When Xu Qingyan woke up, she felt disoriented for a while before regaining her senses. She immediately rose from the ground and hurriedly rushed to the bedside to assess the situation.

 It had been three days since the surgery. These past three days had taken a toll on Xu Qingyan, both physically and mentally. 

She felt light-headed, and her head was throbbing. Her hands had trembled uncontrollably during the surgery, and it had taken a tremendous effort to maintain her composure and focus.

Her specialty had always been surgery, and she had been recognized as a rare talent in the field. Professors from her department frequently invited her to observe and learn from their surgical procedures. They were impressed by her remarkable aptitude and rapid progress.

However, after her rotations in the hospital, she ended up in the gastroenterology department. 

Although she had confidence in her surgical skills, this particular procedure had demanded her complete attention and unwavering dedication. Thankfully, the patient had demonstrated remarkable resilience, and the surgery had proceeded without any complications.

The first three days of postoperative recovery were critical. Xu Qingyan remained steadfastly by the bedside, never straying far. However, on the third day, exhaustion finally overcame her, and she collapsed abruptly.

She had been pushing herself to the limit, repeatedly pulling this patient back from the brink of death. Each time felt like a journey into the afterlife, and the mental pressure was unlike anything she had ever experienced, even in her work.

“During your rest, everything appeared relatively stable,” the leopard-man informed her, keeping pace at her side. “Any idea when he might wake up?”

Xu Qingyan carefully inspected the patient’s wounds, her concern centered on the risk of postoperative infections or complications. The lack of monitoring equipment in this primitive setting left her feeling helpless, as though they were at the mercy of fate. As far as she could tell, they should have passed the critical phase.

After a thoughtful pause, Xu Qingyan replied cautiously, “It’s difficult to predict. The surgery went well, but the conditions here are extremely basic. It would be best for him to recover in a place equipped with proper medical facilities.”

“Someone will be here to pick us up soon.”

Xu Qingyan nodded. “That’s good. Let’s hope his willpower holds.”

“It will,” the leopard-man asserted with determination. “He’s not one to give in easily. He still has plenty of dreams…”

Xu Qingyan turned to look at him, and for a brief moment, he seemed to lose his composure. However, he quickly regained his composure, his expression returning to its usual stoic state. “You’ll be leaving with us in a couple of days.”

“And if you don’t join us…”

The dark-faced man began to threaten Xu Qingyan, but she interrupted him calmly. “I understand.”

The leopard-like man remained silent, while the dark-faced man continued, “If anything happens to Lord Liang, you’ll be held responsible.”

From what she had gathered, they referred to this person as “Lord Liang,” implying that he was their leader. Xu Qingyan wasn’t sure what kind of trouble they had encountered, but based on her observations over the past two days, it was clear that they were not evading the police but rather other members of the underworld.

The third night proved just as challenging to endure. According to the leopard-man, their companions were expected to arrive soon, discreetly escorting Lord Liang back to their headquarters.

Yet, the most pressing concerns loomed: would their relentless pursuers manage to locate them, and could Lord Liang’s injury suddenly deteriorate and spiral out of control?

Outside, the dark-faced man maintained his vigilant post, having barely closed his eyes for the past three days. His bloodshot eyes and eerie red pupils stood out ominously in the dim surroundings. Meanwhile, the leopard-man never left the bedside, his watchful gaze constantly on Xu Qingyan.

Though he held a certain level of admiration for her composure, his trust in her remained shaky from the outset.

He had thoroughly searched her belongings, checked her identification card, and discovered her name as Xu Qingyan along with her work ID in her bag, effectively restricting her options for escape.

Yet, what confounded him was her resolute dedication to the patient’s care. Amidst several emergencies, her expression grew even grimmer than theirs.

Why was she doing this?

They were complete strangers, thrown together by fate and circumstance. It was serendipity for them, but for her, it was an unfortunate twist of fate that had thrust her into the role of a life-saving hero.

Once, he had purposely left her luggage by the door, using the pretext of needing the restroom. In that moment, the room contained only her and the unconscious Second Young Master. It was the perfect opportunity for her to escape, yet this woman remained unmoved, as though she had forgotten her captive situation.

Perhaps, as she claimed, her compassionate heart as a doctor was genuine, but he remained skeptical.

Lord Liang had often said that every phenomenon had a reason, and every action had a motive.

Xu Qingyan forced herself to stay focused as she watched the medicine drip slowly into the intravenous tube. 

Xu Qingyan forced herself to concentrate on the slow drip of medicine into the intravenous tube. She didn’t know how the leopard-man had managed it, but he had brought the life-saving blood pack and antibiotics as she had requested.

Her gaze occasionally lingered on the man’s face, and at times, she appeared lost in thought, sitting still for extended periods before rising to check his wounds. This routine continued without end.

This man possessed an incredibly strong will to survive. An ordinary person would not have withstood such severe injuries without proper medical equipment. But he had not succumbed to the Reaper’s grasp; Lady Luck had favored him. The bullet had narrowly missed a vital area, allowing him to cling tenaciously to life.

“Where are you from?” the leopard-man asked, breaking the silence.

“Z City,” Xu Qingyan replied.

His raised eyebrow hinted at surprise. “How long have you been practicing medicine?”

“Six or seven years,” Xu Qingyan answered.

“You’re quite skilled,” he commented.

Xu Qingyan remained silent.

“Are you married?” he probed. Xu Qingyan’s expression displayed a trace of caution, prompting the leopard-man to clarify sternly, “Just curious.”

With her head slightly lowered, Xu Qingyan continued to change the bandages on the injured man. “No,” she replied.

“Why did you come to a place like this?” he pressed.

“Sightseeing,” she replied.

For a woman to venture alone into the region they referred to as the “Black Evil Path” was either an act of sheer foolishness or astonishing fearlessness.

Throughout their conversation, Xu Qingyan also learned the nicknames of these two men. The leopard-man went by Ah Bao, while the dark-faced man was known as Da Li. Da Li had a fiery temper but deferred to Ah Bao’s authority. Surprisingly, Ah Bao, despite his fierce and brutal appearance, exuded a composed and restrained demeanor.

Finally, on the fifth day following the surgery, the man’s fever began to subside.

“37.2 degrees,” Xu Qingyan noted as she set the thermometer down, letting out a nearly imperceptible sigh of relief.

Ah Bao maintained a serious expression, fully aware that they couldn’t let their guard down yet. He asked, “How much longer until he wakes up?”

This question had been posed countless times before. Xu Qingyan furrowed her brow; it was the most challenging question to answer, yet it was the one that worried family members the most. Particularly now, when the patient hadn’t completely passed the critical phase, and the absence of monitoring devices left them vulnerable to potential complications.

Xu Qingyan replied truthfully, “The best course of action would be to transfer him to a hospital or a facility with proper medical equipment. The conditions here are too rudimentary and not conducive to a full recovery.”

Da Li immediately roared, “Isn’t that obvious? If we could go to a hospital, why would we have sought your help…”

Xu Qingyan glanced at him, her thoughts echoing, ‘What’s the point of blaming her? She’s done all she can. Do they truly expect her to work miracles?’

Ah Bao raised his hand to silence Da Li and stated succinctly, “I understand. Prepare to leave tomorrow.”

“Brother Bao, is it possible?”

“Lord Liang’s life is at stake. I’ll take care of it.”

Xu Qingyan’s face turned pale as she pressed her lips together, calmly replacing the gauze for the man they referred to as “Lord Liang”. In addition to the gunshot wound, he bore multiple knife wounds across his body.

The harsh indoor lights cast a stark, ghostly pallor on the man’s skin, rendering him almost cadaver-like.

With gentle hands, Xu Qingyan lifted the blanket to inspect the wounds. Her suturing skills had earned her mentor’s commendation, and rightly so. While there was always room for improvement, her work exceeded the hasty needle marks left by inexperienced physicians. With diligent postoperative care, the scars would likely heal smoothly and seamlessly.

However, it seemed improbable that this man cared about the aesthetic aspect of his scars, given his body’s already numerous scars.

On the night of the surgery, her concentration had been unwavering, but on the subsequent day when she assessed the wounds, her own medical background left her shocked. The array of scars, particularly the deep one spanning from his chest to abdomen, was horrifying. It appeared as though it had been brutally inflicted by a dagger multiple times, resulting in a gruesome and chaotic mass of flesh and blood. Just picturing it caused a tightening sensation in her chest.

It looked like it had been repeatedly lacerated with a dagger, causing a gruesome and chaotic mess of flesh and blood. Even imagining it made her chest tighten. 

In addition to these wounds, there were two gunshot injuries to his knees, suggesting that his entire kneecaps had been replaced. And on his lower back, a peculiar circular scar indicated that a piece of flesh had been gouged out.

As Xu Qingyan gently touched the man, the figure on the bed unexpectedly convulsed.

Startled, she withdrew her hand, and after a while, he gradually settled back into stillness.

How had this person managed to endure such horrific injuries and survive?

The level of vigilance maintained here was so intense that even the thought of it sent shivers down Xu Qingyan’s spine. In her tranquil and composed life, she found it nearly impossible to comprehend the world from which this man hailed.

With a thin blanket, Xu Qingyan gently covered him, releasing a quiet sigh. This individual harbored an exceptional will to survive. Even during the most excruciating moments of the past five days, he had merely furrowed his brow tightly without uttering a single word.

“Lord Liang,” that’s what they called him. Xu Qingyan couldn’t shake the sense that she had stumbled upon someone of significant power.

That night, Xu Qingyan reached her limit and succumbed to a deep slumber by the bedside.

The cumulative pressure over the past few days had left her mentally drained.

In her dreams, shadows of black and white intermingled. She saw a white shirt, tousled black hair, a young and handsome smiling face, and… it felt as though he reached out to gently touch her cheek.

Struggling to open her eyes, she yearned for a clearer view, a closer encounter. But despite her efforts, she couldn’t piece together a coherent image.

“Dr. Xu, Dr. Xu!”

Xu Qingyan jolted awake, gazing at the person before her in bewilderment.

Ah Bao was looking at her with a serious expression. “You had a nightmare.”

Da Li, standing behind him, chuckled. “Crying like a ghost.”

While Xu Qingyan felt somewhat embarrassed, she didn’t believe with Da Li’s words. After nearly shedding all her tears in the past, she doubted she had any left to cry now.

Xu Qingyan lowered her eyes, her forehead covered in cold sweat, and her back soaked with sweat. Slowly propping herself up, she realized that she had been sleeping on the only sofa in the room.

Ah Bao offered her a glass of water, and she accepted it, pausing for a moment before asking, “What time is it now?”

“Afternoon.”

Xu Qingyan was taken aback. She had slept for so long.

She immediately asked, “How is he doing?”

“No fever, and he appears to look much better.”

Da Li sneered, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Surprising that you still remember our Lord Liang. If anything happens to him, I’ll ensure you sleep forever.”

“Da Li!” Ah Bao exclaimed in a low voice. “Shut up.”

Recognizing that she had momentarily lowered her guard, Xu Qingyan swiftly rose to check on the patient. As Ah Bao had said, his condition had stabilized somewhat, but this was far from a long-term solution.

“Tonight, we’ll be moving,” Ah Bao said, as if reading Xu Qingyan’s thoughts.

“Where are we going?”

“Hmph, just follow us. If you dare to escape…” Da Li made a menacing throat-slitting gesture.

Xu Qingyan ignored him, silently lowering her head and tending to her duties. Ah Bao approached her and handed her a boxed meal.

She accepted the meal but set it aside, saying, “Thank you.”

Ah Bao’s expression darkened, and he insisted, “Eat it. We can’t bring two patients with us.”

Xu Qingyan lowered her gaze, quietly consuming the cold meal without protest.

“Brother Bao, I’m going out for some fresh air.” Da Li announced.

“Alright, be careful.”

As Da Li left, the room fell into complete silence.

“You’ll come with us tonight,” Ah Bao stated, pausing as he seemed to contemplate his words. “I will report your situation to our superiors, and they will decide.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Qingyan’s wrist trembled slightly as she reached for a clean towel and gently wiped the sweat from Lord Liang’s forehead.

Ah Bao watched Xu Qingyan’s careful actions with a thoughtful expression. “Have you ever encountered a situation like this before?” he inquired.

“No,” Xu Qingyan replied, meeting Ah Bao’s gaze directly.

“Will you let me go?”

Ah Bao shook his head. “I don’t have the authority to make that decision.”

After spending a few days in their company, Xu Qingyan had come to realize that Ah Bao was not as ruthless as he initially appeared. He possessed a calm and self-controlled demeanor.

Approaching Ah Bao, Xu Qingyan pleaded earnestly, “I truly don’t know anything. I just happened to be passing by and saved this person.”

Ah Bao remained unmoved. “As I mentioned, I will report to our superiors.”

With her head lowered, Xu Qingyan’s short hair swayed slightly, failing to conceal her increasingly troubled expression despite her inherent determination.

Noticing her reaction, Ah Bao added, “If Lord Liang regains consciousness, we’ll have to see what he has to say about this.”

Suddenly, the door burst open. In a swift movement, Ah Bao sprang to his feet, positioning himself in front of the bed, his gun trained on the doorway.

“Brother Bao!” Da Li rushed in, his voice frantic. “They’ve found us!”