Two days passed, and the streets of the main city became a blur for the Ryl Trading worker who had spent every waking moment in a frantic effort to keep Atlas alive. Her horse was a beast of endurance, but even it was nearly spent, its hooves pounding the cobblestones, dragging along the weight of Atlas, barely conscious, slumped over his saddle.
The worker—Wei Lin—was barely hanging on herself. She had ridden non-stop, day and night, through every kind of terrain. Her body was covered in cuts and bruises, but her focus was singular—get Atlas to the Silver Lotus Sect. Everytime they stop, he repatched Atlas, healed him the best she could and used herbs whenever necessary. Her mind buzzed with urgency, thoughts of what would happen if she failed. But she didn't allow herself to falter.
He can't die.
Her breath came in ragged gasps as she steered the horse into the courtyard of the Silver Lotus Sect. She'd barely noticed the blur of the city until now. She could see the familiar gates of the sect ahead. The horse's hooves clattered louder against the stone pathway as she whipped the reins harder, urging it forward. A shout from a guard broke through her focus, but she didn't slow. Not now. Not when she was this close.
When she reached the main doors of the hall, she tumbled off the horse, staggering as the world spun around her. Blood, exhaustion, and worry were etched on her face as she struggled to keep herself upright.
"Master....Atlas..." she gasped.
The door swung open just as she collapsed forward, barely catching herself. Inside, the silver lotus disciples were gathering, and Meyu—having been in a meeting with Lin Wuye and Yuxe Wuye—whipped her head around to see the worker standing there, holding Atlas in her arms.
A sharp breath escaped Meyu. "What happened?!"
Meyu rushed forward, her eyes wide with fear. The sight of Atlas, nearly lifeless, broken, and bleeding, sent a wave of panic crashing over her. Her hands trembled as she gently cupped his face, eyes searching for any sign of life.
"No! No, no, no—what happened to him?" Meyu choked out, her voice quivering as she gazed at the worker. "How... how did this happen?!"
Wei Lin took a few staggered steps forward, her face pale and exhausted. Her body shook with fatigue, but her words were steady, though strained. "I... I kept him alive. I did everything I could. He was... he was barely conscious. We rode for two days straight... I didn't think I'd make it... but I couldn't... I couldn't leave him. He's... alive. For now."
Meyu fell silent, her heart sinking as her eyes flicked between Atlas' pale form and the worker's exhausted face. She wanted to shout, to scream at the injustice of it all, but the only thing that came out was a strangled sob. She quickly wiped away the tears, trying to hold herself together. She wasn't going to lose him.
"Atlas!" Meyu shouted, her voice breaking.
Lin Wuye and Yuxe Wuye, who had been standing at the back, immediately stepped forward. Lin Wuye's usual calm demeanour was gone, replaced by a deep, unsettling urgency. He gestured for two disciples to bring Atlas to the closest room, often used for emergencies.
"Move him" he ordered firmly, his voice low and commanding.
"We need to stabilize him before it's too late."
Yuxe Wuye moved next to her husband, taking charge. Her hands were soft but firm as she helped Lin Wuye, supporting Atlas' body with him. Her gaze was grim as she directed the disciples.
Meyu stood there, her heart pounding in her chest as she watched them carry him away. Her hands clenched into fists, and she couldn't stop the fear from washing over her.
I was supposed to protect him. I should've stay there for him.
Why had he pushed himself so hard? Why hadn't he just rested? He was still recovering from the Qi overload.
This was her fault too, for not being there for him. She couldn't just stand here.
"Please..." she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Please, don't let him die."
The moment the door to the healing chamber burst open, Layla rushed in, her expression a mix of worry and urgency. Her gaze instantly fell on Atlas, and her heart clenched.
"Father, what's happening to him?" Layla demanded, moving quickly toward her father.
Lin Wuye, his brow furrowed in concentration, glanced up at her, his voice calm but strained. "He's pushed himself too far, Meilin. His Qi is too unstable. I'm managing to keep him alive for now, but it's not enough."
Layla's eyes flickered to her father's hands, glowing faintly as they hovered over Atlas' chest, trying to calm the wild Qi inside him. She moved to the other side of the table, kneeling beside him, her voice soft but filled with panic.
"We need to stabilize him. Now."
Yuxe Wuye stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "He's right, Meilin. His Qi is erratic. We need to release it back before it consumes him entirely."
Layla nodded, a grim determination settling in. She had to do something—anything. Her fingers hovered over Atlas' chest for a moment, unsure of what to do, before she gently pressed them down. A soft hum of energy began to flow between them, a quiet pulse of Qi that helped stabilize the internal turbulence just enough for a momentary calm.
Her heart raced as she felt his body—so fragile, so broken.
The weight of it hit her hard, but she fought to keep control. "We can't lose him" she whispered to herself, before turning to her parents.
"We can't."
Yuxe Wuye's voice was calm, but there was an undeniable edge of concern. "Meilin, focus. Channel your Qi—let it flow with his, not against. We need to support him, but we cannot take control of his body. He'll suffocate under that much pressure."
Meilin's mind raced. She could feel it—the strain, the uncertainty. She wasn't sure if she could handle the weight of this responsibility. But there was no choice now. She was all he had.
Her father desperately trying to keep him alive while she has to release the Qi inside atlas.
As her hands gently moved along Atlas' side, she guided her Qi carefully, trying to redirect it away from his body without overwhelming him. But it felt like there was a tidal wave inside him, a storm she couldn't stop.
"You can do this" Lin Wuye muttered softly from behind her, his voice firm despite the uncertainty in his own eyes.
"You have the power."
Meanwhile, outside the circle of focus, Bao stood a little further away, his eyes on Meyu. She was standing motionless by the wall, her face pale, her hands trembling as she pressed them to her lips, trying to hold back sobs.
Seeing him so close to death, her walls were cracking. And Bao knew it.
He stepped forward, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Meyu" he murmured, his voice gruff but gentle.
"He's not gone."
Meyu shook her head, her voice barely audible.
"I don't know what to do, Bao. I... I thought I could protect him. But now... now I'm scared. I should've stayed there."
Bao's heart ached as he watched the woman who had always been so strong crumble. He knew Meyu's loyalty to Atlas, but seeing her like this—it hit him harder than he'd expected.
"Everyone in this room is fighting to keep him alive" Bao said, his voice low but strong.
"They're doing everything they can. Trust them."
"I never... I never thought I'd see him like this" Meyu whispered, the words breaking through her trembling lips.
"He went into a coma and now this?... this feels like... like he's really going to die this time."
Bao gave a heavy sigh, his hand squeezing her shoulder comfortingly. "I know. But we're all here. And he's stronger than you think. He survived from being a bomb and fought his way to awake from the coma. He will survive this."
Meyu's lips trembled as she looked back toward Atlas' form.
"I don't want to lose him, Bao. I can't lose him."
"Then you won't" Bao said, his voice firm, as he glanced over his shoulder to see Lin Wuye and Yuxe Wuye working tirelessly.
"We're not going to let him go."
Meanwhile, in the healing chamber, Layla was sweating, her focus unwavering as she tried to stabilize Atlas. She could feel his pulse—weak, but still there. Her mind raced, but she held on to the steady rhythm of her Qi, just like her father had taught her.
"Father... he's too far gone. His Qi... it's... it's completely wild" she muttered through clenched teeth.
"I can't find a way to release it."
Yuxe Wuye leaned forward, her voice calm but urgent. "Don't force it. Guide him slowly, like you're taming a wild river. If you flood him with too much, it will break him."
Layla's gaze flickered to her father, the weight of the moment bearing down on her. She swallowed the lump in her throat, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I understand."
Layla's breath quickened as she tried again, pushing her Qi into his body, only to feel it crash back at her.
"But what if he doesn't have time?" she hissed under her breath.
"What if he dies before I figure this out?"
Yuxe Wuye's voice broke through her thoughts, soft and steady.
"Meilin, you've learned more than you realize. Trust yourself. You're not just using his Qi—you're using your own. Your way."
A flicker of understanding sparked in Layla's mind, and she looked up at her mother, who met her gaze with a gentle nod. Yuxe had always been her rock, the person who taught her to trust her instincts. And now, in this moment, Layla felt her mother's wisdom grounding her.
For a moment, Layla stopped, her hands hovering over Atlas. She closed her eyes, feeling the rhythm of his Qi, his life force thrumming under her fingers. His body was weak, his energy scattered, but there was still something solid inside him. Something that she could guide.
It was then that she realized—she didn't have to force the Qi out. She just had to make it flow, not against him, but with him. It was like finding a hidden current beneath the surface of the water, unseen but strong.
Layla inhaled deeply, letting her Qi flow freely into her palms. She didn't try to control it, didn't try to shape it, but simply let it flow.
Slowly, the turbulence in Atlas' body began to calm. The wild energy that had been tearing at him softened, swirling instead of crashing. Layla could feel the difference—the Qi was still chaotic, but now it had direction. It wasn't just a violent force. It was beginning to move like a stream that could be guided.
"Father" she whispered, her voice barely audible
"I think I've found it. The key isn't forcing him—it's guiding him. His Qi… it's like a river, but it's never had a channel before. I need to make the way for it."
Lin Wuye's eyes widened slightly while his hand glowing with his wife as well.
"That's it… Meilin. You've figured it out."
Her hands glowed faintly as she continued to channel her Qi, guiding it slowly through Atlas' body, focusing on releasing the tension without overwhelming him. It wasn't perfect, but it was progress.