Hospital.
The surgery has been going on for four hours, but Xena still hasn't come out.
Chloe has fallen asleep leaning against the wall.
Fyren is answering the phone over there. Suddenly, a long sword is placed against his neck.
"Fyren!" Sherry's voice trembles.
Fyren raises his hands, slowly turns around, and looks at her. Suddenly, he smiles: "Sherry, you've become prettier."
"Don't call me by my name!" Sherry glares at him, pressing the blade tightly against Fyren's neck.
Fyren takes a deep breath: "Are you going to kill me?"
"Otherwise?"
"Why?"
Sherry thinks Fyren's mind is messed up. At this point, he's even asking why?!
"You tricked my young lord, causing him to suffer multiple severe fractures within two days. If I don't kill you, who else will I kill?"
Fyren looks at her: "Do you know what your young lord intends to do in Crystalpeak City?"
"Shut up."
"Well. He wants to unite the four families and devour them. After unifying Crystalpeak City, he also intends to unite Northlandia and become the richest person in Northlandia. Is that right?"
"That's not the point."
"As the head of the four families in Crystalpeak City, if he wants something, I have to give it to him, right? You're a jianghu person. If I want your head, will you obediently give it to me?"
"Shut up, of course not!"
"Not only that, you'll fight back against me. At this moment, it's a war between you and me, right?"
"Yes!"
"Well, since it's a war, if I attack you, do I have to allow you to counterattack? Or, when I attack you, you must counterattack, regardless of whether I allow it or not?"
"Yes, of course."
"Then the outcome of the battle is determined by who has better skills, higher martial arts, faster speed, stronger power, and performs better in the moment, right?"
"That's right."
"So why do you want to kill me?"
Sherry doesn't understand: "What are you talking about? Because you've harmed my young lord!"
Fyren says: "It's a war between me and him! It's a business war. If he doesn't harm me, he will swallow us! He will take over the Leng family, the Zhang family, the Xu family, and the Chen family! If he comes to deal with us, we won't be allowed to retaliate?"
"..."
"So it's a fair showdown between us. He can ask those beautiful ladies for help, and now and then have the Four Gold, Silver, Copper, and Iron Warriors to assist. What do I have? I have nothing but money! Is this fair?"
"Sorry, that's because you don't have the ability! If you don't have the ability, don't complain about fate. You deserve to be defeated!"
"Good job!" Fyren claps his hands: "He has everything he wants, while I have nothing! About a month ago, I was still a senior lackey. Eliza annoyed me, Xena hated me, Cora despised me... Everyone except my parents and Zaring and Eason didn't stand by my side."
"But after over a month, Otto hasn't gained any advantage over me. Why?"
"Why?"
Fyren tapped his temple. "Because I'm smart! Your young lord tries to scheme against me, so of course I strike back. If he's outwitted, who's to blame? It's like a duel—if a more skilled fighter loses to a lesser one, does the loser deserve hostility for the other's cleverness?"
Sherry stood stunned, her mind reeling from the logic.
Fyren smiled thinly. "If he had real power, our four families would've been swallowed already. He even vowed to leave me homeless and begging. Tell me—if he won and I became a beggar, would you defend me? Would you draw your sword and scold him for destroying my family?"
"You... That... It makes sense, but..."
"But what? If he aims to destroy me, why blame me for fighting back?"
"But... but..."
"Enough 'buts'! Go ask your young lord if he's sane. Tell him Fyren's wits outmatch his three hundredfold. He has no chance in Crystalpeak. If he's smart, he'll leave and start over elsewhere."
"But... why... it does seem logical..."
"Of course it is! Even a fool admits that taking hits and standing firm is business competition. He lost to me because he lacked skill. He plotted with others, manipulated this and that—did I ever say he must fight fairly? No."
"True..."
"Right? So you shouldn't—"
"Shouldn't hold this against you. This isn't your fault."
"Your young lord simply—"
"Got what he deserved. He made his own choices."
"Exactly. So you should—"
"Go back and tell him he can't match your wits."
Fyren clapped his hands. "Put the sword away. Who wants to see that?"
Sherry felt something was off, but couldn't pinpoint it. She'd arrived furious, but now stood like a confused child, mulling over the twisted logic.
Fyren pulled her into a hug. "Listen—if he wants to devour us, we resist until he stops. We hold no grudge; it's just business. Either he conquers Crystalpeak, or he retreats. No personal vendetta—just commerce."
"Even in a dual, you sign a death pact, right? No regrets about life or death?"
Sherry nodded. "I understand."
She turned to face Fyren, clasping her hands in a bow. "I was rude earlier. Please forgive me. Though I'm not good with logic, I know honor and shame. Punish me—no complaints!"
Fyren grasped her hand quickly. "Don't say that. No one is flawless, right?"
Sherry flinched as if shocked, pulling her hand back. Suddenly, looking at Fyren gave her a strange sensation. Thoughts of all that had happened between them made her flush, her heart racing.
"I... I should go. I need to tend to the Young Lord. I'm leaving..."
Fyren exhaled when she turned the corner, legs weak as he leaned against the wall. "Fuck, lucky she's gullible. Sabrina would've killed me. I need Iron King and his men for protection."
Early morning.
The OR door finally opened. Xena stepped out, exhausted.
Chloe rushed over. "Xena, how's Mom?"
Xena removed her mask, smiling tiredly. "Surgery was successful. She's stable. Rest and she can be discharged soon."
Tears welled in Chloe's eyes as she hugged Xena. "Thank you! Thank you so much!"
"Alright," Xena patted her back. "It's over. Stop crying. The nurse will dress the wound, then you can see her."
Fyren approached, noting Xena's pale face. A near-ten-hour operation was grueling for anyone, let alone a woman. "Thank you."
Xena glanced at him. "We had a deal. No thanks needed."
He knew she was still peeved. "You're exhausted. Rest."
"Come with me."
In her office, Xena tossed her scrubs, mask, and gloves into the bin, then went to shower. Wrapped in a bathrobe, she sat beside Fyren on the sofa. "My feet ache—massage them."
Fyren frowned but began kneading her feet. At his touch, Xena gasped, breathing heavier.
"Does it hurt?" he asked.
"Standing ten hours—what do you think?"
Guilt tugged at him as he massaged more gently. "You worked hard, Doctor."
Fyren thought:
[No other socialite would endure this. Only Xena. While others flaunted designer labels, she followed her mentor into surgeries—even fainted from exhaustion once.]
[Her frail frame harbors extraordinary stamina for her patients.]
[Treat her better in the future.]
When Xena heard Fyren's murmur, the corners of her lips twitched involuntarily.
"Do you think I'm cold-hearted sometimes?"
Fyren shook his head. "I spoke thoughtlessly. I'm sorry."
"Truly?"
He sighed. "Like cars—there are affordable domestic brands, luxury ones like Mercedes, BMW, Ferrari, even flashy sports cars. We can't criticize Ferrari for not making tricycles, right?"
Xena nodded. "One person's power is limited. Even if I had eight hands, the lives I could save in a lifetime are finite. So..."
"So you focus on high-end clients, target precisely, and treat those willing to pay for survival. It builds your brand and earns revenue. I know Houde Group invests profits in charity, medical research, and education..."
"You really study Houde," she said.
Xena sighed. "To save more people, the brand can't collapse. Houde runs high-end private hospitals—pricy, yes, catering to the wealthy. But we share medical breakthroughs, mentor trainees, and provide advanced equipment to public hospitals. Saving lives isn't just about passion; it needs systems, funding, and a solid brand."
"Houde must profit. The more we earn, the more we can give back to society and patients... So I treat the rich, then use that money to support doctors, nurses, and researchers helping ordinary people."
Fyren smiled. "You're too cunning. I know those drugs you developed—same ingredients, different packaging. Affordable for the public, exorbitant for the rich."
"Ha ha ha!" Xena laughed. "The wealthy pay for peace of mind. They distrust cheap medicine. For the public, we price as low as possible."
"You sell at a loss with my money—did you think I wouldn't notice?"
She blushed. "You caught that too?"
"Yep." Fyren massaged her calves. "Your high-end profits subsidize low-end care. As long as you stay solvent, I won't spill the beans."
Xena studied him. "Fyren, you've always been a good person. Why pretend to be a selfish villain before?"
He gave a bitter smile.
[What goodness is in me?]
"Feeling better?"
"Much. The ache's easing."
"Let me take you home. It's late, and you're exhausted."
Xena met his gaze. "You know I had a big fight with my family."
Fyren raised an eyebrow. "Which means..."
"Will you... hold me tonight too?"
Her cheeks flared red, and she peeked at him shyly.
Fyren's heart skipped a beat.
[Gods, I might not survive this!]