episode_0073

“Talk. What exactly happened?”

Xiao Ge’s skeptical gaze pinned Xu Nian down—there was no room for evasion.

Just as Xu Nian was about to explain—

“Never mind, we’ll talk later. There’s still time. Field-type Emo-weapons aren’t common—as expected of an S-rank. Send me out first, keep your ability active, then bring Jiang Xue and me back in later.”

After all, Leng Xiao had injured her waist and couldn’t be moved carelessly.

“Alright, I’ll try.”

Xu Nian hurriedly took out her Emo-weapon.

The unfolded fan trembled in her hands, hesitant.

“Captain… what if I accidentally deactivate the whole field when I use it?”

“You still can’t control it freely?”

“Actually… I’ve never used it before today.”

Xu Nian half-raised a pale finger while awkwardly twirling a loose strand of hair with her other hand.

“So, you really were being controlled earlier?”

“I suppose so.”

Xiao Ge didn’t press further and returned to Leng Xiao’s side. “Hold on.”

Leng Xiao didn’t answer, nor did she resist as Xiao Ge carefully lifted her in a princess carry.

“Ready.”

Xu Nian nodded and flicked her folding fan.

In an instant, the entire theater began to crumble and sway like a collapsing dream.

Xiao Ge stood firm. Leng Xiao didn’t make a sound.

When they looked again, the group had appeared on a patch of grass near the hospital.

Xiao Ge gently set Leng Xiao down.

Jiang Xue and Gu Tong, sensing emotional turbulence, noticed the group and rushed over.

“Captain, what happened to the vice-captain?”

Gu Tong voiced the question while Jiang Xue, without a word, knelt beside Leng Xiao and started crying—like she was mourning.

Ahem.

But strangely, as her tears fell, Leng Xiao’s condition visibly improved.

“How does that work?”

Xu Nian was baffled.

“It’s likely that her sorrowful crying follows the Path of Compassion, stimulating the cells in Leng Xiao’s body to activate and slowly restore themselves.”

????????

“You’re saying… the cells feel pity and start moving, thus healing her?”

…Have you heard yourself?

Su Qingya remained expressionless under Xu Nian’s bewildered stare, as if this were completely normal.

“When I healed the bruise on your leg, I simply terrified the trapped blood into dispersing,” Su Qingya added.

????????

Was that what shocked Xu Nian?!

Xu Nian was stunned that emotions could influence someone on a cellular level.

Did that mean she could mock people at their cells?!

Though cells probably wouldn’t understand…

But if they could be frightened or feel pity, why couldn’t they be teased?

This was absurd. Cells being affected by emotions?

Then again… wasn’t there that kind of description sometimes?

“She laughed. She laughed harder. Every fiber of her being, every cell in her body, roared with laughter alongside her.”

…Something like that.

So maybe it was reasonable for cells to react to emotions.

Heh.

Xu Nian would definitely try this later.

As Jiang Xue continued weeping, Leng Xiao’s condition improved further. Slowly, her tightly furrowed brows relaxed, and the pain faded away.

She shifted slightly—and actually managed to stand again.

“Captain, here’s what happened.”

Without waiting for Xiao Ge to ask, Xu Nian recounted everything she’d experienced once Leng Xiao stabilized.

Of course, she omitted the simulator incident and withheld details about certain abilities.

But even the abbreviated version sounded outrageous.

It made it seem like Xu Nian had somehow comprehended and mastered multiple powers in under two hours—not randomly, either, since each ability proved remarkably useful.

This was unprecedented. The fastest recorded development time before this had been two days.

Xu Nian was truly a genius among geniuses.

Yet no one in the room looked relieved.

Clearly, the bad news far outweighed the good.

“Seems I underestimated you.”

Xiao Ge’s tone was deadly serious. Just hearing it made Xu Nian’s heart clench.

“This is beyond my jurisdiction now. A Transcendent—why did someone like that take an interest in you?”

“I really don’t know…”

Xu Nian shook her head, confusion etched across her face.

“It’s your decision. I can transfer you to a higher-tier squad—those are special ops teams composed entirely of Transcendent-level Emo-manipulators. They’d ensure your safety. Or…”

He paused.

Those were the two options.

Xu Nian couldn’t decide.

Even Su Qingya stayed silent this time.

“Captain, can I… have some time to think?”

“Wait.”

Xiao Ge suddenly raised a hand.

“Leng Xiao.”

Merely hearing her name, Leng Xiao understood. She chimed the large bell in her hand, and Xu Nian’s turbulent emotions instantly stilled.

“Now, in this state, tell me your thoughts.”

Was he worried her earlier answer had been influenced by external factors?

But Xu Nian’s uncertainty about the future was genuine—no ability had touched that.

She was just an ordinary person, hesitant to step out of her comfort zone. She didn’t know what joining some elite unit would entail, or if it’d be worse than now.

One thing was certain: she had too many ties here. Leaving meant severing them all.

She was greedy. She didn’t want that.

But staying… would that just bring danger to everyone else?

Xiao Ge saw her hesitation and patted her shoulder.

“Alright. Go back and think it over.”

He said nothing else.

The group prepared to return to the Public Safety Bureau.

Along the way, Leng Xiao deliberately slowed her pace and pulled Xu Nian aside.

“Su Qingya isn’t stable. Did you know?”

Xu Nian hesitated, then shook her head.

“Her fear levels hit 99% earlier. Do you understand how serious that is?”

Xu Nian’s eyes widened. Su Qingya had never mentioned this.

“But she’s… different. She still retained some rationality in that state. Normally, people lose all control—their desires take over, they stop understanding speech, and begin irreversibly morphing into Mind Beasts. Their very thoughts shift.”

This didn’t surprise Xu Nian. Su Qingya had always been unique.

She didn’t know how to respond, but her concern was palpable.

“Even so, excessively high emotional readings are dangerous. Who’s to say she won’t one day cross that final threshold completely?”

“Xu Nian. As a Joy-type, you should study psychology. Guidance should be your specialty—and you’re the closest to her. Maybe you can help guide her heart.”

Xu Nian nodded solemnly.

Guide her heart…

A quiet realization settled in—Xu Nian had a feeling Su Qingya had become this way because of her.