Chapter 132: Value

The nurse ran out, and a moment later, Xiao Wu from the Action Team came in.

He flashed a wide grin, his white teeth gleaming. “Good to see you awake.”

He fumbled in his pants pocket and pulled out his phone. “I’ll notify Captain and the others right away.”

“What about the others?” Qin Qing tried to sit up and found she could support herself.

Xiao Wu stepped forward and offered a hand.

Qin Qing gave a small shake of her head.

Xiao Wu stopped a step away from the bed.

“Comrade Shi was more seriously injured, but her life’s not in danger. She’s in the room next door. I’ve been temporarily assigned as your security detail, rotating shifts with two other comrades.”

“Wuyong…” Qin Qing asked.

“Oh, your Daoist Master companion? She was the first to wake up. After a check-up showed no major issues, the old Daoist Masters who came down from the mountain took her back to recuperate.”

Then Xiao Wu gave a brief rundown of what happened after the battle.

“That night, your other two security officers were also ambushed on their way over, which is why they didn’t make it in time. In total, there were twenty attackers. Nine of them, including the ringleader Yan Hua, died on the spot. The rest are either hanging on in the hospital or have been taken in for interrogation. None escaped. This is a military-affiliated hospital, very secure. You can rest easy.”

The nurse returned with several doctors in white coats.

They moved Xiao Wu aside and conducted a thorough check-up on Qin Qing.

“You’re recovering well,” one of them said, then gave a few instructions to the nurse and Xiao Wu before leaving.

The nurse helped Qin Qing lie back down. “You need proper rest now. It’s best not to sit up.” She introduced herself. “Your security detail is all male, so I’ve been assigned to take care of you during your stay. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”

Qin Qing moved her chin slightly in acknowledgment.

But after just a few words, her head felt unbearably heavy, throbbing with pain. Her whole body was drained.

She obediently curled back under the covers to rest.

For the next week, Qin Qing remained hospitalized, sleeping most of the time.

She didn’t have the energy to deal with visitors, so Xiao Wu and the others helped turn them away.

—

One day, she woke to find someone sitting by her bed.

Back straight, the person was flipping through a book resting on their knees.

Sensing Qin Qing’s eyes open, Cisha closed the book.

“Team Leader?” Qin Qing said.

“Had some business nearby. Thought I’d stop in and check on you.”

“Thanks. I’m doing alright.”

“Good.” Cisha said, “The interrogation results are in.”

“Oh,” Qin Qing responded calmly.

Cisha tilted her head slightly, then tossed the book onto the bedside table. It landed perfectly in the upper left corner.

“Looks like you already figured out who those people were that night.”

Qin Qing had indeed figured it out.

While dealing with Yan Hua, she had already skimmed through the profiles of the attackers.

The events of that night actually traced back to earlier in the year.

At the beginning of the year, Qin Qing had submitted several names for investigation.

One by one, people from that list had fallen.

Among them was a relative of Yan Hua.

That person had risen high in the ranks, aided by Yan Hua’s external artifacts.

With the Taiyi Compass in hand, Yan Hua believed he had erased all traces of wrongdoing.

When his family was brought down, he couldn’t understand how he’d suddenly come under scrutiny.

He knew about Hong Du and was aware of his abilities.

So when the Action Team moved to dismantle the Taiyi Ziwei Sect, Yan Hua intervened and rescued Hong Du.

With Hong Du’s abilities and the tools Yan Hua possessed, they managed to infiltrate The Bureau’s database briefly, discovering Qin Qing’s special status.

Furious, Yan Hua plotted a retaliatory attack.

But it wasn’t just about his family.

With his artifacts, he could easily prop someone else up and make a comeback. It was only a matter of time.

Yet as long as someone like Qin Qing existed, it was like living with a sword hanging over his head.

That was one reason.

The other was envy.

Qin Qing’s insight into the world and her ability to heal were deeply coveted.

Yan Hua saw that Qin Qing, like him, was a Fortunate Encounter holder, her powers stemming from an artifact. And artifacts, once their owner died, could be claimed by others.

But he had no one under his command capable of doing it.

While investigating Qin Qing, he followed the trail to Huang Youchang.

Yan Hua told Huang Youchang that the one who had destroyed the “Seventh Day” lab and refused him treatment was none other than Qin Qing.

With old grudges and new hatred combined, Huang Youchang and Yan Hua hit it off instantly.

More importantly, Yan Hua promised that if they killed Qin Qing, he would obtain the method she used to cure terminal illnesses.

He swore to use it to heal Huang Youchang completely.

To avoid any delays or giving Qin Qing time to react, the assassination team was assembled and the plan executed with extreme speed.

And so, Qin Qing suffered this disaster.

Wuyong had been dragged into it as well.

Qin Qing gave a brief summary of all this.

Cisha pressed her lips together before saying, “Just as you said, those people were habitual offenders raised by Huang Youchang. Now that they’ve been caught, they’ve exposed a lot more… He won’t get away.”

Qin Qing smiled faintly, not particularly concerned.

Cisha said, “Get some good rest. Come back to the team soon. I’ll be going now.”

But Qin Qing called out, “Team Leader.”

Cisha turned back.

Qin Qing gave her a small smile. “Team Leader, I’m afraid I won’t be returning to the team.”

Cisha’s brows drew together, her sharp gaze locking onto Qin Qing. Her tone was flat. “You scared?”

Qin Qing enunciated clearly, her voice solemn and steady. “I survived this time, but the price was my ability. I can no longer receive information.”

Cisha turned and walked back a few steps, her expression cold. She stood by the bedside, straight as a poplar tree.

Qin Qing continued, “I no longer have any value to the team, to the Special Investigation Team, or to the Bureau. You and Director Feng need to start adjusting the work schedule and plans as soon as possible. I meant to tell you as soon as I woke up, but Xiao Wu said you were all out on a mission, so I didn’t want to disturb you…”

“Value?” Cisha cut her off, her tone firm and unwavering. “I won’t allow anyone to speak of my soldier that way.”

“I…”

Cisha didn’t give her a chance to speak. Her voice was icy as she said, “Comrade Qin Qing joined us on February 8, 2025. It’s been 89 days since then.

In less than three months, she has earned five First-Class Merits, nineteen Second-Class Merits, and countless other commendations.

Since she joined, not a single life has been lost on any operation. The merit system only defines the upper limit of recognition, not the upper limit of her contributions.

What she has done has saved the nation and its people from immeasurable losses.

Even if she were to retire right now, she would do so covered in medals, returning home in glory.”

Cisha looked directly at Qin Qing. “Value? That word is far too shallow. It belittles my soldier, and it belittles the organization.”

Qin Qing sat there in stunned silence. She had never expected the usually reserved Team Leader Cisha to say something like this. Her throat tightened, and her eyes began to sting.

“All you need to do now is rest.”

Cisha stood at attention, raised her hand in salute, then turned and left.

Clean and decisive.

Qin Qing remained alone in the hospital room, staring blankly at the ceiling, unmoving for a long time.

—

Shi Jiang had finally woken up.

In truth, she should have regained consciousness long ago. The doctors said her injuries weren’t severe enough to warrant a week-long coma.

But they couldn’t find any reason for the prolonged unconsciousness. All they could detect was unusually high brainwave activity.

After waking, she insisted on being taken to Qin Qing’s room. A nurse wheeled her over as requested.

Seeing her awake at last, Qin Qing felt a wave of relief wash over her. A heavy weight lifted from her heart.

But something about Shi Jiang was different this time.

Her presence was sharper, more intense.

She had always carried a certain edge, but now it was even more pronounced.

If she had once been like a predator poised to strike, now she was like a warrior fresh from a battlefield—clean on the surface, but with blood still clinging beneath her nails.

After exchanging greetings, Shi Jiang sat quietly in her wheelchair, as if waiting for something.

Qin Qing tilted her head slightly. “?”

Shi Jiang’s brow furrowed ever so slightly. “You can’t see it?”

“See what?”

“Me.” Shi Jiang pointed to herself. “My data.”

Qin Qing’s smile faded a little, though her tone remained light. “Oh, you didn’t know? After that battle, I lost my ability.”

Shi Jiang suddenly leaned forward, her fingers gripping the armrests of the wheelchair so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her breath caught for a moment. Then she slowly released her grip, clenched again, released, clenched…

After repeating the motion several times, she finally calmed down.

Shi Jiang thought for a moment. Then, after a few seconds, she reached into her collar and pulled out a black cord necklace. At the end of the necklace hung a white crystal.

Qin Qing recognized it. The three security officers originally assigned to her had each carried one. They didn’t serve any special function—just a simple projection of their System Panel background.

Now, the cherry-sized crystal in Shi Jiang’s fingers glowed with a misty white light.

Qin Qing was relieved to see that these crystals, which had been implanted with System Panel capabilities, still worked even after the System Panel had left her.

Holding the crystal, Shi Jiang said solemnly, “Do you remember Yang Guangmei? She used to have one of these too, before you took it back.”

Qin Qing wasn’t sure why she was bringing this up.

Shi Jiang continued, “She once mentioned meeting a woman who claimed to be your clanswoman. That woman helped her.”

Qin Qing nodded, watching Shi Jiang closely, a suspicion forming in her mind.

Shi Jiang said, “I met her too. She recognized this crystal. When I was at the edge of despair, she helped me.”

Qin Qing’s breath caught.

Shi Jiang went on, “She’s powerful. If the man with Hong Du that night had known who you really were, that whole incident never would’ve happened.”

She lowered her head, letting the crystal fall back into her collar, hidden from view.

She gave a short, derisive laugh. “That guy was just a greedy fool. You’re nothing like us.”

Qin Qing said, “You don’t have to think like that. Wuyong once said something very true: where there’s cause, there’s effect. Unless I did absolutely nothing, even if it wasn’t Yan Hua, there would’ve been someone else like him.”

“Your clanswoman will have a way,” Shi Jiang said. “In three months, I’ll go ask her.”

Qin Qing sighed.

“Instead of worrying about me, you should be more concerned about yourself. At least I know I’m safe.”

Shi Jiang said firmly, “I’ll survive too. My chances are already far better than the average person’s. I’ll work to raise that probability to one hundred percent.”

Qin Qing had never doubted Shi Jiang’s willpower.

But in the end, this was something Shi Jiang had suffered through for no reason of her own.

Qin Qing opened her mouth, ready to say “I’m sorry,” but the words felt too light, too hollow.

Shi Jiang stopped her. “You don’t need to say anything. And you don’t need to feel guilty. Protecting you was the mission I accepted. I was prepared for any outcome.”

She looked at Qin Qing and, for once, gave a faint smile. “Even if I die, it would be a sacrifice—a death in service of the country. It has nothing to do with you. Besides…”

Shi Jiang raised her right hand, holding it level with her eyes, studying the empty palm.

“To me, this might not be such a bad thing. I agree with what you just said—every cause has its effect. I can’t say too much, but The Bureau needs the intel I’m bringing back.”