Seeds of Potential
Su Ming chose a location a few blocks away from the Raccoon Dog Dream Theater to "receive the goods".
With Cloud Fang City's high-end combat power relatively weak, Su Ming has become bolder.
He cast an invisibility spell on himself, held Ximina firmly in his arms, and in a few leaps, he scaled over a dozen rooftops, returning directly to the theater.
Yise took Ximina gently and placed her on the bed.
Jinxiu flew out from Su Ming's forehead and circled around the girl once.
"Hmm, how should I begin treatment?" she asked, somewhat bewildered.
Ximina was still alive, but her physical activity had plummeted to almost nothing. Her skin was bloodless, and her neck was covered in shocking bruises and marks from strangulation.
His chest showed no rise and fall, and his fingertips were cold and bluish.
This is not the state that Jinxiu is aware of.
"Don't panic, let's get her heart rate and blood pressure back down first," Su Ming said.
The raw materials for the medicine had already been prepared, and even the drug formulation was completed on Earth.
As the IV drip and medicine were brought to the bedside, Su Ming immediately started an intravenous injection for Ximina. The dormant drug he had previously injected her with was, strictly speaking, a highly toxic substance, but the dosage had been precisely controlled.
First, we need to neutralize the remaining poison.
Yise fitted Ximina with ECG monitoring and other equipment, and the data was synchronized to the back office in real time.
The readings showed a few short, sharp fluctuations, with the values still hovering at dangerously low levels. The on-call medical expert team quickly followed up.
They waited patiently for a few minutes.
"My heart rate and blood pressure are rising, but the rate is a bit slow."
"This patient's physical condition is too poor."
Su Ming glanced at Ximina. Although she had only been held captive for a month and a half, the girl was much thinner than the portrait Su Ming had seen.
It feels very light when you hold it; you can feel your bones even through the fabric.
On Ximina's slender wrist, even the adhesive tape securing the IV needle looked a bit too big.
The expert panel quickly provided a solution.
"Inject adrenaline and an energy supplement." The adrenaline works very quickly; a few minutes later, the expert told Su Ming.
"Your heart rate and blood pressure are starting to return to normal."
That's obvious.
Even without looking at the electrocardiogram monitoring data, Ximina's skin tone has visibly begun to recover.
Next, the doctor continuously adjusted the type and dosage of the medication.
Gradually, Ximina's breathing became more and more obvious, and her complexion returned to normal.
"Almost there," the expert team said. "Now we can cast healing magic on her."
Yise reached into Ximina's arms, took the mechanical mouse out, pried open the metal plate on its abdomen, and pulled out a key engraved with Holy Spring pattern.
"Zuyi's Blessing".
Su Ming arranged for three mechanical rats to enter the palace: one was an enhanced search type, and the other carried drugs and injection equipment.
The remaining one, huddled in her chest, was equipped with Saint Rank medical device, constantly emitting extremely subtle fluctuations to maintain Ximina's life.
Yise switched "Zuyi's Blessing" to its normal power level and placed it back on Ximina. The green light, like water vapor, rippled outwards, wandering along Ximina's clothes. The light threads spread along her collarbone, neck, and limbs, enveloping the girl like a layer of warm spring water.
Jinxiu also moved closer, placing her hands above Ximina's throat, her wings fluttering gently, scattering a layer of fine dust.
****
Su Ming left the room.
A radar warning popped up on my phone.
Su Ming opened the app and found a group of four flying dragons marked in red, returning to the Cloud Fang Royal Palace from the direction of Fallen Leaf Swamp.
It was Abidaqi and three Pseudo-Saint Rank.
Judging from their route, they don't pass by the Raccoon Dog Dream Theater, but a degree of vigilance should still be maintained.
"Are you done on your end?" Su Ming asked Katharine.
"Seeing that your rescue went smoothly, I didn't cause any more trouble," Katharine replied.
Half an hour ago, the Y-20 approached the Fallen Leaf Swamp from high altitude.
It descended some altitude, then pretended to suddenly realize that the rescue target was not right, and hastily fled after a brief performance. "You didn't cause any trouble." Su Ming was slightly surprised.
"The Chihuo suggested that there was no need to complicate matters."
Katharine explained.
I think he has a point.
"Not only will there be little to no benefit, but if we make any obvious moves here, it will reveal that we already knew about the ambush."
Su Ming also realized this.
"Indeed, it could arouse unnecessary suspicion."
Su Ming zoomed in on the surveillance footage and saw Abidaqi and his group riding wyverns, landing at the palace.
Even the two-thousand-year-old elf, after all this commotion, showed signs of exhaustion as he leaped off the dragon.
While Abidaqi is undeniably powerful, it's also true that his energy is limited.
Putting himself in the other person's shoes, Su Ming actually felt a little sorry for this super old man.
While Su Ming's side was making intensive preparations for the upcoming war, [the text abruptly ends here, likely due to an incomplete translation or source material.]
The work pressure at the Plundering Clock is probably not much worse.
Unfortunately, his two most capable Clock Hand got into this mess.
"Katharine, have Chubby Girl come over tonight and drop some aerial bombs over the palace," Su Ming instructed.
"It probably won't have any offensive effect, will it?" Katharine, somewhat puzzled.
Although the operation was not very costly, requiring only a transport plane and a few dozen tons of gold-making explosives.
But it couldn't penetrate Abidaqi's defenses.
Su Ming smiled softly.
"It's nothing, I was just worried that Abidaqi was sleeping too soundly."
****
The Yuye carried back a large pumpkin.
From Su Ming's perspective, the pumpkin obscured the slender body of the Yuye, making it look like a pumpkin walking on its own at first glance. This "pumpkin" walked quite steadily, even turning sideways to avoid bumping into the door frame when entering the room.
"The pumpkins you bought were good."
In the courtyard, the staff were rehearsing for the Hebana dance.
"I'll cook pumpkin Corn dumplings for you all tomorrow at noon," Yuye replied.
She went into the kitchen, closed the door, picked up a cleaver, and split the pumpkin open, revealing five mechanical mice hidden inside.
Then she carried the mouse in a straw bag and went up to the second floor.
"Boss, is there anything I can do for you?"
In front of everyone, she asked reservedly.
Su Ming coldly beckoned to Yuye to follow, and the two of them went into the house together.
As soon as she entered the house, Yuye immediately relaxed.
She picked up the water glass on the table and gulped down a large glass of water.
Su Ming opened the bag, picked up the mechanical mouse, and inspected it; it was undamaged. Then he plugged it in with the charging cable.
The release and retrieval of the mechanical rats near the Cloud Fang Royal Palace were carried out by Yuye.
Su Ming prepared a total of six, three of which were spares.
"The mission was completed well," Su Ming said to Yuye.
Yuye's eyes, however, seemed somewhat dim.
"Mr. Graves, I saw the body collectors coming out of the mine, dragging a cart full of corpses."
"What's wrong?" Su Ming asked.
The half-cat girl's emotions were somewhat turbulent.
"Mining is the highest-paid and most stable occupation among the poor."
She told Su Ming.
"A day's work can earn several dozen copper coins, enough to feed the whole family."
"My brother and I lived in the slums, and our biggest hope was that we would become miners when we grew up," Yuye said, tears suddenly streaming down her face.
"But the 'respectable' jobs we dream of are nothing more than being wasted in another place."
Why is there endless suffering everywhere?
"What happened to us orcs...?"
Su Ming sighed.
This is not your fault.
"There was a group of bad people who turned Water Chestnut Island into this kind of place."
He paused.
"I will eliminate these people and their accomplices."
Yuye hesitated for a moment.
"Mr. Graves, you mean the cult, and those big shots?"
Su Ming nodded. "More or less."
"And that includes their henchmen."
"That is why I am here: to eliminate the threat."
"I also hope that all orcs can return to normal life."
A glimmer of hope rose in Yuye's eyes, but it vanished in an instant.
Clearly, she couldn't believe this vision.
The Yuye, like a tiny fist, clenched its fist and then suddenly let it fall.
Su Ming looked at the Yuye.
So, are you scared?
Yuye was puzzled. "What am I afraid of?"
"You're a smart child," Su Ming continued.
"Now you're involved with us, and you've done things for me," he told Yuye frankly.
"If we are exposed, you will die."
Yuye shook their heads.
"Mr. Graves, you must come from a very happy place."
Therefore, you are completely unable to empathize with my thoughts.
A rare, mocking smile appeared on her face.
"They could starve to death at any moment, be beaten to death, or be injured at work, with their bodies being dumped as a matter of course..."
"This kind of life, barely surviving, isn't what it means to be alive!"
"What do I have to care about?"
The Yuye tilted their heads back.
"Mr. Graves, I don't understand many other principles."
"We dare not even hope for any beautiful freedom." "You treat our illnesses, feed us well, and provide us with rooms free of mosquitoes and soft beds."
"When this time ends, it means we'll be back in darkness."
Her tone was resolute.
"So, in exchange for all this, please make use of us!"
Su Ming sighed and reached out to rub her head.
****
Yuye went downstairs to prepare dinner.
Su Ming felt somewhat sentimental.
"This little girl really knows how to keep things to herself."
Katharine was somewhat puzzled.
Was she hiding something?
"I had Black Claw do a background check on this little girl," Su Ming explained. He pulled out a piece of paper, took a picture, and sent it to Katharine.
The paper recorded the true cause of death of Yuye's parents:
Yuye's parents were suspected of being members of "Fang of the Wild" and were killed on the spot when they were arrested.
After killing the family, the guards of Cloud Fang City looted their shop, set it on fire, and left.
The quick-thinking Yuye led her younger brother to escape and survived by hiding in the slums.
Yuye didn't reveal her parents' true identities.
"She didn't say the real reason why she helped me so wholeheartedly."
Su Ming sighed.
"He's just such a young child."