56: Chapter 56 Don't be afraid, I'm here.

Li Taiping, still dragging a somewhat weakened body, returned to the deck of the Many Children, Many Blessings.

The cockpit door was wide open, instruments inside crackling with electric sparks, clearly severely damaged.

He quickly walked to Xia Zhi's side and carefully picked her up.

The girl's body was very light and cold, her face as white as paper, her brow tightly furrowed as if she were enduring immense pain even in her unconscious state.

Li Taiping sighed and carried her into the cabin, finding a relatively intact sofa for her to lie on.

Then, he began searching the ship for the others.

Su Mei, the Twin Sisters, Chu Mengyao...

They had all collapsed unconscious in various corners of the cabin, their conditions similar to Xia Zhi's—alive, but in a deep coma, the aftereffects of the mental contamination evidently not yet passed.

Li Taiping checked each one, confirming they were merely unconscious and not in mortal danger, before he felt a slight easing of the tension in his heart.

But after searching everywhere, he alone did not see Yun Jinxin.

"Jin Xin?"

Li Taiping's heart skipped a beat, a bad premonition surging within him.

Where had the Little Girl gone in just this short while?

He didn't dare think too much, raising his voice to call out in the empty cabin:

"Yun Jinxin! Where are you?"

Only the howling wind answered him.

Li Taiping's heart grew heavier and heavier. He began searching the ship frantically, leaving no room or corner unchecked.

Finally, at the turn of the staircase leading from the second to the third floor, he found her.

The Little Girl was hugging her knees, her small body curled into a ball, her shoulders trembling with sobs.

Muffled, tear-choked sobs came from her head buried between her knees, making Li Taiping's heart ache.

He softened his footsteps and slowly walked over.

"Hey, you're awake!"

He tried to make his voice sound light, carrying a hint of his usual flippancy.

Hearing this familiar voice, Yun Jinxin's small frame stiffened abruptly.

She lifted her head with lightning speed, her little face streaked with tears filled with disbelief.

When she clearly saw that the person standing before her was indeed Li Taiping, her eyes, red and swollen from crying, instantly blazed with immense light.

"Brother Taiping! You're alive!"

The Little Girl let out a loud "wah" and cried even harder.

She leaped up from the floor, like a little koala, and threw herself directly into Li Taiping's arms.

Her two slender legs wrapped tightly around his waist, her hands clutching his neck desperately, as if he would disappear if she let go.

"Wah... I was so scared... Captain... I thought... I thought you were dead... Wah..."

The girl's tears and snot were unceremoniously smeared all over Li Taiping's lapels, the warm liquid making his chest feel soaked.

Li Taiping was momentarily stunned by her sudden outburst of affection.

He could feel the Little Girl in his arms trembling violently. That genuine fear and lingering dread touched the softest part of his heart.

A girl's tear ducts really are made of water, turning red from crying in an instant.

Seeing her pitiful, tear-streaked appearance, Li Taiping's sense of compassion couldn't help but surge dramatically.

He was dazed for a moment before reacting, one hand firmly supporting the Little Girl's soft bottom to prevent her from falling,

while the other gently patted her back, comforting her in the gentlest voice he had ever used:

"There, there, don't be afraid, don't cry anymore."

"See, I'm perfectly fine, aren't I? It's all over, we're safe. I'm here."

His voice was steady and firm, as if possessing a certain magic, gradually calming the Little Girl who was still shivering in his arms.

"Wah... Captain... you're so good..."

Yun Jinxin buried her face in the crook of his neck and mumbled, her voice still thick with a nasal tone.

Li Taiping simply smiled faintly.

Speaking of which, he really owed thanks to this Little Girl for waking up so quickly this time.

He glanced at his status bar. Although his sanity was still recovering slowly, the headache and dizziness capable of driving one mad had lessened considerably.

This was clearly the hidden effect of Yun Jinxin's Talent, Immunity to All Poisons.

[Talent Passive: Immunity to All Poisons is continuously active (reduces negative status effects)]

It was precisely because he shared this Talent that the effects of the mental contamination he suffered were greatly weakened, and his recovery speed was much faster than the others'.

Otherwise, he would probably still be unconscious like Su Mei and the others.

If that were truly the case, by the time those ice wolves came looking, everyone on this ship would likely have ended up neatly feeding the wolves.

In a sense, this Little Girl had saved everyone on the ship.

Thinking of this, Li Taiping's arms holding Yun Jinxin tightened a little more.

"Brother Taiping..." Yun Jinxin nuzzled against him and asked quietly, "How are Sister Mei and the others?"

"They're all fine. It's just that their sanity is too low, they're still unconscious. They'll be fine after some rest," Li Taiping responded softly.

"Oh..." Yun Jinxin acknowledged, then buried her head again and fell silent.

The two of them just held each other quietly.

After quite a while, Yun Jinxin's emotions finally stabilized completely.

She somewhat sheepishly slid down from Li Taiping, her little face flushed, head lowered, not daring to look at him.

"S-sorry, Brother Taiping, I got your clothes dirty."

"It's fine, just a piece of clothing," Li Taiping said, smiling as he ruffled her hair. "As long as you're okay."

He looked at the still somewhat timid Little Girl before him and felt a wave of emotion in his heart.

A gentle, delicate Little Girl, who could cry, act spoiled, and worry about him.

Just like a little daughter.

"Let's go, we should check on them first, then figure out a way to help them recover as soon as possible."

Li Taiping took Yun Jinxin's small hand and headed toward the cabin.

Now, he needed to deal with these "aftereffects."

Su Mei and the others' sanity had dropped to an extremely dangerous level. Relying solely on natural recovery, who knew how long it would take.

He had to think of a way.

As he walked, Li Taiping pondered in his mind.

[comfortable double bed (good grade)]

[Trait: Ultimate Comfort. Those lying on it will feel physical and mental pleasure, stamina recovery speed +50%.]

[Hidden Trait: Continuously restores sanity and health.]

Perhaps it could come in handy.

However, before that, there was one urgent matter to attend to.

That blue [crew release order].

An idea flashed through Li Taiping's mind.