Restart Arc Chapter 209: Was I Used?

A faint glimmer of light shone into his eyes. Mo Xing slowly opened his eyes and found that a lamp was glowing above his head. Judging by the furnishings around him, he was in a hospital, dressed in the familiar blue-and-white striped patient’s gown.

“Don’t get emotional.”

“Find the other Dragon Gods.”

“Pay attention to those around you.”

Mo Xing’s mind echoed with the last words Kashin had entrusted to him. Just as he was pondering their meaning, a familiar scent drifted to his nose.

Aside from the sterile air of the hospital, there was also the fragrance of lilacs and the sound of gentle breathing in the room. His gaze shifted, and he suddenly realized a girl was dozing at the side of his hospital bed!

“Shi... Shiyan?” Mo Xing was startled, quickly covering his mouth to stifle any sound.

Shiyan stirred slightly.

“Mo Xing…” she murmured.

A blush crept onto Mo Xing’s face. He thought Shiyan must be talking in her sleep, but she was muttering his name. Could it be… Shiyan liked him?

“Mo Xing, I…” she was still muttering in her dreams.

Oh my! Is she going to confess to me in her sleep? Mo Xing’s heart thudded wildly.

“We… will protect you.”

“Uh…” The flush on Mo Xing’s face faded a little. He thought to himself, so that’s how it is. Thinking about it, it made sense. He wasn’t quite outstanding enough for a girl to fall for him. Right now, he was more like someone who needed to be looked after.

He remembered that evening, when she had talked with him for so long, and even cried for him when he was feeling down. And then, on that rainy night in Scarf Town, she had rescued his soaking wet self into her house, and together with Mianhua and the others, cared for him.

Beautiful, talented, warm-hearted, and kind.

He realized he was starting to like this girl. Even if they couldn’t be lovers, being good friends was still rather nice. Yet he couldn’t help but feel a faint trace of regret in his heart.

At the bed’s edge, Shiyan moved, slowly sitting up.

“Mo Xing, you’re awake!” were the first words out of her mouth as she opened her eyes.

“Mm…” Mo Xing looked at her slightly wan cheeks, feeling a pain he couldn’t quite put into words.

“Doctor Bai said that if you lie in bed too long, you’ll get seriously dehydrated, so you should drink lots of hot water after waking up,” Shiyan said, pouring a cup of hot water from the thermos on the table.

“I see. Thank you.” Mo Xing took the cup she handed him and drank it in small sips.

“By the way, what exactly happened to me? I remember I was in combat class, then everything went black, and the next moment I was in the hospital,” he asked after finishing his drink.

“Well—” Shiyan leaned in closer.

“I’ve brought breakfast!” A voice from the hallway drowned her out before she could begin. Mo Xing and Shiyan turned to see Mianhua and Cai Hong pushing open the door, breakfast in hand.

“Scoundrel! Hands off my dear cousin Shiyan!” Mianhua suddenly exclaimed, his expression changing dramatically.

“Cousin Mianhua!” Shiyan pouted. “Stop making a fuss!”

“Hey, Mianhua, keep it down,” Cai Hong chided. “This is a hospital, not a cabaret!”

“Alright, alright,” Mianhua immediately apologized, then glared at Cai Hong, his eyes promising retribution.

“Was it like this in Scarf Town?” Mo Xing asked. In truth, he wanted to say at Shiyan’s house, but felt embarrassed, so he changed his words.

“Exactly!” Mianhua laughed. “It’s just a different setting now, and we’ve added a pesky little brother!”

“You’re the pesky one!” Cai Hong rapped Mianhua on the head. “You’re in third year and still stuck at level forty-something in the Evergreen Tier! If that’s not being a little brother, what is?”

“So what? You’re only a few levels higher than me!” Mianhua shot back.

“I’m only in second year and already at level fifty-four,” Cai Hong retorted. “You sure it’s only a few levels?”

“Enough, both of you, stop arguing!” Shiyan interjected.

“Sorry, I... I was wrong,” Mianhua said hastily, then glared at Cai Hong, his eyes saying: Just you wait!

Mo Xing watched the two clowns and smiled.

“By the way!” Shiyan suddenly asked, “Cai Hong, how did things go on your end?”

“Pretty well. The campus news magazine is full of praise for Mo Xing now,” Cai Hong replied, waving the newspaper. “I bought a copy when I picked up breakfast.”

“All praising me?” Mo Xing asked in confusion. “What about the previous gossip?”

“Let’s eat first, then we’ll tell you all about it,” Shiyan said, bringing over both breakfast and the newspaper.

“I was worried you’d get mobbed by reporters, so I sent some student council officers to protect you yesterday afternoon. Coincidentally, during that combat class, Chen Anye was helping Teacher Tianqi guide your weapon selection, so he acted as the team leader for this task,” Shiyan explained.

“So that’s why Senior Chen Anye kept staring at me,” Mo Xing realized. “I thought he was an undercover reporter!”

“Shame he let his tongue run wild,” Shiyan said. “That upset you, and the powerful force within you backlashed, sending you into a frenzy. Fortunately, Teacher Tianqi arrived in time and prevented disaster.”

“I see.” Mo Xing nodded. No wonder Kashin warned him not to get emotional—anger would let the power consume him.

“You’re not level zero,” Shiyan said. “Maybe the crystal ball malfunctioned during the test.”

“Alright.” Mo Xing nodded. “So what’s with the newspaper?”

“I’m on good terms with the editor-in-chief,” Cai Hong said. “I once saved her, so she owed me a favor.”

“There’s a story there,” Mianhua teased.

“Shut up,” Cai Hong shot him a look, then continued, “Anyway, if you have trouble in the future, just come to me. I can solve a lot of problems for you.”

“Thank you,” Mo Xing replied.

“I’m not as good at showing off as someone here,” Mianhua said with a hint of jealousy, “but I can read you the news.”

“Uh…” Mo Xing was speechless.

“Listen to this!” Mianhua picked up the paper, cleared his throat, and began to read dramatically.

“Shocking! Freshman Mo Xing’s level zero was a misjudgment—exact cause under further review!”

“And this one! A blow for dignity! A freshman openly challenged Mo Xing, only to be sent flying ten meters with a single palm!”

“And this is even better! Heartwarming! Three hundred students join the support club to cheer Mo Xing on!”

“Wait, I have a support club?” Mo Xing exclaimed in surprise.

“The news does exaggerate a bit,” Shiyan said, standing up. “I’ll go notify Doctor Bai to come check on you, see if you’re ready for discharge.”

“I’ll go with you!” Mianhua said, and followed Shiyan out.

Only Mo Xing and Cai Hong remained in the room. Mo Xing leafed through the newspaper while Cai Hong opened a pack of snacks.

“If you have questions, just ask,” Cai Hong said.

“Oh, okay,” Mo Xing replied. “I remember after class that day, I was surrounded by reporters, and then a girl in a black cloak rescued me—”

“You want to know why the news didn’t cover it, right?” Cai Hong interrupted.

“Yes,” Mo Xing paused. “Did you have the campus news cut it?”

“No.”

“They cut it themselves,” Cai Hong explained. “That afternoon, I went to the newsroom and saw all the journalists gathered around a mysterious letter. On its envelope were written all their personal secrets.”

“That’s… incredible!” Mo Xing exclaimed. It was almost like a hacker!

“The last paragraph, in red, demanded they delete all news about her. Otherwise, she’d use certain methods to silence them all,” Cai Hong continued.

“So forceful!” Mo Xing said. “But I just can’t figure out why she’d help me.”

“Maybe someone asked her to,” Cai Hong said. “Or maybe—”

“Or maybe what?” Mo Xing pressed.

“She’s using you for something,” Cai Hong replied.

“Using me?” Mo Xing said, puzzled.

“I’m just guessing,” Cai Hong grinned. “Don’t take it seriously.”

At that moment, the door opened. Mo Xing and Cai Hong turned to see Shiyan, Mianhua, and a doctor enter.

“This is Doctor Bai,” Shiyan introduced. “He’s been in charge of your treatment.”

“Ah, hello, Doctor Bai,” Mo Xing greeted politely, extending his hand.

“Hello, young man!” Doctor Bai shook his hand warmly. Suddenly, a faint green light glowed from his palm, startling Mo Xing.

“What… what’s this?” Mo Xing asked.

“It’s a kind of healing technique, a skill for diagnosing conditions,” Shiyan explained.

“Hmm.” Doctor Bai released his hand. “He’s recovered. He can be discharged.”

“Thank you,” Shiyan responded.

“But remember—” Doctor Bai’s tone turned serious.

“Remember what?” Mo Xing asked.

“Drink plenty of hot water,” Doctor Bai said with a smile.

“Uh…” Mo Xing was momentarily at a loss for words.

“That’s Doctor Bai’s catchphrase,” Mianhua laughed. “That’s why people call him ‘Boiled Water Bai’!”

“You rascal!” Doctor Bai chuckled, patting Mianhua on the shoulder. “Maybe I should check you, too?”

“No need,” Mianhua replied with a laugh. “Save your miracle hands for the real patients.”

Looking at them, Mo Xing thought Mianhua was like a happy-go-lucky jester, Cai Hong the steady all-knowing type, and as for Shiyan—those unspoken feelings, he’d keep hidden in his heart.

...

“Finally discharged! Sunshine, here I come!” Mianhua shouted joyfully.

“Didn’t you already get sun when you went to buy breakfast half an hour ago?” Cai Hong said coolly. “And it’s Mo Xing who’s being discharged, not you. Why are you so excited?”

“You don’t understand! It’s called empathy!” Mianhua laughed. “Ask Mo Xing if he’s excited to be out.”

“Not really,” Mo Xing replied calmly, causing Cai Hong to burst into laughter.

“Seriously? Can’t you be less blunt?” Mianhua protested. “Can’t you play along with me a little?”

“Sorry, I’m not much of an actor,” Mo Xing replied.

“You—!” Mianhua was momentarily speechless.

Shiyan also smiled.

“By the way, Mo Xing,” Shiyan said, “today’s the last combat class before the assessment…”

“Huh?” Mo Xing was puzzled. “Why did the classes go by so quickly?”

“Well…” Shiyan hesitated. “You’ve actually been unconscious in the hospital for four whole days!”

“What?!!!”

At that moment, Mo Xing, Shiyan, Mianhua, and Cai Hong, standing at the hospital entrance, had no idea that upstairs, Doctor Bai was watching them from the window, smiling.

In the corner of the room, a man sat fiddling with chess pieces on a board. Apart from his hands, his entire figure was shrouded in shadow.

“What’s the next move?” Doctor Bai asked.

The man set down his chess piece.

“Let’s wait and see.”

============ Author’s Note ============

After waiting so long, I still haven’t found inspiration for new content, so I plan to start revising from the beginning in search of ideas (mainly because I have summer classes and little time to write). I’ve added many details to fill in what was missing before, and improved the story overall—there may be some repetition, so I hope you’ll be understanding and continue to support me.