"All right, just a small issue."

In a hospital room so bare it had nothing but necessities, the gaunt doctor flicked through the medical records with unbelievably long fingers, glanced at Wen Wen, and nodded: "Recovery looks good; you're cleared for discharge.

Remember, after discharge, keep the wound dry, no alcohol for a week, avoid spicy foods, and refrain from strenuous activities. Once it heals naturally, you'll be fine."

"This simple?"

Wen Wen was skeptical, frowning. She'd spent so much to be admitted to the emergency clinic, got just one shot, slept it off, and upon waking, she could leave?

What happened to all those complicated treatments from before?

"What else do you expect?"

The attending doctor in the Spiritual Body Department gave her a glance, "We've all known each other for years, anyway. It's not like you ever follow my medical advice.

Why waste words?"

He glanced at the bedside, where a half-full bottle of wine seemed to have been the night before.

Ah, now completely empty.

At least proving good alcohol intake, with half a catty just for a rinse, liver function's outstanding as usual.

What a relief.

But, aside from that?

Sorry, some things just can't be cured with medicine.

"Don't I look perfectly fine?" Wen Wen flexed her neck and wrists, squeezed her fingers, feeling the energy in her body.

Clear mind, sprightly.

"It's just putting some makeup on the problem. Since the patient gives up on a cure and only wants normal readings, that's simple enough.

Patching up, injecting 5mg Miracle Medicine, 30mg liquified vitality mixed with saline can solve ninety-nine percent of issues, and a single Ashing Agent can fill the gaps in your soul, cover old wounds left by the Heavenly People, like spackling paste.

Here, these are your painkillers, one a day after meals. Doesn't interfere with drinking, just take one when you feel discomfort."

The doctor picked up a bottle, shook it, and placed it on the table: "Besides that, you should sense the difference from before, right?"

Wen Wen felt her body state, the barely-there spectral light on her soul, entwining like a bandage.

But at most, it's just a lead seal.

A tug would unravel it.

"This is the final emergency measure, Miss Wen."

The doctor adjusted his glasses, speaking calmly: "Just sealing is no strategy; the attraction between you and the Vortex is only growing day by day.

Aside from the soul compatibility, the Minerva matrix, which originates from a fallen god, is also linked to the Vortex, the two are inseparable.

No matter how much it's suppressed, this attraction will grow on its own, and increasingly so.

The current situation is grave but not unsolvable.

I still suggest you consider our first treatment plan; don't worry about the expenses."

"Selling the long-term hospital stay package again? Forget it…"

Wen Wen yawned, unfazed: "I'd rather die quickly than spend life here like in prison."

"So, you've never considered living a peaceful life, huh?"

The doctor couldn't help but laugh: "If you stop fighting from today, with your current health, you'll be eating nicotine and drinking alcohol, speeding until a hundred and eighty.

But if you unseal again…" He paused, expression unprecedentedly serious: "Once past the tipping point, there's no turning back.

Then, please, do not shy away from medical help, call me immediately!"

"And then what?"

Wen Wen countered: "Rely on your miracle healing?"

"No, since there's no saving it anyway, maybe give me some papers in exchange for our relationship,"

The doctor smiled warmly: "After all, there are very few cases in history of a Chosen One selected by the Vortex undergoing Evil Demon transformation.

Since you don't want to live, right?

Why not leave some specimens for medical progress? I promise I'll bring newbies every year to pay solemn respect to you. If you have specific requirements for offerings in terms of tobacco and alcohol, we can discuss those too."

"Hahahahaha—"

Wen Wen laughed heartily, rocking back and forth: "Hearing you say that, I almost…"

"Agree?" The doctor was delighted.

"Agree your ass!"

Wen Wen promptly flipped him the middle finger without hesitation: "Don't worry, when the time comes, I'll make sure to try dying in one piece to spite you all into a useless rage, losing your marbles."

"…such great spirit."

The doctor shrugged with admiration, finally signing the discharge notice and handing it over:

"Pay up, get discharged."

Chua~!

Ten minutes later, after a jarring sound, Wen Wen appeared in a narrow alley, the moss underfoot slick with moisture, looking up through the gap in the walls at the strip of narrow sky.

Cliff City.

The lot at Hope Hospital, though they charge ruthlessly, their services are quite comprehensive. After all, no other hospital worldwide uses the Star Core Association's emergency teleport as an ambulance, even bundling pickup and drop-off.

Efficiency is one thing, but most people, upon getting the bill, can't help but feel their meager life isn't worth such cost…

You could only say, sometimes emergencies, like bathing, once you've pulled your pants back up, you inevitably face internal chastisement when the bill comes.

Wen Wen glanced at her bank balance, so low it could make a rat cry, and sighed; all her earnings through the years had gone to those bastards.

Fortunately.

There's still over two thousand left, enough to last another month.

Nineteen hundred could get a good bottle of liquor, a hundred-odd for peanuts and beans, yeah, once it's done, go crash at Tong Hua's place for food and drink…

Then, she received a deduction message from the bank.

Wen Wen's expression twitched, covering her face.

Damn!

Motorcycle repair costs!

Well, now only four hundred left.

She sighed and thought she might have to settle for cheaper wine. On the bright side, she could buy two bottles if she didn't mind!

"Yeah, Old Zhang, no worries, it's fine, just a small issue. Eh, forget it, just ask Tong Hua to take a leave for me, I'll rest at home for a couple of days... I'll hang up first."

After hanging up on Old Zhang, she put her phone away, looked around, and felt a bit lost.

She didn't know where to go.

If she went back to the branch office now, she would be surrounded by questions ceaselessly.

Looking at her dire financial situation, worsening health condition, and a reality with no room to decline further, she couldn't help but want to drink herself into oblivion again.

Even worse, when she pulled out her phone, she realized there wasn't anyone to drink with.

First of all, she ruled out Old Zhang, since older folks tend to be nagging. Having just hung up, she didn't want to bring herself to be stormed with lectures again.

Then there was Xiao An, a minor, and he should stay away from alcohol.

Lastly, Tong Hua wouldn't work either.

The Chosen One's eyes were too sharp; she'd end up being the hot topic if she wasn't careful. Better not.

After looking around, she found out she might have to drink alone, sadly.

Until she saw that guy who owed her several meals in the missed calls...

Her eyebrows rose slightly.

Isn't this just perfect?

At least, getting the motorcycle fixed first has its perks, right?

.

.

Ten minutes later, the roaring motorcycle rolled into Ji Jue's small courtyard in the Northern Mountain District, fueled by the last four hundred bucks worth of gas.

It landed perfectly around lunchtime.

Wen Wen flipped herself off the bike, took off her helmet, breathed a refreshed sigh, and grinned at the dumbstruck Ji Jue:

"Got any booze?"

"I mean, Wen Jie, you just got discharged, right?"

Ji Jue cast a probing glance at her carefree demeanor and asked, "Don't tell me, except for me, you couldn't find a single drinking buddy?"

"..."

Wen Wen didn't speak. She merely smiled, looking at him with a kind and friendly gaze.

Thus, Ji Jue could only surrender with a raise of his hands.

"Just don't destroy my house when you're drunk, and I'll be fine with it."

"That's more like it!"

Wen Wen gleefully patted him on the shoulder, swaggered inside, navigated familiarly into his living room, found the half bottle of whiskey she left last time from the cabinet, and drank it fiercely, glug glug glug.

This is bad, this momentum...

Ji Jue's eye twitched for a moment, instructing Isis to quickly order some hot food, at least to fill his stomach before he crashes.

"I'd been worried sick for you the whole night, and yet here you are, alive and kicking, no issues at all, outdrinking my life..."

Ji Jue rummaged through the kitchen and fridge, put together something, slapped a cucumber, popped a few cans, just served them before Wen Wen had the urge to munch on the table: "What was with yesterday? Making such a fuss."

Wen Wen paused her actions for a moment, sighed lightly, and her expression turned complicated:

"Hard to say."

Ji Jue nodded: "Oh, then I won't ask."

"..."

Wen Wen stayed silent for a long time, gazing at him, her expression growing more complex: "You, this guy... really don't follow the script, huh?"

"No, just figured, if you don't want to talk, why would I keep asking? You've already come over to my place for drinks, should I act like a fool and try to dig up gossip?"

Ji Jue inhaled two cans, filled his stomach somewhat, then lifted his glass: "If you want to talk, I'll definitely listen. I consider myself quite discreet.

If you don't want to chat, I'll drink with you then and talk about something else, isn't that great? Oh, your motorcycle isn't well fixed, the shop's no good, the engine's carbon buildup is quite severe, at this rate it'll be scrapped in a few months."

"What the hell?!"

Wen Wen was furious, her chopsticks snapping: "It cost me sixteen hundred!"

"... Fixed up to this extent, you could've come to Continental Auto Repair before, I'd only charge you eighty with a detailed clean."

Ji Jue asked, "Want a replacement? The new designs in the past few months came up with an entirely new sport model, we're aiming to hit the city market."

"Forget it, I'll go talk sense to that shopkeeper later."

Wen Wen sighed, propped her chin, pondered for a long time before asking, "How's the situation in New Spring? No trouble, right…"

"Huh? You mean yesterday? It's alright, just the factory and floor needing some fix, not a big deal, yet other places are losing it, as if I plan to snatch their eggs."

Ji Jue sneered, then his expression turned indifferent: "Didn't expect, people from nowhere came cropping up, one Heart Core and one Absolute Abyss, dealt quite a lot with them, after a few days when I'm free, I'll check how much good stuff there really is."

"..."

Wen Wen's expression became increasingly complex.

According to her understanding of Ji Jue and the craftsman, typically speaking, that phrase equates rather closely to 'wipe them out, bring down the mommy'.

Seriously, is handling things this ruthlessly in vogue now?

Wen Wen's eye twitched: This punk, not worried at all about collateral damage, huh!

"Typically, ahem, isn't the saying 'each individual responsible for their actions' a thing of innocence at home?"

"Ah, could be."

Ji Jue tossed a peanut into his mouth, chewing nonchalantly: "A family raising such stuff, might as well cleanse the whole place for justice.

Basically, each and every one is a nutcase!"

He glanced over and immediately seemed intrigued: "What's up, Wen Jie, you interested? Want to join?"

Such good deeds of punishing villains needless to say, the more teammates the better, especially a top-notch support like Wen Jie, mustn't let go!

By then you hold his hand down, we split the take seventy-thirty, even sixty-forty can be discussed!

"I'll pass."

Wen Wen stared at him solemnly, for quite a while, "Because I've gone nuts."

Now, the silence shifted to Ji Jue's turn.

Ah this…

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