Chapter 17: Plan

The infirmary was bathed in a warm, sterile light, the faint scent of herbs and medicine lingering in the air. Tang Wulin, carrying Shun Lee on his back, burst through the door, his usually calm face contorted with worry. The nurse, an older woman with sharp eyes and a commanding presence, looked up from her paperwork.

"What's going on?" she asked briskly, rising from her seat.

Tang Wulin carefully laid Shun Lee on one of the beds, sweat beading on his brow from the exertion. Xie Xie, following close behind, quickly stepped forward.

"He suddenly spat out blood and collapsed," Xie Xie said, his voice tinged with urgency. "He said something about backlash, but then he fainted."

The nurse's brows furrowed as she leaned over Shun Lee, her hands glowing faintly with a soft green light as she assessed his condition. Her expression relaxed slightly as she finished her examination.

"Thankfully, it's not as serious as it could have been," she said, glancing back at the group. "He's not gravely injured this time. His soul power is completely drained, and his internal organs have taken some damage, but it's manageable. He just needs rest, and he'll recover in a day or two."

Tang Wulin and Xie Xie let out audible sighs of relief, their shoulders relaxing.

"Thank goodness," Tang Wulin muttered, his voice shaky. He clenched his fists, guilt flashing across his face. "If we'd been more careful—"

"It's not your fault," Xie Xie cut in, his usual sarcastic tone absent, replaced with rare sincerity. "The guy always acts like he's watching a show. It was his choice to jump in when he did."

Gu Yue, however, was unusually silent. Her sharp eyes studied the nurse's face, noticing the slight hesitation in her words. 'Not as serious this time?' The phrase echoed in her mind. She glanced at Shun Lee's pale face, a small frown forming on her lips.

"Is there something you're not telling us?" Gu Yue asked suddenly, her tone calm but probing.

The nurse hesitated for a brief moment before shaking her head. "I told you everything you need to know. He'll be fine with rest."

Gu Yue's eyes lingered on her, but she didn't press further. She simply nodded, though the unease in her chest remained.

The nurse straightened up and waved them toward the door. "He needs quiet and time to rest. You all should head back now."

Tang Wulin hesitated, looking down at Shun Lee one last time. "Are you sure he'll be okay?"

The nurse gave him a reassuring nod. "Positive. Now go. You're all looking to need some rest on yourselves."

Reluctantly, the group turned to leave. As they stepped out of the infirmary, Xie Xie let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

"That guy's unbelievable," he muttered, his usual sarcasm creeping back into his tone. "First, he acts all mysterious, watching us from the sidelines like some kind of hero in training, and then he collapses like that. Talk about dramatic."

"Xie Xie," Gu Yue said sharply, her eyes narrowing. "This isn't the time."

Xie Xie raised his hands defensively. "What? I'm just saying."

Tang Wulin, still quiet, finally spoke up. "He helped us when it mattered. We should be grateful for that." His voice was steady, but the guilt lingered in his eyes.

Gu Yue glanced at Tang Wulin, then back toward the infirmary door. Her mind was in a whirlwind of thoughts. She couldn't shake the image of Shun Lee appearing out of nowhere to save her, nor the nurse's strange comment about this not being the first time he'd been gravely injured.

As they walked back to their dorms, Gu Yue's thoughts swirled in the air. 'What happened to you, Shun Lee?' she thought, her unease growing with every step.

*****Early Morning******

Shun Lee groaned as he slowly opened his eyes, the soft light of the morning sun filtering through the tinted windows of the infirmary. The air smelled faintly of antiseptic and herbs, and the faint chirping of birds outside reminded him that he had been cooped up for far too long.

He sat up groggily, wincing slightly at the soreness in his body. The nurse, who was seating nearby, glanced up from her papers and gave him a small, knowing smile.

"Finally awake, I see," she said, standing and approaching his bed. "It's rare for a soul master to take so long to recover. You've been out for three days."

"Three days?" Shun Lee exclaimed, his voice thick with disbelief. He ran a hand through his hair, his expression a mixture of shock and disappointment. "That's… longer than I expected."

The nurse nodded, her tone turning more serious. "You may have the abilities of a soul master, but your physique seems to be no different from an ordinary person. That's why your recovery is slower. You'll need to be careful in the future. Injuries like these can leave hidden damage since it seems you have drained your soul power mysteriouly, and we don't have a healing soul master here at the academy."

Shun Lee's shoulders slumped, disappointment flickering across his face. "So, I'm basically just a regular guy with soul power?" He sighed, shaking his head. "Guess I'll have to be extra cautious."

The nurse smiled faintly, patting his shoulder. "Exactly. Now, take it easy since it's a rest day, after all. Stretch your muscles, but don't overdo it for now."

"Got it," Shun Lee said with a slight nod, offering her a faint grin. "Thank you for your care, Nurse."

He stood, feeling a bit stiff and stretch once more just to shake off the lingering fatigue. After bidding farewell to the nurse, he stepped out into the hallway.

The morning sun poured through the tall windows, casting golden patterns on the polished floors. The academy was unusually quiet, the usual hustle and bustle replaced with the calm serenity of a day off. As he walked, Shun Lee's gaze drifted to the clear blue skies visible through the windows. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the trees outside, and he couldn't help but smile faintly.

'Maybe I'll head to the park,' he thought. A walk or even singing sounds good right now.

Lost in his thoughts, he turned in a corner and suddenly bumped into someone. Instinctively, he reached out and held the shoulder of the person just before they could fall.

"Oh, sorry about that," he said quickly, his hands still on their shoulders.

When he finally looked, he realized it was Gu Yue, dressed in casual clothes that were far from her usual attire. Her expression was as unreadable as ever, but her slightly widened eyes hinted at her surprise.

"Oh, It's you," he muttered, withdrawing his hands quickly and stepping back. "Sorry again. Are you okay?"

Gu Yue nodded slightly, brushing off her sleeves as though nothing had happened. "I'm fine. What about you? You're finally out of the infirmary, I see."

Shun Lee rubbed the back of his neck, offering a sheepish smile. "Yeah, the nurse gave me the all-clear. Well, mostly." He paused, then added cheekily, "Guess I'm free as the sea now."

Gu Yue studied him for a moment, her gaze was sharp yet a hint of curiousity hides within. "Where are you headed? You seemed pretty lost in thought just now."

Shun Lee chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I was thinking of heading to the park. Maybe stretch for a while, sing a little and clear my head after being stuck inside for days. But first, I need to grab a quick shower."

To his surprise, Gu Yue's eyes seemed to brighten, though she quickly masked it with her usual composed demeanor. Shun Lee tilted his head, noticing the change.

"Do you… wanna come?" he asked, a bit hesitant but curious.

Gu Yue blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Then, after a brief pause, she crossed her arms and lifted her chin slightly, feigning indifference. "If you really want me to, I suppose I could join you. Someone has to keep you in check, after all."

Shun Lee laughed softly, the sound warm and genuine. Without thinking, he reached out and pinched her cheek gently, a teasing grin spreading across his face. "Alright, boss. Meet me at the gates in an hour."

Gu Yue froze, her cheeks heating up from both the unexpected action and the casual intimacy. Before she could say anything, Shun Lee had already turned, walking away with a slight wave.

As his figure disappeared down the hallway, Gu Yue stood there, touching her cheek where he had pinched her. Her lips pressed into a slight pout, and her eyes narrowed.

"What was that about?" she muttered to herself, her voice tinged with a mix of irritation and embarrassment.

Outside, the morning sun continued to shine, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves, as if nature itself was amused by their interaction.

Shun Lee stepped into his dorm room, a quiet sigh escaped in his lips. The warmth of sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow on the modest interior. After a few days in the infirmary, everything felt oddly unfamiliar, as though he had been gone for weeks instead of days.

He dropped his clothes on the bed and headed straight for the shower, the hot water easing the lingering stiffness in his muscles. As steam filled the small bathroom, Shun Lee let his thoughts drift.

'Three days,' he mused, rubbing the back of his neck.' I can't afford to let something like this happen again.'

After his shower, he toweled off and started rifling through his wardrobe. A wry chuckle escaped him as he surveyed its contents: a handful of black shirts, some faded jeans, and not much else.

"Really?" he muttered to himself, holding up one of the shirts with a resigned smile. "Guess I should buy some new clothes at some point."

But as quickly as the thought came, he dismissed it with a shake of his head. 'Money was tight, and every money mattered.' He walked over to a small box tucked beneath a pile of clothes and pulled out a sleek card embossed with his name. The Federation's financial support had been some thing to be grateful of but he knew it wouldn't last forever.

'It's been three years,' he thought bitterly, running a thumb over the card. 'I guess they must have stopped putting some money here. What am I supposed to do now?'

The weight of it pressed down on him, but he pushed the feeling aside with a determined shake of his head.' I'll figure it out before reaching soul grandmaster.'

He slipped the card back into the box, tucked it away, and got dressed. As he was buttoning his jeans, the door burst open, and two familiar figures barged in.

"Shun Lee!" Wang Jinxi exclaimed, his voice a mix of surprise and delight. "You're actually here?!"

Shun Lee turned, startled. "Yeah, I'm here," he said, forcing a grin. "What's with the dramatic entrance?"

"Dramatic?" Zhang Yangzi shot back, smirking. "Says the guy who's been missing for days. Where've you been, huh?"

"I was at the nurse's office," Shun Lee said, keeping his tone light. "Nothing major, just needed a bit of rest."

The two roommates exchanged a glance, their expressions a mix of curiosity and skepticism, but they didn't press the issue. Instead, Wang Jinxi leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms.

"You missed all the action while you were gone," he said, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "The whole academy was in an uproar!"

Shun Lee raised an eyebrow, feigning interest. "Oh? What happened?"

Zhang Yangzi jumped in, practically vibrating with energy. "Some idiot offended a high-ranking captain who came here in a mech! Can you believe it? A full-on mech, right on campus!"

Wang Jinxi chuckled, picking up where Zhang left off. "Yeah, but the best part? Teacher Wu stepped in and completely shut it down. The captain didn't even stand a chance."

Shun Lee tilted his head, intrigued despite feeling the name was familiar. "Teacher Wu, huh? Who's that?"

Both boys froze, staring at him like he'd just confessed to not knowing what a soul ring was.

"You're kidding, right?" Wang Jinxi said, his tone a mix of disbelief and amusement. "You don't know who Teacher Wu is?"

"Not really," Shun Lee admitted with an awkward chuckle. "Care to enlighten me?"

Wang Jinxi leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with admiration. "Teacher Wu Zhangkong. He's a Soul Emperor with four purple soul rings and two black ones. Do you have any idea how rare that is? And he's a combat teacher here! The guy's a total legend and oh, also He is the cold prince charming of the campus that every woman admires."

Shun Lee's brows lifted, genuinely impressed. "Four purple and two black? That's insane."

Zhang Yangzi nodded fervently. "Tell me about it. The way he handled that captain… it was like watching a master at work. If I could be even half as strong as him someday…"

The two roommates continued gushing about Teacher Wu's exploits, but Shun Lee barely heard them as he glance at the clock on the wall which made his stomach drop.

"Crap, I'm late!" he blurted, grabbing his guitar before bolting for the door.

"Wait, what? Where are you going?" Wang Jinxi called after him, bewildered yet Shun Lee didn't respond so he looks as Zhang Yanxi.

"Beats me," Zhang Yangzi said, shrugging. "He's always been a bit weird."

The door slammed shut behind Shun Lee as he sprinted down the hallway, the morning sunlight spilling through the windows. As much as he enjoyed his roommates' stories, there was someone waiting for him—and he had no intention of keeping her waiting.