A warm room bathed in faint morning light. The scent of herbal medicine lingered in the air. Outside, the rain had calmed, replaced by a soft drizzle. Inside, a young man lay motionless, wrapped in bandages, blood still seeping faintly from a few wounds. His fingers twitched. Then his eyelids fluttered open.
The world around him was a blur. Shapes shifted around him were hazy, but slowly his vision began to turn cleare.
"You're awake?"
A calm, gentle voice echoed across the room.
Li Cheng turned his head weakly toward the sound. A figure stood by the window, one hand behind his back, the other resting on the windowsill. The young man was elegant, composed, His back straight, posture dignified, even the way he stared into the street felt differently.
"Where… am I?" And who are you Li Cheng asked, his voice hoarse.
Wang Yue turned. "Why don't you guess?" he said with a faint smile, stepping forward.
Li Cheng squinted. Something about this stranger's face stirred a memory. But before he could place it, another person entered, Zhao Tian, holding a wooden tray and a steaming bowl of medicine. He set it carefully by the bed, then stepped aside in silence.
Suddenly, pain flared through Li Cheng's chest. He groaned and winced in pain.
"Are you alright?" Wang Yue asked with concern on his face.
"I'm fine," Li Cheng muttered, trying to sit up. The sharp sting in his side told him otherwise. He fall back to the bed with a thud.
"What are you doing", lay down and rest, your wounds have not yet healed....Wang Yue said as held him by his arms but Li Cheng shook his hand off.
he forced himself up and stood on his feet. Clasping his hands together, he gave a shallow bow despite the pain. "Thank you for saving my life last night, Young Master Wang Yue. I promise to repay you in the future if you ever need my help ."
"You're serious?" Zhao Tian scoffed. "What could someone like you possibly do to repay the trouble the Young Master went through last night? You're.....
"Zhao Tian," Wang Yue said sharply.
The servant instantly fell silent.
Wang Yue smiled again, this time more genuine. "Why don't you drink your medicine first? Then we'll talk."
Li Cheng took the bowl without a word. The bitterness of the concoction struck hard as he downed it in one go. He grimaced, but didn't complain.
Wang Yue stepped closer, folding his arms behind his back. "Do you remember me now?"
Li Cheng gave a small chuckle. "Who in Yuefeng wouldn't recognize the Young Master of the Wang family? Known for his refined looks, intellect, kindness and sens of justice.If I couldn't recognize you, then I must've been living under a rock."
That drew a full smile from Wang Yue. "You're quite interesting, Li Cheng. But tell me, what you did yesterday… was that truly necessary?"
Li Cheng's expression hardened. "How could I stand by and watch them humiliate my mother like that? After all they have done to us, throwing us out, cutting all ties, must we still endure such treatment in silence?"
Wang Yue sighed and began pacing slowly. "I'm not here to defend what they did.but going for such a suicide mission, is it really worth it?, if you die will they leave your mother alone?" no if you die that is when your mother will fall into they hands completely with no hope of redemption.....Wang Yue said"
Li Cheng lowered his eyes.
"Li Cheng, this world has never been kind. For generations, humans have lived by the law of the jungle. The strong feast, the weak suffer. The powerless cry out, praying for justice… but the heavens remain silent. Not because they are cruel, but because they never promised to interfere. In this world," Wang Yue said, stopping to look him dead in the eye, "you are either a predator… or prey."
The room fell silent.
"Don't ever throw your life away again," Wang Yue continued. "Not until you have the strength to become the predator."
Li Cheng bowed slightly. "I will keep your words in mind, Young Master."
Wang Yue simply smiled. "Good."
Fresh clothes were brought to him, and after a short moment, Li Cheng changed. He looked healthier, but still walked with the stiffness of healing wounds.
"I'm sorry to leave so suddenly," he said, "but my mother… she must be worried sick."
Wang Yue nodded. "Zhao Tian, see him off."
Li Cheng ran.
His heart pounded harder than his steps, driven by a single fear: What if she gave up on life thinking I was gone?
"Mother!!" he called as he reached their small home.
No reply.
"Mother!!" he called again, louder this time, panic seizing his chest.
Still nothing.
He rushed down the nearby street, shouting her name over and over. Then, just ahead, he spotted a familiar figure, a lone woman stumbling like a ghost through the rain-washed road. Her eyes were hollow, her dress soaked. She walked as if her soul had been drained, each step a struggle.
Li Cheng's breath caught.
"Mother!!!" he screamed, racing toward her.
Zhao Wei paused. Her shoulders trembled.
"…Ah, Chang'er," she murmured softly to herself, smiling with bitter sorrow. "Now I even hear your voice when you're gone…"
She laughed. It was the kind of laugh born from heartbreak, not joy.
Li Cheng felt something twist deep in his chest. "Mother!" he called again, voice choked with emotion.
Zhao Wei froze.
This time, she heard it clearly. She turned slowly, disbelieving.
Her eyes widened.
"Chang'er…?"
He ran into her arms. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm sorry I made you worry."
Zhao Wei clung to him, holding him as tightly as her trembling arms could. "You're alive… thank the heavens, you're alive…"
She buried her face in his shoulder, weeping without restraint. He let her cry, standing in the middle of the street with his arms around the only person who had ever stood by him.
For now, it was enough that they had each other.