Chapter 262: Su Hengshan
"What's wrong? Why is your mental fluctuation so intense?" Mo Li suddenly asked. She could sense that Yun Che's emotional turmoil had reached an unprecedented level; she could even clearly hear the violent pounding of his heart, "thump-thump, thump-thump."
Cang Yun Continent... 1999 Xuan Year... ten years old... Su Linger... scar... the same name... a similar face... and those completely identical words...
These thoughts swirled chaotically in Yun Che's mind, causing his soul to tremble violently. Because all of this pointed toward one possibility... He ignored the risk of startling the girl, reached out, and lifted her skirt and undergarment. On the upper part of her fair right knee, he saw two small, bright red moles lined up side by side...
"Linger... You are Linger... You are Linger... You are Linger... You are Linger."
The moment he saw those two small moles, Yun Che's last emotional defense completely collapsed. His blood rushed to his head, stars danced before his eyes, and he nearly fainted on the spot. Something deep in his heart and soul churned violently—sourness, astringency, bitterness, pain—all surging up together. In an instant, his eyes were misted with tears. As his emotions broke, he suddenly hugged the girl, holding her tightly as if grasping his entire world.
"Ah..." The girl, completely unaware of the storm raging within Yun Che's heart, was startled by his sudden movement and emotional shift. Yet, for no apparent reason, she felt no repulsion at being hugged tightly by him. After a dazed moment, she weakly said, "Brother Yun Che, you're hugging me too tight... it hurts... wuwu..."
At that moment, every word from the girl sounded like a dreamlike celestial melody to him. Everything about her was deeply tied to his soul and lifeblood. Hearing her voice, Yun Che almost panickedly loosened his arms, worried that he might scare her, so he quickly let go. However, his hands still gently held her slender shoulders, as if afraid that if he didn't hold on, she would vanish before him.
She is Linger... My Linger...
Then... is all of this merely an illusion brought by the Evil God?
Illusion or not! If I can see my Linger again, even if it's an illusion, I am willing to never wake up...
"Brother Yun Che, why are you suddenly crying?" The girl was full of confusion, but seeing the tear stains on Yun Che's face, her clear eyes welled with concern. She reached out her little hand, meeting his gaze, and gently wiped away his tears. She surely didn't know how rare each of Yun Che's tears were, yet now they flowed like a spring for her sake.
"I... I'm fine, it's just... I just got some sand in my eyes." Yun Che shook his head, offering a clumsy excuse as he struggled to hold back his tears. The only person in this world who could make him lose emotional control so completely was Su Linger... even if, in his mind, this was all an illusion. Because Su Linger could not truly appear before him; his Linger had perished in his arms, and it was he who buried her in that bamboo forest.
"Ah? Does it hurt a lot? Hmm... How about I blow on it for you, Brother Yun Che? When I was very young, I once got sand in my eye, and my mother blew on it for a little while, and it was completely fine."
As she spoke, the girl pursed her pink lips... The Su Linger before him was so innocent and carefree, her eyes bright and clear. Yes, at this moment, she was still under the care and doting of her family, having not experienced great upheaval. She didn't know what sorrow, worry, hatred, or suffering were... In Yun Che's memory, the forever sorrowful and desolate look in Su Linger's eyes made his heart ache like a needle prick every time he recalled it.
"It's okay. The sand is already gone. See, it's fine now." Yun Che blinked his eyes vigorously at her, a gentle smile curving at the corner of his mouth. "The most important thing right now is the wound on Linger's foot... It will heal quickly, and it won't hurt at all."
Yun Che carefully cradled the girl's bruised calf once more. His gentle profound force, accompanied by the purifying power of the Heavenly Poison Pearl, flowed in slowly and softly, nourishing her bruises bit by bit... Then, he took out a medicine bottle and applied the balm meticulously to her calf and ankle... Then he switched to another small bottle and dabbed the ointment onto the two symmetrical scar marks on the top of her foot.
Throughout the entire process, Yun Che's movements were very, very gentle, as if he were touching a beautiful yet fragile crystal doll. Such minor injuries, barely worth calling wounds, were nothing to Yun Che's medical skills. But to ensure Su Linger didn't feel even a trace of pain, he concentrated all his focus, pouring all his heart into every movement. By the end, he was more exhausted than if he had saved a dying patient, yet he found it sweet.
In less than half an hour, the bruises on Su Linger's ankle and calf miraculously disappeared completely, and even the scar marks on her foot had faded significantly. In at most three more days, they would be entirely gone. Su Linger tried moving her little foot and then exclaimed in surprise, "Wow! It doesn't hurt anymore! Not at all! Brother Yun Che, you are truly amazing!"
Her gaze toward him sparkled like twinkling stars. Her admiration for Yun Che had risen sharply.
Yun Che used his profound force to remove the dust from Su Linger's shoes and socks, then carefully put them back on her feet. Su Linger didn't resist, didn't decline, and didn't even feel embarrassed. Her heart was filled only with a warm joy and a strange feeling she couldn't describe... She herself didn't know why.
"Linger! Linger... Where are you? Linger..."
From a distance, an anxious voice suddenly called out, shouting Su Linger's name.
Yun Che heard it before Su Linger did. His brow twitched, and he swept his gaze over, seeing a middle-aged man walking hastily in their direction. The man looked flustered, his hair disheveled, and his clothes slightly messy, but one could still discern an authoritative bearing that commanded respect without anger.
Is he... Linger's father?
The middle-aged man walked quickly and soon drew near. Hearing his voice, Su Linger's eyes lit up, and she said excitedly, "Father... It's Father's voice!"
She stood up at once and trotted toward the middle-aged man. But after a few steps, she glanced back at Yun Che, stopped, and stood still, waving vigorously at the man. "Father! I'm here, I'm here!!"
"Linger!" The man was overjoyed. He rushed over as fast as he could, grabbed Su Linger by the shoulders, and asked anxiously, "Great, great... Linger, how did you come so far? Are you hurt anywhere? Did anyone try to catch you?"
"Father, don't worry. There were bad people, but Brother Yun Che saved me. Brother Yun Che is really amazing. Not only did he chase away the bad guys in one go, but he also made the places where I fell and hurt not hurt at all."
The man's heart was entirely focused on Su Linger's safety. After seeing her, all his attention was on her. Only then did he notice Yun Che. He stepped forward and said with deep gratitude, "Young friend, thank you for saving my daughter. I am truly grateful beyond words."
Given Yun Che's inherent pride, he would usually handle even a highly respected elder with an unchanged expression and casual ease. But this was Su Linger's father—a completely different matter. He quickly returned the courtesy and said, "Senior Su, you flatter me. Linger is kind and adorable; anyone who saw her would have come to her rescue. I only did what was easy for me to do."
From the middle-aged man's expression, Yun Che saw deep concern for Su Linger. At the very least, his fatherly love for her was pure and without any impurity.
Yun Che's humility greatly increased the man's liking for him. He chuckled and said, "With such praise from a young friend, my daughter must be overjoyed." At that moment, he noticed Xia Qingyue lying quietly there. Even though she was merely lying still, she still possessed a captivating, ethereal grace. The man paused, then quickly regained his composure and asked, "Young friend, is this your friend? From her complexion, does she suffer from a serious illness?"
Yun Che nodded slightly. "She is my wife. She has suffered from extreme cold, and her vitality is greatly damaged. She might remain unconscious for a long time."
"I see..." The man nodded, inwardly marveling: The man is elegantly refined, the woman is breathtakingly beautiful—truly a perfect pair! Their origins must be extraordinary. Especially this woman; an ordinary family could never raise such a fairy-like daughter. This young man, seemingly only seventeen or eighteen, already has profound force at the Spirit Xuan Realm. He should be a disciple or even an heir of some top sect...
With this thought, the man said, "Young friend, you must be from outside, correct? Do you have a place to stay now? If you don't mind, why not stay at our Tai Su Men for a few days? That way, I can express my gratitude."
Yun Che's heart stirred. He glanced at the unconscious Xia Qingyue, then at Su Linger, and replied, "I do indeed need a place to stay and treat my wife's injuries... Since you so kindly offer, Senior, I will accept your hospitality."
"Ha ha ha ha! Young friend, you need not stand on ceremony. This is nothing compared to the great kindness you've shown by saving my daughter." The middle-aged man chuckled warmly. "By the way, my surname is Su, given name Hengshan. Please, this way, young friend Yun."
"Brother Yun Che is coming home with us? Great! Great! Great!" Su Linger jumped up in excitement. Her unusual delight left Su Hengshan somewhat puzzled. He smiled dotingly and said, "Young friend Yun is not only our benefactor but also our guest. You should be polite. Shouting like that isn't very well-behaved, you know."
"Hehe! Father is so long-winded. Brother Yun Che is the very best person; he won't mind me at all." With that, Su Linger ran over, grabbed Yun Che's hand, and said cheerfully, "Brother Yun Che, you agreed to come home with us. You can't run away halfway, okay?"
"Alright!" Yun Che smiled and gently tapped Su Linger's little nose... He very much wanted to know what kind of family Su Linger was born and raised in.
Su Hengshan was a bit baffled... From the timing, Linger and young friend Yun had only known each other for at most half an hour. How could they be so familiar? And judging by Linger's behavior, she—normally reluctant to interact with strangers—seemed to have taken an exceptional liking to young friend Yun... Strange indeed.
Yun Che picked up Xia Qingyue and followed behind Su Hengshan, walking toward the "Tai Su Men" where Su Linger had grown up.