Yan Qing waited until Mister Niu and his men had gone before rushing out. The moment she saw Old Man Li’s ashen face, she knew his injuries were serious.

“Xiao Yue, stop crying for now — let’s get your grandfather inside.”

Xiao Yue wiped her tears and nodded.

The two of them carried the stretcher inside. Yan Qing took up a pair of scissors while Xiao Yue brought over hot water.

Old Man Li had slipped and tumbled down a hillside while digging at the grave site. His right leg had collided with a large rock, fracturing the tibia, and the slightest movement now brought sweat pouring from his brow in agony.

Yan Qing first tended to Old Man Li’s wounds, then fashioned a splint to immobilize the fractured bone. By the time everything was done, she was drenched in sweat.

“Thank you, young Miss.” Old Man Li looked at Yan Qing with deep gratitude.

“Uncle, you need to rest now.”

Old Man Li shook his head weakly. The cloudiness in his eyes gave way to a surge of hot tears the moment his gaze fell on Xiao Yue.

“Xiao Yue, take Miss Yan and leave this place. Tonight, once darkness falls, slip away while you can.” His voice broke. “The two of you take the young fellow and hide somewhere in the mountains. Once Mister Niu can’t find you, make your way over the mountain to the village on the other side.”

Xiao Yue shook her head vigorously and signed: I’m not leaving. I will never leave.

“You foolish child — if you don’t go, they’ll come and take you away. I can’t protect you in the state I’m in now.”

Xiao Yue still shook her head.

“Miss, talk some sense into her. Run away together — these people, they aren’t human.”

Yan Qing knew Xiao Yue would never abandon Old Man Li. And besides, even if they truly did flee, two women without the strength to fight back, dragging an injured person with them — where could they possibly run to?

This was clearly not a viable plan.

“Uncle, you should rest first.” Yan Qing drew Xiao Yue out of the room, and the two of them looked at each other. Xiao Yue was crying even harder.

“Xiao Yue, I know you don’t want to leave.” Yan Qing sat down with her on the front step.

The courtyard before them, though worn and humble, was clean and tidy. Though the grandfather and granddaughter lived in poverty, they were self-sufficient and provided for themselves. If not for these cruel and villainous bullies, this should have been a peaceful, ordinary family living an ordinary life.

“You won’t leave your grandfather behind, and I won’t stand by and watch the two of you be bullied.” Something like a firm resolve settled into Yan Qing’s expression. “Tomorrow, you stay here and keep caring for your grandfather. I’ll go up the mountain in his place — dressed as a man, I can pass undetected.”

Xiao Yue’s eyes went wide. Understanding at once what Yan Qing intended, she immediately began shaking her head over and over, her hands moving in agitated signs.

Yan Qing clasped her hands still, her gaze steady and resolute. “I’ll be careful. Don’t worry about me — just stay here and take good care of your grandfather.”

Xiao Yue still refused to agree, but Yan Qing’s mind was clearly made up.

That evening, after feeding Shi Ting his meal, Yan Qing wiped his face and hands as she did every night.

“Shi Ting, Uncle Li and Xiao Yue saved our lives. If it were you, you would never just stand by and watch those people forcibly take Xiao Yue away.” Yan Qing’s fingers stilled on his high, straight nose as she gazed at his sleeping, handsome face — and all at once her eyes stung.

“Shi Ting, I’m going up the mountain tomorrow — and I don’t know if I’ll be able to come back. If… if I can’t come back, you must live on. You must.” Her hand shifted from his nose to the side of his face. “You must live.”

Yan Qing said no more. She looked at him quietly and tenderly, until a rooster crowed outside and the sound reached her. Only then did she rise decisively and retrieve the dagger from within the room.

This dagger had been left behind by that assassin. It was sharp enough to cut iron, keenly honed.

She changed her clothes, tucked her hair under a hat, and rubbed some black ash onto her face. Once she was dressed and ready, she concealed the dagger within her clothing.

If she was going to die, she would not die alone. She would kill Mister Niu.

She knew the human body intimately. She knew precisely which spot would bring death with a single thrust. With the element of surprise on her side, she was absolutely certain she could kill Mister Niu.

Yan Qing drew the dagger halfway out of its sheath, its gleaming blade reflecting her gaze back at her — she saw the absolute resolve in her own eyes.

Yet when that gaze turned toward Shi Ting, it was suffused with longing and sorrow.

At that moment, a faint sound of footsteps reached her from outside. Yan Qing turned sharply and strode to the door, pulling it open.

Xiao Yue, standing outside, seemed to start slightly at the sight of her — but recovered quickly.

She was carrying a tray in her hands, on which sat two bowls of porridge.

The little girl’s eyes gestured toward the two bowls, indicating that Yan Qing should eat.

Yan Qing had long since sharpened her ability to read people, honed by years of scheming and intrigue in a wealthy household. Though the child had masked her feelings fairly well, the hand holding the tray was visibly trembling, and her eyes did not dare meet Yan Qing’s directly — clearly she was hiding something.

Yan Qing let out a quiet sigh. She took the tray from her, took her by the hand, and drew her aside.

“Xiao Yue doesn’t want older sister to go to the grave site, does she?”

Xiao Yue blinked her large eyes, and tears gradually welled within them.

“After older sister leaves, you must take good care of your brother and your grandfather.” She patted Xiao Yue’s hand. “Don’t worry — no one will ever come to bother you again.”

Yan Qing said this and rose to her feet.

Xiao Yue grabbed her sleeve with both hands and pointed to the bowl of porridge.

She rubbed Xiao Yue’s head gently. “Pour it out. If someone else were to accidentally eat it, that would be a problem. I’d guess it would put someone to sleep for a full day.”

Xiao Yue froze.

She had grown up following Old Man Li and naturally understood a thing or two about medicinal properties. To keep Yan Qing from going up the mountain, she had added a sleeping draught to the porridge. She had thought this would be enough to stop her — but it had been seen through with ease.

“Open the gate!” A pounding on the front gate resounded from outside. “Old Li — hand your granddaughter over quietly and Mister Niu will let you be. That way you won’t have to drag a broken leg up the mountain to dig graves for us.”

The moment Xiao Yue heard that voice, she trembled all over with fright. And then, after the shock, a resolute expression crossed her face — she turned and made to run.

The direction she ran toward was not the front gate. It was the kitchen.

Yan Qing caught her by the wrist and shook her head. “Xiao Yue — if you run out there with a kitchen knife to fight these men right now, there is only one outcome: both you and your grandfather will die.”

Xiao Yue shook her head, tears streaming down unceasingly.

She wanted to protect her grandfather. But she had no way to do it. All she could do was watch while older sister went up the mountain in grandfather’s place. Whether there was really an ancient tomb in those mountains she did not know — but she knew what that mountain truly was. It was a mountain that devoured people. It had already become the grave of many an innocent soul.

“Be good.” Yan Qing patted her shoulder, drew a deep breath, and strode toward the gate.

She did not look back at Shi Ting. She feared that if she did, all her courage and resolve would leave her.

But the moment her foot stepped forward, a voice that was intimately, unmistakably familiar drifted through the air — still faint and weak, yet so very clear.

“Qing Qing!”

Her whole body jolted. Then a surge of immense joy bloomed open like a flower in full bloom.

Both Xiao Yue and Yan Qing turned around at the same moment, both covering their mouths in astonishment.

Shi Ting was sitting up in bed. He had swung his legs over the side and sat on the edge, and though he had only just woken, his eyes were dark and deep as an ancient well — though when they looked at Yan Qing, they were gentle as glowing pearls.

Xiao Yue had always thought this older brother was a very handsome man — even with his eyes closed all this time. Now seeing him sitting there upright and composed, with an bearing of effortless distinction and those defined features, she felt her first impression had been entirely correct: he truly was far too handsome for this world.

“Shi Ting.” Yan Qing crossed the room in a few steps and threw her arms tightly around him. Tears and joy burst through at the same instant like a dam breaking open. “Shi Ting, you’ve finally woken up — you’ve finally woken up.”

Shi Ting was rocked by her sudden impact and felt a jolt of pain through his chest — yet he paid the pain no mind, and instead pulled her closer, tighter, as if he wanted to press her into his very flesh and bone and merge with her as one. Only then could he protect her better, keep her from suffering these unjust hardships.

“I’m sorry.” Shi Ting was filled with remorse. “I’m sorry, Qing Qing.”

Though he had been unconscious all this while, he had been able to hear every word she said to him each day, and with perfect clarity — her worry, her fear, her anguish. He had desperately wanted to wake up, and had tried for a long, long time, but had not been able to.

Until he heard her say she was going up the mountain — going in Uncle Li’s place. He told himself: if he did not wake up now, he truly would lose her.

Heaven had shown mercy, and at last had let him emerge from that long, helpless unconsciousness. He had woken up.

As long as he was awake, he would never allow her to suffer or be afraid again.

“How are you feeling?” Yan Qing released her arms from around him and carefully examined the wound on his head.

“I’m fine.” Shi Ting felt only a slight dizziness now, but it was not enough to hinder anything. “Don’t worry — I’m all right now.”

Yan Qing was overwhelmed with joyful tears. Her eyes shimmered with moisture and beamed with heartfelt relief.

There were the brows and eyes she knew so well, the gaze she knew so well. Her Shi Ting had woken up.

Shi Ting raised his hand and wiped the tears from her face. “Don’t cry. Everything will be all right.”

“Yes, no more crying.” Yan Qing smiled and wiped her tears away.

At that moment, another round of pounding erupted from outside, accompanied by arrogant shouting: “Old Li, open up! If you don’t open this door, I’ll smash this whole place down. You’re useless now anyway — already half-crippled, no way you can support your granddaughter. Might as well hand her over to me. I promise she’ll live in comfort every day of her life.”

Xiao Yue’s face burned with shame and fury at these words.

And Yan Qing looked toward Shi Ting. With him here, she had a steadying force at her side — she would no longer have to fight alone.