Chapter Sixty-Seven: The Maiden

“Miss!”

Just as Fang Mu fell into unconsciousness, a startled cry rang out. Two burly men rushed over and dragged Fang Mu away, whose entire body was wrapped up like a mummy.

Standing before Fang Mu was a young girl in a white dress. She was strikingly beautiful, though clearly still very youthful. Despite her impressive figure, her features betrayed her age—about sixteen at most.

At that moment, she was obviously frightened by Fang Mu’s sudden charge, her face pale.

“What’s wrong with you? Is this how you protect the young lady?” A deep, angry voice sounded from behind them. A thin, middle-aged man strode over quickly. There were six or seven men around the girl, all of whom turned pale and hung their heads, not daring to speak.

“Miss, are you alright?” Song Bo looked at the ashen-faced girl with mounting irritation. He had only left briefly, and already something had happened!

He glanced sidelong at the man who had collided with her, frowning. Fang Mu was swaddled like a mummy, his bandages filthy and stained with blood. His eyes were closed; he was already unconscious and obviously gravely wounded.

With a cold snort, Song Bo’s hawk-like eyes fixed on the two men holding Fang Mu. “Why are you still standing there? Throw him out!”

“Yes, sir!”

The two men paled further, accepted the order respectfully, and moved to toss Fang Mu out.

Given Fang Mu’s current state, being thrown out would almost certainly mean life or death was left to fate.

“Wait…wait a moment…”

A clear, feminine voice rang out. Everyone froze and looked at the girl.

She seemed to have been truly startled, but by now had recovered. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she turned to the middle-aged man beside her, “Uncle Bo, I’m fine… This man didn’t mean any harm. He looks badly injured and has already passed out. Let’s just let it go.”

“But, Miss…” The man wanted to protest, frowning.

The girl shook her head and looked down at her own hand—she now held the handgun Fang Mu had pressed into her palm moments before.

Curiosity flickered in her eyes as she looked up at the man. “Uncle Bo, can you really pay for treatment with a handgun at a battlefield hospital?”

Song Bo was momentarily taken aback, then nodded and explained, “Miss, you’re new to the One-Star Battlefield, so you might not know. The main purpose of the One-Star Battlefield is to nurture Evolvers. Most people here have little savings, especially after sustaining heavy injuries—they have to rush to the battlefield hospital to save their lives. At that point, their weapons become their payment. The hospital has a special department to appraise the value of the weapons.”

“I see…” The girl nodded in understanding and sighed. “My brother always said the battlefield is dangerous, but I didn’t expect it to be even more so than I imagined…”

“The One-Star Battlefield is indeed perilous… But you needn’t worry, Miss. When you enter the battlefield, you will have special protection. There’ll be no trouble,” Song Bo assured her.

The battlefield was dangerous, but for those who sought the path of evolution, it was unavoidable. After all—how could you advance without stepping onto the battlefield?

Of course, the young lady herself didn’t need to fight her way up from the Iron, Bronze, Silver, or even Gold ranks; her father had already secured those resources for her. But ‘adrenaline’ was a critical catalyst for evolution.

Only in moments of extreme excitement would adrenaline surge.

So, even for the young lady, if she wanted to advance, a stint on the battlefield was inevitable.

Of course, a stint for the wealthy was very different from that of ordinary people. The common folk staked their lives. For the wealthy, even the most dangerous battlefield could be rendered comparatively safe.

“Yes, I know. Sister Qin’s Celestial Palace, right?” The girl suddenly smiled.

Song Bo also smiled and nodded.

Suddenly, the girl remembered something and looked at the two men. “By the way, this man is already unconscious and looks gravely injured—he might not last long. Take him in for treatment…”

As she spoke, she handed the handgun to one of the men.

The man hesitated, glancing instinctively at Song Bo.

Song Bo frowned slightly, then sighed quietly. The young lady was only fourteen—pampered from birth, yet she hadn’t grown arrogant or willful. On the contrary, her nature was gentle and pure. That she would forgive this reckless man was only natural.

Yet such a disposition was not well-suited to the battlefield.

But what could he do? She would learn, little by little.

“The young lady has given an order. Why are you still waiting?” he said coldly at last.

“Yes, Miss.” Another man stepped forward, respectfully took the handgun from the girl’s hands, and, together with his companions, carried Fang Mu into the hospital.

They were still in the hospital’s main lobby.

“Sigh, fighting monsters on the battlefield is one thing, but why must people fight each other as well? Sister Lin is still unconscious… Who knows when she’ll wake up…” The girl glanced around. Many of the wounded waiting for treatment bore wounds not only from battlefield creatures, but also obvious knife and bullet injuries—clear evidence of human conflict.

Remembering why she had come today, the girl’s worry deepened.

“Miss Lin is blessed and will surely be all right… Miss, let’s go.” Song Bo spoke softly.

The young lady had just arrived at the battlefield, only to hear about Lin Chuyin’s “berserk awakening.” The two girls had known each other since childhood; their families were close. Lin Chuyin had been brought to the battlefield hospital two days ago and was still unconscious, undergoing first-stage emergency treatment—hence the young lady’s rush to be here.

This first stage was only to stabilize her condition, nothing more.

The aftereffects of a “berserk awakening” couldn’t be handled by a One-Star Battlefield hospital. They could only prevent the situation from deteriorating too quickly.

Lin Chuyin was exceptionally talented—already a Gold-rank Evolver at sixteen, outstanding among her peers.

No one had expected such a disaster.

A “berserk awakening,” especially by an Evolver practicing the Lin family’s secret art…

It could sever the path of evolution forever.

The Lin family patriarch was probably now searching for a Type-B genetic serum. Only such a serum could stabilize her condition completely.

But true treatment would require the resources of the Imperial Capital on Feiluo Star—a daunting prospect.

Thinking of all this, Song Bo shook his head.

He’d heard the incident was instigated by a group called the Greedy Wolf Legion.

Considering the recent events, Song Bo suspected the situation was more complex than it appeared.

Given the web of intrigue surrounding the Lin family…

Song Bo didn’t dwell further. His own family and the Lin family were old friends, but he was not one of them, and it wasn’t his place to worry.

Among the great clans, some matters were not for outsiders to discuss…

But in light of this situation, the young lady’s own path of evolution would need to be postponed. After all, Celestial Palace was currently locked in a struggle with Greedy Wolf.

Lost in thought, Song Bo followed the young lady as they left the hospital…

…

As for Fang Mu, the unconscious “mummy,” he was carried into the hospital by several strong men. Though they were reluctant, the young lady’s order was clear—they found a doctor, registered him, and treatment began swiftly.

…