Chapter 27 Home Invader 

[Huo Lian]

He seems to have stopped for a moment. I bring my attention back to him, and he is staring at my face. I hope there is nothing wrong with my face right now. No, he wouldn't let there be anything wrong with my face. He is still like a statue. He seems so content just staring and smiling. Ahh, I wish I could say the same, but I am not content. I have become greedier; I want to do much more than just stare. But I guess looking at his happy smile for a while is not too bad.

A loud and powerful growl suddenly is heard.

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Suddenly, I hear a series of loud animal noises from the outside. A loud and powerful growl is heard again. I'm going to kill this motherfucker who wrecked such a moment.

[Doctor Zhen Jian]

I hear the animal noises and quickly awake from my silly daze. To be stunned from a single smile! I hope Mrs. Patient doesn't think badly of me. But honestly, it was my fault. I was just caught by both nostalgia and the beauty of her smile. Ugh, I am thinking about it again. I shake my head vigorously in an effort to remove any unnecessary thoughts.

"Mrs. Patient, I am sorry, but it seems there is... uh, a really large bug. I need to make sure it does not bite anyone, so I am going to squish it. I am too worried about you to leave you alone, so please bear with this." I take the sheets and place them to completely cover Mrs. Patient.

Now it looks like I am a turtle. Haha, with my white robes, I look like a doctor turtle. Teenage Doctor Turtle, how strange?

[Huo Lian]

Hmm, this is actually more comfortable. I feel like I am wrapped up in a thick coat. I can still perceive everything as well since the sheets are not too thick for my powers. Then I notice the snake, and my heart begins to fill with anxiety. It is a large snake, about ten feet long. It is azure in color. Its scales shimmer with a deep blue hue, almost like polished sapphires, and its eyes glow with an eerie, luminescent intensity.

I recall what I have seen in the palace archives. It is an Azure Serpent. I slowly approach it with my perception, and my heart that was filled with anxiety now is filled with dread. It is an adult Azure Serpent that has reached the fourth stage of core formation, something that was twice as strong as my prime. I use my powers back at Jian and am shocked. He is smiling like he is a battle maniac. He looks like a child receiving candy. Run, you idiot!

I almost want him to have his candy because he is so happy, but the fourth stage! He killed the assassin before I had a chance to check his power, thus I assumed it was weak. Wait. He killed something before I could even perceive its strength. How strong is Jian?

[Zhen Jian]

I sense the presence of the Azure Serpent and instantly recognize the threat it poses. The beast is massive, its azure scales reflecting the sunlight in a mesmerizing yet terrifying way. Its eyes, glowing with an eerie luminescence, lock onto us with predatory intent. I can feel the raw power emanating from it, a formidable opponent indeed. A grabbed my face i was smiling. 

[ Zhen Jian]

I can't believe I am smiling so much. If looking at Mrs. Patient gave me a content smile, then looking at the large azure-colored monster before me brings a hungry grin to my face. It feels odd, like the last time I felt this way when I was fighting General Zheng. Why did I feel simple anger when fighting the assassin? Was it pride? I can't calm my heart right now; it's pumping so fast. I hope it doesn't scare Mrs. Patient. But I think I'm going to have a little fun.

[Huo Lian]

I'm so surprised at Jian. He looks so happy, but there's a bit of guilt in his smile when he looks at me on his back. Hahahah, he looks like a child about to do something mischievous. Go have fun, my Jian. I've already died once; one more time won't make a difference. Hahahaha. This, Huo Lian, has always lived free on the knife's edge. If I can die again here, I wouldn't mind it one bit.

[Zhen Jian]

After trying to calm my heart, I feel something from Mrs. Patient. Does she really want me to do what I want? Ahh, she must think I'm really fighting a large bug. "Sorry, Mrs. Patient, I lied. It's not a big bug but a big snake. It looks a bit strong. Is it still okay for me to go fight? I will have to run around a lot."

[Huo Lian]

Yes, doofus, go and fight to your heart's content. This will be the second time I wish I could fight by your side. But at least I can protect your back with mine.

[ Zhen Jian]

I can feel her approval. It's strange. I sometimes feel that she knows everything that is going on, but most of the time just goes with what I want to say or do. She is by far the most understanding person I've met. And now she is even allowing me to risk her life for my own satisfaction. Not a very doctor thing to do. No, right now, I am Zhen Jian, not Doctor Zhen.

I look back at the house, then at the ten-foot behemoth sticking its tongue out and displaying its fangs. Yeah, if I put Mrs. Patient down, it will destroy the house in a second. I will stick with her on my back. She is very light anyway; I can barely feel her weight. If I wasn't always with her and trying to understand her, I wouldn't even notice her right now as I start fighting the big guy.

Well, now no matter what, protecting her is the priority, then fighting the monster. Killing it is not necessarily the only option. If I hit it a few times, it might run away. Okay, let's go for it. "Thank you and sorry, Mrs. Patient, for going along with my selfishness."

[Huo Lian]

Have a blast, my Jian.