After settling Benli Keiko, Yazaki sent a message to Haicheng and headed straight back on his own, paying no mind to his pierced shoulder or Takeyama Kenken. Meanwhile, more than a dozen Phantoms and Mach, Ryugen, Kick Hopper, and Punch Hopper were locked in battle. Though hard-pressed, they were managing to hold their ground. Yazaki simply wanted to resolve things quickly; Long Tianxiang's injuries were surely more severe than his own. Along the way, he had already used special means to notify Beast—who could likewise deal with Phantoms—to come and help.
At that moment, Wizard emerged from the body of a third person. "No, still not fast enough," he said anxiously.
He then walked into the messy cell of a fourth person, an elderly man. After placing a Ring on him, Wizard stepped into the man's inner world. A giant blue bird was wreaking havoc there, and the world itself was already shattered beyond repair. Wizard slipped a Ring onto his belt. The "Chain" appeared out of nowhere from the ground, four arm-thick iron chains wrapping around the bird and pulling it down to the earth. "Giant," he switched to another Ring, his left hand suddenly swelling to a massive size and slamming heavily onto the ground, followed by a Rider Kick that directly and decisively finished off the bird.
Then, the next one...
The next day, when Long Tianxiang woke up, it was all over. "How is it? Are they all done?"
A plain-looking, unfamiliar young man stood in the hospital room alongside Yazaki and the others. The young man's eyes darted away as he said with difficulty, "There were seven. I didn't make it in time."
Hearing this, Long Tianxiang remained silent. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists so tightly that blood seeped from his palms. The young man patted him on the shoulder and said, "You've already done remarkably well. It's my fault for not making it in time."
"Long Tianxiang."
"Qingshi Shunquan," the young man introduced himself. "By the time I arrived, you had already taken on ten of them. Although I moved as fast as I could, there were still a few I couldn't reach in time. They seemed to move in a very precise order, one after another."
Long Tianxiang said nothing. Yazaki spoke up, "Auntie has already been settled in, don't worry. Get some rest first, we're going to go check on her condition."
With that, the others walked out of the room. Long Tianxiang stared blankly at the ceiling with empty eyes, and after a long silence, he muttered, "Screw being a hero," before drifting back into a deep sleep. That sleep lasted three whole days and nights. When he woke up again, Jiuya was sitting by the bedside, teasing, "You're awake. You're a girl now."
Long Tianxiang was startled. He flipped back the blanket to take a look, then let out a long sigh. "My whole body hurts. I thought injuries that would normally take three to five days to heal would clear up, but after all this commotion, it's going to take a week."
"Too short, try several months," Jiuya said flatly. "You have nine cracked ribs, a fractured humerus, and countless bruises all over your body. It's a miracle you're even hanging on by a thread."
Long Tianxiang said helplessly, "I couldn't help it. In the end, I had completely run out of energy and had no choice but to trade blows. Fortunately, I'm pretty durable and hit harder than they do."
Watching Long Tianxiang, who was wrapped up like a rice dumpling, Jiuya tried hard to hold back a laugh. "That silly girl Benli watched over you here for two days straight, didn't even ask for time off, and I only just managed to coax her away to get some sleep. I'll go get you something to eat."
Benli Keiko had been discharged from the hospital the very next day. For everything Long Tianxiang and the others had done, she felt boundless gratitude. Learning of Long Tianxiang's reckless heroics, she had actually warned Benli that following him was far too dangerous, but after all, he had saved her life. It wasn't her place to say much else, except to suggest that if she truly liked him, she shouldn't let him slip away. That made things lively for Long Tianxiang; everyone was chattering away, and someone even fed him during meals. Benli was always exceptionally careful, while Muyi put on a sickeningly sweet facade and said, "Oh~ how nice it must be to have someone feed you."
"You're asking for a massive beating," Long Tianxiang rolled his eyes.
Seeing the two of them going at it, Haicheng laughed. "You're too slow, let me do it." With that, she shoved Benli aside and directly poured several large gulps of chicken soup down his throat. Instantly, Long Tianxiang felt like crying. Actually, hot soup was still acceptable, but the problem was she didn't know when to stop, practically forcing Long Tianxiang to chug the concentrated essence of the chicken soup in one go.
"That's not taking care of someone, that's practically an execution," Mitsumi remarked.
Muyi chimed in, "Uh, well, to interrupt—did he crack yet?"
Struggling free at last, Long Tianxiang said incoherently, "Big sis, this isn't a farewell toast, you don't need to chug it."
Haicheng laughed awkwardly. "Hehe, is that so? Well, how about we take a break before drinking more."
Long Tianxiang asked, "Please, no. Actually, I think it's better if we don't drink any at all. Why don't we just chat for a bit."
Yazaki had also dropped by earlier, but because Long Tianxiang was away tending to his wounds at the time, the two hadn't crossed paths. Yazaki had paid Benli Keiko's medical bills in full. Benli had said, "Senior, you really didn't have to do that."
Yazaki gave a casual smile and patted her shoulder. "It's fine. After all, this is all we can do—unlike Tianxiang, who just charges in blindly. Take good care of them." With that, he turned and walked away. Indeed, Yazaki and the others had far too many concerns weighing on them. Watching Yazaki leave, a heavy stone finally lifted from Benli's heart. She turned and headed back to the hospital room.
Seeing Long Tianxiang standing in the room, Benli looked slightly surprised. "Ah, Tianxiang, your bandages are already off!"
"Yeah, they won't come looking for trouble with you anymore, don't worry," Long Tianxiang said.
"Yeah....." Benli nodded.
Long Tianxiang suddenly asked, "Does that mean you're going home?"
"I don't know," Benli answered despondently. Her eyes were filled with inner conflict and helplessness. For some reason, she suddenly felt so helpless and heartbroken as tears welled up and streamed down her face.
Long Tianxiang stepped down from the bed and gently patted her shoulder. "No need to worry."
"Huh? Can he get out of bed already?" Muyi asked. Was she doing this just to piss him off on purpose? Just a moment ago he needed to be fed, and now he was already hitting on other girls.
Muyi coughed awkwardly. "Alright, I've had enough dog food for today, I'm out of here."
The room now left only the three women and Long Tianxiang. Jiuya smiled and said, "Sigh, I'll head back first as well, still got some things to look into. But Tianxiang, you're something else—to achieve results like this in less than two months. Keep it up."
"I'm going to go fetch some water," Haicheng made a high-speed retreat.
"Don't worry, everything will be fine," Long Tianxiang said,ruffling Benli's hair.
"Yeah, thanks for everything this time," Benli said. Her eyes rested on Long Tianxiang, filled with a deep, lingering affection.
"Speaking of which, since I got beaten up this badly, aren't you going to do something to make up for it?" Long Tianxiang teased with a mischievous grin.
Benli bit her lip, her brow furrowing slightly as she thought to herself, *Are all men like this? I actually thought this one would be different, but is he just the same as the rest? And I almost started to like him.* Then she began unbuttoning her clothes.
Realizing what she was about to do, Long Tianxiang's expression hardened. He stepped in front of her, grabbed her hands, and asked, "What are you doing?"
"I don't have anything else to give you right now, only this body of mine," Benli said lifelessly.
Long Tianxiang smacked his own forehead. "Ah~ I really don't get why you people are so stubborn! All I want is for you to buy me some takeout. I'm practically starved to death."
"Oh, is that so? I misunderstood. I'm sorry," Benli said, embarrassed.
"Alright, I'm starving. Go get me something to eat," Long Tianxiang said straight out, handing his wallet to Benli.
Benli suddenly stood on tiptoes and kissed Long Tianxiang. Taken completely aback, Long Tianxiang froze for a moment, having no idea how to react. He neither pushed Benli away nor asked why. For the past month, he had maintained what he thought was a sensible boundary.
Yet right now, inner conflict stirred within him; he knew he would end up failing her. He wanted to push Benli away, but she only hugged him tighter. Letting go of the thought of pushing her away, a complex mix of emotions flooded his heart.
A full minute later, Benli finally stopped, her face burning red as she bolted out of the hospital room.
Long Tianxiang was utterly baffled. "Sigh, a woman's heart is as deep as the ocean. You can't see it, and you can't touch it," he muttered helplessly.
Ten minutes later, Benli walked back in carrying a large bag of food. Long Tianxiang took a look and smiled, "Do you take me for a foodie like you guys?"
Blushing, Benli handed Long Tianxiang his wallet back and said, "Anyway, it's your money, I don't feel bad spending it."
"Alright, let's see what you bought," Long Tianxiang walked over, took the bag, and said. Finding Benli's apple-red face utterly adorable, he leaned in a little closer, which startled her so much that she hurriedly pushed him away. "What are you doing?!" she demanded.
"I figured I got the short end of the stick with that kiss you just gave me, so I want to take it back. How about that?" Long Tianxiang teased.
Benli's face flushed even deeper. "Can't you be serious for once?"
Long Tianxiang turned serious. "Alright, let's be serious. Perhaps our relationship won't have a happy ending. Do you still want to go on?" At that moment, his heart was full of anxiety. It would be a lie to say he didn't like Benli, but he had no idea what the future held.
There was a chance he might die in some battle, or perhaps he would eventually leave this world altogether.
"Pfft, hahaha." The silver-bell-like sound of Benli's laughter left Long Tianxiang momentarily dazed.
Looking at him, Benli smiled and said, "So what? As long as you appear in my world and leave a brilliant, unforgettable mark, that's enough."
Long Tianxiang pulled her into an embrace, took a deep breath, and said, "Benli Keiko, I like you."
Benli wrapped her arms around him in return, a radiant smile filling her beautiful face. "I like you too. I don't ask you to give me your all, I just hope you'll always keep a place for me in your heart."
Stroking her hair, Long Tianxiang said, "What silly things are you saying? I'll always like you."
Long Tianxiang found Benli utterly endearing when she looked like this, especially with her shy, flushed face.
Just then, the sound of something being dragged echoed from the hallway, growing closer and closer. Sensing something was wrong, Long Tianxiang signaled for Benli to stay quiet, pushed her into a corner, and kept his eyes glued to the doorknob. The instant it turned, Long Tianxiang lunged forward, grabbed a baseball bat, and readied his arm, but a sharp agony tearing through his shoulder made him gasp. Even so, he threw a punch forward. Recognizing the person who entered, he said helplessly, "Zhiming, dammit, why do you stick to me like a ghost?"
Zhiming took the punch without falling, his body merely swaying slightly. He mechanically twisted his neck and said, "Right now, I'm already different."
With that, he pulled a dagger from his pocket and thrust it straight at him. Long Tianxiang raised the baseball bat to block, but it took an immense amount of effort; the sheer force between the two actually bent the metal bat. Gritting his teeth, Long Tianxiang squeezed out a few words: "What did you do to yourself?!"
Zhiming followed up with a kick to his stomach. Though in pain, Long Tianxiang held his ground. Another kick landed, causing Long Tianxiang to spit out a mouthful of blood, yet he still refused to yield. Since it was nighttime, there were few people in the hospital. Suddenly, someone rushed up from behind and smashed a hot water kettle over Zhiming's head. The scalding water instantly made Zhiming's expression even more ferocious. Glancing back at the trembling Benli Keiko with chilling eyes, he spun around and hurled the dagger straight at her. Long Tianxiang's pupils constricted sharply as he shouted, "Kivat!"
"Coming!" Kivat threw itself in front of Benli. The dagger collided with it, and both bounced backward through the air. "That hurts!" Kivat cried out mid-flight, but managed to halt its retreat. Long Tianxiang breathed a sigh of relief. However, Zhiming showed no mercy, picking up the dagger and slashing toward Benli once more. Long Tianxiang grabbed him from behind, and the two tumbled to the floor. "Benli, run! Don't worry about me!" he shouted. The dagger plunged directly into his arm, blood splashing everywhere. With one hand, Long Tianxiang gripped the blade while his legs locked tightly around Zhiming, who continuously battered Long Tianxiang's abdomen with his elbows.
Zhiming's hand violently twisted the hilt of the dagger embedded in his flesh. Long Tianxiang gritted his teeth, enduring the agony as blood flowed like water. Benli grabbed a vase and smashed it over Zhiming's head once more. Zhiming fiercely yanked the blade free, drawing a muffled groan from Long Tianxiang, before raising the dagger again with the intent of driving it straight into Long Tianxiang's neck. Seeing this, Long Tianxiang scrambled to dodge while preparing to intercept the weapon. Seizing the opening, Zhiming broke free from Long Tianxiang's leg lock, scrambled to his feet, and aimed the dagger at him.
The door of the adjacent hospital room swung open, and out stepped a woman with long, yellow hair, skin as smooth and delicate as suet jade, and striking facial features and figure. Glancing at Zhiming, she commanded, "Put the knife down." Her voice was melodiously sweet, yet carried an undeniable, hardline firmness. Dressed quite ordinarily in a khaki trench coat over a white sweater and casual trousers, she possessed an extraordinary poise.
Emerging right behind her in the hallway was a muscular doctor with shoulder-length black-and-yellow-streaked hair that somehow failed to diminish his rugged masculinity. "Well now, what a bloody mess you've made," he remarked.
"Ah, it's you, you quack," Long Tianxiang recognized the man and spoke up.
Hearing that, the man nearly tripped head over heels. "Young man, watch your manners! I happen to be a certified, legitimate doctor." With that, he strode forward and shielded Benli behind him.
Meanwhile, the beautiful blonde woman with hair down to her waist stepped in front of Long Tianxiang, pulled a badge from her pocket, and said, "I'm Officer Liangshi. Drop your weapon and come with me."