Kevin stepped onto the stage and stopped beside Vivian's bed. For the first time, he saw his future wife up close.
Vivian was indeed thin, her bones protruding beneath her pale skin. Her lips were almost colourless. Her breathing was very slow, almost imperceptible. But there was something about her that made Kevin freeze.
It wasn't her face, although Kevin could see that Vivian must have been very beautiful before she fell ill. Nor was it her frail body.
It was the aura that emanated from her body.
Kevin closed his eyes for a moment, focusing his senses. His teacher had taught him to feel the energy flowing within the human body. And what he felt from Vivian...
A White Cloud Body.
Kevin's eyes opened. His breath caught for a split second before he regained control of himself.
The White Cloud Body was one of seven rare constitutions that only appeared once in a thousand years. The owner of this body possessed extremely pure yin energy, capable of neutralising almost all types of toxins and diseases.
And more importantly for Kevin, the White Cloud Body was the perfect match for his own condition.
Kevin was born with the Blazing Fire Body. A rare constitution that caused his body to produce extremely hot energy. The advantage was that this energy provided extraordinary defence. That was why he could survive three days and three nights of torture by the Wijaya family, even though at the time he just wanted to die.
But the downside was that this energy also attacked his own body from within. High fevers that came without warning. A burning sensation that spread from within his chest. If left uncontrolled, the Blazing Fire Body would kill its owner before the age of forty.
His master once said, "The only way to control the Blazing Fire Body is to be close to the owner of the White Cloud Body. The yin energy of the White Cloud Body will neutralise the excess energy in your body."
For five years, Kevin never met the owner of the White Cloud Body. He had almost given up searching.
And now, the owner of that body lay before him. As his future wife.
Fate was indeed full of surprises.
Kevin gazed at Vivian's pale face. This girl was the answer to his health problems. Being close to her would allow Kevin to live a normal life, without worrying about the fever that could strike at any time.
But more than that, Kevin felt something else. A pure desire to help. Vivian was not to blame for any of this. She was just a sick girl, married off to a stranger for the sake of her family's political interests.
Kevin would cure her. Not because of her rare body. But because it was the right thing to do.
---
The wedding ceremony was short and simple. There was no romantic exchange of rings or kiss between the bride and groom. How could there be, when one of the bride and groom was unconscious?
The priest read the wedding vows. Kevin said "I do" in a calm voice. For Vivian, the Wibisono family had prepared a recording of her saying the same thing, which was played through a hidden loudspeaker.
Ironical. Sad. But no one commented.
After the ceremony, Kevin had to carry Vivian to the bridal suite. A tradition that should have been romantic, but in this situation felt like carrying a patient to a treatment room.
Vivian's body felt very light in Kevin's arms. Too light. Like hugging a pile of bones wrapped in silk.
Kevin walked steadily down the mansion's corridor. The servants bowed respectfully as he passed. Some guests who saw the scene whispered sympathetically.
But Kevin didn't care about their whispers. His mind was focused on one thing.
Healing Vivian.
As Kevin passed through the main living room, he heard sharp voices coming from the adjoining room. It was Frans Wijaya's voice.
"You must know who the man who married your daughter really is, Beni."
Kevin slowed his pace without stopping. His ears caught every word.
"What do you mean?" Beni's voice sounded curious but wary.
"Five years ago, that man raped my daughter."
There was a moment of silence.
"What?"
"He's not the eldest son of the Tanjaya family." Frans continued with a tone full of hatred. "He's the younger brother. Five years ago, he raped Alicia, my daughter. We punished him, beat him almost to death, then threw him into a ravine. I thought he was dead. But apparently not."
Kevin continued walking, taking Vivian away from the room. He had expected the truth to come out sooner or later. Frans Wijaya would not miss the opportunity to destroy him.
But that was a problem for later. Right now, his priority was Vivian.
---
The bridal suite was in the east wing of the mansion. It was a spacious room with a king-size bed, luxurious silk curtains, and large windows overlooking the garden. Someone had scattered rose petals on the bed and lit scented candles in every corner.
Kevin carefully laid Vivian on the bed. He studied his wife's face for a moment, then began his work.
From his coat pocket, he took out a small box made of sandalwood. Inside, dozens of acupuncture needles of various sizes were neatly arranged. The needles were made of pure silver, their tips as thin as human hair.
Kevin took off his suit and shirt, rolling up his sleeves to his elbows. He sat on the edge of the bed, eyes closed, calming his mind.
His teacher was the God of Knowledge, who taught Kevin everything.
His teacher had once said, "Needle treatment is an art that requires absolute calm. One small mistake can be fatal."
Kevin opened his eyes. His hands moved with extraordinary precision, picking up the first needle.
He pulled Vivian's dress collar back slightly, revealing her neck and upper shoulders. His fingers pressed on specific points, feeling the blocked energy flow within the girl's body.
What he found made him frown.
This was no ordinary illness. It was poisoning.
A very subtle poison, almost undetectable, flowing through Vivian's veins. A poison that worked slowly over months, gradually weakening the victim's body. A poison that made the victim appear to be suffering from a common illness, not poisoning.
The car accident was not the cause of Vivian's condition. The accident was the result.
The poison had already paralysed Vivian, clouding her consciousness and slowing her reflexes. When she drove in that condition, she lost control and crashed into a tree. Everyone assumed the accident was what caused her condition. No one suspected that a poison had been at work beforehand.
Who poisoned Vivian? And why?