Chained

Locked up and chained to the wall, Chen Nan realized the guards had brought them to the cells already. Alexander was in a different cell, and his wounds were open again. His bloody back had stained his shirt and the layer of forehead sweat could not go unnoticed. If his wounds don't get treated, he may lose his life.

"Alexander is in danger right now! His wounds reopened. Let me go! I'll treat his wounds first and stop the bleeding. You guys can lock me back up after I'm done!" Chen Nan's voice echoed loudly, catching the guard's attention.

Since Alexander had lived with most of these guards, they knew his stubborn nature. One of the guards checked Alexander's wounds and saw his shirt sticking to his wounds. "He's right. Alexander is bleeding badly. His complexion is very bad! Someone get the nurse!"

A guard rushed out of the cell to look for Qian Ling. Meanwhile, Chen Nan was persuading them to trust him. "Alexander is my friend! I am a doctor and can help him. By the time you guys get the nurse here, he might have already lost too much blood. By then, even an immortal can't revive him!"

"Nonsense! The nurse is the best medical staff we have! She can definitely-" The guard's words were cut off by Chen Nan.

"At least let me stop his bleeding while someone is on their way to get her! Look at his soaked shirt. When he dodged those attacks earlier, his wound had reopened. Those stupid guards didn't care about his limbs when they carried him. I know you guys are just doing your job, but I'm really trying to save him."

After two minutes of long speeches, the guard unlocked Chen Nan's chain and brought him to the neighboring cell where Alexander's eyes squinted shut. Calling his name, Chen Nan used the tools he had with him to sanitize his wounds and slower the bleeding.

In the middle of wrapping up his wounds, Alexander spat out mouthfuls of blood. "Alexander! Are you alright? We need to send you to the hospital." He barely had enough oxygen circulation to his body after spitting out the iron taste liquid.

Chen Nan lowered his ears to Alexander's lips, "Take my blood and fill it in some containers for Qian Ling. Afterwards, find a chance to sneak out. I'll deal with the guards."

Whispering in a determined voice, Chen Nan said, "I never leave my ally and friend alone in an enemy's den. If I leave, you're coming with me."

"If you think I can run away with you in this condition, then you're an idiot. Can't you see? Between us, only one of us could survive. Right now, the elders aren't here. Once they decide to come down here, they will start torturing you. You'll definitely die here if they make a move. You still need to stay alive for Ariana and your child."

Chen Nan adjusted Alexander's posture as it was too difficult for him to inhale and exhale while lying on his chest. "Don't speak nonsense. We'll get out of here alive together. Let's focus on your wound first. Someone went to get Qian Ling already."

Taking a pocket knife from his back pocket, Alexander made a cut on his arm. "Take my blood. Hurry or it'll be a waste. If you don't, then I'll make a larger wound."

Chen Nan quickly took small empty containers and filled it with Alexander's blood. He didn't know what to do with this risk-taking patient. "You've lost so much blood, yet you're not even scared. I could only temporarily stop the bleeding for now. Are you going to make holes in your body next? I told you to not act recklessly, and you won't listen to a professional's words."

"Heh, if I listened to you, then I'll be the idiot. I know my body condition better than anymore else. Don't think I'm doing this for you. I'm only doing it for Ariana. I don't want her to become a widow and single mother. So, you better get out of here alive." Alexander dry coughed and grunted painfully.

"Don't talk anymore. Keep still and rest. Qian Ling should be here soon." Chen Nan had to rip off his shirt earlier to treat his wounds since it started sticking to his wounds. He saw the dark bruises on his front torso. The attacks he had suffered from his grandfather earlier was too much. There was a nasty, dark bruise near his stomach. It could have been fatal if the attack was aimed slightly off.

Very soon, rapid footsteps approached the cell. Qian Ling panted as she rushed to the cell with the guard's guidance. "How is he? His wounds reopened."

"I've already sanitized his wounds and wrapped the wounds with a clean cloth provided by the guard. The bleeding hadn't stopped entirely, but most of it did. He suffered a few hits earlier and there are a few bruises on his body. Be careful." Chen Nan updated her on the procedures done on him.

Closing her eyes, she started taking his pulse and focusing her energy on him. Startled by her discovery, she repeated her actions twice to confirm her diagnosis. 'This idiot!'

"What are you planning to do? Self-destruct yourself?" Qian Ling spoke low in a warning tone. Only Alexander could hear her words. Revealing a smirk, he said, "It's the only way." She sighed after understanding his meaning.

"How is he?" Chen Nan frowned when he saw them whispering secretly in front of him.

"I'll treat his wounds first. Help me hold him while I apply herb ointment." Chen Nan nodded and immediately stabilized Alexander in his arms.

"Chen Nan, let's have a small chat while she's dealing with my wounds. It hurts." Alexander purposely distracted his attention, allowing Qian Ling some private time.

"Okay. What do you want to talk about?"

"I'm extremely jealous and envious of you because you have something I can never obtain. No matter how hard I try, I can never catch up. Therefore, I really dislike your guts, but I have to admit you're a good man." Alexander's eyes closed halfway as he spoke his thoughts.

"Did you lose too much blood? Or did the attacks earlier fry your brain cells? There's nothing to be jealous nor envious about being me." Chen Nan couldn't comprehend what was going on in his mind.

"Because it has to be you." Alexander felt a warm sensation coming from his back. With a smile, he closed his eyes and thought to himself. 'Because she belongs only to you. Because you're the only one I approve to stand by her side.'

As they continued having their small chat, Qian Ling had slowly transferred energy into Alexander's body without Chen Nan noticing. One of Qian Ling's capabilities was her ability to heal, but only Alexander knew about it.

Meanwhile, Ariana was waiting for Qian Ling's signal to make her move from outside the cell. Earlier, they had quickly formed a plan to help Chen Nan and Alexander escape. As she waited at the top corner of the ceiling by the stairway that leads to the underground cell, she heard a snake's hiss from behind.

Cautiously turning around to lower her gaze, she met Shi Kow Wan with his western brown snake in a cage. Tapping the transparent ox in his hand, he demanded, "Did you think your plans would work? Get down or I won't guarantee your safety. I haven't trained my pet for a while, and it's craving for blood."