Chapter 68: A Timely Intervention

“Artificial, artificial respiration!?”

Celeste was stunned for a moment, her face immediately flushing crimson.

She knew such a first-aid method existed, but that… that, didn’t it involve mouth-to-mouth resuscitation?

For a moment, her mind wandered, and even the magic converging in her hands weakened somewhat.

However, she quickly shook her head, forcefully suppressing those chaotic thoughts.

At this moment, saving Yalin was the most important thing; who had time to think so much?

But the problem was, she had absolutely no psychological preparation for performing artificial respiration!

The mere thought of her lips pressing against Yalin’s made Celeste’s heart pound as if someone had seized it, and a wave of uncontrollable shame washed over her.

‘No, I can’t think like that!’

‘This is just saving a life; it has no other meaning! I’m only doing it out of necessity!’

Celeste suppressed the wavering in her heart. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Liyang gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

She slowly leaned down, carefully helping Yalin up, and cradled him in her arms.

Celeste blinked, suddenly realizing something. “Wait, wait a minute, are you going to do it?”

“Yes, aren’t you using healing magic, Celeste? So, it has to be me.”

Liyang looked at Yalin’s bloodless face, a pang of agony twisting in her heart.

It was always like this; she was always powerless at such critical moments.

When Yalin’s life hung by a thread, Celeste could immediately heal him with white magic, while she could only watch helplessly.

She detested her own powerlessness.

Therefore, she had to do something.

Anything she could do, no matter how shameful, how difficult—even if it only increased Yalin’s chances of waking by one percent—she would never back down!

“Liyang, you…”

Celeste’s lips moved slightly.

As one of her few friends, Celeste understood Liyang’s personality to some extent.

Though she appeared cold and distant to others, even unapproachable, in truth, she simply wasn’t adept at interacting with people.

In fact, she was easily shy and unusually sensitive to personal space, instinctively avoiding even simple eye contact.

This made it even harder for Celeste to imagine Liyang proactively engaging in such an intimate act.

Yet, at this moment, Liyang’s eyes were calm, devoid of shame or hesitation, revealing only an unshakeable resolve.

It was only then that Celeste realized the girl who usually spoke so timidly seemed far stronger than she had ever imagined.

Celeste wanted to say more, but it was too late; Liyang’s head had already lowered.

She watched, speechless, as those soft lips pressed seamlessly against Yalin’s.

Time seemed to stop at that moment. Celeste’s ears registered only the whistling wind, yet the rhythm of her own heartbeat grew impossibly clear.

They had truly… kissed.

Their breaths intertwined, and Celeste felt her ears burn, quickly averting her gaze, unwilling to witness it directly.

She knew perfectly well this was a necessary emergency measure, and moreover, from a division-of-labor perspective, it was the most logical choice for Liyang to perform artificial respiration on Yalin.

However, for some inexplicable reason, she simply didn’t want to look at that scene.

A bitter, indescribable ache welled up in her chest. Celeste bit her lip, pouring even more magic into the healing spell.

After an indeterminate amount of time, Liyang’s voice, tinged with a hint of joy, suddenly reached her ears.

“It’s… it’s working a little! His breathing is becoming steadier!”

Celeste raised her gaze once more. Indeed, Yalin’s complexion seemed to have recovered considerably.

‘Never mind all that, as long as Yalin is out of danger.’

Celeste thought silently.

“But it seems to be just a little short. Should I try again…”

“…”

Celeste immediately lowered her head again.

Just then, a slightly amused voice sounded from behind the two of them.

“My apologies, little Liyang, though it’s the climax of the show, one such act is quite enough.”

Liyang’s body stiffened slightly; she knew that voice all too well.

“Fu, Fulin Grandma?”

Turning sharply, she saw Fulin, wearing a wide wizard’s hat and a magic robe, slowly approaching with a smile, just as expected.

“When… when did you arrive?”

“Hehe, I’ve actually been following behind you two all along. But it was indeed the right decision not to come forward immediately.”

Fulin pulled down the brim of her hat, revealing a mischievous smile.

“But oh, my little Liyang has truly grown up! To think she’s become so proactive, hahaha, Grandma is truly delighted.”

Upon hearing these words, a belated realization dawned on Liyang about what she had just done.

Her entire body trembled violently, and her cheeks instantly flushed crimson, as if blood might seep through them at any moment.

“No, it’s not like that! That one is, I, I…”

After stammering for a long time, Liyang finally realized that Fulin was teasing her again, and she cried out in exasperation, “More importantly, please come quickly and help Yalin! He suddenly fainted!”

“I know, I’m here now, aren’t I?”

Fulin appeared unhurried. She approached Yalin, extending her palm and gently pressing it against his chest.

“Yalin suffered a severe mental attack, and even his internal body was affected. Both of your treatments were excellent.”

A dazzling white light suddenly bloomed from her palm.

Though Celeste didn’t understand the magic, she knew that this spell’s level far surpassed any healing magic she could cast.

Connecting it with Liyang’s recent address, Celeste quickly realized that the mature woman before them was the Vice Dean of the Alchemy branch.

‘Unexpectedly, she’s Liyang’s grandmother; I never heard Liyang mention this before.’

“All right, he’s fine now. He just needs to wake up on his own. But to be safe, let’s take him to the academy first.”

Fulin snapped her fingers, and a crow flew down from a treetop, instantly growing dozens of times larger, even taller than a person, drawing gasps of surprise from the surroundings.

“Only two people can ride on its back, so I’ll take Yalin first. He’s fine now anyway. You two can either go to the academy to see him or continue shopping; it’s up to you.”

After speaking, she directed her gaze at Celeste.

“You are the legendary once-in-a-millennium mage from the Magic Academy, aren’t you? I’ve actually wanted to meet you for a long time, but I didn’t expect it to be in this place.”

“Ah, I… Professor, hello…”

Celeste, having been called out, quickly bowed in greeting. The succession of surprises left her momentarily unable to collect herself.

“Though I’d like to chat with you for a bit, now isn’t the time. Let’s save it for later.”

Fulin smiled, then leaped, pulling Yalin onto the crow’s back.

“Then, I entrust my Liyang to your continued care.”

The crow soared high, quickly vanishing from sight.

Celeste watched the gradually shrinking black silhouette, her emotions a complex tangle.

Just then, she suddenly detected a sharp killing intent emanating from a distant rooftop.