Chapter 602: Treatment

    Gu Luoxin’s heart abruptly skipped a beat.

    The moment he looked into those eyes, he felt his scalp turning numb and the small animal instinct in his mind was screaming crazily— this person is dangerous! He swore he had never met a second person who gave him such an evil and ominous feeling, not even the weirdo Divine Oracle or the cunning Shang.

    The urge to flee ran rampant in his blood, but Gu Luoxin bit the inside of his cheek and told himself to stay firm. Now was not the time to get distracted!

    The novice tutorial was silent, providing no guide to what he was supposed to do next, but Gu Luoxin’s self-preservation led him to lower his head and replied humbly, "Yes, Doctor."

    The doctor released him with a smile and retrieved a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe his fingers one by one as if he had just touched something filthy. Gu Luoxin couldn’t even think of a comment on that, for his attention was promptly drawn to the other person’s hands. But he was cautious and didn’t allow his gaze to linger. Instead, he turned away and approached Ares, carefully draping the young man’s arm over his shoulders while holding him up by the waist.

    He sensed the half-conscious garuda shudder in pain, causing him to freeze.

    "S-Sorry... did I hurt you?" he asked in a whisper.

    But Ares weakly shook his head. Go, he mouthed.

    He looked absolutely wrecked with his face and body covered in blood, and Gu Luoxin bit his lower lip in discomfort. It was fortunate that although his skill card and props were blocked, his physical prowess was still that of an Elite player. Otherwise he wouldn’t have been able to support Ares who was leaning heavily on him.

    Trailing behind Master Grinu’s entourage, Gu Luoxin’s eyes once again fell on the doctor’s hands.

    They... did not look like human hands. At all. To be more precise, they were bionic hands.

    Gu Luoxin’s mind instantly drifted to the bus officer. He and the doctor were the same— they were garudas, and yet part of their bodies had been mechanically transformed. Aside from them, Gu Luoxin had not seen any similar person in the Young Master’s courtyard. Was there a criteria for this, he wondered?

    Lost in thought, Gu Luoxin nearly tripped on his own feet when the doctor suddenly tilted his head— and met his gaze!

    Once again, their line of sight collided, and Gu Luoxin hurriedly dropped his gaze to the floor, his heart drumming frantically in a mixture of panic, apprehension, and dread.

    Damn it, the doctor could actually sense someone staring at him?! Just how keen were his senses?!

    For the rest of the journey, Gu Luoxin no longer dared to raise his head, fearing that he would be caught in the act for the second time, and thus he missed the unnerving smile crossing the doctor’s lips and the dark eyes which gleamed with concealed interest.

    The group exited Young Master Ares’ courtyard, and only then did Gu Luoxin notice how huge and spacious the entire mansion was. Servants in garuda masks went about their duty— their footsteps disciplined and almost soundless. Were it not for Gu Luoxin wearing the same mask, he would have assumed they were robots.

    They collectively dropped down to their knees whenever Master Grinu walked past, not even sparing a glance at their Young Master who left a trail of blood on the ground.

    Their subservient attitude made Gu Luoxin feel a little incredulous.

    The heck, was this an ancient dynasty and the Master of the Sky the emperor???

    But on second thought, it wasn’t exactly wrong. Master Grinu reigned over the whole garuda territory, thus he could be considered the emperor. This prompted Gu Luoxin to wonder whether the same etiquette applied to the land and sea territory. If yes, could his teammate Da Shen even force himself to lower his head...

    All of a sudden, Gu Luoxin missed that annoying person terribly. He also missed Big Boss Shen who would carry the whole team with his brain. And there’s also his senior who entered this Cycle to accompany him...

    Thinking about them without knowing their whereabouts made Gu Luoxin a little depressed.

    Luckily the private clinic was not far, and they reached the destination after making two turns. Gu Luoxin could clearly sense the person he was supporting got weaker and weaker with each passing minute, his head hanging down heavily. Blood soaked his clothes and smeared onto Gu Luoxin’s hands and body, making him feel a little nauseous.

    And thus he breathed a sigh of relief when he placed Area down on the bed.

    Alas, facts proved that one shouldn’t rejoice too early.

    For in the next instant, he witnessed the doctor securing Ares’ limbs to the bed posts with leather belts. Gu Luoxin’s breath hitched on his throat, his eyes widening in sheer doubt and disbelief. W-What was this person going to do?!

    Apparently, Master Grinu was also feeling doubtful. "How much can you guarantee the chances of success?"

    The doctor flashed a smile. "One hundred percent." Then he added kindly, "Please be rest assured, Master Grinu. I will definitely cure your son’s illness. The process will take two hours at most. In the meantime, could you please give me some privacy?"

    Master Grinu was silent for two seconds before conceding with a long sigh. "... Alright, then I will leave everything to you, Doctor."

    Turning around, the middle-aged man beckoned for him to follow, and Gu Luoxin had no choice but to comply despite his reluctance.

    Just then, Ares, who should have fainted due to pain and blood loss, suddenly struggled and let out a feeble, broken screech from his throat, "No... no! Father, help me! I don’t want this! Father—!"

    The Young Master’s voice was raw and hoarse, a far cry from his usual smooth and pleasant tone. Each cry seemed to be steeped in fire and ashes, making the listener’s heart tremble. Yet Grinu did not so much as pause. His steps remained steady, his back rigid as he stepped out of the room.

    Behind him, Gu Luoxin faltered, unease and restlessness coiling in his gut. And finally—unable to contain himself—he turned back one last time.

    He saw a scene he would never forget in a lifetime.

    Beneath the blinding glare of the operating lights, Ares writhed in vain, his body bound tightly by thick leather straps. The restraints dug into his skin, cruelly unmoving no matter how much he struggled. Fear and despair distorted his features, making that familiar face look nearly unrecognizable under the harsh glaring light.

    Meanwhile, the doctor, holding a thin surgical instrument, peeled his right eye open and decisively aimed the sharp tip above his eye socket...

    A chilling terror engulfed Gu Luoxin’s heart.