Qin Shilei turned to Su Xiaoxuan and said, "Divine Doctor Su, use your abilities to force out that phantom again."
While his lightning ability could kill the Soul Devouring Demon, it might also kill the young man.
Su Xiaoxuan, keeping her distance, looked at Qin Shilei and then at the young man lying on the ground. Finally, she gathered her courage and stepped forward, casting a healing spell on the young man.
The healing spell could mend injuries but was surprisingly effective against Soul Devouring Demons.
The weakened Soul Devouring Demon was forced out again, immediately attempting to flee into the distance.
Qin Shilei, having anticipated this, waved his hand, and a beam of white light struck the phantom.
With a sizzle, the phantom dissolved into the air.
"It's dead just like that?" Su Xiaoxuan blinked her dark eyes. "This ghost is so weak, yet it dared to scare me."
Qin Shilei corrected her, "That wasn't a ghost. It was a wisp of a Soul Devouring Demon's clone, specifically designed to devour souls."
Su Xiaoxuan asked, "Does that mean my light-attribute abilities have a natural advantage against it?"
Qin Shilei nodded. "Likely so. You don't need to be too afraid of these ghastly things."
Su Xiaoxuan immediately breathed a sigh of relief and went to the young man's side to tend to his injuries.
After a while, the young man slowly woke up.
The moment he regained consciousness, he held his wife and began to weep again.
Qin Shilei excused himself to Su Xiaoxuan and returned upstairs.
The next day, perhaps wanting to leave a good impression on Qin Shilei, the major benefactor, Su Xiaoxuan personally went to the third floor to treat Kong Qingshu again.
After two treatments, although Kong Qingshu had not yet woken up, her complexion had noticeably improved.
After the treatment, Su Xiaoxuan suddenly said to Qin Shilei, "This morning, another person brought someone who had been knocked unconscious by the Soul Devouring Demon clone you mentioned, to seek treatment from me."
"There's more?" Qin Shilei frowned, sensing that the situation might be more serious than he thought.
"Indeed. Fortunately, I was prepared beforehand, or that Soul Devouring Demon would have almost entered my body," Su Xiaoxuan said, still feeling a lingering fear.
"Have you informed the various factions in the city about the appearance of the Soul Devouring Demons?" Qin Shilei asked.
"Yes," Su Xiaoxuan nodded. "I've already sent someone to notify City Lord Xiao, though I don't know if he will believe it."
"Miss Su, why don't you come back to Hope City with me?" Qin Shilei suddenly proposed.
He felt a persistent unease, as if something bad was about to happen in Lingquan City.
"Hope City?" Su Xiaoxuan looked at Qin Shilei with some confusion.
"It's the former Nanzhuang City. It's protected by tall walls. I am Qin Shilei, the City Lord of Hope City. If Miss Su were to come to Hope City, I would certainly set up an even better clinic for you."
Qin Shilei suddenly wanted to persuade her to return to Hope City and bolster its strength.
"The name Qin Shilei sounds very familiar," Su Xiaoxuan suddenly realized with a flash of understanding. "Could you be the number one person on the rankings?"
They hadn't introduced themselves when they met yesterday, so Su Xiaoxuan hadn't known Qin Shilei's name.
"That is I," Qin Shilei nodded. "May I know Miss Su's thoughts?"
Su Xiaoxuan's expression was somewhat conflicted. "Allow me to consider it further."
She then curiously inquired about Hope City's situation before going downstairs to continue her consultations.
Qin Shilei remained on the third floor, contemplating his own abilities.
Su Xiaoxuan, preoccupied with her thoughts, finally saw off her last patient. Just as she was about to close up and go upstairs, a familiar figure walked towards her from a distance.
Xiao Ziang, holding a bouquet of fiery red roses, entered the clinic and closed the door behind him.
"Xiaoxuan, these are flowers I specially picked for you. Do you like them?"
Su Xiaoxuan frowned. "City Lord Xiao, we really aren't suited for each other. In these times, you don't need to pick flowers for me."
Xiao Ziang smiled and offered the roses. "How will you know we aren't suited if you don't even try to get to know each other?"
Seeing his hand still extended, Su Xiaoxuan reluctantly took the flowers and placed them on the table.
Observing her lack of appreciation for the roses he had painstakingly gathered, a flicker of annoyance crossed Xiao Ziang's eyes.
He quickly masked it, smiling again. "I've heard about the demonic presence in the city. For your safety, I think it would be best for you to move into my City Lord's mansion."
Su Xiaoxuan immediately refused, "There's no need. I'm not a weak woman and can protect myself."
Xiao Ziang tried to persuade her, "You are alone, after all. If the Soul Devouring Demon you mentioned were to appear in the middle of the night, how would you defend yourself?"
Su Xiaoxuan paused, clearly taken aback by this possibility.
The thought of a Soul Devouring Demon entering her body and consuming her soul sent an involuntary shiver down her spine.
Xiao Ziang continued, "Xiaoxuan, my love for you is as clear as the sky and earth. Please, just give me a chance."
Su Xiaoxuan stated firmly, "City Lord Xiao, we are better suited as friends. There are plenty of women who would want to be the City Lord's wife; you don't need to waste your efforts on me."
Xiao Ziang's expression turned cold. He suddenly spoke with force, "What if I insist?"
Meeting his sharp gaze, Su Xiaoxuan felt a jolt of alarm and tried to gently persuade him, "Forced affection is never sweet. If you act this way, you will only earn my contempt."
"It might not be sweet, but it quenches thirst," Xiao Ziang said, taking two steps forward, forcing Su Xiaoxuan back against the wall. "Su Xiaoxuan, I am determined to have you today."
Su Xiaoxuan retorted coldly, "As City Lord, aren't you afraid of being looked down upon for acting this way?"
"Hahaha," Xiao Ziang laughed heartily. "As City Lord, isn't it perfectly reasonable for me to take a wife by force?"
With that, he reached out to embrace Su Xiaoxuan and leaned in to kiss her.
Su Xiaoxuan dodged, attempting to escape his grasp.
However, she was only at Black Iron seven-star, while he was at Black Iron nine-star. Her speed was no match for his, and within a minute, he had her hands pinned to the wall.
Even the abilities she unleashed were blocked by a golden energy shield around him.
As Xiao Ziang was about to forcibly kiss her, Su Xiaoxuan cried out, "Help!"
"Hmph," Xiao Ziang sneered. "Who dares to interrupt my good deed?"
His subordinates were already guarding the clinic entrance, ensuring not even a fly could get in.
"Let her go," a cold, sharp voice suddenly commanded from behind him.
Xiao Ziang started in surprise, turned, and saw, "It's you."
The newcomer was none other than Qin Shilei.
Su Xiaoxuan pleaded urgently, "Mr. Qin, please save me."
Xiao Ziang turned and coldly said, "This is a private matter between us. You'd best not interfere."
"Let her go," Qin Shilei repeated expressionlessly.
Xiao Ziang's face darkened, and he said harshly, "I let you off last time, but that doesn't mean I'm afraid of you. Get lost, or don't blame me for being impolite."