Peach-Orange! – Chapter 319 – Bro, You Really That Confident?

Great Sun Hospital.

As the ambulance arrived, Professor Su took over and rushed Chi Xiaocheng into the emergency room. Su Tao also spotted Dongfang Yang and Dr. Chen, who had been waiting there for some time.

It was the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, a time that should have been filled with celebration. Yet, such a distressing incident had occurred.

Even Dongfang Yang, usually bright and cheerful, couldn’t help but feel gloomy. He had just raised his eyes to look at Su Tao when she immediately turned to him and said, “Dongfang Yang, about Xiaocheng—”

“Stop!”

Before she could finish, Dongfang Yang cut her off.

He raised a hand, his face stiff with helplessness. “I know you’re anxious. I know there’s a lot you want to say about what happened. But Chi Xiaocheng won’t be out anytime soon. Even after emergency treatment, it’ll take a while before she wakes up.

“First, calm yourself down. Okay?”

Dongfang Yang pointed toward the elevator. “Go over there, head upstairs. Your old room is still reserved. Take a shower and change your clothes. If we weren’t so close, I wouldn’t even recognize you as ‘Su Tao’ right now.”

The hospital’s quiet atmosphere and the scent of disinfectant did slightly ease the agitation in Su Tao’s heart.

She pulled out her phone and finally understood why Dongfang Yang had said that.

Her once-neat high ponytail was completely gone.

Her hair tie was lost, and her long hair was now loose, streaked with dried blood, clumped in messy strands. Perhaps due to the aftereffects of her bloodline awakening, her face was deathly pale, her eyes dull and bloodshot.

Her cheeks, the white fur trim of her coat’s hood, and various parts of her body were all stained with dried blood. Anyone who didn’t know better might think she’d just walked out of a slaughterhouse.

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Her appearance alone was unsettling enough, but her expression made it even worse.

Su Tao closed her eyes and exhaled. “Sorry. I’ll be back soon.”

She walked toward the elevator, her steps quick but unsteady, her figure swaying slightly, enough to make anyone worry.

Dongfang Yang turned to Dr. Chen. “How’s Su Tao’s condition right now?”

Dr. Chen frowned. “She’s barely holding on. She needs proper sleep, at the very least.

“Anyone can see she’s forcing herself to stay upright. But what surprises me more is… the thing about her father!”

Dongfang Yang rubbed his temples.

Unlike Si Chen, he hadn’t investigated Su Tao and Chi Xiaocheng. He’d always thought they were just ordinary girls from a small town who’d come to Jiuzhou City for university.

It wasn’t until Si Chen told him about what happened at the farmhouse that he realized—

Su Tao had an insane background.

A War Hero father.

And now, she’d awakened her bloodline and become an ancient martial artist!

The entire way to the hospital, Dongfang Yang had been in a daze. Everything had escalated too quickly for him to process.

But the facts were undeniable.

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While rescuing Chi Xiaocheng, Su Tao had killed one person, crippled several bodyguards, and was now covered in blood. That was proof enough of what had happened.

“So how does this ‘awakening as an ancient martial artist’ thing work? Just… snap from sheer rage?”

He muttered to himself, but then a voice suddenly spoke up behind him.

“That state… I’d tentatively call it ‘darkening.’”

Dongfang Yang turned, his lips twitching.

Si Chen adjusted his newly replaced glasses. “What’s with that look?”

“Nothing. It’s just my first time seeing you looking like a swollen pig. A bit unexpected.”

Dongfang Yang wasn’t really in the mood to laugh, but facing his snarky friend, he almost couldn’t help it.

Si Chen rolled his eyes. “You don’t get it. If it weren’t for me, Chi Xiaocheng would’ve been done for. My favorability with Su Tao must’ve skyrocketed after this.”

“Ahem!” Dongfang Yang cleared his throat. “Alright, back to the point. You guys acted too rashly this time. If you’d waited for me, none of this would’ve happened. Also, about Su Tao’s so-called ‘darkened’ state… explain it to me in detail.”

Si Chen said, “This is just my speculation based on Su Tao’s current state.

“We both know that even for ancient martial artists, physical enhancement isn’t something that can be maintained permanently, right?”

Dongfang Yang nodded.

This was actually a well-kept secret among true ancient martial artists.

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If an ordinary person’s physical ability was rated at 1,

Then an ancient martial artist’s baseline would be around 5.

Through certain methods, they could temporarily ‘overclock’ themselves to 10, but afterward, they’d be left weaker than an ordinary person.

Yet, the public narrative was that ancient martial artists were 100 times stronger than regular people at all times.

This misconception led many to believe ancient martial artists were like cultivators in novels…. When in reality, even dodging bullets was extremely difficult for them.

Si Chen continued, “Su Tao’s bloodline awakening is like an unstable explosive.

“Because Chi Xiaocheng was in mortal danger at that moment, Su Tao broke through her limits in extreme fury, awakening the War Hero bloodline within her. But this ‘darkening’ from rage isn’t something she can maintain like a normal ancient martial artist.

“Her current exhaustion, her lifeless appearance… I think that’s the aftermath of the darkened state ending.”

Dongfang Yang stroked his chin thoughtfully. “I get what you’re saying, but that’s not the main issue here.”

Si Chen retorted, “That is the main issue!”

“???”

“Su Tao awakened her bloodline. With a heritage like that, Su Dingtian would sense it too. That means he’ll realize he has a child back in the country and he’ll return from overseas!”

Si Chen had been wondering how to contact Su Tao’s father. Wasn’t this the most important thing right now?

Dongfang Yang was dumbfounded. They were completely on different wavelengths.

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He never expected that even in this situation, Si Chen’s focus would be on her father!

Dongfang Yang couldn’t take it anymore and said bluntly, “The real issue right now is Chi Xiaocheng’s injuries and whether Su Tao’s mental state has other problems. Not her suddenly appearing father, okay?”

Si Chen rubbed his nose. “Well, you’re not wrong. But I don’t think we need to worry too much about either of them.”

Chi Xiaocheng wasn’t going to die.

As for Su Tao’s mental state, that was Chi Xiaocheng’s problem to deal with, not his.

If anything, he, Si Chen, had taken heavy damage for Chi Xiaocheng’s sake. Surely, that must’ve earned him massive favorability points with Su Tao.

Dongfang Yang sighed. “Su Tao’s already been under immense mental strain lately, acting unlike herself. Now, with this blow, I’m really worried she might collapse.”

Si Chen asked, “Then what’s the solution? For Su Tao, the only cure is Chi Xiaocheng.”

Dongfang Yang hesitated. “…My fault.”

His tone carried a hint of self-blame. “Su Tao and Chi Xiaocheng’s bond as sisters is deep, but they’ve only had each other for support. If I could make Su Tao like me more, or if I’d been a bit more proactive, she might’ve had another pillar to lean on.”

The moment he said this, Si Chen was stunned.

“Bro, you actually think Su Tao likes you?”

Dongfang Yang nodded very seriously. “Of course. Both Su Tao and Chi Xiaocheng like me a lot.”