After dinner, everyone returned to their rooms to rest for a while.
Yun Xiao was reading on a soft couch by the window. A gentle breeze blew, causing the white gauze curtains adorned with dark floral patterns to flutter, bringing a cool and serene feeling.
Wan Wan was playing the zither outside the corridor. The instrument was specially bought from a music shop and was quite decent, though far inferior to ancient, mystical zithers.
However, as she was just beginning her studies, even a superior ancient zither would be wasted on her. Still, the girl practiced diligently, unlike herself, who was rather lazy and only played occasionally.
Everything was warm and peaceful, but a sound of footsteps shattered the tranquility.
Su Mo Chen's figure broke the silence. He rushed past the window and ran straight to Wan Wan, gasping for breath as he spoke.
"Sister, something's wrong, Granny..."
Yun Xiao was startled. She dropped her book and stood up. With a thud outside, a string on the zither snapped. Wan Wan leaped up and rushed into the room.
"Master?"
Her martial arts practice over the past few days had made her forget about Granny's illness. Hearing Mo Chen's words, her face immediately turned pale. She and Su Mo Chen were orphans, raised by Granny. Granny was their only family. If something happened to her?
Wan Wan and Su Mo Chen dared not to think about it.
"Take the medicine chest," Yun Xiao commanded calmly. Su Mo Chen, already by the side, picked up the medicine chest from the room and followed them out.
Granny Su's residence was far from Chenxiang Courtyard. Even with their swift footsteps, it took them the time it takes to burn a stick of incense to arrive. This showed just how large the Su estate was, with its winding corridors, carved pillars, and painted pavilions. Although most of it was old, it still stood.
By the time they arrived, several people were already inside: Granny Bai, who taught them martial arts, and Liu Xing and Jing Yun. To their surprise, they had arrived earlier. The group was gathered around the bed.
The bed was also somewhat old, its vermilion paint peeling in patches, revealing white and red, giving it a desolate appearance.
Yun Xiao had once asked Wan Wan to get a new bed for Granny, but Granny insisted on keeping the old one. She said the bed had been with her for decades, like a family member. She intended to grow old in this very bed.
Now, she lay there quietly, her face pale and devoid of color, but her expression was serene. Her gentle gaze swept over everyone in the room.
She hadn't expected so many people to be gathered around her at the moment of her death. It was nothing like the lonely demise she had imagined.
And with Wan Wan and Mo Chen having found their own paths, she could finally rest easy. She had held on for so many years, waiting for this moment.
As Yun Xiao arrived, those by the bedside moved aside. Tears were already streaming down Wan Wan and Su Mo Chen's faces. They sobbed, their voices choked with emotion.
"Granny, you'll be alright. You'll be alright."
Yun Xiao swiftly took Granny Su's hand and felt her pulse. Her expression gradually turned grim. She then examined Granny's eyes and checked her tongue. Finally, she shook her head and quietly stepped back.
Seeing her expression, Wan Wan and Su Mo Chen rushed forward as if driven mad, crying uncontrollably.
Everyone present shed tears. Yun Xiao, who had been standing at the periphery, couldn't help but feel her eyes moisten.
Granny's illness was indeed very serious. For any ordinary person, such an illness would have been fatal long ago. Yet, she had managed to hold on until this day with sheer willpower, demonstrating her resolute spirit.
She recalled that night when they first arrived. Granny had stood in the moonlight, full of vigor, like the master of heaven and earth. Now, seeing that Wan Wan and Mo Chen had found good homes, she could no longer sustain that life force and had finally succumbed.
Granny Su gasped, reaching out to gently stroke Wan Wan and Mo Chen's heads. She spoke softly.
"Wan Wan, Mo Chen, don't be sad. Granny had thought she would die miserably and without peace, but now that you both have good lives, Granny is relieved. Live well from now on. Granny will always be watching you from heaven."
Hearing Granny's words, Wan Wan and Su Mo Chen cried even harder, unable to catch their breath. At this moment, Granny Su reached out, fumbling in the air. "Xiao'er, Xiao'er."
They all knew Yun Xiao was a girl, so Granny had always treated her like her own child, hence calling her Xiao'er.
Yun Xiao quickly walked over and took Granny's hand.
"Xiao'er, I know you are a good child. With you taking care of Wan Wan, I can die with peace. Xiao'er, please take good care of them, okay? This is also your home, Xiao'er. Live here in harmony from now on."
Tears sparkled in Granny's eyes, slowly rolling down her cheeks. She then scanned everyone present and finally rested her gaze on Granny Bai, reaching out with her other hand to hold her.
"They are your children too. Forget the hatred."
Unexpectedly, Granny Su's eyes were so bright that she could instantly see the hatred in Granny Bai's heart.
After saying these words, she had no strength left. Her life's energy was all spent. She had thought she would die with regrets, but now she felt immense solace.
Because her Wan Wan and little Mo Chen had grown up and had people to rely on, this was the most comforting thing.
Her hands fell limply to her sides, her eyes slowly closed, a smile on her face, as if she had fallen asleep.
Wan Wan and Mo Chen screamed like mad, rushing forward and shaking Granny's body forcefully. They thought of the passing years, the days Granny had taken care of them. Granny used to say,
"This is your home. No matter how poor we are, we cannot sell this place, because as long as it's here, no matter how far the beggars and little dogs go, Granny will be here waiting for you, waiting for you to come home."
That's why, no matter how poor they were, they never considered selling the house. But if they had known Granny was ill, they would have sold the house to treat her, because she was their home.
The room was filled with weeping.
Yun Xiao walked over, put her arms around Wan Wan and Mo Chen, and spoke softly.
"Don't be sad anymore. Granny passed away peacefully. The people she was most worried about were you two, but now she is at ease. In fact, her illness was very, very serious. If she hadn't held on by sheer willpower until now, she would have been gone long ago. She must have been very, very tired from holding on, so let her go in peace now."
Granny Su had died.
Yun Xiao and Wan Wan buried Granny together. The Su family had no close relatives, so only the few of them kowtowed on Granny's grave. Thinking of her life, it was a comfort that she had finally died with peace.
The mansion, devoid of Wan Wan and Mo Chen's laughter, felt truly desolate. The siblings stayed in Granny's room, refusing to come out no matter who called them.
Yun Xiao let them be. She herself still woke up at the fifth watch to practice her martial arts. Suddenly, she felt a burden on her shoulders, a burden left to her by Granny Su.
Since she had promised Granny to take good care of Wan Wan and Mo Chen, she would fulfill that promise. At the very least, she needed to be strong enough to protect those around her. She couldn't always rely on others for protection.
Therefore, she now woke up diligently to practice the Xuan Yun Sixteen Steps light footwork. When she had nothing else to do, she practiced the zither, not slacking off even a little.
Granny Bai, who taught her martial arts, looked at her with growing admiration and deep satisfaction.