Shen ying

Chapter 4

Wei Ying stirred, his small body trembling as he slowly woke up. The familiar ache of bruises and welts flared in his limbs, and the haunting echo of Madam Yu's angry voice still rang in his ears. He instinctively flinched, curling in on himself as if to shield his fragile form from another blow.

Where was he now? His vision was blurry, and the unfamiliar surroundings only deepened his fear. He wasn't at Lotus Pier anymore, and he didn't know if that was a good or bad thing. Was he safe? Or had someone else found him, waiting to harm him again?

He swallowed, his throat tight, as the soft smell of herbs filled the air. It was calming, but he couldn't shake the dread sitting heavy in his chest. His heart raced when he heard approaching footsteps, and his hands clenched the thin blankets around him. His mind ran wild with fear, too scared to open his eyes fully, terrified of what-or who-he would see.He flinched at the thought, curling up tighter under the blanket as if it could protect him from the world outside.

He didn't know where he was, but it wasn't Lotus Pier. The air smelled different-clean, with the scent of herbs and something calming. The warmth of the bed beneath him felt foreign, and the softness of the blankets made him uneasy. He hadn't felt safe in a long time, and he didn't trust this place, wherever it was.

His small fingers gripped the blanket tightly as he heard footsteps approaching. His heart raced, his body tensing. Was he going to be hurt again? Was Madam Yu here? He shut his eyes tightly, willing himself to disappear, to not be seen.

A gentle voice broke through the quiet. 'It's alright, you're safe now,' someone murmured, the tone soft and reassuring. 'No one's going to hurt you here.'

Wei Ying slowly peeked out from under the blanket. Standing beside his bed was a man he didn't recognize, but there was something kind in his eyes. The man smiled softly, crouching down to Wei Ying's level.

'My name is Mu Qingfang,' the man said, his voice calm and soothing. 'You're on Cang Qiong Mountain, particularly in qian cao peak's medical ward. You were hurt, but I've taken care of you. You're going to be alright.'

Wei Ying's heart still raced, but the man's gentle tone made him feel a little less scared. He looked around, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. 'Why... why am I here?' he whispered, his voice trembling. 'Who... who brought me here?'

Mu Qingfang hesitated for a moment before answering, his voice still soft. 'You were found by a close acquaintance of your parents and brought here for healing. You've been through a lot, but you're safe now. Your real parents... they're coming to see you soon.'

Wei Ying blinked in confusion. 'My real parents?' he repeated, his voice barely a whisper. He didn't know what that meant. He had no parents-at least none that he could remember properly because they died. He had only ever known the harshness of Madam Yu and the cold indifference of the Jiang family.

Mu Qingfang nodded, his expression kind but serious. 'Yes, your parents. Shen Qingqiu and Luo Binghe.'

Wei Ying's heart thudded in his chest, confusion swirling in his mind. Shen Qingqiu? Luo Binghe? He didn't know those names. Who were they? His parents were cangse sanren and Wei Changze right?Fear and doubt gnawed at him, but there was a tiny spark of hope deep inside. Could it really be true? Could he really have new parents who cared about him?

Still, he couldn't let go of the fear that clung to him. 'Will... will they be mad at me?' he asked, his voice small and scared. 'Did I do something wrong?'

Mu Qingfang shook his head gently, placing a reassuring hand near, but not on, Wei Ying's trembling form. 'No, little one. They love you very much. They're not mad at you. They just want to see you and take care of you.'