The door to my room slid open, and the Shadow Lord entered, his presence commanding attention. He was flanked by Senior Qīnq and two other men, their faces stern and concerned. The Shadow Lord's eyes scanned the room, his gaze settling on my limp form on the floor.
"Leon," he said, his voice firm but laced with a hint of worry. "What happened here?"
Senior Qīnq stepped forward, her expression grim. "I found him like this, Shadow Lord. He was unconscious, and I couldn't rouse him."
The Shadow Lord nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. "Take him to the healer," he ordered his voice firm. "Now."
The two men moved swiftly, gently lifting me from the floor and carrying me out of the room. The Shadow Lord and Senior Qīnq followed behind, their footsteps quiet and deliberate.
As we moved through the corridors, the Shadow Lord's presence seemed to draw the attention of everyone we passed. They bowed their heads in respect, their eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and concern.
We eventually arrived at the healer's chambers, a serene and peaceful space filled with the scent of herbs and incense. The healer, an elderly man with a kind face, looked up from his work, his eyes locking onto mine.
"Shadow Lord, what happened?" he asked, his voice gentle.
The Shadow Lord's expression was grim. "Leon was found unconscious in his room. I want you to do everything in your power to help him."
The healer nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. "I will do everything I can, Shadow Lord."
With that, the healer began his work, his hands moving with a gentle precision as he examined me. The Shadow Lord and Senior Qīnq watched, their faces filled with concern, as the healer worked to bring me back from the brink of darkness.
The healer's hands moved with a gentle precision as he examined me, his eyes scanning my body for any signs of injury or distress. After a few moments, he nodded to himself and began to prepare his acupuncture needles.
Senior Qīnq watched with a worried expression, her eyes fixed on me as the healer worked. She seemed to be holding her breath, her hands clenched into fists as if willing me to recover.
The healer carefully inserted the needles into specific points on my body, his hands moving with a gentle yet firm touch. He worked in silence, his focus solely on the task at hand.
As the needles were inserted, I began to feel a subtle yet noticeable energy flowing through my body. It was as if my very life force was being stirred, awakened from its slumber.
Senior Qīnq's eyes never left mine, her gaze filled with concern and worry. She seemed to be willing to respond, to show some sign of improvement.
The Shadow Lord stood beside her, his expression grim and unyielding. Yet, even though he seemed to be watching me with a hint of concern, his eyes narrowed slightly as he observed the healer's work.
The healer continued to work in silence, his hands moving with a gentle precision as he adjusted the needles and monitored my response.
As the moments passed, I began to feel a subtle yet growing sense of awareness. My mind, once clouded and dark, began to clear, and I became aware of my surroundings.
Senior Qīnq's eyes lit up with hope as she saw me stir, her face filled with a mix of relief and concern. She took a step forward, her hands reaching out as if to touch me, but the healer held up a hand, his eyes warning her to wait.
"Not yet," he said, his voice gentle yet firm. "Let the treatment take its course."
Senior Qīnq nodded, her eyes never leaving mine, as the healer continued to work his subtle magic.
I fully regained consciousness, the healer's eyes locked onto mine, his expression warm and gentle. "Leon, can you hear me?" he asked, his voice soft.
I nodded, my throat dry. The healer gestured to a nearby cup of water, and Senior Qīnq quickly handed it to me. I took a sip, feeling the cool liquid soothe my throat.
The healer's eyes never left mine as he asked, "Did you do anything heavy or strenuous today? Any work or training?"
Senior Qīnq stepped forward, her eyes filled with concern. "He started his training today, Healer. He was with the Shadow Lord earlier."
The healer's expression turned serious, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I see," he said, his voice thoughtful. "Leon, you have not fully recovered from the arrow injury in your chest. You must be careful not to push yourself too hard."
I nodded, remembering the pain and discomfort I had felt during my training with the Shadow Lord.
The healer continued, "Your body is still healing, and you must allow it time to recover. I will give you some herbs to help with the pain and inflammation, but you must rest and avoid any strenuous activity for the next few days."
Senior Qīnq nodded, her eyes filled with determination. "I will make sure he rests, Healer. Thank you for your help."
The Shadow Lord, who had been watching the exchange in silence, spoke up. "I will assign someone to watch over him, and ensure he follows the healer's instructions."
The healer nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. "Good. Leon, you must listen to your body and allow it to heal. You have great potential, but you must be patient and not rush your recovery."
I nodded.
The healer's eyes locked onto mine, his expression warm and gentle. "Leon, you must rest now. Your body needs time to recover, and I will not have you pushing yourself too hard."
He turned to the Shadow Lord, his voice taking on a respectful yet firm tone. "With all due respect, Shadow Lord, Leon needs to rest now. I will not have him exerting himself further, or it may hinder his recovery."
The Shadow Lord nodded, his expression grim and unyielding. Yet, a hint of understanding flickered in his eyes. "Very well, Healer. I will assign someone to watch over him and ensure he follows your instructions."
Senior Qīnq stepped forward, her eyes filled with concern. "I will stay with him, Shadow Lord. I will ensure he rests and follows the healer's instructions."
The Shadow Lord nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. "Very well. You will stay with him, Qīnq. I will leave now, but I expect to see improvement in his condition soon."
With that, the Shadow Lord turned and left the healer's chambers, his footsteps quiet and deliberate. Senior Qīnq followed him, her eyes never leaving mine until she disappeared.
The healer watched them go, his eyes never leaving the door until it slid shut behind them. Then, he turned to me, his expression warm and gentle.
"Rest now, Leon. You are safe here, and I will do everything in my power to help you recover."
I nodded, feeling a sense of relief.
As I lay back, the healer began to prepare a concoction of herbs and medicine, his hands moving with a gentle precision.