49. Rest and recuperation

Inside the Cliff Library, time seemed to flow slowly and thickly, stretched by the faint flames dancing in the fireplace and the endless sound of snow and wind outside the window. Despite its dilapidated state, it strangely brought a sense of long-lost, almost luxurious peace.

Su Lin slept soundly for a whole day and night, a combination of the drug and profound exhaustion. When he opened his eyes again, the first thing he felt was the rough yet real feel of the animal hide mat beneath him, and the faint warmth from the fireplace that dispelled the chill deep within his bones. Then, he saw the person guarding his bedside.

Lei Qing sat on a slanted wooden chair, his back still straight, like a steel spear that would never bend. His eyes were closed, seemingly resting, but the hand resting on his knee loosely gripped the hilt of his hunting knife, poised for action. Hearing Su Lin's subtle movement, he immediately opened his eyes. Bloodshot still clung to his deep, deep pupils, but as he met Su Lin's lucid gaze, the coldness melted, replaced by a heavy, restrained concern that threatened to overflow.

"Awake?" His voice was hoarse from not speaking for a long time. He reached out to Su Lin's forehead, feeling the body temperature that was no longer cold. His tense jawline relaxed almost imperceptibly for a moment.

"Hmm." Su Lin replied softly, his voice still a little weak. He tried to move his fingers. Although he was still weak, the panic of his life slipping away had disappeared, replaced by a slowly recovering vitality. He looked at the dark circles under Lei Qing's eyes, and a sour warmth surged in his heart. "You haven't slept yet?"

"Shift changed." Lei Qing said succinctly, without further ado. But Su Lin knew that with Lei Qing's personality, a shift change was likely just a brief moment of rest. He reached out and gently placed his hand on the back of Lei Qing's knee. His palm was rough, calloused from years of gripping knives, yet strangely warm. "Thank you," he whispered.

Lei Qing paused for a moment, then grasped Su Lin's cool fingers in his palm. His grip wasn't strong, but it was filled with undeniable determination. He didn't speak, only staring deeply at Su Lin, his gaze confirming that the person he'd lost and found was real.

At that moment, a rustling sound came from the side. Xingchen, curled up on another mat at Su Lin's feet, also woke up. The boy rubbed his eyes, and seeing Su Lin awake, he immediately jumped up like a startled little animal and moved to the bedside. His obsidian eyes were filled with undisguised joy and dependence. "Brother Su Lin! How are you feeling? Are you still feeling bad?"

"Much better." Su Lin smiled and touched his head. He found that although Xingchen's face was still a little pale, his spirits were obviously much better, and his eyes were clearer and sharper than before. It was as if after this overdraft and near-death experience, his special mental ability had been tempered in some way. "How about you? Does your head still hurt?"

Xingchen shook his head vigorously, with a hint of pride on his face: "It doesn't hurt anymore! Bai Yan's medicine is very effective. And... I seem to feel more clearly." He pointed to his head, referring to his spiritual perception.

Their movement alarmed others.

A Yan was the first to rush down from upstairs. He obviously hadn't slept well, and his fiery red hair was a little messy. When he saw Su Lin sitting up, his eyes lit up instantly. He strode to the bedside and shouted, "Awake?! Are you hungry? I'm going to ask Bai Yan for something to eat!" Without waiting for Su Lin's answer, he turned around and ran to the small kitchen and pharmacy behind the library that Bai Yan had tidied up.

Mu Lin also came over. He looked much better than before, his long silver-blue hair neatly combed, and he had regained his gentle and calm demeanor. He carefully checked Su Lin's pulse and breathing, a look of relief on his face: "The origin has stabilized much more, and the speed of recovery... is beyond imagination. It seems that Mr. Bai Yan's medical skills are indeed extraordinary."

Speaking of white inkstones, the library owner emerged from the back carrying a wooden tray. On the tray sat several bowls of steaming porridge, seemingly made from a mixture of root vegetables and grains, along with a pot of water. His steps were steady, and his gaze behind his gold-rimmed glasses was calm and focused.

"I'm glad you're awake." Bai Yan placed the tray on the small table beside the bed and said in a calm tone, "Eat some liquid food first. Your stomach is still very weak. The same goes for this little brother." He looked at Xingchen.

Ah Yan followed behind him, still clutching a piece of jerky that he had dug out from who knows where. It was as hard as a rock and he was chewing it hard. He mumbled incoherently, "This kid's cooking skills are okay, but the food is too bland and boring!"

Su Lin and Xingchen thanked him and ate the tasteless but warm porridge in small bites. With food in his stomach, his body seemed to gather strength faster.

Ling Ye continued to sit in a corner away from the fireplace, watching silently. He didn't approach, nor did he ask for food, simply existing quietly. Ah Yan would occasionally throw a hostile glare, but since Su Lin had just woken up and needed quiet, he didn't lash out again.

After a short meal, Su Lin felt his strength return. He leaned back on the cushions, his eyes sweeping across the dilapidated yet temporarily safe library, finally landing on Bai Yan. "Mr. Bai Yan, thank you for taking us in."

Bai Yan pushed his glasses up, his tone remaining calm. "It's just a matter of each taking what they need. You provide additional security, and I happen to be very interested in this young gentleman... and you, Su Lin." His gaze shifted between Su Lin and Xingchen, with a scholar's curiosity. "Especially Mr. Su Lin. The life force within you, which is almost... at the level of 'rules,' and the nascent spiritual transformation of this young man, are both extremely rare in existing records."

He walked to a relatively intact bookshelf and pulled out a thick book with a cover wrapped in some kind of animal hide and severely frayed edges. He flipped to a certain page, pointed at the blurry, hand-painted patterns and distorted text, and said, "According to some surviving ancient texts, at the beginning of the apocalypse, in addition to the common elemental and spiritual enhancement abilities, there were also some rarer and more special types. For example, 'healing' and 'order' that involve the essence of life, and the 'spiritual' realm that directly interferes with the mind and soul. These abilities often require harsh conditions to awaken, and the path to development is more difficult and... dangerous."

His words caught everyone's attention. Lei Qing's eyes became focused, A Yan stopped chewing the dried meat, Mu Lin seemed to be lost in thought, and Xing Chen opened his eyes wide, listening attentively.

"Dangerous?" Su Lin asked softly.

"Possessing a treasure is a crime." Bai Yan closed the book and glanced at the crowd, finally landing on Ling Ye with a pointed look. "A power that is too special and powerful, without sufficient strength to protect it, is a disaster in itself. The Black Stone Base, the Guichen Sect, and even... some other forces hidden under the surface, will not let go of such 'research materials' or 'strategic resources'."

The atmosphere in the library became slightly more solemn because of his words.

"So, becoming stronger is the only way out." Lei Qing spoke in a low, resolute voice. His gaze swept over Su Lin and Xingchen, filled with an unquestionable will to protect them.

"That's right." Bai Yan nodded, "Especially you two." He looked at Su Lin and Xingchen, "You need to familiarize yourself with and control your own power as soon as possible. Mr. Su Lin, your power tends to be protective and orderly. Perhaps you can start with the most subtle perception and control, and try to guide it to nourish yourself, or... form a small area, just like you did in Black Mine Town. And this little brother," he looked at Xingchen, "your mental power is sharp and penetrating, but you lack systems and techniques. I can teach you some basic meditation and mental concentration methods, so that you won't overdraw yourself every time you use your power."

This was undoubtedly timely assistance. Su Lin and Xingchen both nodded solemnly in agreement.

In the following days, the Cliff Library became their temporary shelter and training ground.

Su Lin continued to rest most of the time, but he began to try to follow Bai Yan's guidance, more closely sensing the settled force of order within him. He found that this power flowed through him like gentle blood, slowly healing fatigue and hidden injuries wherever it passed. He even tried to channel a tiny trace of this power into his fingertips, causing them to emit a soothing, soft white light. Although the range was extremely small and the duration was short, it was undoubtedly a good start. Whenever he tried this, Lei Qing would stand silently by his side, his eyes focused, as if protecting him, or simply wanting to watch him.

Xingchen became Bai Yan's "apprentice." Although Bai Yan himself lacked powerful combat abilities, he possessed a profound knowledge of theoretical knowledge and the fundamentals of mental strength. He taught Xingchen how to stabilize his mind through meditation, how to gather scattered mental energy like a clenched fist, and how to perceive the outside world more accurately rather than passively receiving all chaotic information. Xingchen studied diligently, his obsidian eyes gleaming with a desire to learn and become stronger. He was no longer content to simply be protected; he longed to become a force to protect others. Occasionally, in the dead of night, he would secretly try to use his newly learned techniques to "appease" some small mutant creatures disturbed by the wind and snow outside the library. Although his success rate was low, he never tired of it.

A Yan took on most of the security and search missions. His temper remained short, but he was deeply concerned about Su Lin's recovery. He always returned with whatever relatively fresh food he could find, or used his fire to dry everyone's snow-soaked clothes. He and Lei Qing still spoke little, but the tacit understanding they had developed from fighting side by side grew silently.

Mu Lin, taking advantage of the library's relative stability, further organized and replenished his herbal supplies, while also using his water abilities to aid Su Lin and Xingchen's recovery. He was the most stable coordinator for the entire team.

Ling Ye remained in a state of semi-isolation. He spent most of his time alone in a corner of the library, either resting his mind with his eyes closed or helping with chores like repairing a broken window or sorting scattered books. He rarely initiated conversation, but whenever Bai Yan explained some obscure knowledge about supernatural powers or apocalyptic history, he would look up and listen intently, his eyes occasionally flickering with a hint of understanding or thought. He seemed to be observing and assessing.

A brief moment of peace, a false calm in the eye of a storm. Everyone knew the threat of the Return to Dust Cult hadn't been resolved, and the shadow of Blackstone Base still loomed. But at this moment, in this dilapidated library perched on the cliff, they found a precious respite, a chance to heal, gather strength, and forge ahead.

Su Lin stood in front of a window that wasn't completely sealed, gazing out at the still-falling snow and the deadly world below, covered in ice and snow. His body was still frail, his face still pale from his illness, but a warm and resolute light had rekindled in his beautiful eyes.

He gently pressed his hand against the cold window glass, feeling the power of "order" slowly flowing through his body.

He needs to become stronger, in order to protect these companions who treasure him, and in order to keep this hard-earned... warm light in this cruel apocalypse.