Heart Protection (Back from the Brink)

CHAPTER 65

When they reached Qing Qiu, the sun had started to rise. Zhu Li immediately brought Pu Fang to the third prince's residence.

One reason being the third prince, Chang Lan, was sickly, so his residence was filled with medicine. The second reason being Pu Fang's apprentice had already set everything up there.

The group of people hadn't even reached his residence when they saw torches lit along the path. It was the prince and the apprentice waiting for them. Although the third prince was blind, his other senses were much sharper than an ordinary person's. The group was still far off when he smelled the reek of blood.

"Go treat your master's wounds." The prince instructed the apprentice. "Quick, bring her inside."

The boy immediately rushed forward and took Pu Fang from Zhu Li. He rapidly carried her inside.

The group followed behind Pu Fang. Yan Hui stayed in the very back of the group and didn't try to rush ahead. It seemed like she wasn't worried.

Tian Yao stayed behind with Yan Hui. At this moment, no one paid her any attention. Only Tian Yao was looking at her: "You nearly threw away your life to save her. Now that she's saved, you're not worried?"

Yan Hui didn't even turn to look at him. She only said eight words: "In the end, it's all up to fate."

It sounded so bland and ruthless, but in such a bleak and helpless time, there was nothing more true than those eight words.

She bet her life for a rescue that might not have even been possible. After a slight pause, Tian Yao said: "Yan Hui, you have a good heart."

Only then did Yan Hui glance at Tian Yao: "Only saints have a good heart. I'm not. I just have some humanity, that's all." Vanity, greed, envy, resentment, impulsivity, sympathy, martyring.

To Yan Hui, she didn't think she lived any nobler than anyone else. She lived her life like a common person, unable to escape from desires and emotions, unable to cast away her ostentation lifestyle. She just wanted to be a happy, ordinary person.

Tian Yao silent looked at Yan Hui. He didn't speak further.

They treated Pu Fang's injuries for three days. None of her apprentices were more skilled than her. In the end, her head apprentice cried at her sickbed: "Only shifu can heal herself......."

But how could a doctor heal themself.

Finally on the fourth day when the sunlight just lit the room, Pu Fang woke. She looked at the sunlight coming in from the window. In that direction lay the mountain range where San Chong Mountain was. She gazed there for a long time before finally closing her eyes.

A short moment later, she stopped breathing.

Third Prince Chang Lan silently sat by Pu Fang's sickbed. He silently sat there for a long, long time. In the end, he allowed Pu Fang to be buried at the green grass mound.

Tian Yao and Yan Hui attended her burial. Qing Qiu's burial customs were very simple. The coffin was lowered in the ground, dirt was piled on top to bury it, and a tombstone was erected. That was it. The ones who came to see Pu Fang off left one by one. All who remained was Tian Yao, Yan Hui, and Thrid Prince, Chang Lan.

"There aren't any trees here to block the sunlight. As long as it doesn't rain, the sunlight will always reach her grave. There's also a breeze here. She would like it." Chang Lan's mouth hooked into a bitter smile: "20 years ago, I was also like this, watching them leave one by one. I thought after returning to Qing Qiu, I wouldn't have to go through this separation again. I didn't think that after twenty years, Pu Fang........would have to be buried too."