Broken Leg

At the military district hospital, Si Jinyan remained conscious even as he was wheeled into the operating room. He had not passed out. He even gave Chi Li's hand beside him a reassuring squeeze, making it seem as though his injuries were not serious.

But Chi Li had witnessed it all firsthand. He had heard the bullet sink into flesh, felt Si Jinyan's warm blood splash across his face, and watched Si Jinyan's brows draw together slightly.

Throughout it all, Si Jinyan had not uttered a word. Only at the very end, while Chi Li was sheltered against his chest, did Chi Li hear Si Jinyan's chest tremble and a nearly imperceptible, pained grunt escape his throat.

Outside the operating room, Chi Li stared at the closed doors. Without even realizing it himself, his fingertips trembled faintly.

Not far away, Geng Ji arrived. A soldier on duty pointed at Chi Li by the door and asked Geng Ji whether he should take him away.

Military security was strict, and ordinary people were not allowed inside. The guards did not know Chi Li's identity.

They had only seen that when the Marshal was brought in, Chi Li had stayed by Si Jinyan's side, holding his hand. Since Si Jinyan had shown no intention of making him leave, they had not stopped Chi Li.

Geng Ji had not accompanied Si Jinyan on the mission today, but he had monitored and followed the situation from the rear the entire time. This shocking terrorist kidnapping incident had likely spread throughout the entire Empire by now.

Geng Ji had also heard Qiu Rui briefly describe what had happened. Qiu Rui's injuries were not severe. In this incident, Si Jinyan had likely been hurt the worst. Now that Si Jinyan was in surgery, Qiu Rui had to handle the aftermath of the incident.

For now, Geng Ji was in charge of Si Jinyan's side.

Geng Ji recognized Chi Li and waved to the people beside him. "It's fine. Let him stay here."

Only when Geng Ji approached did Chi Li seem to come back to himself and look at the man walking over.

Ever since that incident, Chi Li had been restless and unsettled. Fragments of what had happened kept flashing through his mind—the sensations, Si Jinyan's face. He could not clear those thoughts from his head.

This was not the first time Chi Li had experienced such a bloody, violent scene. He had skirted the edge of life and death countless times, but this was the first time he had felt so uneasy. He did not know what was wrong with him.

Geng Ji still looked as carefree and unserious as ever. Smiling, he asked Chi Li, "Scared?"

Chi Li had never met this man, but judging from Geng Ji's uniform, rank, and the fact that he was here, he could guess that Geng Ji was no ordinary person.

Chi Li had not forgotten his identity.

"Mm." Chi Li's voice was very soft.

Chi Li looked toward the operating room doors. The pale corridor lights fell across his face, making him look even paler. "Will the Marshal be all right?"

After a brief silence, Geng Ji suddenly reached out and gently ruffled Chi Li's hair.

The unexpected gesture startled Chi Li.

Chi Li's eyes widened slightly. He drew back to avoid Geng Ji, watching him with both wariness and confusion.

Geng Ji chuckled without explaining. Instead, he answered, "He'll be fine. The Marshal's life is tough. Injuries like this are nothing to him."

That sounded like mere consolation. Si Jinyan had been shot in the back and in the thigh. Those were already very serious injuries.

Chi Li's expression did not improve because of Geng Ji's words.

Geng Ji said, "There's no use keeping watch here. Go rest and eat something first. I'll take you."

Chi Li said nothing and did not move.

After a brief silence, Geng Ji suddenly said, "You're not scared at all, are you?"

Chi Li froze at that.

Geng Ji narrowed his eyes slightly and scrutinized Chi Li. "You're much calmer than those people. You don't look like someone who just went through such a chaotic scene."

Naturally, Geng Ji meant the rescued civilians. After the military successfully subdued the criminals, all the civilians had been taken away for comfort and psychological counseling.

Geng Ji's words made Chi Li panic inwardly.

This incident had suddenly thrown Chi Li off rhythm, making him forget how an ordinary person without military training should naturally react after encountering something like that.

A few seconds later, Chi Li turned to Geng Ji, his lips trembling faintly. "I'll wait here until the Marshal comes out."

A great deal of blood stained Chi Li's body, leaving him a mess. His fair face was the same, smeared with blood and dust. His lips were slightly chapped, his eyes faintly red, and he seemed to be suppressing an overwhelming exhaustion. When he said those words, he looked especially pitiful.

After saying that, Chi Li pressed his lips tightly together and stared silently at Geng Ji, meeting his gaze as if he had made up his mind about something.

Before long, Geng Ji turned his head away and stopped looking at him.

A moment later, Chi Li also turned and left, stopping at an empty spot nearby.

There was still blood on him. Chi Li did not sit in one of the chairs placed along the corridor. Instead, he leaned against a chair leg with his back to the wall and sat on the floor beside it.

Geng Ji watched Chi Li sit on the floor, knees drawn up, curled into a ball with his head buried in his arms. After watching for a while, he finally let out an almost imperceptible sigh and looked away.

Perhaps he was too exhausted, because Chi Li actually fell asleep sitting there.

When Chi Li opened his eyes again, someone was shaking him awake.

Geng Ji said, "Get up. Go eat first. Don't die here later—I can't afford to answer for that."

Chi Li groggily opened his eyes and looked at Geng Ji.

Geng Ji said, "The Marshal is out of surgery. He's been transferred to the intensive care unit inside. The doctors are still wrapping things up. Go eat first, then change your clothes."

At those words, Chi Li suddenly came fully awake. "The Marshal is out? How is he?"

When he stood, his legs had gone numb from sitting too long, and Chi Li nearly fell. Fortunately, Geng Ji caught him.

"He's fine." Geng Ji supported Chi Li and had him sit on a nearby chair to collect himself. "He just broke a leg. As long as he's alive, that's what matters."

It was as if Chi Li heard his heart skip a beat and stop.

All the strength drained from his body in an instant. Chi Li stared at Geng Ji in disbelief and asked for confirmation, "...His leg is broken?"

Geng Ji seemed unconcerned. "Who goes on a mission without preparing to lose an arm or a leg? It's fine. As long as his brain wasn't hurt, he's still the military's chief commander. He just can't go onto the battlefield anymore."

As he said that, Geng Ji revealed a somewhat troubled expression.

Chi Li's breathing hitched slightly. He did not know how he had followed Geng Ji out, nor did he know where he was going. When he noticed Geng Ji leading him toward the main entrance, he paused. "Are we going to the ward?"

Geng Ji draped an arm over Chi Li's shoulder and led him onward. "We're going to eat. Food is steel to the body, kid."

Chi Li could only follow Geng Ji to eat first.

While eating, Chi Li's mind buzzed nonstop. All he could think about was Si Jinyan's broken leg—Si Jinyan's leg had been broken because of him.

Geng Ji seemed to be giving him time to process it and did not say anything the entire time.

Chi Li knew he could not become too entangled with Si Jinyan, nor could he develop any feelings for him. He was only using Si Jinyan, investigating him, and maneuvering around his side.

But precisely because of that, he did not want Si Jinyan to pay any price for it. Si Jinyan had broken a leg protecting him, and Chi Li found that very hard to accept.

Over the course of their time together, Chi Li had come to realize that Si Jinyan was not someone with a bad temperament. If political positions and the interests entangling them were set aside, Chi Li would have cherished a friend like Si Jinyan. Perhaps they could even have become good friends.

After finishing the meal, Chi Li did not even know what he had eaten.