Chapter Three

Yao and Sui,woke up after a few hours at noon. They seem much better, and we have also been helping around their home.

Chao Xing was the only one who remained unconscious. He kept sweating profusely. Their mother, Fen Hua, was distressed about Xing, who appeared to have a fever.

"Mother, Xing rarely falls ill or gets injured since we were kids. Why does he look so bad?" Yao Yao asked, her gaze fixed on her brother's face. Fen Hua lost in thought, snapped out of it when Sui He tapped her to answer Yao's question.

"You two, do you recall any incidents that occurred after you went to the river? Did you see anyone suspicious?" Fen Hua asked.

"Mother, I can't seem to recall what happened after we went to the river. I also don't recall Xing coming to meet us!"

"Okay, Bai!" Fen Hua called out.

"Yes, mother!" Bai responded. "Take Sui He and Yao to the kitchen and get them some food to eat. Meanwhile, I'll watch over Chao Xing." Fen Hua said. Bai agreed and took the two girls to the kitchen, leaving Xing with his mother.

After they left, Fen Hua closely examined Xing, who was still sweating profusely and frowning in his sleep.

"Xing, I kept you alive not for you to die so soon. I still have to complete my lady's unfinished task. What really happened last night that made your condition deteriorate so badly?" Fen Hua muttered as she closed her eyes and placed her palm on Xing's forehead. 'I'll find out what really happened and put an end to this once and for all. It's time to let the bird fly now. I have kept it caged for too long, and I must proceed with the plan accordingly!' Fen Hua said inwardly.

She closed her eyes and cast a Time Frosting spell on Xing. Xing's forehead began to freeze slightly, and he seemed calmer. After a while, Fen Hua woke up startled and breathless. She smiled slightly and called out a name.

"Lin Xiu? It seems it's time we meet again. Now I can fulfill My Lady's judgment soon." Fen Hua said as she used her teeth to tear her finger. She conjured a six-petal rose frost and dropped her blood on it. It turned into a snow-like pill, round and frozen. Dropping it into Xing's mouth, she dusted off her hands, and the wound on her hand disappeared as if there was no cut.

Fen Hua walked to the door, then vomited blood. Holding her chest, she staggered a bit and walked to her room. She turned back and said, "Su Feng, you better awaken, or I'll kill you!" Fen Hua said.

Two Days Later

"Brother! You've woken up. We've been worried about you for days." Yao Yao said, choking up with tears! Xing tried to sit upright, his lips pale. He looked at his siblings, who were all welling up with tears, including his favorite, Sui He and Yao.

"What's wrong? Why do you all look worried?" Xing asked with a smile.

"Brother, don't you know what happened? We've been so worried. Yao Yao, Sui He, and mother haven't rested. They haven't eaten properly all this time. What really happened that night?" Bai asked, trying to hide his soft sobs and tears coming from the side of his eye.

Xing laughed and stood up, hugging Bai and patting his back.

He looked around and noticed his mother sobbing a bit. They stared at each other, unable to explain the sadness they felt. Xing ran to his mother, knelt down, and held onto her robe, sobbing softly. "Mother, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for getting you all worried, okay! I woke up in the shop quite late at night. I noticed Yao and Sui He hadn't returned from washing the plates. So I hurriedly went to the riverside, panicking that something must have happened. I met Shi Liu on my way and asked if he had seen them, which he said he did. He told me that he walked them to the river and left. I'm afraid that's all I can remember!" Xing narrated sadly. "Mother, Yao, Bai, and Sui He, I'm sorry for making you worry!" Xing said with thin lips and a sad expression.

"Shh, it's okay. I'm just glad you are okay. It's good that everyone is okay, and we can now breathe a sigh of relief." Fen Hua said as she sat down.

"Bai and Chao Xing, I'm afraid I have less time to be with you four. Sui He and Yao are very troublesome. I hope you can be by their side, especially you, Chao Xing. If a situation arises where they are in any form of danger, you'll have to do anything to protect them as their elder brother," Fen Hua said, her beautiful eyes twinkling with sadness. Xing grabbed his mother's hand, reassuring her that he would do as she said, fighting back the tears that were about to gush out.

"Mother, don't say such things. You're not going anywhere. You won't die yet, mother. Mother, please, we would rather not continue this life with the fact that we can never meet again." Sui He said, choking up with tears. Yao and Bai placed their heads on their mother's clothes and broke down.

"Shh, you four must stay by each other's side. I'm feeling sleepy, and I need to rest now. We will talk later!" Fen Hua said.

She stood up and staggered a bit, vomiting so much blood and fainting at that moment.

All four of them panicked and hurriedly carried their mother to the bed. "Mother, Mother, please wake up." They all said in unison.

Fen Hua woke up a few hours later. She found her children in the room, all asleep except for Xing, who sat by his mother, holding her clothes. He looked tired and drained yet determined to stay by his mother's side.

"Are your siblings asleep?" Fen Hua asked as Xing helped her sit up.

"Yes, mother. Are you okay?" Xing asked.

"I'm alright, dear."

"Mother, I'm thinking of marrying both Sui He and Yao. All three of us are of age now, and I'm afraid I might not be able to protect them.I recalled the events of a few days back, and I didn't want to worry our family because of it, I couldn't even save Sui He and Yao Yao", Xing said in a low tone. 'It might make Sui He and Yao more obsessed with their beliefs in gods and deities. I'm not yet sure if they are good people or bad people' Xing spoke inwardly recounting the events that happened a few days backward.