Chapter 4: General Xing Haotian of the Great Xuan

Just then, four or five physicians entered the room, carrying various reports.

"Is there a medical consultation?" Wei Zi stood up immediately and asked. Zhou Xiaoya’s health was her primary concern right now; as for that so-called Arcane Arts Institute, it could wait. She knew she possessed arcane powers and an arcane core, so those tests would be useless anyway—at best, she would be classified as a Grade G Arcane user.

"Yes, that's correct. Are the patient's parents not here? And who are you to the patient?" The physician stared blankly at Wei Zi, his expression somewhat strange.

Wei Zi frowned. This physician looked familiar, though she couldn't quite place him. Her gaze fell on the name tag pinned to his collar; scanning the name field, she caught a glimpse of the character "He."

A flash of sharpness crossed Wei Zi's eyes at the sight of that character. She dismissed it as mere sensitivity, but one thing was certain: this physician did not leave a good impression on her.

"This is my friend. I really don't feel like I have any injuries, just some scrapes; there's no need to call my parents, is there?" Zhou Xiaoya asked nervously.

"Is the situation serious? Must we notify the parents?" Wei Zi inquired.

"No, that won't be necessary. There are some abrasions, and a slightly sprained ankle, but nothing serious. Her heart rate is a bit irregular, but that’s likely due to shock. Nothing else! She’s fine to be discharged now," the physician concluded after the consultation.

Liao Changming from the Arcane Arts Institute added with a tone of concern, "I understand both of you have been through a frightening ordeal today. How about this: take a good rest today, and come to the Arcane Arts Institute tomorrow for an examination. Don’t forget—tomorrow!"

After giving their instructions, the people from the Institute and the physicians left. Before departing, the physician named He glanced at Wei Zi, leaving her with a lingering sense of foreboding.

"Wei Zi, do you think what that man from the Institute said is true? Do you really have arcane powers? Oh, heavens, if you become an Arcane user, wouldn't that be dangerous? I heard they have to carry out many perilous missions and fight against wild beasts!" Zhou Xiaoya frowned. Given her outwardly delicate but inwardly resilient nature, it was clear how much today’s events had traumatized her.

Wei Zi smoothed her long hair, playing with it as she said nonchalantly, "There are upsides, too. At the very least, as an Arcane user, I’ll receive many state benefits. From now on, no one will dare to bully me. High-ranking Arcane users are powerful enough to command the winds and rain!"

"Pfft, that’s just a boy’s way of thinking. You’re a girl—you don't even know how to fight, yet you’re talking about commanding the winds and rain!"

"Who says I don't know how to fight? Look at how cool I was today, taking down that wild boar with ease!"

"You're trying to fool a child. It’s common knowledge that when arcane powers awaken, they release infinite potential. Never mind killing a boar—some can even crush buildings! If you lose that power later on, you won't have those skills anymore!"

"Alright, alright, you win. Get some rest, babe! Don't overthink it. Whether I have powers or not, we’ll find out when we go to the Institute tomorrow!"

Her friendship with Zhou Xiaoya had not grown distant due to her rebirth; they had always been this way—teasing each other, helping one another, and offering mutual comfort. Because their friendship was frozen in her memories, Wei Zi felt no barrier between them.

However, she couldn't say the same for others.

Watching Zhou Xiaoya drift into a weary sleep, Wei Zi lay down on the hospital bed. She closed her eyes to rest, but she wasn't sleeping; she was thinking about tomorrow.

Tomorrow... would she truly have a tomorrow?

Sunlight fell upon Wei Zi’s face, casting a row of shadows from her fan-like eyelashes, her skin appearing almost translucent in the light. A deeply cynical smile touched her lips.

In her previous life, following Zhou Xiaoya’s death, Wei Zi had been admitted to this hospital due to shock and had passed out again when her arcane powers awakened. The next day, when she returned home, Wei Dongming had been unusually caring, and her stepmother hadn't been her usual cold, judgmental self; she had even prepared a lavish lunch for her.

She had been flattered, to say the least. Touched by Wei Dongming's comfort after the shock, she had burst into tears, feeling a sense of warmth—even if Wei Dongming was a flawed man, he was still her father, and he still loved her.

But what was the outcome? Was that really love? It was the final meal before an execution. The food had been drugged, and when she woke up, she had been fitted with a collar and was being auctioned off in the underground black market!

That had been the nightmare of her life.

So, in this lifetime, would she suffer the same fate?

Wei Zi looked at the communicator in her hand. It was already 3:00 PM. Seeing Zhou Xiaoya sleeping soundly, she sat up abruptly.

She could not sit by and wait for her fate; she had to go back. Even if she intended to escape, she had to reclaim what belonged to her before leaving!

Wei Zi left the clinic and hailed a taxi. She gave the driver the address and sat in cold, stony silence. Her gloomy expression deterred the driver, who had initially wanted to chat because of her beauty. As the silence grew increasingly awkward, the driver turned on the vehicle’s video screen.

On the screen, a solemn and prestigious awards ceremony was being broadcast live.

"Major General Xing Haotian is the youngest general in the Huatian Kingdom in a century. Having just killed three S-grade wild beasts in the North Sea, securing a glorious victory and protecting the coastal regions of Huaxia, he is being promoted to Lieutenant General by the military. Given his rate of promotion, General Xing is poised to become the youngest Marshal within a decade!"

On screen, the beautiful hostess described Xing Haotian with great fervor, her eyes shining as if she wanted to shower the man with every superlative in the language.

According to rumors, Xing Haotian ranked third on the list of the most desirable husbands for women across the country. One could only imagine how many women fantasized about such a man.

Wei Zi’s gaze was drawn to the screen, but her expression grew increasingly dark.

The driver felt the temperature around him dropping, even though it was the height of summer. Could the air conditioning be set too high?

"Sir, change the channel," Wei Zi said coldly.

"Ah!" The driver quickly switched channels, but it was still the same ceremony. This time, the camera was closer to Xing Haotian, just as the Chairman was pinning a medal onto him. The Chairman smiled kindly, but his short stature forced him to reach up, while the 1.9-meter-tall Xing Haotian leaned forward slightly, his back straight as a rod. His cold, handsome face radiated a raw, masculine energy.

Wei Zi gritted her teeth and said again, "Sir, change the channel!"

The driver figured she must not like General Xing, though he found it puzzling. Weren't seventeen or eighteen-year-old girls supposed to be at the age where they idolized such heroes? Even he, a grown man, couldn't help but admire a man of such stature. Why did this girl dislike him?

Perhaps she preferred General Yuwen? That would make sense; General Yuwen was famous for his gentleness, his ready smile, and his reputation as a romantic.

The driver quickly flipped through channels, but every single one was broadcasting the ceremony. Helplessly, he whispered a suggestion to Wei Zi.

"Passenger, how about I just turn it off?"

Wei Zi was radiating a chilling aura, her lips pressed into a thin line.

Taking her silence as consent, the driver quickly turned off the screen.