Ye Shikai returned to the intensive care unit, where Su Qingyu was still lying on the hospital bed. The room was so quiet that only the beeping of machines could be heard, along with the faint sound of Su Qingyu’s breathing. Despite the doctor’s continual reassurances to Ye Shikai, anyone with a little common sense could tell that the more the doctor comforted him, the slimmer the chances of Su Qingyu waking up.
It had been several days now. If she were going to wake up, she probably would have done so already.
"Qingyu, you really love to sleep, don’t you?" Ye Shikai stroked Su Qingyu’s face, saying with a smile before turning his head and sighing softly.
"You’re still not awake. What am I to do?" Ye Shikai said with a smile, his face marked by endless vicissitudes.
"Knock, knock, knock." At that moment, there was a knocking at the door. Ye Shikai turned his head sharply; Ji Qian was standing quietly at the entrance.
"How is Qingyu doing?" Ji Qian walked slowly over, and Ye Shikai also stood up, pouring her a cup of hot water.
"Her body is not in danger, but she just won’t wake up." Ye Shikai sighed. Su Qingyu’s coma made it impossible for him to have a moment of peace. In fact, since the accident, Ji Qian had also used the Gem Magic Wand’s healing abilities, complemented by Zi Yun’s acupuncture and medication treatments, but none of them had had much of an effect.
"Do you have something to say?" Ye Shikai asked indifferently.
"Yes, I received a report from the Moon God Temple yesterday. Zeus has left Huaxia and returned to the Divine King Hall in North America. He probably won’t be coming back any time soon," Ji Qian said as she sat down on a chair.
"One day, I’ll catch him, but right now, I’m not in the mood to deal with him. Let Ghost handle the foreign affairs," Ye Shikai said as he rubbed his temples, looking extremely tired. The wedding had been marred by an assassination attempt, and the rollercoaster of emotions he had been through had left him unable to cope, not to mention the exhaustion from personally taking care of Su Qingyu these past few days.
If anything happened to Su Qingyu, even capturing Zeus wouldn’t matter. Even if he united the Underworld, it would all be meaningless.
A beautiful woman is worth more than a kingdom.
"You seem very despondent right now," Ji Qian suddenly said after a few minutes.
"Yes, I am very despondent and downcast." Ye Shikai nodded his head.
"I have an idea that might help Qingyu wake up." With these words from Ji Qian, Ye Shikai’s spirits were lifted once again.
"In the primal jungles of South America, there grows a rare medicine called the ’awakening fruit’."
"The awakening fruit? What is that?" Ye Shikai asked curiously, searching his mind and certain he had never heard of such a fruit.
"It is also recorded in the texts found in Atlantis. It’s a rare medicinal ingredient said to grow at the top of the tallest trees in the South American jungle, yielding only three fruits per year. It can clear one’s mind and rejuvenate one’s mental state, even transforming someone completely," Ji Qian explained to Ye Shikai.
"Is it really that miraculous?" Ye Shikai was skeptical, not because he worried Ji Qian was deceiving him, but because the fruit was recorded in ancient texts, which may not be accurate anymore due to the passage of time.
"I don’t know for sure, but other records in this text are quite accurate; it might be worth a try," Ji Qian continued.
"But such an ancient item, is it still preserved now?"
"Although the primary forests of South America have been over-harvested in recent years, the core area is still intact. By comparing the location recorded in the ancient texts with the present, it should still be a primeval forest."
"That is great news," Ye Shikai said excitedly "Whether it works or not, I have to try it, even if there’s just a glimmer of hope."
"Do you have a picture of the awakening fruit?"
"No specifics, but according to the description, it should be a bright red fruit about the size of a bayberry."
"Then I’ll have Ghost prepare a private jet for me right away. I want to go check it out myself," Ye Shikai said excitedly as he walked out. He was willing to do whatever it took to find the legendary awakening fruit.
Yanjing, Netherworld Palace base.
"What is this awakening fruit?" Ghost asked, holding a drawing in his hand, which featured a plump, shiny red fruit, rounder than cherry.
"This is based on Ji Qian’s description, a miraculous medicine growing in the original forests of South America," Ye Shikai said excitedly.
"Is it for your wife?"
"Exactly, I think if it really exists, it should be able to wake her up."
"Boss, but after all, it’s just a record. I understand how much you want to save Sister-in-Law, but what if it doesn’t exist, and the forest is so vast, how are we going to find the tallest tree?" Ghost sighed, placing the picture on the table. When you think the tree in front of you is the tallest, there is always another that is higher. Moreover, we’re talking about finding three bayberry-sized fruits, which is like finding a needle in a haystack.
"Don’t worry about it, I’m going tomorrow morning. You prepare a private jet for me. Take care of Yanjing and the headquarters of Netherworld Palace. Don’t bother with anything else," Ye Shikai spoke directly, his belief in Ji Qian’s words unwavering. Besides, there was no other choice but to take a shot.
"I’ve heard of the awakening fruit," at that moment, Zi Yun joined the conversation from the side, which excited Ye Shikai even more. If the master of medicinal herbs had spoken, it meant the awakening fruit truly existed.
"Really? That’s great," Ye Shikai exclaimed. "Where did you hear about it?"
"In herbal texts, but I’ve never seen the real thing, and such items are extremely rare, not even found on the black market," Zi Yun shook his head. Producing only three fruits a year and growing in a primeval forest, of course, it was a rarity. If it could be bought on the black market, Ye Shikai wouldn’t need to take the trouble of going to South America himself; he could just sweep the black market with the power of Netherworld Palace.
"Brother, are you planning to use the awakening fruit to save Sister-in-Law?"
"That’s right, I’m planning to go to the South American forest personally. Whatever it takes," Ye Shikai said firmly.
"Then I’m coming with you."
"This..." Ye Shikai hesitated. The primeval forests of South America were no small thing. They were uninhabited areas where wild animals and venomous creatures ruled, and due to the terrain and climate, poisonous miasma permeated the area. Even elite special forces units had to enter with caution. Taking Zi Yun, who had no Inner Strength, might be dangerous.
"It’s okay. I can prepare various antidotes, and I have some experience in identifying awakening fruits, which might be of help to you."