A Shocking Dream

Chapter 157

"Why did you save me?" The woman in white stared intently at Lin Wunian, her gaze piercing his bamboo hat, as if to peek through his face and discern the thoughts hidden beneath. The embarrassment she had felt during her hasty escape had faded somewhat, and now her expression was complex, a mixture of lingering fear, a mixture of inquiry and confusion. Though her sword hung low, her grip on the hilt remained tight, as if wary of any unexpected changes from this mysterious helper.

Lin Wunian remained motionless, silent for a moment, as if weighing her words. Her hat obscured her expression, but only her voice, steady and composed, pierced the darkness. "As a fellow wanderer, I've witnessed too much injustice and suffering in this world. Seeing you fight alone, filled with despair, my conscience cannot allow me to stand by and watch." Her tone was flat, but like a pebble dropped into a lake of heart, it sent ripples across the silent rooftop.

The woman in white raised her eyebrows slightly, with suspicion still in her eyes. She took a step forward and stared at Lin Wunian: "A fallen human? You are so skilled and secretive, how could you sympathize with me, a person who is being hunted by hatred? Are you just trying to please me?" The evening breeze lifted the corners of her tattered clothes, and her hair brushed across her cheeks, making her face look even more resolute. The painful memories of the past flashed through her eyes like a kaleidoscope. She didn't dare to trust this savior whose background she didn't know.

Lin Wunian stood still for a long moment, like a frost-covered sculpture, emanating a cold and desolate aura. It wasn't until the wind lifted a strand of her hair that the stagnant silence was broken. She sighed softly, a sigh like a falling autumn leaf, laden with the weight of time and experience, drifting slowly through the night sky. "I've experienced even more pain than you have." Her tone was gentle, yet like a sharp, old key, it slowly unlocked a door to a long-sealed, blood-stained past.

The woman in white was startled, looking up at the mysterious benefactor before her. His features were hard to discern beneath the bamboo hat, but the bitter sorrow in his voice pierced her heart like fine needles. She couldn't help but think of her sister, who had been slain by a knife, and the village where her family lay scattered in a pool of blood. She had thought that this was the worst tragedy in the world, but she hadn't expected that the person before her carried an even heavier past.

"My benefactor..." The woman in white wanted to say something but stopped herself, her lips trembling slightly, her eyes reddened, and she subconsciously clenched the blood-stained sword in her hand, as if trying to find a little support from it.

Lin Wunian raised his hand, signaling her to stop talking. "It's late, go back and recuperate." He returned his gaze to the woman in white, his voice regaining its usual calm and composed tone. "You can't fight the powerful alone. Hatred will blind you, and impulsiveness will only lead you deeper into despair. The Marquisate has deep roots, and its influence is as complex as the roots of an old tree. One misstep could lead to eternal damnation."

The woman in white bit her lower lip and nodded emphatically. She bent down, picked up the longsword from the ground, and sheathed it. "Your words are absolutely true, benefactor. I was indeed reckless before. But this blood feud is like a thorn in my throat. If I don't avenge it, I will never be at peace for the rest of my life."

"Take care." Lin Wunian whispered the words softly, her voice shattered by the wind, drifting into the ears of the woman in white, a voice that carried a mixture of admonition and helplessness. With her toes, she tapped the rubble, making only a barely perceptible sound, like a leaf fluttering from a branch, instantly disappearing into the darkness. Her movements were quick and decisive, leaving the woman in white stunned, staring blankly at the empty space.

The woman in white opened her mouth, wanting to call out to the retreating figure, but her throat seemed to be choking, and no sound came out. She knew that Lin Wunian's departure had returned the right of choice to her. They were merely casual acquaintances, brought together by a night fight and a sense of justice. But the road ahead was long, and each had their own burdens. Neither could make the decision for the other.

Lin Wunian ran through the night streets, her heart pounding with anxiety. She understood the burning hatred in the white-clad woman's eyes. It was a rage fueled by the blood of loved ones and the ruins of her home, burning hot and intense.

She had no power to stop any hatred. For the victim, hatred was a constant source of survival, a last ray of hope clung to in despair. The hatred between the woman in white and the Marquis's family must have been deeply entangled and deep-seated. To rashly interfere with her resolve for revenge would be like trying to stop a chariot with a mantis arm, and would go against her own conscience. However, this world is unfair, where the powerful are the butchers and the people are the prey. The woman in white, going into danger alone, would likely be like a moth to a flame, with little chance of success.

"Alas," Lin Wunian sighed, "I'd better take care of myself. I hope I can reach Guiyuan Sect before the Dragon Boat Festival." The wind lifted his sleeves, like the invisible hand of fate, urging her to move forward.

"Da da da..." The sound of horse hooves was like a torrential downpour, stirring up the dust on the official road outside the capital and raising a cloud of smoke. The city's citizens had already heard the news and were thronging along both sides of the road. Their cheers and shouts intertwined into a clamorous wave that threatened to pierce the clear sky.

"Your Highness! Your Majesty! The Sage King!" Shouts echoed one after another, and the people stood on tiptoe, their gazes fixed on the end of the road, past the layers of figures ahead. That was the hero in their hearts, the warrior who had returned triumphantly from the perilous land of Linzhou, who had bravely stepped forward in times of danger to protect the region and now returned victorious, brimming with glory.

Crown Prince Qin Ruoyu, clad in black armor, though covered in battle dust, could not conceal his awe-inspiring heroic spirit. He rode atop a towering horse, his posture erect, his eyes deep and sharp beneath his sword-like brows, as he gazed upon the cheering people lining the streets, a mixture of emotions welling up in his heart. Beside him, the Sage King Qin Rongchen, dressed in splendid attire, his expression genial, raising his hand from time to time to gesture to the people, displaying a friendly demeanor.

"Finally, I made it to the capital before the Dragon Boat Festival," Qin Ruoyu muttered to himself, gazing up at the majestic, towering city gate, its vermilion lacquer mottled yet still imposing. Sunlight streamed down the tower, outlining the ancient bricks, as if telling of a bygone era, a witness to prosperity and a reminder of its turbulent past. This city, carrying the hopes of my country, was a hub of power, and a place where my heart rested.

As the troops approached the city gates, Qin Ruoyu could see more clearly the genuine enthusiasm on the faces of the people. Children, held aloft by their fathers and brothers, waved homemade flags; white-haired elders, tears streaming down their faces, chanted, "May God bless us, and may our soldiers be safe." Passing through the city gates, it was like stepping into another world. The streets were bustling with activity, and the aroma of wine shops and teahouses wafted from the air. The Dragon Boat Festival atmosphere, mingled with mugwort and calamus, filled the city.

"Why haven't we seen Doctor Lin return to Beijing?" Someone in the crowd suddenly asked. Everyone then realized that Doctor Lin Wunian, who had made the greatest contribution, was not in the triumphant team. It was like a gust of cold wind that blew away the enthusiastic atmosphere of celebration.

This time the epidemic ravaged Linzhou with great force, like a vicious beast with bared fangs and claws, devouring the lives of the people. Every family closed their doors, and the streets were filled with deathly silence and desolation.