Arknights: Studying medicine can't save Terra

A low, almost mournful cry came from beneath the blade mask. He relinquished control of his arm and forced his body to fall, attempting to use gravity and the earth to push the dagger into his throat once more.

The black figure with the sharp blade fell to the ground, the snow burying his body.

This should have been the gentlest touch, but it made Sharp Blade realize that he had failed.

The heavy snow in Sami prevented him from carrying out his plan.

The black aura completely swallowed his will.

The figure of the sharp blade fell to the ground in the snow, and the contamination continued to spread beneath him.

After a moment, his stiff body stood up again like a puppet on strings, and he limped into the depths of the snowfield. With each step he took, he stained the white snowflakes under his feet with a touch of black.

An hour later, a squad of Ursus soldiers who had received the news cautiously approached the location where the suicide was carried out.

The team was small, but their equipment and discipline showed that they were not just ordinary soldiers.

But at this moment, looking at the ever-expanding black snowfield and the three cold, sharp-bladed corpses, they were still somewhat at a loss.

After a moment, the team leader realized something, looked away, and shouted:

"Report this immediately via communications. Pollution has occurred, and we need to send people over to clean it up."

The captain gave a brief instruction and then turned to leave.

His teammate was somewhat surprised: "The message we received clearly said there were four Sharp Blades, but there are only three here. Shouldn't we go and look for them?"

"And then what?" The captain turned to look at his team members. "Even if you don't know what we're facing, you should know that since he didn't die here, it means he has become our enemy. Is our team a match for him?"

The team member was speechless, but the resentment in his heart could not be extinguished by his will. He subconsciously turned his head to carefully examine the black snow.

The sound of a crossbow string tightening rang out, and the captain thrust the crossbow bolt directly into his teammate's head.

"If you don't want me to shoot an arrow through your head, you'd better shut up your damn competitive spirit," the captain said coldly. "Everyone, retreat to a distance of 100 meters and block this area, and make sure you are at least within the line of sight of two teammates."

Once the mission is complete, everyone must immediately line up and assemble; leaving the group is not permitted for any reason.

"Captain, are we just going to stay here like this?" the team member asked.

"Don't ask, this is a military order."

The captain gave a cold warning, then reached out and grabbed a teammate's clothes, dragging him in front of him. He waved to signal everyone to take immediate action.

Looking at the team members around him who didn't quite understand the situation, the captain sighed inwardly.

He was helpless against those evil spirits, and dared not even reveal the whole truth to his brothers who had shared life and death with him.

The more you know, the more dangerous it becomes, and the more fear you feel.

Fear is the perfect nourishment for the growth of evil.

The captain walked at the very back of the group, looking up at the vast, white sky.

Can they really survive being entangled with those ghostly things?

No one in the group, including the captain, dared to turn around, nor could anyone see a black aura seep into the captain's ankle along the snow.

"Captain, there are people ahead."

The team member walking in front suddenly spoke up to remind them.

Upon hearing this, the captain immediately became extremely vigilant and focused his attention, then his expression changed drastically: "Enemy attack! It's a witch!"

The moment the words left his mouth, the well-equipped Ursus soldier squad was engulfed by the blizzard.

Simone walked step by step, passing one ice sculpture after another, and stopped in front of the ice sculpture that was the captain.

She raised her staff and whispered a prayer before the ice sculpture in front of her.

Soon, a black aura flowed from the ice sculpture's ankles, polluting the white snow, before slowly dissipating under Simone's prayers.

After eliminating the nascent source of pollution, Simone continued her journey, arriving at the place where she would end her life with a sharp blade.

She knew the identities of these blades and understood their choices.

Even though the conflict between Sami and Ursus could no longer be described as a blood feud, Simone was still somewhat moved by the way these blades used their lives to sever the corruption of the demons.

“Your will can be recognized by Sami, but... there is still one source of pollution that has left.”

Simone raised her staff and prayed for the three bladed figures before her, sending off these three foreign martyrs with a Sami ritual.

Once everything was over, Simone put away her staff and followed the trail of black footprints into the distance.

"Let me personally bid farewell to this last person."

Simone took a step forward, but suddenly sensed someone approaching.

She turned her head and looked at the wind and snow beside her.

"You shouldn't go any further," Elchi advised through the wind and snow. "You will die on this journey."

Simone lowered her golden eyes slightly and asked:

"What is the source of the pollution?"

“Someone will come and deal with him,” Elki replied.

"I'm asking where the source of the pollution is."

"...You shouldn't go any further."

Simone didn't get the answer she wanted, so she looked away, stopped talking, and continued walking.

Chapter 872 Old Chen: When it comes to filial piety, you have to look to me!

"Haha, here comes the candied hawthorn!"

Qi Yan, beaming with joy, ran into his inn with a large handful of candied hawthorns in his hand.

It was past lunchtime, and only a few tea drinkers were scattered around the inn. The staff, now with some free time, gathered in twos and threes, pretending to wipe tables and mop the floor, but actually chatting idly.

Chen and Wu observed this but did not interfere.

The two were enjoying their first real break since arriving in Shangshu with Lao Li when they heard Qi Yan's shouts as he burst in. All three of them turned to look.

Qi Yan walked over with candied hawthorns, gave one to everyone, and then realized there were two left:

"We bought too much! What about Taihe and Zuole?"

"No, we bought too few."

Chen said something, took the extra candied hawthorn from Qi Yan and put it on the plate on the table.

Before Qi Yan could ask a question, she spoke first: "Uncle Taihe left with Zuo Le. They still have a mission to investigate the location of the Wang Fragment. In order to prevent being led by the nose by you, Uncle Taihe chose to run away."

"Oh, whatever." Qi Yan didn't care at all. "Anyway, the two of them will eventually end up in Yumen after investigating for a while."

Upon hearing this, Chen silently mourned for Taihe for two seconds, and then put the candied hawthorn in his hand into his mouth for the remaining second.

The red lips bit into the syrup coating of the hawthorn, producing a crisp, light sound.

Qi Yan's appreciation of this beautiful scene was completely interrupted by Wu You's strange expression.

"Wait, what's with that expression?"

Qi Yan looked at Wu You, who seemed to want to say something but hesitated, his face full of guilt, and felt completely confused.

Wu You, holding the candied hawthorn in his hand, whispered a reminder:

"Qi Yan, they've arrived at the inn..."

Chen's gasp interrupted Wu You's words.

"Haha!" Qi Yan's expression instantly lit up with excitement. "Old Chen, do you like the candied hawthorn berries I specially chose for you?"

"Why would such a monstrous thing exist?!"

Chen Suan's expression was somewhat ferocious, as if he wished he could shove the candied hawthorn directly onto Qi Yan's head.

"The world is vast and full of wonders. You ask me, but who am I supposed to ask?" Qi Yan pointed to the remaining candied hawthorns on the plate, indicating that they were normal.

Chen glanced at it, but didn't dare to believe it easily.

She rubbed her face, which looked somewhat disheveled, and muttered, "It was really the right choice not to remind you."

"Remind me of what?" Qi Yan asked, puzzled.

Chen raised his hand to stop Wu You from speaking, but still didn't explain. Instead, he changed the subject:

"What did the Grand Tutor say that displeased you?"

"Stop pretending. Outsiders may not understand you, but don't we, your own people, can't we see what you're thinking?" Chen rolled his eyes. "You're actually very easy to understand."

Qi Yan was taken aback for a moment, then turned to look at his younger sister.

Qi Lin ate her candied hawthorn with a blank expression, showing no surprise at Chen's words.

"Tsk, maybe I should borrow a hooded jacket from the professor sometime. His closet is full of those kinds of clothes anyway."

Qi Yan scratched his head and said with a grin, "The Grand Tutor did say some nonsense, but I, Qi Xiaobai, never let my revenge linger. I've already taught him a lesson."

"Did you do it?" Chen asked.

"I didn't lay a hand on him, but I guarantee this lesson will be more painful than Old Deng getting a beating," Qi Yan said confidently.

Hearing this, Chen nodded and subconsciously brought the candied hawthorn to his mouth.

At the last moment, she suddenly remembered the sour taste of the candied hawthorn, quickly moved it aside, and continued:

"Qi Yan, although the Grand Tutor is also my elder, I know very well that his generation is somewhat stubborn, or rather, their thinking is already fixed, so they will say or do some decisions that we do not like."

If you feel offended, I don't mind if you treat him the same way you treated Wei Yanwu.

"...A bit too filial."

Even Qi Yan's lips twitched slightly.

Chen didn't laugh; instead, his expression gradually became serious: "Qi Yan, the older generation, such as the Grand Tutor, possesses a vision and experience that young people cannot match, but that doesn't mean that the elderly are incapable of making mistakes."

As a junior, I cannot interfere in these matters, but I will not stop you from expressing your dissatisfaction and seeking revenge.

I have only one request: please don't hurt anyone, or rather, please don't harm ordinary people. You can beat people up, you can destroy houses, I won't mind any of that.

Qi Yan looked at Chen with a strange expression and hesitated before saying, "But we'll have to pay compensation if we demolish your house."

“You don’t need to worry about that. I can go back to Longmen to get more money,” Chen assured him.

"...He's becoming more and more filial."

Hearing Qi Yan's incessant complaining, Chen could no longer bear it and punched Qi Yan in the waist.

Seeing Qi Yan clutching his back and slumped over the table, Chen finally revealed a satisfied smile:

"In short, that's roughly my attitude."

Qi Yan quickly covered his mouth, putting on a pitiful expression that said, "I've already behaved myself, please let me go."

Chen shook the candied hawthorn, but ultimately didn't stick it in.

Seeing that he had successfully escaped a disaster, Qi Yan leaned on the table and looked at Wu You: "What were you trying to say?"

"Qi Yan, Lao Li is having some troubles. Do you think you can help him?" Chen interrupted Wu You again.

Qi Yan straightened up, looked at Lao Li with a puzzled expression, and gestured for him to explain.

Old Carp finally stopped showing off his candied hawthorn, sighed, and said:

"Actually, besides helping Liang Xun, I also came to Shangshu this time to use his official position in Yan Kingdom to help me investigate the whereabouts of a friend."

But just now this guy suddenly sent someone to tell me he was leaving, and then he slipped away with the Grand Tutor. I'm furious right now.

"Huai Tianpei?" Qi Yan directly gave a name.

Old Carp's eyes widened instantly: "You actually know this? Is there nothing on this land that you don't know?"

Qi Yan rolled her eyes: "Although I like to use the 'know-it-all' meme, there are a lot of things I don't know. I just happen to know some things."

As for your martial arts fanatic friend named Huai Tianpei, he'll most likely be respawning at Yumen next.

"Yumen... He's going to find that grandmaster?" Old Li immediately guessed his martial arts fanatic friend's goal.

Qi Yan nodded and was about to speak when he suddenly heard hurried footsteps coming from the inner room of his inn.

He turned his head and was shocked to see Nian, who reeked of alcohol, running out as if fleeing.

Xi, who was right behind her, pounced on Nian and grabbed his ankle tightly: "Take me with you... hiccup!"