Chapter 12: Move Aside Quickly, I’m in a Hurry!

To her astonishment, the bluish line nearly two inches long on the inside of her wrist had now faded to less than half an inch, and its color was much lighter than before. After her initial shock, she could only smile helplessly and tap her forehead, muttering to herself, “Heavens, are you so idle that you have nothing better to do than toy with me?”

Though she already considered herself lucky to have survived, she had thought that with the antidote’s formula, she could concoct the remedy herself, sustain her life, and perhaps even develop a final cure. Yet she hadn’t expected that scoundrel to have left her with one last trick. However, just when despair was about to consume her, fate bestowed upon her an unexpected gift.

Rather than succumbing to the deadly venom of the silver serpent, she found that it had actually alleviated much of the lingering poison from that rascal’s life-consuming powder. Though not entirely purged, this result was enough to fill her with hope. It must have been a case of fighting poison with poison.

With this thought, Jin’er quickly pulled out the bottle of antidote for the life-consuming powder from her breast, poured all the remaining pills into her palm, and counted them—less than ten left. After a long moment of contemplation, she finally decided not to take the antidote today and see what would happen.

The outcome was more encouraging than she dared hope—the poison did not flare up.

The oppressive heaviness that had weighed on her heart now dissipated, leaving her spirit light and her will to live rekindled.

Yet, though she had regained her freedom, where was she to go now?

She wandered on alone, aimlessly, and soon finished the last of her provisions. All around her stretched desolate wilderness, not a soul in sight, not even anyone from whom she could beg a morsel of food—not that she still held much hope for alms.

Under the scorching midday sun, with cicadas chirring anxiously, exhaustion and hunger overwhelmed Jin’er at last. Darkness closed in, and she lost consciousness.

When she awoke, night had already fallen. She struggled to sit up, her head spinning, vision blurred, and her lips cracked from thirst.

Just then, the distant sound of galloping hooves reached her ears, growing closer—a group of riders approaching, it seemed.

Someone was coming—thank goodness! Jin’er moistened her parched lips with her tongue and turned eagerly toward the sound.

Before long, a troop of riders emerged from the dusky night, speeding toward her. Jin’er forced herself upright and staggered into the middle of the road, spreading her arms wide to signal them to stop. Now that they were almost upon her, it seemed they hadn’t noticed her until she suddenly barred their path, for they hastily pulled up their reins to a jarring halt.

A chorus of shrill whinnies split the night air.

“Are you trying to get yourself killed?!” a voice roared angrily.

Jin’er frowned, her small fists clenching instinctively. She truly loathed the role of beggar, but now she had no choice but to return to her old ways.

“Kind sirs, please, spare some water and food,” she pleaded, pitifully.

“Go away, go beg in the city! What are you doing out here in the middle of nowhere? Move aside, we’re in a hurry!” the man at the head of the group barked from his horse, brandishing his riding crop as if itching to drive her off the road with a lash.

Though she resented her current humiliation, Jin’er had no other recourse. Having barely escaped death, she was determined not to let herself starve ignobly in this deserted wilderness.

“Please, sir, I haven’t eaten in two days—just a little kindness, I beg of you.”

“Hey, I said—” the man began, his irritation mounting, but before he could finish, a clear and melodious voice sounded from a carriage in the middle of the group. “What’s all this commotion?”