When he opened his eyes and saw the familiar scene, Ming Yu knew exactly where he was.
As he felt the soreness and weakness spreading from every part of his body, his senses gradually returned.
Sure enough, he was hospitalized again, and again, and again.
Though it wasn't his intention, the frequency of his hospital stays was indeed beyond that of an ordinary person.
In less than half a month, the number of times he'd been hospitalized was already outrageous. Especially today, he had just left this very room.
But only a few hours later, he was back again.
If one were to investigate, it was definitely not his fault. It must be some hack author who couldn't figure out how to continue the plot.
Moving his body slightly, Ming Yu felt something pressing down on one side of the thin blanket.
Turning his head, he was not surprised to find a splash of pink, like a blooming sakura on the white blanket. Just as vibrant, just as delicate.
Struggling to reach out, Ming Yu subconsciously wanted to gently stroke that smooth, pink hair. But just as his hand was about to make contact, he sighed inwardly and stopped his movement.
From Ming Yu's angle, he could just see the girl's sleeping profile. Her breathing was light and even, her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and her slender face had an unnatural pallor.
As if startled by Ming Yu's movement, the girl's eyelids fluttered a few times before her beautiful azure eyes slowly opened.
With a soft murmur, the girl sat up straight, the confusion in her eyes quickly fading.
Seeing that Ming Yu was awake, the girl said with a hint of pleasant surprise, "Big Bro Yu, you're awake."
Nodding, Ming Yu looked at the long black sword placed to the side and said, "Actually, you shouldn't have come out so soon. Resting more inside Jizo Mitama would be better for your recovery."
As a spirit existing by relying on the Divine Key, Hiyokumaru would recover faster inside it. Leaving the nourishment of the Divine Key too early would not only prolong her recovery time but also leave her in a weakened state for a long time.
Hiyokumaru was naturally aware of this, which was why Ming Yu's tone was slightly scolding. Although he had collapsed on his way out of the training grounds, and it was likely Hiyokumaru who had appeared in time to support him, Ming Yu had no intention of accepting this favor.
He trusted St. Freya's medical team and didn't think Hiyokumaru's appearance was necessary. To him, even if Hiyokumaru took such a risk for his sake, it was still something to worry about.
"It's alright, I can recover slowly outside too." Hiyokumaru tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, showing no intention of admitting fault. "Besides, if I didn't show up, it would be hard for you to explain things to Kiana and the others, wouldn't it, Big Bro Yu?"
She knew that Ming Yu had hidden his and Jizo Mitama's relationship from Kiana and the others, hoping she could live a normal life like everyone else. But if she stayed inside the Divine Key for these few days, explaining her whereabouts would have been a problem for Ming Yu.
Understanding Hiyokumaru's thoughts, Ming Yu didn't say any more. Since the little fox knew all this and had made her decision, could he really stuff her back into the Divine Key?
Just as Hiyokumaru had said, if she disappeared for a few days, it would be very difficult for Ming Yu to explain to Kiana and the others. Even if Theresa was willing to help him cover it up, it would still be hard to find a legitimate reason.
Although Ming Yu didn't think Kiana and the others would ostracize Hiyokumaru if they knew the truth, being able to keep it a secret was ultimately a good thing.
After all, this was a secret, more or less. The fewer people who knew, the smaller the chance of it being leaked.
Letting the warm-hearted Kiana know a little bit was enough; there was no need to specifically tell the others. It wasn't a matter of trust, just that it was unnecessary.
After a moment of contemplation, Ming Yu said solemnly, "Thank you!"
It wasn't just for helping him out of this trouble, but also for the control over Abyss Flower. These were things Ming Yu wanted and should be thankful for.
If it weren't for Hiyokumaru's help, he didn't know what his situation would be right now!
Although Ming Yu had also done Hiyokumaru a great favor, he didn't think it was a matter of course for the girl to do these things for him. When it was time to express gratitude, Ming Yu certainly wouldn't be stingy with his appreciation.
A corner of Hiyokumaru's mouth curved up. Knowing that Ming Yu had approved of her actions and understood that she had truly helped him, her eyes couldn't help but overflow with joy.
Just then, the door to the ward suddenly opened, and a white-haired girl with two braids strode in.
Seeing that Ming Yu was awake, the girl's eyes lit up, and she exclaimed, "You, Ming Yu! You went and had your big moment in the spotlight, but you had us worried sick. Especially this girl, Hiyokumaru. When she saw you collapse, her face went pale."
Although it was Hiyokumaru who had supported Ming Yu out of the corridor, Kiana and the others had arrived shortly after. They had come to watch the exam because of Ming Yu, so naturally, they didn't stay long after his part was over, especially since they could see his condition wasn't good.
Hearing this, Ming Yu couldn't help but look at Hiyokumaru, who shyly averted her eyes.
Although he knew Hiyokumaru's condition wasn't solely due to worrying about him, it was still related to him. So, Ming Yu humbly accepted Kiana's scolding and said apologetically, "I'll be more careful next time. I didn't expect the exam's difficulty to be raised to this extent. But still, thank you all."
To be honest, while the difficulty of the exam had increased somewhat, it wasn't completely beyond Ming Yu's capabilities. If he had played it safe, he wouldn't have ended up in this state.
But for one, the strain from using Abyss Flower hadn't passed, and his stamina wasn't enough to drag it out. And for another, the attitude of the Far East Branch Valkyries had annoyed him, causing him to lose his composure in the end.
Seeing Ming Yu admit his mistake, Kiana didn't have the heart to press the issue further. Though still a bit reluctant, she had to drop the subject.
After a pause, Kiana quickly became cheerful again, raising the two food containers in her hands. "To help you recuperate, I, Miss Kiana, spent a lot of effort preparing this. It's a bit simple, but consider it a gift for passing your exam."
As she spoke, Kiana seemed to remember something and said fiercely, "Even though it's not as good as Mei's cooking, you're not allowed to complain. You have to eat it all!"
Hiyokumaru, somewhat confused, took the food containers, smiled, and nodded. "Since it's from Big Sis Kiana, we'll definitely finish it all."
Ming Yu's eyes instantly went vacant, his gaze staring blankly at the wide-open door.
Only now did he realize something. The ever-gentle and warm-hearted Mei hadn't appeared at all.