Chapter 277

【Obtained S+ Rank Reward: Blessing of the Phoenix】

【Passively triggered: upon host’s death, resurrects and restores to peak condition—cooldown: 365 days】

【Detection: host imminent death—Phoenix Blessing automatically activated】

Three horrific gashes across Ye Qingfeng’s chest healed instantly; his pale face flushed with color, his breathing gradually steadied.

Yet there was no sign of awakening—the cause could only be one.

An anomaly had occurred within his soul.

A group was racing toward him at full speed. Time rewound to shortly before the Hollow Stabilization Scroll was deactivated—Xing Jianya’s eyes were closed, her breathing calm.

After repeatedly failing the training of outlasting the Hollow in a blink, she finally reflected and summarized the reason.

A strange sensation arose—she jolted awake, her gaze like a blade piercing the Hollow’s surface, as if seeing every scene within.

“What’s wrong, Chief?”

Yue Chengliu asked.

“Aether activity has dropped. A battle just ended in that direction.”

Xing Jianya slowly raised her hand, her jade finger extending forward—her tone seemed casual, yet no one doubted her.

“Follow.”

She offered no further explanation, uttered two words, then sprinted into the Hollow.

Yue Chengliu and You Zhen exchanged a glance, then followed in unison; the bewildered Cangjiao trotted after them on his short legs.

Active Aether causes those who enter to experience visual distortion, making them mistake spatial warping for reality—step one way, and you escape; step the other, and you fall into the abyss.

Xing Jianya ran swiftly through the Hollow; no matter how the path twisted, her gaze remained fixed on the same direction.

She left only her silhouette ahead of the three pursuers. After an indeterminate time, her figure halted. Yue Chengliu, with better stamina, quickened her pace, then slowed as she neared.

“Why did Chief stop?”

Yue Chengliu asked, breathless.

“Someone’s here.”

Xing Jianya’s gaze seemed drawn to the man on the ground; she stared fixedly at his face and replied softly.

Yue Chengliu gasped, immediately noticing the fallen Ye Qingfeng. She stepped forward, knelt, and carefully examined his condition.

“What a blade!”

While Yue Chengliu checked on Ye Qingfeng, Xing Jianya strode over, pulled up the longsword she’d first noticed, and sighed in genuine admiration.

“Oh—Chief switched blades?”

You Zhen leaned beside Xing Jianya and asked.

“No, this is his blade.” Xing Jianya shook her head slightly, regretfully returned the sword to its sheath, and placed it gently beside Ye Qingfeng. “How is Liu?”

“Phew—he’s just unconscious, no serious injury.”

Yue Chengliu exhaled.

“Does Chief really like this blade so much?”

You Zhen, curious, asked—Xing Jianya made no effort to hide her fondness for the sword.

“I’m more curious about the man who held it.” Xing Jianya already had a suspicion: “I don’t know if he sealed the Hollow, but he alone slew a Level 5 Aether Corpse and halted its expansion.”

“So this guy might qualify for the title of Void Hunter?”

You Zhen lightly scratched his chin.

Stopping a Hollow of this scale—let alone saving tens of thousands. Slaying a Level 5 Aether Corpse alone—his contribution and combat power are more than sufficient!

“Only if he can prove he didn’t seal the Hollow himself will there be anything after.”

Yue Chengliu suddenly remembered something and looked back.

The starving Cangjiao had picked up something and was about to shove it into his mouth; Yue Chengliu’s eyelid twitched, and she shouted urgently:

“Cangjiao, put that down! You can’t eat that—come here right now!”

After a one-second hesitation between filling his belly and obeying Sister Liu, Cangjiao decisively chose the latter, pouting so hard his lips could hang an oil jug, muttering nonstop:

“So hungry—so hungry!” The tardy Cangjiao instantly recognized Ye Qingfeng: “It’s him! The kind big brother!”

Xing Jianya and the others turned to him with questioning glances.

“Cangjiao, do you know him?”

Yue Chengliu asked.

“Two months ago, Sister Liu and I went to Guangying Square for ramen—he gave me a cookie when I was about to starve!”

Cangjiao recalled the scene; what stuck with him most was the taste of the cookie.

“The cookie was delicious! This brother is a good person!”

“Come to think of it...” Yue Chengliu studied Ye Qingfeng’s face, “I think I’ve seen him before.”

“But how did Cangjiao recognize him at a glance?”

According to their accounts, both Yue Chengliu and Cangjiao had met him—but Yue Chengliu didn’t recognize him, while Cangjiao knew him instantly?

“The taste! There’s a cookie flavor—!”

Seeing You Zhen’s disbelief, Cangjiao leaned close to Ye Qingfeng and sniffed intently to prove it.

“Hmm... so much blood smell...”

Yue Chengliu swiftly grabbed Cangjiao and pulled him into her arms, scolding: “Cangjiao, that’s rude! Don’t just sniff people’s scent!”

“Oh, okay, Sister Liu.”

Cangjiao blinked dazedly and nodded slightly.

“The mission is complete. We can’t interfere further. You Zhen, could you carry him? Let’s leave the Hollow first.”

You Zhen, who had been smiling at the thought of clocking out, instantly drooped his mouth, grumbling under his breath, yet his body obediently walked toward Ye Qingfeng.

With Yue Chengliu’s help, You Zhen hoisted Ye Qingfeng onto his back. Led by Yue Chengliu, who held a radish in hand, the group left the Hollow and headed straight for the hospital.

From the Hollow’s expansion to its stabilization to its end—

All on-site evidence pointed to one person: Ye Qingfeng.

For the public, since no major damage occurred, it might just become dinner-table chatter.

For New Aelid’s entire high command, this matter must be investigated thoroughly.

Logically, Ye Qingfeng should have been taken to interrogation—but due to his prolonged unconsciousness, Yue Chengliu and the others agreed to send him to the hospital first.

Since the details remained unclear, most of the high command approved this decision, as long as Ye Qingfeng didn’t threaten their interests.

The high command still retains a touch of humanity.

Except for those linked to the Praise Society.

According to Xing Jianya’s speculation, Ye Qingfeng was the one who halted the Hollow’s expansion and ended this Hollow’s threat.

This instantly sparked interest from the Security Bureau and several corporate and Defense Force high officials.

Unbeknownst to them, the Mayor of New Aelid, who had temporarily left the meeting, had already dispatched personnel to the hospital.

The second to act was Security Bureau Chief Bringer.

After making vague excuses, he slipped away and headed straight for the hospital where Ye Qingfeng lay.

Meanwhile, after numerous examinations, Ye Qingfeng was placed in a hospital room.

Doctor: “All his vitals are normal. He’ll wake up within an hour.”

“Thank you,” Yue Chengliu said, escorting the doctor out. She glanced worriedly at Ye Qingfeng, then turned to her three teammates.

One was whining about hunger, one was idly playing with the blade, one leaned against the wall, eyes closed, resting.

“Sister Liu~ I’m so hungry—!”

Cangjiao shuffled close to Yue Chengliu, tugging at her sleeve.

“Chief will wake in about an hour. You two stay and watch him.”

Yue Chengliu pinched the bridge of her nose.

“I’ll take Cangjiao to buy something to eat. Do you need anything? Just grab something to tide you over until this is over.”

“Melon!”

“Whatever. As long as it’s edible.”

Yue Chengliu nodded and left the hospital with Cangjiao.

“Chief, how are you so sure it was him?”

You Zhen yawned, looking puzzled.

“He has the strength worth cutting down. No one else in the Hollow at the time could have done it.”

(At the time, Security Bureau personnel were rescuing civilians in the Hollow.)

Hmm—Chief thinks he’s worth cutting down? That means he’s at least on par with Yue Chengliu?

Whatever.

His task is just to watch over Ye Qingfeng until the high command arrives.