Chapter 227: "You’ve Done Very Well, I’m Going to Reward You.

The White Snake Youth had just battled the Fallen Species at sea. His chest, torn and bleeding, had soaked the white sheets in crimson. He lay there, barely breathing, using the last of his strength to speak—

He refused to be healed by the Rabbit Clan female.

As the young woman approached, the anger in Si Qi’s eyes intensified.

’Damned, despicable Rabbit Clan of Valoran!’

The brown-haired heretic drew near, gripping his shoulder. "You must accept the treatment. That’s an order."

Si Qi turned his head away, clenching his jaw, and fell silent.

Yu Zhizhi slowly approached, thinking of the experience bar in her Talent Atlas. Each time she used her Healing Skill, the value would fluctuate.

Right now, she was still just a Basic-level Healer.

There was a ranking evaluation every three months. If she ranked up, the system would award a large amount of bonus experience.

The higher the system’s level, the more Experience Points were required.

Whether it was to level up, to practice her Healing Skill, or simply because she couldn’t bear to watch someone die, Yu Zhizhi planned to heal the White Snake Youth.

With the brown-haired heretic watching, the injured man became much quieter.

Yu Zhizhi used a basic Healing Skill. A soft white light covered the claw marks the Fallen Species had left on the youth’s chest.

The pain, like his bones were being torn apart, slowly began to subside...

The White Snake Youth closed his eyes in humiliation.

He would rather die than accept a "gift" from the Valoran Empire.

The light at Yu Zhizhi’s fingertips gradually dimmed. She felt the immense drain on her spiritual power and only stopped when she had just a few points left.

Phew...

She let out a long breath. "This is all I can do for now."

Her spiritual power was nowhere near enough to heal him completely in one go.

"I’ll come back tomorrow," she said softly.

The brown-haired heretic saw the clear signs of healing on the wound and that the White Snake’s complexion had improved considerably. He knew the man’s life was no longer in immediate danger.

He couldn’t help but praise her. "Ms. Zhi Zhi, you’re truly amazing. Without you, we wouldn’t have known what to do."

’I would’ve just died, then.’

The White Snake, irritated, pulled the blanket over himself and turned his back to them.

The other soldiers also had expressions of admiration.

Only after she left did the soldiers dare to whisper amongst themselves.

"She’s really a Healer. That’s so rare. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen a female awaken a Healing Ability."

"She’s so skilled with her Healing Skill, not like a novice at all. My brother awakened his two years ago, and he’s still just an apprentice."

"You guys must have trained your brains out, you don’t pay attention to anything! She’s an S-Class female!"

"—What?!"

The soldiers were all shocked.

S-Class females are so noble. Why would one deign to treat a commoner?

The black-haired soldier closest to the bed lowered his voice. "Remember when we last docked at Pro Bay? Lord Shen He’s trusted confidant, Bishop Buli, personally led the team to bring this lady aboard. What do you think her relationship with Lord Shen He is?"

The soldiers looked at each other, at a loss for words.

"Will she become the Imperial Marshal’s wife?"

"Who knows."

The black-haired soldier knocked on the bedframe. "Si Qi, I know you loathe the Valoran Empire, but you should still show some respect to the Rabbit Clan Lady. After all, she was specially invited by Lord Shen He. And besides, she saved you."

The White Snake Youth remained silent.

「By the time Shen He returned, it was the evening of the next day.」

He heard about yesterday’s events from the brown-haired heretic.

Standing at the edge of the deck, he gazed at the dark, surging sea. "Go and ask her to come here."

Having just finished the second healing session for the White Snake Youth, Yu Zhizhi slowly walked toward the deck. The wind was exceptionally strong today; she felt like she was about to be blown away.

Seeing that tall figure, she lowered her eyes and shuffled closer, bit by bit.

The deep blue coat draped over the man’s shoulders rustled in the wind. His short, silver-gray hair danced wildly in the breeze, and his sharp, deep-set features were cast in the pale shadows of evening.

He caught a glimpse of the Rabbit Clan girl in his peripheral vision. Her head was bowed, her rabbit ears trembling slightly in the wind, and her spiritual power was very low.

"I hear you saved one of my soldiers. Thank you." Shen He retracted his gaze and looked toward the darkening coastline. "You can send your account details to Bishop Buli. We will pay you the corresponding remuneration."

’Account...’

Yu Zhizhi froze for a moment. She realized she didn’t know her own account details.

The K family’s Housekeeper had mentioned it once, a long time ago, but she couldn’t remember it now...

"Can I... make a call to ask?"

A faint smile formed on Shen He’s lips. "You may. But I’ll be listening in."

He was very curious.

’Who would this little Rabbit Clan female be calling?’

He just hadn’t expected that this little rabbit didn’t even care about her account. The Empire provided a monthly stipend to all females with Fertility, with the amount corresponding to their Level, starting from the day they were ranked. This support would continue until their death.

Ordinarily, their family would have handled this matter properly.

But she was completely unaware.

He recalled that her file stated she was an orphan, initially assessed as a D-level female—a useless little thing with no Fertility.

’That would explain everything, then.’

Without the protection of a family, she was like a piece of duckweed on the sea, drifting at the mercy of the wind.

"About that heavily injured soldier..."

Shen He mentioned casually, "His name is Si Qi, from the Sea Snake Clan. His father died on the battlefield—the one between the Deep Sea Empire and the Valoran Empire. That’s why he loathes all citizens of Valoran."

An expression of understanding dawned on Yu Zhizhi’s face.

’No wonder the White Snake Youth had been so hostile toward her. He was so reluctant during the healing, too.’

However, with the brown-haired heretic watching every time, the White Snake Youth never did anything more than turn his head away from her.

They had entered a truce period now.

But it would only last for half a year.

Shen He opened his right palm, then slowly clenched it into a fist in the wind, and released it again—

A fiery glint appeared in his gray eyes, as if he could hardly wait for the battlefield in six months’ time.

The cracking of his knuckles, though, sent a chill of fear through Yu Zhizhi when it reached her ears.

’The grudges between empires...’

"So, you hate me too," she couldn’t help but murmur.

’Because I’m from Valoran.’

Shen He gave her a surprised glance. ’Not bad. She’s quite self-aware.’

"At Moonrise, your nations are allies, so they would treat you very well. But here, don’t expect to be pampered. The Deep Sea Empire doesn’t support idlers."

Yu Zhizhi said, "I can heal your wounded."

"Mm, you’ve done well, which is why I’m going to reward you." Shen He lifted his chin, gesturing for her to look behind her.

The brown-haired youth had brought a communicator.

Shen He said, "Here. Make the call. I need to know your account."

Yu Zhizhi took the white communicator.

She suddenly hesitated. The person who told her about the account last time was the K family’s Housekeeper, but she didn’t know the K family’s contact information.

The only numbers Yu Zhizhi had memorized were Duke Bolan’s and, now, Noel’s of the Rabbit Clan.

Nearby, Shen He stared at her like a tiger watching its prey.