"Even if it bankrupts me, even if I have to overdraw my salary for the next few hundred years in advance, it must be treated!"
"I will absolutely not let my Master die just like this!"
Jing Yuan waved his hand grandly, "I'll pay for the medical expenses. We must make my Master… er, I mean, do everything possible to save her. As long as there is even a sliver of hope, we cannot give up!"
The medic looked at Jing Yuan, deeply shaken in his heart: Is this our Luofu General? He truly values affection and righteousness!
With a general like this in our Luofu, how can we not prosper?!
Thinking of this, the medic's gaze toward Jing Yuan gained an extra layer of respect. He said respectfully, "Understood, General! Betting on my honor as a medic, I will prolong Sword Champion's life until the very last moment!"
"Very good." Jing Yuan nodded.
The medic saluted Jing Yuan and hurriedly ran off to prepare the resuscitation ventilator.
"..."
"Oh? You also remembered that day?"
In that life-and-death instant just now, it wasn't only Jing Yuan who saw scenes from the past flash before his eyes — Jingliu did as well.
However, when Jingliu recalled that segment of memory, the crimson in her eyes grew even stronger. Clearly she had thought of something unpleasant. The aura around her suddenly turned fierce, and the Mara-Struck State that had only just been suppressed showed signs of relapse.
Jing Yuan's expression was resolute: "What if I remembered? On that day, I was utterly sincere and loyal to you. Do you remember?"
Jingliu: "In the past, did I ever harden my heart to take your life?"
Jing Yuan: "This… this..."
Clang clang—!
The ice sword in Jingliu's hand suddenly rang with a sword cry, accompanied by a murmuring voice like the whispers of death:
"I weep for the rebellious disciple."
"Tears fall like rain, filling the ferry river. All tides surge forth, leading you home!"
Clang clang—!
A sword qi that had almost condensed into solid form slashed out from Jingliu's hand. This sword was born from sudden enlightenment triggered by her emotions, so she showed no mercy at all when striking.
Even with Jing Yuan's steel-like body, one moment of carelessness could result in his death.
Yet Jingliu simply watched this scene quietly, with no trace of regret in her heart.
Anyway, Ruan Mei was still here. Even if her disciple was split apart, she could sew him back together later. At most it would just make this rebellious disciple suffer a bit.
Watching the sword qi rush toward Jing Yuan, Jingliu also became slightly dazed in that instant and continued recalling what happened that day.
...
That day, not long after the medic left.
"..."
"Hm?"
Jing Yuan subconsciously turned his head and looked toward Jingliu on the sickbed. In that brief moment just now, he noticed that Jingliu's finger seemed to twitch imperceptibly. The movement was so small that it could easily be mistaken for an illusion.
But Jing Yuan knew that with the power of the Hunt Emanator residing in his body, at such close range his judgment would be absolutely correct.
So... Jingliu had just moved?
Something's wrong… wasn't it said that Jingliu had already fallen into the Mara-Struck State and lost her self-awareness? Could it be that what was waking up now was a Mara-Struck monster?!
Thinking of this possibility, Jing Yuan's expression immediately darkened. How could this be?
You've already become a Mara-Struck monster, so where's my pleasure of revenge? How can you be so selfish? Ptooey!
With that thought, Jing Yuan immediately took two steps forward and arrived beside Jingliu's sickbed, carefully observing her.
"..."
Sure enough.
A few seconds later, Jing Yuan became even more certain of his suspicion. Within those few seconds, Jingliu's fingers had indeed shown extremely subtle tremors. It looked like there were signs of her waking up.
So who exactly would wake up? Jingliu? Or... no no no, how could he make such a mistake? Since she had already fallen into the Mara-Struck State, what woke up would definitely be a Mara-Struck monster!
Hehehe.
"...Jing...Yuan..."
Several more minutes passed before Jingliu's lips moved as well, letting out an extremely weak sound.
As an Emanator, Jing Yuan naturally heard it crystal clear. Disappointment and excitement surged in his heart at the same time. He paused, then asked with great interest: "Master, can you hear me speaking?"
"…Y…es." Jingliu replied.
Hearing this, Jing Yuan raised an eyebrow and the corners of his mouth immediately curved upward. He leaned close to Jingliu's ear, his expression twisting as he said: "So, you heard everything I said to the medic just now, right?"
"Wahaha—!"
"You know, Master? I've always, always wanted to see you like this! This jealous look of yours... Although you can't make any expressions, I know that deep inside you must be jealous of me."
"You've finally had your day? Ahahahaha—!"
Jing Yuan laughed while shaking his head: "If not for that woman Baiheng, how could you and I have fallen to this point today?"
"What else do you have to say?"
Jingliu's lips moved a few more times, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end all her thousands of words condensed into one sentence: "No... more words. Please... act quickly."
"..."
The recollection ended here.
In short, whether it was because the Xianzhou's medical technology was too advanced or because that medic's skill was too high, the medical plan that originally had only a one percent survival rate miraculously succeeded. The expected time for Jingliu to fall into the Mara-Struck State kept being delayed, and signs even appeared that it could be suppressed.
According to a later interview with Jing Yuan, he himself claimed that this was all part of his plan. Only by using those words to stimulate Jingliu's will to survive could he induce the birth of that one percent miracle.
It was precisely because of this that he decided to send Jingliu out of the Luofu. Otherwise, letting a high-combat-power Mara-Struck monster roam freely would be harmful and of no benefit to any faction in the galaxy.
[Mysterious Narrator of the Honkai: Star Rail World rests his chin on his hands, eyes shining with wisdom: Actually, Jing Yuan only realized he had played himself too far and got scared.]
Thoughts returned to the present.
Rumble—!
Jingliu's earth-shaking sword strike caused a massive explosion. Smoke and dust rose everywhere. A few seconds later, the smoke dispersed, revealing a huge crater.
And Jing Yuan was lying face-down in the center of the crater, one finger stretching out unwillingly...
Bang!
Jingliu stepped on Jing Yuan's head. "What else do you have to say?"
Jing Yuan's body twitched slightly, but he still remained tough: "No words left. Please act quickly."
Jing Yuan had gone numb. He had actually lost again. Why, why had it been like this for eight hundred years? Why could he never defeat this crazy old woman?
He didn't understand!
Couldn't he win even once?
—"Wait! Hold your sword!"
At this moment, a clear voice rang out. Bailu, along with Xueyi and the others, rushed over from afar. Seeing Jing Yuan being stepped on by Jingliu, she became even more anxious: "Don't touch my friend!"
Hearing the voice, Jingliu subconsciously glanced toward Bailu. That single glance actually caused her to freeze on the spot.
Wait... this appearance?
It's her? She didn't die?