Under his gaze, Bai Fan’s heart fluttered with unprecedented panic.
‘What should I do?’
The surrounding attendants also snapped out of it and moved to pull her away.
“Don’t come over and cause trouble!”
The bewildered and still reeling Director Zhang, the anxious mother, and the hastily approaching nurse all moved almost simultaneously.
“Everyone, quiet.”
Lin Xincheng’s voice was not loud.
But the moment those three words were spoken, an invisible ripple seemed to spread through the air, washing over everyone present.
The originally somewhat noisy hospital room suddenly fell silent.
Bai Fan looked at him with some surprise.
‘What is this? His words seem to naturally carry a power that compels obedience… As long as he speaks, others subconsciously obey.’
The young man looked at her.
“It’s fine. You can continue.” His tone was calm, as if as long as this person stood here, things would not get out of control.
The people around looked at him, then at Bai Fan, and ultimately did not approach again.
Bai Fan’s mood gradually calmed down as well.
‘The composure on him isn’t a disguise. It’s a certainty that comes from deep within. He helped me before… For now, I can trust him.’
She refocused and began channeling the power of Purification into the girl’s body bit by bit.
Pure white light seeped into the dark red Blood Marks on the girl’s face, and her consciousness once again sank into that world.
Amidst the chaos, large swaths of bloody filth surged like rotting flesh piled together, constantly writhing.
The blood filth was filled with hunger and desire, as if countless mouths opened in the darkness, letting out silent murmurs.
And the little girl’s faint crying came from the deepest part.
‘I have to save her.’
The moment the thought arose, white flames appeared above the blood filth.
The blood filth immediately struggled madly like bugs scorched by fire, trying to flee.
But the white flames spread upward, and wherever they passed, all filth turned to smoke and dust in silent lament, gradually dissipating.
‘Did it succeed?’
Bai Fan snapped her eyes open.
The little girl in front of her had stopped struggling, the Blood Marks on her face rapidly fading, and the scarlet in her eyes returning to normal.
She lay there quietly, breathing steadily, as if she were merely asleep.
The hospital room fell into complete silence. Everyone stared at Bai Fan in disbelief, as if witnessing some kind of miracle.
Director Zhang muttered to himself, “How is that possible… Even the special serum couldn’t do it, yet a little girl actually…”
The attendants who had wanted to stop her earlier also quietly stepped back two paces, their faces full of lingering fear.
The woman by the bedside looked at her daughter, who had returned to normal, her eyes reddening.
She looked at Bai Fan, her voice trembling slightly. “Thank you.”
‘Thank you… Did I save her?’
Bai Fan was somewhat dazed. It had been too long since she had last received thanks—so long she had nearly forgotten what this feeling was like.
That simple “thank you” seemed to soak her entire heart in warm water—soft, warm, and even a little sore.
Just then, a somewhat frigid aura approached.
Bai Fan snapped back to alertness, catching sight of Lin Xincheng walking toward her.
‘Oh no! Should I run away first? If I don’t run, will I be taken for research?’
She always tended to think of the worst-case scenario.
After all, past experiences had long taught her that many times, you don’t know what lies behind the mask of goodwill.
Just as she prepared to slip away, Lin Xincheng had already arrived in front of her.
Bai Fan saw his hand reach into his long coat, and her heart instantly leaped into her throat.
‘A gun? Or a knife?’
Just as she was ready to counterattack at any moment, he pulled out a black-bordered card and solemnly handed it to her.
“Pardon me, I haven’t properly introduced myself before. Federal Governance Bureau Ninth Division Sixth Group Execution Team, Temporary Team Leader, Lin Xincheng.”
“Ah?” Bai Fan was stunned.
She subconsciously took the card; it was heavy in her hand, made of some unknown special metal.
The card bore Lin Xincheng’s photo, and the position column read—Governance Bureau Ninth Division Affiliate.
‘Governance Bureau? She vaguely remembered hearing that name.’ ‘Official personnel? Was he proving his identity to her? Trying to gain her trust?’
Although she still didn’t know what this represented, judging by the reactions of those around her, this identity was anything but simple.
Snapping back to reality, Bai Fan quickly said, “My name is Bai Fan, um… I usually do some temp work.”
Even she felt a little guilty after saying that.
‘Why wasn’t she afraid when facing gangsters and Skeleton Beasts, yet she gets nervous talking to normal people?’
“Bai Fan? Temp worker?” Lin Xincheng raised an eyebrow.
‘This explanation is hardly convincing. But… who doesn’t have secrets?’
The faint oppressive aura suddenly dissipated, and he smiled, like sunlight breaking through dark clouds.
“Thank you very much, Miss Bai Fan, for saving our patient.”
As he spoke, he pushed the long saber at his waist behind him and bowed deeply.
Bai Fan was stunned.
She subconsciously looked around, only to find Director Zhang, the nurse, and the attendants all equally shocked.
“It’s… nothing.” Bai Fan was at a loss. “I just happened to pass by and lent a hand.”
“No.” Lin Xincheng straightened up, his gaze solemn. “For us, it is very important. For all the Blood Plague patients here, your arrival is hope.”
Bai Fan was frozen.
‘Hope… me?’
“In the name of the Ninth Division’s Temporary Team Leader, I request your assistance,” Lin Xincheng slowly raised his hand and performed an ancient and solemn fist-and-palm salute. “Please help us rescue the patients here. Of course, Credits, Relics, or other reasonable compensation, I will do my best to secure for you.”
Bai Fan fell silent.
‘My sister said that after purifying filth, some Spiritual Essence would reflect back to me. If I agree, I can save people, get paid, and improve my strength. There’s no reason to refuse.’
But what truly moved her heart was none of these.
She looked at the young man before her.
For the first time, someone had asked her so earnestly; for the first time, someone had seriously told her that she mattered.
That feeling of being truly seen and truly needed gently bumped against her heart, making it beat uncontrollably.
So she smiled.
“Of course. I will definitely do my best to help them.”
Lin Xincheng nodded.
“Director Zhang, monitor the condition of other mid-to-late stage patients. Everyone else, cooperate with Miss Bai Fan.”
With the order given, everyone’s eyes focused on Bai Fan again.
This time, she did not flinch.
The Mingshenyu at her chest trembled slightly, as if responding to her elated mood at that moment.
Time slowly passed, and patient after patient returned to normal.
When the Blood Marks on the last elderly person’s face faded, Bai Fan gently withdrew her hand and smiled.
“Alright, this elderly person’s Blood Plague has also been cleansed.”
But the next moment, she noticed the attendants’ expressions suddenly turn panicked.
They were opening their mouths, seemingly shouting something.
But she couldn’t hear anything; the sounds seemed cut off at a great distance.
Darkness rapidly spread from the edges of her vision, and her consciousness began to sink.
‘Oh no… Spiritual Essence overconsumption…’
Her body lost strength and fell backward.
Just before she completely lost consciousness, she vaguely fell into an embrace, carrying a faint coolness, like a winter wind passing through a pine forest.