Damn it! Let's smash the darkness together!

Noon.

Xu Shu grabbed some canned food and reluctantly cooked a few packs of instant noodles as a hot meal, still taking them to cell 301 to eat with Gu Pan.

"You're hurt?"

Gu Pan, observing Xu Shu's tattered clothes with a streak of blood on one side and a scar on the other, jumped up in shock and asked with concern.

"It's nothing, just a minor injury, don't worry about it," Xu Shu waved his hand.

Gu Pan asked puzzled, "Where have you been?"

Sitting down, Xu Shu bit into a piece of chicken and casually said, "Something's off about this area, monsters everywhere. I patrolled the vicinity, killed a few, and collected some Erosion Crystals to upgrade."

While talking, he nonchalantly tossed out a handful of Crystal Stones, enveloped in mist.

"Damn."

Gu Pan was stunned, six crystals?

She counted the filaments in them, noting that four were a mix of second and third level, and two were astonishingly level five and level six.

Has this man gone mad? He just became a Transcendent, why is he pushing himself so hard?

If he were any other normal Transcendent, he should be in a safe and comfortable zone now, enjoying a high-quality life and the best medical conditions, with someone to feed and check on him every day.

The daily routine should just be practicing the Body Refining Method methodically; they even forbid overexertion!

Showing any slight symptoms of weakness, officials rush over: infusions if necessary, medications if prescribed, and if things get too bad, there's the Transcendent's Logistic Medical team for healing Magic.

About half a month later, once the Curse Seal is fully stabilized inside, they'd use the official-supplied Erosion Crystals to attempt to upgrade slowly.

Yes, supplied by the officials! For free! In regulated amounts!

And after leveling up once, most would rest and recuperate before they confirm they've fully recovered and then they'd attempt the next upgrade.

Basically, before reaching level twelve, no one would expect a First Order Transcendent to head out and fight; it'd be too wasteful.

Within a span of about half a year, the vast majority would reach level twelve, and then formally join the forces or departments, fulfilling their duties, heading into battle.

No one knows who set the level twelve rule, but it's always been this way.

But this man before her...

Gu Pan looked at Xu Shu and suddenly felt he was truly pitiful.

He was the same age as those others, who could grow safely under protection, yet for a white Erosion Crystal, he had to risk his life, it's just... it's just...

It's too tragic~

Why do others get to be happy while he has to face dangers alone?

Why is the world so unfair to the less fortunate?

Feeling empathetic, Gu Pan felt the tears almost spurting from her eyes, wishing she could comfort him properly.

However, when Xu Shu glanced at her, he seemed baffled and couldn't help but urge:

"What are you dawdling for? You aren't going to eat because it's cold? Damn, so pretentious, if you don't like it, just don't eat. Spoiling you, go wash the dishes and mop the floor after I eat, I've got to be busy this afternoon, no time to fuss over you."

"What the hell???"

Gu Pan's tears were scolded right back in.

Crap! Throwing coquettish glances at a blind man!

Frustrated, she picked up her noodles and started eating. After a few bites, she thought it over and still asked, "You're not going out to hunt monsters this afternoon, are you?"

"Of course."

Xu Shu glanced at the six Erosion Crystals, calculating in his mind: these might let him level up by three? Maybe only two? Not enough, far from enough!

Gu Pan spoke earnestly, "You're being too impatient, even if it seems you've learned some extraordinary Ultimate Skill that helps you suppress the erosion quickly, upgrading so fast will cause the Curse Seal's erosion rate to rise too much, you won't be able to contain it, and you'll die."

From her perspective, the extraordinary feat Xu Shu displayed yesterday noon while practicing the Ultimate Skill must be why he didn't die from erosion, a very powerful Ultimate Skill indeed.

Thinking to himself she's quite kind-hearted for a prisoner, Xu Shu's tone softened a bit: "No worries, I'll win. Besides, there are several terrifying monsters around here, without upgrading, I doubt I'd live long."

"You..."

Seeing his determination, Gu Pan didn't push further but changed her approach: "Still, you shouldn't go like this. There should be some medicine in the warehouse, let me help you bandage your wounds."

"It's really not necessary," Xu Shu didn't want to trouble her.

Such minor wounds, do they even need bandaging? A few sit-ups tonight and I'll be all healed, not even a scar left.

But Gu Pan grew stubborn, her tone very serious: "No, we must take proper care of it! Don't underestimate these small injuries; most monsters carry germs, and if they infect you, it'll be troublesome."

"Really, it's not necessary—"

"You wait here, I'll go get the medicine."

"Oh well, okay then."

Having been around her for a few days, Xu Shu had some trust in her; firstly, their power levels were vastly different, and secondly, outside was more dangerous than inside. She seemed quite clever daily, so she likely wouldn't do anything foolish.

Strictly speaking, she really could only survive by depending on him.

While Gu Pan was talking, she walked towards the warehouse and quickly found a medical kit and returned.

"Hey, how could you still find a medical kit?" Xu Shu was puzzled, "Could it be that you used to live here?"

Gu Pan opened the medical kit, which contained relatively complete medical tools, and answered, "I've been here a few times before. Take care of your own meal, and take off your shirt and roll up your pants legs."

Seeing her quite adept with the tools, Xu Shu thought it was a good idea since there was still a battle in the afternoon.

So, he took off his shirt, revealing his solid, shiny muscles and let her work.

His abdomen and arms were covered entirely with bloodstains from lacerations caused by the bite of a demon beast, and Xu Shu had already disinfected them with alcohol.

Rolling up the pants legs revealed a large grayish-brown scar on his thigh, left by the venom of the Beautiful Snake, and Xu Shu felt lucky not to have been bitten, otherwise, if the venom had been a neurotoxin, he would have been doomed.

He couldn't help but think about the "Sit-ups," lamenting that he couldn't wear it until six in the evening, but he didn't regret it. Without the "Enchanting Demon" skill, he wouldn't have been able to kill those monsters today.

They all liked to swarm, and the "Enchanting Demon" skill could disrupt their formation, giving Xu Shu the chance to defeat them one by one.

"Endure it a bit."

Gu Pan lit the alcohol lamp and took a cotton swab to carefully disinfect him. Some wounds were actually very deep, like the scratch marks, which seemed to have coagulated blood, but still had some impure residue inside, stuck to the flesh, needing the surface layer to be peeled back for skin cleaning, making her feel a bit of phantom pain.

During this process, Xu Shu ate his noodles without changing his expression, not even a twitch of his eyelids.

This made Gu Pan wonder what he had been through, considering the crude conditions without any painkillers or anesthesia, a normal person would be screaming like a pig.

"However, his skin is quite good, having such monster-like strength but a body as clear as jade, strange, what kind of Curse Seal has he harbored?" wondered Gu Pan.

Xu Shu was tickled by her touches, and also because she had a chance to wash up these days, there was a faint scent lingering on her.

Knowing that she was a woman, her leaning over him, hands moving around, caused Xu Shu's heart to flutter and his face to turn red, slightly closing his legs to prevent any accidental contact.

"What now? Spread your legs a bit, I can't reach there," Gu Pan was applying medicine when she was unintentionally blocked and forcefully spread his legs.

Damn! No!

Xu Shu's eyelids twitched and he quickly moved to cover his legs with his clothes while continuing to eat his noodles as if nothing happened.

"Uh~~" Now Gu Pan also noticed the issue and couldn't help but curse inwardly.

This guy, getting turned on like this? He actually thinks I'm a guy because I'm too effeminate?

Gu Pan dared not look anymore, busying herself only with applying medicine powder to the erosive wound by Xu Shu's thigh.

The wound was itchy, and the constant caressing of a soft, gentle hand made him think: damn! Xu Shu rolled his eyes.

Thus, the clothes gradually failed to cover it up.

"..." Gu Pan's mouth slowly agape in shock, wondering if this was getting a bit too ridiculous.

I'm applying anti-inflammatory medicine, do you understand? This isn't some magical oil, hey!

In the increasingly tense atmosphere, Xu Shu coughed, changing the subject, "Um, previously, after going through the selection, in that Transcendent reserve training camp, did you choose to specialize as a doctor?"

Gu Pan, with her head bowed, answered in a muffled tone, "Um, I considered that option, my family thought it was suitable for me, but eventually, I wanted to decide for myself, so... there, done!"

After about fifteen minutes, Xu Shu was covered in small patches everywhere, filled with ointment, feeling a bit itchy.

Well, the medicine really did have some effect, at least significantly relieving the original stinging sensation.

"Okay, I've finished eating, remember to wash the bowl and mop the floor. I won't lock your door this afternoon, I'll lock it tonight. Don't be shy, we're quite familiar now," Xu Shu said, standing up.

Gu Pan twitched the corner of her eye: "I, thanks, you, ah!"

Familiar?

Familiar my ass!

What's your name anyway?!

...

Xu Shu closed the gate of the prison area, which was also to ensure Gu Pan's safety, as he was planning to go out hunting afterward. During that time, he had to guard in case any monsters came to raid.

Though now it was confirmed that most monsters, like human-headed griffins, were reluctant to approach the prison, the "Black Widow Territory."

But there could still be outliers like the young and brainless ones among the human-headed griffins who didn't mind approaching, though it was unknown whether they would actually enter.

"There's a Narrow Sleeve Guanyin in the north, it's too cryptic, I can't deal with it for now and always worry it will attack. It's like a Damo's Sword hanging over my head, so unbearable! I must move...

"West side here, the tunnel is a must-pass-through area, can't avoid encountering Nagou's little demon, but it's not much stronger than me, nearly equal to a human-headed griffin. If I find a chance, I can kill it alone!

"There's hope for escape here, but have to be wary of the tunnel depths whether there are more, stronger monsters.

"Next is the south, and the direction east of the prison, still unexplored."

"But the shelter is westward, going east would be the opposite."

"Thinking of a way to bypass from the south, there's still hope!"

Xu Shu intended to take a gun but ended up choosing a steel bar instead.

If the opponent was weak monsters like demon beasts, ordinary firearms might suffice, but for Beautiful Snake, demons, and especially the likes of Narrow Sleeve Guanyin which was completely like deceitful monsters, bullets were no good.

And most importantly, his shooting skills were really terrible; his knowledge of firearms was solely from watching random short videos when bored.

"Last chance today, take me for another charge, journey, start!"

Xu Shu opened the Tai Chu Scroll, resolutely opting to embark on the journey once more...