The Healing Cottage

As Liu's mind drifted in the unconscious realm of his dreams, he found himself transported to the familiar streets of his former world. However, he was stunned to discover that he inhabited the body of his second life.

He stood amidst chaos and pandemonium as people dashed by him in a frenzied panic. The stampede only grew more intense, and he strained to find the source of the commotion.

Suddenly, a deafening chorus of screams filled the air.

"CLEANNNEEEERRRRRSSSS!!!" The voices of the fleeing mob rang in his ears, leaving him stranded in their wake. He felt trapped in his small, powerless body, but the dream's miraculous effects bound him to the scene.

His heart raced with fear as he watched a faceless man - a Cleaner - stalk towards him, brandishing a cold, glinting weapon. Liu's limbs refused to budge, and he could only watch in terror as the Cleaner took aim at his chest, the gun's icy metal grazing his bare skin.

His heart raced rapidly, and he found sweat surging through his body despite the intense chill that assailed his body.

And then—

>DRIP<

>DRIP<

>DRIP<

Red droplets trickled from Liu's chest, pooling into a gruesome puddle beneath him. The bullet had ripped a gaping hole in his flesh, and blood oozed out of the hollow cavity like a macabre fountain.

Liu gasped for air, trying to scream, but his voice failed him, choked by the terror that gripped his soul.

Helpless and paralyzed, Liu watched in horror as the Cleaner withdrew the gun from his chest and aimed it at his own head.

"Purge..." The word dripped from the Cleaner's lips like venom, and Liu knew that his life was about to end. Death would be swift and merciless.

And then, a deafening sound blasted through Liu's ears, tearing him from his nightmare.

>KPA<

He screamed, his voice hoarse and ragged. The sensation of pain and terror wracked his body, and he writhed in agony.

He awoke from a nightmare… only to find a new one waiting for him.

*

*

*

Liu woke up from his nightmare with a jolt, his body drenched in a cold sweat. Gasping for breath, he sat up and looked around his dimly-lit room, trying to shake off the fear that still lingered in his mind.

Disoriented and trembling, Liu tried to get his bearings.

"Where am I?" he muttered to himself, trying to make sense of his surroundings. The only door in the room suddenly swung open, and a man walked in.

Liu's body tensed up as he tried to stand, but he was too weak to do so. The man looked different from anyone he had ever seen before - he was well-groomed and wore clothing that looked expensive. But his face betrayed no emotion, and Liu could feel the tension in the air as the man approached him.

"What are you doing?" the man asked, his voice sharp and stern.

Liu tried to focus on his face, but his bloodshot eyes were still struggling to adjust to the light.

"Stay back!" Liu hissed, his fear giving way to defiance as he crouched on the bed.

The man sighed and shook his head. "You'll only make your condition worse. You need to return to your bed," he said, walking closer to Liu.

Liu's heart pounded in his chest as the man reached out to pick him up. But in a sudden burst of strength, Liu sank his teeth into the man's skin, determined to fight back with all his might.

However—

The man's brows furrowed as he looked down at Liu, confused once more. The child's bite hadn't hurt him in the slightest, and even as he let go and the boy's teeth grazed his skin, he remained unfazed.

"You're quite tenacious, aren't you?" he remarked, almost admiringly.

But Liu's weak and trembling body could take no more. He had fought as hard as he could, but now he was worn out, unable to resist his opponent any longer.

And then, another person burst into the room, disrupting the tense atmosphere. This newcomer was a striking contrast to the rough man - he had flowing black hair and a refined appearance, with a smooth face and no beard.

"What are you doing, Cu Ren?!" the newcomer demanded, taking in the scene before him.

"Ah, Yisheng, you're here already. I came here to see you—" Cu Ren began to explain.

But before he could finish, Yinsheng rushed to Liu's side, his flowing white robe billowing behind him. With gentle hands, he scooped up the shivering child and examined him closely.

"You idiot! That's a patient you're holding right there. What in the world? Do you want to kill him?" Yinsheng scolded Cu Ren, his refined manner of speaking belying the concern in his voice.

As Cu Ren looked on in bewilderment, Yinsheng quickly changed the sweat-soaked fabric that served as Liu's mattress to a clean one. He laid the boy down gently, his skilled hands moving with precision.

"Would you look at that? He's excessively sweating. His body temperature is dropping rapidly, and he's constantly shivering," Yinsheng murmured to himself, lost in thought.

"Quick, Cu Ren, grab that bowl over there for me."

Cu Ren, still somewhat stunned, did as he was told. As Yinsheng tended to Liu, Cu Ren watched in awe at the doctor's skill and precision.

"That can wait, damnit!" Yinsheng snapped, noticing Cu Ren standing still.

"But, I just came to see you and deliver a—" Cu Ren began to protest.

But Yinsheng would hear none of it. He was focused solely on Liu's well-being, and nothing else mattered. Cu Ren knew better than to argue, and so he did as he was told, feeling a sense of relief as Yinsheng's attention turned back to Liu.

Cu Ren couldn't help but feel a twinge of resentment as he was reduced to the doctor's assistant, despite being Yinsheng's senior. Where was the respect? He gritted his teeth and followed Yinsheng's orders, fetching the necessary herbs and a bucket, and together, they worked tirelessly to stabilize the young boy lying before them.

It was far from a pleasant experience, but a wave of fulfillment washed over them once the boy's condition was stable.

As they both caught their breath, they gazed at the boy sleeping soundly, and Cu Ren couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "I'm never doing this again...so annoying."

But as he turned to leave, Yinsheng's voice stopped him in his tracks. "Wait! Didn't you say you came here to tell me something? What is the matter?"

Cu Ren hesitated, trying to recall the reason for his visit. "I...did not forget," he insisted, but Yinsheng's skeptical look made him realize the truth.

"Okay, maybe I did forget. But I remember now... The Master wanted to know how the boy was doing."

"The Master?" Yinsheng's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Well, he's stable, as you can see. It's honestly a miracle that the kid is still alive. His vitality is off the charts."

As a seasoned doctor, Yinsheng had seen his fair share of life and death situations, but this one was particularly miraculous. The boy had been on the brink of death when he arrived, but now he was recovering at an almost supernatural pace.

"Well, Master administered treatment to the boy before bringing him here. So maybe that's the reason," Cu Ren suggested, unaware of the complexities of medical treatment.

Yinsheng raised an eyebrow at Cu Ren's ignorance but didn't bother to correct him.

"Yeah. Maybe…"

After another awkward moment of silence, Yinsheng spoke once more.

"He should have completely recovered in a week or so. The Master need not worry."

"Is that so?"

"Do you doubt my words?" He glared.

"N-no… not at all!"

It really was unfair for a junior to treat a senior in this way. Unfortunately, Cu Ren could not complain.

"He also said to inform him as soon as the boy gets well. It seems he would like to see him one he has recovered."

"As expected of Master. Once he has completely recovered, I'll make sure to take him there."

"Good. That's all."

Cu Ren exited the door as soon as he completed his message, sighing and shaking his head. Once again, he had been bested by Yinsheng.

Fortunately, there was no witness to this travesty.

"How could I possibly live down the shame…" He murmured, leaving the Healing Cottage of their Sect.

Well… if it could really be called one.