Category: Bloodthirsty Countess’s Overbearing Love

Chapter 5

Inside the cave, not far away, a man dressed in a yellow Taoist robe stood before a table laden with ritual objects, seemingly performing a ritual. He held a peachwood sword in his hand. Two coffins were placed beside him. Although Song Ling was also a cultivator, she couldn’t understand what the Taoist priest was doing.

The Taoist priest chanted incantations, piercing a talisman on the table with his peachwood sword. He then leaped up and struck the two coffins with the sword. The coffin lids burst open, releasing thick smoke that instantly filled the cave with a demonic aura.

Song Ling’s heart tightened. Although she didn’t know what kind of demon was inside the coffins, she could tell from the aura that it was incredibly ferocious and formidable.

The Taoist priest walked to a nearby stone wall and retrieved a lifeless-looking person from behind it. He grabbed the person’s arm and made a cut on their wrist. Blood flowed from the wound, dripping into the coffin. The Taoist priest then took the person to the other coffin and repeated the same action before casually tossing the person aside.

The Taoist priest continued chanting incantations. Something stirred within the coffins. A pair of blackened hands with long, black fingernails emerged from the first coffin. The skin on the arms was wrinkled and didn’t look human.

Low growls emanated from the coffin, accompanied by a foul smell of decay. Li Xinjun, witnessing such a scene for the first time, bit her finger to prevent herself from crying out. However, the sudden appearance of the creature from the coffin terrified her. She saw a partially decomposed corpse jump out of the coffin. Not only could the corpse move, but it also bent down and began to gnaw on the unconscious person on the ground.

The person’s flesh was torn and bloodied by the creature’s bites, their body trembling uncontrollably. Perhaps unable to bear the pain, the person seemed to regain consciousness momentarily before losing it again. Li Xinjun gasped at the sight.

Seeing Li Xinjun’s fear, Song Ling worried that she might be traumatized. She shook her head, signaling that they should leave. Li Xinjun snapped out of her daze, nodded at Song Ling, and slowly stood up to retreat.

They quickly backed out of the cave. Song Ling sensed that something was amiss. She felt the need to return to Mount Tian and consult her master about this type of demon.

She was deeply concerned about the potential consequences of this encounter. She knew that some cultivators would resort to any means to enhance their powers, including refining elixirs and manipulating ghosts and demons.

But what was that creature they had just seen in the cave, neither human nor ghost? It resembled the “Gu people” mentioned in ancient texts, but not entirely.

She recalled reading about sorcerers who raised “Gu” to control people’s behavior. Those afflicted by the Gu would lose their minds, become impervious to pain and fear of death, and be completely at the mercy of the sorcerer.

The creature in the cave was clearly a long-dead corpse with dried skin. However, if it were a Gu person, it shouldn’t be a true corpse but rather a living dead, a living person.

Unable to solve the mystery, Song Ling decided to return to the Li residence with Li Xinjun. Back at the residence, Song Ling searched through the ancient books she had brought with her, hoping to find clues about the creature. She instructed Li Xinjun to lock the doors and windows and go to rest while she stayed in the study, poring over the books.

She hadn’t brought many books with her, as she had prioritized convenience. However, most of these ancient texts were written in classical Chinese, which Song Ling only partially understood. Learning classical Chinese was challenging, and she had always been more active, preferring not to spend hours in the classroom. As a result, it took her longer to decipher the meaning of the texts.

She diligently read through the texts one by one until dawn, finally collapsing from exhaustion onto the table, falling asleep. Li Xinjun woke up and didn’t see Song Ling. Assuming she was sleeping in her own room, she went to the adjacent guest room and pushed open the door, but Song Ling wasn’t there. She then went to the study and found Song Ling slumped over the table. She returned to her room, fetched a cloak, and went back to the study to drape it over Song Ling.

She gently pulled Song Ling’s hand away and retrieved the ancient book. She happened to see a drawing of a creature on the other side of the book that resembled the one they had seen the previous night. She had attended a private school and learned some classical Chinese from a teacher. She carefully translated the text into vernacular Chinese, character by character, writing it down on a piece of paper.

She discovered that the creature was indeed a corpse. In ancient times, some people, in their quest for the throne, had collaborated with sorcerers to transform the deceased into such creatures, using them as weapons against armies.

Even the bravest warrior would falter or perish when facing a vast army alone. However, a corpse wouldn’t feel fear, nor could it die in battle, as it was already lifeless.

Therefore, a corpse capable of attacking could potentially kill hundreds of soldiers before being brought down. Such power was undoubtedly a desirable weapon for those in positions of authority. Consequently, in ancient times, people had invested vast resources in researching this type of creature.

The book also mentioned that people had successfully developed methods to reanimate corpses, making them even stronger than ordinary humans. Because these corpses were rigid, ordinary weapons could hardly harm them.

Only divine weapons or immense strength could pierce these corpses. Due to their stiff appearance, these creatures were referred to as “jiangshi*” or “stiff corpses.”

The book recounted that during ancient wars, although the jiangshi army had indeed helped secure victories, subsequent incidents made people hesitant to use them as weapons again.

They discovered that those bitten by jiangshi would transform into jiangshi themselves within a few days. Moreover, these bitten jiangshi were different from the refined ones. Refined jiangshi lacked the ability to think, similar to Gu people, essentially puppets controlled by others.

However, bitten jiangshi retained basic cognitive abilities. They knew they needed to consume blood to survive and would attack others to obtain it, even without instructions, similar to wild beasts.

Because they were difficult to destroy, and those bitten would also turn into jiangshi, eventually, more than half of the city’s population became jiangshi.

Finally, someone proposed sealing the city gates and burning everything, both the living and the jiangshi, to put an end to the tragedy. The death toll was in the tens of thousands. From then on, no one dared to refine these creatures as weapons again.

In addition to the origin of jiangshi, the ancient book also recorded their weaknesses. Jiangshi craved blood because they relied on their beating hearts to move, and hearts needed blood to function. Therefore, their weakness was their hearts. Piercing their hearts would immobilize them.

The book also mentioned that first-generation jiangshi were blind. They relied on hearing and smell to locate people. Therefore, if one encountered a first-generation jiangshi, holding one’s breath and remaining motionless could make them lose track of their presence.

However, the book also stated that second-generation jiangshi could see because they had only recently died and transformed, so their eyes were still functional. To distinguish between first and second-generation jiangshi, one had to observe their skin condition.

Since first-generation jiangshi were typically refined from long-dead corpses, their bodies would be desiccated, and some might even be partially decomposed. Second-generation jiangshi, on the other hand, were those bitten by first-generation jiangshi and transformed within a few days. Their skin and flesh would only appear grayish-purple, similar to corpses that had been dead for a few days.

After translating everything, Li Xinjun placed the written pages on the tea table, weighing them down with a teacup. She was terrified that the creature they had seen the previous night was a jiangshi. If it were indeed a jiangshi, the people in the city would suffer again. She didn’t want the place where she had grown up to be burned to the ground, nor did she want to witness such a devastating loss of life.

With a heavy heart, she left the study, gently closing the door behind her, careful not to wake Song Ling. She could imagine that Song Ling must have stayed up all night. Li Xinjun went to the main hall and sat down, her heart filled with worry. She felt that the creature they had seen yesterday did resemble the jiangshi described in the ancient book, and it seemed like a first-generation jiangshi. She clearly remembered that the creature looked like a walking desiccated corpse and had a foul smell of decay.

If that were the case, then the Taoist priest they had seen must be the one controlling it. The book mentioned that first-generation jiangshi couldn’t move on their own and required a controller to give them commands. Therefore, the Taoist priest’s constant chanting must have been the incantations to control the jiangshi.

Now she had a plan. She decided to discuss it with Song Ling when she woke up and see if it was feasible. She resolved to set fire to the creature in the cave, regardless of whether it was a jiangshi or not. Burning it would eliminate the threat, preventing it from harming people.

With a plan in mind, she finally felt a sense of relief and went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

***

T/N: Jiangshi is an undead creature found in Chinese folklore. As the name implies, this creature is a reanimated corpse that “hops” to move around. As such, jiangshi are also known as “Chinese hopping vampires” or “Chinese hopping zombies”, considering they share many characteristics with the Western concepts of vampires and Romero-style zombies, respectively.

Source: https://zombie.fandom.com/wiki/Jiangshi

 

Chapter 4

With the imperial court’s regular distribution of food and Song Ling’s free medical treatment, the lives of the disaster-stricken refugees gradually improved. Furthermore, the court announced that officials would be dispatched to assist the people in rebuilding their homes, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the hardship.

Song Ling and Li Xinjun’s benevolent actions in the refugee camp earned them widespread praise and admiration. Word of their deeds spread like wildfire, eventually reaching the ears of the imperial court. To encourage more people to step forward and contribute to the nation’s recovery, the court sent an envoy to reward Song Ling and Li Xinjun with a hundred taels of gold each and bestowed upon them a memorial archway inscribed with the words “Reincarnated Guanyin.”

Guanyin (觀音) is the goddess of mercy and considered to be the physical embodiment of compassion

The recognition brought Song Ling immense popularity. Even high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital heard of the two young women’s accomplishments. Some even offered exorbitant sums of money and sent their servants from afar, hoping to invite Song Ling and Li Xinjun to their homes in the capital to treat their families. However, Song Ling politely declined all such requests.

Song Ling had never aspired to be a famous physician. Her sole desire was to help those truly in need. If not for the severity of the disaster, she wouldn’t have been sent down the mountain to offer her assistance. Nevertheless, the reward from the imperial court replenished their dwindling funds, which had been depleted from providing free medical treatment.

They took the opportunity to purchase more medicinal herbs from the herbalist. The herbalist, already familiar with them, offered generous discounts and even gave them some herbs for free, considering it his small contribution to the relief effort.

“Thank you, Master Ye. I express my gratitude on behalf of the refugees for your kindness,” Song Ling said, bowing respectfully to the herbalist with Li Xinjun by her side.

“You’re welcome, you’re welcome. Compared to what you two young ladies have done, my contribution is insignificant,” Master Ye replied, hastily helping them up.

“Master Ye, you can’t say that. If everyone were willing to contribute like you, I believe we could overcome this difficult time much faster.”

This time, they purchased a substantial amount of medicinal herbs. To make things easier for them, Master Ye sent two helpers and a handcart to deliver the herbs to the Li residence. After much discussion with Li Xinjun, Song Ling decided to convert the former Li residence into a medical clinic for the convenience of treating patients. They cleared out the main hall and furnished it with suitable furniture for medical consultations, cabinets for storing herbs, and added several medicine pots and charcoal stoves in the courtyard for brewing medicine.

Once everything was ready, they visited the refugee camp one last time to inform the refugees that they could now seek treatment at the Li residence. After all, the number of people staying at the camp had decreased significantly, as many had gradually returned to their homes. Therefore, it would be more convenient for them to receive treatment at the residence in the city.

As usual, Song Ling diagnosed patients while Li Xinjun prepared the medicine. They worked together seamlessly, anticipating a relatively relaxed day. However, cries suddenly erupted from outside the camp.

“Waaah, Doctor Song, Doctor Song, please save my son! He suddenly went mad at home, scratching things and banging his head.”

Hearing the desperate cries of the woman, Song Ling quickly stood up and rushed out to investigate. She saw Aunt Liu, who had happily moved back home with her son just a few days ago, kneeling outside and wailing.

Song Ling immediately ran over and helped Aunt Liu up. “Aunt Liu, please don’t do this. What happened? Get up and tell me slowly.”

Aunt Liu, seeing Song Ling as a savior, clutched her hand tightly.

“Waaah, Doctor Song, my son, Shitou, started talking nonsense this morning for some reason. Then he kept crying and saying his head hurt. He started hitting his head with things, and I couldn’t stop him no matter what I did. Can you please come and take a look? I beg you, Doctor Song.”

“Alright, alright, I’ll come with you right away. Please get up.”

Song Ling turned to Li Xinjun. “Jun’er, I’ll go with Aunt Liu first. You can bring the medicine chest and follow us later.”

“Okay, go ahead. I’ll finish up here and come find you immediately. Be careful,” Li Xinjun said, her face etched with worry.

Song Ling followed Aunt Liu, hurrying to her house. As they approached the door, they heard frantic shouts from inside.

“Argh!”

Even Song Ling was startled by the loud shouts. Shitou was usually a gentle and introverted boy who spoke softly. She had never heard him make such wild noises.

Song Ling pushed open the wooden door and saw Shitou being held down on the bed by three strong men. Shitou’s eyes were bloodshot, and his head had multiple bleeding wounds, likely caused by hitting himself with hard objects. She stepped forward and pressed two fingers against the carotid artery in his neck.

His pulse was erratic. Song Ling frowned in thought. She had never encountered such a situation before. The three men struggled to restrain the thrashing Shitou. Song Ling realized that this couldn’t continue. She pressed several acupuncture points on Shitou’s body, and he instantly fainted. The room became quiet.

“Doctor Song, what’s wrong with my son?”

“I’m not sure yet, Aunt Liu. Shitou’s pulse is very irregular. I’ve never seen anything like this before. Can you tell me what he did today? Perhaps I can find some clues.”

Aunt Liu nodded eagerly. “We woke up as usual this morning and went to the mountain to gather wild vegetables. Shitou was fine at the time. Then he told me to go back first, saying he wanted to check the cave for wild mushrooms. Mushrooms often grow there, so I went home first. After an hour, I saw that he hadn’t returned, so I went to look for him with a neighbor who was also heading up the mountain. We found him lying unconscious at the cave entrance. We immediately carried him back. After he woke up, he started talking nonsense and kept saying his head hurt. He kept hitting his head with things.”

After listening to Aunt Liu’s detailed account, Song Ling couldn’t discern anything that could have caused Shitou’s sudden change. She had a hunch that the problem might have originated in the cave. She decided to investigate the cave herself.

“Aunt Liu, do many people usually go in and out of that cave you mentioned?”

“No, it’s a very hidden cave, not everyone knows about it. Shitou only discovered it when he was running away from a pack of wolves on the mountain. And the cave is very deep. We usually just gather mushrooms near the entrance and never dare to venture further in.”

“Alright, I understand. Now, while Shitou is still unconscious, let’s tie him up with ropes. I’m afraid he might go berserk again when he wakes up. When Xinjun arrives with my medicine chest, I’ll treat his head wounds.”

The three men, hearing Song Ling’s instructions, readily fetched ropes and helped tie up the unconscious Shitou. Soon, Li Xinjun arrived with the medicine chest.

“Sister Ling, how is the situation?”

“Let’s treat his external injuries first. Then you’ll come with me to the mountain.”

“To the mountain?”

“Yes, to the cave. I can handle this here. You go outside and ask if anyone has torches and water bottles that we can borrow. We’ll need them for the mountain.”

“Oh, okay, I’ll go right away.”

Li Xinjun rushed outside and asked the three men for torches and water bottles. When they heard that she was going into the cave, they also gave her an extra roll of rope and placed everything in a bamboo basket that she could carry on her back. Li Xinjun thanked them and returned to the house to find Song Ling.

“Sister Ling, everything is ready. We can set off.”

Song Ling nodded at Li Xinjun. After bandaging Shitou’s head wounds and securing the gauze with a knot, she stood up and headed out. Before leaving, she instructed Aunt Liu to give Shitou the herbal concoction she had prepared if he woke up and went berserk again. It would help calm him down temporarily. After giving all the necessary instructions, Song Ling followed Aunt Liu’s directions up the mountain, arriving at the cave entrance.

“Jun’er, this isn’t like the forest where I usually take you for training. I don’t know what monsters or magical beasts might be lurking inside. If we encounter any danger, remember not to be reckless. Stay behind me and follow my instructions, understand?”

“Jun’er understands. Jun’er won’t act rashly or hold you back.”

“Good. Take out the torches and light them. Let’s go in.”

Song Ling drew her sword from her waist with one hand and held a torch to illuminate the path with the other, cautiously entering the cave. Li Xinjun followed close behind, also drawing her sword. The cave was indeed as spacious and deep as Aunt Liu had described. They slowly made their way deeper inside, navigating the winding and treacherous path.

After turning a few corners, Song Ling noticed strange scratch marks on the cave walls. They looked like human fingernail scratches, but how could an ordinary person scratch the stone walls with such force? Song Ling was puzzled but didn’t say anything. She continued forward, reaching a narrow passage. The passage was so tight that only a slender person could squeeze through sideways.

She turned sideways and carefully made her way through. Before entering, she gestured to Li Xinjun behind her to be silent. Li Xinjun nodded in understanding, and Song Ling slowly entered. Inside, the cave opened up a bit. Although not as wide as the entrance, it was spacious enough for two adults to walk side by side.

She stood aside, patiently waiting for Li Xinjun to squeeze through the narrow passage. Apart from the light emitted by her torch, the cave was pitch black. Once Li Xinjun emerged, Song Ling whispered in her ear.

“I sense a strong demonic aura deep within the cave. You haven’t mastered magic yet. If anything happens, run out immediately and don’t worry about me.”

Li Xinjun’s face showed disagreement, but she chose not to argue. She silently resolved to do her best to escape with Song Ling, no matter what happened. Song Ling cautiously moved forward. The closer they got to the depths of the cave, the stronger the demonic aura became. Although she had often accompanied her master on demon-slaying expeditions, this demonic aura was unlike anything she had encountered before.

She knew that the demon inside would be formidable, but she had to assess its strength to devise a strategy for dealing with it later.

They reached a wide open space. A faint candlelight flickered ahead. Song Ling frowned, a thousand questions swirling in her mind. Why would a demon need candlelight? But how could she explain the heavy demonic aura she sensed?

Song Ling extinguished her torch and took out a flint from her clothes to light her way, fearing that the torchlight might attract attention. She slowed her pace further, trying to avoid making any noise. She knew they were getting closer to the unknown creature inside, and she believed the opening ahead was its lair.

She approached the candlelit opening, put away her flint, and gripped her sword tightly. Slowly, she peeked inside. Li Xinjun crouched behind her, also peering into the opening.

Chapter 3

A few days later, Song Ling and Li Xinjun embarked on their journey to the city. Along the way, they encountered numerous corpses lying by the roadside. Unable to bear the sight of the bodies exposed to the elements, they joined forces and dug a pit in the nearby forest, providing a simple burial for the deceased. They also chanted sutras to guide the departed souls to the afterlife.

With heavy hearts, they resumed their journey. After crossing a hillside, they finally reached the city gates. This was the city where Li Xinjun was born, a place filled with cherished memories of her family and, at the same time, the scene of her tragic experiences.

She gazed at the city gates with a somber expression, remaining silent. However, Song Ling understood her unspoken grief. She took Li Xinjun’s small hand and led her into the city.

“Everything is in the past now. From now on, you have me by your side.”

Li Xinjun felt Song Ling’s care. She tightly grasped Song Ling’s hand, looked into her eyes, and nodded slightly.

“Mm.”

“Let’s not go to your house tonight. We’ll rent a room outside. I don’t want you to be reminded of unpleasant memories.”

Initially, they had planned to stay at Li Xinjun’s residence, but seeing Li Xinjun’s current state, Song Ling changed her mind.

“Sister Ling, I’m fine. It’s been a while since I’ve been back, and I miss it. Besides, I have you with me now.”

Seeing Li Xinjun’s determination, Song Ling didn’t argue further. She let Li Xinjun lead the way to the grand entrance of the Li residence. It was evident that this had once been a wealthy household. Two stone lions flanked the entrance, and the words “Li Residence” were inscribed above the gate. Song Ling silently followed behind Li Xinjun, not daring to speak, as she didn’t want to disturb Li Xinjun’s thoughts of her family.

Li Xinjun entered the house with familiarity. The mansion, abandoned for days, wasn’t in ruins, but much of the furniture had been damaged or overturned by the refugees who had forced their way in. It was no longer the tidy and comfortable home it once was.

She slowly walked to the main hall and lifted a fallen chair, placing it back in its original position. She then surveyed the entire house, her heart filled with a mix of emotions she couldn’t express. She gazed at the two main seats in the hall, which had once belonged to her parents. Countless times, the family had gathered there to chat and laugh. Sadly, things were different now.

Song Ling approached Li Xinjun and turned her around to face her. She squatted down, meeting Li Xinjun’s gaze.

“I know you’re sad, but life must go on, right? Let’s just tidy up the bedrooms for tonight. We can organize the rest tomorrow. We’ll have the house cleaned up in no time.”

Li Xinjun understood Song Ling’s comforting words. Although her family was gone, she still wanted to restore the house to its former cleanliness. Her mother had always been meticulous about cleanliness, insisting that even the slightest speck of dust be removed. Sometimes, she would even clean herself.

Li Xinjun led Song Ling to the backyard, where they found brooms and rags. They cleaned the main hall and two bedrooms, placing the undamaged furniture back in its original positions and discarding the broken pieces in the alleyway. Gradually, the house began to regain its former appearance. Although it wasn’t as grand as before, it was a significant improvement from when they first entered.

Since there were spare rooms in the house, Song Ling chose to sleep in a separate room without hesitation. Li Xinjun didn’t object. They each returned to their respective rooms. Li Xinjun looked at the small stool beside her bed, where her mother used to sit every night, singing her lullabies. She walked over, bent down, and touched the stool, softly humming the familiar melodies. Her nose tingled, and tears silently streamed down her face.

Exhausted from crying, Li Xinjun fell asleep on the stool. She had a dream. In her dream, her parents were still alive. Her father spoke gently to her mother, who listened while embroidering. Li Xinjun ran towards them happily and called out, “Father, Mother!” However, they couldn’t hear her. She tried again, raising her voice, hoping they would notice her, but they seemed oblivious to her presence.

She wanted to hug them, but just as she was about to reach them, they vanished. She quickly turned around, searching for them. She saw them standing not far away and tried to run towards them, but her father suddenly spoke.

“Jun’er, we won’t be by your side anymore. You have to take care of yourself, alright?”

“Father, why won’t you be by my side? Jun’er doesn’t want to, Jun’er doesn’t want to be separated from you.”

“Be good, Jun’er, and listen to your father. Your mother wants you to live a happy life, always.”

“Mother, are you leaving me too? Jun’er is scared, Jun’er doesn’t want to be alone.”

In her dream, Li Xinjun ran desperately, trying to catch up to her parents. But no matter how hard she ran, she couldn’t reach them. She could only watch helplessly as they moved further and further away, slowly disappearing from sight.

“Father! Mother! Don’t go, don’t leave Jun’er alone! Jun’er doesn’t want to be alone!”

Li Xinjun cried out loudly, and her voice echoed in reality. Song Ling was startled awake by the sudden cry. She rushed to Li Xinjun’s room and pushed open the door. She saw Li Xinjun sitting on the floor, her upper body resting on the small stool, fast asleep. Seeing the sweat on Li Xinjun’s forehead and hearing her mumbles, Song Ling could easily guess the content of her nightmare.

With a heavy heart, she lifted Li Xinjun into her arms and gently placed her on the bed. She held Li Xinjun’s hand, softly comforting her.

“Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”

Hearing Song Ling’s voice, Li Xinjun calmed down as if a reassuring pill had been administered. Song Ling sighed and climbed onto the bed, lying down beside Li Xinjun and embracing her.

The next morning, Li Xinjun woke up and saw Song Ling lying next to her. Although she didn’t know when Song Ling had come in, she knew that Song Ling must have been worried about her and had come to keep her company. She lifted Song Ling’s hand, snuggled closer, and placed Song Ling’s hand on her chest, contentedly continuing to laze in bed.

Song Ling was awakened by Li Xinjun’s movements, but she didn’t feel uncomfortable. She followed Li Xinjun’s lead and embraced her, allowing her to nestle comfortably in her arms.

“Silly girl, you’re awake? You had another nightmare last night. I was worried, so I came to check on you.”

“I dreamt of my parents. The dream felt so real. I saw them leaving me, and I didn’t want them to go, but I couldn’t stop them. They told me to live a good life.”

Song Ling held Li Xinjun tighter.

“Yes, you must live a good life to honor your parents’ wishes.”

“Sometimes I wonder what the meaning of my life is.”

“Doesn’t Jun’er have any dreams? Have you ever thought about what you want to do when you grow up?”

Li Xinjun shook her head and sighed softly.

“No. My parents used to tell me that they would find me a good husband when I grew up, but I never wanted to get married. I would always tell them that I just wanted to stay with them forever. They would laugh and say that I was still young and hadn’t met someone I wanted to spend my life with yet. They said that when I did, I wouldn’t say such things anymore.”

Song Ling felt a pang of sadness in her heart for some reason, but she still comforted Li Xinjun.

“When you grow up, you’ll definitely meet someone you can entrust your life to,” Song Ling said, instinctively pulling Li Xinjun closer.

“Sister Ling, can I stay with you forever?”

“Of course. We’ll travel the world together, explore every corner, taste all the delicious food. I’ll be your family from now on.”

The two girls, who shared a similar fate, clung to each other for comfort.

That day, they ventured out early in the morning to assess the situation in the city. The officials dispatched by the imperial court for disaster relief had arrived a few days ago. The supplies they brought had temporarily alleviated the hunger of the refugees. However, due to the prolonged period of famine, they discovered that many refugees were suffering from illnesses.

Song Ling took Li Xinjun to the refugee camp established by the imperial court. She offered free medical treatment to those who were sick or injured. Li Xinjun assisted her by writing prescriptions, fetching medicine from the herbalist, and returning to the camp to brew the medicine. They were incredibly busy. Once Li Xinjun finished brewing the medicine, Song Ling distributed it to the patients. Seeing the two young girls working tirelessly, the soldiers guarding the camp also offered their help.

Suddenly, a scream erupted from within the camp. Several refugees rushed out in panic. A middle-aged man in the camp had gone berserk and started biting people. The soldiers rushed over to restrain him, but with unexpected strength, the man lifted one soldier high into the air and threw him onto a table, causing him to cough up blood and lose consciousness. Seeing this, the other soldiers drew their swords and shouted at the man.

“We order you to surrender immediately, or we will not hesitate to use force!”

But the crazed man couldn’t comprehend their words. He lunged towards one of the soldiers, intending to attack him. The soldier, seeing no other option, raised his sword and pierced the man’s abdomen. However, instead of falling, the man grabbed the soldier and started biting him ferociously. Terrified, the soldier dropped his sword and retreated.

Just as the man was about to pounce on the soldier again, another soldier thrust his spear directly into the man’s heart. The soldier who had narrowly escaped another attack quickly retrieved his sword from the man’s abdomen and, with a swift motion, decapitated him. Blood sprayed from the man’s neck, creating a gruesome scene.

Everything happened so fast. From the initial incident to the man’s beheading, Song Ling had no time to intervene. She rushed to the scene and looked at the headless corpse, then at the injured soldiers, feeling a deep sense of helplessness.

“Soldier brother, what happened to that man? Why did he suddenly attack people?”

“Young lady, we don’t know either. We heard the commotion and came to investigate. Then we saw this man attacking people indiscriminately. We initially just wanted to restrain him, but it was as if he had gone completely mad. He wouldn’t listen to reason and didn’t even fear swords. We had no choice but to kill him in self-defense.”

“Yes, yes, look at my hand. He bit me, drawing blood and taking a chunk of flesh.”

Another soldier showed Song Ling his injured hand. Song Ling examined it and saw that a large piece of flesh had indeed been bitten off, leaving a bloody and mangled wound.

“Brother, come see me later, and I’ll treat your wound.”

Song Ling then turned to the dead man on the ground. She squatted down and examined the body carefully but found nothing unusual. She felt puzzled. Why would a seemingly normal person suddenly go berserk and attack others? She stood up helplessly and looked at the uninjured soldier. “Brother, please handle the man’s body properly. I’ll go treat that soldier’s arm wound.”

“Leave it to me.”

Song Ling took the injured soldier to the medical station outside. She carefully cleaned the wound and asked Li Xinjun to help bandage it. Li Xinjun took a clean gauze and meticulously wrapped it around the wound, layer by layer. Although she had learned a lot about medicine from Song Ling, she hadn’t had much practical experience, so her movements were still a little clumsy. Fearing that she might hurt the soldier, she bandaged the wound with extra care.

“Soldier brother, I’m done. Does it hurt?”

The soldier, looking at the sweet little girl tending to his wound, felt nothing but warmth in his heart. How could he feel any pain? He smiled at Li Xinjun.

“Thank you. It doesn’t hurt, little sister. You’re so skilled. You can already bandage wounds at such a young age. You’ll definitely be a beautiful and talented doctor when you grow up.”

“Thank you, brother, for the compliment. Jun’er also wants to be as skilled as Sister Song Ling when she grows up and help many, many people.”

Song Ling, who was standing nearby, overheard their conversation and smiled at Li Xinjun with affection.

“Jun’er, you’ll definitely be even more skilled than me when you grow up. You’re more talented than I am. You’ll achieve great things in the future.”

Chapter 2

Under Song Ling’s meticulous care, Li Xinjun’s once frail body gradually recovered its health. Her cheeks, which had been sunken due to days of starvation, began to fill out. Though not plump, she regained a healthy and balanced physique.

During this half-month period, Song Ling rarely ventured into the city. Aside from buying Li Xinjun new clothes and procuring food and medicinal herbs to nourish her body, she spent most of her time in the small thatched cottage, tending to Li Xinjun’s diet and preparing medicinal meals.

After all, Li Xinjun was still a child, and the prolonged period of starvation had taken a toll on her body. Song Ling didn’t dare to neglect her health, fearing it might hinder her future development. As usual, Song Ling went out early in the morning to hunt in the forest behind the cottage. Li Xinjun, who was accompanying her, heard a rustling sound from the nearby bushes. With agility, she raised her bow and arrow. Two “whoosh, whoosh” sounds pierced the air, and Li Xinjun confidently stepped into the bushes, bending down to retrieve two rabbits pierced by her arrows.

“Jun’er’s archery skills have improved tremendously. You’ve only been learning for a short while, and you can already hunt small animals on your own. Well done!”

“It’s all thanks to Sister Ling’s excellent teaching,” Li Xinjun said with a happy and confident smile.

“Jun’er, you’re naturally talented and have the potential to become a skilled martial artist. As long as you keep practicing diligently, I believe your abilities will surpass mine in no time.”

“Alright, then I’ll protect you in the future.”

“Jun’er, you’re so sweet. Now that your body has mostly recovered, how about we go into the city in a couple of days?”

“What are we going to do in the city?”

“To help the disaster victims. In these difficult times, everyone is fearful, and the imperial court doesn’t have the capacity to care for everyone. There must be many vulnerable elderly and children, and even unclaimed bodies left exposed in the wilderness. As a cultivator, I feel it’s my duty to contribute whatever I can, no matter how small.”

“But those refugees are heartless. They would harm innocent people and steal from others just to survive. They don’t deserve sympathy.”

“Jun’er, you can’t think that way. Although those who harmed your parents are indeed hateful, think about it, aren’t you also a victim of this disaster? But you haven’t resorted to such extreme measures, have you? You must understand that while not everyone in this world is good, you must believe that there are more good people than bad.”

“Jun’er understands.”

After their conversation, Li Xinjun and Song Ling returned to the cottage and began preparing their meal. Li Xinjun, who had once been unfamiliar with household chores, was now capable of handling basic tasks like cooking and laundry. It was hard to believe that she was once a young mistress served by dozens of servants.

Noticing that the firewood for the stove was running low, Li Xinjun, without hesitation, went to the open space behind the cottage. With an axe in hand, she skillfully chopped the thick logs into evenly sized pieces, creating a sizable pile of firewood. She put down the axe, gathered the firewood in her arms, and returned to the kitchen to continue tending the fire.

Soon, the fire in the stove reached the desired temperature for cooking. Song Ling, in perfect coordination, brought a basket of washed wild vegetables and a plate of prepared rabbit meat to the stove and began cooking. Li Xinjun didn’t idle either. She went to the cupboard beside the stove, took out the seasonings, and handed them to Song Ling. Working seamlessly together, they quickly finished cooking and carried the dishes to the dining table.

“Is it delicious?” Song Ling asked, looking at Li Xinjun expectantly.

“Delicious! Everything Sister Ling cooks is delicious!” Li Xinjun said, savoring her meal with a blissful expression. Perhaps because of her previous experience with hunger, she now cherished every meal.

“Eat more if you like it,” Song Ling said, picking up a piece of braised rabbit meat and placing it in Li Xinjun’s bowl.

“Sister Ling, you’re going to turn me into a pig. I think I’ve gained weight.”

“Nonsense! You look much better now. You were so skinny before, it was painful to look at. You’re perfect the way you are now.”

Song Ling pouted, disagreeing with Li Xinjun’s words, and proceeded to add more food to her bowl.

Li Xinjun looked helplessly at her overflowing bowl but obediently finished everything. Song Ling nodded in satisfaction and began eating her own meal.

After dinner, they cleaned the dishes together. Once everything was tidy, they went outside to light the fireplace before returning indoors to prepare for bed.

Although the cottage was simple, it was well-equipped. The fireplace they had just lit was connected to the stone bed inside the house. When the fireplace was lit, the base of the stone bed would radiate warmth, ensuring they wouldn’t feel too cold to sleep during the winter. They took off their outer garments, and Li Xinjun jumped onto the bed first, pulling back the covers and patting the space beside her, waiting for Song Ling to join her.

Song Ling quickly followed suit, climbing onto the bed and lying down next to Li Xinjun.

“Sister Ling, it’s especially cold tonight. Come closer so you don’t get cold.”

Li Xinjun tucked the covers securely around Song Ling before settling down herself.

“Why do I always feel like Jun’er is older than me? Hehehe.”

Song Ling had grown accustomed to Li Xinjun’s mature demeanor despite her young age.

“That’s because Sister Ling often kicks off the covers at night. It’s particularly cold tonight, and I’m afraid you’ll catch a cold.”

Li Xinjun continued explaining, ignoring Song Ling’s teasing words.

“Thank you, Jun’er.”

Song Ling hugged the covers and closed her eyes, preparing to rest. Soon, her breathing became steady, indicating that she had fallen asleep.

Li Xinjun looked at the sleeping figure beside her with a helpless smile and embraced her arm, seeking warmth. Compared to Song Ling, Li Xinjun had trouble falling asleep. However, being next to Song Ling gave her an unparalleled sense of security and peace.

This was the first time she had felt such warmth and security since her parents’ death. Although they hadn’t known each other for long, Li Xinjun trusted Song Ling unconditionally. The reason was simple: Song Ling was the only person who had shown her unconditional kindness.

She gently lifted Song Ling’s arm, tucking it under the covers to prevent her from getting cold, and then snuggled close, closing her eyes and trying to sleep.

As soon as Li Xinjun closed her eyes, she saw the scene of her parents’ murder replaying in her mind. In her dream, she was like a ghost, watching everything unfold from a distance. She screamed desperately, urging her parents to run, but they seemed unable to hear her cries.

She watched as her father fought bravely against the thugs, while her mother shielded her young body with her own. Overwhelmed by the sheer number of attackers, her father was beaten to death. The thugs stepped over his body and began looting the food and belongings from the carriage.

Seeing her husband’s demise, Li Xinjun’s mother tried to intervene but was mistaken for resistance. A thug slashed her throat with a knife, killing her instantly. Before taking her last breath, Li Xinjun’s mother managed to utter a single word, “Run,” before collapsing lifelessly on the ground.

Witnessing this horrific scene unfold again before her eyes, the buried resentment and grief within Li Xinjun erupted. She screamed and lunged forward, wanting to kill the thugs with her own hands. However, her hands couldn’t reach them because it was all just a dream.

“Jun’er, Jun’er! Wake up!”

Song Ling was awakened by Li Xinjun’s sudden scream. She found Li Xinjun still asleep but shouting incoherently, clearly having a nightmare. This wasn’t the first time Li Xinjun had experienced such nightmares. Song Ling had witnessed them several times before. Feeling heartbroken for the child, she gently shook her awake, unwilling to let her continue suffering in her dream.

Li Xinjun gradually emerged from the nightmare, her eyes fluttering open. Seeing Song Ling before her, she immediately sat up and hugged her tightly. Song Ling soothingly patted her back, helping her to calm down.

“It’s alright, it’s alright. It was just a dream. I’m here.”

“I dreamt of my parents again,” Li Xinjun mumbled, burying her face in Song Ling’s embrace.

“I know, it’s all in the past now. Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. Come, I’ll hold you while you sleep, and you won’t have any more nightmares.”

Song Ling patiently coaxed Li Xinjun back to sleep. Once she was peacefully slumbering again, Song Ling closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep as well.

Chapter 1

In the year 1950 of the Common Era, under the wise rule of Emperor Qianlong, the Central Plains enjoyed favorable weather, national peace and security, and a prosperous populace. However, just as spring was about to arrive this year, a season that should have been one of bountiful harvests for every household, a devastating flood, the likes of which had not been seen in a decade, struck unexpectedly.

Ten consecutive days of torrential rain caused the Yellow River to rise relentlessly, eventually leading to this catastrophic flood. From the middle reaches, starting with Yunnan and Sichuan, all the way to the lower reaches of Jiangxi and Zhejiang, no province was spared. Across the regions, families were shattered, farmlands were destroyed, and the situation was utterly tragic.

The wise and capable Emperor Qianlong was deeply troubled by this. Although the nation was wealthy and the people strong, facing such widespread calamities simultaneously proved challenging. As the saying goes, “distant water cannot quench a nearby fire.” The officials dispatched for disaster relief could not reach the affected areas immediately. For this reason, the prime ministers, generals, officials, and even Emperor Qianlong himself had been working tirelessly for days, seeking solutions and strategies to address the disaster.

Following the Emperor’s decree, each province opened its granaries and distributed rice to the people to alleviate their hunger and ensure they had food for their three daily meals. Simultaneously, temporary shelters were constructed near the disaster areas to provide temporary housing for those whose homes had been destroyed.

Unfortunately, the scale of this disaster was overwhelming, and the number of affected people was immense. The grain reserves in the granaries were simply insufficient to meet the demand. Large quantities of grain and supplies dispatched from the capital were delayed due to the long distance. In just half a month, the granaries were emptied.

With local supplies dwindling, the victims suffered from hunger and cold, leading to widespread famine. Countless people starved to death on the streets or perished in the wilderness. In their desperate struggle for survival, some resorted to looting and violence. Even in areas unaffected by the flood, where local officials had strengthened security, the sheer number of refugees made it difficult to control the situation, resulting in widespread panic.

Li Xinjun, a nine-year-old girl, was once the cherished daughter of a wealthy family. She should have been living a carefree life, spending her days reading and painting. However, this disaster shattered her world, leaving her orphaned and homeless. This once beautiful and bright little girl was now dressed in tattered clothes, her long, unkempt hair tangled and messy. Her face was covered in grey dust, making her appear no different from a beggar.

Poor Li Xinjun hadn’t eaten anything for four days, surviving only on water. Already slender, she was now emaciated to the point where her cheeks were sunken. She wandered aimlessly, trying to find the road to the capital. Her parents, in their desperate attempt to survive, had planned to take their only daughter to the capital, which had remained untouched by the disaster.

Tragically, they encountered other starving refugees along the way. Seeing their horse-drawn carriage, the refugees assumed it must contain food and valuables. Driven by desperation and greed, they attacked the family, disregarding any sense of morality, to seize the food.

Li Xinjun’s parents sacrificed themselves to protect her. The refugees, having obtained the food, didn’t harm the child and left. Thus, Li Xinjun narrowly escaped death but became an orphan.

Unfamiliar with the route, Li Xinjun followed the road. Fortunately, the refugees had only taken the food and money, leaving behind their water canteen. Otherwise, without food or water, the nine-year-old wouldn’t have survived for four days. However, even for a child, relying solely on water couldn’t sustain her for long. As she continued her shaky steps towards the capital, her body finally gave out, and she collapsed on the ground.

Li Xinjun weakly lifted her water canteen to her lips, only to find it empty. She lay prone on the ground, gasping for breath. Tears streamed down her face as she felt a surge of despair. She didn’t want to die alone in this desolate place. If she had known she wouldn’t reach the capital, she would have fought back against the refugees who killed her parents. The memory of witnessing their murder haunted her, and she longed to avenge them. But at that moment, she chose to obey her parents’ dying wish and embarked on this uncertain journey alone.

After an unknown amount of time, Li Xinjun’s vision blurred, and her clenched fists loosened. In a daze, she seemed to see her parents standing in the distance, beckoning her. A long-lost smile appeared on her face.

“Father, Mother, are you here to take me?” After that, Li Xinjun lost consciousness.

When she woke up, Li Xinjun slowly opened her eyes. She could vaguely see herself lying in a room, but it wasn’t one she recognized. She slowly turned her head, observing her surroundings. It appeared to be a simple and humble dwelling, but clean and tidy. Apart from the bed she was lying on, there was only a square table and four long benches surrounding it.

She tried to sit up but lacked the strength. Perhaps it was due to prolonged starvation. She slowly turned onto her side, attempting to use her arms to push herself up. At that moment, the wooden door opened, and someone entered. Seeing Li Xinjun struggling to sit up, the person rushed over to help. Before Li Xinjun could react, Song Ling had pulled her up.

She looked at Song Ling with a bewildered expression. Song Ling smiled gently at her.

“It’s good that you’re awake. I was so worried about you.”

Saying this, Song Ling reached out and caressed Li Xinjun’s cheek. Li Xinjun, looking at the beautiful young woman who had suddenly appeared, her face filled with affection, felt a mix of emotions she couldn’t describe.

“Did you save me? Thank you.”

Li Xinjun looked at Song Ling with gratitude. Song Ling, seeing Li Xinjun’s thin frame, gently patted her head with a pained expression.

“Yes, I brought you back.”

Song Ling was a lay disciple of the Tianshan Sect. She was skilled in medicine and magic. Knowing the severity of the disaster and the countless deaths on the streets, she had descended from the Tianshan Daoist Temple to offer her assistance in treating the victims and guiding the souls of the departed. While passing by the road, she spotted Li Xinjun lying unconscious. She rushed over and carefully checked her pulse.

Confirming that there was still a pulse, she examined the child closely. Apart from her unkempt appearance, she noticed that the child had delicate features. She thought that if she were cleaned up and dressed in proper clothes, she would be a very pretty child.

Skilled in martial arts, she effortlessly lifted Li Xinjun into her arms and carried her towards her sect’s house in the nearby bamboo forest. This house belonged to the Tianshan Sect and was typically used by disciples for temporary accommodation during their training journeys.

Song Ling gently laid Li Xinjun on the bed in the house and went out to hunt for food so the child would have something to eat upon waking. She had just returned when she heard a sound from the room. Upon entering, she saw Li Xinjun trying to get up.

Song Ling, who already had a fondness for Li Xinjun, felt even more drawn to the child in her vulnerable state.

“What’s your name?”

“Li Xinjun.”

“Xinjun, where are your family members? Why were you unconscious on the road alone?”

“My parents were killed by a group of starving refugees on the way. I fled for my life, but after days without food, I collapsed from exhaustion.”

Song Ling’s heart ached upon hearing Li Xinjun’s story. A once happy family had been torn apart by the flood, leaving the child alone and with an uncertain future. Song Ling looked at Li Xinjun with compassion and squatted down to her level.

“If you don’t mind, you can come with me. I may not have much, but I can at least provide you with food and shelter.”

Tears welled up in Li Xinjun’s eyes. In the past few days, she had experienced the coldness of humanity firsthand. In addition to the murder of her parents, she had been ignored by passersby when she pleaded for help. She had even approached a wealthy group camped nearby, begging for scraps of food, but they refused, saying they would rather feed their dogs than give her anything.

Now, encountering Song Ling’s kindness and offer to take her in, Li Xinjun felt a surge of warmth and gratitude. She couldn’t help but throw her arms around Song Ling and cry. Song Ling didn’t mind Li Xinjun’s dirtiness. She embraced her in return, patting her back with one hand and holding her head with the other, offering comfort.

After crying for a while, Li Xinjun finally calmed down. She released her embrace and wiped away her tears with the back of her hand. Song Ling stood up and stroked Li Xinjun’s hair.

“Alright, don’t cry anymore. I’ll go prepare something to eat. Would you like to take a bath first? I have some extra clothes in my bag. See if they fit you. You can wear them for now, and I’ll take you to buy some proper clothes when we reach the city.”

“Thank you, Sister.”

“My name is Song Ling. You can just call me by my name.”

Song Ling then turned and left, heading to the kitchen to prepare the rabbit and pheasant she had just caught. She was no stranger to such tasks at the Daoist Temple. Cooking, cleaning, and laundry were usually shared among the disciples.

Song Ling was sixteen years old and also an orphan. Fortunately, when she was four, she met her master, who not only took her in as a disciple but also brought her back to the Tianshan Sect, teaching her martial arts and magic. Song Ling was deeply grateful to her master and had been obedient and diligent in her studies at the temple. As a result, she was now proficient in various martial arts, excelling particularly in medicine and magic.

Song Ling’s master was pleased with her progress and sent her on a journey to gain experience and help people in need. This was Song Ling’s first solo journey, and she was filled with excitement. After all, she was just a sixteen-year-old girl with hopes and dreams for the world. Meeting Li Xinjun, an orphan seven years younger than herself, brought back memories of her own past. Song Ling naturally felt a strong desire to protect this little girl who shared a similar fate, hoping to offer her the same warmth and support her master had given her during her most vulnerable time.