Chapter Thirty-Two: A Brave Heart (VII)

“Aah!” Luo Hanya let out a wretched scream, painfully opening his eyes. He felt as though he had lost something vital, a hollow emptiness gnawing at his heart. The sensation was like threads being torn apart, shredding his heart and rending his lungs. The pain had begun the moment he awakened from his dream, and yet he could find no answer.

He vaguely remembered being in a peach grove earlier, with a fairy in white robes. That fairy was truly beautiful, her lips as red as cinnabar, her hands delicate as tender shoots, her skin smooth as creamy jade, her neck graceful, her teeth like polished gems, her brow arched and elegant, her smile enchanting, her eyes bright and expressive, her words fragrant as orchids, her demeanor chilly and ethereal, her voice soft and melodic.

The illusion faded like wind; in its wake, only bitterness remained.
In the real world, suspended and floating, lingering thoughts of longing endured through the years.

Luo Hanya struggled to open his eyes. No longer lost in void, he saw only the tent’s ceiling above him. Yet everything from the dream was gone from his memory. The greatest distance in the world, he thought, was not the space between stars, but the moment when paths cross and then, in an instant, are impossible to find again.

A dream within a dream, an illusion within an illusion—today, all is emptiness.

“Where… am… I?” Luo Hanya looked around bewildered, his voice hoarse as he spoke.

“Hey! Hero, you’re awake! You’re in the infirmary for wounded soldiers.” A lively, slightly surprised voice sounded beside him.

“What… happened… to… me? Why… am… I… here? Who… are… you?” Luo Hanya gasped, speaking each word with difficulty.

“Don’t you remember? You took a bullet meant for Commander Huang, saving his life from the enemy. Because of you, he made it back alive. You’re the battle hero of the 598th Regiment now!” Luo Hanya managed to move his neck and saw that the speaker was a girl of sixteen or seventeen.

The girl blushed as she saw Luo Hanya looking at her, shyly replying, “I’m just a nurse, assisting Sister Xia.”

“Xia Li, is he awake?” A familiar voice called from outside—it was Xia Wenhua, or rather, Doctor Xia now.

“Sister Xia, he’s awake,” the girl named Xia Li responded quickly.

Xia Wenhua entered the tent, her face tense as she looked at Luo Hanya, eager to know about his condition. Luo Hanya gave her a subtle glance, indicating that there were things he preferred not to discuss in front of Xia Li.

Understanding his hint, Xia Wenhua smiled and whispered something quietly into Xia Li’s ear. Xia Li’s face flushed bright red; she stole a glance at Luo Hanya, covered her burning cheeks, and slipped away.

Luo Hanya managed a bitter smile, but even that tugged at his wound, causing him to cough painfully and gasp as if his life were hanging by a thread.

“Don’t move!” Xia Wenhua shot Luo Hanya a glare, pouting as she reluctantly took out a slender bottle filled with red liquid and poured it into his mouth.

Strangely enough, the liquid vanished the moment it touched his tongue, releasing a powerful aura of life. Luo Hanya felt as though he were floating, on the verge of transcendence.

“What is this? Is there any more?” After drinking, Luo Hanya was astonished to find his health restored to its peak. He stared incredulously at the bottle Xia Wenhua held, eagerly questioning her.

“Here you go, Life Elixir.” Xia Wenhua gave him a look of exasperation. “I won it as a prize at the script settlement. Only one bottle, and it’s gone now. Do you think there’s more?”

Name: Life Elixir
Type: Single-use consumable
Quality: Excellent
Effect: Restores you to your best state
Note: Do you crave power? Try a Life Elixir—it’ll have you feeling young again in an instant.

Luo Hanya scratched his head awkwardly, embarrassed. He glanced around, searching for something to change the topic. “Ah, right, what did you say to Xia Li just now? Why did she run away all red-faced?”

Xia Wenhua gave Luo Hanya a sharp look, seeming to see through his ploy. She snorted softly and replied with a mischievous air, “I told Xia Li I’m going to change our hero’s bandages, and he’ll need to take off all his clothes.”

“Ah?” Luo Hanya was startled by Xia Wenhua’s words. He looked at her curiously, then decided it was only natural that Xia Wenhua would handle such things. He raised his head and stole a glance at her, discovering she was gazing at him with a broad smile.

“Little Luo, tell me, what are you thinking?” Xia Wenhua asked gently, her hands already reaching for Luo Hanya’s cheeks.

“Ah, n-nothing, really. I was just thinking Sister Wenhua is a bold and unconventional heroine.” Xia Wenhua pinched and twisted his cheeks into various shapes. Luo Hanya’s gaze was aggrieved, but in front of Xia Wenhua he could only surrender, doing his best to please her even as she teased him.

After a bout of playful banter, Luo Hanya rubbed his sore facial muscles, trying to compose himself into a more serious expression, only to provoke another round of laughter from Xia Wenhua. “Hehe, Little Luo looks so cute when he’s being serious.”

Luo Hanya’s mouth twitched in helpless amusement. Truly, he had no way to deal with his brilliant and mischievous friend. Just then, faint giggling was heard outside the tent. “Who’s there! Come out!” Luo Hanya’s heart leapt. He strode to the tent flap and looked around warily.

“You—you two!” Pulling back the flap, Luo Hanya discovered two people crouched at the side of the tent, staring at him in shock. It was Wang Yibo and Li Song! At that moment, Luo Hanya understood the kind of anger that could grind steel teeth to powder. He shot Wang Yibo and Li Song a fierce glare, his face dark as coal, like someone returning from a midday run in August under the Beijing sun.

“Speak! Were you two eavesdropping the whole time?” Luo Hanya’s grief and rage were like those of a farmer constantly plagued by thieves, his eyes locked onto Wang Yibo and Li Song.

“Ah, haha, nice weather today,” Li Song chuckled awkwardly, nudging Wang Yibo with his elbow.

Wang Yibo, catching on, continued to feign innocence, as though nothing had happened. “Yes, perfect weather for big things. Luo, why don’t we go and deal with Takeuchi Hiroshi?”

Luo Hanya narrowed his eyes, his tone gentle yet laced with menace. “Indeed, the weather is just right. Perfect for killing Takeuchi Hiroshi. Why don’t you two go defect and secretly finish him off?”

“Uh, well…” Wang Yibo stammered, unable to continue.

At the critical moment, Li Song bravely stepped forward, signaling desperately to Xia Wenhua. “Right, Luo, Sister Wenhua, why don’t we go out for a late-night snack tonight? Anything you want, the best of everything—we’ll treat. Consider it our apology. How about it?”

Luo Hanya remained unmoved, keeping a stern face. Xia Wenhua’s eyes sparkled, encouraging Li Song to keep going.

Seeing a glimmer of hope, Li Song gritted his teeth. “We’ll accompany Sister Wenhua shopping from now on! Any time, anywhere!”

Wang Yibo’s mouth dropped open, Luo Hanya’s eyes widened, inwardly marveling, “How ruthless! They even offered that!”

Xia Wenhua beamed with happiness, taking a deep breath. “You two are so generous, Luo Hanya will surely forgive you. Remember your promise—don’t go back on it. If you fail…” Her face transformed, devilish, as she drew a gesture across her neck.

Wang Yibo’s face flushed red with excitement, as if wanting to say something, but Li Song clamped his mouth shut, leaving him to protest with muffled grunts.

Luo Hanya glanced at Wang Yibo and Li Song with a hint of pity, laughed it off, then pointed sternly at their lips, signaling that the matter was settled and never to be mentioned again.

Sometimes, bravery is simply accompanying a girl shopping...