Xia Lan: From Meeting a Martial Arts Girl

Chapter 9 Return

Lu Siye stayed in the hospital for a month.

The first two weeks are the hardest.

Two ribs were broken, the spine was fractured, and there were multiple soft tissue contusions.

The doctor said that if someone else suffered such severe injuries, they would either die or be bedridden for six months.

It's a miracle that he was able to get out of bed and walk around within a month.

Lu Siye himself didn't know why.

Perhaps it's because he's young, or perhaps it's because he's used to farm work in the village and is physically strong, or perhaps...

He looked down at his right hand.

My palms were clean and dry, with nothing on them.

But that faint stinging sensation has become more and more frequent lately.

Sometimes I would wake him up in the middle of the night in pain, and when I picked him up to look at him, I couldn't see anything.

Baozi visits him every day, bringing fruit and snacks, and telling him what happened the night before.

"After Uncle Yi dealt with that middle-aged man possessed by Zero, he originally wanted to help Sister Su Nian," Baozi said, sitting on the edge of the bed while peeling an apple. "But guess what happened?"

Lu Siye looked at him.

Baozi handed him the peeled apple, her eyes sparkling with excitement: "Sister Su Nian has awakened!"

"Awakening?"

"Primal Qi Attribute!" Baozi said, "Each Xia Lan has their own Primal Qi Attribute, which is one of the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Most people can only gradually perceive it after they have entered the realm, while the more powerful ones can awaken it in battle."

"That night, Sister Su Nian was driven to the brink by Xiao Hai, and she awakened her fire attribute!"

He gestured: "You didn't see it, but the ball of fire in Sister Su Nian's palm sent Xiao Hai staggering backward!"

Lu Siye took a bite of the apple and asked, "And then?"

"Then I awakened too." Baozi scratched his head, a little embarrassed. "Earth attribute. Uncle Yi said I was forced into a corner, and my potential exploded."

He paused, then continued, "The two of us joined forces and subdued Xiao Hai. Uncle Yi rushed over and used his 'Lightning Strike' to clear the zero energy from Xiao Hai's body."

"A flashback?"

"It's a technique used by the Xia Lan, specifically to eliminate zero power," Baozi said. "But only powerful individuals can use it. Uncle Yi's move saved Xiao Hai instantly."

Lu Siye was silent for a moment, then asked, "Where is Xiaohai now?"

Baozi smiled and said, "He made up with his dad."

It turns out that Xiao Hai's father was the middle-aged man possessed by Zero.

That night, Xiao Hai's game console was smashed by his father, and in a fit of anger, he broke his electric scooter and ran up the mountain to hide.

His father searched all afternoon but couldn't find it. He was anxious and angry, and Ling took advantage of his momentary lapse in attention to possess him.

"After his father woke up, he heard that he had almost killed his son, and he completely broke down," Baozi said. "Xiao Hai is quite sensible. He used his New Year's money, which he had saved for a long time, to buy his father a new electric scooter."

Lu Siye was taken aback: "New Year's money? How old is he?"

Eight years old.

How much can an eight-year-old save?

Baozi scratched his head: "I heard he saved it for five years, about three thousand yuan. He used it all to buy his dad a car."

Lu Siye remained silent for a few seconds without saying anything.

Baozi continued, "His dad apologized, bought him a new game console, and promised not to smash his things anymore. The father and son made up."

"That's good."

"There's one more thing," Baozi said in a low voice, "What happened that night has spread online."

Lu Siye frowned: "Has it spread?"

"Yes. Someone filmed it and posted it online. Zero, white light, and it was crackling and popping. At first, a lot of people shared it, saying that the Xia Lan really existed."

Baozi sighed.

"Then the government stepped in. They issued a statement saying it was for a movie shoot and told netizens not to believe or spread rumors. The trending topic was removed, the video was deleted, and the discussion gradually subsided."

Lu Siye thought for a moment: "Then where is the person who sent the letter?"

"Of course, those who believe still believe," Baozi said. "But it's not of much use. Even if ordinary people know there's a zero, it won't help them. They still have to go to work, go to school, and life goes on."

He spoke casually, but Lu Siye understood the meaning behind his words.

More and more people are becoming aware of the existence of zero.

You can't suppress it; it will happen sooner or later...

He shook his head and didn't think about it anymore.

A month later, Lu Siye was finally discharged from the hospital.

On the day he was discharged from the hospital, Yi Songjin came to pick him up in person.

The two men rode in an old jeep from the county town toward Jiugongling.

Yi Songjin didn't say much along the way, and Lu Siye didn't know what to say either, so they just remained silent until they reached the back mountain.

When he got off the bus, Yi Songjin handed him an envelope.

"Your salary."

Lu Siye took it, opened it, and was stunned.

It's a thick stack of paper, I'd estimate it's close to ten thousand.

"this……"

"Three months," Yi Songjin said. "You worked for one month, the remaining two months will be compensation."

Lu Siye had so much to say, but Yi Songjin didn't give him the chance.

"You saved my daughter," he said, his gaze falling on Lu Siye. "And you saved Xiaoman too. This amount of money isn't much."

Lu Siye opened his mouth, but in the end he accepted the envelope.

He wanted to say that it wasn't his achievement; he just didn't want Xiaoman to die, and he just didn't want that giant zero to hurt others anymore.

But saying that would be too sentimental, so he simply didn't say it.

The two walked towards the back of the mountain.

When Yi Songjin arrived at the wooden house with the inscription "Qi Circulates Through Heaven and Earth," he stopped in his tracks.

He turned around and looked at Lu Siye.

"I've seen your medical report," he said. "It's very strange."

Lu Siye waited for him to continue.

"You have absolutely no zero energy within you," Yi Songjin said. "Not even a little bit."

Lu Siye was stunned for a moment.

"But I remember it very clearly," he said. "Zero pressed his finger against my forehead, and I felt something go inside. That feeling... couldn't be fake."

Yi Songjin nodded: "I know."

He paused, his gaze falling on Lu Siye's right hand.

"But the test results showed nothing. Zero Force disappeared, as if it had been erased by something."

Lu Siye looked down at his right hand.

My palms were still clean.

But he remembered that dark space, that blurry figure, and those words.

As long as darkness remains, the Xia Lan will live on forever.

"I've studied many ancient texts about your situation," Yi Songjin said. "There's no record of it. The Xia Lan Seal appearing on the right hand has never happened before, and the fact that injecting zero power didn't turn it into zero power has also never happened before."

He looked at Lu Siye with a complex emotion in his eyes.

"You're a special case. I don't know what that means, whether it's good or bad, a blessing or a curse. But one thing I'm sure of..."

He paused.

"You already possess all the potential to become a Xia Lan."

Lu Siye met his gaze but remained silent.

Yi Songjin did not force him to make a statement.

He simply said, "We won't force you. School starts soon, so go back to school first. If you're free during the holidays, you can come here and sit for a while. Baozi and Su Nian are here."

Lu Siye nodded.

The next day, he packed his things and prepared to go down the mountain.

Baozi, Xiaoman, and Zhou Che all came to see him off.

Baozi's eyes were a little red, but she still grinned and said, "Go back to school and study hard. Remember to come visit during the holidays!"

Xiaoman wiped away her tears, saying, "Thank you for saving me..."

Zhou Che adjusted his glasses and, unusually, spoke up: "Take care."

Lu Siye nodded and said goodbye to them one by one.

Su Nian stood at the very back, still with that indifferent expression.

But after everyone else finished speaking, she suddenly said, "I'll go with you."

Lu Siye was stunned for a moment.

"I'm going to school too," Su Nian said. "It's on my way."

The two walked down the mountain path.

When we arrived at the tourist area, the sun had just risen, and the golden sunlight shone on the ancient buildings of Jiugongling, turning the gray walls and black tiles into a warm yellow.

Tourists have already started climbing the mountain, taking photos with their phones and chatting away.

Looking at the tourists, Lu Siye felt as if he had been transported to another world.

A month ago, he was just one of these ordinary people.

They were unaware of Zero's existence, unaware of Xia Lan's existence, and only knew about going to school, working, and earning money.

Now he knows everything.

Yet it seems like nothing has changed.

The two walked in silence for a while before Su Nian suddenly spoke.

"You shouldn't have come back that night," she said.

Lu Siye turned to look at her.

Su Nian didn't look at him, staring straight ahead, her tone still cold: "You didn't learn anything back then, coming back would just be suicide."

Lu Siye thought for a moment and said, "Xiaoman is still inside."

Su Nian remained silent for a few seconds.

"I know," she said, "so..."

She paused, seemingly considering her words.

"That's why I admire you."

Lu Siye was stunned for a moment.

Su Nian's ears seemed to turn slightly red, but her expression remained indifferent.

She quickened her pace and said, "Don't overthink it, it's just simple appreciation."

Lu Siye paused for a few seconds, then quickly took a few steps to catch up.

After walking for a while, Lu Siye suddenly remembered something.

"By the way," he asked, "I've always wanted to ask, why don't you and your father have the same last name?"

Su Nian paused for a moment.

She frowned, paused for a few seconds, and said, "This isn't anything important."

Lu Siye thought she didn't want to talk about it and was about to change the subject when she spoke again.

"My dad married into the family," Su Nian said. "My mom's surname is Su, so my surname is Su too."

Lu Siye paused for a moment, then nodded: "Oh."

Su Nian glanced at him, seemingly wanting to see if he would have any other reaction.

Seeing that he only said "oh" and his expression didn't change, she looked away and continued walking forward.

After walking for a while, Lu Siye asked again, "What does it feel like when you awaken your fire-attribute elemental energy?"

Su Nian thought for a moment: "It's hot."

"this one?"

"That's it," Su Nian said. "Yuan Qi attribute is innate. Each Xia Lan can only possess one attribute, and a very small number of people may have two. But such people are extremely rare; one might not appear even once in a hundred years."

Lu Siye asked, "Then what's your father's 'attribute'?"

"Wood," Su Nian said. "It's generally associated with one of the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. These are the most common."

She paused, then added, "There are also a few very rare attributes."

Lu Siye became interested: "What?"

"wind."

When Su Nian uttered that word, there was an indescribable emotion in her tone.

"Wind attribute?" Lu Siye asked, "Is it very powerful?"

Su Nian was silent for a few seconds, then said, "Only one person in history has possessed this."

"one person?"

"Legend has it that that person used the power of wind to defeat the ferocious beast Taotie."

Lu Siye was stunned.

He had heard the bald old man in the village talk about the ferocious beast Taotie. It was the most powerful monster in legends, even the Xia Lan couldn't defeat it.

"Who is that person?" he asked.

Su Nian did not answer.

She looked at the mountain road ahead, her expression colder than usual.

"I don't want to talk about this," she said.

Lu Siye looked at her and realized that there might be some story behind this.

He didn't ask any more questions.

The two continued walking down the mountain in silence, listening to each other's footsteps and the noise of tourists in the distance.

As they neared the foot of the mountain, Lu Siye suddenly said, "I will come back."

Su Nian turned to look at him.

Lu Siye met her gaze and said, "During the holidays, I promised your father."

Su Nian looked at him for a few seconds and nodded.

"Um."

Down the mountain, the bus to the county town was already waiting at the station.

Lu Siye got into the car and found a seat by the window.

As the car started moving, he looked out the window and saw Su Nian still standing on the platform, watching the car drive away.

The morning light shone on her, outlining a slender silhouette.

The car rounded a bend, and her figure disappeared from sight.

Lu Siye withdrew his gaze, leaned back in his chair, and looked out the window at the fields rushing past.