Black Raven Prison (18) I Need Five Days from Her

Mo Yichen flashed a mysterious smile. "I will tell you what it is later, but I have one condition."

"A condition?" Jin’s tentacles trembled violently, clearly struggling to suppress his fury.

Jin was livid. He was the original entity! When had he ever been so humiliated? A mere avatar dared to challenge him!

Mo Yichen looked tenderly at Mu Xinning, who lay on the ground. "I need five days of her time."

"When that time comes, we shall have another duel. If you win, I will let you absorb me, and I will tell you everything I know. How about that?"

This was a condition Jin found hard to refuse. Not only could he reclaim his power, but he could also uncover secrets about himself.

It was only five days; he could afford to wait. Besides, he had been careless today and had suffered injuries. He needed to recover, review today’s battle, and formulate a strategy, or he would never be able to defeat Mo Yichen.

Thus, he agreed. "Fine. Let us settle this then."

One way or another, it would be a fight to the death.

Mo Yichen’s tentacles released him. "It is settled, then. We meet on the rooftop in five days."

The tentacles of both withdrew slowly, neither showing any intention to continue the fight.

Dusk had passed, night had fallen, and the surrounding temperature began to drop.

Mo Yichen walked over to Mu Xinning. He took off his white lab coat, wrapped her tightly in it, and bent down to scoop her up. He then picked up the mummy doll that had fallen to the floor and placed it gently into the girl’s arms.

Mu Xinning had held this doll closely without letting go; it was clearly something she cherished deeply, and he could not afford to lose it. He then carried her toward the elevator.

The elevator doors slid shut, sealing out the wind and the chill of the rooftop.

Mo Yichen looked down at the tranquil sleeping face in his arms. His fingertips brushed a speck of dust from her cheek, and the corners of his lips curled into a faint, involuntary smile.

Five days—it would be enough.

The look in his eyes as he gazed at her was filled with deep affection and reluctance, before turning firm, as if he had reached a certain resolution.

...

Back in the ward, he laid her gently on the bed and wiped her face with a warm towel.

His fingertips brushed her slightly furrowed brow, and he smoothed her disheveled hair. Finally, he pulled up the blanket and tucked in the edges bit by bit, even sealing the gap at her neck.

After doing all this, he did not leave. He simply pulled up a chair and sat by the bed, watching her incessantly.

Mu Xinning’s breathing was soft. Asleep, she looked just like a doll—beautiful, cute, and quiet.

He watched her from late at night until the first light of dawn. Several times, his fingertips reached out to touch her cheek, only to stop in mid-air, eventually clenching into a fist as he held back.

When the sky turned pale, he had already changed her medicine. He took one last look at the person on the bed before leaving without a sound.

The moment the door closed, Mu Xinning’s eyelashes fluttered. She had actually been awake for a moment, but sensing someone by her side, she had not opened her eyes.

The tentacles at her lower back rubbed against her skin. Jin snorted in her mind, "Your ability to feign sleep has certainly improved."

"Mind your own business," she retorted internally, rolling over to continue sleeping.

For some reason, she felt utterly exhausted upon waking. She hadn't even moved much yesterday, had she?

Remembering the blackout after she fainted on the rooftop, Mu Xinning noticed the white lab coat draped over her. Puzzled, she asked in her mind, "Jin, what happened to me yesterday?"

Jin did not tell her about the battle with his avatar. He quickly made up an excuse: "Just some aftereffects from the parasitism. Nothing to worry about."

"Then yesterday..."

"Don't ask! I know what you want to ask! That brat carried you back yesterday." The annoyance in Jin’s voice was palpable.

Although Mu Xinning had guessed as much, she was still surprised to hear it. She took off the lab coat, falling into silence.

She thought she would return it to him later. For now, she felt exhausted and her eyelids were heavy. After folding the lab coat and placing it on the nightstand, she quickly fell back asleep.

Jin felt a pang of guilt toward the little one; his consumption of energy yesterday had indeed been excessive. If he overused his power, his host would feel the strain. He would have to find a way to make her eat more to replenish her energy later.

...

By noon, Mu Xinning got up to take a hot shower. She hadn't been able to wash up for two days and was finally able to clean herself.

Jin understood the propriety between men and women, but they were now physically linked. Therefore... he had, in fact... long since seen everything...

The little one’s body... was truly beautiful.

Mu Xinning did not care. From the moment she rejected the faith, she had accepted his existence, becoming the person closest to him. There was no room for shame.

The game was somewhat humane; the illusory gear generated for this instance wouldn't get dirty. It was a pity there was no large bathtub; she preferred soaking. She stood under the spray and enjoyed the shower.

...

By afternoon, a day had passed. Zhou Kui and the other two were preparing to leave the hospital and went to the registration desk to check out.

Feng Xuanyuan felt that the two men were acting strangely today. She had tried to talk to them that morning, but they had given her brief, perfunctory answers. They clearly didn't want to deal with her, she thought.

Just then, Zhang Dafu came down from upstairs.

The prison guard opened the iron gate and left him at the stairwell before heading back up. Zhang Dafu’s gaze, cold as ice, locked onto Feng Xuanyuan, who was filling out forms at the desk.

"Feng Xuanyuan!" his voice was hoarse but powerful. "You still have the nerve to stand here?!"

Feng Xuanyuan, head bowed as she signed, felt her hand tremble, nearly dropping the pen. She hurriedly put it down, forcing an innocent expression onto her face, and tried to steady herself. "Uncle Zhang? Why are you back? I thought..."

That old fool Zhang Dafu—he wasn't dead?! Feng Xuanyuan thought he was truly lucky.

"Thought I died in solitary confinement and no one would expose your tricks?" Zhang Dafu approached the entrance step by step. "I treated you well. Why did you scheme against me?!"

"I didn't!" Feng Xuanyuan’s eyes reddened instantly. "Uncle Zhang, how can you say that? You were the one who wanted to help me cut the wound, and I just happened to forget the rules..."

"You lie!" Zhang Dafu roared.

He had clearly seen her smile cunningly at the time! Now she wanted to play the innocent victim; what a drama queen!

"No! I didn't lie!" Feng Xuanyuan wept and continued to defend herself, looking as pitiful as possible.

Finally, Zhou Kui stepped in to stop the argument. "Alright, alright, let's all calm down. We're all from the same cell; why don't we take a step back?"

Zheng Kai walked over, patted Zhang Dafu on the shoulder, shook his head, and whispered in his ear, "Forget it."

In truth, everyone now knew exactly what kind of person Feng Xuanyuan was. But this wasn't reality; what would exposing her mask achieve? It wouldn't hurt her. Thus, the truth had become less important, and arguing was meaningless.

Zhang Dafu eventually gave up and followed Zhou Kui and the others downstairs.

Feng Xuanyuan did not go back with them. She stood at the entrance, contemplating her next move.

Zhang Dafu wasn't dead, and she hadn't seen sign of "Number 3." Both were currently hostile toward her. Moreover, she could sense that Zhou Kui and the other man were distancing themselves from her. She might be on her own soon; she had to find a way to survive.

Thinking about the private bathroom and free food in this hospital wing—it was far better than the cell, and she wouldn't have to face those three.

Feng Xuanyuan made her decision: she would cut herself again to secure her stay in the hospital.