139: Poisoning

"Commander, my stamina has recovered! I am a Healing-type Superpower User!" Li Yiyi forced herself forward, raising the Healing Staff in her hand. The emerald gem at the tip lit up with a soft green light, and a beam full of vitality shone onto Yang Yiyu's wound.

However, the black-purple markings containing the toxin merely fluctuated slightly, and the green light vanished as if a mud ox had entered the sea, yielding negligible results.

"Your Rank... is too low. This toxin is incredibly potent." Zhang Lei shook his head slightly, his brow deeply furrowed. He quickly took out the Encrypted Communicator used by the military from his waist: "Yang Ning! Come to the Heihe Village Committee immediately! There is a batch of Demon Hunting Squad members and rescued villagers here who need to be escorted back to the Base! Hurry!"

The moment he put down the communicator, the unconscious Yang Yiyu's eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes. The intense pain caused her delicate brows to knit tightly, but when her blurry vision focused on the handsome face that was so close—the face she yearned for day and night—the immense joy instantly overwhelmed the pain. Crystal tears, like pearls from a broken string, silently slid down her pale cheeks.

"Zh... Zhang Lei... Commander..." Her voice was as weak as a mosquito's buzz, yet filled with endless gratitude and indescribable tenderness. "Thank you... for saving me..."

Zhang Lei gently patted her arm, his voice gentle and firm: "Don't worry, you are all my soldiers, and I won't give up on any of you. Once Yang Ning arrives, I will take you back to the Base. Adjutant Jiang Feifei possesses powerful Holy Light Healing abilities and will definitely be able to clear the toxins from your body." His words were like a reassurance pill.

"Commander..." Yang Yiyu mustered her last bit of strength, her beautiful eyes fixed intensely on Zhang Lei, carrying a hint of anticipation and careful probing. "Do... do you still recognize me?" She desperately hoped that she had left some trace in his heart.

Zhang Lei paused slightly, then nodded frankly, his tone calm: "I recognize you. The Campus Belle of Hongshan University, Yang Yiyu. The dance you performed at that Evening Party was very beautiful, lively and graceful. You left a deep impression on me." Although he harbored no special feelings for Yang Yiyu, he spoke the truth, his words conveying pure admiration.

"Really, Commander...?" Yang Yiyu's eyes instantly burst forth with astonishing brilliance, and a faint, almost sickly flush rose on her pale face. The immense joy made her forget the pain, and she unconsciously squeezed Zhang Lei's hand tightly in return. "I... I'm very... You are my idol, I... especially, especially admire you..." The word "love" that was hidden deep in her heart rolled on her tongue repeatedly, but in the end, she didn't have the courage to say it aloud. She recalled her vow—to become a strong person worthy of him! She would save this feeling for a brave confession then!

"Don't be so formal, and don't use 'you' (formal)," Zhang Lei smiled gently, radiating an approachable air. "We are about the same age, and we are all comrades-in-arms." Sensing the girl's weakness, he signaled her to conserve her strength.

Yang Yiyu wanted to say more, but the immense fatigue caused by excessive blood loss and the toxin's erosion rushed over her like a tide. Her eyelids closed heavily, and she fell back into a coma, a satisfied and peaceful curve lingering at the corner of her mouth.

At this moment, the roar of an engine sounded in the sky. A gunmetal gray destroyer mecha, entirely covered in a yellowish-brown energy field, with rigid lines and a sense of power, slowly descended. Its heavy mechanical feet struck the ground, kicking up a circle of dust. The mecha disassembled, and Yang Ning, dressed in a tight combat suit, quickly ran up to Zhang Lei and saluted solemnly: "Commander! Yang Ning, reporting for duty!" His gaze swept over the unconscious girl in Zhang Lei's arms, whose shoulder injury was horrifying, and he instantly understood the situation. "This girl...?"

"She was injured by the Bat King's Poisonous Claw. The toxin is potent, and she needs to return to the Base immediately to find Jiang Feifei for treatment!" Zhang Lei spoke quickly and decisively. "I'm leaving this place to you! Escort the Demon Hunting Squad members and all the villagers safely back to the Base!"

"Yes! Commander! I guarantee the mission will be completed!" Yang Ning straightened his chest, his voice loud and clear. "Be careful on your way!"

Zhang Lei said no more, carefully lifting Yang Yiyu into his arms. The Ice and Fire Twin Wings on his back unfurled magnificently again, red and blue light swirling and emitting powerful energy fluctuations. He glanced down at the unconscious girl in his embrace, ensured she was secure, and fiercely flapped his wings!

"Boom!"

The powerful airflow stirred up dust from the ground, and Zhang Lei's figure transformed into an interweaving red and blue meteor, tearing through the air at astonishing speed, racing toward the Lujiang Base!

After the streak of light that was Zhang Lei vanished into the horizon, Yang Ning quickly demonstrated efficient execution. He reassured the still-frightened villagers and Demon Hunting Squad members, organized everyone to find the large bus parked outside the village, counted the numbers, and after ensuring no one was left behind, the convoy set off in the deepening twilight, heading toward the Lujiang Base.

Meanwhile, Zhang Lei pushed his speed to the limit. The Ice and Fire Twin Wings tore through the air, emitting a sharp whistle. He carefully shielded the unconscious Yang Yiyu in his arms, feeling her faint breathing and the cold, virulent poisonous aura emanating from the wound on her shoulder, his brow tightly furrowed. In just a few dozen minutes, the towering walls of the Lujiang Base appeared in sight. He did not slow down at all, landing precisely in the brightly lit front yard of the Commander's Residence.

He didn't contact Jiang Feifei directly but instead called Jiang Xin: "Brother Jiang, emergency! I brought back a seriously wounded person who was injured by the Poisonous Claw of a Rank 2 Bat King. The toxin is extremely potent, and she urgently needs Sister Jiang Feifei's Holy Light Healing!"

"Understood! I'll bring Jiang Feifei down right away!" Jiang Xin's steady and swift reply came from the other end of the communicator.

Soon, the Residence's door opened, and Jiang Xin and Jiang Feifei, who was wearing a bathrobe and had clearly just woken up, quickly walked out.

"Quick! Lay her down!" Jiang Feifei immediately spotted the horrifying wound on the girl's shoulder in Zhang Lei's arms—a shocking sight, tinged with an ominous black-purple—and her paper-white complexion. Her expression instantly became serious. Without hesitation, she lightly shouted: "Holy Light Angel!"

Soft and sacred white light instantly enveloped her. White wings swooshed open behind her, every feather flowing with warm radiance. After advancing to Rank 2, her Holy Light Power was purer and more magnificent. The Holy Light she released from her hands shone above Yang Yiyu's shoulder wounds; the Holy Light energy was so concentrated it looked like liquid gold.

The pure Holy Light, like a babbling brook, gently flowed into the gruesome wounds. The stubborn black-purple toxin seemed to have met its nemesis, emitting a slight sizzle as it turned into wisps of black smoke that were forcibly dispelled and purified. Under the soothing touch of the Holy Light, the torn flesh at the wound edges stopped bleeding, closed up, and grew tender new flesh at a visible speed. The gruesome wounds were quickly covered by new, fair skin. The entire process lasted more than ten minutes. When the last trace of black energy dissipated, the skin on Yang Yiyu's shoulders was smooth again, leaving only a few faint pink scars to attest to the previous trauma. Jiang Feifei let out a long breath, fine beads of sweat trickling down her temples. The Holy Light retracted, the wings vanished, revealing a hint of exhaustion.

"What a potent toxin!" Jiang Feifei wiped her sweat and looked at Zhang Lei. "Was it a Rank 2 Mutated Monster?"

"Yes, a Vampire Bat King proficient in Sonic Attacks and flight." Zhang Lei nodded. Seeing Yang Yiyu's cheeks regain their color and her breathing become steady, the worry in his heart finally subsided, and his eyes held gratitude. "Thank you for your hard work, Sister Jiang Feifei."

Jiang Xin watched from the side, his eyes spinning, and a mischievous smile appeared on his face. He nudged Zhang Lei with his elbow: "Brother Lei, this girl is quite pretty, and her abilities are outstanding. Plus, you personally rescued her... How about letting her rest at your place tonight? It would be easier to look after her!" He winked, wearing an expression that said, "Brother, this is the best I can do for you."

Zhang Lei was stunned, then glared at Jiang Xin with a wry smile: "Brother Jiang! Stop talking nonsense! The girl is innocent; what would it look like if she stayed at my place? Does she need her reputation ruined? What are you thinking about all day long?"

"Oh, come on, I'm just concerned about your lifelong happiness!" Jiang Xin said with a grin, spreading his hands.

"Alright, alright, stop messing around." Jiang Feifei couldn't stand it anymore. She gave Jiang Xin an annoyed look and proactively intervened, saying, "This girl can sleep in my room tonight; I can look after her properly. You men are too clumsy; how would you care for a patient?"

(Just a Small Fan Girl, the Secondary Male Lead won't be paired with a Supporting Female Character)