Chapter 39: Xi Ming Awakens

Shi Chan glanced at the locked doors and windows before surveying the room.

The interior was just as simple—walls made of compacted earth, two old metal-framed beds with slightly worn but clean bedding, and a wooden desk of unknown origin propped against the wall. A dim yellow lamp sat on top, casting a faint glow.

If not for the metal beds and that lone desk lamp, remnants of modern civilization, Shi Chan might have suspected he’d traveled back to the mortal realms of the cultivation world.

The rumbling outside was growing louder, accompanied by sporadic crashes of thunder. Without a clear grasp of the situation, Shi Chan decided it was best to stay put for now.

Testing the sturdiness of the beds, he picked the more stable one and quickly tidied it up.

“Brother Ming, lie down and rest for now. It seems like there aren’t many people around, and those who helped us earlier seem trustworthy. If possible, I’d like for us to recover here before moving on.”

Gently placing Xi Ming onto the bed, Shi Chan noted the absence of a private bathroom in the room. He carefully tore away the tattered remnants of Xi Ming’s clothes, avoiding the wounds where fabric was embedded—those would have to wait until he had enough spiritual energy to deal with them properly.

“Brother Ming, I noticed that the people here have exceptional physical strength and speed. They must be practicing some kind of specialized body training technique. Since all of them seem to use it, it might not be too rare. If we get the chance, we should learn it too—it might help with your recovery.”

Shi Chan’s chest tightened at the sight of Xi Ming’s dry, cracked lips. He took out a bottle of drinking water and said softly, “Let me give you some water.”

Supporting Xi Ming upright, Shi Chan cupped the back of his head and took a sip of water before pressing his lips to Xi Ming’s, transferring the liquid over.

After feeding him nearly a full cup, Shi Chan stopped. He watched Xi Ming, who remained motionless with his eyes closed, and leaned his forehead against him, his voice laced with quiet sorrow.

“Please, wake up soon…”

Outside, the thunder rumbled even louder, as if it were crashing right above their heads.

Shi Chan carefully laid Xi Ming back down, then moved the other bed closer, merging them together. Lying on his side, he reached out to hold Xi Ming’s hand, his voice calm as if nothing had happened.

“Let’s rest now.”

Even with the deafening storm outside, Shi Chan quickly drifted into sleep. The past day had been overwhelming, and exhaustion weighed heavily on him.

Not long after Shi Chan fell asleep, Xi Ming let out a few pained groans. His face twisted in discomfort, but the thunder outside drowned out any sound. Eventually, he sank back into unconsciousness.

---

By the time Shi Chan woke up the next morning, the storm had passed, and golden sunlight streamed through the gaps in the walls.

He got up and restored the beds to their original positions before checking on Xi Ming, who was still unconscious. After giving him some water, Shi Chan channeled what little spiritual energy he had regained overnight to continue treating Xi Ming’s injuries.

Before he could finish, a knock sounded at the door.

“Hold on,” Shi Chan called out. He quickly pulled the blanket over Xi Ming before heading toward the door.

Catching his reflection in a piece of metal from the damaged mecha, Shi Chan hesitated for a moment before his eyes darkened with resolve. He lifted his hand and made two swift cuts across his own face, then used a small amount of spiritual energy to heal the wounds just enough to stop the bleeding. Only then did he open the door.

The harsh sunlight made him squint for a moment before he could clearly see the person outside.

The stranger spoke a few sentences, but Shi Chan couldn’t understand the language. He gestured instead, signaling for food and water and asking about the location of the bathroom.

After some back-and-forth of gestures and confused expressions, Shi Chan followed them out. The group used actions to demonstrate where everything was—the bathroom, the kitchen, and other essential facilities.

One of them pointed toward a distant cluster of buildings, but Shi Chan shook his head, feigning weakness. Seeing this, they didn’t press the issue and allowed him to stay.

It wasn’t that Shi Chan was unwilling to explore the larger settlement—he just didn’t want to risk it without understanding their surroundings, especially with Xi Ming still unconscious.

Of course, staying here too long would also raise suspicion. For now, he could use Xi Ming’s injuries as an excuse, but eventually, questions would come.

That was a problem for later, though. Right now, his only concern was getting Xi Ming to wake up.

Last night’s food and water had been provided by these people, and Shi Chan had no local currency. He couldn’t rely on their generosity forever, so as they walked, he kept an eye out for anything valuable that they might be able to trade.

In one of the halls, his gaze landed on a framed red feather displayed prominently on the wall. A faint trace of spiritual energy flowed within it. Shi Chan’s eyes widened in surprise.

“What is this?” he muttered.

He had been in this star system for so long, yet this was the first time he had seen something infused with spiritual energy.

“You like it?” The leader of the group, Wu Hongyuan, beamed with pride, even though he knew Shi Chan wouldn’t understand him. “That’s a Vermillion Bird feather. It’s a sacred relic, passed down for a hundred years. See how it still looks alive?”

“Captain, he doesn’t understand a word you’re saying,” one of the others muttered, eyeing Shi Chan warily. “We don’t even know where they came from. What if they’re spies?”

“If they were spies, they’d at least be able to speak our language,” Wu Hongyuan reasoned. “And did you see the condition of that man he was carrying? With injuries that severe, he’s barely hanging on. What kind of spy operation would make themselves such an obvious target?”

Still unconvinced, the man frowned. “But what if—”

Wu Hongyuan cut him off, lowering his voice. “Have you already forgotten how Qingye Nation rose to power in the past two years?”

The man stiffened before realization dawned. His eyes snapped to the dirt-streaked Shi Chan. “You mean… they might be like him?”

Wu Hongyuan only shook his head. “I don’t know. But either way, we have nothing to lose by helping them. If they are useful, it’s to our advantage. If not, we’ll send them to a hospital and be done with it.”

He didn’t say it out loud, but Wu Hongyuan held some expectations for the two. That strange container the unconscious man had been in—it didn’t look ordinary. If not for the risk of provoking them, he would have confiscated it immediately.

“Just treat them normally,” Wu Hongyuan instructed. “I’ll report this to our superiors.”

The others exchanged looks but followed orders, leaving Shi Chan and Xi Ming undisturbed.

Shi Chan had no idea what they were discussing, nor did he particularly care.

After finishing his tour, he returned with food, medicine, clean water, empty containers, and two sets of soft, breathable clothing.

“Brother Ming, I’m back,” he announced, his voice lighter than before.

Before using the medicine on Xi Ming, Shi Chan tested it on himself, making a small cut on his arm and applying the powder. Only when he confirmed its effects did he start treating Xi Ming properly.

Another two days passed, and still, Xi Ming showed no signs of waking. Shi Chan grew increasingly anxious.

Then, on the third night, as Shi Chan gently wiped Xi Ming’s body, he saw the slightest twitch of his fingers.

Moments later, Xi Ming’s eyes opened.

“Brother Ming…” Shi Chan froze, his eyes widening with joy.