Chapter 209

"Mother..."

Jiang Xiaoxiao hesitated before speaking: "Maybe we shouldn't rush—what if Shen Que doesn't know our secret? Besides, he hasn't shown any ill intent toward us. If we kill him now, aren't we the very villains we despise?"

"Xiaoxiao." Jiang Wei regarded her solemnly. "This world works this way: the strong devour the weak. If you don't strike first, one day you'll be a corpse beneath someone else's blade."

Jiang Xiaoxiao: "..."

Fine, her mother had completely treated this Ancient World as if it were her old Apocalypse world, applying the same methods she used back then.

But this isn't the Apocalypse...

And Shen Que isn't a bad person—he shouldn't be treated like Zhao the Bully.

He is the son of General Shen. Had the Shen Family not fallen, he would have devoted his life to defending the Border. The Shen men guard the Border with their flesh and blood, resisting Foreign Enemies, sacrificing their lives for Home and Nation... In truth, Shen Que is a martyr's orphan—he shouldn't be treated like this.

Perhaps influenced by her past life, Jiang Xiaoxiao had always held affection for the Loyal Martyrs. Without them bearing the burden and fighting to the death to protect, how could ordinary people like them live in peace?

Unfortunately, Jiang Wei was from the Apocalypse world—she wasn't from the same world as her.

She had her beliefs; Jiang Wei had her own principles. Even as a half-mother, half-daughter pair, they still held divergent views.

What she must do now is eliminate this disagreement in handling the matter and align their interests as one.

"Mother, I just remembered something." Jiang Xiaoxiao pulled from her sleeve the pale blue Crystal Core she kept close to her body. "When you went to find the Horse Carriage that day, I noticed Shen Que's face had the same color as this Crystal Core. I wonder—if he drank a large amount of Ability Water, might he have also grown..."

She didn't finish, instead watching Jiang Wei's expression closely—and sure enough, saw disbelief flicker across her face.

"You're certain?" Jiang Wei's voice grew steady. "If that's true, this man can't be killed so easily..."

"Mother, that's exactly what I thought." Jiang Xiaoxiao smiled, her heart finally lightening. "I've already fed him so much Ability Water—killing him now would be such a waste. Why not wait one or two years? See if his body changes. Then we can decide."

In one or two years, maybe her mother's mind would change—and she wouldn't kill Shen Que after all...

Jiang Wei glanced at her suddenly. "Are you making excuses for that guy?"

"Haha, no way!" Jiang Xiaoxiao laughed awkwardly twice. "Mother, you're imagining things. I just want to find a test subject to observe my Ability's effects."

"Good." Jiang Wei turned her head away. "Xiaoxiao, I hope you understand: being merciful to an Enemy is cruelty to yourself. No matter what, your own safety must come first."

"Yes, I understand, Mother." Jiang Xiaoxiao nodded firmly twice.

"Then from now on, don't forget to give Shen Que his three daily doses of Ability Water. Don't let him die—you must keep him fat and healthy so we can study him properly."

Jiang Xiaoxiao: "... Okay."

Why does it feel like we're treating Shen Que like a lab rat...

Thus, for the next three days.

Shen Que, residing in the Ear Room, received unprecedented treatment.

At dawn, the five-year-old girl stood by his bed holding a steaming bowl of White Porridge and an egg, smiling as she watched him eat, then brought him a cup of cool, refreshing... Clear Water.

Uh, yes—plain, ordinary Clear Water.

The moment he drank it, a warm heat surged in his Belly, slowly nourishing his limbs and meridians, repairing his wounds—even his Internal Force, stagnant for years, began faintly strengthening.

"Any more? Another cup," Shen Que said, returning the cup to Jiang Xiaoxiao without expression.

"None left," Jiang Xiaoxiao smiled as before. "Mother said: three meals a day, no more, no less."

With that, Jiang Xiaoxiao carried the empty Bowl and Chopsticks out of the room.

Moments later, Jiang Wei entered carrying a tray of Medicine and Gauze, and bluntly told the man on the bed: "Take off your clothes."

Shen Que: "..."

His gaze shifted to the Medicine—some White Powder, and unfamiliar bottles and jars he'd never seen before...

He opened his mouth to say he could do it himself, then swallowed the words.

Forget it—he'd been unconscious for days. Everything he should and shouldn't have seen had already been seen. Talking about modesty now would be ridiculous.

Shen Que undid the ties at his chest and calmly removed his only undergarment.

On the man's muscular chest, the numerous cuts and slashes had mostly healed, most now crusted over—making the exposed waist and abdomen muscles look even more taut and prominent.

Jiang Wei walked forward without expression, set down the tray, and without glancing aside, unwound the Gauze wrapped around Shen Que's chest.

Jiang Xiaoxiao's Ability Water truly worked wonders: the deep wound from the broken Sword, once piercing to the bone, was now sprouting new flesh and healing well.

Jiang Wei, as usual, disinfected the wound with Iodine and Hydrogen Peroxide, then applied Medicine.

Shen Que watched quietly as Jiang Wei fiddled with the bottles, sprinkling Medicine onto his wounds, saying nothing.

When she finished, he calmly redressed himself, not uttering a single word, just as he had during his coma—silent, observing the mother and daughter's movements without comment.

Until Jiang Wei held out two White Pills, reached for his chin, pried open his mouth, and prepared to shove the pills in as always.

Shen Que finally couldn't hold back—he coldly spat out: "I'm still alive."

Jiang Wei "Oh"ed, her motion unhesitating, and shoved the pills straight into his mouth before withdrawing her hand.

Shen Que gritted his teeth: "No water?"

He was supposed to swallow them dry?

"No," Jiang Wei replied flatly, then carried the tray out.

The Door shut, leaving Shen Que with a face full of dark lines.

By Wu Time.

Jiang Xiaoxiao came again with food.

In one bowl: rice boiled to mush, the porridge thick and fragrant, making one's mouth water.

In another: milky-white Fish Soup with chunks of fish, equally aromatic, alongside a small dish of mushroom-infused savory vegetable relish.

Finally, the cup of plain, ordinary water.

Shen Que's gaze instinctively drifted to the cup.

Jiang Xiaoxiao ignored his look, brought over a small tea table, placed it on his bed, and laid out the dishes one by one—keeping the cup of water in her own hands.

Shen Que held chopsticks in hand, hesitating to eat.

"Are you going to keep watching me eat like this?"