Ink Burns

Chapter 240 Death

At noon, the once bustling queues of people waiting for free medical consultations in the alley of Dongshier Hutong have all dispersed, leaving the empty old brick alley bathed in the golden, scorching sunlight.

The old locust tree's forked branches have now grown into a lush and verdant canopy, casting a large, indistinct shadow on the path paved with gray-white pebbles.

Xue Xiao lowered his head, crossed his arms, and leaned against the trunk of the old locust tree. He kicked up four or five small stones and listened to the "clinking" sound of the stones falling to the ground.

After the "ding-dong" sound, came the sound of hurried footsteps.

Xue Xiao looked up and saw the mountain moon.

Shan Yue's expression was restrained, but her fluttering eyelashes resembled butterfly wings wet with rain.

Xue Xiao raised his chin and said succinctly, "He's inside."

"How is it? Has Doctor Xiao examined you?" Shan Yue's voice trembled slightly as soon as she spoke.

Xue Xiao lowered his head again: Doctor Xiao had just left, and after taking his pulse, he shook his head and said bluntly, "He was already on the verge of death, and he had been living with potent poisons every day. His vital energy had long been depleted. I don't know where he got the strength to hold on for so long. If you really care about him, let him go. Don't hold on any longer!"

Xue Xiao's body was tense, like a fully drawn bow. His answer was irrelevant and off-topic, repeating what he had just said: "He's inside."

Shan Yue took a deep breath, turned around, pushed open the door, and went straight inside.

At midday, the heat of midsummer was palpable.

The inner room, however, was inexplicably chilly, filled with a strong smell of medicine. Stacks of medical books and ancient texts were piled on the table in the corner, and two large winnowing baskets were drying by the window. The medicinal herbs inside were dry and hard after being processed. The light and shadows dappled through the bamboo window lattice and fell on the herbs, adding to the sense of loneliness.

The bed curtains were drawn back, and the room was filled with books and ancient texts.

Cheng Xingyu curled up on the warm couch beside the bed, covered with thick blankets. He half-closed his eyes, but when Shan Yue looked over, he opened them as if struck by lightning, meeting Shan Yue's gaze as if by fate.

Cheng Xingyu's eyes remained clear and bright, a quality that remained unchanged whether he was in Songjiang Prefecture or the capital, whether he was treating patients or comforting and reassuring them.

A lump rose in Shan Yue's throat, but she blinked, raised her head, and casually joked with her best friend, "You have a bed but you sleep on a stool. Dr. Cheng is really something else."

Cheng Xingyu's eyes lit up as he smiled, "Divine doctor, prodigy, general... which capable person doesn't have some quirks?"

Shan Yue scoffed softly, picked up a low stool and sat down beside him, looking at his withered hands and his skin, which was wrinkled and tight like tree bark.

Shan Yue looked away abruptly, as if her eyes had been burned by a spark, and said in a deliberately relaxed tone, "Who claims to be capable? They're shameless!"

Cheng Xingyu forced a smile, his tone genuinely relaxed: "I've saved a total of 871 people in my life—that's just how I am."

Shan Yue choked on the word "in total," took a deep breath, and turned her head to the side.

They fell silent instantly.

"I dreamt about Xiao Hei last night."

Cheng Xingyu broke the silence softly.

Fearing that Shan Yue might not remember, he explained in detail: "Oh, it's that young man who came to ask for medicine for his mother during the plague in Songjiang Prefecture. He had dark skin, thin arms and legs, and loved to argue with Shui Guang."

"Yes," Shan Yueyi replied softly, "I remember."

“He is the hundredth person I have saved.” Cheng Xingyu stared straight ahead. “In the dream, I couldn’t see his face clearly, but I knew that according to the elders, if you can’t see someone’s face in a dream, they are still alive. He is alive and well, and I am very happy.”

"Mmm." Shan Yue lowered her head, her eyes burning, yet she stubbornly refused to let her tears fall.

Cheng Xingyu curled up on the warm couch, still smiling: "Shanyue, I'm leaving."

"Don't talk nonsense!"

Shan Yue's nose felt like it was filled with lead: "Don't talk nonsense. Aren't you a skilled doctor? You know acupuncture! A few needles and it'll be fine, right? If you don't have the strength, I'll go and get Shui Guang out. She's someone you taught, and she's surpassed you. What you can't do, she can do."

Cheng Xingyu slowly moved his hand to Shan Yue's side, his palm trembling as he placed it on the back of Shan Yue's hand. His palm was rough from years of contact with medicinal herbs, yet it was very cold.

"Life and death are nothing but trivial matters."

Cheng Xingyu's voice was calm and gentle, like a clear, flowing spring. As he spoke, he slowly closed his eyes: "My time has come, my wish has been fulfilled, I must go—Shanyue—"

For the first time in his life, he asked Shanyue to do something for him: "Shanyue, please close the window for me. The sun is too strong and it's a bit chilly."

Shan Yue turned his head to look.

The midday sun in the dead of summer slanted in through the cracks in the open window, like a deep, clear pool of water, unfathomable yet devoid of fish.

Shan Yue turned around.

Just now, Cheng Xingyu closed his eyes completely.

His curled-up body, which had long endured pain, slowly relaxed, and the bluish-purple color of his eyes and the paleness of his lips no longer symbolized illness.

He appeared calm and serene.

It seems she's asleep, sleeping comfortably.

Shan Yue slightly parted her lips, and her head was struck as if by lightning; a flash of white light was followed by complete darkness.

Miracles often stem from immense determination.

He wanted to wait for the antidote for the "Tracing Machine" to be extracted, he wanted to wait for Shan Yue to come and see him off, he wanted to wait to hold Shan Yue's hand and leave.
His life was very fulfilling.

He always did what he loved most and held the hand of the person he loved most.

He was a purely good person.

He was so kind that even at the very last moment, he never told the woman he loved most about his feelings, his persistence, or his hopes.

Shan Yue calmly lowered her eyes and withdrew her hand from Cheng Xingyu's grasp. She leaned over and braced herself on the armrest of the warm couch. After a long while, she slowly and stiffly stood up, then turned around and closed the half-open window. Finally, she slowly pushed open the door, her eyes fixed on the steps, descending one step at a time.

Shan Yue was like a puppet on a string, her legs could no longer bend. Her foot tripped on the steps, and she fell down unconsciously.

Xue Xiao suddenly stood up and rushed forward, grabbing Shan Yue's shoulder.

"The windows are closed, it's not cold anymore."

Shan Yue stared blankly at Xue Xiao's hand, unconsciously repeating the sentence: "If the window is closed, people won't be cold."

The door was wide open.

Xue Xiao glanced sideways at the inner room.

The inner room was dark and quiet.

Shan Yue's voice grew softer and softer until she finally mumbled to herself. As she spoke, she covered her face with her hands, sobbing as she slowly squatted down: "Why...why...why!"

She didn't know who she was asking, what she was asking, or what answer she was expecting.

But all she wanted to do was ask questions.

I just want to ask a question!

Xue Xiao took a deep breath, tilted his chin back, and stood up gently and firmly, calmly gazing at Shan Yue. He did not want to embrace Shan Yue in his arms at this moment, nor did he want to offer any superficial words of comfort. Either way, it would be disrespectful to Doctor Cheng, and it would be a disregard and indifference to the hardships and mutual support that Cheng Xingyu and Shan Yue had gone through together.

At that moment, he was merely an observer.

He had no right to interfere in matters of life and death, including the separation of family, friends, and lovers.