I am the Arcane Archer, and all my skills are self-created.

When Li Wu arrived at the hospital, she finally felt a little relieved.

The hospital was orderly, as if the dramatic changes in the outside world had not yet fully impacted the place.

He rushed to his mother's hospital room, and the moment he pushed open the door, he saw his younger sister, Li Xiaoyu, sitting by the bed peeling an apple.

"Brother!" Li Xiaoyu stood up in surprise.

The mother in the hospital bed has also woken up. Although her face is still a little pale, her mental state is much better than before.

"Xiaowu, you're back." The mother's voice was weak, but full of warmth.

"Mom, how are you feeling?" Li Wu walked a few steps to the bedside and carefully examined his mother's complexion.

"Much better. The doctor said the surgery was very successful, but we still need to observe and treat it afterward," the mother said with a relieved smile.

Just then, there was a knock on the ward door, and the attending physician walked in, followed by Hua Zitong, who had a serene expression.

"Mr. Li, you've come at the right time." The doctor nodded when he saw Li Wu and then began to explain the patient's condition.

"The patient's surgery was successful, but the subsequent rehabilitation and medication support are crucial, as they will determine the extent of her future recovery."

"I've done a preliminary estimate. If we want to use the best treatment plan, eliminate any possibility of relapse, and help her recover her health in the shortest possible time, the subsequent costs will be..."

The doctor paused, glanced at the family's clothing, and hesitated.

Upon seeing this, Li Xiaoyu's expression instantly turned tense.

"Doctor, just tell me, how much do you need?" Li Wu asked in a deep voice.

"The best solution, including imported drugs, physical rehabilitation, nutritional support, etc., will cost at least 1.5 million, and this is just a preliminary estimate."

The doctor uttered a number that made Li Xiaoyu's face turn deathly pale.

One million five hundred thousand!

This number was like a mountain, making it hard for Li Wu to breathe.

Just as the ward fell silent, and even the smile on Li Wu's mother's face became forced, Hua Zitong, who had been standing quietly to the side, suddenly spoke up.

"doctor."

Her voice was clear and cold, yet it carried an undeniable power that instantly drew everyone's attention.

"Is this all the cost? Including any unforeseen circumstances that may occur in the future, we hope to resolve all issues at once and provide her with the best and most comprehensive protection."

The doctor was taken aback; he hadn't expected this pretty, young girl to be so arrogant. He re-examined her, then nodded and said:

"If we were to take all possibilities into account and set aside a reserve fund, we would need about two million."

Li Wu's heart sank. He was about to say that he would find a way, but Hua Zitong stopped him with a look.

Hua Zitong took out her phone and calmly said to the doctor:

"Okay, please take me to the finance department. I'll deposit the two million now. Also, please be sure to use the 'best' plan you just mentioned. All medications and treatments should be imported; don't worry about the cost."

"Now?!" The doctor and Li Xiaoyu exclaimed at the same time.

Li Wu was also stunned. He stared blankly at Hua Zitong, at her calm and composed face, as if two million was just an insignificant number.

"Yes, now." Hua Zitong's tone was calm, yet resolute.

She didn't look at Li Wu again, but simply gestured "please" to the doctor, and the two of them left the ward.

The ward was deathly silent.

Li Xiaoyu opened her mouth wide, looked at her brother, then at the doorway, and couldn't say a word for a long time.

Li Wu stood there, stunned, overwhelmed with gratitude, shock, bewilderment, and a complex mix of emotions that were hard to describe.

He knew this was no longer a simple "team investment." The money and the sentiment behind it were so heavy that he might need a lifetime to repay it.

He originally thought that with his talent and hard work, he had gradually caught up with her and even surpassed her in some aspects.

But reality slapped him hard in the face.

Faced with overwhelming financial resources, his gaming achievements, which he was so proud of, seemed so pale and powerless.

Looking at his mother and sister's shocked and bewildered faces, he took a deep breath and suppressed all his surging emotions.

He understood that now was not the time to dwell on these things.

The only thing he can do is become stronger, strong enough to be worthy of this "investment," strong enough to return this enormous favor in a dignified manner!

……

When Hua Zitong returned after completing the formalities, the atmosphere in the ward was still somewhat tense.

Li Wu's mother leaned against the headboard, looking at her son with eyes full of inquiry and worry. Li Xiaoyu sat beside her, occasionally stealing glances at Li Wu, hesitant to speak.

Upon seeing Hua Zitong enter, Li's mother quickly greeted her, "Miss, please sit down. Thank you so much. It's such a blessing for our Xiaowu to have a friend like you."

"Auntie, you're too kind. Taking good care of yourself is the most important thing." Hua Zitong smiled politely and handed a payment slip to Li Wu. "All the remaining fees have been settled. Please keep this safe."

Li Wu took the thin piece of paper, but it felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.

He opened his mouth, the words "I will definitely pay you back" were on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed them back.

He knew that saying these things now was pointless and would only make him seem pretentious.

He silently folded the receipt and put it in his pocket, an action that seemed like a silent promise.

After settling their mother in, Li Wu and Hua Zitong prepared to leave.

As soon as he stepped out of the ward, Li Xiaoyu chased after him, grabbed Li Wu's arm, and pulled him to the corner of the corridor.

"Brother!" Li Xiaoyu lowered her voice, her big eyes filled with gossip and curiosity. "Tell me honestly, what's your relationship with that pretty lady?"

"Teammate, didn't I already tell you?" Li Wu had a headache.

"No way!" Li Xiaoyu curled her lip. "What teammate just throws out two million without even blinking! Bro, is she pursuing you? Is she some rich heiress?"

Li Wu was speechless after being bombarded with a series of questions by her younger sister.

Isn't that what he himself thinks too? That absurd conclusion about "emotional investment" now seems to be getting closer and closer to the truth.

How do I explain this to my sister? Tell her that a super-rich and beautiful woman has taken a liking to my brother and is spending money like crazy on him?

He himself felt his face burning.

"Don't talk nonsense, we're just... teammates who have a good relationship," Li Wu explained vaguely.

"Tch, you're just being stubborn." Li Xiaoyu scoffed dismissively, but then leaned closer and whispered excitedly:

"But bro, this 'future sister-in-law' is amazing! She's beautiful, rich, and so domineering! You'd better hurry up and get her!"

Li Wu flicked his younger sister on the forehead, "What do you know, you're just a kid."

Just then, Hua Zitong walked over from the other side. She had obviously heard the siblings' conversation, but her face remained expressionless.

Upon seeing her, Li Xiaoyu immediately stood up straight, a sweet smile spreading across her face, and went to greet her: "Sister, my brother isn't very bright and doesn't speak well, please don't mind. Thank you for everything you've done for my mother!"

"You're welcome." Hua Zitong's gaze swept over Li Wu's somewhat embarrassed face, then looked at Li Xiaoyu, a very faint smile curving her lips.

Mustering her courage, Li Xiaoyu boldly asked directly, "Sister, what exactly is your relationship with my brother?"

The corridor fell silent instantly.

Li Wu's heart jumped into his throat. He didn't know if he was looking forward to it or nervous. His gaze involuntarily fell on Hua Zitong's face.

Hua Zitong met the gazes of the brother and sister and remained silent for a moment.

Her cool, clear eyes looked at Li Wu, and she said calmly, "We are teammates."

Li Xiaoyu was about to retort when she heard her continue:

"A teammate you can completely entrust your back to, someone you'd risk your life for."

She said these words with unusual calmness, yet they carried an indescribable weight.

Li Xiaoyu was stunned. Although she was young, she could tell that the trust and bond contained in those words were far more profound than the words "lovers".

Li Wu's heart also jolted.

Teammates who would risk their lives for you...

He recalled the battle between the two on the island in the shadowy lake, and the moment before the Heart of Rock when she used [Holy Light Protection] to shield him from a fatal stomp.

I recalled the Hydra boss battle, and how I used purifying arrows to pull her back from the brink of death.

Yes, their relationship has long surpassed the simple act of teaming up to level up.

It was a tacit understanding and trust forged through countless life-or-death trials, a bond that needed no words.

Perhaps the speculation about "emotional investment" underestimated her and their relationship from the very beginning.

"I understand." Li Xiaoyu nodded thoughtfully, her eyes filled with genuine admiration as she looked at Hua Zitong.

She didn't press further, but instead bowed deeply to Hua Zitong, saying, "Sister, I'm entrusting my brother to you from now on."

Hua Zitong accepted the greeting readily and gave a soft "hmm".

After saying goodbye to her sister, the two walked out of the hospital side by side.

The night breeze was cool, carrying away the smell of disinfectant from the hospital.

Li Wu turned his head to look at Hua Zitong beside him. She was looking up at the spatial rift in the night sky, seemingly lost in thought.

"Thank you," Li Wu said softly.

"As I said, this is an investment in the core members of the team." Hua Zitong withdrew her gaze, her tone returning to its usual coolness. "Only when your worries are resolved can we focus wholeheartedly on preparing for the war ten years from now."

The war ten years later...

Li Wu's heart was once again filled with this heavy topic. He clenched his fist; the huge sum of two million, the life-or-death friendship, and the impending crisis facing the world—all of these transformed into an unprecedented driving force.

He wants to become stronger!

It's not just about repaying favors, but also about protecting everything behind you!

"I understand." Li Wu's eyes became incredibly firm. "I won't waste a single second of these ten days of maintenance."

Hua Zitong nodded in satisfaction as she looked at the renewed fighting spirit in his eyes.

She knew that the arcane archer, who could always create miracles in desperate situations, had completely broken free of all shackles and was about to begin his path of growth at an even more terrifying speed.