Chapter 277: Phoenix

【Obtained S+-rank reward: Phoenix's Blessing.】

【Passive trigger: Resurrect after the host dies, restoring to peak state—Cooldown 365 days.】

【Detected that the host is about to die, Phoenix's Blessing automatically takes effect.】

The three shocking wounds on Ye Qingfeng's chest healed in an instant, color returned to his pale face, and his breathing gradually stabilized.

Yet there was no sign of him waking up. The reason for this situation was nothing more than one cause.

An accident had occurred in the depths of his soul.

A group of people was sprinting rapidly in his direction. Time returned to shortly before the Hollow Stabilization Scroll was lifted. Hoshimi Miyabi's eyes were tightly closed, her breathing steady.

The staring contest with the Hollow had failed repeatedly, and she summarized the reasons after reflecting on her pain.

A strange sensation welled up. She opened her eyes like an electric shock, her gaze piercing through the surface of the Hollow like a sharp blade, as if taking in the scene inside.

"Section Chief, what's wrong?"

Tsukishiro Yanagi asked.

"Ether activity has decreased. The battle in that direction just ended."

Hoshimi Miyabi slowly raised her hand, her jade fingers suddenly extending forward. Her tone seemed casual, yet no one doubted her.

"Follow me."

She didn't explain much, spat out two words, and bolted into the Hollow.

Tsukishiro Yanagi and Yuzen exchanged a glance and followed suit. Soukaku, not knowing the situation, followed behind the two with her short legs.

Active Ether would cause the vision of those who entered to become distorted, mistakenly thinking space was twisted, perhaps escaping to safety in one step or falling into an abyss in the next.

Hoshimi Miyabi ran quickly through the Hollow. No matter how the route changed, the direction her gaze pointed remained constant.

Leaving only a back for the three people chasing behind. After an unknown amount of time, her figure stopped moving. Tsukishiro Yanagi, who had better stamina, accelerated her pace, and as she approached, she slowed down.

"Section Chief, why did you stop?"

Tsukishiro Yanagi asked with unstable breath.

"Someone is here."

Hoshimi Miyabi's gaze seemed to be attracted by the man on the ground. She stared straight at his face and answered faintly.

Tsukishiro Yanagi was startled and immediately noticed the fallen Ye Qingfeng. She stepped forward, crouched down, and carefully checked his physical condition.

"Good sword!"

Taking advantage of Tsukishiro Yanagi checking Ye Qingfeng's condition, Hoshimi Miyabi walked away quickly, pulled up the longsword she had noticed earliest, and sighed sincerely.

"Yo—Section Chief changed swords?"

Yuzen leaned over to Hoshimi Miyabi's side and asked.

"No, this is his sword." Hoshimi Miyabi shook her head slightly, put the sword back into its scabbard with a face full of regret, placed it gently beside Ye Qingfeng, and asked, "Yanagi, how is he?"

"Hoo—he's fine, just unconscious. No major issues."

Tsukishiro Yanagi let out a breath.

"Does the Section Chief like this sword very much?"

Hoshimi Miyabi didn't hide her love for the sword, and Yuzen asked curiously.

"Compared to the sword, I'm more curious about the person who wields it," Hoshimi Miyabi already had a guess in her heart. "Although I don't know if sealing the Hollow was his doing, it was he who killed the level 5 Ethereal and stopped the Hollow's expansion."

"Doesn't that mean this guy has a chance to win the title of Hollow Hunter?"

Yuzen scratched his chin lightly.

"Stopping a Hollow expansion of this scale, not to mention saving tens of thousands of people, and being able to kill a level 5 Ethereal alone—his contribution and combat power are enough to qualify!"

"Only if he can prove that sealing the Hollow wasn't his doing, then we can talk about what comes next."

Tsukishiro Yanagi remembered something and raised her eyes to look behind.

Little Soukaku, who was starving, picked up something and was just about to stuff it into her mouth. Tsukishiro Yanagi's eyelids twitched, and she shouted hurriedly:

"Soukaku, put that down! You can't eat that, come over here quickly!"

Soukaku hesitated for a second between filling her stomach and listening to Yanagi-san, then decisively chose the latter. She pouted, the curve of which could hang an oil pot, and kept muttering.

"So hungry—so hungry!" The late-arriving Soukaku recognized Ye Qingfeng's identity at a glance. "It's him! The kind big brother!"

Hoshimi Miyabi and the others cast questioning glances.

"Soukaku, you know him?"

Tsukishiro Yanagi asked.

"Two months ago, Yanagi-san and I went to Lumina Square to eat ramen. It was him who handed me a cookie when I was about to starve to death!"

Soukaku recalled the scene at the time, and what left a deeper impression was the taste of the cookie.

"The cookie was delicious! This brother is a good person!"

"Come to think of it..." Tsukishiro Yanagi examined Ye Qingfeng's face. "It seems we have met once before."

"Compared to that... how did Soukaku recognize him at a glance?"

According to what they said, both Tsukishiro Yanagi and Soukaku had met him. The former didn't recognize him, but the latter recognized him as soon as she arrived?

"The smell! It has the smell of little cookies—!"

Seeing Yuzen's look of disbelief, Soukaku, in order to prove herself, leaned close to Ye Qingfeng and sniffed carefully.

"Hmm... such a strong smell of blood..."

Tsukishiro Yanagi quickly picked up Soukaku, pulled her into her arms, and lectured, "Soukaku, that's rude. You can't just smell other people's scent!"

"Oh, I know, Yanagi-san."

Soukaku blinked her dazed eyes and nodded slightly.

"The mission is complete. We can't interfere with the rest. Yuzen, can I trouble you to carry him on your back? Let's leave the Hollow first."

Yuzen, who had originally heard he was getting off work, saw his raised corners of his mouth droop instantly. He complained, but his body was very honest as he walked toward Ye Qingfeng.

With Tsukishiro Yanagi's help, Yuzen carried Ye Qingfeng on his back. The group, led by Tsukishiro Yanagi holding the Bangboo, left the Hollow and headed straight for the hospital.

From the start of the Hollow expansion to its stop and end.

According to the situation on the scene, everything pointed to one person—Ye Qingfeng.

For the public, because it didn't cause too much loss, they might just treat it as a topic of conversation after a meal.

For all the high-level officials of New Eridu, this matter needed to be investigated to the end.

Logically speaking—Ye Qingfeng should have been taken to the interrogation room, but because he was unconscious for a long time, Tsukishiro Yanagi and the others discussed and decided to send him to the hospital first.

The details of the matter were not clear. This decision was agreed upon by most of the higher-ups. After all, as long as Ye Qingfeng didn't affect their interests.

The higher-ups still had a shred of human touch.

Except for those with connections to the Jieciji Society.

According to Hoshimi Miyabi's guess, Ye Qingfeng was suspected to be the person who caused the Hollow to stop expanding and ended this Hollow hazard.

It instantly aroused the thoughts of the Public Security Bureau, several consortiums, and high-level defense military officials.

Little did they know, the Mayor of New Eridu, who had temporarily left the meeting halfway, had already sent people to the hospital.

The second person to take action was Officer Bolinger of the Public Security Bureau.

He made a few excuses and took the opportunity to leave, taking people straight to the hospital where Ye Qingfeng was.

At the same time, after undergoing numerous examinations, Ye Qingfeng was arranged into a ward.

Doctor: "According to the examination, all his data are fine. He will wake up within an hour."

"Thank you for your trouble." Tsukishiro Yanagi sent the doctor away, glanced at Ye Qingfeng with worry, and then turned to look at her three teammates.

One was complaining about being hungry, one was focused on playing with the blade in her hand, and one was leaning against the wall with eyes closed to rest.

"Yanagi-san~ I'm so hungry—!"

Soukaku leaned toward Tsukishiro Yanagi pitifully, her small hand tugging at her hem.

"Section Chief, the patient will wake up in about an hour. Can I trouble you and Yuzen to watch over him?"

Tsukishiro Yanagi held her forehead.

"I'll take Soukaku to buy something to eat. Do you want anything? Just have a little something first, until this matter is over."

"Melon!"

"Whatever, as long as it's edible."

Tsukishiro Yanagi nodded in agreement and left the hospital with Soukaku.

"Section Chief~ how are you so sure it was him who did it?"

Yuzen yawned, looking puzzled.

"He has the strength worth a slash, and at that time, no one else in the Hollow could have done it."

(At that time, there were also Public Security personnel and others in the Hollow carrying out rescues for ordinary people.)

Hmm~ The Section Chief thinks he has the strength worth a slash, doesn't that mean he's at least as strong as Tsukishiro Yanagi?

Forget it, it doesn't matter.

Anyway, his mission was to watch over Ye Qingfeng when the higher-ups arrived. ===== CHAPTER 278 =====