seriously injured: 23...]
[Status of designated people: Xu Sanshi and Bei Bei seriously injured; Tang Ya unconscious; ...; Jiang Nannan and Huo Yuhao lightly injured.]
No one died? And no one was captured? Thank goodness! Long Jinyu's heart finally settled somewhat. As long as they're still here, there's hope! System, guide me to those seven people in critical condition right away—
[Recommendation rejected. The host need only unleash the Self-Created Soul Skill "Dragon Bath Spring Rain" at full power to heal all physical injuries on the scene. The Medical Pavilion can then focus solely on subsequent mental recovery and treatment, greatly reducing the burden.]
Oh, right! Long Jinyu suddenly realized, patting his still-dizzy head. My head's still a little foggy. I didn't think of that. Weird, why do you seem smarter all of a sudden?
[That is an illusion. This system has always been very smart.]
Long Jinyu: ...You're bragging without even batting an eye?
"By the way, kid." Ma Xiaotao's voice interrupted his exchange with the system.
"Hmm?"
"I didn't know your Simulation skill was that ridiculous." Ma Xiaotao looked at him, curiosity and a hint of confusion in her eyes. "But why did you let those Evil Soul Masters escape? Why didn't you kill them all?"
Long Jinyu nearly choked on the Soul Power in the bottle. His eyes widened. "???"
"Senior... aren't you giving me too much credit?" He laughed helplessly. "Could it be that I'm only at level forty-something and can't beat a single one of those Titled Douluo? Simulating their auras and Soul Rings to scare them off was already the limit. If I'd actually fought them, wouldn't I have been exposed?"
"Even the three Soul Saints I brought down were already badly injured by the Yanhuang Guard. I just took advantage of that. I'm not an idiot. If I could really beat them, I'd have wiped them all out. Why would I let tigers return to the mountains?"
Ma Xiaotao blinked, then laughed. "That's true. I forgot you're only a Soul Ancestor. If you can cause this much trouble as a Soul Ancestor, what'll happen when you become a Titled Douluo? You'll be up in the heavens!"
Long Jinyu couldn't help laughing. "Senior... you're exaggerating way too much (correct✓)..."
Just then, the airship shuddered slightly and came to a stop.
"We're here?" Long Jinyu immediately sat up straight.
Liu Tao's voice came over the communicator. "Dean, we've been stopped. It seems the earlier rescue teams have also been held up here."
"Stopped?" Long Jinyu frowned.
"Everyone aboard that airship, listen up! Bring it to a complete stop and come out for inspection!"
A deep voice came from outside. Through the porthole, they could see that the Shrek City guards had surrounded them.
"An emergency has occurred in the city. By order of the Sea God Pavilion Master, the affected area is under lockdown! No outsiders may approach. Shrek Academy students are exempt!"
Liu Tao opened the hatch and stepped outside. In a clear voice, he said, "City Lord Shi, long time no see. Liu Tao at your service. We heard Shrek Academy had been attacked and came to offer support. Why are you stopping us?"
The man outside was Shi Xing, the current city lord of Shrek City. When he recognized Liu Tao, his tone softened. "Vice Dean Liu? It really is you! Wasn't your Medical Pavilion attacked too? How...?"
Liu Tao explained, "It was, but thanks to the Dean, the enemy has been driven off. Once the danger had eased a little, we came straight here on the Dean's orders to support the academy. Treating the wounded cannot wait."
"So that's what happened! What a case of the flood washing into the Dragon King's temple!" Shi Xing sounded apologetic and impressed. "Vice Dean Liu, your Medical Pavilion is truly noble. On behalf of Shrek, I thank you! Please, go on through!"
With the obstacle removed, the airship accelerated again and soon arrived at the main gate of Shrek Academy, now reduced to a scene of utter devastation.
Flames, smoke, screams, figures rushing to and fro... It was a tragic scene.
The Medical Pavilion's treatment teams quickly took over the rescue efforts, working closely with Shrek's own healing Soul Masters.
With Ma Xiaotao supporting him, Long Jinyu stepped out of the airship. The sight before him made his heart tighten. He hesitated no longer, forcing himself through his mental exhaustion as he flew into the air. Brilliant green light burst out around him!
"Dragon Bath Spring Rain—!"
A shower of life-filled green light fell, covering the entire disaster zone. Wherever the light passed, the wounded watched as their injuries healed at a visible speed and their pain rapidly faded. Even foreign objects embedded in their bodies dissolved under the nourishment of the life energy. The scene that had been filled with cries of suffering was instantly enveloped in a warm, peaceful atmosphere.
"Quick! Now!" Liu Tao immediately directed the medical staff forward. They swiftly and orderly moved the stabilized patients onto the airship, ready to bring them back to the Medical Pavilion for more extensive mental treatment and observation.
Releasing Ultimate Life on such a massive scale placed an enormous mental burden on him, even with the Milk Bottle replenishing his Soul Power.
Long Jinyu's vision went black. His body swayed, and he nearly fell. Ma Xiaotao immediately reached out and wrapped an arm around his waist, letting him lean against her.
"If you can't hold on, don't force yourself!" Her tone was reproachful, but the hand supporting him was steady and strong.
Long Jinyu rested his head on her shoulder and closed his eyes for a few seconds. His head throbbed as if he'd just taken an impossibly difficult math exam, and his thoughts were in a complete jumble. Still, he knew the danger was far from over, and forced himself to keep thinking.
Looks like... that Holy Son really is using the lives of civilians and students to threaten Shrek, making them afraid to send high-level fighters elsewhere for support. Long Jinyu's eyes turned cold. Good. Very good. He's disgraced the face of the Xia people. Just let me get my hands on him.
The bomb was planted right at the academy's main gate. There's no way a powerhouse of Mu En's caliber wouldn't have noticed it... unless this thing was made by the system too?
Forget it. There's no point dwelling on that. The main thing is...
A deep exhaustion washed over him. He hated the feeling of always having to react to things after the fact.
"Kid." Ma Xiaotao's voice interrupted his thoughts. "You look awful. Stop thinking and get some rest! Even if the sky falls, Mu En and the others will hold it up."
Long Jinyu shook his head, his voice hoarse. "No... if Mu En and the others really had a way, how could they still be unable to send help to the Medical Pavilion?"
Ma Xiaotao froze. On second thought, he was right, and she fell silent. "Then... at least sit steady. Don't fall." She held onto Long Jinyu's arm, letting him lean more of his weight against her.
Long Jinyu leaned against her obediently, his eyes sweeping over the busy rescue workers around them and the shaken civilians in the distance. His anxiety surged again.
The main thing is... there's at least one more bomb like that. Maybe even more... If even Mu En can't find it, what are we supposed to do? He rubbed his aching temples hard. Come on, stupid brain, think! If we don't find them, how many more innocent people will get hurt? I swear, every day it's either wind or rain. Can't I get one peaceful day?
He raised his head and looked at Ma Xiaotao's face, close enough to touch, her profile brimming with concern. For a moment, he stared blankly.
Suddenly, he smacked his thigh.
Oh! I must be so dizzy I forgot! Fight magic with magic, fight the system with the system!
He immediately called out in his mind, with affectionate desperation:
System... no, my most, most, most... most beloved System Treasure!
[Here!]
The system's response seemed to come just a little faster.
[Your treasure is here!]
Quick! Scan all of Shrek City right now! Find anything that doesn't belong in this world, anything suspicious, especially anything with explosive energy! Mark the locations!
[Command received! Comprehensive scan initiated—!]
[Scan complete! Three hidden explosives remain; their coordinates have been marked. Structural analysis complete. All are trigger-activated Soul Guidance Bombs equipped with a "Concealment Field." Their core energy circuits are fragile; forcibly disarming them or striking them with a long-range Soul Skill could trigger a secondary explosion.]
Hearing the system's successful report, Long Jinyu's spirits lifted. He nearly burst into tears of joy and spoke with utmost sincerity in his mind:
System Treasure! You were absolutely amazing this time! You helped me so much! I swear, I'll never secretly insult you behind your back again!
[Of course! Once this treasure steps in... Wait!]
The system's voice suddenly shot up, tinged with exasperation.
[What did you just say?! You've been secretly insulting me behind my back all this time?!]
Long Jinyu felt guilty and hastily tried to cover it up. No, no! I meant I praised you! Yes, I was definitely praising you! Heaven and earth can bear witness! He tried to change the subject. Dear System Treasure, now isn't the time to get hung up on that. Quick, cut to the chase. How do I disarm the bombs? I really can't hold on much longer. I feel like I'm about to pass out any second.
[Hmph! I'll let it slide for now!]
The system knew how terrible his condition was and didn't press the matter. It quickly provided a solution.
[The solution is simple: use fine control over your spatial attribute. You needn't touch the bombs themselves. Simply open a tiny spatial passage at each marked coordinate and pull the bomb straight into the void turbulence. The energy fluctuations will be minimized, and there is no chance of detonation. Given your current condition and proficiency, three precise micro-transfers are the absolute limit. You must act immediately!]
Throw them straight into the void? That's a great idea! Clean and efficient! Long Jinyu forced himself to muster the last of his mental strength, not daring to delay.
Leaning against Ma Xiaotao, he raised his limp hand with difficulty. Slowly, he formed a strange and intricate hand seal in front of him. Faint silver flecks of light began to swirl around his fingertips.
Ma Xiaotao: "???"
Ma Xiaotao, who had been carefully supporting him, sensed something was wrong.
She felt the body that had been completely relaxed against her suddenly tense. The movement was slight, but she was so close that she felt it clearly.
She looked down to see Long Jinyu's eyes half-closed, his brow furrowed with intense concentration and mental exhaustion, and his face frighteningly pale. Yet his fingers moved slowly along an extraordinarily delicate path, stirring faint, subtle spatial fluctuations that made her heart skip a beat.
"Kid? You..."
Ma Xiaotao instinctively wanted to stop him. He was obviously forcing himself to activate some kind of ability in his current state. It was far too reckless!
Before you continue