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At dawn, with the sun just beginning to rise,
Fu Hua carried a pot of meticulously simmered egg and meat congee through winding corridors, arriving at a small pavilion.
Under the pavilion's roof, Zeke leisurely flipped through a book with one hand while holding warm water in the other.
On the opposite side lay a severely injured patient, completely swathed in thick bandages and fitted with various splints on limbs and torso, resting on a stone bed.
Upon seeing Fu Hua approach, the person restrained by layers of medical equipment grew excited, emitting a series of incomprehensible muffled sounds:
"Mmmf mmnn mmmf!"
"What can I say? Didn't you insist on dueling right away? Zeke merely obliged your wish, albeit it turned out quite brutal... chuckle!"
"Mmmf!"
"Alright, alright, I was wrong; I won't laugh anymore. Come on, it's time to eat. Let me feed you."
Fu Hua first prepared a bowl of porridge for Zeke before carrying another bowl to Senti's stone bed. She sat down, gently exposing Senti's mouth from beneath the bandages, and carefully fed her while blowing on the steaming food.
Senti calmed down.
With Fu Hua's tender gaze fixed lovingly upon her as she brought the spoon to Senti's lips—what could she do? All traces of anger had vanished, leaving Senti no choice but to obediently eat. Surprisingly, the porridge tasted exceptionally delicious!
After some time, Senti's belly slightly swelled, and she let out a satisfied burp.
"Burrp!"
The eyes visible through the bandages radiated contentment and happiness.
"Oh, that hit the spot... So, how did you manage it, you bastard? Having superior physical strength is understandable, and decent martial skills aren't shocking either, but that level of power is just ridiculous! And why didn't my Divine Essence knock you out?!?"
"Since I knew about Divine Essence, an extreme form of psychic attack, naturally, I conducted research and prepared accordingly. It's ultimately composed of life information, so by analyzing its principles, one can simulate and counteract it. Although I haven't surpassed Fu Hua's mastery yet, I possess ample means for psychic offense and defense."
"Then what about your body? That strength, defense, and recovery—how is that even possible for a human?"
"The power of science, which can't be explained to someone like you who dabbles in mysticism."
Under favorable circumstances, Zeke naturally honed his physical form meticulously, pushing its capabilities to their limits from every aspect. Confidently speaking purely in terms of this humanoid physique, he believed no one surpassed him in the past fifty thousand years.
Zeke didn't outwardly show disdain, but the inherent gap between a scientific genius and an illiterate observer made Fu Hua feel awkward enough to want to dig her toes into the ground.
More direct than usual, Senti shattered the various bandages and splints on her body, jumped up, slammed her hand on the table, and roared angrily:
"You...you're cheating! Either way, it's definitely cheating!"
"Herrscher of Sentience's abilities combined with Fu Hua's millennia of martial arts cultivation—it's still cheating from other Herrschers' perspectives," Zeke calmly responded, observing Senti's disheveled hospital gown and bruised face.
Still fuming, Senti was ready to continue her outburst when a delicate, fair-skinned hand gently rested on her shoulder.
"Senti, dear... I've told you before, haven't I? Your injuries... need proper healing time..." Fu Hua said gently with a warm smile.
Senti shuddered, unable to muster any clever excuse as fractures, torn muscles, and internal organ damage all flared up simultaneously, sending waves of intense pain throughout her body.
"Ahhhhh!"
Just moments ago, Senti was brimming with defiance, but now she lay on the ground, writhing like a jumping shrimp, desperately seeking relief from the agony.
Fu Hua's anger subsided, feeling somewhat at a loss as she glanced towards Zeke.
Taking a sip, Zeke nonchalantly replied, "I didn't administer any anesthesia or painkillers."
"...Why not?"
"To prevent her from recklessly bouncing around like that."
"Alright." Fu Hua helplessly lowered her head.
Indeed, sufficient pain served as an excellent deterrent against allowing a mischievous child to further harm their severely injured body.
Crouching down beside Senti, who was rigid and drenched in sweat, Fu Hua gently tapped her forehead.
"Realizing your place now? Herrscher abilities and advanced martial skills indeed elevate you to heights most ordinary Herrschers can't reach, but there's always greater power out there. Kevin's accumulated strength rivals ours, and he was initially stronger than both of us. Did you gain any advantage over him during Cosmic Juggernaut?" Fu Hua continued, "As for Zeke, his scientific prowess grants him limitless potential—you've already witnessed his flawless physique and exceptional martial arts. And let's not forget his swarm, black armor, Pseudo-God Keys, and other technologies... Have you truly seen his ultimate trump card yet? Even if you overcome these challenges, Senti, our true enemy remains the insurmountable Finality."
At this point, despite her transcendent composure, a hint of sorrow and bewilderment crept into Fu Hua's voice.
However, she quickly shook off those emotions, gently tapping Senti's forehead once more with warmth: "I don't wish for you to suffer; I only hope you'll temper your arrogance and disregard for others. The pursuit of martial mastery has no end; even I continue exploring the path ahead. It's crucial to understand that there is always someone superior beyond oneself. Don't be content with your current achievements. If one day you surpass me, I will genuinely rejoice for you. Now, resist no further and get some proper rest."
Fu Hua comforted Senti's spirit gently, and the young girl willingly yielded without resistance, quickly drifting off to peaceful slumber.
Fu Hua carried Senti over to the nearby stone bed, covered her with a thin blanket, and smiled softly.
Zeke approached then, leaned down, and examined Senti briefly.
"Her vital signs are normal; I held back accordingly. Given your current constitution, she should recover quite well once she wakes up."
"I understand. Thank you so much. Without you, I really wouldn't know how..."
Fu Hua's words were interrupted by Senti's soft murmur in her sleep.
As she lay peacefully, holding Fu Hua's hand, she whispered,
"Old Antique...I...will protect you..."
Fu Hua paused momentarily, then after a brief silence, revealed an incredibly warm smile.
Suddenly, Zeke spoke up, "By the way, have you been inadvertently neglecting that this body also belongs to you?"
He pointed at the sleeping Senti, his expression somewhat enigmatic as he looked at Fu Hua.
Zeke knew Fu Hua had a non-confrontational nature and was inexplicably lenient towards Senti, even indulgent at times. However, considering her recent behavior, could it be that this immortal has become so magnanimous as to fully entrust her own body for Senti's use?
"Huh?" Fu Hua blinked, her eyes widening with mild surprise.
Taking a moment to reflect, she realized that indeed, without noticing, she had become increasingly accustomed to letting Senti control their body. Even when it got injured, she barely felt it as harm to herself anymore. To some extent, this indicated that she no longer perceived Senti as merely a secondary personality but rather as a new, independent being.
After pondering for a while, Fu Hua gently held Senti's hand—her own hand—and smiled with relief.
"Ah, it's not really a big deal. During actual battles, Senti wouldn't throw tantrums either. So, most of the time... I can stay in the consciousness world or use my Soulium body; it doesn't have much impact."
Zeke was speechless at such unwavering acceptance.
Well, if Fu Hua is content with her personal choices, that's all that matters.
"Oh right, we encountered Zhuge Kongming earlier. She feared you might not see her and asked me to relay something to you."
"What did she say?"
"She mentioned an underwater altar rumored to possess a power capable of granting any wish, hoping it could be helpful to you."
"Granting wishes is surely a myth, but there might still be something intriguing there. But why would she feel comfortable revealing such information to me?"
Strictly speaking, Zeke had known people of this world for only a few months, and his acquaintance with Zhuge Kongming was even shorter. During this relatively brief period, mindful of avoiding romantic entanglements and fully focused on his work, Zeke's interactions with the four individuals from Huang Country were largely limited to discussing official matters.
In essence, they weren't particularly close.
Given this context, sharing details about wish-granting powers seems unwise. What if Zeke harbored some nefarious plans? Could they guarantee he wouldn't misuse such knowledge?
Zeke pondered it further and found possible explanations.
Firstly, having catalogued all ancient texts in the library, keeping relevant information hidden from him was futile. Secondly, these were mere legends; even Zhuge Kongming likely didn't believe in their authenticity. So, taking a chance could potentially sway Zeke's decision, providing an opportunity for him to stay and lead the nation.
The former imperial heir was truly exhausting every effort to retain Zeke.