The Azure Dragon, however—

Amusement shone in his eyes, a quiet mirth that softened the sharp lines of his face.

A low, rumbling chuckle escaped him, fusing with the soft hush of the mountain air.

"You two seem very confident."

His gaze lingered on the twins, his eyes shifting between them and the wounded man, as if assessing whether their confidence matched the daunting challenge before them.

"Can you treat him?"

Both twins nodded vigorously.

"Of course!"

A delicate smile curved the Azure Dragon's lips, as serene and puzzling as the fog curling above distant peaks.

"Very well."

"I grant you permission."

Ling Li let out a quiet sigh, her breath blending with the cool mountain breeze. She knew well that the Azure Dragon could heal the injured man with just a flick of his finger, yet he was very indulgent toward the twins.

She turned deliberately from the injured man toward Shi Min and Mushu, her robes touching the polished stone and her eyes meeting theirs firmly, clearly conveying her expectations.

"You two assist them."

Shi Min nodded calmly.

Mushu bowed.

The Surprise

The twins knelt gracefully beside the wounded stranger, their faces set with determined concentration.

From the glimmering interiors of their spatial rings, they drew slender medical needles that faintly glowed in the mottled light.

Chin Chin poised her needle, breath suspended in anticipation, ready to begin the delicate work.

But as Chin Chin began to move her needle toward the wound, a ripple of energy suddenly shimmered through the atmosphere between them.

The man's form began shimmering, edges fading as though caught amid worlds.

His human shape contorted inward, his form warping as bones gently shifted, and skin rearranged in a silent, uncanny transformation.

There was a subtle crackle as bones rearranged, the sound muffled by the hush that fell over the group.

White fur burst forth, rippling across his body like a sudden snowfall.

In the space of a heartbeat,

A massive snow leopard sprawled before them, its powerful frame coiled with both pain and latent strength.

Streaks of crimson marred the creature's pristine white fur, a sharp contrast beneath the lantern light.

Each breath came shallow and ragged, misting faintly in the cool mountain air.

The twins froze, eyes wide with astonishment.

"…."

They looked at the enormous beast, awe and uncertainty flickering across their faces.

All the medical knowledge they had so confidently wielded seemed to vanish, swept away by the sight before them.

'Humans?'

That, they understood.

'Animals?'

'…We have no idea,' they thought simultaneously.

Slowly—

Both twins lifted their gaze, silently.

Their eyes shimmered with unfallen tears, uncertainty clouding their usual bravado.

They fixed Shi Min with pleading, puppy-like expressions, silently begging for guidance.

Shi Min pinched the bridge of his nose.

He found himself caught between exasperation and reluctant amusement.

But Shi Min's moment of amusement vanished; a calm, steady seriousness replaced it. His posture straightened, eyes remaining fixed on the twins as authority settled unmistakably over him. Even Mushu and Ling Li stopped moving, their attention caught by the subtle but clear shift in command.

"Heh.

"So now you realize what it means to volunteer for something without understanding the details," Shi Min said, his tone dry.

The twins lowered their heads, glancing at each other. Stubbornness still lingered in their posture, an indication that their youthful pride resisted Shi Min's chastening words. Around them, tension deepened — a standoff of Shi Min's newfound authority against their wordless defiance — as he continued.

"Mystical beasts often shift to their original form when injured," Shi Min explained, voice composed.

"It conserves energy during treatment."

He crossed his arms.

"This is what we call shooting your own foot.

You should never bite off more than you can chew," he warned.

"As the old masters say, humility is the root from which real strength grows. In martial arts, overconfidence leads only to mistakes. Remember: the bamboo bends in the wind and does not break," he concluded gently.

He looked down at them.

"Since you volunteered…"

"Are you willing to eat your words?"

The twins shook their heads, eyes still glistening with tears.

"No…"

Shi Min sighed.

"…Then you will learn."

The Treatment

Shi Min knelt beside the twins, his presence steady and reassuring.

"First question."

"What is the first step when treating an injured patient?"

Chin Chin immediately answered.

"Stop the bleeding."

Shi Min nodded.

"Correct."

He signaled toward the wounded snow leopard, its sides rising and falling with labored breaths.

"Animal anatomy is very similar to humans."

"You can start.

I will guide the rest."

A trace of courage flared up in the twins' eyes.

They readied their needles once more, hands more steady now with purpose.

Shi Min guided them carefully.

First, he instructed, "Locate the major bleeding points."

Kim Kim examined the abdominal wound carefully.

"There."

Shi Min nodded.

"Use pressure needles."

Chin Chin slipped two slender needles into precise points near the wound, her movements careful and practiced.

The bleeding slowed immediately.

"Good," Shi Min said.

"Now clean the wound."

Mushu handed them a sterilized cloth, fragrant with an herbal solution.

The twins dabbed gently at the torn flesh, their touch gentle despite the gravity of the task.

A weak growl resounded from the snow leopard's throat, more pain than threat.

Shi Min placed his hand on its head.

"It will not attack."

"Continue."

Next, they prepared to stitch the wound closed.

Shi Min demonstrated slowly, talking them through each step.

"You must align the muscle layers first," he explained.

Not just the skin."

The twins followed his instructions.

Their little hands moved with painstaking care, stitching the wound layer by layer as Shi Min watched over them.

Finally—

Subsequently, the matter of the fractured bone arose.

Shi Min showed them how to realign the broken leg.

"Pull gently.

Do not rush."

A soft crack sounded as the bone slid back into place, the sound peculiarly satisfying amid the silence.

The twins wrapped the injured leg in layers of medicinal cloth, binding it with gentle hands.

Gradually, the snow leopard's breathing steadied, each inhale deeper than the last.

Praise

When the treatment was complete—

The entire group had been watching.

The Azure Dragon stepped forward slowly.

His expression grew thoughtful, eyes reflecting the lantern light and something deeper.

"Impressive."

His gaze rested on Shi Min.

"Your calmness and wisdom are remarkable."

There was no hint of flattery in his tone.

Only genuine respect, clear as the mountain air.

He then looked at the twins.

"And you two."

"You showed knowledge…"

"…and courage."

Even Huang and Zhu exchanged surprised glances. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Red blinked.

Xiao Chi clapped happily.

"You healed it!"

The snow leopard slowly opened its eyes.

For the first time since its transformation,

It looked at the twins.

and bowed its head in silent gratitude.

Even the most mystical of beasts could recognize kindness when it was offered freely.

And courage, no matter how small the hands that delivered it.

Even if that courage belonged to two mischievous little girls.