Patients in long-term comas aren't always completely still; they occasionally have convulsions, open their eyes, or even swallow, but the key is whether they can regain consciousness and respond normally to external stimuli.

Yao Shaolan quickly grasped Qian Guran's hand and immediately felt the other person subconsciously grasp hers back.

Old Qian slowly opened his eyes, a dazed look in them, and said in a weak, hoarse voice, "Where is this? How did I end up here?"

Yao Shaolan was overcome with joy and started to cry: "Old Qian, have you finally woken up?"

Qian Guran woke up just in time; otherwise, Yao Shaolan would have been worried. She even thought, as long as Gu Yunteng was around, would Old Qian have to keep lying there?

A bunch of doctors arrived, conducted various examinations, and gave plenty of reminders, but their main message was one of congratulations. The results of the specialists' consultation were that Old Qian should be fine, but he shouldn't get complacent and must recuperate carefully.

Qian Guran was still somewhat confused, unsure of what had happened, and Yao Shaolan had to help him recall things bit by bit.

Qian Guran only remembered that during the holidays, he was driving back to Qi Yuan from the Fubo City direction. He was originally scheduled to meet Yao Shaolan the next day, and since expressways were toll-free during Golden Week, the traffic was heavy, so he took the provincial road in Jiangbei...

His memory stopped there, and he couldn't remember at all what transpired afterward.

Yao Shaolan played him the surveillance footage she got from the police on her phone, and only then did Qian Guran realize he had driven into the river.

Qian Guran wasn't aware that so much had happened during his coma; it was all relayed to him bit by bit by Yao Shaolan. Hearing that two Elders from the Magic Sect's Hall of Sect Rules had even come to the hospital to look after him, Old Qian was shocked and moved.

He struggled to immediately get in touch with the Hall of Sect Rules, but felt dizzy, and promptly lay back down.

Qian Guran had just woken up and was still somewhat weak; after hearing so much from Yao Shaolan, he felt very fatigued and needed a good rest.

Yao Shaolan first notified the Tengxin Group's Qi Yuan Branch, telling them President Qian had woken up and could return to work after observing him in the hospital for two days.

Then she told Old Qian, "Wan Zhongle, the Steward from the Alchemy Sect, and Yu Shangzhen from the Heart Plate Sect are both waiting to see you. They specifically instructed that as soon as you wake up, they'll come over; there are some things they want to ask you."

Qian Guran waved his hand, saying, "I can't remember anything, I'm feeling so dizzy."

Yao Shaolan replied, "Then you should rest properly first; nothing is more important than your health, and we'll talk once you have the energy in a few days."

After resting in the hospital for two days, Qian Guran felt there weren't any serious issues, so he returned to work at the company. A month ago, his seat had the same open cubicle arrangement as He Kao's; nowadays, he had a private 60-square-meter office.

This left some people quite disappointed.

These people weren't entirely malicious; they also kindly hoped Old Qian could turn danger into safety. But Old Qian had been lying down for almost a month, so why not just lie down for two more days?

If the group headquarters were to appoint a new vice president, establish things well, and he wakes up afterward, wouldn't that be perfect for everyone? There were already some people both locally in Qi Yuan and at headquarters starting activities.

Qian Guran's timing was causing too much discomfort for people!

President Qian's return to work from the hospital was most joyous for the Cloud Living project team, after all, he was a leader promoted from their department. The planned farewell banquet for President Qian on the evening of October 7th didn't happen, but was made up for a month later.

President E grabbed He Kao to run errands again, asking him to book a restaurant and to visit the place personally to ensure the private room could accommodate the entire department and provide various entertainment facilities.

He Kao didn't come to work all day, presumably running around outside until he found an appropriate place.

The large private room had two big round tables, each could seat eighteen to twenty people, with an automatic mahjong machine beside them, and small tables for playing games like catch-the-egg, equipped with a karaoke machine and a big screen... it's specifically a team-building suite.

At the farewell and promotion celebration banquet, because President Qian had just come out of the hospital, everyone kindly advised him to drink less and take care of his health.

But Qian Guran, perhaps to show his drinking capacity linked to work ability or to prove his body was perfectly fine, frequently raised his glass to drink and thanked everyone for their help and support during this time.

Gao Xue'e, as usual, didn't drink; everyone knew she couldn't handle alcohol. Huang Xiaopang drank until he was dazed and appeared very excited, later speaking with a slurred tongue, insisting on putting his arm around President Qian's neck to bond with him.

In the eyes of the department staff, only Huang Si would do such a thing, holding a cup in one hand, hooking President Qian's neck with the other, with the cup almost pressing against the leader's face. But President Qian really had a good disposition, always smiling with him.

Actually, Qian Guran was the one truly anxious inside; he was unaware of the Hidden Moth heritage ceremony or that Huang Xiaopang had performed a golden cicada escape trick, already passing the Hidden Moth identity to He Kao.

In Old Qian's heart, he still believed that Hidden Moth was Huang Xiaopang.

Qian Guran certainly knew what happened that night; this Hidden Moth was too fierce, how many Magic Sect disciples were eliminated in one night? It's estimated among them were five Tier Three Sorcerers!

Despite the good relationship between the two and neither would reveal a secret, Old Qian still felt a little apprehensive. This had nothing to do with cultivation levels; it was purely psychological pressure. When Xiaopang wrapped his arm around his neck, he didn't dare to move carelessly.

Qian Guran was someone well-versed in cunning tactics and full of sly ideas. In his view, Huang Xiaopang's action in this situation was a silent reminder not to speak recklessly!

Huang Xiaopang was ultimately escorted back by He Kao, his steps faltering, yet he felt he hadn't reached his limit, clamoring to drag Xiao Kao and Old Qian into another round, suggesting they hit the pedestrian street for skewers and beer.

He Kao did not accompany him for barbeque, instead pulling Xiaopang back to the apartment. As soon as Xiaopang stepped in, he went to the bathroom to vomit, with He Kao supporting him and patting his back to help him empty his stomach completely.

Then He Kao poured him a warm glass of water and tricked him into taking a pill for hangovers. Though claimed to be a hangover remedy, it was actually a Peiyuan Pill meant to be dissolved under the tongue. To ensure its effect, He Kao watched as he took it.

The effect of the hangover remedy was indeed impressive, making Xiaopang feel a lot better immediately, even shouting for another pill.

But of course another pill was impossible, so He Kao removed his shoes, got him onto the bed, and turned around to see a painting hanging on the wall above the bed.

He Kao, though not an expert in archaeology, could sense its mysterious and ancient charm.

This was a vertical axis figure painting, about four feet long and one and a half feet wide, titled "Tan Xian's Walking Stick Painting," with small characters inscribed below reading "Respectfully Left by Disciple Leidunzi."

This painting isn't widely known in the art world, but it's renowned within the Magic Sect. He Kao once heard Wu Yanjun and Qian Guran mention it.

The figure in the painting is Immortal Tan, the founder of the Alchemy Sect, with hair unbound, wearing a cape and straw sandals, leaning on a long, knobby bamboo cane with a large lacquered wine gourd hanging from it, traversing a landscape.

The figure's features and objects are depicted with meticulous brushwork, extraordinarily lifelike; the drifting garments and distant landscapes are executed in bold ink strokes, capturing their essence with just a few strokes.

Tan the Immortal, originally named Tan Jun, existed before the chaos involving Yin Niang and the Woodman in the Magic Sect's history. Alchemy Sect disciples believe he is the most accomplished ancestor in the sect's history.

Just how high was his cultivation? His achievements in the mortal realm are said to be beyond description; it's claimed he became an immortal. Although disciples of other sects might have different views, they wouldn't deny Tan the Immortal's extraordinary achievements.

This painting was made by his disciple Leidunzi over a thousand years ago, reportedly after Tan Jun ascended to immortality, to commemorate his master and to leave his immortal likeness to the Magic Sect.

Leidunzi also has clear records in the Magic Sect, supposedly having reached at least Tier Seven Grand Pharmacist level, though exactly how high he ultimately achieved is unknown and unverifiable.

During the chaos of Yin Niang and the Woodman, the painting's whereabouts became unknown, with a thousand years of upheaval and transition until recently when it was discovered being held in the Nanhua Academy of Fine Arts library, found by Xiaowu's master Zhang Yanfei.

Later, Zhang Yanfei was imprisoned, the root cause also because of this painting. (See chapters 014, 016, 018 for details)

This painting was selected by Nanhua Academy of Fine Arts to participate in a nationwide tour themed "Ancient Mystical Culture of the Eastern Country," with the final exhibition location being Qi Yuan.

However, on the last day of the exhibition, someone discovered that this ancient manuscript was actually a contemporary forgery.

It's said that during the earlier days of the exhibition, it was the authentic artifact, but on the last day it turned into a fake. Some suspect it was switched during the exhibition, but the organizers insist it was a forgery from the start.

The painting was indeed swapped during the exhibition, and witnesses like Qian Guran can attest to it. Based on this, Qian Guran discovered traces of Hidden Moth in Qi Yuan.

Therefore, this case remains unsolved, but the police have made unexpected discoveries based on clues. Many ancient manuscripts and treasures housed in Nanhua Academy's library have already been swapped with fakes, involving enormous amounts of money.

Hence Zhang Yanfei was incarcerated, and met Wu Yanjun in the detention center.

Xiaowu once told He Kao another story: the true "Tan Xian's Walking Stick Painting" was taken by the Alchemy Sect, with Steward Wan Zhongle handling it.

Zhang Yanfei created a forged piece to replace it, and it's the forgery that was exhibited.

Zhang Yanfei's technique was so superb that no one realized it was not the genuine artifact, yet at the Qi Yuan exhibition, it was replaced by a poor-quality fake, leading to other incidents.

But He Kao at this moment realized that what Xiaowu said wasn't true, or Zhang Yanfei didn't tell Xiaowu the truth. Because the "Tan Xian's Walking Stick Painting" currently in Huang Xiaopang's bedroom could never be Zhang Yanfei's work.

When Zhang Yanfei was arrested, he was only a Tier Two Scholar from the Micro Realm Sect. Even if he later managed a breakthrough and became a Tier Three Appraiser, he couldn't possibly forge such a painting.

He Kao was nearly one hundred percent certain that what he saw was indeed the true piece left by the Alchemy Sect's founder over a thousand years ago!

The reason was simple: the figure in the painting gave him a sense of being watched, and it wasn't an illusion. Standing before the painting, under the gaze of the figure, he couldn't open the portal to the Hidden Moth Space!

Based on this alone, this painting is a treasure, even a divine artifact. He Kao never imagined that something limiting the Hidden Moth's ability could exist in this world!

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