Yun Manman hadn't expected Alice's "very soon" to be this quick.
So quick that after just one evening of learning, Alice said with satisfaction: "You really do have a high aptitude."
"You've already mastered the basics of channeling. The next step is practical application."
Yun Manman was still in a daze.
Wait, are all Spirit Power channeler courses this fast-tracked?
In one night, she had gone from a complete novice who couldn't even control her Spirit Power to a rare and talented channeler?
She felt Alice could write a book called "Become a Channeler in No Time."
Could she really go and channel for Qiqi now? Wouldn't her inexperience make Qiqi's Spirit Power condition even worse?
Alice saw the amazement and lack of confidence on her face and reassured her: "Trust me, you can do it."
The effectiveness of Spirit Power channeling isn't just determined by the channeler's technique, but also by the difference in Spirit Power purity between the channeler and the patient.
The greater the difference, the better the channeling effect.
This was why Alice had so much faith in Yun Manman.
99% high-purity Spirit Power would be effective in channeling for anyone.
Yun Manman just needed to stand there and release her Spirit Power. Even if she did nothing else, it would have a channeling effect.
What Alice had just taught Yun Manman was mainly how to penetrate someone else's Spirit Power barrier with her own.
She believed that with the trust between General Lu Qi and Yun Manman, combined with Yun Manman's high-purity Spirit Power, the channeling effect would be much better.
After some thought, she still advised: "The only concern is that your Spirit Power strength is relatively low, while General Lu Qi has S-class Spirit Power."
"With such a large difference in strength, you won't be able to channel for a long time. You'll easily exhaust your Spirit Power."
"Remember, don't channel for General Lu Qi for more than fifteen minutes. Fifteen minutes is already your limit. Otherwise, your Spirit Power will be dragged along by the General's, and you'll lose control."
Yun Manman stood in front of the door of the isolation ward, nervously hugging and pulling at her tail.
The fur on her tail was all mussed up from her fidgeting.
Beyond nervousness and anxiety, she oddly felt a sense of trepidation, as if returning to a familiar place.
It had been many days since she'd seen Qiqi.
Lu Xi handed the box of desserts to Yun Manman: "Miss Yun, please help take these desserts in for the General. These are today's sweets."
Yun Manman suddenly realized: "The invincible, brave, color-changing Mr. Lu?"
No wonder she thought the address was familiar when Alice brought her to Gaofu Town Medical Center.
So Lu Xi was that Mr. Lu who always ordered takeout!
The chameleon man smiled awkwardly, scratching his fluorescent green hair: "We have no choice, the General will only eat the desserts you make now..."
Hearing this, Yun Manman felt a pang in her heart.
Qiqi used to love sneaking bites of leftover ingredients, especially the pork floss used for making pork floss buns.
Every time she made pork floss, some would always go missing, and Qiqi thought she didn't know.
She had just turned a blind eye after seeing that eating it didn't cause any problems.
Yun Manman took the dessert box, determination flowing in her emerald cat eyes.
I'm coming to help you now, Qiqi.
Despite the bright, sunny weather outside, the isolation ward was cold and dark.
A faint smell of blood lingered in the air.
After entering, Yun Manman stood still, blinking several times to adjust to the dimness of the room.
Though called a ward, it actually contained nothing but a welded bed and a table, with even the walls made of cold, metallic material.
She felt a wave of sadness.
So this little snake who loved sunbathing was living in such a dark and cold place?
No vine house he liked, no soft floral cushions and blankets.
Yun Manman carefully walked towards the bed.
She saw a small lump on the bed, presumably where Qiqi was resting.
Suddenly, she felt something strange under her foot.
She looked down carefully, and when she realized what it was, her pupils trembled in disbelief.
White scales!
How could her snake have shed so many scales!
Had he gone bald?
Yun Manman bent down to pick up two scales and put them in her pocket, accidentally bumping the bag in her hand against the ground. The "clack" sound was particularly loud in the quiet space.
"Who's there?!" A strange, hoarse male voice rang out.
Yun Manman immediately straightened up, her body stiff as if standing at attention.
She was so nervous her hands were sweating: "Um, hello, I'm here to do Spirit Power channeling for you..."
Oh no!
Is this what Qiqi's voice sounds like?
Yun Manman had never been so acutely aware that Qiqi was a beast-man.
The one she was about to face was no longer just a pet snake that could only hiss, but a male beast-man.
A man she had never met or spoken to before.
A sudden sense of unfamiliarity washed over Yun Manman, making her unsure of what to do with her hands and feet.
Compared to Yun Manman's awkwardness and helplessness, Lu Qi felt like his whole snake body was about to split open.
The familiar sweet scent and Spirit Power - Lu Qi was certain that this girl, no more than three meters away from him, was the feline beast-man he had spent half a month with, Yun Manman.
Hadn't they said they wouldn't call Yun Manman over?
Had Lu Xi ignored his words? He'd skin him alive when he got out!
What should he do? Should he pretend not to know her?
She probably didn't know he was Qiqi, right??
When Yun Manman didn't hear Lu Qi's response, she spoke again softly: "Qiqi? Is that... Qiqi?"
Lu Qi: So you know everything already, huh.
At this moment, Lu Qi just wanted to play dead, but he knew that if he didn't say a word, this curious and bold cat would definitely come over and lift his blanket.
Then his body hidden under the blanket - scales fallen off, bloody and mangled, so ugly that even he despised it - would be seen.
He remembered how Yun Manman had stroked his scales countless times, saying affectionately: "Qiqi, you're so beautiful!"
Now he looked terrible.
Any beast-man would care about their appearance, especially male beast-men.
Thinking of this, Lu Qi said dejectedly: "No, it's not."
"You should leave quickly. I don't need your channeling."
Yun Manman: ...
She stared at the white snake tail peeking out from the edge of the blanket, and a strange anger welled up inside her.
She had touched this snake tail every few days, and on lucky occasions, she could even tie it into a bow.
She was all too familiar with it.
Grievance and irritation surged up in an instant.
The cat lady put her hands on her hips and scolded: "You think just saying you're not makes it true? Do you dare to stick your head out and let me see?"
"Do you dare to come out from under that shabby blanket! You cowardly snake!"
There was a rustling sound, and a breeze stirred Yun Manman's hair.
A huge white snake suddenly appeared before Yun Manman.
Standing up, it was as tall as two Yun Manmans, its thick, winding snake body coiled up on the bed. The snake tail that Yun Manman had been staring at was now gently swaying on the ground.
The snake scales, usually smooth and even, were now stained with blood. The fiery red wings on its back also drooped listlessly.
The giant snake's head was very close to her. Yun Manman could even see her own dazed reflection in its vertical, crimson snake eyes.
Seeing the kitten stunned into silence by his beast form, Lu Qi felt a hint of pride.
Enduring the tearing pain all over his body, he said: "Hiss hiss, scared now, aren't you? I told you I'm not him."
"Now get out immediately."
The little cat lady who had been in a daze suddenly looked up and glared at him, then laboriously wrapped her arms around the giant snake head that was right in front of her.
"You lied to me. You are Qiqi."