181: Chapter 181 Discharge from the Hospital

Three days later.

When Qin Ce sat up from his hospital bed, a ray of sunlight happened to shine in through the window. He squinted his eyes and moved his shoulders, his joints letting out a faint crackling sound.

The energy of Reborn slowly circulated within his body, repairing the last few hidden injuries as if they were new. He looked down at his hands, clenched his fists, released them, and clenched them again. His strength was back—not just restored to its previous level, but stronger than before.

Every brush with death and every repair was a form of tempering. This was the greatest gift Reborn had given him.

Tianlu lay at Qin Ce's feet, its small head resting on his boots, snoring softly.

It had barely slept over the past three days, keeping watch over Qin Ce. The nine-colored light on its antlers flickered occasionally, like a night light that refused to go out.

Qin Ce bent over to pick Tianlu up and placed it on his lap. Tianlu was woken up; it opened its eyes dizzily, and seeing it was Qin Ce, it closed them again, nuzzling its small head into his chest with a "mew" before continuing to sleep.

The ward door was pushed open.

Jiang Mo stood at the door, holding a bowl of porridge. Seeing Qin Ce sitting on the bed, he paused for a moment and then smiled. The smile was faint, but genuine.

"Captain, you're awake?"

"Yeah."

Qin Ce took the porridge and took a sip. The warm rice porridge slid down his throat, making his stomach feel warm.

"What about the others?"

"They're all fine."

Jiang Mo leaned against the doorframe.

"That... healing ability of yours, you used it on every one of us. The last one was discharged yesterday. We're just waiting for you."

Qin Ce nodded.

He hadn't been awake much over these three days, but every time he woke up, he would have Jiang Mo call over the most seriously injured squad members and treat them once using Reborn.

The effect wasn't as good as when he treated himself, but it was much faster than the military doctor's treatment.

"Where's Feng Bao?" Qin Ce asked.

Jiang Mo's smile faded slightly. "He's locked up. The Law Enforcement Team said attacking a colleague means at least a month of detention and a deduction of military merits."

Qin Ce didn't speak immediately.

After finishing the last sip of porridge, he placed the bowl on the bedside table and stood up.

Tianlu was completely woken up by his movement. It jumped down from his arms, stretched, and followed at his feet.

"Let's go." Qin Ce picked up the military uniform hanging at the head of the bed and threw it over his shoulders. "We're going to pick up Feng Bao."

"Captain," Jiang Mo hesitated, "about the Law Enforcement Team..."

"I said we're going to pick up Feng Bao."

Qin Ce's voice wasn't loud, but Jiang Mo didn't ask again.

All twenty-three people of the Seventh Squad were standing at the door of the infirmary.

Their uniforms were new—sent by the Logistics Department yesterday. They probably hadn't expected this team to come back alive, so the sizes weren't quite right.

Some had sleeves that were too long, some had pant legs that were too short, and some had shoulders so wide they looked like they were carrying two door panels.

But no one complained or was picky; everyone was dressed neatly and stood tall.

When Qin Ce walked out of the infirmary, the twenty-three people snapped to attention simultaneously.

Qin Ce glanced around and nodded. "Let's go."

The twenty-three people followed behind him, walking toward the camp gates.

In the camp, the training for various squads had just begun.

Some were running, some were practicing Pet Beast skills, and some were squatting on the ground wiping their weapons. Seeing the Seventh Squad coming from the direction of the infirmary, everyone stopped what they were doing.

"They're out, they're out."

"The Seventh Squad has been discharged."

"Didn't they say the whole squad was hospitalized? They're out after only three days?"

"They're faking it, right? They probably only had minor injuries and stayed in the infirmary just to get free food and drinks."

"Look at that captain, walking with such a swagger. Does he look like he was injured?"

"I told you they just hid in some mountain gully for a day and picked up a few Earth Lizard corpses to hand in. Look at their uniforms—brand new, without a single wrinkle."

"Shh—keep it down. Haven't you heard? On the day they returned, Feng Bao attacked a whole bunch of people."

"Feng Bao was caught and is locked up. What does a single Silver Rank matter? It's not like our squad doesn't have any."

The sounds of discussion came from all directions, buzzing like a swarm of flies.

Qin Ce's expression remained normal, and he didn't stop walking.

The members of the Seventh Squad followed behind; no one looked back or spoke, they just walked in silence.

As they approached the camp gates, a crowd of people surged over from the training grounds.

It wasn't just one or two, but dozens, even hundreds.

Wearing uniforms from different squads, there were veterans and newcomers, soldiers and captains.

They blocked the way in front of Qin Ce, sealing it off completely.

"Captain Qin, you're finally out." A fleshy-faced veteran stood at the front, leaning on a cane—a cane that was clearly new, with the paint not even dry yet.

His head was wrapped in bandages, his arm was in a sling across his chest, and his leg was in a splint; he was wrapped up like a mummy.

Qin Ce glanced at him.

"Something the matter?" Qin Ce asked.

"Something the matter? Of course there is!" The veteran thumped his cane on the ground, raising his voice. "Captain Qin, that soldier of yours, Feng Bao, attacked us with Thunder Light Claw at the camp gates three days ago! Look at my injuries! Look! This was caused by the shock of the Thunder Light Claw! Internal injuries! The military doctor said I need at least a month to recover!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd behind him erupted as if a switch had been flipped.

"Yeah! Me too! I was grazed by his Thunder Light Claw, and I still can't lift my arm!"

"Me too! I was shocked so hard I coughed up blood!"

"My Pet Beast was terrified; it hasn't eaten or drunk anything for days!"

"Captain Qin, you have to give us an explanation!"

"Compensation! There must be compensation!"

"Medical expenses! Lost wages! Mental distress fees!"

Qin Ce stood there listening to their clamor, his face expressionless.

His gaze moved away from the veteran wrapped like a mummy and swept over the people behind him. Some did indeed have injuries—bandages, splints, gauze, all sorts of things.

Some were perfectly clean, without even a band-aid, yet they were shouting along.

"You mean," Qin Ce spoke, his voice not loud, but the clamor gradually died down, "to have Feng Bao compensate you?"

"Not Feng Bao, but you!" the veteran corrected. "Feng Bao is your man. He caused trouble, so you, as the captain, have to take responsibility! We've discussed it—if you give each of us a portion of military merits, we'll let this matter drop. Otherwise—"

"Otherwise?" Qin Ce looked at him.

The veteran felt a bit uneasy under his gaze, but he braced himself and said, "Otherwise, we won't forgive Feng Bao. The Law Enforcement Team said as long as we don't forgive him, Feng Bao will be locked up for at least three months, and he'll have a major demerit recorded and double military merits deducted!"

"That's right! No forgiveness!"

"Three months is letting him off easy!"

"Better yet, expel him!"

The crowd behind him started shouting again, even louder than before.

Some began to push forward, some reached out to shove the Seventh Squad members, and some even tried to grab Qin Ce's collar.

Jiang Mo stepped forward, blocking the way in front of Qin Ce.

Lei Gang also came forward, the Black Iron War Ape following behind him, its silver-gray fur glistening in the sunlight.

Sun Lie rode the Ice-Armored Blazing Rhino, squeezing through from the side. A dark red light glowed deep within the Silver Rank Pet Beast's throat.

The commotion in the crowd stopped for a moment, but it soon surged forward again.

"What? Going to hit people again?"

"Feng Bao hasn't been locked up long enough? You guys want to join him?"

"Come on! Hit us! Let everyone see that this is how the Seventh Squad acts so arrogantly!"

...