Chapter 106: Primary Healer
Its tiny paws poked at him, as if inspecting the results of Ling Yu’s ministrations.
[Fluffy: HE’S ALL WELL NOW! MASTER DID WELL! HE’S SAFE! YAY!]
Ling Yu’s eyes softened just slightly, the faintest hint of warmth in her gaze. "Yes. He’s safe. That’s all that matters right now."
The divine entities continued to react, showering Ling Yu with minor blessings and increasing her favor rating.
Streams of cosmic light pulsed around her HUD, each representing an unseen observer, divine, celestial, or otherwise, that recognized her dominance and strategic judgment.
[Unknown Cosmic Deity feels delighted.]
[Unknown Cosmic Deity says that the Streamer did not let him down.]
[Unknown Cosmic Deity gifted streamer 500 gold coins.]
[System Notification: Stream Favorability +10%. Unknown Cosmic Entities actively monitoring and expressing approval.]
[System Notification: Fluffy Happiness +15%. Bonding potential increased.]
Ling Yu’s attention shifted back to the remaining survivors. She could sense the mix of relief, fear, and grudging respect in their eyes. Some whispered to one another, speculating on the source of her wealth and the incredible items she had produced from her inventory. But Ling Yu did not entertain these thoughts; she was focused. The battlefield was cleared, her ally stabilized, and her resources secured. Anything beyond that was irrelevant.
She took a deep breath, letting her chest expand as she surveyed the area. The smell of iron and blood lingered, a reminder of the harshness of the apocalypse they were living through. Yet amidst the chaos, she felt a faint thread of satisfaction. The critical lesson had been taught: those who do not contribute, or who endanger others at a critical moment, do not receive reward. Only those who prove their worth, who demonstrate loyalty and skill, could expect to benefit.
[System Notification: Alpha Ape Core successfully processed. Reward Potential Recorded for Future Use.]
[System Notification: Inventory Secured. Mana Potions Replenished: 5/5. High-Grade Artifact Storage Checked.]
[System Notification: Fluffy excitedly reports to Unknown Cosmic Deity. Favor +20.]
Ling Yu finally allowed herself a moment to breathe. She rose, the blood on her fists drying to a faint crust. She glanced down at Xian Yu, now partially recovered but still kneeling, exhausted but alert. Her lips curved into a faint, almost mischievous smile.
"Get up," she said softly, almost teasingly. "You’ve done enough for today. There’s no need to bow anymore."
Xian Yu’s delicate form wavered, then he slowly stood, his hands trembling slightly. He gave a small, grateful bow, eyes shining with unshed tears. Ling Yu nodded, satisfied, and motioned for him to follow as she began organizing the monster cores she had gathered.
Shen Ming, still present, tried to interject, his voice smooth and ingratiating. "You know, you could share some of those cores or potions. They’ve been fighting too..."
Ling Yu’s gaze cut through him, icy and unwavering. "No," she said simply. "They almost made me pay for their inaction. They get nothing. Remember that."
Even the divine beings in her stream seemed to shiver with satisfaction at her decisiveness. Small bursts of cosmic energy flickered faintly across her interface, each representing the observers’ approval.
[Unknown Cosmic Entity: Master displays exacting judgment. Excellent. Observers are impressed by fairness and strength.]
[System Notification: Stream Engagement +15%. Reputation among divine entities increased.]
Fluffy chirped happily on her shoulder, tail wagging.
[Fluffy: MASTER!! THEY WILL NOWREMEMBER WHO’S BOSS! I LIKE THIS! I WILL HELP YOU WATCH!]
Ling Yu chuckled faintly, a sound like wind over cold steel. "Good. Stay vigilant. This world is far from safe, and I won’t tolerate incompetence at my side."
The bronze-class survivors, now thoroughly cowed, stepped back. Some dared to glance at the Alpha Ape cores in her hands, their envy clear but their fear far greater. They knew, without being told, that Ling Yu was not just a survivor. She was a force, a calm, calculating, and merciless one when necessary.
She turned to Xian Yu, offering a hand. "Come. We’ve done all we can here. Let’s move forward. There are more challenges ahead, and I need you ready."
He took her hand without hesitation, and the tiny aura of relief surrounding him seemed almost visible in the air. Even Fluffy chirped its approval, hopping to his shoulder for a moment before resettling on Ling Yu’s.
[System Notification: Party Status Updated. Xian Yu is now linked as Primary Healer. Fluffy maintains secondary observation and protection.]
[System Notification: Divine Entities continue to observe. Favor and sponsorship potential remain high.]
As Ling Yu moved to exit the battlefield, she glanced once more at the defeated Alpha Ape, the broken crates, and the fading aura of combat. Her mind was already calculating, already anticipating the next move. She had survived, her ally had survived, and the lesson had been taught: only the strong, the prepared, and the loyal deserved to walk forward in this apocalypse.
And she would make sure that any who faltered or betrayed that principle would not forget the consequences.
.
.
.
The ruins of the marketplace grew quiet again. Only the sound of shifting rubble and the faint clinking of scavenged metal remained as survivors busied themselves with dragging out crates of food and bundles of rations. The coppery tang of blood hung heavy in the air, refusing to disperse even as the wind whistled faintly through broken windows and shattered concrete.
Ling Yu stood apart from it all, her back straight and her expression unreadable as she organized the spoils of battle. Her hands moved with a cold, mechanical precision, plucking monster cores from corpses, sliding them into her inventory, then carefully wiping the gore from her blade with a torn scrap of cloth. Not a single motion was wasted.
The others cast her sideways glances filled with resentment. They could not voice their bitterness, not after Shen Ming’s earlier "gentle" intervention and not after the bone-chilling display she had given in combat. But the envy in their eyes was a fire that refused to be extinguished.
Ling Yu didn’t care at all as she ignored these lowlifes through and through.