When Qin Luo opened his eyes, the light was dim and the twilight was gathering. Outside the window, small raindrops were pattering down.

The courtyard was filled with the chirping of insects and birds, and a faint floral scent drifted in on a gentle breeze, bringing a feeling of tranquility and comfort.

It was then that he realized he hadn't had such a restful time in quite a long while.

A year? Or two years? Three years, five years?

He was the Empire's renowned doctor, Galaxy's First Blade, yet he was also burdened by his fame, with endless patients to see every day, countless surgeries to perform...

Other things can wait, but how can treating patients and saving lives wait?

Thinking this way, a sense of balance emerged in his heart:

Being kidnapped by Tang Fei to this Barren Land wasn't entirely bad; at least, he had gotten a good sleep.

Then countless troubles arose in his mind, what would the next step be?

He went to the Shi Family to treat Chen Zilin, and then was taken away by Tang Fei in front of countless people...

How was he supposed to return?

If he claimed he was forced into this, would Shen Wuxiang believe him?

But if he didn't return, what would happen to his family?

Though the Qin Family wasn't the Empire's top noble house, they were a medical family, generations of medical experts... would his choice impact and implicate them?

Surely it would.

Doesn't everyone have three or five rivals?

They're like flies circling an egg, always looking for a crack they can lick their way through...

"Hiss..."

His head ached.

"You're awake?" A sudden voice rang unexpectedly in his ear.

Qin Luo was startled and turned around, only then noticing a slender figure sitting at the tea table in the living room, sipping tea.

"How are you here?" Qin Luo asked irritably.

"I came to visit Doctor Qin, concerned about your health... why are you not grateful?" Tang Fei took a sip from his teacup, smiling as he spoke.

"Grateful? How can I be grateful? You brought me to a place like this, and now that I've saved the person for you... what about me? How do I get back?"

"How to get back?" Tang Fei waved his hand, reassuringly saying, "Doctor Qin doesn't need to worry, no matter how dangerous the road ahead or what daunting obstacles we might face, I'll find a way to safely send Doctor Qin back."

"..."

Is that what I'm worried about?

Am I worried about getting back? I'm worried about what happens once I return?

"Doctor Qin doesn't believe me? On that point, I swear by my brother's honor."

"Why not use your own?"

"My character isn't so good, nobody would bother to trust my oath."

"..."

This person is rather honest.

Seeing Qin Luo silent, Tang Fei smiled and asked, "What is it? Does Doctor Qin have other suggestions?"

"You should understand that the moment I set foot on this land, my identity changed... it's not the same as before."

"I understand." Tang Fei nodded and said, "Do you feel like you've been tainted?"

"..."

The words may be unpleasant, but you have to admit... that's indeed the truth.

"You've run to the Barren Land, to the territory occupied by the Lu Clan, Shen Wuxiang will definitely think you're colluding with the bandits... so, you're concerned about your and your family's situation?"

"Yes." Qin Luo nodded, speaking openly, "This isn't just my personal matter, but it involves the safety of the entire Qin Family, I have to be cautious."

"If I can guarantee the Qin Family's safety, would Doctor Qin be willing to stay here?" Tang Fei stood up and walked in front of Qin Luo, asking aloud.

"How can you guarantee that? Phoenix City is run so tightly by Shen Wuxiang... it's the Shen Family's stronghold, how can you guarantee the safety of the Qin Family?"

"Run tightly? Then how did Doctor Qin arrive here?" Tang Fei blinked, teasingly saying.

"..."

"What if I told you, before inviting you here, I had already arranged for the secret transfer of your family's core members... and the others are hidden in safe places, now they should have already landed on Blue Star?"

Qin Luo's eyes instantly brightened, asking with surprise, "Really?"

"How could such a thing be faked?"

Tang Fei swiped open his phone screen and played a video he had just received.

In front of them, displayed the scene of the Qin Family members boarding the Blue Star Starship.

"How did you manage it?" Qin Luo's face was full of amazement.

Moving one or two people, as long as planned carefully, there's a chance of success.

But transferring all members of his Qin Family clan, that proves Tang Fei's incredible capability.

It also proves that Phoenix City isn't as solidly impenetrable as they thought, it's been quite heavily infiltrated.

"That's not important." Tang Fei, with an air of casualness, looked at Qin Luo and said, "Without having to worry about your family's safety, would you be willing to stay?"

Qin Luo squinted while assessing Tang Fei and said, "This was your plan all along, wasn't it?"

"Indeed." Tang Fei did not deny, honestly saying, "The blade in Doctor Qin's hand is worth thousands of troops. Who wouldn't want such talent?"

"Do I have any other options?" Qin Luo asked.

He knew that if he chose to stay, then he was choosing a side.

Siding with the bandits...

Tang Fei's army.

If Tang Fei won, both he and the Qin Family could reap rich rewards.

But if Tang Fei lost, they would face Shen Family's ruthless purge.

Shen Wuxiang, known as the 'Butcher,' is no paragon of kindness.

But if he doesn't choose Tang Fei, who else can he choose?

His family is on the old land, he is in the Barren Land, suspected by Shen Wuxiang, yet owing his life to Princess Xiu Xue...

He didn't have any better choice.

"I suggest you don't choose any other options."

Qin Luo shrugged, smiling bitterly: "Since I'm already on the pirate ship, I can only follow this path to the end."

Tang Fei reached out, smiling as he said, "Welcome Doctor Qin to our big family. With you here, I can be more lethal with my sword in the future."

"Why?"

"I want to kill, but I'm afraid of being killed. With you around, as long as there's still a breath in me... you can pull me back."

When it came to his field of expertise, Qin Luo was not at all humble, confidently saying, "In the future, just leave your life to me."

"It would be my honor."

------

The old man had just undergone surgery and was extremely weak.

The first day, he barely opened his eyes, cursed Tang Fei to 'get lost,' and then passed out from anger.

Tang Fei didn't leave, but went to sleep first.

He only slightly regained some vigor on the second day but was still too weak to speak.

This was already good; at least he could convey some emotions with his eyes.

For example, conveying to Lu Siyu: My dear daughter, I'm fine, don't worry. I'll be better soon, and when I'm well, I'll spend time with you, eating meals, taking walks, doing everything you love, and making up for everything I owe you...

The message to Tang Fei was: Get lost.

It wasn't until the third day that he could remain conscious for a longer time.

Tang Fei finally had the chance to sit in front of him and have a good conversation.

Tang Fei recounted everything that happened after the old man disappeared from start to finish, and the old man was delighted, eagerly asking, "Do we have our own army now?"

"We do." Tang Fei replied with a smile.

"Did we take over the Barbarian Clan?"

"We did. Little Fatty is a son of the Barbarian Clan, who would dare disobey with him around?"

"Did we win a victory?"

"We did. Not only did we win a victory, but we also seized a lot of territory. Starting from the Red Gobi where the Barbarian Clan resides, crossing Dushan, we've also taken Golden City, Red Moon City, Feng City... and Liyu Port."

"Now, a third of the Beihai Fleet is in our hands as well, with Bai Wuxin responsible for the reorganization over there..."

"Old man, during your absence... the situation was greatly improving."

"Good. Good. There's hope for revenge now. There's hope for revenge..."

The second half of the old man's life was committed to one thing, revenge.

For revenge, he was willing to sacrifice everything, including his own life.

But, the Shen Family was too powerful, wanting to completely eradicate them was as difficult as climbing to the sky.

Now hearing Tang Fei say that they had a strong army, not only reclaiming the Dushan Army and the Undying Army of the Barbarian Clan but also standing up to Shen Wuxiang, opposing him from north to south...

Shen Wuxiang, however, was helpless, repeatedly embarrassed, which made him see hope for avenging the great grievance.

How could he not be happy? How could he not be overjoyed?

"Actually, I could have gotten rid of Shen Wuxiang a long time ago. But I thought, such an exciting thing can't be without you." Tang Fei habitually boasted in front of the old man.

"So I've been waiting, waiting for you to get better, so you can personally cut off Shen Wuxiang's head..."

Tang Fei's gaze fell on the old man's newly installed mechanical arm and said, "But now I have a new idea. I think maybe you should just crush his head directly... How do you think would be the most satisfying way?"

"I think I'd be most satisfied if you rolled away and far from me." The old man reprimanded, feeling exasperated at his failure: "A gentleman does not stand under a crumbling wall, how did I educate you back then? Everyone in this world can be sacrificed, but you must live well."

"For an old, undying guy, you went to take risks in Phoenix City... if you were ever captured, your death wouldn't matter much, but the hard work of so many people would be in vain..."

"Who do you think you made it up to? Your comrades and brothers who risked their lives with you? Your deceased parents and family? Me?"

"With the north and south opposition, a great war about to erupt, what are you doing hiding in this godforsaken place? Which army doesn't have a commander on site?"

"A guy like you still wants to win battles? Keep dreaming... Before I get mad, hurry up and get lost. Seeing you swaying around under my nose every day... annoys me..."

Tang Fei scoffed, "You think if you drive me away, no one will urge you to get up and work? Do you believe I'll take you with me when I leave, wheel you to the battlefield in a wheelchair..."

"If you dare push, I dare go... Let's see how I spit in Shen Wuxiang's face..."

"If you dare go, I dare push, don't be so scared you wet your pants..."

"Wet my pants? The pants you wet as a child were all washed by me."

"Old man, saying such words is heartless... Not even mentioning whether I wet my pants as a kid, it was An Xin's mom who washed your pants..."

Seeing Lu Siyu looking at him with a strange look beside him, the old man felt a bit guilty and angrily scolded, "Don't mention An Xin's mom... I'm telling you to get lost quickly..."

"Fine, I'll leave tonight... you get up quickly and work for me..."

Then, turning around, he left the ward.

Lu Siyu watched Tang Fei leave, her eyes showing a look of envy.

She also wished she could interact with her father like Tang Fei does, but unfortunately, their father-daughter interaction was still too 'stiff.'

"Um..." The old man glanced at Lu Siyu and explained, "Don't listen to that boy's nonsense, there's nothing between me and An Xin's mom."

"I know." Lu Siyu said.

"..."

"..."

Silence.

A deadly silence.

Father and daughter stared at each other, neither knowing what to say.

After a long time, the old man spoke, "You should go with him, he needs you more than I do."

Lu Siyu nodded and agreed, "Mm."

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