Demeris jolted upright, astounded by the outcome of his experiment. According to Ronan, Qi was presumed to be a limited resource, depleting upon use until it naturally replenished over time. Yet, with his Qi, the renewal process occurred swiftly, and before long, his Qi levels were restored to their standard capacity. It wasn't necessarily infinite Qi, but rather an exceptionally rapid regeneration.

Reflecting on the benefits of his seemingly limitless Qi, he pondered the myriad advantages within his grasp. The ability to consistently energize his body, swiftly heal any injuries, and question the necessity of sleep or sustenance, intrigued him. These musings fueled his determination to conduct additional experiments, exploring the feasibility of these newfound possibilities.

Initially, he focused on honing his ability to channel Qi to power his body. His aim was to wield Qi swiftly and effectively, directing its flow precisely as needed. After several hours of repeatedly dispatching his Qi to fortify distinct body parts sequentially, he was astounded by the simplicity of the process. In no time, his Qi became like an added limb, effortlessly responding to his commands with seamless precision. He wondered if it really was that easy.

He persisted in his experiments throughout the night, and fatigue eventually caught up with him past midnight. In an attempt to rejuvenate himself, he infused his entire body with Qi. Upon successfully doing so, he observed his Qi vanishing momentarily, only to swiftly regenerate at a visible pace until it returned to its usual state. Curious about this pattern, he conducted multiple attempts to channel Qi specifically to his arm, realizing that the quantity available for use was equivalent to what he originally wielded. However, he discovered a limitation—he couldn't sustain the power-up indefinitely, as his Qi wouldn't replenish until he ceased trying to utilize it.

Demeris reached the realization that a continuous infusion of Qi into his being was not sustainable. There came a point where he had to halt the process for his Qi to initiate a swift replenishment. While this discovery, to him, was somewhat disappointing, he knew it paled in comparison to the broader benefits of what he had learned this night.

As the first rays of the sun streamed through the window, Demeris sensed Ronan stirring from his slumber. "Good morning," he greeted the still-drowsy Ronan.

Opening his eyes, Ronan observed Demeris, who appeared well-rested and devoid of any signs of fatigue. "Good morning," he responded. "Seems like you had a restful night's sleep."

“I slept like a child,” Demeris lied with a slight smile.

Both of them rose and readied themselves for work. The Master of Servants could be heard bellowing orders to the servants near the dorms. Demeris and Ronan swiftly exited the dormitory, making their way towards the fields. Their pace was brisk, and soon they arrived at the gardens. Choosing individual plots, they began their respective tasks without delay.

During the afternoon break, Ronan suggested to Demeris that they take a break together. However, Demeris declined, expressing that he wasn't finished with his task. He urged Ronan to go ahead and assured him that he would catch up later at the mess hall. Ronan proceeded to take his break, leaving Demeris to continue with his work.

After completing his task, Demeris decided it was time for a break. Swiftly, he ran, effortlessly infusing his legs with Qi, with the intention of catching up to Ronan at the mess hall for lunch. Upon reaching the open space where the mess hall is, he observed a gathering of people in a specific area. Intrigued, he moved closer to investigate what was happening.

As Demeris approached, a figure came into focus, lying motionless on the ground with blood seeping from a cut on his face. Upon closer inspection, he recognized the fallen person as Ronan. Rushing to his side, Demeris found Ronan barely conscious and clearly in pain.

"Ronan, what happened?" he inquired urgently.

"I didn’t tell him, Demeris," Ronan replied, barely managing a weak smile. "Malachi and his cohorts kept asking me where you were, but I didn't reveal your location."

"Malachi?" Demeris pressed, but Ronan visibly winced when he tried to speak again.

"Let's get you to your bed," Demeris said with a tone of urgency, his worry for Ronan evident in his eyes.

Despite his brewing anger, Demeris focused on supporting his friend. He gently assisted Ronan, who struggled to stand after the brutal encounter. Demeris guided Ronan towards their dormitory, each step reflecting the depth of his concern for his only friend in the sect.

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He carefully settled Ronan onto the bed and told him that he would return shortly after going to the apothecary to fetch some medicine. With a sense of urgency, Demeris hastened to the apothecary.

At the apothecary, Demeris approached the counter and inquired about a healing potion for his friend. The attendant informed him that each potion cost 5 gold. Demeris then asked if it would be possible to obtain one on credit, assuring that he would settle the payment in the future.

The apothecary, with a chuckle, dismissed the request, firmly stating, "I'm afraid we don't offer credit here."

Demeris pleaded and begged, but the apothecary just laughed at him.

Following that, Demeris sought out Hestos with the intention of securing a loan, using his forthcoming wages as collateral. He discovered Hestos at his makeshift outdoor office situated beneath a towering tree.

Demeris approached Hestos urgently, his worry evident on his face. "Hestos, I need a loan. My friend took a beating, and I need to buy a healing potion for him. I promise to pay you back with my future wages," he pleaded.

Hestos, engrossed in his work beneath the massive tree, looked up with a disinterested expression. "Demeris, beatings in the servant's quarters are nothing new. Your friend should've known better than to tangle with someone if he can't hold his own," he remarked dismissively.

Demeris, frustration welling up within him, persisted, "I understand, but he's in bad shape. I just need a little help, and I'll make sure to repay you."

Hestos, unmoved, shook his head. "I can't be lending money for every scrap in the quarters. People need to learn to fend for themselves. No loan, Demeris."

Feeling a sense of helplessness after Hestos's refusal, Demeris decided to return to the dorms where he left Ronan on his bed. As he walked, a glimmer of inspiration crossed his mind. "Maybe I can use my Qi to heal Ronan, just like what I've done when I healed my own injuries," he thought.

The idea ignited a spark of hope within Demeris, and he quickened his pace towards the dormitory. The weight of despair began to lift as he envisioned the possibility of utilizing his Qi to aid Ronan's recovery. Each step carried a renewed determination, and he found himself hastening towards the dorm with a newfound sense of purpose.

Discovering Ronan unconscious on the bed, Demeris felt a surge of concern. Swiftly assessing the injuries, he focused on the most visible one—the ugly cut on Ronan's forehead. With a calm determination, Demeris began, directing his Qi towards the injury.

A subtle change took hold. The cut, initially raw and unsettling, showed signs of improvement after just a few infusions. Demeris continued the process, each transfer of Qi contributing to the visible progress in Ronan's condition.

After several more infusions, the wound vanished entirely, leaving no trace behind. Not even a scar remained of the injury that had marred Ronan's forehead.

“I did it,” thought Demeris.

After successfully healing the wound on Ronan's forehead, Demeris decided to thoroughly look for serious injuries. Gently unbuttoning Ronan's shirt, he revealed a dark and ugly bruise on his right ribs. Demeris, focused and determined, initiated the healing once more, directing Qi towards the bruised area and repeating the process until the bruising is completely gone.

He checked for more injuries, only focusing on the serious ones. Demeris continued until he sensed that Ronan's breathing had stabilized and most of the serious injuries were healed. He decided to stop there, not wanting anyone to discover his healing ability just yet until he understood the consequences, if any.

With Ronan now safe and on the path to recovery, the anger Demeris initially suppressed returned with a vengeance. Unable to ignore the injustice that befell his friend, Demeris left the dorm room and went looking for Malachi.

As he traversed through the quarters, inquiring about Malachi's whereabouts, several people warned Demeris against confronting him. Undeterred, he pressed on until he finally found Malachi, nonchalantly lounging beside a small pond with his lackeys.

With a steely gaze, Demeris approached, his voice carrying a fiery intensity as he said, "I heard you were looking for me."

Several people in the vicinity gasped audibly. The atmosphere crackled with tension, and as Malachi got up, he said, smiling, “As a matter of fact, I am.”