Chapter Forty-Seven: Sudden Fever

After the food was distributed, those in the cafeteria storeroom had already begun to devour their meals, unable to withstand the gnawing hunger of several days. Once Jiang Miaomiao and her companions finished eating, Qin Sheng stood up and walked toward them.

“Do you have a plan, Sheng?” As soon as Qin Sheng approached, Chu Xingyu immediately sensed she might have something different in mind.

Qin Sheng did not deny it. She nodded and said, “I don’t intend to wait here for rescue. If any of you wish to…”

“We’ll follow you.”

Before Qin Sheng could finish, Lin Xing interrupted. “Sheng, we’ll go wherever you go.”

Chu Xingyu quickly slung his pack over his shoulder and stood up. Jiang Miaomiao nodded as she tidied her things. “Exactly, Sheng, don’t forget we’re a team.”

Seeing the three of them had made up their minds, Qin Sheng could only smile wryly, tacitly agreeing to let them come with her.

“Where are you going if not here?” Wang Yu asked, puzzled. Wasn’t it safest for everyone to stay together in this environment? Especially since this place was more secure than anywhere outside—waiting here for rescue seemed the best option.

Wang Yu understood Qin Sheng’s abilities, but he worried whether Jiang Miaomiao and Lin Xing would be safe following her.

“We’ll just follow the boss lady. Why concern yourself?” Lin Xing glared at Wang Yu and moved to Qin Sheng’s side.

Seeing they were determined, Wang Yu didn’t press further. He pursed his lips and said grumpily, “If you run into trouble, don’t come looking for me.”

“What’s with that jinx talk?” Lin Xing bared his teeth, ready to pounce.

Wang Yu licked his dry lips, abandoning his annoyed tone and said, “If you’re in danger, come back anytime. Don’t get hurt.”

Qin Sheng smiled and nodded. “We will. Don’t worry.”

Wang Yu glanced at Lin Xing’s fawning smile toward Qin Sheng and rolled his eyes, shrugging as he returned to his seat.

Before leaving, Lin Xing approached Wang Yu with a cheerful grin. “Unlucky for you, looks like you’ll be fixing the door again today.”

Wang Yu frowned, not understanding. Only when he saw the door he’d repaired yesterday lying ruined by the roadside like two battered gatekeepers did he nearly faint in despair.

“Wang Yu, our civil engineering studies truly aren’t wasted,” his friend couldn’t help but mock.

Wang Yu ground his teeth, gave a cold snort, and dutifully propped the broken doors up, applying his skills. After some effort, he finally managed to restore them.

Qin Sheng, without hesitation, returned to their original lodgings.

It had been some time since she’d stayed there, and the familiarity brought a subtle warmth.

“I’m heading to the rooftop. Anyone coming?” As soon as Qin Sheng put down her things, she picked up her Tang sword, intending to practice.

Thinking of the wild winds outside, Lin Xing instinctively refused. “Boss lady, today’s wind could blow you away. Are you sure about going now?”

Qin Sheng glanced at the gloomy sky outside, then nodded with certainty.

“Alright, I’ll pass. It’s too cold.” Lin Xing shivered as he spoke.

Chu Xingyu had just recovered from his emotions and wasn’t fit to go out again. Qin Sheng told him to rest well and headed to the rooftop alone.

Jiang Miaomiao, as the team’s maternal figure, also stayed behind, immediately grabbing a broom to clean up. Qin Sheng knew better than to disturb her and sensibly went up to train with her sword.

By now, the national rescue team should arrive soon.

And in her previous life, supernatural abilities should soon manifest.

Recalling her attack-type power from before, Qin Sheng couldn’t suppress her excitement. Even she had thought, given her family’s medical background, she’d likely gain healing abilities, but instead, she received an offensive one.

Looking down at the Tang sword in her hand, a beautiful curve appeared at her lips.

An attack-type power paired with an exceptional Tang sword—truly the finishing touch.

Qin Sheng dismissed her thoughts and began practicing. She wielded the sword with increasing skill, especially after receiving guidance from Song Qing'an; she could clearly feel her improvement.

After a few moves, she stopped and casually took a bottle of energy drink from her space—Red Bull. A couple of gulps instantly restored her strength.

She picked up the Tang sword again; a gust of wind swept across the blade, and the fallen leaves were instantly sliced in half, showering down upon her. Qin Sheng paused, quickly sheathing her sword.

She tilted her head back, finished the drink, and lay down on the rooftop lounge chair.

Unafraid of the howling wind, Qin Sheng closed her eyes as if nothing bothered her, letting the rain fall upon her.

The hidden Wind Watcher didn’t know what Qin Sheng was up to, but he knew well that if Qin Sheng became ill, his master would punish him. He raised his hand slightly in her direction.

In an instant, one leg of Qin Sheng’s lounge chair snapped. Fortunately, she steadied herself quickly, or she would’ve fallen.

Perhaps the Wind Watcher thought he’d acted too harshly, for when Qin Sheng opened her eyes, he vanished without a trace.

Qin Sheng examined her suddenly broken chair, frowning. She had just taken it out from her space; how could it break so soon?

Or was it intentional?

She looked around, then straightened up.

“Looks like the quality of this chair really is poor,” she muttered, instantly producing a new one from her space. As she transferred the blanket from the old chair, Chu Xingyu rushed up.

“Sheng! Sheng! Something’s wrong!” Chu Xingyu’s breath came in gasps from running.

Qin Sheng set down her cushion and hurried over. “What happened?”

“Lin Xing, he’s got a fever.” Chu Xingyu quickly explained the situation.

Qin Sheng frowned. She’d only been out for half an hour; how had Lin Xing suddenly developed a fever?

“Let’s go, I’ll take a look.” She grabbed her Tang sword and followed Chu Xingyu to their room.

Upon entering, she saw Lin Xing lying in bed, his face pale.

Qin Sheng set the sword on the table and rushed to his side, touching his forehead. It was indeed hot.

“Xingyu, get some water.”

Chu Xingyu dashed off for water, while Qin Sheng checked Lin Xing’s pulse. Strangely, despite the fever, his pulse showed no weakness; it was even stronger than usual.

Frowning, Qin Sheng checked again.

No doubt, his pulse was steady and unusually strong.

A stark contrast to Lin Xing’s current state.

Qin Sheng was momentarily at a loss. As she hesitated, Lin Xing, feverish, slowly opened his eyes to see her checking his pulse.

“Boss lady, cough, cough, I must’ve caught a chill. Don’t worry. I just have a cold; be careful not to catch it yourselves,” Lin Xing spoke weakly.

“Here’s the water, Sheng,” Chu Xingyu said as he returned.

Qin Sheng ignored Lin Xing’s protest, wetting a towel and placing it on his fevered forehead, which made him feel much better.

“I’ll get you some fever medicine. After you take it, sleep.”

Lin Xing nodded and closed his eyes, uncomfortable.

“Xingyu, come with me for the medicine. Let me know if Lin Xing’s condition changes.”

Chu Xingyu nodded, glanced anxiously at Lin Xing, and followed Qin Sheng to fetch the medicine.

After taking the medicine, Lin Xing fell asleep.

His forehead gradually cooled, and Chu Xingyu finally relaxed, not seeking Qin Sheng further.

That night, someone knocked at Qin Sheng and Jiang Miaomiao’s door.

Qin Sheng was a light sleeper; at the first knock, she woke, guessing it was about Lin Xing, and hurriedly dressed to answer.

“What’s happened to Lin Xing?” she asked anxiously.

“He was getting better, but suddenly the fever returned. He’s burning up, his forehead is scalding hot,” Chu Xingyu blurted out.

Qin Sheng nodded and rushed to Lin Xing’s room.

Just as Chu Xingyu described, Lin Xing was as if trapped in a nightmare, his whole body burning, but he kept mumbling about being cold, curling up tightly under the blankets. Chu Xingyu had even added his own blanket atop him.

Yet Lin Xing remained cold.

“Xingyu, go wake Miaomiao. Boil more hot water, and bring over my and Miaomiao’s blankets.”

Chu Xingyu hurried out and soon returned with Jiang Miaomiao, both carrying blankets.

“Lin Xing has always been strong—how did he suddenly get a fever?” Jiang Miaomiao asked as she covered him, her expression full of worry.

Qin Sheng shook her head, gently placing her hand on Lin Xing’s wrist. As before, his pulse betrayed nothing of his fever.

Even after medicine, nothing helped; they could only stay by his side.

“Miaomiao, soak some towels in water, help cool him down physically.”

Jiang Miaomiao nodded, bringing back several unused towels, soaking them one by one, and handing them to Qin Sheng.

Qin Sheng placed them on Lin Xing’s forehead, passing the heated towels to Chu Xingyu as needed.

The three of them formed a kind of assembly line, working through the night. Not until four in the morning did Lin Xing finally stop calling out for warmth, marking the end of their battle.