Chapter 14: I need to draw a bit of the power of love.

The tavern was deathly silent.

Song Ruoxue held Su Li’er in a grief-stricken embrace, studying the beautiful face in her arms. It had lost its color, her lips were pale… the lively smile of the past was nowhere to be seen.

‘No…’

‘Why did it have to end like this…’

“Little Li, wake up… wake up, do you hear me?”

“…Didn’t you say before that you liked reading the most? We’ll go to the bookstore later, we’ll buy them all, okay?”

“And the pea cakes you like, I’ll go buy them. You can have as many as you want. There’s a new pastry shop in the south of the city, let’s go together! That cake is especially sweet, it’s delicious! Li, you’ll definitely like it, let’s go together.”

“Little Li, I’m begging you… answer me.”

Something blurred her eyes, she couldn’t see clearly anymore.

Song Ruoxue’s voice trembled.

‘Is there anyone who can save her?’

‘She’s so radiant, so gentle, so lively…’

‘Anyone at all, can you save her? I’ll pay any price, just save her!’

‘I, Song Ruoxue, will pay any price, any price at all…!’

‘Someone, please come and save her…’

—“Excuse me, is this the place that needs assistance?”

Song Ruoxue hurriedly shouted, “Yes! It’s here! Quick… come quickly and save her! 

Every word seemed to drain the air from her lungs.

After saying this, Song Ruoxue greedily gasped for several breaths of air.

“Okay, I’m coming!” A young girl in a white coat came running over, panting slightly.

“I’ve heard so much about you, Master Song. I’m Bai Ningning, an attending physician at Huacheng Hospital. This is my work badge…”

“Just save her first!” Song Ruoxue urged anxiously.

“Ah… okay, okay.” Bai Ningning was slightly taken aback. ‘Are the rumors false? She doesn’t seem that much of an iceberg.’

“How is it, have you checked her?” Song Ruoxue’s speech was rapid.

“Sect Master Song…” Bai Ningning’s brows furrowed into a knot, and she shook her head with great conflict. “This child…”

“She can be cured, right!? Please help me! Any amount of reward is fine…” Song Ruoxue said incoherently.

“Sect Master Song, I… can’t do anything.” Bai Ningning shook her head heavily.

“Not enough reward? What do you want… secret manuals or spiritual herbs, I’ll give you whatever you want. Even saintly herbs and artifacts are fine… anything is fine, just save her quickly!” Song Ruoxue’s emotions spiraled out of control.

“Sect Master Song.” A serious expression appeared on Bai Ningning’s freckled little face. “This child’s flame of life is about to be extinguished. There’s nothing that can be done.”

“Aren’t you a doctor? Is there any way, are there any other doctors who can save her… anyone at all, save her!” Song Ruoxue’s voice was gradually replaced by sobs.

Bai Ningning stood up, pushed up her glasses, and said with some reluctance, “Sect Master Song, you can… take her back with you for now. If there’s anywhere she wants to go, you should take her to see it.”

Song Ruoxue’s expression froze. Her mouth was open, her lips trembling violently.

“Also, this is my business card.” Bai Ningning placed a small card on the table. “Contact me after you’re done taking her around. I will do my best to meet any conditions you may have at that time.”

Song Ruoxue closed her eyes and exhaled, “…Get out.”

“I’m sorry, I haven’t finished what I have to say.” Bai Ningning said hesitantly, “In a situation like this, there is a legend in the world that if there is a way to make her absorb life origin, she can be brought back to life… However, everyone’s life origin is unique. There have been no successful cases in a thousand years. In more distant records, the imperial daughter of the fox clan once succeeded. Of course, this is just a legend… Well, I should go now. Sect Master Song, please take care of your health.”

With that, Bai Ningning left.

Leaving Song Ruoxue alone in a daze.

‘Transferring life origin…’

‘Can transferring life origin save Little Li?’

‘That’s great.’

‘I’ve finally found a way to save you.’

Song Ruoxue gently placed Su Li’er on the sofa. The sofa was so small, yet she couldn’t even fill it. So cute, like a ceramic doll.

‘Alright.’

‘When you wake up later, I’ll take you to eat pea cakes and buy you pretty little dresses.’

‘Just wait, our date isn’t over yet.’

‘Transferring life origin, I remember it’s supposed to be like this…’ Song Ruoxue leaned down slightly and held Su Li’er’s delicate, boneless, and cold little hand.

She calmed her mind and began to circulate her energy.

The essence and power within her body drained away rapidly, transferring bit by bit through her palm…

‘Yes, that’s it.’

Song Ruoxue was overjoyed. Fortunately, she had once studied medical books.

‘Good, continue, increase the frequency.’

—Crack.

A cracking sound came from within her body.

Song Ruoxue’s brows furrowed in pain, her hand trembling uncontrollably.

She circulated her energy again.

The warm current flowed out of her body rapidly, crossing over to the other side of her palm, but it was still just as cold, like a stone thrown into the bottom of a lake, warming it for a moment before sinking into silence.

Her body gradually grew cold, and a sharp pain shot through her limbs.

—Crack.

Another violent cracking sound came from within her body.

A wave of dizziness washed over her. Song Ruoxue swayed, nearly falling. Her ears were ringing, her vision blurred… her whole body ached.

‘Life origin… is almost gone.’

Song Ruoxue gritted her teeth and circulated her energy again.

Overdraft, rupture, pain, all sorts of feelings intertwined and lingered.

Her body gradually lost control, her legs felt as if they were filled with lead.

Song Ruoxue fell to the ground with a thud. Her interlocked fingers gradually loosened, their palms separating bit by bit. Her arms also drooped down, unable to exert any strength.

“Little Li, I’m useless, I can’t save you.”

“If only I had been a little more careful. It’s all my fault, all my fault… I still have so much I want to say to you, but I never got the chance,” Song Ruoxue said, distraught.

“I like you, I like every day I spend with you… Only now do I dare to say it. Am I very useless? I must have made you very unhappy, right? Always being so cold to you…”

Song Ruoxue’s eyes widened slightly as she remembered something. She slowly leaned down and her lips fell on Su Li’er’s pale, soft lips.

‘Little Li, the kiss you talked about.’

‘Here.’

‘One more kiss.’

‘And another.’

‘And another.’

Suddenly, a faint murmur was heard.

“Mmm—”

It was as if an explosion had gone off in Song Ruoxue’s mind. She was sure she hadn’t misheard.

Su Li’er let out a weak moan, her brows furrowing slightly. “Ugh— Mmm…”

Song Ruoxue scrambled to her feet and stared intently at Su Li’er’s face.

‘Junior Sister is awake!?’

“Little Li, Little Li?” Song Ruoxue called out urgently.

“Ah—I feel so tired…” Su Li’er opened her eyes dazedly and smiled sweetly. “Sect Master? Good morning~”

“Good morning my foot!” Song Ruoxue couldn’t help but want to give her junior sister a rap on the head.

“Ehehe.” Su Li’er acted cute.

“How are you feeling? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?” Song Ruoxue was worried.

“Mmm… I have no strength.” Su Li’er’s breath was as faint as a thread, and she was somewhat weak. “Sect Master, Little Li seems to be dying. My life span has dried up…”

“Nonsense!” Song Ruoxue retorted. “I will heal you. You’ll be fine.”

Su Li’er coughed twice, her face growing even paler. “Sect Master, you don’t have to comfort me~ The doctor already said I can’t be saved.”

Song Ruoxue was stunned. “Little Li wasn’t unconscious?”

Su Li’er blinked. “Yep, I just didn’t have the strength to move. I was still conscious.”

“Then you heard everything… and what happened just now…” Song Ruoxue was dazed, her cheeks heating up.

“Of course Little Li knows. Is the Sect Master shy?” A cunning smile flashed in Su Li’er’s eyes.

“Hmph.” Song Ruoxue snorted coldly and turned her head away.

“Ouch, ouch… it hurts, I’m so dizzy!” Su Li’er said in pain.

“Hold on, I’ll transfer my life origin to you.” Song Ruoxue grew nervous.

“Sect Master… I don’t want your life origin. ” Because of the pain, Su Li’er’s smile became forced and awkward. “Quick…”

“Quick… quick what?” Song Ruoxue was sweating with anxiety.

“Quick… kiss Little Li.” Su Li’er’s eyelids grew heavy.

“Kiss? O… okay!” Song Ruoxue’s heart pounded.

‘So soft, and still so cold…’

“…Sect Master, Little Li… needs to absorb…the power of love.” Su Li’er’s eyes were hazy, her eyelashes trembling slightly as she stammered.

Then—they broke through the gap between their teeth.

“Mmmph!?” Song Ruoxue’s eyes widened.