Chapter 93 Awakening "Ashu...do you blame me?"
Super Management Bureau, Treatment Room.
The electrocardiogram on the monitor was beating steadily and slowly. Shu Qing sat next to the treatment pod, silently watching the little snake sleeping inside.
When he was sent back to the headquarters of the Super Management Bureau, his condition was far from good. Hu You and several caregivers spent a day trying to save him before he finally recovered. By then, his wounds had been treated and wrapped in several layers of bandages, so tightly that he couldn't even sit up.
Shu Qing reached into the treatment chamber and gently stroked the newly changed bandages on the little snake's body. She subconsciously wanted to touch its tail, but couldn't bear to, so she could only carefully touch it again and again.
Just then, someone knocked on the door from outside and cautiously informed her, "Ms. Shu, the meeting is about to begin."
Those who know the inside story are now much more cautious towards her than before. Shu Qing came to her senses and said, "Okay."
"...Since the battle at Kunlun Palace, there have been no more incidents of supernatural beings going out of control in various places. Although conflicts between humans and supernatural beings still exist, they are gradually decreasing." Director Yang first talked about the current situation in various places. "The overall situation is gradually stabilizing, but we still need to do a good job in various preventive measures."
The saying goes, "Hold large meetings to discuss minor matters, and small meetings to discuss major matters." Today's meeting had a small number of participants, only seven or eight people gathered in the conference room. They were all the actual heads of their respective departments, and the main purpose was to confirm the course of events and the current situation, as well as how to give the public an explanation.
Shu Qing sat to the side, listening quietly.
In fact, the current situation is not only reflected in Director Yang's description. A few days ago, the group chat between her, Qi Yun, and Tu Nan was completely silent. Everyone was so busy that they rarely had time to confide in each other online.
Now that they've started complaining more and sharing their games and daily lives, it means they've finally escaped the terrifying crisis and caught their breath.
Of course, the two pills she entrusted to them were eventually returned to Zhao intact.
Despite the barrage of concern and scolding from her two best friends, Shu Qing obediently put the pills away, intending to refining them to remove the memory-clearing effect before giving them to her parents.
As for now... Shu Qing gave her mother a dry laugh, then turned around and guiltily locked the pills deep inside her bedroom.
These past few days, she's finally been able to see her mother when she gets home in the evenings—when she first returned to the capital, Shu Tong was working day and night, and Zhao Yuqing was responsible for bringing her meals every day. These past two days have finally been a little less hectic, with fewer patients, allowing Shu Tong some time to go home.
Everything is slowly returning to the state it was in before the chaos erupted, but it will take a little more time.
After Director Yang finished his summary, he handed the digital pen to her and said, "Miss Shu, please explain the specific details of Kunlun Palace."
Shu Qing took the pen and stood up as usual. Immediately, people next to her stood up as well, and some even offered to help her move a chair.
She paused for a moment before realizing: Right, she is now not only an ancient immortal, but also one of the great heroes who turned the tide and won another MVP award.
"It's okay, it's okay, I'm the youngest here." Shu Qing really disliked being treated like the MVP—the experience of receiving this treatment last time was unforgettable, and she would rather be an ordinary junior. "I'll just say it like this. This time, time is tight, and Xiao Hong's injury hasn't healed yet, so the report is a bit hasty. Please listen to my oral presentation."
An ordinary Word document was projected onto the LCD screen, similar to the document Jin Wanli had presented to the leaders of the Supermarket Management Bureau when he wanted to collaborate with Youling Studio. It was incomparable to the exquisite PPT that Shu Qing had submitted before.
It's clear that as long as one person slacks off, everyone's moral standards will be lowered... even if that slacker is no longer around.
Shu Qing began by recounting how Zhi Heng instigated the war between the Immortal Capital and the Demon Clan. In chronological order, she told the story of how she and Jiu Su found Zhi Heng in Kunlun Palace, how Zhi Heng possessed Jin Wanli's body, and how they fought him to the death... She recounted each and every event one by one.
"...Finally, when both of us were exhausted, Minister Jin's demonic soul regained control of his body and deliberately ran into my sword." The conference room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, except for Shu Qing's voice. "At that moment, Jiu Su's Dao, which could destroy everything, condensed on the edge of my sword, and Minister Jin used it to blow up his demonic soul, body, and Zhi Heng's divine soul all at once."
"After Zhiheng's divine soul was destroyed, the causal connection with the out-of-control supernatural beings was severed. The supernatural beings affected by Zhiheng were freed from this influence, so there were no more out-of-control events afterward..." The document turned to the last page, and Shu Qing put down the digital pen. "That's the whole story of the Battle of Kunlun Palace. I'm done."
The entire conference room was silent. There was no polite applause as usual after a report, and Shu Qing did not use her signature relaxed tone to explain everything.
Everyone remained solemnly silent for a full minute, as if in mourning and paying tribute.
“Minister Jin should be honored with the title of hero,” Director Yang said after a minute. “This deed should also be made public. As for Xie Heng… no, Zhi Heng, his actions—”
Director Yang paused for a moment after saying this.
The current head of the Special Operations Department, who was present on behalf of Kim Man-ri, had previously served as Kim's deputy. Upon hearing the name "Chi-heng," his eyes reddened, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "His actions should also be made public! If it weren't for him, there wouldn't have been so many deaths. Minister Kim is no longer here, and Senior Ku-su almost..."
As he spoke, his voice choked with emotion, and he lowered his head to fiercely wipe away a tear.
Shu Qing felt terrible too. She took out the voice recorder and said softly, "I also support making it public. I still have Zhi Heng's recording here, the content of which is the same as what I just reported, and it can be used as evidence."
Director Yang nodded and said, "Since it's going to be made public, the cause and effect need to be convincing. We investigated Xie Heng's family situation. He has no wife or children, no surplus wealth, and no reputation outside the Supermarket Management Bureau. What is the purpose of his actions?"
Everyone looked at Shu Qing, who lowered her eyelashes and smiled, replying, "Because he really thinks everything he did was right."
Worldly people, preoccupied with fame and fortune, weigh gains and losses, and are hesitant and timid, are unlikely to be favored by the Great Way.
He was born in the Immortal Capital and grew up amidst the lingering smoke of the first war between the demon race and the Immortal Capital. He was determined to dedicate everything to the ancient immortals. Two thousand years later, he dedicated everything to the human race, who shared the same origin. His resolve was unwavering and unyielding.
Only with such unwavering purity can one reach the heavens and the earth, even though people think he's crazy... Sometimes, the difference between a madman and a saint is just a thought.
Everyone else fell silent, unable to comprehend what this radical martyr was thinking. Director Yang gave the head of public relations a look, who understood immediately and copied Shu Qing's recording: "Anyway, we'll use this recording to give the public a plausible explanation."
A day later, the Super Management Bureau's official account and Shu Qing's private account simultaneously issued statements. The Super Management Bureau's official account made a rare public appearance, releasing Zhi Heng's recording. The director, who had always acted as a figurehead, stepped forward and gave a vivid and engaging speech.
Despite this, netizens were not very convinced.
"Hahaha, I knew it! They just pulled out two more scapegoats without official positions."
"Let me break it down. In other words, the official team first partnered with a big professor, and then the professor caused trouble; then the official team partnered with a small streamer, and the streamer helped resolve the issue, so nothing happened to the official team from beginning to end, lol."
"I've made a lifelong commitment to them."
Some people were skeptical but chose to believe the official version:
"The cause and effect are explained very clearly, and they match the development of events perfectly."
"It's hard to say. I do believe there's someone behind it all, otherwise there's no way to explain such a dense series of extraordinary events. There's never been anything like it in history. As for who that person is, that's a matter of opinion."
"I also believe there's someone behind me, but I don't believe that person is just a specially appointed professor, hahaha."
Some people even corrected it—
"The problem wasn't solved by some small streamer. The official statement said it was 'the small streamer and the high-level monster she raised.' Did you eat the 'high-level monster'?"
"Leaving aside high-level monsters, just look at this little streamer herself. She's dealt with monsters countless times, so I believe she can help solve problems. Here's the link: [Ashu and Xiaohong]"
So everyone flocked to Shuqing's short video account and saw Shuqing's statement from another perspective.
Her statement was quite unique, much more relaxed than the serious and earnest public statements from the Supermarket Management Bureau. She posted a new video titled "Xiao Hong's Recovery Diary".
The video showed a small white snake wrapped in bandages. After a day, it was finally able to coil up a little and lay asleep in the treatment pod, completely unaware of the sounds from the outside world.
Shu Qing first briefly summarized that these were injuries sustained during the "war," then went on to explain his various health indicators in detail, and relayed the caregiver's medical advice verbatim: this was caused by severe injuries after his demonic power was exhausted, and he was expected to remain unconscious for a long time. She suggested that he visit him often and talk to him.
The pitiful little snake immediately evoked sympathy from a group of viewers, and its miserable state echoed the statement made by the Supermarket Management Bureau.
And so, everyone began to accompany the little snake demon as it gradually recovered, and checking in at a fixed time every day gradually became a habit for many people.
As for the Supermarket Management Bureau's official announcement, the veracity of which is uncertain—in any case, people still have a basic level of trust in the authorities. Moreover, in the end, both sides were arguing about whether the culprit behind the trouble had been found out, and no one doubted that there was a mastermind behind it all.
For the Super Management Bureau, as long as everyone acknowledges the existence of such a person, it's a good thing. At least humans and monsters are no longer fighting each other for no reason, and public order and public opinion are recovering well.
As for whether this person is actually the so-called "specially appointed professor"...
This is too vague and ethereal. It's not as clear and visible as Xiaohong's health indicators that change every day, nor is it as inspiring as Xiaohong finally transforming back into human form after half a month.
The first time Jiu Su woke up was on an afternoon after New Year's Day.
It was snowing heavily in the capital that day, and the temperature was unusually cold. When Shu Qing arrived at the Super Management Bureau in the morning, she was wrapped in a thick down jacket, but she was still breathing out cold air.
Ever since the battle at Kunlun Palace, she has been staying with Jiu Su in the treatment room of the Super Management Bureau every day. These past two days, the professional caregiver has said that he is about to wake up, and she wishes she could live in the treatment room 24 hours a day and stay by his side every step of the way.
Although he was only awake for half a minute.
When he opened his eyes, Shu Qing blinked hard, afraid that she was seeing things, and even pinched her own cheek.
Seeing this, Jiu Su chuckled, reached a hand out of the treatment pod, and called out to her in a hoarse voice, "A Shu..."
Shu Qing immediately grasped that cold hand, and vaguely heard him ask, "...Are you blaming me?"
Whether he actually asked that question or not is unknown, but he quickly fell into a deep sleep again. According to the caregiver, he will probably need to sleep for another two days before he truly wakes up.
A drop of water landed on the back of his hand, and the tears that had been suppressed since the spatial turbulence finally burst forth. Fortunately, there was no one else to disturb her in this treatment room, so she could do as she pleased.
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