With conflicted feelings on my choices, I look down the line of people set up in this new prison hospital, underground.

There’re so many lives in my hands.

Though that’s been the case for a while… it feels even more prominent now. Whether it’s that woman who could remain twisted in the demonic arts, or people who were just thrown into a terrible situation.

With this in mind, I realize something I’ve overlooked.

Human Staff.

Back at the sect, I had all the people focused on hospital functions to help with anyone needing assistance.

Here? Just spiders.

So many spiders.

And while my scan is telling me it will be alright to bring everyone down here and treat them, I know that just means I have to put in the work to make it alright. Which is what makes me work with Gong a little closer.

Using the connection we already share, the proximity to each other, and the micro-interactions between the spider, to form a coordinated thought process that is probably the closest to cultivator telepathy I’ll have until I reach a higher realm.

With this, as I walk behind Gong, the first thought of the connection passes between us.

“Wow… how can Gong’s butt be so nic…”

I cut that thought off once I realize my unconscious thoughts are being transmitted. To her credit, Gong only smirks and sways her hips a little more.

I reorient my mind back to the problem at hand, now directing the spiders with her to move the patients into even more specific sub-sections. Ones that require a human touch and those that don’t.

For the ones that don’t require humans, I’ll have the spiders coordinate with them, to set things up to keep contact at a minimum, but still allow me to treat them at a distance.

For those that require a human touch, I’ll have further sub-sections. Those that will need me specifically to wake them up and those that can safely be woken up by my team members. Of course, my scan will be the key to determining this. And to be cautious, if there is even a hint of danger or anything going wrong, I’ll be putting them in my category.

It’s with those parameters in place, I head to my sections, as the others go to assist Gong elsewhere.

And I meet the first challenge of the night.

The very same demonic cultivator woman that I considered killing earlier.

As I look down at her, I recall the information I know about her.

The Twisted Serpent.

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A person without a name, only experiencing destruction, pain, and suffering at all points of their life.

One who would be pitiful, if not for them spreading thousands of times the amount of horror that they’ve ever experienced, in the sake of power, satisfaction, and retribution.

Despite this, their face looks innocent, with a hint of mischief, as they sleep.

This feeling doesn’t last long, as their eyes shoot open. The sight of them is far from human.

Like a dragon, gray and green. Slitted and ominous.

Every hair on my body stands on end; immediately, I’m on guard. Watching them like a hawk. My scan on full alert, even if they have no cultivation to harm me with.

Especially as I was the first thing they looked for in the room, their eyes intense. Almost reminiscent of Xing Xun for a moment.

…

Silence resonates through the room as their unfocused eyes remain locked onto me.

As they see my suspicious look, a wave of hurt and sorrow erupts on their face. An instant later, they hide it behind a cold, arrogant look with a release of breath. Right after, she sweeps a gaze across the room, pausing on exits and items in the room.

All before gathering her eyes back to me.

Silently.

…

“…So, James. It seems that your other part spoke truly. I am out of… that place. And you’ve cured my, what you called, psychopathy.”

After a moment, she speaks, each word measured. Her eyes scanning my face. Looking at my expressions, as if to get a measure of me.

To see how much of the James she interacted with is who I am. Someone she must have spent time with and had likely already accepted her despite her previous evil actions. To help her become a better person and work through her traumas.

I let out a breath and relax. Re-gathering my thoughts and emotions.

…if I want to give her a chance to become better, I have to treat her as such. Not like a potential criminal.

Even if she’s already done far too much.

I look into her eyes and speak softly, nodding to her statement.

“That’s right. I know my other side must have explained the situation, but I’ll repeat it to be sure. I rescued you from those parasitic creatures and healed you, both in body and mind.”

I pause and lay out the truth.

“…I don’t know exactly what you went through in the illusion that healed you. I put an illusion of myself to help people like yourself through the process. So, it is both me… and not.”

I take a chance and gently place a hand on their shoulder. Letting my voice remain firm, but as compassionate as I can.

“…I know the terrible things you’ve done. It will be hard for me to reconcile that and trust you. I will still try, as long as you follow the right path. I’m sorry if that pains you.”

She stiffens as I place my hand on her shoulder and say that. However, her eyes have a hint of the vulnerability from earlier, before she turns away, nodding.

“I will try.”

She offers no other words, staring at the wall, as if it is the only thing holding her together.

…my scan isn’t giving me any warning signs that she’s looking to return to her old ways. It looks like she’s fundamentally changed… but how will be the question.

Also, that look, when she first saw me, worries me. But, I’m pretty sure that my illusory self wouldn’t have crossed a boundary past a friendship.

…

At least she’s hitting all the markers that tell me she is on the path to rehabilitation. If I saw any of the warning signs… I might have had to kill her just now.

There are still a few more I need to look out for, on both good and bad aspects.

With this thought in mind, I squeeze her arm softly, before moving toward the door, leaving her to her thoughts. Planning on returning, after some time.

Before I can pass the threshold of the doorway, her voice speaks up. Brittle.

“…Cao Chen.”

I turn back to her, already understanding but asking anyway.

“Say again?”

…

A pause, before she speaks louder.

“Cao Chen… We… we came up with that name for me.

“…I’d like you to call me that, from now on.”

Her voice gets softer again, almost a whisper.

“…Please?”

I can’t help but let out a relieved smile.

That’s another positive marker.

“Sure. Cao Chen, we’ll talk more when you’ve rested.”

At my words, I see her relax into the bed.

I exhaled while leaving the room.

Time to help the others.