Shen Mo asked Yu Chaohui: “How have you been lately? Has your health improved?”

“Some.” Yu Chaohui raised one hand, clenched it into a fist. “At first I had no strength in my body at all. I’ve gradually gotten a bit of it back.”

He had been injured in the “wildlife safari” and then had his life force drained by the flowers, leaving him in a weakened state for a long time. The doctors could find nothing specific wrong and could only let him recover gradually.

In fact, Bai Youwei had also spent a long time amid the flower beds, but she hadn’t been wounded the way Yu Chaohui had been at the time, and she wasn’t the physically dominant type of player, so the effect on her had been minimal.

Yu Chaohui asked Shen Mo: “Do you have any preparations for the next battle?”

“The next battle is Battle 1 — the minimum number of participants is one, so I’ll go with her. The rest of you keep resting.” Shen Mo said.

Yu Chaohui tilted his head down slightly and gave a slow nod. “That’s probably for the best…”

He paused two seconds, then said to Shen Mo: “In a few days, I’m planning to go back to my hometown.”

Shen Mo was mildly surprised. “Alone?”

“Yes.” Yu Chaohui nodded. “The king’s territory has expanded greatly — the whole route would be within our territory, so there’s no need to worry about danger. The road also passes by Fang Yu’s hometown. I was thinking of stopping by to see his family.”

Shen Mo fell silent for a moment at that, then asked quietly: “Are you coming back?”

Yu Chaohui didn’t reply.

Perhaps because even he hadn’t yet decided.

Another long silence stretched between them.

“Go,” Shen Mo said finally. “Find a good car, bring plenty of fuel. Don’t forget food and water either.”

Yu Chaohui nodded. Then he looked at Bai Youwei.

Bai Youwei looked back at him, her gaze direct and steady, calm and composed.

Between the two of them, there was really nothing left to say — or rather, if something were forced out, it would only be the same old worn-out ground. They were simply two people with irreconcilable views, neither capable of convincing the other.

Yu Chaohui lowered his eyes and said quietly: “Well then. I wish you both success in the next battle.”

With that, he turned and walked away.

“Another subject gone.” Shen Mo watched the receding figure of Yu Chaohui, remarking with quiet indifference.

“It’s fine. The next battle only needs one participant.” Bai Youwei was unbothered.

Shen Mo glanced at her. “This one is fine — but Battle 5 after that requires five people. That’s you, me, Tan Xiao, and Ashalina. We’re still one short.”

Ashalina had no wish to see Alon take risks anymore, so Bai Youwei had promised her Alon would not be sent into battle again. And now Yu Chaohui was leaving too — two people gone in one blow.

“We’ll see if Chu Huaijin has any suitable candidates,” Shen Mo said.

Bai Youwei gave a soft “mm” — she had no good ideas for now either.

Just then, a doctor stepped out from a nearby room, results in hand, smiling. “The results are in. Miss Bai’s body is completely normal.”

Shen Mo took the report from him and thanked the doctor.

The doctor added: “There may be too much pressure on her — would you like me to arrange for a psychiatric and psychological specialist to speak with Miss Bai? Sometimes talking with a mental health professional can help identify the root of the issue.”

Bai Youwei frowned and refused directly: “No need.”

She tugged at Shen Mo’s sleeve. “Let’s head back. It was probably just from how grueling this last maze was — a few days of rest and I should be fine.”

She had no wish to see a psychologist — having a stranger dissect her inner world felt far too strange. She wasn’t so fragile that it had come to that.

Shen Mo saw how resistant she was and didn’t push the matter, instead taking her back to rest.

Over the following days, he kept a close eye on Bai Youwei, and finding that her legs gave her no further trouble — even though she continued to love her wheelchair — he finally set his mind completely at ease.

—