Chapter 93

After reading the fire dragon’s flaming words, Xu Qiao instinctively looked back.

Qin Chi was standing three steps away, his expression calm and gaze clear, as if it was completely normal for his spirit form to cling to her and for the fire dragon’s words to carry no ambiguity.

Xu Qiao quickly went upstairs, as usual, first sending her two spirit forms to the guest room.

Taking advantage of Lotus Flower’s absence, Xu Qiao let her thoughts run wild, then held her tablet and started browsing the forum to divert her attention.

The forum’s homepage featured two major trending posts.

According to the posting time, the first trending post was from Marshal Lin Lie, providing a brief explanation of Lin Wengui’s beastification. He admitted to deliberately concealing this matter for over a decade and announced that Lin Wengui’s condition was now under control and about to start formal treatment. At the same time, Lin Lie once again urged citizens with beastification symptoms to face their condition and seek treatment bravely, and he hoped others would view the issue normally, offering understanding and respect to patients.

Xu Qiao read it carefully twice and found that Lin Lie took all the blame upon himself.

As a son, it was understandable that Lin Lie would protect Lin Kunshan’s reputation in this way.

However, Lin Lie underestimated the public’s understanding of him and the speed at which some experts could piece together the timeline.

Soon, people deduced the truth, recognizing that it wasn’t Lin Lie but someone else who made the cruel decision to imprison Lin Wengui underground for ten years, including the reason they secretly invited a new healer like Xu Qiao instead of Professor Lu.

After all, Lin Kunshan was an old marshal who had served the Southeast Base for decades. Forum members didn’t call him out directly but unearthed several of his old stories for comparison. The life deeds of the first Phoenix and the first marshal of the Southeast Base, Lin Zhenxing, were also discussed anew.

[What’s wrong with running a chicken farm? Marshal Lin Zhenxing never felt ashamed of it.]

[There’s no need to be ashamed. Because of Lin Zhenxing’s scientific chicken farming, his hometown’s county escaped poverty. When the sudden mutation outbreak happened, it was Lin Zhenxing who provided all the supplies to establish the first small base there and united all the ability users to protect the non-awakened ordinary people.]

[Do you really think just anyone can awaken a Phoenix spirit form by raising chickens? There are many people raising chickens, and even more raising peacocks, but the Phoenix spirit form only appeared in Marshal Lin Zhenxing because he had a great love.]

[I advise other Phoenixes to take heed. Don’t forget Marshal Lin Zhenxing’s original intent. We love Phoenixes, but we only love good Phoenixes who treat us equally.]

The public reveres S-class powerhouses as they are the hope for the base’s long-term stability, but they detest tyranny because unchecked tyranny would make life harder for ordinary people and lower-level ability users.

The second trending post was a simple and blunt message from S-class General Yuan Changhai: [Being ill is forgivable, but treating others as fools for ten years is unforgivable. From today, my daughter and Lin Wengui are divorced. The two families will only have official and military cooperation from now on, with no private interactions.]

This post was published three minutes later than Lin Lie’s but had higher heat because it involved two S-class powerhouse families and was a highly popular emotional scandal.

Xu Qiao was somewhat worried about involving Meng Qiuyan, but perhaps Lin Wengui and Meng Qiuyan’s old relationship was too secretive. The few insiders were all family and friends of both sides, and Lin Lie might have given instructions, so forum members only speculated that Lin Wengui had another lover, but due to the intervention of a certain elder, he had to accept a family-arranged marriage.

Some forum members also enjoyed analyzing why the elite marriage between Lin Wengui and Yuan Yue failed to develop love after marriage.

[I’ve always said that water and fire don’t mix. Among my friends, no couple with these two attributes has lasted long.]

[A normal water spirit form might submit to a powerful high-level or equal-level fire partner, but Yuan Yue’s spirit form is an A-class great white shark, almost on par with an A-class Phoenix. Without a foundation of love and with clashing attributes, it’s strange they didn’t fall in love.]

[Fire attributes are really too domineering. Among the five elements, fire doesn’t get along well with the other four attributes.]

[It’s scorching. Metals fear being melted by fire, plants fear being burned, water fears being evaporated, and earth fears being scorched. It’s true that with great power comes great sacrifice. Fire ability users are strong, but it’s tough for them to find partners unless they find someone of higher level.]

[Cough, cough, let’s not only talk about the flaws of fire partners. Scorching aside, they’re super passionate and thrilling. Real experience here.]

[Were you scorched or were you scorching others?]

To show respect to the Yuan family, forum members opened a separate thread discussing the impact of ability attributes on partner relationships.

The main focus was still on fire partners. Just after someone praised fire partners as “passionate and thrilling,” several ability users started to complain.

[Passionate, my foot! I’m nearly dried out by the heat.]

[We sleep in separate beds during summer, otherwise it’s like having a heater next to me.]

[Their temper is super explosive, they blow up at the slightest thing, can’t stand it.]

Xu Qiao was blushing and her heart racing when Lotus Flower returned.

Xu Qiao quickly turned off the tablet, her mind shifting to the image of a beastified Phoenix flying out of an underground cage.

Lotus Flower jumped out, feeling wronged: [Why are you thinking about the Phoenix again? It scared me.]

Xu Qiao looked solemn: “Sorry, too much happened today. I can’t control it.”

Lotus Flower: [Then I’ll help you sleep, hurry and rest.]

In the morning, Xu Qiao went downstairs to find that Qin Chi was almost done making breakfast in the kitchen.

Xu Qiao walked to the door and looked in, then offered to help serve the porridge.

Qin Chi glanced at her and asked, “Did you browse the forum last night?”

Xu Qiao stared hard at the porridge in the pot, her mind focused on it: “I saw Marshal Lin’s post. I wonder if this will affect the Lin family’s votes in the next public election.”

Qin Chi: “That depends on the Lin family’s performance in the coming years. But the impact of this incident alone shouldn’t be significant.”

Lin Kunshan only had personal moral flaws and did not actually harm the public’s interests. Besides, he had already retired, and the current marshal was Lin Lie, who dared to expose his family’s secrets.

The two of them sat at the dining table, one holding the porridge and the other holding the dishes.

Lianhua willingly landed in a large green ceramic jar nearby. The fire dragon coiled around Qin Chi’s upper body, resting its head on Qin Chi’s shoulder, staring intently at Lianhua.

Now over a meter long and as thick as an arm, the dragon’s head had grown larger, enhancing its imposing presence.

Its appearance on Qin Chi’s white shirt was visually striking. Once Xu Qiao sat down, she focused on eating her meal, avoiding looking across the table.

Lianhua: “Why are you staring at me?”

Fire Dragon: “Do you want to play on a slide? My body is longer and smoother than a phoenix’s neck; you can slide from my head to my tail.”

This was its invitation to Lianhua, considering that Xu Qiao could also slide, the fire dragon wrote a message in flames in front of her.

Feeling her face heat up from the flaming words, Xu Qiao shook her head. “Thank you, but I’m no longer interested in playing on slides.”

The fire dragon turned its gaze to Lianhua.

Lianhua: “Haven’t you learned any social etiquette for spirit beasts? Except in cases of treatment or special circumstances, I don’t want to touch your body, and you shouldn’t make such inappropriate invitations. Spirit beasts should also observe boundaries between males and females.”

Just like it could invite Meng Li’s fire scorpion to fall into its petals, and Sun Fushan’s little green turtle could lie on its lotus leaves at most.

Fire Dragon: “But Meng Qiuyan’s black scorpion and Lin Wen’s phoenix seem to have played many slide games together.”

Lianhua: “They were once partners, and partners can do that.”

The fire dragon was stunned, then after a moment, it suddenly turned its head and angrily spewed a ball of fire at Qin Chi.

Qin Chi recalled the fire dragon and met Xu Qiao’s gaze. He said seriously, “Sorry, I haven’t properly educated it on these matters before.”

Xu Qiao lowered her gaze to her porridge, then smiled. “It’s okay, I know it didn’t mean any harm.”

Qin Chi looked at Lianhua. “I didn’t expect it to make such an invitation. I haven’t had any private interactions with other females, so this is its first time having such an improper idea.”

Lianhua: “You’d better control it. We know you well enough to understand you’re not like that. If it were another female esper, she might take action.”

Qin Chi: “I will definitely do that.”

After breakfast, Qin Chi punished the fire dragon by making it wash the dishes in the kitchen. He sat by the living room window reading a book.

Xu Qiao went upstairs and received a call from Lu Chun at eight o’clock. The laboratory had accepted Lin Wen’s treatment. If Xu Qiao was interested in observing, she could go over now.

Xu Qiao was certainly interested, curious about the extent of the mental world of an A-level esper like Lin Wen, as she couldn’t even explore the full edges of Zhou Cheng’s mental world.

Since it was a Saturday and Qin Chi didn’t have classes, he acted as Xu Qiao’s driver once again.

The staff at Lu Chun’s laboratory were already used to seeing Qin Chi accompany Xu Qiao, greeting them politely before getting back to their work.

Xu Qiao found Lu Chun’s office, where Lin Wen had not yet arrived. Lu Chun first inquired about Lin Wen’s condition from Xu Qiao.

After discussing the condition, Lu Chun glanced at the door and said to Xu Qiao, “Next time you encounter a similar situation without anyone capable of protecting you, you can contact me.”

Doctors of the old era and healers of the new era both saved lives, and while the public generally respected healers, some people, relying on their strength or authority, would disregard the healer’s weaker combat abilities and demand unconditional cooperation.

Although Lu Chun’s combat strength wasn’t strong, she had personal connections with all the S-level espers in the Southeast Base, and every commander would give her some respect.

The Southeast Base was her home, and Xu Qiao was a potential second S-level healer in this home, so Lu Chun, as a senior, was willing to provide protection.

Xu Qiao didn’t know how to express her gratitude, so she walked over and hugged this loving elder who had always taken good care of her.

Lu Chun said gently, “Just call me teacher from now on.”

Xu Qiao smiled and addressed her as such.

Lin Wen arrived at the laboratory alone, his long hair cut short and beard shaved, wearing a military uniform. Although he was still very thin, he seemed much more alive than last night.

When he looked at Xu Qiao again, his gaze carried the care of an elder and seemed to be seeing another young person through her.

For today’s treatment, Lin Wen was very cooperative. He didn’t mind who treated him as long as they only cleared the black mist from his mental world without interfering with any of his memories.

Lu Chun’s medical ethics ensured this.

The phoenix had previously interacted with Lu Chun and trusted her. However, when it came to hypnosis, it preferred Lianhua to soothe it.

Lianhua was also cooperative.

In the treatment room, Lin Wen and the phoenix lay on the bed while Xu Qiao sat beside Lu Chun.

Lianhua quietly emitted a calming fragrance.

Lin Wen fell asleep quickly, but the phoenix was still trying to ask Lianhua about Meng Li.

Lianhua: “Go to sleep, or my soothing effect will seem ineffective.”

Phoenix: “Then tell me more when I wake up.”

Lianhua: “There’s nothing more to tell, just remember that Meng Li is excellent, and her fire scorpion is also very powerful.”

The phoenix recalled the photos of Meng Li and the fire scorpion that Lin Wen had found on the forum last night, feeling proud as it finally fell asleep.

Lu Chun smoothly entered its mental world.

While the black mist of the wolverine consisted of intense fear, pain, anger, and hostility, the phoenix’s black mist was purely the sadness of unrequited love.

Xu Qiao noticed Lu Chun’s expression becoming sad, but as an S-level healer, Lu Chun’s mental strength was overwhelming. After a few minutes of being affected, she swiftly transferred all the black mist from the phoenix’s mental world.

With the patient still asleep, Lu Chun and Xu Qiao left the treatment room to discuss the insights from this treatment.

“The emotional pollution of the black mist corresponds to the emotions that destroy the patient’s will, so future healers can prepare themselves psychologically before treating different patients.”

Xu Qiao nodded while looking at Qin Chi, who was waiting outside the ward.

Qin Chi said that the fire dragon was bloodthirsty, but Xu Qiao felt that bloodthirstiness was just the fire dragon’s way of venting its pain while being tormented by the black mist.

Recalling Qin Chi’s growth experience, Xu Qiao speculated that if she entered the fire dragon’s mental world, what she would feel would likely be boundless loneliness.