Chapter Forty-Five: Untitled

Let us turn to the other side of the story: at this very moment, a mother and her daughter were hurrying toward the room where Su Bai and Wei Mingyuan had been. The taller woman, breathless from haste, spoke urgently to the younger girl at her side, "Lin Tong, you must leave through the secret passage behind the house. I will go and bring those brothers back."

The girl, her cheeks puffed out in indignation, replied, "Mother, wherever you go, I go too. Since I brought the two brothers here, I must take responsibility for their lives." These two were Lin Yi and her daughter. Upon hearing the news that the village had been attacked, they immediately thought of Wei Mingyuan and Su Bai, who were still sleeping in the pharmacy.

What they did not know was that Wei Mingyuan had already left, taking Su Bai with him.

"Hurry up, brother!" Wei Mingyuan called out to Su Bai, who stood frozen at the entrance to the secret passage. Su Bai frowned deeply, a vague unease gnawing at him, a sharp twinge of pain inside. He spoke with difficulty, "I think Dr. Lin Yi and her daughter may still be around. If they come looking for us, won't they be in danger?"

Wei Mingyuan was momentarily dumbfounded by these words, nearly bursting out in laughter. Inwardly, he was howling, "So you actually care about others? That's the biggest joke I've ever heard. I always thought you were a thorough villain, but it seems you don't even qualify as one! Still, that's for the best—it gives me more confidence for what I intend to do."

He comforted Su Bai with words, "Dr. Lin told me about this secret passage herself. She knows how to leave safely. If we go back now, we'll only add needless trouble."

At this, Su Bai finally nodded and agreed, following Wei Mingyuan down the mountain.

Wei Mingyuan, back turned to Su Bai, laughed coldly to himself, "Once I get the antidote, I'll make you wish you were dead."

Meanwhile, Lin Yi and Lin Tong had just arrived at the pharmacy. Inside, darkness prevailed, the air thick with a pungent medicinal smell. Lin Tong called loudly for Wei Mingyuan and Su Bai, but there was no answer. Lin Yi, relying on her familiarity with the place, quickly turned on the lamp.

All she saw was an empty room, with bedding left unmade.

"Where are they?" Lin Yi grew frantic. "Could they have been captured? But the room shows no signs of anyone else having been here."

"Mother! Could something have happened to them?" Lin Tong asked anxiously.

"No," Lin Yi reassured her. "Wei Mingyuan asked me about the secret passage before. I imagine, when those men arrived, he and Su Bai escaped through it." She gently patted Lin Tong's back. "We must leave, and quickly!"

"Yes," Lin Tong nodded.

Suddenly, a rough voice shouted from outside, "I saw someone here just now—looked like two women! Search the place!"

Just as they were about to leave, the voice reached their ears. Lin Yi bit her lip hard, while Lin Tong collapsed in terror, trembling like a leaf. Both knew all too well what these beasts did to the villagers.

A wave of fear swept over them, paralyzing their senses. Lin Yi looked at her terrified daughter, and her gaze shifted from panic to resolute determination. She suppressed her fear, grabbed Lin Tong, and shoved her into the large wardrobe beside the bed.

She whispered urgently, "No matter what sounds you hear, do not open this door—not even a crack. If..."

Lin Yi paused, tears streaming down her cheeks uncontrollably. She sniffed, wiped her eyes, and continued, "Mother may never be able to care for her little Tong again. You must be strong. I always hoped you would grow up safe. But..."

Before she finished, hurried footsteps approached. She quickly closed the wardrobe, grabbed a pair of scissors from the table, and hid behind the door.

The oil lamp had already been extinguished as soon as she learned Wei Mingyuan and Su Bai had left.

As a large hand burst through the door, a sharp pair of scissors struck from behind. But Lin Yi underestimated these men. Her ambush was easily thwarted. Sensing someone behind him, the burly man turned, his hand clamped on Lin Yi's wrist like a vice.

Lin Yi had not expected such strength. Her determined gaze faltered with fear, which intensified when she saw his stubbled, leering face.

"Well, aren't you a brave little lady!" The brute grinned, exerting force until the scissors fell to the ground, then pulled Lin Yi into his arms.

He licked her face savagely, draining all color from her cheeks.

He leaned in close, breathing hotly into her ear, and whispered, "What's wrong? Lost your courage? Looks like you can't bear for me to die, little lady."

"You beast! I wish you were dead!" Lin Yi spat, regretting bitterly that she hadn't taken her own life instead of attempting a futile attack.

"Fine, I'll show you what a beast can do!" The man, losing patience, was about to begin his assault.

But he wasn't alone. The others, seeing Lin Yi's beauty, began to fight over her.

Impatient, they tore her clothes from her body piece by piece. Lin Yi desperately tried to cover herself, but her helpless resistance only inflamed their lust.

In the midst of their struggle, they made a critical mistake: the scissors were kicked to Lin Yi's feet.

Quick-witted, she seized the opportunity, snatched the scissors, and with a cry of hatred, stabbed herself in the heart before they could reach her.

Blood spurted everywhere, splattering the men.

"Damn, I didn't expect this woman to be so fierce—she really killed herself," one complained, wiping the blood from his face.

The others began to blame each other.

"You idiot! If you hadn't kicked the scissors over, none of this would have happened!"

"And you have the nerve to blame me? You tried to hog her for yourself, such a prize. Do you think you deserve her?"

"Are you dissatisfied again?"

"So what! Last time I was careless, otherwise you'd never have beaten me!"

"Enough! Stop arguing!" came a roar from Gao Wuting, finally settling the matter.

"What happened here? Was this really necessary?" he asked, clearly displeased.

After learning what had occurred, Gao Wuting slapped each of them. "We're brothers who risk our lives together, and now you're fighting over a woman? If you still want to stay under my command, you'd better follow my rules. Understood?"

"Yes, yes," the men replied, ignoring the sting on their faces, heads bowed in remorse.

"That's enough. Stop pretending to care—go collect the village's food supplies and round up the remaining women. Take them all away," Gao Wuting ordered, turning his back on their hateful expressions.

After exchanging glances, the men resumed searching for their next victims.

With their departure, silence swallowed the house. Only Lin Yi's body remained, blood pooling, the scene nothing but desolation.

A long time passed before a trembling little hand slowly emerged from the wardrobe, followed by a girl's head peeking out.

The darkness frightened her deeply. She wanted to call for her mother but feared her voice would attract the men again. She crept forward, whispering "Mama" softly.

Hiding in the wardrobe, she had been so scared, suppressing her sobs lest they betray her presence. In holding back tears, she had fallen asleep, her consciousness lingering only at the moment of her mother's ambush, unaware that Lin Yi was already dead.

Soon, her hand touched a warm body—her mother's.

Realization dawned, and tears streamed down her face. She felt her way from her mother's thigh to her face. Once she was certain it was Lin Yi, she could no longer hold back her cries.

Lin Tong buried her face in Lin Yi's body, wailing, "Mother, Tong'er... Tong'er will study medicine well from now on, obeying every word you say. Please, don't leave me!"

Her mother's words echoed in her ears: "Mother may never be able to care for you again. You must be strong."

"Mother! Tong'er remembers your words." Lin Tong raised her blood-stained face, her eyes shining coldly in the darkness.

"I will avenge you, no matter the cost. I will send those men to hell—for you, Mother!" Only hatred remained in her eyes. In this moment, she said farewell to the cheerful, warm-hearted girl she once was.

She stood slowly, her small hands clenched so tightly that her nails pierced her palms, blood dripping onto the floor and mingling with Lin Yi's.

After another long stretch, Lin Tong slipped out through the secret passage at the back of the house. Seeing the ruined village, tears flowed down her cheeks.

She suddenly knelt, banging her head three times against the rocky ground, splitting her smooth forehead, but paying no heed.

She rose, never looking back, and left.

On her way down the mountain, she discovered a piece of white cloth. As soon as she took it in hand, she recognized it belonged to Su Bai.

She tore the cloth savagely, and guided by the moonlight, followed Su Bai and Wei Mingyuan's tracks.

Because of Su Bai's lingering injuries, their pace was slow, believing the men wouldn't discover the secret passage, so they didn't hurry.

Gazing at the distant moon, Su Bai pretended exhaustion, asking Wei Mingyuan to pause and rest.

"If we rest now, what if someone finds the passage and catches up? Wouldn't we be in danger?" Wei Mingyuan protested.

Su Bai ignored him, stubbornly sitting down.

Wei Mingyuan had no choice but to accept, and they rested.

The full moon shone bright, reminding Su Bai of his hometown.

"I wonder how the girl I saved at such cost is doing now. If those men could be brought to justice, it would be worth it—I wouldn't have died for nothing." For some reason, Su Bai thought of this, but only for a moment, as there were still many troubles ahead.

Turning to look at Wei Mingyuan, he saw his companion also gazing at the moon, lost in memories.

"Truly, the saying about longing for home under the moon is well-founded," Su Bai mused.

Just then, a sharp pair of scissors suddenly stabbed into Su Bai's back.

A murderous intent swept over him, chilling his spine. With a scream of rage, the scissors pierced his clothes, a stabbing pain flooding his body. He had sensed something was wrong and managed to avoid the worst, but the blade still cut deep, missing his vital organs by a hair's breadth.

Wei Mingyuan, startled by the scream, saw Su Bai injured and turned quickly to the attacker.

He was stunned to see it was Lin Tong, who had been pursuing them.

"She's alive?"

Without hesitation, Wei Mingyuan lunged and kicked Lin Tong in the chest.

Lin Tong, a village girl with no martial skills, was helpless. Still reeling from her successful sneak attack, she could not evade.

With a sickening thud, Wei Mingyuan's kick sent her flying several meters, her scissors dropping to the ground.

The scissors' fall caused Su Bai's wound to bleed even more. He quickly retrieved a medicine bottle from his pack, trembling as he fed himself a pill.

Wei Mingyuan tied Lin Tong to a tree. He dared not kill her outright, as Su Bai was present. If he murdered Su Bai's savior so callously, Su Bai would surely resent him, and his carefully crafted image would collapse, making the antidote even harder to obtain.

"Brother, come help me with the medicine," Su Bai called.

Hearing Su Bai's call, Wei Mingyuan left Lin Tong and tended to Su Bai, who had torn off a piece of white cloth and bitten it, gesturing to the medicine.

Wei Mingyuan carefully applied the powder to Su Bai's wound. Su Bai grunted and trembled with pain, nearly fainting from exhaustion, but managed to stay upright. Supported by Wei Mingyuan, he slowly made his way to Lin Tong.

Sitting on a stone, Su Bai glanced at Wei Mingyuan.

Understanding, Wei Mingyuan approached Lin Tong, but hesitated.

"If I wake her with blows, will it seem too harsh? Is he testing me?" Wei Mingyuan wondered, finally placing his hands on Lin Tong's shoulders and shaking her awake.

Lin Tong's once rosy cheeks were now deathly pale, blood at the corners of her mouth. Awakened, she slowly regained consciousness.

Upon seeing Su Bai and Wei Mingyuan, her adorable face vanished, replaced by deep hatred—she wished to flay them alive.

"You... you killed my mother! I want you in hell! I will kill you!" Her eyes blazed with rage; if looks could kill, the two men would have died a thousand deaths.

Su Bai frowned, recalling something. He glanced at Wei Mingyuan and unexpectedly met his gaze.

In that moment, Su Bai understood everything, his heart clear. Wei Mingyuan, meanwhile, grew agitated, having no idea what Su Bai was thinking.

"Lin Tong, my brother and I haven't seen Dr. Lin Yi all night. How could we have killed her?" Su Bai said weakly, his wounds severe.

"It's you!" Lin Tong shouted, her face twisted in hatred. "If my mother hadn't gone back for you, she would have escaped! You... you caused her to be..."

Blood and tears streamed from Lin Tong's eyes. The thought of her mother's tragic death, and her inability to even bury her, tore her apart.

"You must pay with your lives! I will kill you!"

Lin Tong was nearly mad with grief and rage. Su Bai's face was cold, unmoved.

Wei Mingyuan, unsure what Su Bai was thinking, silently urged him to kill Lin Tong and eliminate the threat.

But Su Bai caught a sound, his face breaking into a grim smile, scars on his face making him look sinister in the moonlight.

On one side, Lin Tong screamed with blood and hate; on the other, Su Bai smiled coldly, unfathomable. Wei Mingyuan felt goosebumps.

"Why can't I suppress my fear of him? Is it because I fell into his trap before?" Wei Mingyuan tried to quash his fear, but Su Bai's shadow only grew larger in his mind.

While his mind battled itself, Su Bai spoke: "If Sister Lin Tong thinks we killed her, then come and take our lives."

"What!" Wei Mingyuan was shocked. This wasn't Su Bai's usual style, yet the words rang in his ears.

Su Bai, sensing his surprise, asked, "What? Is there a problem?"

Wei Mingyuan glanced at Su Bai, then at Lin Tong, and whispered, "She's beyond reason now. If I release her, she'll kill us both without hesitation. Don't expect any mercy."

"I know. I'm asking you to let her go. Let her decide our fate," Su Bai replied, looking Wei Mingyuan in the eye, each word clear and loud enough for Lin Tong to hear, stopping her tirade.

She sneered, "You'd let me decide? Even a ghost wouldn't believe that. Sooner or later, I'll kill you both..."

"You're crazy!" Wei Mingyuan shouted. At this point, if he continued to obey Su Bai, he'd be no better than a fool.

Then Su Bai said something even more shocking: "If you won't release her, stab her right here in front of me, to settle the score for her stabbing me. Then leave her here, let her fend for herself."

He looked around casually. "In these wild mountains, I doubt anyone will know."

The words were just loud enough for Wei Mingyuan to hear, inaudible to Lin Tong.

"You... are you serious?" Wei Mingyuan swallowed hard, struggling to keep up with Su Bai's unpredictable twists. He couldn't tell how many traps Su Bai had set for him.

But stabbing Lin Tong would mean almost certain death for her. Could he expect her ghost to haunt him?

"I understand," Wei Mingyuan agreed, gripping the scissors and approaching Lin Tong.

Facing her now, with her twisted face and eyes burning with hatred, it was hard to imagine she had been lively and sweet just days ago.

But that wasn't enough to stop him. He raised the scissors and stabbed her in the right chest. As he withdrew the blade, blood spurted forth.

Watching Lin Tong convulse in pain, Wei Mingyuan felt no pity and turned away. "I'll scout ahead. We must leave before dawn."

Su Bai nodded, saying nothing.

Once Wei Mingyuan had left, Su Bai, heartbroken, staggered to Lin Tong's side. He took out the medicine and carefully applied it to her wound. Lin Tong had already lost consciousness from blood loss and pain, unaware of Su Bai's actions—which was just what he intended.

When he finished, Wei Mingyuan had returned. Seeing Su Bai's feigned compassion, he scowled. "Hurry up! Stop pretending."

"I know," Su Bai replied, wiping his nose and tears, forcing himself to rise, leaning on a branch as he followed Wei Mingyuan down the mountain.

Not long after their departure, a head poked out from the grass about forty feet from Lin Tong. A thirteen-year-old boy emerged, hurried over, untied her, and carried her away along a path entirely different from the one Su Bai and Wei Mingyuan had taken.