Chapter 36: I Am Your Cure

This must be her true appearance. Her face was still the same shape, her figure unchanged, but her skin and face were veined with black lines, and her eyes were pitch-black with no whites at all.

“Zhang Xiaobei, today is the day you die!” she roared, lunging at me.

I fired another shot, but this time it was useless—the Soul-Slaying Gun was too weak against her.

Her next punch sent me reeling and coughing blood again, but I didn’t collapse because I was a Yang Envoy; the King of the Underworld decreed that I would not die before the fifth watch.

Seeing me leaning against the wall, blood trickling from my mouth but still breathing, she grew even more furious.

At that moment, the Judge appeared, calling out directly to the Ghost King, “Ghost King, stop! The Yang Envoy was personally chosen by the King of the Underworld. Are you defying her?”

“I wouldn’t dare!” the Ghost King said, releasing me with cold reluctance.

“Wouldn’t dare? You’re growing reckless, acting as if the King of the Underworld means nothing,” the Judge admonished.

The Ghost King scoffed, turning to the Judge, “Don’t always use the King of the Underworld to threaten me. If it came to a real fight, she might not be my match.”

“Heh. The power of the King of the Underworld is beyond what you and I can imagine. Don’t push her, or no one will be able to save you,” the Judge replied, unyielding despite her threats.

“Hmph. I won’t let this go. Zhang Xiaobei, remember, as long as I exist, I will never spare you!” With that, the Ghost King vanished.

The Judge came over to help me up. “Are you alright? Let me check.”

“No need, I won’t die,” I said, not wanting him to look.

He knew I was annoyed at his late arrival and was a little irritated himself. He patted my shoulder and smiled, “You won’t die, but being injured is dangerous for you. Go back and rest. I’ve prepared medicine for you.”

I nodded, gathered my things, pressed my hand to my chest, and opened the door to leave.

“Sir, you’re hurt!” As soon as I stepped out, Xiao Yuan and Xiao Fang supported me.

“I’m fine. Let’s go!” Leaning on the two little ghosts, I made my way out of the old street and flagged down a cab.

I had planned to go to the hospital, but since the Judge said he’d prepared medicine, I decided to return to the hotel instead. Still, I didn’t want He Yanran to see me like this.

As I hesitated, Tan Xiao appeared, giving me a look of concern—whether it was real or not, her expression made me believe it.

“I told you not to see her, but you wouldn’t listen. Now look, you’re so badly hurt!”

“Did you know she’d do this to me?” I asked her.

The cab driver glanced back at me, “What did you say?”

“Nothing, I’m on the phone,” I replied, raising my hand as if answering a call.

Tan Xiao sighed, “Ever since she met you on the train, I knew what she was planning.”

“Why didn’t you warn me?” I asked, baffled.

“Would you have believed me?”

“How can you know I wouldn’t if you never tried?” I retorted, slightly reproachful.

Tan Xiao looked aggrieved. “If you trusted me, you wouldn’t have gone to find her when I told you not to. But you thought you’d get some information from her, didn’t you?”

I was silent for a moment; she wasn’t wrong. I did hope to learn something about the black market from the Ghost King, convinced she knew, which is why I naïvely sought to cooperate with her. But I hadn’t expected she only wanted to drain my Yang energy.

---

“Zhang Xiaobei, I would never hurt you. You must trust me. There are things I can’t tell you, not that I don’t want to,” Tan Xiao said, her gaze sincere.

But I was too uncomfortable now, just wanting to sleep, so I nodded and said nothing more.

Leaning against the seat, I drifted off, feeling utterly weak and depleted.

“Brother, we’re here!” The driver alerted me as we reached the hotel.

I paid and staggered out of the car. Xiao Yuan and Xiao Fang hurried over to support me. “Sir, just hold on a little longer, we’re almost there!”

Inside the hotel, the attendant saw me staggering and came over, worried. “Sir, are you alright?”

I shook my head, “I’m fine, carry on.”

Upstairs, at Room 305, I knocked. He Yanran’s voice came from inside, “Who is it?”

“It’s me, Zhang Xiaobei!” I leaned against the wall, forcing myself to stand.

She quickly opened the door, saw my pallor and guessed immediately, “Xiaobei, are you hurt?”

She helped me into the room.

“How are you?” She settled me on the bed, her eyes shining with unshed tears.

Looking at her, I knew this was genuine worry. I managed a smile, “I’m fine. What could happen to me? I’m a Yang Envoy, I can’t die.”

“Stop talking, lie down. Let me check where you’re hurt.” Gently, she eased me onto the bed and lifted my shirt.

Soon I felt droplets falling onto my abdomen. I opened my eyes and saw He Yanran crying.

“Why are you crying?”

“It’s nothing. Don’t look. I’ll heal you,” she said, turning to the air. “I know there’s more than just Xiaobei and me in this room. The rest of you, could you please step outside? I need to treat your Yang Envoy.”

At her words, Xiao Fang, Xiao Yuan, Tan Xiao, and the little ghost girl who had helped protect He Yanran all looked at me.

I nodded, signaling them to leave.

“Xiaobei, are they gone?” He Yanran asked after a moment.

“They’re gone,” I replied weakly.

“Alright, close your eyes,” she murmured.

Seeing her sadness, I didn’t ask why. I closed my eyes, just as I wanted to sleep.

But something felt off, and I instinctively opened my eyes—He Yanran was kissing my wound.

I was bewildered, truly bewildered. In my current weakened state, if she kept this up, I might really die. Though I wouldn’t mind dying under the hands of a beauty, now was not the time—I was barely holding together. I quickly stopped her, “He Yanran, what are you doing?”

“I’m healing you,” she replied.

I was even more confused. “Healing me is one thing, but aren’t you making it worse?”

“Of course not!”

“Then what is it?” I pressed.

“Because I am your medicine.” With that, she lowered her head and kissed me on the lips.

---

For a moment, I was utterly stunned. I knew sooner or later we would reach this point, but I didn’t expect it to happen when I was so powerless.

Her lips were so soft, and I felt clear-headed and invigorated. Could she really be my medicine, as she claimed? Why? Was the medicine the Judge mentioned meant to be her?

Looking at her, I felt the congestion in my chest ease.

After a while, she released me, blushing. “Xiaobei, do you feel better now?”

“Yes.”

Under her treatment, I quickly felt much improved. I hadn’t expected it to work so well. Excited, I realized this method could actually heal me.

But having just recovered, I felt drowsy, so after the treatment I didn’t push for more—I just fell asleep. It was a deep, comfortable sleep, the best rest I’d had in ages.

I didn’t wake until after nine the next morning. He Yanran was already up. I had hoped to do something, but since she was awake, I let it go.

“Xiaobei, how’s your injury?” She sat nearby, watching TV, asking me as I woke.

She seemed embarrassed about last night, but I was delighted. “It’s fine now. Your treatment was very effective.”

But after I spoke, she lowered her head, saying nothing, clearly troubled. I quickly guessed what she was thinking, got dressed, and went over to her. “I’ll take responsibility for you. From now on, you’re my girlfriend.”

She looked up at me, her eyes shimmering with tears. “Are you saying that because you feel you should, or do you sincerely want me as your girlfriend?”

“Of course it’s the latter,” I replied.

She finally smiled.

Thinking of her actions last night, I was overwhelmed with joy. Unable to resist, I teased, “What you did to me last night, I’ll make sure to repay you double in the future!”

“…You rascal. I’m not talking to you. Go wash up and change—we’re going out for breakfast.” She stood up and pushed me toward the bathroom.

“Did you wash?”

“I did.”

“Alright then.” My bold idea fizzled as I went into the bathroom.

Passing the mirror, I saw the marks on my neck left by the Ghost King’s choke yesterday.

Looking at those bruises, I had to admit she really meant to kill me. Lucky I was a Yang Envoy; otherwise, yesterday would have been the end.

Thinking, I turned on the shower. As the cold water hit me, a question popped into my mind—why was He Yanran my medicine?

Last night and this morning, I’d been too excited to ponder it. Now, with cold water clearing my head, I finally thought it through.

After my shower, I rushed out and asked He Yanran, “Why are you my medicine?”

“I don’t know. Someone told me, but I don’t know who. It was when I was eighteen—do you remember? I had a serious illness,” she replied.

After my shower, I rushed out and asked He Yanran, “Why are you my medicine?”