Not long after Qinshé had left, two men in expensive black robes appeared at the door. Their faces were hidden behind silver masks. One was tall and massive, the other of medium height and slim build.
The youth's appearance clearly marked him as the leader, as the taller man trailed a step behind him.
The tall man remained by the entrance, blocking the door. The young man carelessly tossed a purse of coins onto the table before Qinxuan and, without looking at her, strolled into the treatment room.
Sprawling on the couch as if he were at home, he lazily said:
— So, how long am I supposed to wait?
The young doctor raised an eyebrow at the coins.
(First the mysterious woman, now this arrogant youth. What a day. His level, and that of his bodyguard, commands respect, but manners… leave much to be desired.)
She followed the young man lightly into the room, preparing herself for another unusual patient.
Qinxuan, expressionless, stepped forward to take his hand for diagnosis. But just as her fingers nearly touched his skin, the young man snatched her hand with lightning speed and pulled her toward him.
His intentions were clear, but a sudden glint of a dagger in Qingxuan's hand made him recoil.
The blade sliced the air, leaving a cut on the youth's robe over his heart. Seeing that no blood had flowed, he smirked coldly.
— I wanted to handle this peacefully, but you chose otherwise.
The words only heightened the tension in the room, while the noise from the hall barely registered to either of them.
The youth approached Qingxuan slowly, every movement filled with confidence. Her attempt at another strike failed—he easily knocked the dagger from her hand and grabbed her by the neck.
His other hand reached for the veil covering her face.
Several minutes earlier.
Meanwhile, Delia, returning from the market with bags of herbs and medical supplies, suddenly felt a surge of unease.
Her heart clenched, a sense of impending danger growing with every step.
{There's no immediate threat nearby… so why do I feel this?... No, it's about Qinxuan!}
Without hesitation, she rushed to the medical hall.
When Del arrived at the building, a crowd had gathered outside. A man in a black robe clearly stood guard at the door. The blue-eyed approached and commanded sharply.
— Step aside.
— No.
Hearing only one word, she decided not to waste time and attacked. A contemptuous smile appeared on the man's masked face. Judging by his speed, he assumed the girl was not very strong.
As a Sixth-Level Mortal Rank warrior, he believed a young girl would be no match for him.
Relaxed?
Big mistake.
She lunged forward, feigning a direct punch. The man casually raised his hand to block, but the next second, Delia accelerated unexpectedly.
With a spinning motion, she delivered a powerful kick to his stomach.
The man's heavy body, weighing over a hundred kilograms, lifted off the ground and flew several meters, smashing through the entrance door.
The crash echoed through the building, but the heroine paid it no mind. She dashed inside, sprinting across the hall and into the treatment room.
The scene before her ignited a fury she had not known existed. The youth held Qingxuan by the neck, reaching for her face.
The sight unleashed an overwhelming aura from deep within Delia's being. Everything around them seemed to slow down.
A second later, she was at his side. Her strike to his head was so fast that he barely managed to dodge, releasing the victim and stepping back. Standing a few meters from the girls, he cautiously observed Delia, whose face was now masked with ferocity.
The aura Delia radiated seemed to focus on him. Every step, every glance chipped away at his sense of security. The fear was unfamiliar, unacceptable.
Just as Delia prepared for another strike, the brawny man she had thrown outside entered. Delia briefly assessed the situation, bracing for a fight, even though she knew the odds were not entirely in her favor.
The young man raised a hand, stopping his subordinate.
— We didn't come here to fight. Our objective is achieved. We leave.
He cast a long glance at the girls and exited, taking the subordinate with him. The brawny man, blood trickling from his mouth, threw one last glance over his shoulder before leaving.
Delia stood for a long moment, staring at the door. Her hands trembled from the residual tension, her fury still boiling inside.
Only a cool palm, gently touching her hand, brought her back to reality.
— How long are you going to stand there? Steam's practically coming out of your ears, — the blonde said with a soft smile.
Delia turned, meeting her friend's gaze. Noticing a slight mark on her neck, she exclaimed in concern:
— How can you laugh after that?! Are you okay? Any injuries?
— I'm fine. Don't worry. He didn't intend to harm me. It was as if the only purpose of his visit was to see my face. But I don't understand why he said his objective was achieved.
— Intentional or not — it doesn't matter. This won't happen again. Next time, you'll go with me, wherever it needs to be.
— Alright, alright, as you say, — Qingxuan replied peacefully.
— And that bastard… I'll deal with him.
— Of course you will, — the girl nodded with a faint smile.
— Keep agreeing with me like that, and I'll sort you out too.
— Uh-huh, uh-huh… — Qinxuan said, but upon meeting Delia's fierce gaze, quickly added seriously.— That guy is no joke. A Seventh-Level Mortal Rank—serious business.
— Seventh?! — Delia was stunned.
— And his partner is Sixth.
— …
— Plus, tonight a Ninth-Level patient will come for treatment.
— …
Qinxuan tapped her on the shoulder.
— Let's go. There's noise outside. We need to sort out the mess and continue our work. No time to waste.
Calming the crowd, the girls repaired the door and continued seeing patients until evening. They treated everyone who came, no matter the difficulty.
The reputation of the "Two Moons" Medical Hall quickly grew, and rumors about it spread throughout the southwest district of the city.
***
The dim light filled the spacious room with its massive walls. A tall, muscular man stood before a slender young man, his fingers tapping tensely on the sheath of his sword. The light of a solitary lamp stretched and darkened his shadow, making it even more menacing.
— Brother Tian, I still don't understand, — the man's voice was low and wary. — Why did we leave? Together we could have dealt with that girl.
The youth, lazily reclining in the chair, lifted his gaze. His dark eyes glinted with cold light.
— Do you really think the threat came from her?
The man froze, not knowing how to answer.
— Let me explain, — the youth continued. — The short‑haired one does have strength. Only Second‑Level Mortal Rank, but she beat you because you underestimated her. Yet she wasn't the real danger.
The man frowned.
— Then who was?
— The second one, — the youth stood and scanned the room with a look as if checking for eavesdroppers. — She has no cultivation. None at all. She's an ordinary person. But she made me feel a mortal threat.
— How is that possible? — the man asked in bewilderment. — Without cultivation she can neither fight nor use energy.
— Wrong. Don't forget there are methods and artifacts that can hide true power. Or she possesses something that makes her more dangerous than any warrior.
— But if that's the case, why didn't we deal with them there and then?
The youth stepped forward, his tone hardening:
— Do you think we would have made it? What's the use of victory if it costs you your life? Did you see her eyes? Did you feel that aura? It's something you cannot ignore.
The man looked down and exhaled heavily.
— You're right, Brother Tian. I shouldn't have rushed things.
— Smart move. Always weigh the risks, Demin. That's how you survive. Now go. I need time to think.
After the man slipped out the door, the youth exhaled and said,
— Status.
A blue screen, visible only to him, appeared before his eyes, reading:
[System: Great Ruler
Name: Lin Tian
Development: 7th Level Mortal Rank
Experience: 57,450 / 80,000
Bonus Points: 60
Main Objective:Seize power in the Lin clan (in progress)
Description: +
Reward: 15,000 XP, 500 bonus points
Side Quests:Mysterious Shop (Completed)
Description:A shop with unusual owners has appeared in the southwest district. Locate it and determine its purpose (main). Identify the owners' identities 1/2 (optional).
Rewards: 1,000 XP, 50 bonus points (main) / 10/20 bonus points (optional)
Skills: + (hidden)]
The youth skimmed the data and a cold smile crossed his face.
"Delia. Second mortal tier, but her power is impressive. She easily overcame Demin; one must be cautious in combat with her. And the second girl..."
He ran his fingers over the slit in his robe left by Qin Xuan's dagger.
"No cultivation. An ordinary person. But she made me feel a mortal threat. If I had hesitated one more moment, we wouldn't have left there alive."
His gaze hardened and the tone of his thoughts grew firm.
"They are of interest. If they are not subjugated, they must be destroyed. No one will stand in my way. The whole continent will bow before me."
Closing the screen, Lin Tian turned and headed for the exit; his footsteps echoed through the empty room with heavy certainty.
— Now… I must grow stronger. The city gangs will make a perfect sparring ground.
He left the room, leaving only the echoes of his ambitious goal behind.