Dream Qinghuan, once back at the Meng family, rushed straight to his second grandfather's attic. With a "bang," he burst through the door, a whirlwind of activity, startling Meng Chen, who was paralyzed on the bed.
Though Meng Chen was paralyzed from the waist down, his mind remained sharp. Unable to speak, his eyes were full of soul, and a single sideways glance could convey an entire uppercase "contempt."
The elder once possessed a dashing charm, prone to rambling and lighthearted remarks. It seemed to be a unique genetic trait of the Meng family. Even confined to his bed, it didn't stop Meng Chen from using his gaze to dismiss his grandson as an idiot, which brought a smile to Meng Qinghuan's face.
"Second Grandpa, I have good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear?" Meng Chen's disdainful look made Meng Qinghuan unhurried. He grinned and teased Meng Chen, "If you keep looking at me like that, I won't tell you the good news."
Meng Chen rolled his eyes dramatically. It was clear that if his lower body weren't immobile, he would have kicked this brat Meng Qinghuan out.
This kid was simply disrespectful of his elders, teasing his curiosity and then withholding the information. It was practically begging for a beating.
"Alright, alright, serious business. I found Second Grandma," Meng Qinghuan said with a solemn expression.
Oh...
Huh??
Meng Chen, initially indifferent, thought Meng Qinghuan was just playing with him again. It took a couple of seconds for him to register, almost startling him out of his paralysis, nearly rolling off the bed. Unable to speak, his face turned a deep shade of red from the strain.
"Don't get too excited. The bad news is Second Grandma can't come over. I have to take you there," Meng Qinghuan patted his forehead, a hint of annoyance.
Frankly, it wasn't easy to move Meng Chen in his current state. Putting aside the life support equipment, his muscles had atrophied. If he were actually taken there, it was uncertain how long he could last.
"You idiot, the injection!"
Desperate, Meng Chen linked his mental energy to Meng Qinghuan's mind. Though his voice failed him, his brain was still functioning well. Despite Meng Chen's critical condition and shrunken mental energy, in his urgency, he directly squeezed his brain to convey a few words.
"The injection?"
Meng Qinghuan hesitated again.
The so-called injections came in three vials from the Shadow faction, each with a specific purpose. One vial, red, activated cellular nerves, instantly restoring function to paralyzed individuals. A blue vial activated strength, restoring an exhausted person's power to its peak or even doubling it. A green vial activated the life force of someone near death, returning them to their peak physical condition.
These three vials were akin to divine elixirs, but their side effects were terrifyingly severe. They were all temporary, one-time use injections that could only achieve these heaven-defying feats for a short duration. Once the effect wore off, one would wish for death.
These injections caused immense damage to the body. While the effects weren't immediately noticeable upon initial use, with the passage of time, the entire body would suffer excruciating pain, akin to being pricked by needles, and the pain would only intensify. Ultimately, it was hard to say whether one would die from the overdose of the drug's power or from the sheer agony.
Thus, there was the saying: "One vial for a full recovery, but a life worse than death; three vials to become a god, leading to immediate demise."
These three heaven-defying injections demanded an immense price. Each person in the Shadow faction possessed three vials, only to be used when facing a desperate, life-or-death struggle. Some, to avoid the inhuman torment of the injections, would rather die than administer them.
If Meng Chen were to truly inject himself now, there would be no turning back.
Meng Qinghuan was hesitating, but Meng Chen's gaze was firm, like a blazing fire, making Meng Qinghuan feel uneasy. Meng Chen was desperately draining his mental energy solely to compel Meng Qinghuan to administer the injection.
He did not wish to meet his wife in his current crippled state. At least, he wanted to appear dignified, even if it were temporary.
Meng Qinghuan walked silently towards the storage room. This time, he didn't call Bai Cha. Instead, he called Yun He.
"Master?" Yun He was somewhat surprised that Meng Qinghuan had called her.
"Little He, my second grandfather wants to use those three injections," Meng Qinghuan leaned against the wall of the storage room, his tone a little glum.
Yun He paused. As a member of the Shadow faction, she was certainly aware of these three injections. She possessed them too, and she knew the dire side effects they entailed.
If the injections were truly administered, it would be a sure death. With this thought, Yun He also fell silent.
She understood Meng Qinghuan's hesitation.
The Shadow faction's network was dwindling. The Bai family had only Bai Cha, a minor, representing the most extreme lineage. The Meng family was slightly better off. When the incident occurred, Meng Qinghuan was already in his early twenties, possessing the demeanor of an adult. Though his parents were deceased, he still had his second grandfather, and they relied on each other. It was individuals like Lang Mo, whose parents were alive, who were truly peculiar.
And now, if the injections were administered, there would be no room for retrieval.
"Hmm... Although I can't be entirely sure, Master, I just feel that if you don't do this, our ancestor might be very unwilling." Yun He hesitated for a long time, then cautiously replied while looking at Bai Cha beside her.
"I know," Meng Qinghuan said, rummaging through the cabinet for the injections. His eyes felt a little moist. Logically, he should have matured long ago and been capable of handling things independently, but when he truly faced the last of his departing relatives, he still couldn't remain calm.
"I know, but then I'll be all alone," Meng Qinghuan muttered, but he dutifully took out all three vials of the injection.
"...You still have us, Master," Yun He's voice came from the phone. "Besides, I am your disciple, so of course, I count as family."
"Mm, that's true." Meng Qinghuan sighed and hung up the phone. His mood, however, had improved considerably. He walked downstairs to Meng Chen's room.
In the maple forest, Yun He looked at Bai Cha, who was tilting her head to listen, with a hint of timidity.
"Miss Bai, did I say something wrong?" Yun He was actually quite uneasy. For decisions like these, everyone would usually call Bai Cha. Meng Qinghuan had unexpectedly called her. Bai Cha was right beside her, so it was impossible for her not to hear.
The phone call made Yun He's heart flutter nervously.
"You're that afraid of me?" Bai Cha found it somewhat amusing. "I shouldn't be that terrifying."
"No, no, Miss Bai, that's not what I meant," Yun He waved her hands in a panic. "I'm just afraid I said something wrong. After all, I know the side effects of the injections, so in a way, I might be an accomplice..."
"Don't think that way. I think you did very well," Bai Cha chuckled lightly, pulling Freya up from the ground and smiling. "For us, nothing is more terrifying than dying with unfinished regrets."
They had dedicated their lives and poured their hearts into their work, expecting no reward, but they hoped to at least die with purpose. If even this final wish were not fulfilled, it would be truly cruel.
In fact, Bai Cha could understand Meng Chen's thoughts. It was like the night Ye Feng calmly faced his death, he had meticulously groomed himself, changed into his best suit, one that Bai Qingyuan particularly liked, and styled his hair in Bai Qingyuan's favorite way.
He had even used hairspray and turned around several times in front of the mirror.
Just as her father had said, he wanted to meet his beloved in his best appearance. Even if he went to the underworld, he wanted to be the most handsome soul on the Bridge of Forgetfulness. Even if his mother drank the Forgetfulness Soup, she would fall in love with him at first sight.
Bai Cha didn't know what love truly was, nor why it could be so intense, but she could feel their happiness. Since it brought each other joy and anticipation, these things born of love should not be obstructed.
What no one expected was that Meng Qinghuan and Meng Chen's delay caused them to wait from the evening of the first day until the early morning of the second day, a full twelve hours.
When Meng Chen stepped out of the spatial gate, everyone was stunned.
Where did this beautiful monk come from?
Handsome man, who are you?
With a bald head like Meng Qinghuan's, illuminated by the morning sun, it shone like a light bulb, crackling and reflecting light. His features were refined and sharp, possessing a steadiness and maturity that Meng Qinghuan lacked. His gleaming monk's robe was clearly brand new. He was immaculately clean and had even applied perfume, which everyone smelled as he made his entrance.
Everyone: "..."
Are you kidding me? Is this how you make an entrance?
Bai Cha looked back, only then seeing Meng Qinghuan behind her, looking wilted from being bossed around by Meng Chen. His monk's robe was wrinkled and stained with water, and his shining bald head bore two slap marks.
"You...?" Bai Cha didn't know what to say. She wanted to laugh.
"What are you laughing at? I've had a terrible time. I had to bathe him, scrub his back, and style him. It almost broke me," Meng Qinghuan collapsed onto the ground, refusing to get up, pointing at the red slap marks on his head to vent his displeasure. "And he actually looked down on my fashion sense and hit me when I was picking out clothes for him, calling me tacky! I can't stand it!"
"Cough."
"Pfft."
Bai Cha and Freya couldn't help themselves.
Truly, when one person's smile disappeared, a smile would appear on others' faces. This was a law of conservation, but the occasion was not suitable for outright laughter, so they could only turn their heads away and clear their throats.
The morning sun was perfect, its slanting rays dispelling the darkness and falling upon the maple forest. Meng Chen stepped over a carpet of fallen maple leaves and slowly walked into the depths of the forest, searching for the sliver of dawn beyond the darkness.
In the silent jungle, only the sound of heartbeats remained.
Then, he saw it: the single, dazzling red maple, burning like fire, just like the first time he saw her, like the love that had ignited when they first met.
The red maple closed its eyes, pretending to be asleep, but it felt an unusual silence around it. When it opened its eyes, it saw the person it had dreamed of.
She remembered clearly, it was a late autumn day. Having finally escaped her mother's mental control, she lay exhausted beneath a tree, covered in a layer of fiery red maple leaves. Looking up, not far away, stood a handsome monk.
That monk slowly walked towards her, her heart pounding faster and faster until he stood before her and extended his hand.
"My name is Meng Chen. Do you have a name?"
That day was early morning. She didn't know when she had transformed into human form and felt a resonance with this stranger.
Covered in red leaves, like the most beautiful wedding dress.
"No... no." She had never spoken human language before. The first time she uttered a word, it felt hoarse and uncomfortable, but he praised her voice, saying he wanted to take her away.
"From now on, I'll call you Hong Feng, okay? Will you come with me?" Meng Chen grinned slyly, never expecting to gain a wife while on a mission. He smiled like an idiot. "If you can't bear to leave this place, I can stay with you for a few days."
Hong Feng shook her head. Her desire to live in seclusion and peace was immediately thrown to the winds. She left with the monk.
At that time, she didn't understand what love was, but the sudden emotion was too intense, leaving her dizzy and enchanted.
Now, seeing Meng Chen again, Hong Feng had lost her physical form. Lying in Meng Chen's arms, she could still feel her heartbeat and an intense emotion that threatened to burst forth.
"Ah Chen, what is love?" Hong Feng rested her head against Meng Chen's chest. Meng Chen's body trembled slightly, perhaps from excitement, or perhaps from suppressing the pain of the injection. But Hong Feng could clearly hear Meng Chen's rapid heartbeat.
Meng Chen smiled, a thin sheen of sweat on his forehead, but he still smiled sweetly. "Love is eternal liking. I'll explain it to you in the next life."
Maple leaves fell and then flew up, the wind swirling them in a final funeral rite. The crowd formed a semicircle, bowing in silent reverence.
The wind quieted, the leaves settled. Hong Feng's soul had dissipated, and Meng Chen sat motionlessly beneath the tree, having achieved nirvana.