At that moment, Ji Chun felt as though his heart was being torn apart. The pain was indescribable, almost unbearable. His eyes burned with a surge of anger and murderous intent, and his emotions teetered on the edge of collapse. Quietly, he stepped forward, intending to reach out and lift the person lying on the ground. But his hands trembled uncontrollably, his vision blurred with tears, and his heart shattered into a million pieces. Struggling to maintain his composure, he carefully slipped an arm under Su Ran's shoulders and lifted him slightly. His other hand reached for Su Ran's knee, but as his fingers brushed against the man's thigh, he felt something sticky. Blood. He didn't dare to look further.
Gently, Ji Chun hooked an arm under Su Ran's knees and cradled him in his arms. Su Ran, unconscious, lay limp against him, his face pale and almost bloodless. His slightly swollen belly rose and fell faintly with each shallow breath. He was still alive. Ji Chun couldn't afford to waste another moment. Clutching Su Ran tightly, he summoned his lightness qigong and dashed out of the woods. Tears streamed down his face unnoticed, and when he finally realized he was crying, he took a sharp breath, refusing to let his emotions overwhelm him. A cold tear slipped from his cheek and landed on Su Ran's lips. Su Ran's mouth twitched slightly, and a faint, weak sound escaped.
Ji Chun quickened his pace, holding Su Ran close, his eyes darting to the man's face every few seconds, terrified that he might slip away. "What's wrong?" he called out in panic. Su Ran's eyelids fluttered open, and his gaze settled on Ji Chun's face. Recognizing the monk, he relaxed slightly and murmured in a faint voice, "Ji Chun…"
"It's me. I'm taking you to a doctor. Don't fall asleep, do you hear me?" Ji Chun's voice was urgent, his arms tightening around Su Ran as if to shield him from the world. He quickened his pace, his heart pounding with fear that Su Ran might simply vanish from his grasp.
Su Ran let out a weak, bitter laugh, his eyes fixed on Ji Chun's cold yet anxious face. An inexplicable warmth spread through his chest, a feeling of safety he hadn't known before. He hadn't expected anyone in this world to care for him so deeply. He had thought… he wouldn't survive this ordeal.
By the time they reached the nearby street, it was already midnight. The road was deserted, the shops dark and closed. Ji Chun hurried along until he finally spotted a small pharmacy. With both hands occupied holding Su Ran, he didn't have the luxury to hesitate. In a fit of desperation, he raised his leg and kicked the door repeatedly. The wood creaked under the force, but no one came to answer. Ji Chun's frustration grew, his brows furrowing deeper as he kicked harder, his anxiety mounting with each passing second. He wished he could tear the door down and burst inside.
"You… you're afraid I'll die?" Su Ran's voice was barely audible as he rested his head against Ji Chun's chest, his eyes fixed on the monk's profile. The words were followed by a fit of coughing, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
Ji Chun's heart ached as if it were being ripped apart. He wished he could bear Su Ran's pain himself. Hearing the man cough up blood again, he kicked the door with even greater force, his arms tightening around Su Ran protectively. "I'm afraid," he admitted, his voice thick with emotion. "Su you can't die." As he spoke, a tear rolled down his cheek and landed on Su Ran's face, sliding down to his lips. Su Ran's tongue flicked out weakly, tasting the salt of Ji Chun's tears. He closed his eyes, then forced them open again, his gaze hollow and resigned. "The child… is gone," he whispered faintly. "This venerable one…"
"No!" Ji Chun's eyes widened in desperation. He pressed his forehead against Su Ran's shoulder and growled in a low, broken voice, "The child is fine. You're fine. Everything will be fine."
Finally, footsteps echoed from inside the pharmacy. Ji Chun stepped back, waiting for the door to open. As soon as it did, he rushed in, his voice commanding and urgent. "Doctor! Please help him!"
The elderly doctor, startled by Ji Chun's frantic appearance, stammered, "Don't worry, come in first." Ji Chun followed him silently, passing through the medicine cabinets and into the backyard. He barely registered his surroundings, his focus entirely on Su Ran. The doctor led him to a room, lit a candle, and gestured to the bed. "Lay him down. I'll check his pulse."
An old woman shuffled into the room with a cane, observing the scene quietly. She stood to the side, not daring to interrupt as the doctor took Su Ran's pulse. The old man's expression shifted as he examined Su Ran's slightly swollen belly. His voice was heavy when he spoke. "I'm afraid… the child cannot be saved."
The words struck Ji Chun like a thunderbolt. He staggered back, his face pale with disbelief. His fists clenched, and his tall frame seemed to crumple under the weight of the news. In an instant, his knees gave way, and he dropped to the ground before the doctor. "Please, save them!" he begged, his voice breaking.
Ji Chun, who had always been proud and aloof, who had never knelt before anyone except the Buddha and his master, now found himself on his knees, pleading. His pride meant nothing if it could save the man and child before him. He would give anything, sacrifice everything.
"Young Dashi, please, don't do this," the doctor said, alarmed by Ji Chun's desperation. He tried to help him up, but Ji Chun remained kneeling, his head bowed. The doctor sighed. "I'll do everything I can. Now, get up."
Ji Chun rose from the ground, his expression grim. He walked to the bedside and gazed at the unconscious Su Ran, his heart heavy with sorrow. The old doctor, observing Ji Chun carefully, asked hesitantly, "Young Dashi are you a Shaolin disciple?"
"Yes," Ji Chun replied quickly, his voice tinged with anxiety as he turned to face the doctor.
"Good, good," the old doctor murmured, nodding to himself. He turned to the old woman standing nearby and said, "Aying, go prepare some medicine to stabilize the baby." The woman glanced at him with a hint of doubt, but the doctor gave her a reassuring nod, and she slowly left the room.
The old doctor then addressed Ji Chun. "Young Dashi, use your inner strength to protect the fetus in his body. I will use acupuncture to remove the blood stasis from his system. After that, you can use your Shaolin qi to heal his wounds while I prepare the medicine. Does that sound acceptable?"
A glimmer of hope returned to Ji Chun's eyes, and he nodded firmly. He moved to the bedside and began channeling his inner strength into Su Ran's body, the gentle energy flowing to nourish and protect the fetus in Su Ran's lower abdomen. Meanwhile, the doctor opened an acupuncture box, revealing an array of fine needles. With practiced precision, he inserted the needles into Su Ran's acupuncture points, careful not to disturb Ji Chun's concentration.
An hour passed, and Su Ran's body began to warm, his pallor replaced by a healthier, rosy hue. Ji Chun watched intently, finally allowing himself a small sigh of relief. Still, he remained vigilant, not daring to relax until the old doctor gave the signal. Only then did Ji Chun retract his energy and sit on the edge of the bed, using his sleeve to gently wipe the sweat from Su Ran's face.
"Help him up quickly," the old doctor urged, interrupting Ji Chun's tender gesture. Startled, Ji Chun immediately assisted Su Ran into a sitting position. Moments later, Su Ran coughed violently, expelling several mouthfuls of dark, clotted blood. The process seemed endless, and by the time Su Ran finally collapsed back onto the bed, he looked utterly drained.
Ji Chun stared at the pools of blood staining the sheets, his concern deepening. He turned to the doctor and asked anxiously, "How is he now?"
"Vomiting the stagnant blood will speed up his recovery. Don't worry, Young Dashi" the old doctor reassured him just as the old woman returned with a bowl of medicine. "The medicine is ready. Feed it to him quickly."
Ji Chun took the bowl and tested the temperature with a cautious sip. Satisfied that it wasn't too hot, he helped Su Ran sit up again and carefully tipped the bowl to his lips. Fortunately, Su Ran was conscious enough to swallow, and the medicine was consumed without spillage.
"I'll go prepare more medicine," the old doctor said, rising from his seat. "You can use your Shaolin qi to slowly heal his internal injuries." With that, he and the old woman left the room.
Alone with Su Ran, Ji Chun wasted no time. He channeled his inner energy into Su Ran's body, meticulously repairing the internal damage. The process was mentally exhausting, draining Ji Chun's strength, but he didn't hold back, pouring every ounce of his energy into the task. By the time he finished, he was nearly spent. He sat by the bed, gazing at Su Ran's sleeping face, his hand gently brushing over the man's cheeks, eyebrows, and lips.
He's really beautiful, Ji Chun thought, his face flushing slightly. His eyes drifted to Su Ran's lower abdomen, and his heart ached. He placed a hand over the slight swell, feeling the faint, reassuring pulse of life within. Thankfully, the child is still… Ji Chun noted that the baby had grown noticeably in just a few days. Soon, Su Ran's current clothes would no longer conceal the pregnancy. In another two months, the bulge would be impossible to hide.
Ji Chun resolved that they would need to find a safe place to stay until the baby was born. As for their journey to Di Mang… he could delay it. Su Ran's health was his priority now. He couldn't bear the thought of Su Ran traveling in this condition. Yet, he also knew Su Ran's pride and determination. The man would never allow himself to be seen like this, with a visible pregnancy. Ji Chun sighed, torn between Su Ran's stubbornness and his own concern.
As he pondered, the old doctor returned with more medicine. He caught sight of Ji Chun's hand resting on Su Ran's belly and gave him a curious look but said nothing. After all, it wasn't his place to judge. The young monk's devotion was evident, and the doctor had seen enough to understand the depth of their bond.
"Give him the medicine," the doctor instructed. "I'll return tomorrow to check on him. If there are no complications tonight, both he and the child should be safe." He paused, then added, "I will never speak of this to anyone."
"Thank you, Doctor," Ji Chun said earnestly, bowing his head in gratitude. After the doctor left, Ji Chun closed the door and sat by Su Ran's side, replaying the doctor's words in his mind. If Su Ran made it through the night without incident, he would be out of danger. Determined, Ji Chun vowed to stay awake all night, watching over Su Ran to ensure his safety.