Lu Xi stood frozen for nearly ten minutes, unable to process the sight of Yun Manman standing before him.
His mind was filled with questions and, more pressingly, fear. It was over - Miss Yun had found them, and the general's identity could no longer be concealed.
He vividly recalled General Lu Qi's stern warning before entering the isolation ward: "Under no circumstances can Yun Manman discover that Little Snake Qiqi is actually General Lu Qi."
The general would never admit to such embarrassing incidents as falling into a manure pit or being seen naked.
He had warned Lu Xi, "Whether I receive treatment or not is irrelevant, but you absolutely must not bring Yun Manman here."
The implication was clear - he would rather descend into madness than accept Yun Manman's guidance.
Lu Xi had readily agreed at the time. However, he secretly thought that if push came to shove, he would bring Miss Yun for the general's sake, even if it meant being flayed alive by his superior.
After all, Yun Manman's spiritual guidance had proven remarkably effective for the general.
But he never expected that day of reckoning to arrive so soon.
After hearing how Alice had sought out Yun Manman, Lu Xi's emotions were in turmoil.
On one hand, it was fantastic! He hadn't dared to find Miss Yun himself, but Miss Alice had brought her here!
On the other hand, the general's deepest secrets had been thoroughly exposed.
Still, Lu Xi's days of being oppressed by a volatile general were finally coming to an end. He could have wept with relief.
Lu Xi could sense that Lu Qi had always regarded Miss Yun differently.
His reluctance to seek her out likely stemmed from fear of harming her.
What a considerate general, to be so protective of the beast he held dear, Lu Xi thought fondly.
Lu Xi quickly came to terms with the reality that his superior's secret had been revealed.
After all, the general had only forbidden him from seeking out Miss Yun personally.
It was Alice the elf who had brought Yun Manman here, not him.
Surely that didn't count as disobeying orders?
Lu Xi swiftly convinced himself of this reasoning. He was simultaneously thrilled that Alice had found Yun Manman on his behalf and amazed by her boldness.
What an observant and deductive elf!
Was all of the elven race so proactive?
To search and wander so fearlessly within Kashida's borders - weren't they afraid of being captured?
Under the bright lights, Yun Manman sat in a chair with Alice perched on her knee. The two shared cookies, presenting a serene and beautiful tableau.
As Lu Xi gazed at the elf's delicate features, he suddenly recalled Yan Ye's parting words: "If Alice does anything inappropriate, I'll take full responsibility."
Lu Xi had an epiphany.
Why didn't she need to be on edge? Because she had powerful backing and protection!
Poor Lu Xi, a mere chameleon with no such support, was about to be flayed alive by the general.
Alice said, "General Lu Qi is very resistant to my guidance. If this continues, it poses a potential danger to both him and myself."
"If he can trust Manman, why not let her help with the spiritual guidance?"
"I can sense that Manman has this ability to guide."
Yun Manman listened quietly beside them, her eyes filled with anxiety and concern. "Yes, Vice Captain Lu."
"If this can save Qiqi... General Lu Qi, I'm willing to learn how to provide spiritual guidance."
"Alice says she can teach me."
Upon hearing Alice's explanation for seeking her out today, Yun Manman was shocked to learn the true, noble identity of the little snake she had raised.
General Lu Qi. Kashida's mightiest military force. The sole bloodline of the Ancient Singing Snake.
No wonder Jin Luo had told her that Qiqi's identity was beyond their reach.
Yun Manman also wondered why General Lu Qi's life-threatening condition should matter to her.
He had concealed his identity while living and eating with her, only to leave without a word, causing her to lose a family member.
But in the end, her concern and soft-heartedness overcame her anger and hurt.
Although Qiqi was no longer hers, she couldn't bear to watch him die.
She simply couldn't.
So after a few minutes of deliberation, Yun Manman decided to come with Alice.
If she couldn't help, at least seeing Qiqi one last time would be worthwhile.
It would serve as closure for her pet-raising experience and satisfy her curiosity about General Lu Qi.
Lu Xi nodded. "I understand. I'll arrange for Miss Yun to undergo a spiritual power assessment first."
"Once the results are in, can Miss Alice proceed with the guidance training?"
Alice nodded. "Of course. I need to understand Manman's spiritual power status."
Under Lu Xi's arrangements, Yun Manman quickly went in for her spiritual power assessment.
The test took only about ten minutes. Yun Manman felt as if she had dozed off and had a strange dream before coming out.
She dreamed she was back on Earth, still a corporate slave, but her job was to fry steaks! And her boss was a giant white snake!
The giant snake bared its venomous fangs, using its tail like a whip to lash her: "Hurry up! No leaving until you're finished..."
The dream was so vivid that even after waking, she pondered its meaning.
Yun Manman walked down the stairs in a daze, nearly missing a step.
Fortunately, the Samoyed Nurse behind her caught her arm in time, or she would have landed painfully on her backside.
The Samoyed Nurse smiled sweetly. "Be careful now. It's normal to feel like you're walking on cotton after the spiritual power assessment. The feeling will pass soon."
"The results will be ready momentarily. Please wait a bit."
"Ah... alright." Yun Manman looked at the nurse's triangular ears atop her head and the fluffy white tail behind her, instantly feeling more alert.
Ah, fluffy creatures really do help one wake up.
Unlike that heartless snake.
"What?! 99% spiritual purity??" Lu Xi's shocked exclamation nearly blew the roof off the medical center.
The volume of his voice earned him an angry glare from the Samoyed Nurse.
Lu Xi consciously lowered his voice. "Should we do it again? Isn't this value a bit extreme? Could the machine be broken?"
He had never seen a beastman with 99% spiritual purity before.
Yun Manman's vision darkened at the mention of redoing the test.
Alice shook her head in refusal. "We've already done it three times. The spiritual power testing equipment in this medical center is all newly purchased. There won't be any issues."
"Manman is already very tired."
Hearing she didn't have to redo the test, Yun Manman was so moved she could have cried.
The elf was truly the most considerate.
The dizzy feeling after the test was bearable, but she didn't want to have the same dream of being whipped by a giant snake so many times!
Alice looked at Yun Manman's report with surprise as well. "I expected Manman's spiritual purity to be high, but I didn't anticipate it being this high."
"In our elven history, the highest spiritual purity ever recorded was only 95%."
She mused, "But the spiritual power strength is only C-level, which is a bit weak..."
Yun Manman recalled the original owner's last spiritual power test.
At that time, her spiritual power strength was indeed only D-level, and her spiritual purity was merely 40%.
Was it because of her soul's transmigration? Is that why the change was so dramatic?
Alice fluttered her wings and flew in front of Yun Manman, her soft little hand touching Yun Manman's smooth, full forehead.
"It's alright. Your spiritual purity is exceptionally high, which makes learning easier."
"For a spiritual guide, power strength isn't actually the most crucial factor."
"Under my tutelage, you'll learn quickly."
One more chapter coming a bit later!