Chapter 74: Ning Qingxue's Last Words
Translator: Tim Editor: Tehrn
Ye Mo arrived at the house to find a woman in her thirties sitting by Ning Qingxue's bed. She resembled Ning Qingxue and was likely her mother. However, she appeared remarkably young, perhaps even younger if not for the recent events.
Ye Mo hesitated, unsure whether to enter with Ning Qingxue's mother present.
Just then, the woman spoke, "Qingxue, let go of the case and sleep."
"Mom, you can go to sleep. I want some quiet time," Ning Qingxue replied, her voice soft but audible to Ye Mo's spirit sense.
The woman sighed. After a moment, she said, "The nurse and I will be outside. If you need anything, ring the bell. If you're in pain, tell me, and I'll get the nurse to give you an anesthetic."
After the woman left the room, Ye Mo rubbed his eyes. The area had been converted into a temporary medical facility; two young nurses slept on cots nearby.
He waited until the woman was settled before quietly approaching and gently pressing acupressure points on the three women in the room, inducing sleep. He wanted to avoid interruption while treating Ning Qingxue.
Entering Ning Qingxue's room—a room he had once occupied before giving it to her—Ye Mo felt a mixture of familiarity and strangeness. He saw her clutching the case and realized her injuries were far more serious than he'd anticipated. He couldn't understand why she held onto the case so tightly.
Considering whether to announce his presence or simply put her to sleep before treating her, he heard her quiet murmuring. Seeing the red phone in her hand, he realized she was recording a message.
"Ye Mo I'm sorry. I'm leaving soon I know I hurt you, and I regret it so much. I wanted to see you one last time to apologize Experiencing all this, I finally understand how naive I was. But I finally realized how magnanimous you are, though it's too late. The only thing I don't regret is protecting that blade of grass… I only regret how I treated you.
After reading your letter, I understood how lonely you were. You never had friends, and yet I was such a cruel woman, hurting you again and again I even used the money you earned selling blood to buy an expensive bottle of wine… I never considered your feelings. I just did what I wanted, without thinking of the consequences… and by the time I understood, it was too late…"
Ning Qingxue coughed, her face paling, but she moved the phone closer and continued. "Ye Mo… I don't know if I loved you, but if I had another chance to be engaged to you… I wouldn't do it because I needed you as a shield, but because I wanted to marry you… Perhaps it wasn't love, and you might even say I'm not good enough for you… but I still keep our marriage certificate. I… never divorced… and won't. You are my only husband in this lifetime… Whether you know it or not, whether you agree or not, I, Ning Qingxue, am your wife, and I am your wife.
"Ye Mo, I still have to apologize… I was your wife, but I never fulfilled my duties as a wife for even a single day. Instead, I caused you even more trouble… I was like an immature child, thinking I knew everything,"—she paused—"Ye Mo, I will protect you from Heaven… you must stay well. It's a pity I couldn't even leave a child for you… You must find a girl who loves you… not someone like me…"
She gasped for air, caressing the case before saying, "Ye Mo, I've never said 'Lao Gong' [1] in my life. I really wanted to… but I was too embarrassed…"
"There's a blade of grass in the yard. I took care of it every day because I saw you do the same with the previous one. I don't know if it will be useful to you… If it is, take it when it matures… perhaps it's the only thing I can leave you…"
"Ye Mo… Lao Gong… are you still well?" Her voice faded.
Ye Mo felt a pang of guilt. When he'd helped her before, he hadn't been as magnanimous as she believed. He'd simply seen her resemblance to his master, Luo Ying, and wanted to help her, hoping someone would do the same for his master if needed.
He hadn't taken her money for himself, and even with his own resources, he would have still gone there. He found her guilt over the blood money misplaced; she believed he was scraping by for her.
Ning Qingxue was kind-hearted, but her upbringing and background had created an aloofness, a distaste for strangers. Beneath that shield, however, was a kind and pitiful person, her feelings a confusing mix of love and guilt. Perhaps someday she would understand.
Ye Mo's resolve to save her strengthened. However, he wouldn't reveal his abilities; they were too extraordinary and would frighten her.
Just as he thought she was asleep and prepared to seal some of her meridians to begin treatment, she grabbed the phone again. "Dad, Mom, I'm leaving… I've been a bad daughter. I married Ye Mo… that case is his wedding gift to me; don't separate us. There's a grass in the yard I left for him… if he ever comes back, give him this phone. But if he never does,"—a long pause—"then never mind…"
"Sorry, I caused so much trouble for the family, and I'm just leaving…"
Her voice trailed off. As Ye Mo considered revealing his presence, she grabbed a knife from the case and lunged toward her throat.
Shocked, Ye Mo reacted instantly, rushing forward. The distance was too great to grab the knife in time; he could only interpose his arm.
The knife pierced his hand, but his Chi stopped it from going further. Ning Qingxue fainted from the exertion. Ye Mo removed the knife—though not deeply embedded, it drew blood—stopped the bleeding, and then sealed several of her meridians, rendering her unconscious for a time.
He attempted to remove the case from her grasp, but she clung to it even in her unconscious state. He could only open it. Inside were various items; he removed a bottle of pills and a packet of silver needles.
He slipped two heart protection pills into her mouth, using his Chi to aid their absorption. Then, using his Chi to sterilize a set of 108 silver needles, he turned her over and removed her top, preparing to begin treatment.
[1] Lao Gong is the term wives use to address their husbands.