5 Inadequate

A great pressure built up inside Xie Ying Yue; the force seemingly capable of turning cities into rubble. Her breaths struggled to supply her oxygen, where it felt like her lungs were being crushed between her ribcage. She clawed at her chest, red trickling down the corner of her mouth.

The beautiful man's eyes returned to a scarlet; his head tilting to the side at the sight of the young girl who crumpled to the floor. Pity, he mused. Her temper was just like her mothers. If her power hadn't been sealed, perhaps he would have to stumble a few steps at the burst that erupted within her.

He licked his lips.

"Save them." Xie Ying Yue spat out blood, dragging herself off the floor. Her eyes sparkled with a malicious gaze as she gazed at the man lazing before her. "I know you can save them; I command you to save them!" She roared, the throbbing in her temple white hot.

He chuckled. As arrogant as the bastard, even when she was just a helpless brat. Utterly pathetic. A blood curling grin bloomed on his face; razor sharp teeth glinting under the scarce light.

Though she had her own uses even now, she would grow to be an even greater piece to have in the future.

"You understand the cost of asking a favor from me, don't you, my lady?" He leaned forward, wiping the blood from her chin; a deep stain remaining on her lightly tanned skin. When thumb with her blood entered his mouth, an icy shiver ran down Xie Ying Yue's spine.

"I understand." She whispered. Flashes of gore sprung to the back of her mind; a feeling of nausea built up in her stomach.

"Hmm? Apologies, my lady, I didn't catch that." The red of his eyes glinted as they looked at her. His eyes quickly flashed silver, "Your brother, the younger one, doesn't seem to be looking so well."

She gritted her teeth. Beggars couldn't be choosy.

"I understand." Her voice was firm— resolute. The price would come for her later; what mattered right now was that her brothers were alive and she could keep them that way.

The man yawned, cracking his neck and rolling his shoulders. "I won't collect today. I'll get my payment when I return." A dreamy grin grew on his face; faint hair like cracks began to run across his face. An eerie red goal peeking through the fractures. Xie Ying Yue averted her gaze; not knowing what exactly was to come, but that this ancient being would get things done.

When she opened her eyes, her surroundings had returned to that of her family's ancestral home. She wasn't sure how long she had remained unconscious for. She pressed her palms against the cool floor; pushing herself up. A daze washed over her head, but she pushed past it. The inconspicuous black pin returning to its place on her scalp.

Outside, Bai Xia and Jing Zhe's hearts grew anxious. They could hear the shouts of the other servants; news of the young masters finally arriving to the manor gates. They knew that their mistress would want to hear of it, but her instructions were clear in their minds. So, they continued to guard the ancestral home; wishing their mistress would come out sooner so that she wouldn't be overcome with regret.

Only when the chaos in the house reached its peak, did Xie Ying Yue run out from the ancestral house. The two maids fell in line with her pace; their steps as quick as hers. "Mistress, both young masters encountered an assassination attempt on their way to the manor. As we speak, they are being looked over by various physicians in the general's courtyard." Jing Zhe rushed.

Their mistress silently nodded. Though she was sure that her brothers would survive the ordeal, she didn't know what state they would return in. She couldn't make sense of the feelings in her chest. All she could do was run and run.

As she approached her grandfather's courtyard, she could see the servants carrying buckets of crimson water in droves. Hair clung to their sweaty faces as they repeatedly brought in different bottles and herbs.

Bursting into the room, she was hit by the scent of iron. She couldn't summon a trace of disgust as she looked to the two figures laying on white beds. Her heart stopped.

Due to his days out training, her Da Ge's skin had always had a glowing golden; his cheeks always flushed with a reddish tint because of his exertions. Her brother never failed to greet her with a smile and shining eyes.

Now, his complexion was pale; dark shadows emphasized the depths of his face. Sunken eyes fluttered open and shut as he fought to remain conscious. A team of physicians worked on him, rags soaked crimson cycled endlessly by their hands. Xie Ying Yue felt the heaviness in her chest push harder.

She comforted herself with the thought that it was only flesh wounds. Her Da Ge would easily recover form this.

She wanted to wish again for her brothers to not only be alive, but brimming with health. Scarlet crescents shone on her palm from the force of her nails. She wouldn't be able to contact that silver haired man for a long time, so dreaming was futile.

Her eyes shifted to Er Ge...

"We can't save it. We'll have to amputate his arm or else the poison will spread to the rest of his body." A physician turned to Xie Feng, waiting for his consent. The old man had no expression on his face, even as he looked at the withered body of his grandson. He could feel an uncharacteristic ball at the base of his throat; so instead of answering with his words, he nodded.

"No." Xie Ying Yue breathed quietly. This was her brother; the man soldiers and imperial guards had evied for his masterycin the sword. This would make him wish for death instead. She began to take small steps; moving to be by her second brothers side– ready to be his pillar of support this time.

A pair of arms locked around her waist, halting her attempt.

"Ying Yue, don't interfere." Xie Li Rong held her sister, taking on the weight of guardian. The younger one struggled against her. "Da Jie, I'm not going to interfere. I just want to be by Er Ge's side." Her pitiful voice struck the older girls heart.

Although Xie Li Rong understood the depth of the request, she wouldn't let her little sister see such a thing. She turned to Murong Heng, who had rushed here when he heard of the assassination attempt.

"I have to supervise everything. Heng, please take her away from here." She ignored Xie Ying Yue's protest, using her strength to pass her sister over to her fiancé. Before she could be securely taken by Murong Heng, a pained groan filled the room.

Er Ge! Xie Ying Yue used all her force to escape from her sister, gingerly weaving through the physicians to not interrupt their work. In a vacant spot beside the bed; she collapsed on her knees.

"Er Ge," she whispered. For a while, his only response to her had been a turn of his head. Eventually, a faint smile washed his face, and his eyes could at least form small slits.

A hand grabbed her arm, "Ying Yue, let's go." Xie Li Rong was furious. Their grandfather had instead been the one to cage Xie Ying Yue; who sighed at his youngest grandchild's shaking body. One physician by the side held a herb under the young girl's nose, causing her to fight against her heavy eyelids.

Xie Chan Ming's hoarse voice called out. "Da Jie, is that you?" He groaned, opening and closing his palm. The physician was almost done preparing everything needed for the amputation.

Although his head wasn't at a hundred percent capacity, his instincts allowed him to be well aware of his current environment.

"Please take Xiao Mei away." He whispered, settling his hazy eyesight on the surgical knife in the physicians hands.

"I don't want her to see her brother became a waste."