Scene change to Heilong Cheng Zhai
Aaron (narration):
As soon as I pulled my boat up, I saw a few associates leaving the island.
Aaron:
Hey you!! Where is Yingli!?
Heiyue Associate A:
Last I saw her, she was on the second floor fighting a swarm of archaisms!
Aaron:
Fuck!!
Heiyue Associate B:
Don’t go in there, she told us to run for it!
Aaron (narration):
I can’t hear myself think, I can’t hear anything, only the sound of Yingli’s voice begging for help. I ran towards the building and-
Aaron:
Yingli!!
Aaron (narration):
Yingli is laying beside her Xipha, the last time I’ve seen this much blood was when Almata- Fuck!! I can’t lose her too!! I ran to her side, she’s barely breathing.
Aaron:
You… are… not… leaving… me…!! Damnit!!
Aaron (narration):
I started doing chest compressions on her, pumping her chest between words.
Yingli:
…
Aaron:
Come… on… come… on….
POV change to Yingli
Yingli (narration):
It’s cold and dark here. I’m sorry Aaron, I should have been more careful.
I’m sorry.
I’m sorry.
I’m sorry.
Eh – ? It’s getting warmer. And that light, it’s warming me up?
Aaron:
Don’t… fucking… give… up!! YINGLI!!
Yingli:
–!!!
Yingli:
(Throws up blood and coughing)
Yingli (narration):
Above me, I see Aaron’s golden eyes, it’s the same colour as the light that tore through the darkness. I reached for him. Aaron took my hand.
Voice:
It seems like you have located Yingli.
Aaron:
Cao!! This is your doing!!! You should have known-
Cao:
It appears someone had imitated my signature and sent a fake request. Leave the rest to us, we will get to the bottom of this.
POV Change to Aaron
Scene change to Longkai’s Clinic
Aaron (narration):
Fast forward to a couple weeks. Yingli wouldn’t let herself stay in bed for too long, even when she’s recovering from a broken arm, and the injuries she’s got from the archaisms… it looks like some of them will leave a scar.
Longkai:
You can’t keep using the Dragon Bone Salve to get you up and going, Yingli. You’re just going to prolong the healing process if you are not resting. On top of that, you’ve been using arts quite a bit without your Xipha.
Aaron:
It sucks that the stores don’t sell those plugins at this time, and none of our drivers can help either.
Yingli:
I can’t let my moment of blunder affect my other work. Heiyue was nice enough to delay one of my performances. We cannot delay more of them.
Aaron:
You can’t keep up appearances forever like this. Let PR make up something on why you can’t be out in public.
Yingli:
I wish it’s that simple. You know all about the terms of my performances. Even Master Lee and Lao Ye are in a tight spot. An assassin’s job is time sensitive.
Besides, tonight is special. I am not going to pass up an opportunity to perform with you as a unit.
Aaron:
It will be your first time putting on a full time performance not needing to kill your audience hm?
Longkai:
That’s right, you and Aaron will be putting on a show tonight! You’re both starring if I am not mistaken. Make sure you’re not pushing yourself too hard!
Yingli:
Thank you, Doctor. I will try my best to take it easy.
Longkai:
Aaron, you look after her.
Aaron:
Don’t have to tell me twice!