Chapter 23: Blood Draw

How much had the future changed?

You Xue wasn’t sure.

After all, she was no longer the reader with a God’s-eye view; she had become an insignificant character in this story.

She took out the painkillers she carried with her and chewed them.

The bitterness exploded on her taste buds, astringent enough to numb her tongue.

Although the taste was unpleasant, she had heard that chewing them allowed the active ingredients to be absorbed through the mouth, making them work faster.

Afterwards, You Xue took out an apple candy from her pocket, tore off the wrapper, and put the candy in her mouth.

Only then did she feel a bit better.

It had only been a few days since she drank the Magic Blocker, but recently the frequency of her blood vomiting had increased.

Perhaps because of the Dragon’s Eye, the blood she had been coughing up recently was no longer the dark red it used to be.

It had become brighter and hotter, with threads of golden filigree running through it.

It looked rather eerie, given that it was her own blood.

But You Xue didn’t pay it much mind.

After all, in this world of supernatural abilities and fantasy, anything was possible.

As someone who was about to die, what use was there in investigating these anomalies?

So You Xue accepted the fact that her blood had become strange in just a few minutes.

Today was Sunday, exactly the date the black market dealer had agreed on.

Originally, You Xue hadn’t planned to keep the appointment.

Meeting a stranger in private, especially in a place like Moonview City with its undercurrents, was too risky for her.

But her body’s abnormalities were becoming more severe, and she had to consider the fact that she might need more Magic Blocker in the future.

Without much hesitation, You Xue went to 666 Wutong Street in the eastern part of the city.

It was a coffee shop with a wooden sign hanging on the door handle that read: Closed.

She pushed open the glass door of the coffee shop, and the wind chime gave only the faintest sound.

Looking around, she saw only one person inside—a scruffy, unkempt man who looked like a slovenly, listless uncle.

He was sitting by the window with his legs crossed, and beside him lay an unlit pipe.

You Xue had expected someone who looked more shrewd.

Of course, she wasn’t foolish enough to let her guard down.

Her hidden left hand tightly gripped two throwing knives.

The Dragon’s Eye might have side effects, so You Xue didn’t want to use it carelessly.

“I originally thought you’d be a tough girl, but I didn’t expect you to look so fragile.”

The man lit his pipe and took a puff, looking as if he was enjoying it immensely.

You Xue stopped walking and furrowed her brows.

‘He’s doing this on purpose, waiting until I get here to start smoking,’ she thought.

“That’s not something you can tell just by looking.”

Her expression turned cold.

“And is it your idea of fun to smoke in front of a patient?”

“Sorry, sorry.”

The man looked completely unconcerned, showing no sincerity.

He opened the window beside him and, with his other hand, held the pipe outside.

“It’s a habit of mine. I can’t even start a conversation without having a smoke.”

Seeing that he did intend to talk, You Xue stepped forward and sat down across from him.

“Let me introduce myself. I’m Anbian Du.”

The man spoke first, and his opening words startled You Xue.

Anbian Du?

You Xue, who knew the original story well, naturally recognized the name—Su Li’s practical combat instructor.

But the book had never mentioned that he had this other identity.

She was a bit shocked, but at the same time, she let her guard down slightly.

After all, in the original story, this seemingly slovenly man was actually a meticulous and proactive fourth-tier powerhouse.

In the early part of the story, Anbian Du appeared as the practical combat instructor for Su Li’s class.

He had been classmates with Lin Qingye, the head of the Academy’s Defense Department, and had served as a high-ranking officer in the Border Guard Army before being punished and forced into retirement for some unknown reason.

But in reality, Anbian Du hadn’t been punished at all.

His coming to the Academy was actually part of the Border Guard Legion’s plan.

This showed that the Border Guard Army’s stance was leaning toward the Academy, not the city’s ruling elite.

Although the man before her was on the side of good, that didn’t mean You Xue would trust him without reservation.

After all, in this dangerous, cruel world, the only person she could truly trust was herself.

“You Xue.”

She introduced herself, then asked.

“Can you really give me the medicine?”

Anbian Du exhaled a puff of smoke and grinned.

“Of course. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have sought you out specifically.”

You Xue certainly wasn’t naive enough to think he would give it unconditionally.

“So… what do you need me to do?”

She asked.

“You’re very smart, Miss You Xue.”

Anbian Du placed his pipe outside the window, tapped off the ash, and said meaningfully.

“Magic Blocker is a precious drug, so of course I won’t give it to you for free. But my request is simple: I need blood. The blood of a Magic Rejection Syndrome patient.”

“My blood?”

You Xue confirmed.

“Yes.”

His reply was certain.

“Why?”

You Xue was puzzled.

“As for the reason…”

Anbian Du squinted and looked at the somewhat frail girl before him.

“The answer to that question is none of your concern. Just tell me whether you accept these terms.”

He took another puff of his pipe and continued.

“Of course, you can choose to refuse. That would mean you’re rejecting this path. And besides, even on the black market, I won’t sell you the potion anymore.”

Putting pressure on a patient like that—how much did this man want her to accept his offer?

But in truth, You Xue had never considered refusing.

She didn’t care what he wanted to do with her blood.

As long as it could prolong her life a little, that was enough.

But before that, You Xue pretended to think for a moment.

After all, appearing too eager would raise suspicion.

Finally, putting on a confused expression, You Xue replied.

“Okay.”

By then, the pipe Anbian Du had lit had burned out.

He casually tossed the butt out the window, nodded, and said.

“Since you’ve agreed, let me draw some blood this time to take back for testing.”

Anbian Du reached into his pocket and took out a transparent collection vial and a needle.

You Xue rolled up her left sleeve.

The moment the needle pierced her vein, she instinctively tensed her shoulders.

It didn’t hurt much; she was long accustomed to pain a hundred times more intense.

But as she watched the strangely colored blood slowly fill the collection vial, she felt an indescribable complex emotion.

“Your blood…”

Anbian Du looked at the bright red blood laced with threads of gold, a hint of surprise on his face.

“Is this what the blood of Magic Rejection Syndrome patients looks like?”

“I don’t know.”

You Xue tried to play the ignorant girl and shrugged.

“After all, I’ve never seen the blood of other patients.”

Hearing You Xue’s explanation, Anbian Du didn’t think much of it.

He just put away the collection vial with the blood.

“Alright, whether it works or not depends on the test results. As for the potion, I didn’t bring it today, since I didn’t know if this would work out.”

Anbian Du looked up at the girl wearing an eye patch.

“You can tell me when you need it.”

“Next week, is that okay?”

You Xue asked directly.

Anbian Du looked a bit surprised.

“I recall it’s only been two weeks since you bought that bottle of medicine, right?”

“Maybe my condition has worsened.”

As she said this, You Xue’s expression didn’t change.

Finally, Anbian Du looked at You Xue’s indifferent expression and sighed.

“Then next Sunday, same place. I’ll bring the Magic Blocker. But in return, the amount of blood drawn will increase.”

His tone carried deliberate lightness.

“Okay.”

You Xue nodded.

After making the agreement, both prepared to leave.

You Xue reached the door first.

The moment she pushed the door open, before the wind chime outside could even ring, her back was violently struck by a powerful force.

It was Anbian Du, throwing himself at her and pushing her to the floor.

Before You Xue could understand what was happening, she saw—

Countless ice spikes shattered the door, sending splinters of wood and shards of glass raining into the shop, striking the exact spot where You Xue had been standing.