Chapter 93

Chapter 93

“Daoist Master, my brother still remembers me.”

Ding Ling leaned over the bedside, her bright voice overflowing with joy and excitement. Yan Yanchi remained unconscious, but that did nothing to lessen her desire to share.

“Just as I thought, Brother is different.”

Resting her face in both hands, Ding Ling giggled.

She had believed no one liked her. To her surprise, the person closest to her still remembered. Despite the ten-year gulf between them, her brother showed no aversion toward her. The thought alone filled her entire body with irrepressible delight.

“When we were little, Brother and I were the closest. He was the only one at home who protected me. Mother died when I was very young, so Brother kept me beside him. We lived in the same courtyard, and he was both father and mother to me as I grew up.”

“I don’t like Old Man Ding, and I don’t like the Ding family.”

“But because Brother is there, I’m willing to like the Ding family.”

Ding Ling swayed her head as she spoke. “When I was little, Brother took me to see a play. I still remember it was called *The Tale of Soul Transference*. No one liked the arrogant young lady; they all preferred the gentle, kindhearted embroiderer. Even the scholar, who was the young lady’s fiancé, didn’t like her.”

“I was frightened. I’m not likable either, so what if my future husband didn’t like me?”

“Brother comforted me and told me not to be afraid. He said I didn’t need to marry because he would support me for the rest of my life.”

Yan Yanchi could not open his eyes, but he remained conscious.

As Ding Ling’s chatter continued, he desperately wanted to sit up and roar impatiently, “What brother keeps his sister unmarried and supports her for life? Your brother must be sick in the head!”

But he could neither open his eyes nor make a sound. Forced to listen to Ding Ling ramble endlessly, he grew increasingly irritated by her every mention of “Brother.” Yet he could not even sit up and tell her how annoying she was. His brow furrowed tightly from sheer frustration.

“Ding Lingling, your brother is here to see you.”

Qiao Ying hurried in. Shen Qingyu followed unhurriedly with an armful of snacks and a pastry between his teeth.

Ding Yanyu entered last. Seeing the girl leaning over the bedside, he smiled gently.

“Brother!” Ding Ling scrambled up and ran to him, gazing up with shining eyes. “You really came to see me!”

Ding Yanyu glanced at the man on the bed, then focused entirely on the girl’s face. “I promised you I would come.”

At the sound of the young master’s voice, Yan Yanchi’s fingers suddenly twitched. His eyelids moved, but no matter how hard he struggled, he could not open his eyes.

Ding Yanyu said, “Forgive me, Miss Qiao, Young Master Shen. I still haven’t found He Fei and the others. I’ve sent people to every major pharmacy to gather rare medicines in hopes of easing Daoist Master Yan’s poison.”

Looking at Ding Ling, he softened his voice. “May I take Ding Ling outside for a walk?”

Qiao Ying said, “Yes, but Ding Lingling can’t go far from the Demon-Subduing Sword. It should be fine if you remain near the clinic.”

Ding Yanyu thanked her and left the clinic with Ding Ling.

Qiao Ying walked to the bed and bent over the tightly shut eyes of the Daoist Master. Stroking her chin, she said, “His brow is so deeply furrowed even while he’s unconscious. Could he be having a nightmare?”
Shen Qingyu copied Qiao Ying and bent down with a smile. Jokingly, he said, “Perhaps it’s a nightmare about wanting to kill someone.”

Qiao Ying glanced at him. “The Daoist Master is a pillar of the righteous path. He punishes evil, champions good, and drives away wicked spirits. He would never kill anyone.”

Shen Qingyu’s cool tone was rather suggestive. “His Dao heart is unstable, and he has broken his precepts more than once. Yet you still call him a pillar of the righteous path?”

“What do you mean?” Qiao Ying asked.

Instead of answering, Shen Qingyu placed a pastry in her mouth and curved his lips. “Silly Yingying.”

Qiao Ying’s brows shot up as she glared at him.

Ding Ling could not stray far from the clinic, so she sat on the steps by its back door while Ding Yanyu bought piping-hot osmanthus cakes.

Her eyes shone. “Brother still remembers that I like osmanthus cakes.”

Ding Yanyu sat beside her, his eyes curving. “I would never forget what you like.”

Then had he not found it strange that all his sister’s preferences had changed over the past ten years?

Ding Ling wanted to ask but did not dare. Holding the warm cakes and tasting a sweetness she had not known in years, she was already content. She lifted her face and smiled at him.

Shen Qingyu’s abilities were indeed extraordinary. Ding Ling did not know what he had done, but she could now maintain her form and even become corporeal for brief periods, allowing her to taste delicious food. It all felt as wonderful as a dream.

Ding Yanyu held her hand. As a ghost, her skin was cold and could not be warmed, but he stubbornly kept holding it and refused to let go.

“If only I had been at the manor when Daoist Master Yan brought you home.” Too many emotions hid in Ding Yanyu’s eyes, and his gentle voice unconsciously grew hoarse. “If I had been there and seen you at once, matters would never have come to this.”

Ding Ling hurriedly said, “It isn’t your fault, Brother. It’s me. I was born under an unlucky star.”

“You are the most important person in my life. You should be the happiest girl in the world. How could your fate be unlucky? Even if it truly were…”

He would change it himself.

Ding Yanyu left the rest unsaid. His gaze lingered on her face as he reached out and gently caressed her cheek. The touch was real, yet still cold.

His eyes darkened, but he smiled. “It doesn’t matter, Lingling. Now that I’ve found you, I will never let you suffer again.”

Ding Ling grew uncomfortable.

As a child, she had practically grown up in her brother’s arms. But she was a young woman now. Feeling awkward, she instinctively drew back from his hand.

Ding Yanyu’s hand hung empty in the air before slowly lowering. He smiled and asked, “What else would you like to eat? I’ll buy it.”

Before Ding Ling could answer, someone suddenly ran toward them.

“Brother… Brother!”

It was a young woman with delicate features, but her eyes were unfocused and her expression vacant, making her appear dull-witted.

She skipped over and clung to Ding Yanyu’s arm. “Brother, the opera! I want to see the opera!”

The young woman repeated the words endlessly, seeing no one but Ding Yanyu. Something was clearly wrong with her.

Ding Yanyu looked into the distance.

Two elderly servants hurried over and seized the young woman’s hands. Trembling, they said, “Forgive us, young master. The girl kept making a fuss about seeing the opera. We looked away for only a moment, and she ran off.”