The moment Amon pushed open the door to the hotel suite, he immediately sensed that something was off.
In the living room, Caesar, Finn, and Minamoto Chisaki sat in silence. The air was so heavy it seemed as though water could be wrung from it.
Hearing the door open, Caesar immediately turned his head. His lips moved, his gaze complicated, as if countless questions were about to burst forth—only for him to force them back down.
Minamoto Chisaki quickly rose to his feet, faced Amon, and gave him a deep bow. His movements were precise yet stiff, his voice low and taut. "I'm deeply sorry, Mr. He. This was a grave failure on our part."
The words Amon had prepared to pressure the Eight Clans of the Serpent over the car explosion were caught in his throat by this unexpected heaviness and apology—apparently, something else had happened.
Finn cautiously pointed at Xia Mi's tightly shut bedroom door and lowered his voice. "Junior Brother He... you should go in and see for yourself."
Puzzled, Amon took a few quick steps over and pushed open the door.
The lighting in the room was soft, but the faint smell of disinfectant filled the air. Xia Mi lay quietly on the bed, her face far paler than usual. Her long lashes cast small shadows beneath her eyelids, and the girl who was normally so full of life now looked exceptionally weak.
Chu Zihang stood watch beside the bed like a silent statue. His gaze rested on Xia Mi's face, his emotions unreadable, but the aura around him was colder and harder than usual. Lu Mingfei had dragged over a small stool and sat far away in the corner by the window, his face filled with worry and lingering fear. Sakura stood with her hands