AZI Volume 6 Chapter 17

Outside of the third ward's airport—

"…"

Moving into the rear seating compartment of the electric sports car, Yu Ji sets a basketball-sized cube down on the seat beside her. 

Currently, she is wearing a sleeveless black shirt with a pair of baggy white pants. And to cover her face a bit more, she is also donning a pair of tinted sunglasses. 

Blinking his eyes in response to Yu Ji's current attire, Long Hua asks—

"So, how does it feel to be a wanted fugitive?"

"…Not very good."

"…"

Upon Tian Cheng entering the passenger seat, the dihedral doors of the vehicle closed automatically, while Yu Ji asks—

"Mind stopping by the hospital first?"

Due to how busy the hospitals in the nearest Grounded City had been—as a result of the damage caused by the pale white weapon spirit, Yu Ji wasn't able to give Li a more thorough examination. 

"…"

Upon Long Hua turning to her, Tian Cheng says—

"Her condition is on the stabler side, but I would still recommend a hospital visit, master." 

"I see."

Setting the coordinates for the hospital run by NPI, Long Hua leans back in his seat, as the car begins to move on autopilot. 

"Has Dainsfield…-?"

Glancing at Yu Ji, Long Hua answers—

"You're worth 10,000,000 NWDs for destroying their so-called Heaven's Blade, and for stealing their secondary equipment."

"…"

An unpleasant expression appears on Yu Ji's face upon being informed that Li was treated as the satellite weapon's "secondary equipment."

"So, what will you do from now on? Ideally, I'd want you to just stay put."

Towards Long Hua's question and remark, Yu Ji answers—

"…As much as I want to say that I'll get back at that surnamed Jing for putting Li through that mess, I… I don't have the strength to make him pay."

"Surnamed Jing?"

"Jing Yuandong, the CEO of Dainsfield." 

"And that surnamed Duanmu?"

Narrowing her eyes, Yu Ji replies—

"…Secondary."

With Duanmu Chen being a veteran employee of Dainsfield, Yu Ji figured that it must have been him who had contacted Jing Yuandong for permission to deploy the Heaven's Blade. 

(…If he was the one who caused this mess, he's just as guilty. Still, even without him, that surnamed Jing would have wanted to deploy Li and that weapon eventually. As for the others who may be involved…)

Heaving a sigh, Yu Ji shakes her head. There were far too many people for her to keep track of. 

"For the time being, I'm willing to sit still. But… Not having something to do—it makes me feel anxious."

"Well, I guess you can finally fulfil your dreams of working at a restaurant."

Towards Long Hua's remark, Yu Ji had the urge to laugh, and replies—

"Might not be so bad to just work like a normal person for a bit."

...…

Fifth ward—

"We haven't seen each other for so long, and all of a sudden, you're bringing me a job like this?"

Dressed in a lab coat over a white shirt and a pair of black pants is Jing Yao, a guest researcher at NPI—who serves as the head of this hospital and lab. 

Towards Jing Yao's remark, Long Hua shrugs a shoulder, and replies—

"You're the only licensed doctor that I know of, so I only got you to turn to for this."

Having taken the time to explain the situation to Jing Yao, Long Hua expects the latter to perform the necessary tasks. 

If not—not much that he can do about it. But since they have known each other for over ten years, the likelihood of her accepting the tasks is rather high. 

"…"

Facing Jing Yao, Yu Ji bows her head, and pleads—

"I know it's a hassle, but please."

Relaxing her frown, Jing Yao says—

"…Ai, let's move over to a more specialized room."

Getting out of the rolling stool, Jing Yao walks pass the group of three, and gestures for them to follow her. 

...…

Momentarily, the group is led to a room on the second floor, and unlocking the room's doors, Long Hua remarks—

"This is what you call a specialized room?"

To the right side of the room is a mechanicalized hospital bed, and to the left side of this bed is a drawer. Beside the drawer is a large clothing cabinet. 

Embedded into the room's ceilings are six lights, along with speakers, which are situated to the room's four corners. 

Present on the left side of the room are four sinks, which are a standard for this lab's research room. 

Towards Long Hua's question, Jing Yao points to the last item in this room, a computer terminal with a camera attached to it, before replying— 

"For a cryostasis unit's storage, this room is specialized enough, isn't it?"

"…"

Walking over to the computer terminal, Yu Ji sets the black cube down—within the space that is drawn out by water drains. 

Pressing two buttons that are on the side of the black cube, Yu Ji takes a few steps back. 

And as the black cube begins to unfold itself—

"Oh?"

Jing Yao can't help but look on with astonishment. 

Rather quickly, a black cryostasis unit—with a full glass front panel, appears in place of the cube. 

The shape of the cryostasis unit is reminiscent of a beetle's body, but without the head and legs. 

And inside of the cryostasis unit, Li—who is dressed in a white patient gown has numerous lines connected to her body, along with an oxygen mask. 

"I didn't know Dainsfield had something like this…"

Towards Jing Yao's remark, Yu Ji scratches her cheek, and glances at Long Hua, who replies—

"It didn't come from them. In any case, let's move on, shall we?"

"Easy for you to say… Who knows how to work this thing?"

"Allow me."

Towards Jing Yao's question, Tian Cheng steps forward, and momentarily, she manages to connect the cryostasis unit to the computer terminal. 

"Hmm."

Looking at the biometric readings that are shown on the terminal, Jing Yao frowns. Things are indeed on the stable side, but—

"Heart rate is normal. Oxygen intake steady. …Hmm, I'm kind of afraid to remove her from the unit—at least until she wakes up. Also, from what you've told me beforehand, I suspect her to have lost quite a bit of blood."

"If she needs a transfusion, I can be the blood donor."

Towards Yu Ji, Jing Yao replies—

"Sure, but…"

Towards the look of concern on Jing Yao's face, Tian Cheng says—

"Infusions may be done through here. No need to take her out of the unit."

Stepping to the cryostasis unit's left side, Tian Cheng opens up a panel to reveal three ports, and continues to explain—

"All these ports are connected to the lines attached to her arm."

With a look of amazement, Jing Yao remarks—

"Whoever designed this thing really thought things through."

In response to this praise, the Tai Xuan Emperor says—

(Well, it was a product of my divine weapon's modifications after all. There're also openings on the base of the machine to allow dirtied medical bath waters to be swapped out with ease.)

"…"

Not knowing how to respond to the Tai Xuan Emperor's input on this matter, Long Hua maintains his silence, as he thought—

(I thought about this back in the ruins, but… Honestly, how do the laws of this world work? If she's a weapon spirit, how is it that she's able to be anemic?)

Looking back at the odd circumstances with Chen Lan now, Long Hua finds it more confusing than amusing. 

(Is it all just a powerful placebo effect?)

Just as Long Hua thought of this—

"Long-xiong."

"Hm?"

Turning to Yu Ji, whose left eye had turned into a shade of gold, Long Hua asks—

"Wen-xiong?"

Responding with a nod, Wen Qing says—

"The laws of this world can indeed have a powerful placebo effect on the…-"

Turning to Jing Yao, who is clearly confused by their exchange, Wen Qing pauses his words, and correcting himself, he continues to say—

"…Denizens here, they're subjected to a powerful placebo effect due to the laws of this world. I believe… Hazard Levels are a measurement of how close an individual is towards the world's truth, and upon realizing this truth to a certain degree, they become able to demonstrate Partial-Apotheosis abilities. Hmm."

Recalling how Yu Ji is still unable to perform Partial-Apotheosis, Wen Qing adds—

"…There're probably other requirements that needs to be met; however, this is probably the most important one."

"I see."

Hearing Wen Qing's explanation, Long Hua smiles in a scheming manner.

"For the time being, Li's condition is concerning; but with enough care, it shouldn't be an issue. …Yu Ji, the moment she wakes up, do your best to make her feel at ease. Should her condition improve, the chances of her being able to stand on her own two feet is rather high."

Having said all this, Wen Qing withdraws himself. 

Silence looms in the air for a brief moment, and eventually—

"Placebo effect?"

"…?"

Being stared at by both Jing Yao—who had asked this, and Yu Ji, Long Hua heaves a sigh.