Chapter 14 Parting in Life and Death

Chapter 14: Parting in Life, Death at the Doorstep

Faint hoofbeats faded as birds scattered from the treetops.

The moment they arrived home, Duan Lingwen eagerly tried to dismount. In his haste, he missed the stirrup, nearly tumbling to the ground in an undignified heap. Fortunately, Jing Su was quick, wrapping an arm around his waist and steadily lifting him from the horse's back.

As his feet touched the earth, Duan Lingwen suppressed the frantic pounding in his chest. He lowered his head, mumbled a hurried "thank you," and then bolted into the courtyard, forgetting even his hoe.

"Grandpa, I'm back," Duan Lingwen called out loudly, as was his custom upon returning.

Sometimes the old man would respond; other times, hard of hearing, he required several calls before he heard.

Receiving no immediate reply this time, Duan Lingwen didn't jump to conclusions. Over the past few days, his grandfather had been eating little and sleeping much, his hearing steadily worsening. Duan Lingwen often had to repeat himself multiple times before his grandfather registered his voice.

However, the moment he stepped into the house, his heart nearly seized.

The old man lay curled on the floor, his face an alarming, ashen pallor, eyes tightly shut, lips slightly parted, yet utterly silent.

A deafening "buzz" filled Duan Lingwen's head, as if something had exploded within. For a moment, he felt rooted to the spot, then, like a madman, he lunged forward, collapsing to his knees.

"Grandpa!"

Hearing the cry, Jing Su's heart plummeted. He propped the hoe against a corner of the courtyard and swiftly followed inside.

The room was dimly lit, with only a small shaft of sunlight piercing through the window.

Jing Su strode forward, his fingertips seeking the old man's neck. "There's still a pulse!" he declared gravely.

With that, he quickly helped the old man onto the bed, then hurried back outside.

Deng Tong and his companions, hearing the commotion from outside the courtyard, quickly dismounted and approached. "Young master, what happened?"

Jing Su's expression was grim as he urgently replied, "Deng Tong, go to the city and fetch the best physician. The old man has suddenly collapsed. His pulse is extremely weak, and his face is ashen. It appears to be an acute illness—hurry!"

Upon hearing this, Deng Tong immediately cupped his hands and assented, "Yes!"

Without a moment's hesitation, he swung onto his horse and galloped away.

Jing Su glanced at the damaged courtyard fence and the scattered footprints, his brow furrowing. He instructed the remaining men, "Go find someone for me..."

He whispered a name, and the men, receiving their orders, bowed and departed.

Jing Su turned back towards the house but had not yet entered when he saw Duan Lingwen stumbling out. Duan Lingwen seemed not to notice Jing Su at all, lurching forward unsteadily, nearly tripping over the threshold.

Jing Su's heart tightened. He quickly stepped forward, seizing Duan Lingwen's wrist to steady him.

As if finally snapping back to reality, Duan Lingwen looked at Jing Su with desperate, pleading eyes. "Jing Su, please help me find a doctor, won't you? Save my grandpa."

He pulled out all the family's savings, stored in a small cloth pouch—a mere few dozen copper coins.

By now, Duan Lingwen was utterly distraught. This was the first time he had seen his grandfather collapse, his breath so faint, his chest barely rising and falling—just like... just like Uncle Duan that day...

Overwhelmed by immense fear and helplessness, his hands trembled uncontrollably as he stared, red-eyed, at Jing Su. "Please..."

Jing Su's heart ached with a dull pain. He drew Duan Lingwen into an embrace, his voice hoarse. "I've already sent for a physician. He'll be here soon. Grandpa will be fine. He will be fine..."

Duan Lingwen froze for a moment, dazed. He seemed to hear the words, yet understood not a single one.

His grandfather was his only family in this world. He couldn't imagine that if his grandfather left him too, he would truly be... all alone.

The physician arrived quickly, almost half-carried, half-ushered into the house by Deng Tong.

A flicker of light finally returned to Duan Lingwen's vacant eyes. He pressed his lips together, staring intently at the old physician's every move.

The physician concentrated intently, first carefully observing the old man's complexion and lips, his brow slightly furrowed. After taking the pulse, his frown deepened, and his expression grew increasingly grave.

He slowly withdrew his hand, turned around, and sighed heavily. "Gentlemen, I must speak plainly. The old man is advanced in years, his organs are failing, his life's flame is flickering... He has reached his appointed time."

Duan Lingwen's face instantly turned ghostly pale, his mind a blank, unable to hear anything else.

"If he is well cared for, he might have three to five days left," the physician said as he stood up. "I will prescribe some warming and invigorating tonics. They may alleviate his suffering and extend his life a little, but... that is all."

Jing Su instructed Deng Tong to accompany the physician back to fetch the medicine. "Whatever herbs are needed, no matter how precious, use them all. Go quickly and return swiftly."

"Young master, rest assured," Deng Tong said, bowing his hands before escorting the physician away.

The room fell silent.

Duan Lingwen carefully sat down by the bedside. He opened his mouth, but no sound emerged.

After an unknown period, candles were lit in the room.

A cool night breeze drifted in.

Jing Su brought in a basin of clean water, soaked and wrung out a clean cloth, then extremely gently pried open Duan Lingwen's palm, meticulously wiping away the bloodstains from his fingertips and palm.

The damp cloth lightly brushed over the wounds, bringing a faint sting. Duan Lingwen seemed to snap back to reality, staring blankly at Jing Su but making no move, like a puppet manipulated on a stage.

As night fell, the old man finally awoke.

Duan Lingwen roused himself, preparing some porridge for his grandfather. But of the medicine prescribed by the physician, his grandfather only took a few sips before refusing more.

The old man's gaze fell on Jing Su nearby. He weakly moved his fingers and said slowly, "Young Master Jing..."

Jing Su immediately stepped forward. "Please, speak."

The old man's breath was faint. He took a slow breath, first glancing at Duan Lingwen beside him, then at Jing Su. "Wenwen... has had a hard life. His parents died early, and he has no one to rely on..."

"Young master, you are clearly no ordinary man. I humbly ask that you look after him in the future... just ensure he has a stable meal to eat... In my next life, I will repay you with all I have."

The old man spoke slowly. He could see that Jing Su was someone of status and perhaps held some affection for his grandson. In these turbulent times, this was the best path he could secure for Duan Lingwen.

Jing Su took Duan Lingwen's hand and said solemnly, "I am Jing Su of the Jing clan of Jingchu."

He clearly stated his identity, then continued, "I am devoted to Wenwen. In this life, I will marry no one but him."

The old man's breath hitched slightly. The Jing clan of Jingchu...

In his youth, he had heard that the Jing clan had once established a regime in Jingchu. It seemed this Jing Su was no ordinary man, and his future achievements would surely be remarkable.

The old man sighed inwardly. "Young master, you are of noble status, but Wenwen is just a Shuang'er. Moreover, he is physically impaired and cannot... cannot bear you descendants... I only hope he can live a stable life. That is enough..."

Duan Lingwen's hand twitched, and he lowered his gaze.

"I know," Jing Su said, his expression unchanged. He tightened his grip on Duan Lingwen's hand, unwilling to let go.

Hearing this, Duan Lingwen looked at him in astonishment.

Jing Su's gaze was steady as he made a solemn vow to the old man on the bed: "I know the world is harsh and people's hearts are fickle. But to me, he is a unique treasure. As long as I live, I will do everything in my power to protect him and grant him peace."

Duan Lingwen gazed at him in a daze.

Not long ago, Jing Su had asked him, and at that time, Duan Lingwen hadn't given a direct answer. And this time… he yet again didn't agree.

It wasn't that he was unwilling, nor was it that he didn't like Jing Su.

On the contrary, it was precisely because he liked him that he felt even more apprehensive.

He was acutely aware of his own standing. What stood between them wasn't a small ditch, but a mountain too high to climb, a chasm too wide to cross.

Duan Lingwen’s lips trembled slightly, but he didn't know how to respond. He bit his lip and slowly lowered his head.

The elderly man on the bed suddenly raised his hand. Duan Lingwen quickly took hold of it and rasped, “Grandpa…”

The old man knew his fears and what weighed on his heart. He sighed softly, “…Silly boy.”

In the following days, Duan Lingwen hardly left the bedside. At night, he didn’t dare sleep deeply; he would jolt awake at the slightest sound.

Several more days dragged by.

On this morning, when Duan Lingwen woke up, his grandfather was already sitting up on the bed. His hand had slid out from under the thin blanket and hung by the bedside, as if searching for something.

He quickly got up and knelt beside the bed, asking, “Grandpa, what are you looking for…”

The old man seemed not to hear him. Trembling, he raised his hand, hovering in the air, his fingers slightly curled as if pinching an invisible thread.

*Pinching emptiness and arranging threads, fumbling along clothes and feeling the bedding.*

Though Duan Lingwen was no doctor, he had heard the elders in the village say that this was a sign that the end was near, that the spirit was fading.

Instantly, tears blurred his vision. He could no longer hold back, slowly leaning forward and carefully resting his cheek against his grandfather’s withered palm.

“Grandpa, I’m here, I’m here…” His voice trembled uncontrollably.

Touched by the wetness on his hand, the old man’s hand seemed to pause slightly. His fingers trembled and moved, then slowly, very slowly, began to wipe the tears from his cheek.

His eyes were cloudy, yet it was as if, through the light, he could see the child from long ago who had fallen, run to him crying in grievance.

“Quit your crying…” The old man’s breath was faint. He gently smoothed back the stray locks on Duan Lingwen’s left forehead, revealing that golden pupil. The old man looked, and in his clouded eyes, there seemed to flash an extremely faint smile. “…Pretty.”

“Our Wenwen is the prettiest child…”

His fingers began to slip down weakly. “Live well… no matter what others say…”

His voice grew softer and lower, until finally it faded into a sigh that was barely there. Those reluctant eyes slowly, forever, closed.

Duan Lingwen remained kneeling stiffly before the bed. The room was terrifyingly silent. He reached out, extremely slowly and carefully, touched his grandfather’s hand hanging by the bedside, then grasped that cold hand and gently pressed it against his own cheek.

Scalding tears fell. He choked out a soft call: “Grandpa…”

But the person on the bed would never respond to him again. In this world, he had no family left.

Jing Su had been silently guarding the doorway. Unable to bear it, he turned his face away, but when he heard Wenwen’s collapsing sobs, he could no longer restrain himself from stepping forward and drawing him into a tight embrace.

“Wenwen, from now on, I will be your family.” Jing Su wiped the tear stains from his face, speaking earnestly and solemnly: “For all the years to come, I will always be by your side.”

“Wenwen, let’s get married.”

Author's Note: