My and Their Anime-Style Otherworldly Survival Adventure

So their displeasure at seeing Jiu Xiao and his companion arrive late stemmed largely from personal grudges. One of the officers, upon seeing that it was two children, initially wanted to hurl a few insults, but after recognizing them, he swallowed his words. Jiu Xiao's fame was simply too great; not only him, but his agency had become one of the leading private security agencies in the Tokyo area. With the Emperor's deliberate encouragement, Jiu Xiao frequently appeared in major media outlets.

"Hey, uncles, good afternoon!" Jiu Xiao said with a grin, completely ignoring the hesitant expressions on the other people's faces.

"Hello, Mr. Yuan, I didn't expect you to take on such a small case." The lead officer forced a smile, but was inwardly surprised. He hadn't expected that this prominent figure in Tokyo would personally handle such a seemingly insignificant Gastrea case.

Jiu Xiao laughed and waved his hand: "Not at all, not at all. Even the smallest case is a major matter concerning the safety of citizens. We can't take it lightly. Take us directly to the crime scene."

"This way, please." The lead team member led Jiu Xiao to the fourth floor, to the room furthest to the end. As soon as they reached the door, the officer waiting there greeted them, "Team leader, I'm very sorry, but two members of the assault team just broke in through the window and we've lost contact since..."

The team leader was furious. He grabbed the man by the collar and yelled, "What did you say?! Two members of the assault team went in? What are you doing! Didn't we say we'd wait for the police to arrive?"

Jiu Xiao frowned, his extraordinary senses already detecting a fresh smell of blood.

"Get out of my way. I can smell fresh blood. I'm afraid the people who went in earlier have met with bad luck. Also, you stay by the door and don't come in and get in my way. I don't want to fight and protect you at the same time."

Jiu Xiao's words were quite impolite, filled with unquestionable authority. Although the police officers were dissatisfied, they obediently made way for him because of Jiu Xiao's reputation and power.

"Yeonju, you stay here too, to prevent any from escaping," Jiuxiao instructed Yeonju, drawing a gleaming blade from his waist. Yeonju pouted; although she was somewhat dissatisfied with Jiuxiao's arrangement, she still gave him face in front of outsiders.

Jiuxiao kicked open the door and rushed in. After passing through the entrance hall, a man wearing a red tuxedo, a white mask, and a black top hat came into view. Beside him were two police officers whose bodies were embedded in the wall, their deaths gruesome.

The other person slowly turned his head and said leisurely, "You're really late, police officer..." After seeing who it was, his teasing words stopped abruptly, and he immediately distanced himself from Jiu Xiao.

"Oh my, oh my, isn't this the recently famous Mr. Jiuxiao? It's a pleasure to meet you. What, are you tired of playing the hero lately and want to try something different, like playing Eagle Catches Chickens?" The man in the red tuxedo spoke with a hint of teasing, but his eyes lingered on the sharp blade in Jiuxiao's hand for a moment, and he slowly moved towards the window. Clearly, although his tone was teasing, he was already considering retreating.

Jiu Xiao ignored the other party's politeness. His gaze was sharp as a knife as he quickly scanned the surrounding environment. The room was a mess, the furniture was overturned, and there were mottled bloodstains on the walls. The air was filled with a strong smell of blood and an indescribable stench. Jiu Xiao also took in all of his little actions.

Jiuxiao stared into his eyes and said provocatively, "You're scared, scared to the point of wanting to run out the window. Where's your 'daughter' Kohina? I'm quite interested in her, Hiruko Kagetane."

The man in the red tuxedo was taken aback. He hadn't expected that Jiu Xiao would know his name and even have some understanding of him.

"I never expected that Mr. Jiuxiao would know so much about someone as insignificant as me. It is truly an honor." Hiruko Kagetane chuckled a few times, trying to hide his surprise.

"You are no nobody, you are the famous former member of the 787th Mechanized Special Unit of the Eastern Army of the Ground Self-Defense Force, Mr. Hiruko Kagetane."

Hiruko Kagetane was even more surprised. He hadn't expected that Kyuuyou knew so much about his background, which made him re-evaluate his opponent. However, he quickly returned to normal.

Hiruko Kageyu asked knowingly, "I wonder what brings Mr. Jiuxiao here today? Surely it's not just to reminisce with me?" His words were tinged with amusement as he secretly observed Jiuxiao's reaction, trying to find any possible flaws.

Jiuxiao didn't reply, but instead approached him step by step, sheathing his sword and clenching his fist, aiming for the man's face. At the same time, he shouted, "Hiruko Kagetane, since I've come in person, you might as well surrender today and avoid a beating!"

Seeing this, Hiruko Kagetane did not dodge, but took the blow head-on from Kusho's straight punch. Using Kusho's momentum, he staggered backward, smashed open the window, and escaped without uttering a single harsh word!

Jiuxiao felt as if he had punched an invisible barrier, which must have been the repulsive force domain that appeared in the original work. Although it only blocked Jiuxiao for a moment, it was enough for Hiruko Kagetane to increase the distance between them. Jiuxiao did not pursue, but stood still, staring intently at the direction Hiruko Kagetane had fled, lost in thought.

After a long while, Jiuxiao came out and met up with Yanzhu. Yanzhu asked with concern, "Jiuxiao, are you alright?"

Jiuxiao shook his head: "It's nothing, he just got away."

After explaining the situation to the other officers, the two left the scene. As they passed an alleyway, a one-armed man covered in blood approached them and asked, "Hey buddy, I need to ask you for directions..."

Before he could finish speaking, Yanzhu interrupted him, saying, "Uncle, don't you know what you've become? Although I can't help you much, do you remember what just happened?"

The man was stunned for a moment, then remembered that he had just been attacked by a Gastrea that fell from the sky. He looked at his blood-covered palm and let out a scream.

"At least let him die with a human appearance." Jiu Xiao pulled out his gun and, before the man could completely transform into a Gastrea, precisely pulled the trigger on his head, ending his suffering.

As the man lay in a pool of blood, before his eyes completely glazed over, he managed to say to Jiu Xiao, "Thank you..."

Jiuxiao nodded silently in response to the man's thanks, but a ripple of emotion stirred within him. In this world ravaged by Gastrea, human life was so fragile; every encounter could be a final farewell.

Yanzhu looked at Jiuxiao and comforted him, "Jiuxiao, you don't need to blame yourself. At least you let him die with a human appearance."

Jiuxiao flicked Yanzhu's forehead: "I don't need a little girl like you to comfort me. Do you think I'm that fragile?"

Yeonjoo rubbed her forehead where she'd been flicked, stuck out her tongue, made a face at him, and chuckled, "No, it's just that I think Gouhyo sometimes overthinks things."

Jiuxiao smiled helplessly, and the two continued on their way. Now that Hiruko Kagetane had appeared, many events were about to unfold.

Sure enough, the next day, Jiuxiao received a phone call from the Holy Emperor.

"Mr. Gen, could I trouble you with two things? One is that an infected person appeared in the Tokyo area yesterday. Please eliminate the Gastrea that is the source of the infection. The other is that a white box was swallowed by this Gastrea. Please bring it back unharmed. The reward is 1 billion yen. At the same time, I will also issue requests to other private security companies, but I have the highest hopes for you. The item inside this box is the legacy of the Seven Stars. It can summon one of the twelve zodiac signs, the Stage 5 Gastrea—Scorpio. It is extremely dangerous, so please be careful, Mr. Gen."

The Holy Emperor's voice sounded unusually serious and anxious on the other end of the phone. This was a crucial tool related to the survival of Tokyo, and she could not allow any mishaps!

After hearing the Holy Emperor's request, Jiu Xiao's expression turned serious. Although he didn't care about the lives of the people of Tokyo, he was still very tempted by the huge reward of 10 billion.

"I understand, Your Majesty. I will do my best to complete the mission."

After hanging up the phone, Jiu Xiao immediately began preparing for the operation. After a day of investigation, Jiu Xiao finally discovered some clues. Following the leads, Jiu Xiao arrived at a forest in the outer area.

An unsettling silence permeated the forest, broken only by the occasional gunshot or explosion. Following the direction of the sounds, Jiu Xiao cautiously moved through the dense undergrowth, each step taken with extreme care, lest he disturb the surrounding Gastrea. His senses were heightened, ready to respond to any unexpected situation.

Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps came from not far away. Jiu Xiao immediately concealed himself and observed from the shadows. He saw a young girl with brown hair carrying a gun, running frantically from the bushes nearby, her face full of anxiety. Behind her, it seemed that some enormous creature was chasing closely, with heavy breathing and the crashing sounds of trees being knocked down coming from time to time.

The other person was seriously injured; blood dripped from their arm, staining the soil beneath their feet a dark red. Jiu Xiao's heart skipped a beat; this little girl looked vaguely familiar. Without thinking further, Jiu Xiao rushed out from behind cover and teased, "Little girl, need my help? Just call me 'brother,' and I'll take care of the trouble behind you!"

The tea-haired girl suddenly looked up, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. She then recognized Jiu Xiao and exclaimed with a mixture of joy and delight, "It's you! But how come you're not here at the meeting that day?" Then, as if she had figured something out, she nodded.

"Looks like I don't need to introduce myself. But why did you use explosives in the forest? Didn't you know that would attract more Gastrea?" Jiu Xiao spoke while vigilantly observing his surroundings, ready to deal with any potential dangers.

The tea-haired girl gasped for breath, a hint of anxiety appearing on her usually indifferent face: "...Because we fell into a trap. We saw lights flashing rhythmically in the forest, and thinking they were other creatures, we went closer...but it turned out to be a group of Gastrea. Only I escaped. Please, please save Mr. Jiangjian! He's trapped by those Gastrea in the forest not far away." The tea-haired girl's voice was pleading, and her eyes were slightly red.

Upon hearing this, Jiu Xiao frowned slightly, weighing the pros and cons in his mind. Although he wasn't someone who was easily moved by compassion, he decided to do a good deed that day, since it was something that could be done easily.

Seeing Jiu Xiao frowning in thought, the tea-haired girl thought he was going to refuse. Although she often saw this boy on TV making a declaration of goodwill to the cursed child, she still understood the principle that you can know a person's face but not their heart.

Just as she was about to plead with Jiuxiao again for help, he said, "Fine, but before that, take care of these reckless Gastrea behind you." With that, Jiuxiao raised his blade, which flashed like a silver lightning bolt, striking the approaching Gastrea. His movements were swift and precise; each strike was accompanied by the Gastrea's piercing screams. Their massive bodies fell one after another under Jiuxiao's blade, blood splattering and staining the surrounding earth red.

The little girl with tea-colored hair stared wide-eyed as Jiu Xiao moved through the forest like a ghost. The Gastrea that had once filled her with despair seemed like fragile paper puppets in Jiu Xiao's hands, utterly vulnerable. An indescribable shock and gratitude welled up in her heart. She knew she had met her true savior.

"Watch out!" the little girl suddenly shouted. It turned out that a Gastrea that had slipped through the net had pounced on Jiu Xiao from his blind spot, opening its blood-red maw, ready to swallow Jiu Xiao whole. However, Jiu Xiao's reaction speed was superhuman. He dodged the attack easily by sidestepping, and at the same time, he swung his sword backhand, cleaving the Gastrea in two.

Having dealt with all the threats, Jiu Xiao sheathed his blade, turned to the tea-haired girl, and smiled slightly: "Alright, little girl, now we can go and rescue your Mr. Jiang Jian."

The little girl nodded repeatedly, tears welling in her eyes, and said gratefully, "Thank you for saving me. My name is Qian Shouxia Shi. You must be Yuan Jiuxiao, Mr. Yuan?"

Chapter 101 Besieging Wei to Rescue Zhao

Senju Natsume? Jiuxiao carefully examined the loli in front of him. Her expressionless face and light blonde hair made him initially mistake her hair color for brown due to the lighting and distance. No wonder she looked so familiar; she was an "acquaintance."

Jiu Xiao muttered to himself, he never expected to meet her here. Although he had forgotten a lot about the setting of this world, he still vaguely remembered the name Qian Shou Xia Shi and her general appearance. After all, she was someone who had once made him shed tears in front of the screen.

"Yes, I am Yuan Jiuxiao." Jiuxiao nodded, feeling both surprised and fortunate about this unexpected encounter. It seemed that the Goddess of Lolis might really be looking out for him.

"Mr. Yuan, please hurry and go save Mr. Jiangjian!" Qian Shouxia urged anxiously, her delicate hand tightly gripping Jiuxiao's arm, completely unaware that her blood had stained Jiuxiao's sleeve. He had been injured in the battle with the Gastrea, but at this moment, she was only focused on saving him and had no time to care about her injury.

Jiu Xiao glanced down at the bloodstains on his sleeve, a hint of heartache flashing in his eyes. He gently grasped Xia Shi's injured hand and activated the healing skill he had obtained from Xiao Yuan. Instantly, a warm and gentle light enveloped Xia Shi's hand, and the wound healed rapidly at a visible speed, leaving not a single scar.

Xia Shi stared at her hand in astonishment, her eyes filled with disbelief. She had never seen such a magical ability before.

"This...this is?" Xia Shi's voice trembled slightly as she looked up at the sky, her eyes filled with confusion and shock.

Jiuxiao smiled and explained, "Don't worry, this is a special ability I got from a friend that can heal wounds. Just think of it as magic, and remember to keep it a secret from me."

Xia Shi moved his fingers, feeling his hand had fully recovered, and a faint smile appeared on his face: "It's completely healed, thank you, Mr. Yuan! I'll keep it a secret for you."

Seeing this, Jiu Xiao didn't delay any longer. He gestured for Xia Shi to follow him closely, and then quickly moved forward in the direction she pointed. Xia Shi shook her head and refused, saying, "My physical strength has reached its limit. Moving together will only slow you down. Mr. Yuan, you go ahead first, and I will catch up with you later."

Jiu Xiao wouldn't leave Xia Shi here alone; he roughly knew what the other party was planning. Jiu Xiao squatted down and said, "Come on up."

Xia Shi hesitated, afraid of becoming a burden to Jiu Xiao.

"Mr. Yuan, I..."

Jiuxiao interrupted, "Stop with the 'I-I-I'! If you don't come up, I'll keep waiting. Xia Shi-chan, you don't want Mr. Jiang Jian to miss the chance to rescue him because of your hesitation, do you?"

Upon hearing this, Xia Shi bit her lip and finally made up her mind. She carefully placed her hand on Jiu Xiao's back and said softly, "Thank you for your help, Mr. Yuan."

Jiu Xiao smiled slightly, gently lifted Xia Shi's legs with both hands, and carried her steadily on his back. Xia Shi's petite figure was negligible to Jiu Xiao. He adjusted his breathing, leaped more than ten meters with a powerful leap, and sped towards his target location.

Throughout the journey, Xia Shi clung tightly to Jiu Xiao's back. She could feel his steady steps and strong heartbeat, which filled her with an unprecedented sense of security. She whispered in Jiu Xiao's ear, "Mr. Yuan, you are such a good person. I was so sorry for doubting you before."

Jiu Xiao was a little dumbfounded, feeling like he'd been given a "good guy card" for no reason.

“Xia Shi, in this apocalyptic world, I don’t think being a good person is a compliment. However, I have indeed received your kind intentions.”

Xia Shi fell silent upon hearing this. Despite being just a little girl, she understood the world better than most adults and was a kind-hearted child.

"...Perhaps, but in this cruel world, every act of kindness is especially precious. And I can sense that Mr. Yuan is indeed a trustworthy person."

Jiuxiao said dismissively, "Forget it, I'm far inferior to you. Just now, your insistence on staying put was probably more about attracting the monsters' attention so I could rescue people more safely, besides being exhausted, right?"

Xia Shi's heart skipped a beat after her thoughts were exposed, but she still stubbornly insisted, "No, no, I'm just really tired and want to rest for a bit..."

Jiuxiao chuckled, a hint of teasing in his voice: "Alright, Xia Shi-chan, hasn't anyone told you that your lying skills are really terrible? Although your idea was good, have you ever considered that you definitely wouldn't have survived in that state? If I rescued Mr. Jiangjian and came back to find you already a cold corpse, or a member of the Gastrea, I would feel guilty for the rest of my life. You know, sometimes gentleness is also a kind of cruelty, which can lead people into another abyss. So, don't do such foolish things again, okay?"

Upon hearing this, Xia Shi tightened her grip on Jiu Xiao's neck. She hadn't expected Jiu Xiao to value her so much upon their first meeting, nor had she expected him to be so perceptive, so easily sensing her thoughts. This made Xia Shi feel somewhat ashamed. "I'm very sorry, Mr. Yuan, I won't do that again."

Jiuxiao shook his head and said, "Why apologize? You didn't do anything wrong. If being considerate of others is wrong, then there must be something wrong with this world."

Jiu Xiao's words were like a warm current, slowly flowing into Xia Shi's heart, filling her with an unprecedented feeling. She nestled tightly against Jiu Xiao's back, feeling his burning heartbeat, as if the whole world had become warmer because of it.

"Mr. Yuan, you are truly a special person. That's a very cunning way of putting it..."

As expected of Jiuxiao, he's incredibly submissive to his older sister, a true master of the younger man/older woman dynamic! With just a few words, he's turned this young girl's heart upside down. Absolutely outrageous!

During their conversation, Jiu Xiao led Xia Shi to the place where Jiang Jian was trapped. There were signs of a struggle, fresh blood, and the carcasses of some Gastrea, but Jiang Jian was nowhere to be seen; only a broken greatsword remained. Xia Shi immediately recognized it as Jiang Jian's weapon! Her heart sank, and an ominous premonition washed over her.

Jiuxiao also noticed the broken giant sword. He cautiously explored forward, following the bloodstains and signs of a struggle on the ground. Xia Shi followed closely behind, his eyes filled with worry and unease.

Not long after, Jiu Xiao saw a group of Gastrea huddled around a boulder, tearing at something in a frenzy. Jiu Xiao's heart sank. He first stopped Xia Shi from firing, as that would attract more Gastrea. He drew his long sword from his waist, silently approached the Gastrea tearing at something, and with a flash of light, instantly killed them all.

Only then did Jiu Xiao see the horrific scene before him. There was a half-meter-wide crack in the boulder, and a person—no, it could only be described as half a person—was trapped inside. His lower body had been devoured by Gastrea, and his blood stained the surrounding rocks and soil. His life force was extremely weak. It was likely that this person, in desperation, had tried to hide in the crack to escape the Gastrea's pursuit, but the scent of his blood had attracted even more monsters, ultimately leading to his tragic end.

Xia Shi called out in a trembling voice, "Mr. Jiang Jian!" She wanted to check Jiang Jian's injuries, but didn't know where to put her hands.

Jiuxiao decisively used his ability on Jiangjian, injecting a large amount of healing magic into the man's damaged body, but it only barely stopped the wounds. Jiangjian's eyelids twitched slightly; Jiuxiao's magic had kept him alive for the last time, but his life force was like a candle in the wind, ready to be extinguished at any moment.

Jiu Xiao patted Xia Shi on the shoulder and said earnestly, "I'm sorry, Xia Shi, I've done my best, but I can probably only keep him alive for a while. He might regain consciousness for a bit later. You should say goodbye, and I'll keep watch nearby."

Xia Shi remained silent, his face expressionless, only nodding silently. Not long after Jiu Xiao left, Jiang Jian struggled to open his eyes. Due to excessive blood loss, his vision remained unfocused for a long time. When he finally saw the person before him, he roared as if in a final burst of energy, "Idiot! Didn't I tell you to get lost? You're just getting in the way here, that's why I hate brats like you!"

Xia Shi's eyes instantly welled up with tears, but she forced them back, her voice choked with emotion as she said, "Mr. Jiang Jian, please don't say anymore... I'm already so happy to see you again."

A complex emotion flashed in Jiang Jian's eyes. Although he usually referred to Xia Shi as a prop, he actually valued her very much.

Xia Shi hurriedly stepped forward, wanting to gently support Jiang Jian's shoulders, trying to make him more comfortable. But Jiang Jian stopped him with a look in his eyes, and he began to cough violently, each cough seeming to exhaust all his strength.

"...Cough cough...Go away, leave...cough cough...I, if...if I could, burn my...cough cough, corpse. I don't want to become food for these monsters..."

Jiang Jian's voice was broken and intermittent, each word seeming to be squeezed out from the depths of his throat. In the final moments of his life, he suddenly had the urge to reach out and touch Xia Shi's head. With all his strength, Jiang Jian slowly raised his blood-stained hand, the distance so close yet so far.

Seeing this, Xia Shi tried to grasp his hand, but grasped only air. Jiang Jian's hand fell limply, ultimately failing to touch Xia Shi's hair. His eyes were completely unfocused, and his breathing had stopped.

Xia Shi stood frozen, staring at the gradually cooling corpse of the prison guard, tears silently streaming down his face. Jiu Xiao stood at a distance, having witnessed the entire scene, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He slowly approached and said softly, "Xia Shi, the dead cannot be brought back to life. Please accept my condolences. Although this prison guard may be sharp-tongued, he still cares about you deep down."

Although Jiuxiao was some distance away from them, he still heard Jiang Jian's dying roar. Although the words were harsh, Jiuxiao knew that Jiang Jian was protecting Xia Shi in his own way. Some people are like that, all talk and no action, while others are all talk and no action. Jiang Jian undoubtedly belonged to the former, refusing to let go of that awkward concern even in death.

Xia Shi did not respond, but silently wiped the tears from his cheeks, then took a deep look at the body of the prisoner, and turned to walk towards Jiu Xiao.

"Mr. Yuan, do you have any fire with you?"

Jiuxiao nodded, conjuring a dazzling fireball in his hand, which enveloped Jiang Jian's corpse. The flames spread rapidly, and the intense heat quickly reduced the body to ashes. Following the principle of seeing things through to the end, Jiuxiao conjured another fireball, this time increasing the output of his magic, using the fireball spell to shatter the rocks beside Jiang Jian, burying him completely.

Xia Shi watched all of this without reacting to the abilities that Jiu Xiao had displayed.

After dealing with the body of the imprisoned man, Jiu Xiao quickly left the scene with the dazed Xia Shi. The commotion they had just made might attract more Gastrea, and it was not advisable to stay there any longer.

Xia Shi remained silent throughout the journey, and Jiu Xiao did not disturb her, simply staying by her side. He led Xia Shi to continue the pursuit of the Gastrea that had swallowed the Seven Star Legacy, but after this delay, the sky had completely darkened, and the surrounding environment had become even more eerie and terrifying. The Gastrea's activity seemed to become more frequent as night fell.

Worse still, he had completely lost sight of the Gastrea and had no clear direction to pursue it. Just as he was preparing to find a place to rest for the night and continue the next day, devastating news arrived from Tokyo.

The Holy Emperor has been assassinated! The assailant is a master of concealed weapons. After silently infiltrating the Holy Residence, the attacker stabbed the Holy Emperor with a throwing knife. Fortunately, the guards reacted in time... or perhaps not quite in time, to prevent the assailant from delivering the final blow. However, the throwing knife was poisoned, and the Holy Emperor has fallen into a coma. Before losing consciousness, she specifically requested that Jiuxiao be sent to protect her.

The Emperor's adjutant had already sent Jiuxiao's location, and the other party said they would send a helicopter to pick them up immediately, and told them to wait where they were.

Jiu Xiao looked at Xia Shi, who had already recovered from his dazed state and had heard the entire conversation between Jiu Xiao and the Holy Emperor's adjutant. She calmly analyzed, "Mr. Yuan, don't you think this matter is too strange?"

Jiu Xiao frowned slightly, gazing intently into the distance, seemingly pondering the question Xia Shi had raised. He slowly spoke, "Indeed, the timing of this event is too coincidental, as if it were intentional, to divert our attention from hunting Gastrea."

Xia Shi nodded and continued, "The other party may have been fully capable of killing the Holy Emperor directly, but chose to spare her life. Mr. Yuan, do you have a personal relationship with the Holy Emperor, and a good one at that?"

Jiu Xiao nodded, having figured out the key to the matter. The other party knew that the Gambling Saint Emperor would rely on Jiu Xiao at a crucial moment, and they were certain that Jiu Xiao wouldn't refuse. This was a calculated move to distract Jiu Xiao and his companions, preventing them from concentrating on hunting down the Gastrea carrying the Seven Star Legacy.

"Looks like we've been tricked," Jiu Xiao said in a deep voice, a cold glint in his eyes. But it didn't matter; even if they summoned Scorpio, Jiu Xiao had ways to take it down.

Chapter 102 Is there still a law? Is there still a rule of law?

Amidst the roar of the helicopter, Jiu Xiao and Xia Shi were swiftly transported to a hospital in Tokyo. Under the night sky, the city lights and the helicopter's searchlights created a bustling scene, while in the shadows, a conspiracy that could potentially overturn Tokyo was unfolding.

Upon arriving in St. Tokyo, Jiu Xiao, without having time to make arrangements for Xia Shi, took her to the outside of the Holy Emperor's ward. Inside the ward, the medical team was working diligently to save the Holy Emperor, who lay quietly on the bed, his face as pale as paper, his vital signs weak, and he occasionally frowned, as if in great pain.

Jiuxiao also met Kisaragi's grandfather, Tendo Kikunojo, for the first time. He was an old man with white hair and beard, and his expression was very dignified. Having been in a high position for a long time, he exuded a strong sense of authority, and his gaze towards Jiuxiao was unfriendly.