Chapter 173 Variables Amidst Enemies on All Sides

Xia Yuhuan applied the herbs to his knees, wrapped them in gauze, and then began to massage his thighs and calves.

If Chi Yanzhou doesn't properly loosen his thighs and calves when he first starts rehabilitation, it will affect the effectiveness and progress of his rehabilitation the next day.

Xia Yuhuan gave Chi Yanzhou a thorough massage.

Chi Yanzhou could clearly feel his legs relaxing.

The comfortable feeling was so obvious that Chi Yanzhou even had time to let his mind wander.

Xia Yuhuan asked him, "Is the pressure enough? Does your foot feel uncomfortable? If it does, remember to tell me."

"No, it's good, very comfortable," Chi Yanzhou said softly.

Upon hearing this, Xia Yuhuan said no more and continued massaging Chi Yanzhou.

Chi Yanzhou was initially a little distracted by the sensation of Xia Yuhuan's slender, soft fingers pressing back and forth on his leg.

But as the burning sensation in his knee intensified, Chi Yanzhou couldn't help but frown.

"Does your knee hurt?" Xia Yuhuan noticed the change in his expression and asked.

Chi Yanzhou nodded slightly, then shook his head.

"It's not just simple pain, it's a very intense burning sensation."

Xia Yuhuan said calmly, "This is normal, don't worry. If it hurts, just bear with it, it will be fine soon."

Chi Yanzhou: "Okay."

After Xia Yuhuan finished massaging Chi Yanzhou's feet, it was time to apply the medicine.

Xia Yuhuan then took the medicine and some water, and helped Chi Yanzhou wipe the remaining medicine off his knees.

"How are you feeling now?" she asked Chi Yanzhou.

Chi Yanzhou nodded quickly: "It feels great, I feel so much more relaxed."

Xia Yuhuan nodded slightly: "Your recovery looks very good. You should be fully recovered soon."

"Once you recover, you'll have to work hard to regain your previous physical fitness."

"But remember what I said: never be greedy for quick success and rush ahead. Increase the difficulty little by little, respect your body's natural reactions, and remember the principle that too much of a good thing is bad."

Chi Yanzhou nodded slightly: "Okay, I'll remember."

Xia Yuhuan was finally relieved.

Chi Yanzhou looked at Xia Yuhuan and whispered, "Thank you, Yuhuan."

"Why are you suddenly thanking me?" Xia Yuhuan was a little confused.

"Thank you for pulling me out of the darkness and bringing me back to the light. I thought I would lie in bed until I died," Chi Yanzhou said with a wry smile.

It's so agonizing and terrifying to be able to lie in bed, unable to move, able to hear and think but unable to speak, even though you have reason and thoughts.

Before Xia Yuhuan, his world was almost entirely surrounded by silence.

His parents come to see him every day, but they rarely talk to him. His mother is probably a little more talkative.

But most of the time, they just said things like they hoped he would get better soon and return to normal.

Xia Yuhuan is different.

She treated him like a normal person, telling him about everyday events and sharing trivial but relatable stories.

Sometimes, when she encounters a problem, she will ask him for advice on how to handle it.

Although he couldn't give her a response, she knew she wouldn't get an answer even if she asked, and ultimately she would have to find a solution herself.

But her actions really made him feel involved.

It was also she who gave him the intense desire to awaken.

Fortunately, he eventually woke up.

Xia Yuhuan rolled her eyes at him: "You're already awake, let bygones be bygones. Facing the future is the most important thing, so don't overthink it."

Chi Yanzhou nodded gently: "Okay."

He couldn't help but want to thank her and let her know that he was truly grateful to her.

Xia Yuhuan said, "You must be tired after that workout. Take a nap first, and I'll wake you up when it's time to eat."

"Okay, I understand."

Chi Yanzhou did not refuse and obediently agreed.

He did feel physically exhausted, and his head even had a throbbing pain.

If he hadn't wanted to spend more time with her, he could have closed his eyes and fallen asleep right away.

After speaking with Chi Yanzhou, Xia Yuhuan got up and left the room.

Chi Yanzhou closed his eyes and quickly fell asleep.

...

In the dilapidated old alleyways of the city, Xia Jianyong pulled his hat brim low and moved through the alleys at a very fast pace.

He racked his brains to evade the military's search.

I can't eat or sleep well, I'm afraid of being arrested.

Just now, he saw the people searching for him again and was so frightened that he quickly found a place to hide.

Just as Xia Jianyong was trying his best to avoid them, he looked up and saw soldiers searching right at the entrance of the alley. He was so frightened that he lowered his head and quickly changed direction.

But there were people in the other direction as well.

Xia Jianyong's heart skipped a beat.

He has now discovered that people are searching in three directions.

And they have been narrowing down their search area.

Now he can only hope that there is no one in the last direction.

Otherwise, it will be difficult to get away today.

Xia Jianyong lowered the brim of his hat and walked in the last direction.

However, as soon as he stepped out of the alley, he remembered the person at the entrance who was pulling people aside to ask for information.

Xia Jianyong felt a sudden surge of despair.

He's been cornered; it seems there's no escaping it today.

Just as Xia Jianyong's eyes hardened, ready to fight to the death and take two others down with him even if he were caught, the door behind him opened silently, and he was gagged and dragged into the room behind him.

Xia Jianyong stared in shock, his eyes wide, and he struggled instinctively.

However, his struggles seemed futile; his legs kicked up in the air but couldn't land at all.

He was simply grabbed and silently dragged inside.

"Ugh, ugh..." Xia Jianyong twisted his body desperately.

"Xia Jianyong, if I were you, I'd behave myself, or do you want to be dragged back by the outsiders?"

The other party's words immediately silenced Xia Jianyong.

Although he couldn't be sure whether the other party was friend or foe, at least for the moment, the other party didn't want him to be arrested, and that was enough for Xia Jianyong.

Seeing that Xia Jianyong had calmed down, the other party readily released him.

Upon regaining his freedom, Xia Jianyong instinctively took a few steps back, his heart filled with vigilance.

"Who are you people?" Xia Jianyong asked.

"You don't need to know who we are. You just need to know that we have no ill intentions towards you."

Xia Jianyong's eyes were wary: "How do I know if you have any ill intentions?"

"I've already helped you shake off your pursuers, and you call that malicious?"

"If they really had malicious intent, they could have just pushed you out and had someone catch you."

Xia Jianyong certainly understood this principle.

However, the other party had their face covered with a black cloth.

What kind of good person is someone who hides their true colors and reveals their true intentions?

“I know you have doubts, but you have no choice but to hide here with me now. Otherwise, if you show your face, you will be arrested.”

Xia Jianyong understood what the other person was saying and fell silent for a moment.