Lai Guanlin's POV
The moment I opened my eyes, sunlight streamed faintly through the curtains surrounding my bed. Everything felt... blurry. My head pounded with a dull ache, but I slowly pushed myself upright, rubbing my temples.
It took me a moment to realize where I was.
Then, it hit me—hard, like lightning splitting a tree.
"Niáng!" I yelled, heart racing.
I stumbled out of my room, only to nearly bump into Xinyu. Her eyes widened as she saw me.
"Xinyu!" I clutched her shoulders tightly. "Where's niáng?! What happened?!"
She looked startled by my urgency, but quickly pointed toward the window—toward Li Wei's house.
"Stay here!" I told her before sprinting out.
I didn't care if my legs gave in—I needed to see her.
I shoved Li Wei's door open, nearly slamming it against the wall. He turned around in shock, confusion clear in his eyes.
But I barely noticed.
My eyes landed on the silhouette behind the curtain in the corner of his home—my mother, lying still.
"Niáng!" I cried, rushing forward, but Li Wei grabbed my wrist tightly.
"Guanlin—stop shouting!" he said, trying to restrain me.
"Why is she here?! What happened?!" My voice cracked, eyes burning with tears. "Why is she in your house?!"
Li Wei's expression softened. "Please… calm down. Sit first. I'll explain everything."
Reluctantly, I nodded. We sat down on the wooden stools nearby, the silence pressing down like a storm cloud.
"You passed out two days ago," he said slowly. "Xinyu ran to us, panicked. She said your mother collapsed. Me and my father rushed over. He's outside speaking with a divine doctor he knows."
My lips trembled. "Have you eaten yet?" he asked gently.
I shook my head. "Li Wei, how can you expect me to eat when my mother is like that?!"
He looked down, unable to respond.
Just then, the door creaked. His father stepped in, followed by a middle-aged man in white robes, a scroll case hanging from his side.
"Uncle!" I stood immediately, glancing at the man beside him.
"This is the divine doctor," Uncle said. "He and I have been friends since the old days."
The doctor gave me a slight bow. "Lai Guanlin. Your mother is resting, but the poison has begun its course. It hasn't reached her heart yet—but it will, soon."
Even though I suspected it, hearing it shattered me. I felt the weight drop to my stomach.
"W-What do I do?" I whispered. "Is there a cure?"
I fell to my knees, bowing low. "Please. I'll pay you back—I'll do anything. Please save her."
Li Wei rushed to help me up again, gripping my arms.
"Guanlin… we'll do everything we can. But…" the doctor hesitated.
"But what?" I demanded.
The divine doctor sighed. "In the days of the magic sect, there were many who fell to this same poison. Some chose to spend their remaining time with their families… rather than chase the impossible."
"But I'm not them!" I snapped. "If there's a cure, then tell me what it is!"
"There is a cure," Uncle said, quietly.
"Then what are we waiting for?! Let's go get it!"
The divine doctor's gaze was steady, hard. "Because the ingredients needed are not only rare… they're nearly unreachable. Listen carefully."
He stepped closer and spoke with clarity:
"The blood of a raven that soars above the highest mountain of Yuzhong.
The fur of the mighty bear that dwells in the Silent Hill of the North.
The beard of a slain dragon, hidden deep in the desert of Pengjun.
And finally, the passion fruit from a tree that blooms only once a year in Xiping."
Each item felt like a punch to the chest. My knees gave in again, and I collapsed to the floor, tears spilling down my face.
"How long?" I asked hoarsely. "How long until the poison takes her?"
"It'll travel slowly through her veins first… then spread to her muscles. Once it reaches her heart or brain, it will be over. You have one and a half months—at most."
"Can we buy some time?" I asked.
The divine doctor furrowed his brow. "Buy time…?"
"I can do it," he answered. "I can keep the poison at bay for a little while—but why?"
I bowed again, lower this time. "Please, buy me time while I gather those four cures."
The room fell into stunned silence.
"Guanlin?!" Li Wei gasped.
Uncle stepped forward. "Those places are not just far—they're dangerous. You're only a teenager!"
"I don't care," I whispered. "If I die doing this, so be it. But I have to try."
Before they could stop me, I ran. I sprinted back to my house.
I had no time to waste.
Back at Home
I threw open drawers and began gathering whatever I could—cloth, food, silver that I have left, anything.
Then, on top of the drawer, where the cricket sword lays. I grabbed it as well, little to know nothing about combat. It's better safe than sorry.
"Gēge?" Xinyu peeked into the room. "Where are you going?"
I paused. Then turned and knelt before her, holding her small shoulders gently.
"Xinyu… gēge is going to find a cure for mother. I want you to stay strong and look after her, okay?"
She nodded slowly, her eyes welling with tears. I kissed her forehead.
Just then, Li Wei burst in. "Lai Guanlin!" he shouted.
I pushed past him, but he grabbed my arm. I yanked away too forcefully—he stumbled and fell.
"Sorry," I muttered, still packing.
"Are you seriously doing this?!" he yelled. "What if your mother… passes while you're gone?!"
I turned sharply and stormed up to him, grabbing him by his robe. "Don't say that!"
"Gēge…" Xinyu whimpered. I released Li Wei immediately.
My bag slung across my shoulder, I stood at the doorway, staring out.
"…Please, Li Wei. Take care of my mother and Xinyu while I'm gone."
Then I left—without another word.
Li Wei's POV
I held Xinyu tightly as she sobbed into my sleeve.
He was gone.
I knelt beside her and gently wiped her tears.
"Don't worry," I whispered. "Your brother… he'll come back. Until then, you'll stay with us. We'll care for your mother, I promise."
She nodded faintly, her little body trembling in my arms.
There was no stopping Guanlin now. He'd chosen a path forged from love, pain, and desperation.
All we could do now… was pray that he would return.
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Two Days Ago
Jinxiao's POV
My fellow assassins and I rode swiftly toward Zhongyin the moment word reached us.
Xue Wuren... that wretched man. I cannot believe he's still alive—poisoning innocents, spreading fear. If the heavens are just, he shall not live much longer.
After hours of relentless travel, we finally arrived at the gates of Zhongyin. The streets were in disarray, filled with terrified whispers and scattered belongings. Panic lingered like a foul stench in the air.
From the corner of my eye, I caught sight of a white rabbit darting across the cobbled path. A sign? Perhaps. I motioned with two fingers, and my assassins followed. The Young Lord trained them well—silent, sharp, and deadly in their precision.
The rabbit led us toward the northern forest, just beyond the village's edge. Yet before I could draw closer, it vanished amidst the underbrush.
"Stay low," I ordered, and we each took cover behind the ancient trees, waiting, breaths held.
Then—
Thud!
A dart whistled past my face, embedding itself into the bark beside me. Reflex took over—I unsheathed my blade in a single motion and lunged toward the source.
More emerged.
From the shadows, they came, pale as corpses, their eyes void of light, their limbs moving as if pulled by invisible threads. My assassins formed a circle, backs against one another as we stood surrounded.
"What sorcery is this…" I muttered.
The undead warriors struck without warning—dart after dart hurled in our direction. Their bodies sluggish, yet the venom they carried was swift.
No more time to think.
I moved with precision—my blade slicing through cold flesh, felling one, then another. My comrades held their ground well. But these fiends were relentless.
Then I saw one of mine, Wen Lu, dragged down by two attackers. I surged forward, cutting down both without hesitation, my sword singing as it split them cleanly.
But just as I turned, a dart buried itself in my right leg. I gritted my teeth. It burned—but not deep enough to fell me. I locked eyes with the one who threw it. He wouldn't live to throw another.
We fought until the last of them crumbled to the forest floor. A trail of carnage behind us, silence returned at last.
Only I bore a wound.
Still, we pressed forward, deeper into the woods, determined to uncover the whereabouts of Xue Wuren. Every step was careful, our movements honed, undetectable.
But then… something changed.
My vision blurred.
Why... was the world tilting?
I blinked, shook my head. The trees around me swam. My grip weakened, my sword fell from my hand, and my knees buckled beneath me.
"Childe Zhong!" someone cried, but their voice was distant—warped.
I collapsed and then... darkness claimed me.