Book 13: Chapter 19


    After finishing up my check-up, Ying tied up the bandages behind me: Youll be able to move from tomorrow.


    Sitting in front of Ying, I asked, I tried to stand up in the day but failed. Did you use something on me?


    From behind, Ying bluntly replied, Thats right.


    Why stop me?


    Because you may never stand again if you move about thoughtlessly.


    Ying picked up a small knife and cut the bandage in her hand. I didnt suffer any external injuries. The bandages were used to set my bones. I looked at the empty porcin bowl that I finished. In a soft voice, I said, Why do you insist on helping me? Not only did you save me, but youre treating me, too.


    Voice monotone, Ying exined, No, I didnt save you. You were washed up to shore. I couldve ignored you, but youre the first person Ive seen survive a huge wave that fellow caused; you could argue he hurt you. My duty is to protect people from his attacks. He injured you, which means I didnt fulfil my obligation. As such, treating you is a form ofpensation for an error on my part. You need not thank me or feel grateful. It should be me who apologises.


    Ying hand on my back stopped. I heard a rustling sound from behind. I turned my head around to her ck hair touch the ground. She knelt onto the ground. With her head down, she sincerely apologised: Sorry.


    Hopeless, I said, Why are you apologising? You saved my life.


    No. As I mentioned, I failed to protect you.


    The person tasked with protecting me wasnt you but my guard fleet. Moreover, nobody can guarantee theyd made it through a storm safe and sound, can they?


    Ying was bewildered. Frankly, I had no idea what tone she was speaking to me in. Her monotone voice reminded me of the crisp and emotionless female tone machines used, rendering me speechless. She raised her head: If pirates or a dinichthys hurt you, then, indeed, it would have nothing to do with me. However, they werent the ones that hurt you. It was a wyrm that hurt you. You were supposed to be its food, but he ran for some reason. The wyrm threatens the viges safety; my duty is to protect the vige from the threat. The wyrm should not harm a soul as long as I breathe. You were hurt, though. I sensed it going on a rampage, but I couldnt save you in time. I cant absolve myself of the fault.


    Ying bowed her head and solemnly apologised again: Sorry.


    I gently ced my hand on Yings shoulder. Tone solemn, I responded, Its all right. Ying, raise your head. You dont need to feel apologetic. Were not from your vige, so you dont have a responsibility to protect us.


    No. Even if you dont belong to our vige, I should protect you once you enter this region of the ocean. You mustve lost a lot of people in the water. If the wyrm infects you with its breath, youll be a flood corpse. Flood corpses will harass the vigers by the shore. I do my best to not let people die in the water. In other words, if your wives are still at sea, they may be in danger.


    Flood corpses? Can they be killed?


    Ying straightened herself up. Adopting a proper sitting posture, she exined, Theyre fundamentally the same as humans. You can kill them by beheading them or piercing their heart. Its just that one human corpse can usher ten flood corpses over. As you might imagine, there are too many of them once they swarm you. With that said, none of them rushed to the shorest night. Somebody by the shore saw lots of headless flood corpses this morning. Additionally, the wyrm didnt convert all of the corpses into flood corpses in time. Something there mustve scared them off.


    I dallied for a moment before noticing that a smile slowly crept up onto my face. My entangled feelings rxed all of a sudden. My mind calmed down for the first time; nightmares stopped guing me. I slowly lied back down andughed.


    Ying mustve been confused as to why I wasughing. I wiped the tears at the corner of my eyes. In a shaky voice, I stated, Im so d. Im so d. Im so d. That means my wives made it. My wives are still alive. Flood corpses cant possibly hurt my wives. Im absolutely certain they were the ones who killed the blood corpses. Im certain of it!


    Ying fell off track for a second. She then emphasised, They?


    Ah, I have two wives.


    No, what caught my attention was that they dared to fight the flood corpses. It sounds as though your wives are soldiers specialised inbat. It would be great if theyre safe as you assume. Have a good rest. When youve recovered, return to them. There is no othernd around nearby. If your wives are still aboard the ship, they will likelye here. The wyrm hasnt been active for thest two days; therefore, the ocean has been considerably calm.


    Yings indifference to the fact I had two wives was awkward to me. She stood up and carried the tray with her to the door. Eyes on her white kimono, I called her. She looked back. As a result, her long ck hair gently glided through the air. I looked at her red eyes and thanked her: Thanks.


    I told you: you dont need to thank me.


    Ying turned around. I raised my voice: Thank you for taking care of me during this time in addition to protecting me. Thank you very much, Ying!


    I think that was the first time I addressed Ying by her name. She suddenly froze in ce. Her ck hair swayed a few times. She didnt turn around, and I didnt look away. I, instead, looked at her back with sincerity. I didnt look away despite only seeing her back.


    Mm.


    She left the room a short momentter. My mood literally did a one eighty from daytime. I felt rxed. Nier and Lucia were the two whod be capable of killing so many flood corpses. I believed the two of them were fine and would soon arrive on the ind.


    It was a very dangerous ordeal, but I guess you could say it didnt turn out too bad. The rescue fleet should soon arrive. Id bet anything there were boats in the vige, as well. I just needed to inform my people of my location. I was incredibly interested in the small ind. I wanted to take a good look around before I head back. I also had to find out more about Ying.


    Is Ying her original name? I wondered. I didnt know, but having something to address by was good enough. Moreover, I was going to spend a long time with her, so I figured Id get to know more about her.


    I closed my eyes. The breeze outside blew in. Something seemed tond on my face. I touched it with my hand. I thought it was a bug of some sort. Only to find that it was a soft flower petal. I opened my eyes and looked over to the huge moonlight seemingly hanging on the tree. With the moonlight gracing it, the leaf appeared a radiant silver colour. The wind blew the tree trunk and branches which, in turn, caused flower petals to rain down elegantly as a waterfall running down and between the rocks in a cave.


    From underneath the clear moonlight and twirling sea of flowers, the girl in white slowly gazed up at the sky. Yings long ck hair syed out in the air, while her sleeves fluttered. The floating flower petals spread out on her hair, a sight akin to snowkes gentlynding on the ground. The moonlight illuminated her captivating face. However, her expression was as cold as the moonlight