Chapter 187: Midnight Arrival at Silver Wing Temple

Chapter 187: Chapter 187: Midnight Arrival at Silver Wing Temple

After ending his call with Chairman Abner, Huo An decided to pilot the aircraft himself and find Liang He to discuss the pills, hoping to distract himself. However, he had forgotten that it was right at dinnertime, so he had to eat first before getting to work.

"Uncle, I heard from Xu Yi that you haven’t been eating or resting well lately. You need to eat more today," Huo An said.

Hoder continuously placed food into Huo An’s bowl with serving chopsticks. He had harbored a selfish motive when he was transferred to the protection zone to serve as Liang He’s bodyguard. Aside from Liang He’s special status, it was also the intention of the Huo Family; they hoped he could take good care of Huo An, allowing the young man to get used to his presence and thereby grow closer to the Huo Family.

However, the harmonious relationship between Huo An and Hoder was actually rooted in their shared experiences in the Federation Army. The camaraderie forged in life-and-death battles sometimes instilled more trust between them than familial ties.

"Mhm." Huo An didn’t say much else, silently picking at his food. Even Silver Shuttle could tell that something was off with his mood.

Silver Shuttle sneakily poked Hoder, wanting to gossip, but after Silver Feather shot him a glare, he didn’t dare to make any more little moves.

"Brother Hao, how are the animals in the Sixth Service Area doing?"

Compared to the cautiousness or reluctance of the others to speak up, Liang He appeared much more at ease. Although her mind was entirely focused on Xuan Jiao, it didn’t mean she was unconcerned about the life and death of the other comatose animals.

"Not very well. Their condition is much worse than Xuan Jiao’s, and deaths have already begun to occur one after another," Huo An replied.

Several days had passed since the comatose animals were discovered. The toxins were gradually eroding their bodies, and since they weren’t Beastmen, it was perfectly normal that they couldn’t hold on.

"Lan Zhuo and the Animal Research Institute have been trying to find ways to delay the onset of the toxins, hoping to hold out until an antidote is successfully developed, but..."

It wasn’t that Huo An was throwing a pity party or speaking up for Lan Zhuo and the others; the reality of the situation was indeed far from optimistic. For once, Liang He understood his underlying meaning, but when it came to the pills, there was truly nothing she could do to help. That was a promise she had made before leaving the Blue Star.

"If it’s just about delaying the onset of the toxins, perhaps I can ask a friend for help."

As a poison expert, Hello Poison had countless venom formulas on hand. Sometimes, for the sake of better observation and research, he would also create inhibitors to make his test subjects live a bit longer. Of course, the test subjects were all ordinary small animals, but this situation was right up his alley.

"But if they are shipped from the Blue Star, won’t that take time as well?"

Hoder was worried that they wouldn’t make it in time. Perhaps during the time it took for the package to arrive, either another batch of animals would die or there would be progress in the antidote’s development. Ultimately, it would feel like they were doing useless work.

"No need. I can make them myself; I just need my friend to guide me remotely," Liang He said.

Hearing her certain tone, Huo An finally curled his lips into a smile, as if the heavy stone in his heart had been lifted halfway. This way, Lan Zhuo would have no reason to ask Liang He for the pills anymore, and Huo An wouldn’t need to be caught in a dilemma.

"Alright. I’ll have Xu Yi come back later to help you out. Whatever you need, as long as it’s available in the protection zone, feel free to use it."

"There’s no rush. Yin Qi might arrive tonight. I’ll prepare some things myself first, and you can just have Xu Yi take them back when the time comes."

The group led by Priest Silver Li, who was responsible for escorting Yin Qi from the Silver Wing Temple, arrived at the Tianyao Star Protection Zone in the middle of the night. Perhaps because Silver Feather had mentioned it earlier, allowing Liang He to prepare, she wasn’t surprised when a group of people showed up in the Seventh Service Area.

"Hello, I am Priest Silver Li of the Silver Wing Temple. Are you Miss Liang He?"

Before they came, the High Priest had specifically instructed Silver Li not to be too arrogant or aloof toward the people in the protection zone, especially Liang He, who must be treated with the utmost respect. After all, she was currently the only hope for the Divine Son, Yin Qi.

"I am. Ah Ling happens to be washing up right now, so I’ll take you to the place where Yin Qi will be settled first."

Liang He glanced behind Silver Li at a cage surrounded and tightly guarded by a group of Divine Envoys. The cage was covered by a black-and-gold cloth, making it impossible to see inside.

"The... the Divine Beast is lethargic and dislikes people getting close. His slumbering periods are also getting longer. Given the long journey, we could only escort him in this manner."

Typically, the Silver Wing Temple was accustomed to using platinum-colored fabrics. The reason they draped a black-and-gold cloth over Yin Qi’s cage was twofold: first, it was to lower his sensitivity to changes in the external environment to prevent him from becoming agitated; second, it was to prevent the external Light from being too glaring and disturbing his rest.

"We live in the Endless Ice Domain year-round, so the Divine Beast needs some time to adapt to the outside world. We are not intentionally imprisoning him."

Having heard that Liang He cared deeply for fluffy animals, Silver Li, terrified of being misunderstood, could only stammer out an explanation. Acting completely out of character, even he wasn’t quite used to speaking in such a "gentle" manner.

"I understand. Come with me."

Liang He could actually understand what Silver Li meant. Constantly facing white ice and snow year-round meant one’s eyes would become accustomed to its presence. Suddenly seeing other colors would be disorienting; in severe cases, it could even cause temporary blindness. Since Yin Qi was the Divine Beast of the Silver Wing Temple and held a transcendent status, he naturally had to be treated with caution.

"This is the medical room?" Silver Li asked. He hadn’t known that Liang He arranged the medical room for Yin Qi. When he passed by the animal dormitories earlier, he had assumed Yin Qi would be staying there.

"Yes. Ah Ling said Yin Qi’s body was experiencing abnormalities. I need him to stay in the medical room temporarily so I can observe him for a few days before having him cohabit with the others."

After Liang He gave Silver Li a brief explanation, she had him move the cage holding Yin Qi into the room. Because they made quite a bit of noise, the fluffy animals resting in their dormitories all ran over to see what the commotion was about, only to be shooed back by Liang He.

As a Priest of the temple, Silver Li naturally knew the true identities of the Mojin King Tiger and the others. When he saw Liang He herding the Federation Marshal, the First Commander, the Imperial Crown Prince, and the Major General back to the animal dormitories like stray dogs, he silently pursed his lips, finally understanding why the High Priest had told him to be respectful.

"I’m sorry. Something happened recently, so they are quite worried about me. They didn’t frighten Yin Qi, did they?"

"Ah? No, no..."

Silver Li and his group had absolutely no complaints about Liang He’s behavior of caring only for the beasts and not the people. Not to mention that they inherently placed Yin Qi in an important position far above themselves; just her attitude toward fluffy animals made them incredibly satisfied. After all, the majority of the people in the Silver Wing Temple were actually Beastmen, or children born of Beastmen and humans.

"Then I will go unlock the cage and let the Divine Beast out first," Silver Li said.

He had the other Divine Envoys exit the medical room as he walked toward the cage himself. However, just as he got close, an angry roar erupted from within, shaking the surroundings until they rattled.

"ROAR!"

"ROAR!"

"SCREECH!"

The first sound was Yin Qi’s sudden, furious roar, while the following ones were the reactions of the Mengji Snow Leopard and the others after hearing it. They likely assumed that Liang He was being threatened, making them exceptionally agitated and eager to charge over.

"I’m fine. Yin Qi is just roaring because he feels unwell. It’s not directed at me, so be good," Liang He called out.

She first ran over to soothe the Canglan Hunting Eagle and the others, then rushed back to the medical room. She pulled Silver Li, who was standing rooted to the spot, out of the room and made him stand outside.

"You’d better not get close. I’ll do it myself," she told him.

"You can’t! The... the Divine Beast won’t even let me get close. You—"

Before Silver Li could finish his sentence, Liang He walked briskly toward the cage holding Yin Qi, grabbed a corner of the cover cloth, and swiftly yanked it off.