Chapter Two: The Youth Awakens

The woman and her young daughter spent their days cleaning, changing bandages, and feeding the young boy. Under the woman's meticulous care and treatment, more than a month passed by quickly.

"Mother, when will big brother finally wake up?" The little girl rested her chin on her hand, happily snacking on the small red berries her mother had picked while gathering herbs, watching the motionless boy on the bed with longing eyes.

The boy had been lying there for over a month. The woman had tended to his wounds daily and had recently begun feeding him liquid nourishment. The abscesses on his face and neck had healed, leaving behind many jagged scars. However, his breathing had become steady and deep, and his complexion had regained much of its vitality.

The woman instructed, "It should be within these next few days. Xiao'er, keep watch over your brother while Mother goes to gather some herbs. Remember to feed him his medicine in two hours. Your meal is in the pot; if you're hungry, remember to heat it up. If anything happens, go ask Uncle Wang from next door for help."

"Understood, Mother, don't worry. Xiao'er is very capable," the little girl said, patting her small chest proudly, a red berry still in her mouth.

Lately, whenever her mother went out, she was the one who looked after the boy, a task that filled her with immense pride. Still, she wished so much for him to wake up.

The woman kissed the little girl and headed out with her basket. The girl watched her mother walk away, then pulled a small bamboo stool to the bedside. She retrieved a medical text to study, snacking on the sweet and tart berries as she read, and the small wooden cabin fell into a quiet peace.

It was a late spring morning. Warm sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the simple yet clean and orderly cabin, creating an atmosphere of comfort and serenity. The air was filled with the faint scent of flowers and herbs, accompanied by the crisp, melodic chirping of birds and the occasional sounds of chickens and dogs from the village.

In his sleep, the boy’s fingers twitched. He felt the glare of the sun on his face, which compelled him to force his eyes open.

What met his sight was a room bathed in warm sunlight, and within that light sat the little girl on her small stool, head bowed over a book, nibbling on a red berry.

The boy scanned his surroundings. It was a humble, clean cabin. The air was fragrant with medicine, peaceful and neat. He understood he had escaped death and been saved by a master of some kind.

Feeling reassured, he studied the girl. She was three or four years old, her hair tied in two adorable buns. Her large, round eyes were as clear and pure as a transparent azure sky. With a dainty, upturned nose and a delicate, rosy face, she looked like a jade carving in her water-green dress, quite striking.

Seeming to sense his gaze, the girl looked up in surprise and met the boy’s slender, phoenix-like eyes. Hidden beneath long, curved lashes, his gaze was deep, filled with a flicking light and a faint, proud air of nobility.

The girl was visibly startled, then jumped up in excitement, rushing to the bedside. "Big brother, big brother! You’re finally awake? You were poisoned, and my mother saved you. You’ve been in a coma for over a month! Do you want water? Are you hungry? Do your wounds still hurt?"

The boy was amused by her rapid-fire questions. He reached out to touch her adorable hair buns and asked softly, "Little sister, what is your name? And who is your mother?"

Although his face was scarred, the girl thought his smile was exceptionally handsome. She had never seen a boy with such bright eyes and such an imposing presence.

"Mother calls me Xiao'er, and everyone else calls her Auntie. She’s gone to pick herbs for you and won't be back until later."

After saying this, she tapped her head. "Oh! Mother told me to feed you your medicine; I almost forgot!"

She hurried to the stove, poured the warm, black medicinal liquid from a pot, and carefully brought it to the bedside. She blew on it until it was cool, fed it to him bit by bit with a small wooden spoon, and then used a clean cloth to wipe the corners of his mouth. Finally, she gave him some water.

Watching the little girl serve him with the maturity of a miniature adult, a sense of warmth flooded the boy's heart.

"Big brother, how are you feeling? Do you feel any better?" Xiao'er watched his face carefully, tucking in his blanket as she asked in a small voice.

"Much better, thank you, Xiao'er," the boy said with a smile. Although he still felt weak, the deep, bone-aching pain and dizziness were gone.

"You're welcome!" The girl giggled, her smile like the warm spring sun, making the boy feel warm inside.

How long had it been since he could lie down so peacefully? Since birth, he had never known a restful sleep, living every moment amidst schemes, counter-schemes, and vicious mockery.

He looked at the sunlight outside the window, recalling the decade of hardship he had endured, and a sense of sorrow washed over him.

"Big brother, I told you my name, so what is yours?" The girl asked, moving her stool to the bedside and resting her chin on her hand. Her dark, glistening eyes watched him with a lively, crystalline charm.

The boy paused, then replied casually, "My surname is Mu, and my given name is Jiu!" "Jiu'er" was his childhood nickname, as he was born on the ninth day of the ninth month.

"Then can I call you Brother Jiu? Are you the ninth child? Do you have many older brothers and sisters? It's a pity Mother only had me." She began her endless questions again, her face full of curiosity.

The boy asked with a smile, "Heh, would you like me to be your brother?"

"Really?" the girl asked in surprise. "You really want to be my brother?"

Seeing him nod, she clapped her hands in joy. "Xiao'er finally has a big brother!" She giggled happily, filling the room with a joyful atmosphere.

"And your father?" the boy asked, looking around. He imagined such a lively girl must have a happy home.

"Father?" The girl paused, her expression dimming. She replied in a low voice, "Brother Jiu, Xiao'er doesn't have a father, only Mother. I asked her where he was, and she said he went hunting when I was very small and never returned. The children in Hundred Flower Village tease me, calling me a wild child found in the woods. But I know I have a father too."

The boy was at a loss for words, so he comforted her, "Perhaps one day, your father will come back for you."

"Yes! That’s what I thought, too. I used to go to the village entrance every day to wait. But I waited and waited, and he never came back. Mother told me that having her love is enough. But I still hope he comes back." Tears like beans rolled down her crystalline cheeks, making her look particularly pitiful.

The boy comforted her softly, "Grow up quickly, Xiao'er. Perhaps when you are grown, he will return."

"Mm." She nodded firmly, wiped her tears, and broke into a smile.

Footsteps sounded outside. The boy’s slender eyes turned toward the door with sharp vigilance.

"Xiao'er, your brother has just woken up; let him rest for a while." A gentle voice rang out. Standing at the door was the beautiful woman, having returned from gathering herbs.

Though she wore coarse cloth, her appearance was stunning and her demeanor refined. She looked nothing like a village woman, but rather like an immortal hidden away in the deep mountains. The boy looked at her with curiosity and contemplation.

"Xiao'er, Little Wu is sick. Take some herbs to Uncle Wang's house," the woman said, handing a basket to the girl.

"Alright!" The girl happily took the basket and skipped away. Watching her go, the boy lowered his gaze, masking the sharpness in his eyes.

"I am Mu Jiu," the boy said softly. "May I ask who you are, noble lady? You saved me, and I am deeply grateful. When I have the strength, I will surely repay you." He struggled to sit up, but he was too weak, his body feeling soft and devoid of power.

"I am but a village woman; do not concern yourself with it." The beautiful woman gestured, and a force pressed down, causing the boy to lie back down.

She smiled, a sight like a hundred flowers blooming, possessing an otherworldly beauty. "Saving you was a matter of fate. When you have recovered, that fate will reach its end. It is not worth mentioning."

She paused, then continued in thought, "I see the poison you were afflicted with is the long-lost 'Peach Blossom Drunkenness,' and it has already reached your heart. I can only control it temporarily; I cannot cure it. To truly recover, you must..."

The boy looked at her with burning, phoenix-like eyes.

"Go to Mount Shu and study the immortal path," the woman said after a moment of reflection. "The poison has penetrated your marrow and endangers your heart and lungs. In less than ten years, it will claim your life."

The boy’s expression dimmed, filled with profound disappointment.

The woman added, "The immortal arts of the Mount Shu Sect are profound. The 'Bone-Changing Heart Sutra' practiced by their sect leader might help you purge the poison. But whether it can be completely removed depends on your own destiny."

"Mu Jiu understands. Thank you for your guidance, Madam," the boy said with a look of renewed vitality and gratitude.

The woman nodded. "Rest and recover first. Do not rush. I will help you control the poison before you leave."

"Thank you, Madam," the boy said sincerely, a glimmer of hope rising in his heart.

The woman came over and tucked him in. "You have just woken up and need a few days of rest before you can walk. Do not rush; I will incorporate acupuncture into your treatment later. Have no fear."

The boy nodded, his mind finally at ease. Overcome by fatigue, he soon drifted back into a deep sleep.