"Stop it, you'll rupture me!" I shouted, my voice strained like a chicken being slaughtered.
"Hmph! I will make sure you rupture!" Shen Xingyue even increased her force.
I knew explanations would be futile and she wouldn't believe me. The only thing I could do was tell her to look at the trash can!
"Heh, pervert. You want me to look at your... equipment?"
"Y-you, just look, and y-you'll know..." I was too weak from the assault to speak. The moment Shen Xingyue released me, I curled up on the floor.
Shen Xingyue walked over to the trash can, picked up the oral liquid bottle, read the instructions on it, sniffed the bottle's opening, and then breathed onto her hand to smell her breath. She finally understood what was going on.
"Uh, I'm sorry, Wu Chengfeng, I misunderstood you." Shen Xingyue came over, helped me up, and half-dragged, half-carried me to a chair to rest.
"...Is there a way to undo your Eagle Claw Technique?" I asked with a wry smile.
Shen Xingyue shook her head: "Sorry, there isn't."
"Aren't you studying medicine?"
"That's why you should trust science. How about this, I'll take you to the hospital for a check-up. If something truly goes wrong, your aunt will come after me."
Shen Xingyue didn't wait for my reply. She put on her high heels, half-dragged me out of the hotel again, and shoved me into the car.
"You've been drinking!" I reminded her.
"It's fine, I have connections in Fucheng. I even presided over the foundation ceremony for their police headquarters!" Shen Xingyue said proudly.
So mages are that arrogant, huh?
At the hospital, we registered, and I went through a series of examinations: B-scan, MRI, and endoscopy. Before the doctor even said anything, my pain had subsided. It seemed Shen Xingyue hadn't used her full strength. Otherwise, with her martial prowess, she could have crushed not just two eggs, but two prized walnuts into middle-aged walnut powder!
The doctor prescribed some medication to promote blood circulation and reduce bruising, saying I'd be fine in a couple of days. He also warned us: "Youngsters, don't get too carried away."
Back at the hotel, Shen Xingyue apologized to me again, her attitude considerably softer now.
I took the opportunity to get closer to her, asking why she had drunk so much knowing I had a low tolerance.
Shen Xingyue cracked her knuckles, which popped loudly, and lowered her head with a bitter smile: "It was all to give you a chance."
"Give me a chance? What chance?" I asked.
"If you took advantage of my condition to do something improper, I could have justly killed you without any mental burden," Shen Xingyue said nonchalantly.
So, she gave me a chance to die!
It was clear Shen Xingyue and those who came to rescue Yaoyao were irreconcilable.
"But then you found out I was a good person, making it hard for you to act, right?" I asked with a smile.
Shen Xingyue didn't answer directly. She turned to look out the window, raising her jade-like hand to her eyes, as if speaking to herself: "This skill of mine, meant for the well-being of all people, is forced to be used to take lives..."
"How many lives have you taken?" I ventured to ask.
Shen Xingyue turned back, her gaze sharp and fierce: "You dare to ask that?! Are you not afraid of becoming the second ghost under my hand!"
I counted on my fingers. That would mean one life. If my guess was correct, it must have been that unlucky fellow, Song Lei.
Since we had reached this point, and knowing she wouldn't easily kill me, I opened up. I took out the sticky note from the drawer and handed it to her.
Shen Xingyue read the last point and nodded approvingly: "As expected of a graduate from a prestigious university. You're still rational and haven't been completely misled by that female demon."
The last point I had written was that one should first determine if Yaoyao was good or bad before deciding whether to rescue her.
"Can you help me unravel these doubts?" I asked.
Shen Xingyue shook her head firmly: "No, that would violate my principles."
After speaking, Shen Xingyue placed the paper on my bed, got up, picked up her bag, and walked towards the door.
"You're leaving already?" I asked.
"Take your medicine on time."
"At least tell me, is what I'm doing meaningful at all!" I pressed, unwilling to give up.
Shen Xingyue stopped, turned her head, as if wanting to say something, but ultimately couldn't. With a sigh, she left the room...