This morning, as Wang Jin was preparing to leave for the village school, He Sumei insisted he wear the newly finished long robe and hung a sachet around his waist before finally letting him out the door.

After Wang Jin left, He Sumei was tending to the chicks and ducklings in the courtyard when Aunt Liu came over for a visit. Sumei was known for being both intelligent and beautiful, so the neighboring women often dropped by to chat with her.

Sumei happily scattered food for the small birds while Aunt Liu sat nearby, engaging in casual conversation. Seeing how diligent Sumei was, Aunt Liu felt happy for Wang Jin.

Suddenly, Sumei’s face shifted; she dropped the feed basin and bent over, beginning to retch violently.

Aunt Liu was startled and immediately rushed to help Sumei catch her breath. Sumei went through a bout of intense, dry heaving but produced nothing, leaving her complexion utterly pale.

“Mistress Wang, what is wrong with you? Are you ill?” Aunt Liu asked anxiously.

“Aunt Liu, I’m not sick. I don’t know what’s happening, I just feel terribly nauseous and have to throw up, but nothing comes out,” Sumei replied, knitting her brow.

Aunt Liu paused, her years of experience instantly suggesting one possibility. She leaned in and asked, “Have you and that boy Wang Jin been intimate often lately?”

Sumei looked up, asking, “Which intimacy?”

Aunt Liu smiled and whispered a few words in Sumei’s ear. Instantly, Sumei blushed crimson, though she nodded repeatedly nonetheless.

“Heh heh, that explains it. Congratulations, Mistress Wang, you’re going to be a mother.” Aunt Liu was overjoyed.

“I’m going to be a mother? Does this mean I’m pregnant?” He Sumei was overwhelmed with delight.

“Exactly. Your reaction just now is precisely what happens when a woman conceives. I think I should call Wang Jin back so he can take you to see a doctor for confirmation. You have wide hips and a generous chest; you are certainly built to bear many children,” Aunt Liu declared.

Wang Jin, having received the news swiftly, rushed back. He carefully accompanied He Sumei to the county seat, where they consulted an elderly physician who took her pulse and confirmed it was a joyous pulse—He Sumei was pregnant.

Wang Jin was overjoyed, but unconvinced, so he sought out two more doctors. After examining Sumei’s pulse, both agreed that she was indeed pregnant.

Wang Jin and He Sumei were ecstatic. Wang Jin bounced along, telling everyone he met on the road, “My wife is carrying a child! I’m going to be a father!” This made He Sumei so shy she couldn’t lift her head, only pinching Wang Jin hard in response.

Wang Jin suddenly pressed his ear against He Sumei’s belly, trying to hear the baby’s sound. Sumei immediately pushed him away, chastising him, “You great water buffalo! The child was only just conceived; how could you possibly hear a heartbeat now?”

Wang Jin chuckled foolishly. He then suddenly hoisted He Sumei onto his back and carefully began walking home.

“Water buffalo, hurry and put me down! Look, all the neighbors are watching?” Sumei said sheepishly.

“Let them watch; I’ll carry you. My wife is pregnant; she shouldn’t be walking too far. What’s wrong with me carrying you a bit?” Wang Jin declared carelessly, continuing his walk home with Sumei nestled happily on his back.

Since He Sumei’s pregnancy, she had begun experiencing acid reflux and craved sour things intensely. Wang Jin scoured the neighborhood, borrowing pickled vegetables, and even occasionally climbed the mountains to pick very tart fruits to satisfy her cravings. After finishing his lessons at the schoolhouse, Wang Jin would rush home; he forbade Sumei from doing any housework, insisting she leave everything for him to handle, treating her like royalty, ignoring her protests.

Knowing Sumei loved sour food, Wang Jin had pre-ordered two pounds of preserved plums from Li Xiao’er in the neighboring Li Family Village a few days prior. However, just as he was about to collect them, someone arrived from the schoolhouse requesting his immediate presence for an urgent matter. Wang Jin then sought out Aunt Liu, hoping she could retrieve the plums for him, but Aunt Liu was tied up with her own commitments.

Sumei laughed and said, “Since everyone is busy, I’ll just go and fetch them myself.”

Wang Jin disagreed instantly. “You are pregnant now; you can’t be running around everywhere. What if something happens?”

Sumei protested, “I’m not allowed to do anything now; I’m so bored I feel itchy all over. Just let me go; it’s only three months, it won’t affect my mobility at all!”

Wang Jin looked at Sumei’s teary, pitiful expression. Considering the path to the next village wasn't far and there was likely no danger for her to go alone, he finally consented.

He Sumei walked along the country fields with light steps. Having been cooped up indoors for so many days, she found everything outside beautiful now that she finally had a chance to go out. Indeed, since conceiving the child, she perceived everything in the world through a beautiful lens.

The neighboring village was close, and He Sumei arrived shortly. She knew the way to Li Xiao’er’s house and headed straight for his gate. But just as she entered the village, she noticed every household had its doors tightly shut, and not a soul was visible moving about.

Suspicion clouded her mind. She approached Li Xiao’er’s door, about to knock, when the gate was flung open from the inside, and a person burst out, collapsing at her feet and spewing blood from his mouth in great gulps.

The sight nearly sent He Sumei collapsing to the ground herself. The man vomiting blood was Li Xiao’er, yet even as he hacked up blood, no one from his household emerged to attend to him. Peering through the open doorway, He Sumei saw several other people lying on the floor inside, also spitting blood. Sensing an eerie atmosphere, Sumei dared not even retrieve the plums and quickly rose, hurrying back toward her own home.

“Ah, that’s the life. It feels so good to finally get that done,” a person whose mouth was covered by several layers of white cloth returned outside Li Family Village to his previous post. The man suddenly muttered, “Huh? Someone actually ran out of the village. That won’t do; I need to report this immediately.”

He Sumei was unaware that her departure from Li Family Village had been observed. She rushed back home, still quite shaken.

When Wang Jin returned after attending to his business, he noticed He Sumei’s unnaturally pale complexion and asked with concern, “Wife, why is your face so ashen?”

Seeing Wang Jin, He Sumei immediately fled into his arms, sobbing out the story of what she had witnessed in Li Family Village.

Wang Jin quickly comforted her. “Don’t be afraid, my dear. Whatever happens, I am here. I won’t let any harm come to you.”

Sumei felt somewhat reassured, but before they could process it further, a group of yamen runners, their heads wrapped in white cloth and guided by several men resembling physicians, arrived at Wang Jin’s house. After identification, they grabbed He Sumei and began dragging her out.

Wang Jin froze, then immediately lunged forward, shoving the yamen runners aside and placing Sumei behind him. He demanded loudly, “In broad daylight, under the clear sky, how dare you commit such an act of forcibly seizing a free woman?”

One of the yamen runners happened to recognize Wang Jin. He stepped forward and announced, “Wang Jin, an epidemic has broken out in Mei County, and the adjacent Li Family Village has been infected. Not a single person in that village was spared; everyone is afflicted with the plague, and deaths have occurred. Mistress Wang came from Li Family Village today, so these doctors have brought us here to apprehend her.”

Wang Jin was shocked and shouted, “My wife did not go into Li Family Village; you must have the wrong person!”

The physicians immediately questioned the lookout, “Are you absolutely certain who ran out of Li Family Village?”

The man nodded emphatically, pointing at He Sumei. “It was her! I saw her run out of Li Family Village with my own eyes, and she hasn’t even changed her clothes.”

The physicians waved their hands. “Take her away. Confine her for isolation.”

Wang Jin cried out, “Wait a moment! Although my wife entered Li Family Village, she retreated immediately. In such a short time, how could she possibly have contracted the plague? I guarantee she is fine.”

The physicians then questioned the lookout again: “Did she really leave Li Family Village right away?”

The man, afraid of being discovered for dereliction of duty, replied, “I didn’t see her enter Li Family Village; I only saw her come out of it.”

One physician snapped, “The evidence is conclusive! And you are still arguing here? You guarantee she is fine, but how can you guarantee it? If she spreads the plague, resulting in countless deaths, how will you guarantee that outcome?”

Wang Jin looked at He Sumei, who looked lost and fearful. Wang Jin declared loudly, “I will take my wife away right now to a deserted place to hide. That way, we won’t implicate anyone else.”

The physician sneered, “What if you two suddenly fall ill and rush back into town? Then many people will die regardless. Guards, take her!”

Wang Jin stood in front of He Sumei, pleading, “My wife is six months pregnant, I beg you, spare her! We truly will hide ourselves deep in the mountains.”

The yamen runners looked to the physician, who waved his hand. They crowded forward and seized He Sumei. Wang Jin clung tightly to her hand, refusing to let go, while He Sumei wept in terror.

“Let her go! Let my wife go!” Wang Jin roared. The yamen runner familiar with Wang Jin stepped behind him and struck the back of his head with a punch. Wang Jin immediately fell unconscious, releasing his grip on Sumei’s hand. Seeing Wang Jin collapse, apparently lifeless, He Sumei screamed and tried to rush to him, but being a frail woman, she was quickly overwhelmed by the yamen runners, wrapped in white cloth, and transported to the isolation area.

“No! Let go of my wife…” Wang Jin shouted as he struggled up, only to find the sky completely black. He was lying in his own bed, with Aunt Liu tending to him.

“No, I have to go find my wife.” Wang Jin tumbled out of bed, standing barefoot, but a sharp, agonizing pain shot through the back of his head, making him sink back down.

“Wang Jin, they’ve already taken your wife. She’s being held at the Mountain God Temple right now. I hear there are other people isolated there too,” Aunt Liu informed him, relaying the intelligence she had gathered.

“No, I must go rescue my wife immediately. She’s been pampered since childhood; she certainly won’t be used to the Mountain God Temple. And with other sick people there, she must be terrified,” Wang Jin insisted, struggling to stand.

Aunt Liu supported him. “Wang Jin, that plague is terrifying. People can get infected without realizing it. While I trust your wife wasn’t infected, those doctors have a point. If she did get infected, think how many people she could kill?”

Wang Jin pushed Aunt Liu aside. “My wife is not infected. She still has many children to bear for me, and we are supposed to live happily together. I must go save her; she must be scared all alone there.”

Aunt Liu could not stop Wang Jin, so she watched him limp away from the house toward the Mountain God Temple. On the road, Wang Jin was consumed by regret. Why wasn't he the one with business in Li Family Village? Why did he agree to let He Sumei go? If anything, he should have been the one isolated instead of his wife. It seemed He Sumei had taken a great disaster meant for him. But Wang Jin didn’t want that outcome; he wished the affliction had been his, so he could bear the pain of isolation, which He Sumei could not endure. Therefore, he absolutely had to rescue her, and then they would flee into the deep mountains, never appearing before the world again.

Wang Jin staggered along until he reached the front of the Mountain God Temple. A contingent of soldiers guarded the entrance, blocking anyone from approaching. As soon as they saw Wang Jin, they pointed their long spears at him, ordering him to stay back.

Faced with weapons, Wang Jin was temporarily helpless. He walked a full circle around the large temple, which contained twenty to thirty rooms. He had no idea which room housed He Sumei. Occasional screams echoing from inside only heightened Wang Jin’s worry for her safety; he was consumed by anxiety.

When Wang Jin returned to the main gate, he noticed the guards had been replaced. However, the new soldiers immediately aimed their spears at him when they saw him approaching, ordering him not to take a single step closer.

As Wang Jin despaired, someone in the guard detail recognized him and called out excitedly, “Brother Wang Jin!”

Wang Jin blinked, and the soldier walked over, saying, “Brother Wang Jin, it’s Er Gou!”

Wang Jin finally recognized the soldier as Wang Ergou, his childhood playmate. They had been close back then, but Wang Ergou had left Mei County years ago, only to return now as a soldier.

Wang Ergou was delighted. He told his comrades, “This is my brother; I need a moment to catch up with him, I’ll be right back.” He then pulled Wang Jin aside.

“Brother Wang Jin, why are you here at the Mountain God Temple so late?” Wang Ergou asked.

Wang Jin looked at him, his eyes brightening, and whispered, “Er Gou, your sister-in-law has been locked inside. I need to go in and see her and ask where she buried the household money. If she dies, we’ll never find those funds.”

“Ah, sister-in-law is inside too? But don’t worry, Brother Wang Jin. I’ll speak to them and arrange for you to go in for a moment. You ask your sister-in-law and leave immediately, so I don’t get into trouble.” Wang Ergou assured him.

“You truly are loyal. Once I find out where the money is hidden, I’ll give you half! I promise, brother, I won't go back on my word,” Wang Jin said, pretending.

Er Gou was thrilled. “Wait here, let me talk to them.” He ran off to confer with the other guards, then returned to Wang Jin. “Brother Wang Jin, you can sneak in quietly, but the doctors took the keys to the Mountain God Temple gate, so you can’t go through the front. You’ll have to shout for sister-in-law from outside, but keep your voice very low so no one notices.”

Wang Jin feigned immense joy and walked past the guards. He confirmed the main gate was indeed locked. Having no other option, he circled around the outer wall of the temple.

The Mountain God Temple was old and dilapidated; a section of the side wall had collapsed, revealing the interior rooms. Wang Jin crept inside and looked through the wooden slats. It was pitch dark, and he could only hear intermittent groans. The sounds seemed to be women’s voices, suggesting it was the section where they isolated the women. Wang Jin softly called out, “Wife, Wife…”

He called out several times with no response. Disappointed, just as he was about to move to another spot, he heard a hoarse voice ask, “Is that Water Buffalo?”

Wang Jin was overjoyed. He whispered back, “Wife, it’s me. I’ve come to save you.”

He Sumei was overjoyed. She rushed over, grabbed the hand Wang Jin had extended, clutched it tightly, brought it to her face, and began weeping quietly.

“Don’t be afraid, wife. I will get you out,” Wang Jin comforted her.

“Water Buffalo, I’m so scared. It’s so dark here, and I’m so hungry. And those people have the plague; they look so miserable. I don’t want to die; I want to be with you, and I still want to give birth to our child,” Sumei choked out, and Wang Jin felt her tears wetting the hand she held against her face.

“Don’t be afraid, wife. I’ll go find tools right now to break this wooden railing and get you out. Once we’re out, we’ll find a secret place where no one knows us, raise our child, and live together as a family,” Wang Jin promised. He pulled his hand back and strained against the wooden railing. Unexpectedly, although the Mountain God Temple was old, the wooden framework of the structure was remarkably sturdy; Wang Jin couldn't budge it no matter how hard he pulled. Sumei watched him exert himself from inside, unable to offer any help.

At that moment, Wang Ergou ran up. He said urgently to Wang Jin, “Brother Wang Jin, those doctors are coming back to inspect the situation soon. We must leave quickly, or we’ll be discovered.”

Unable to break the railing, Wang Jin’s eyes immediately fixed on the saber hanging at Wang Ergou’s waist. He said to him, “Brother Er Gou, lend me your saber for a moment.”

Wang Ergou blinked, asking, “Brother Wang Jin, what do you need a saber for?”

Wang Jin remained silent. Wang Ergou suddenly understood. He whispered, “Brother Wang Jin, do you intend to rescue Sister-in-law from inside? Aren’t you afraid of catching the plague? Even if sister-in-law was well when she went in, after staying with those people for so long, she must be infected by now. Even if you rescue her, she won’t survive, and she’ll infect others.”

Wang Jin remained silent, then suddenly lunged forward, attempting to snatch Wang Ergou’s saber. Wang Ergou was a trained soldier; he easily sidestepped Wang Jin’s attack and delivered a sharp chop to the back of Wang Jin’s head. Wang Jin only managed a muffled grunt before slumping softly to the ground.

“Water Buffalo, what happened to you?” He Sumei couldn’t see outside from the room, only hearing Wang Jin speaking to someone, and then silence followed.

Wang Ergou sighed, hoisted Wang Jin onto his shoulder, and exited in the opposite direction, leaving He Sumei alone inside the isolation room, trembling with fear.

When Wang Jin awoke again, it was the afternoon of the next day. He was still lying in his own bed, with Aunt Liu caring for him. Seeing him wake, Aunt Liu felt a pang of sorrow.

Wang Jin forced himself to eat some of the food Aunt Liu had prepared; he needed to maintain full strength at all times, as lacking energy for their escape would be disastrous. Then, he took out his woodcutting axe and repeatedly sharpened it on the whetstone, making Aunt Liu, who watched nearby, break out in a cold sweat.

Wang Jin planned to return to the Mountain God Temple that very night. This time, he would rescue He Sumei. Her appearance the previous night had broken his heart; he could not bear the thought of her remaining alone in that place.

As night fell, just as Wang Jin was about to leave with his sharpened axe, a group of unusual guests arrived at his house, cornering him inside the room.

“Xing’er, is this him?” a stern, middle-aged man demanded.

Xing’er knelt on the floor, covered in wounds, looking pitifully at Wang Jin, and said, “Master, it is him. He is Wang Jin.”

The middle-aged man glared fiercely at Wang Jin, cursing him, “You beast! You dared to run off with my daughter! Did you think I couldn't find you here? Where is my daughter?”

Wang Jin was startled, but his eyes immediately lit up. He realized the man before him was He Sumei’s father. He himself was currently powerless to save her, but her father clearly possessed capability; perhaps through him, rescue could be achieved.

“My wife was mistakenly believed to be infected with the plague and was taken to the Mountain God Temple by those people. Her situation is critical right now. I know I have wronged you, but this is not the time to discuss that. We must save her first,” Wang Jin urged.

“What? Sumei is locked in the Mountain God Temple? How could you let this happen?” The middle-aged man exploded in rage, surging forward and raining a barrage of punches and kicks on Wang Jin. Wang Jin curled his body, offering no resistance.

Xing'er knelt on the ground, saying cautiously, "Master, shouldn't we rescue Miss first? She must be terribly frightened all by herself in there." Master He finally stopped, bitterly remarking, "Since that is the case, I shall first save Sumei, and then deal with you. Ah Da, Ah Er, let's head to the Mountain God Temple immediately." The two burly men accompanying Master He immediately responded and prepared to leave.

However, a voice drifted in from outside: "Uncle, may I handle this matter?" Then, a strikingly handsome young man walked in. As soon as he entered, his gaze fixed fiercely upon Wang Jin. "Nephew.

Well, I suppose I should call you my esteemed son-in-law, but all blame rests on this wretched Wang Jin. Very well, since you are involved, I entrust this matter to your handling," Master He stated. Wang Jin, hearing their familiar address, realized this handsome youth was He Sumei’s fiancé.

The young man sat down in a chair and said to Master He, "Uncle, I have matters to discuss with this Young Master Wang. Could you possibly allow us a moment alone?" Master He waved his hand, and Ah Da and Ah Er immediately dragged the kneeling Xing'er out. Seeing that everyone else had left, the handsome youth spoke lightly to Wang Jin, "You must already know that I am Sumei's fiancé.

Her eloping with you was a huge blow to me, but I don't care, because I have been looking forward to Sumei becoming my wife since I was very young. I love her deeply, which is why I pressured the He family to find you both. Do you understand what I mean?" Wang Jin shook his head.

"I don't understand. Please be more explicit." The young man continued, "I gathered some information outside just now and learned Sumei is currently locked in the Mountain God Temple, facing mortal danger at any moment. If I rescue Sumei and cure her of this plague, will you then leave her?" Pain flashed across Wang Jin’s face, but he quickly made up his mind and said, "If you can truly save Sumei, I will naturally withdraw far from her and never appear before her again." The young man shook his head.

"I never trust anyone’s promise, and since you ran off with Sumei—you have a track record—I have even less reason to believe you." Wang Jin looked up at the young man and asked, "Then what do you wish for me to do?" "It's simple: vanish from this world entirely, to the point where even Sumei cannot find you," the young man replied. Wang Jin gave a tragic laugh. "I understand what you mean, but I demand a guarantee: you must treat Sumei well and never fail her." The young man said, "Sumei is the one I desire, so of course, I will treat her well.

However, the child she carries—yours—is something I cannot tolerate. I will terminate that child; I must tell you that first." Wang Jin nodded. "I can comprehend that.

But I warn you, if you break your vow today, I will crawl up from the deepest levels of hell to settle accounts with you." The young man pushed a porcelain vial over and said to Wang Jin, "This vial contains the antidote for this plague. Three years ago, this same plague struck the North. Later, the imperial physicians in the palace developed a specific cure for it, but because the ingredients are exceptionally hard to gather, only this single bottle remains.

When I learned this plague had broken out here, I immediately sent a carrier pigeon to have this rushed over from Bianjing without rest. Take this and go rescue Sumei." Wang Jin quickly took the porcelain vial and carefully tucked it into his robes, terrified of breaking it. The young man waved his hand, signaling Wang Jin could leave.

As Wang Jin stepped outside, he saw Master He standing in the courtyard. He knelt before Master He and kowtowed once, then kowtowed toward his own home, and then kowtowed toward Aunt Liu's house, before resolutely setting off towards the Mountain God Temple. When Wang Jin arrived at the Mountain God Temple, he saw that the soldiers stationed there had been replaced again.

One man, clearly a commander, saw Wang Jin approaching and stepped forward, asking, "Are you Wang Jin?" Wang Jin nodded. The man bowed slightly and said, "My young master instructed that Young Master Wang may enter immediately upon arrival." Wang Jin touched the vial in his robes and entered the Mountain God Temple. This time, he used the main entrance, and upon entering, he went directly to the room where He Sumei was confined.

The condition of He Sumei’s room was grim. Several women had already collapsed on the floor, their vomit staining the ground, mingled with blood. He Sumei sat listlessly on the ground, blisters appearing on her face, her eyes vacant.

A sharp pain pierced Wang Jin’s heart. He walked over and pulled He Sumei into his embrace. He Sumei snapped back to awareness, looked at Wang Jin, and suddenly pushed him away, her voice hoarse.

"Shui Niu, you must leave here quickly. The plague is everywhere; you will be infected." Wang Jin smiled, pulling He Sumei back into his arms. "Even if it is dangerous here, where my wife is, that is where I belong.

I am not afraid." He Sumei struggled desperately. "I am infected with the plague; let go of me quickly." Wang Jin suddenly lowered his head and kissed her lips, then laughed. "I won't let go.

We finally got together; how can I let go easily? Look, this way, we will be the same." He Sumei stopped resisting, tears streaming down her face. "Shui Niu, it’s all my fault, my greed.

I shouldn't have craved sour things; otherwise, we wouldn't be here." "Silly wife, every woman craves sour things when pregnant; how can that be your fault? In truth, I should have been the one to enter this place, but you took a calamity for me," Wang Jin murmured, gently stroking He Sumei’s long hair. "But why did you come in?

Even the doctors dare not enter now. How will you get out once you are inside?" He Sumei suddenly began to struggle against him, but Wang Jin only gazed at her tenderly. "Wife, I actually came to save you.

I obtained several bottles of medicine specifically for treating this plague; this medicine can cure the current outbreak." Wang Jin produced the vial from his robes. "Shui Niu, can this truly cure the plague?" He Sumei was overjoyed. Wang Jin smiled.

"Of course, it can cure it. Why else would they agree to let me in? Good girl, open your mouth and swallow this medicine." So, He Sumei happily opened her mouth and drank the liquid from the porcelain vial, overwhelmed with joy at this reprieve from death.

"Wife, there, the plague on you will soon be cured. Let's leave here," Wang Jin said, lifting He Sumei onto his back and departing the Mountain God Temple. He Sumei had lived in terror for days and was utterly exhausted.

Leaning against Wang Jin’s back, she felt utterly secure and quickly drifted into a deep sleep. Wang Jin carried Sumei out of the Mountain God Temple. The guards, seeing him emerge, immediately backed far away, terrified of catching the contagion.

In the distance stood Master He and the young man. Wang Jin gave a wry smile and walked toward the young man. He set He Sumei down twenty paces away.

Still asleep, Sumei left the familiar comfort of Wang Jin’s back and instinctively reached out to clutch the hem of his robe. Wang Jin gently took her hand and subtly drew his robe free from her grasp. Wang Jin turned to the young man and said, "I am handing her over to you now.

I hope you will treat her kindly." The young man replied, "You don't need to tell me that; I will see to it myself." "You planned this all along, didn't you? You wanted me to bring He Sumei out of the Mountain God Temple, knowing that I could never leave myself, left only to wait for death inside?" Wang Jin asked. "Precisely.

The betrayal of taking my wife—this hatred cannot be shared under the same sky," the young man confessed without reservation. Wang Jin cast one last look at He Sumei, then silently turned and entered the Mountain God Temple, firmly locking the great door behind him. He Sumei suddenly awoke with a start from her sleep, only to find herself lying on a soft bed.

Xing'er was slumped asleep by the bedside. "Xing'er, Xing'er," He Sumei called out in a rough voice. Xing'er was not in a deep slumber; hearing Sumei’s voice, she instantly woke up.

Seeing Miss Sumei awake, she burst into tears, sobbing, "Miss, this is wonderful! You're finally awake, truly wonderful!" He Sumei asked, "Xing'er, where is this? Where is my Shui Niu?

Why are you here beside me?" Xing'er stammered, "Miss, perhaps you should ask Master about these things tomorrow; he has arrived as well." "Xing'er, why won't you tell me? Tell me quickly, where is my Shui Niu?" A terrible feeling of foreboding gripped He Sumei, and she demanded sharply. Xing'er immediately knelt down, weeping uncontrollably.

"Miss, I have betrayed you! It was I who sold out Young Master Wang, leading Master and Young Master Huang to Wang Gongzi’s home. When Young Master Huang learned you were locked in the Mountain God Temple, he coerced Wang Gongzi into rescuing you.

And Wang Gongzi, because he saved you, has contracted the plague and is now inside the Mountain God Temple, waiting to die." He Sumei felt the world spin. She forced herself to remain calm and asked, "Shui Niu said he obtained a great deal of medicine to treat the plague, which is why he came to save me. How could he have been infected?" Xing'er wept, "That plague medicine is the only one of its kind in the world; how could there be a lot of it?

Young Master Wang only said that to comfort you." He Sumei felt the sky collapsing around her. She trembled and asked, "What else do you know? Tell me everything immediately!" "Miss, that Young Master Huang has already sent for a physician, saying he wants to prepare an abortifacient potion to remove the child in your belly.

Also, I just overheard Ah Da and Ah Er saying that Young Master Huang plans to have the Mountain God Temple burned down to eliminate any future trouble," Xing'er continued weeping. "What? They want to abort my child and burn down the Mountain God Temple?" He Sumei gasped in shock.

Xing'er wailed on the floor, nodding repeatedly. He Sumei threw off the covers and stood barefoot on the cold ground. "Miss, what are you doing?

The ground is cold; hurry back to bed," Xing'er asked. "I am going to find Shui Niu. Even if he is about to die, I will accompany him," He Sumei declared, opening the door and heading out.

"Miss, no! The mountain path is rugged, and there is no light tonight; it’s easy to get hurt," Xing'er cried in alarm. "If Shui Niu is gone, what use is it for me to live on happily?" He Sumei retorted before rushing into the darkness, relying on her memory to run toward the direction of the Mountain God Temple.

There was no moonlight that night; the mountain was pitch black. He Sumei ran barefoot on the mountain path, and soon her feet were cut by stones, blood trailing onto the ground. Biting her lip, she pressed onward.

Suddenly, she lost her footing and tumbled into a ravine below, the fall jarring her severely, leaving her unable to get up. She lay on the ground for a moment before struggling to rise and continue toward the Mountain God Temple. She fell again, and again she struggled up.

In this manner, He Sumei suffered countless tumbles along the way. Her feet were utterly shredded by rocks, and scarcely a part of her body remained whole, before she finally reached the location of the Mountain God Temple. When He Sumei arrived at the Mountain God Temple, she found huge flames roaring from within.

A crowd of people stood watching the fire outside the temple. "Shui Niu!" He Sumei cried out, charging directly from behind the group into the Mountain God Temple. Master He and Young Master Huang, who were watching the blaze, were stunned to see He Sumei rush into the inferno from behind them.

They tried to grab her, but He Sumei was too fast; before they could react, she had plunged into the fire. The blaze was enormous; no one nearby could approach. Master He and Young Master Huang let out cries of anguish, watching helplessly as He Sumei vanished into the sea of fire, daring not rush into the flames to save her.

He Sumei charged into the fire and miraculously suffered no significant harm. Her speed was great; only some hair on her head was singed. She began searching room by room for Wang Jin, shouting "Shui Niu!" repeatedly.

Suddenly, a weak voice came from one of the rooms: "Wife, is that you?" He Sumei was overjoyed. Although the voice was weak, it was undeniably Wang Jin's. She rushed into the burning room.

Just as she entered, the main beam at the doorway, weakened by the fire, snapped and fell, completely blocking the entrance. He Sumei rushed forward and lifted Wang Jin, who was curled up in the corner. "Wife, why did you bother?

I am just a dying man," Wang Jin spoke haltingly. His body was covered in large blisters from the intense heat, and he appeared close to death. "Shui Niu, you cannot die!

Do you know? I love you, I love you, I love you! And our child—do you want him to be born without a father?" He Sumei cried out loudly.

"Cough, cough, wife, you are truly foolish," Wang Jin coughed out. "Yes, I am foolish. I shouldn't have believed you.

How could there be so much of that plague medicine?" He Sumei wept. Wang Jin wiped the tears from He Sumei’s face and gave a bitter smile. "I meant, how foolish were you to fall in love with me?

I have no money, no status; I couldn't even save you when you were locked in here. If you hadn't met me, you would likely be living happily now..." He Sumei forced a smile. "I am foolish, which means you must not die.

I have sacrificed so much for you; you haven't repaid me yet." Wang Jin smiled faintly. "Wife, I cannot repay you in this lifetime. If there truly is another life, I hope I can make you happy." He Sumei cried, "I don't want another life; I want now!

We will rush out together, find a good physician to cure your plague, and our family will live on together." Saying this, He Sumei tried to help Wang Jin up. However, having walked such a long mountain path tonight, she was utterly spent. Her strength had relied entirely on sheer will to find Wang Jin.

Now that the adrenaline faded, she couldn't possibly lift him, and she began to cry in distress. "Wife, let it be like this; let us stay together," Wang Jin said, holding He Sumei's hand. "No, I must save you!

We still have a beautiful life ahead!" He Sumei refused to give up, constantly tugging at Wang Jin's body. Just then, she noticed another rafter break, having been burned through, swinging down directly towards Wang Jin. She gasped in horror and immediately threw herself forward, using her own body to shield Wang Jin.

The force of the falling beam was immense; how could He Sumei’s flesh and blood withstand it? The timber pierced straight through He Sumei’s chest and then plunged into Wang Jin’s abdomen. Blood began to flow from He Sumei’s mouth.

Her head slumped softly onto Wang Jin’s chest. She looked up at him and managed a weak smile. "Shui Niu, it seems we truly will meet in the next life.

But you must not forget me then. What a pity... I won't be able to make you a fine long robe..." With those words, her breath ceased.

Witnessing He Sumei die before his eyes, Wang Jin felt his heart shatter. The pain from the beam piercing his abdomen was less than one ten-thousandth of the agony of losing He Sumei. He couldn't help but roar out, "Wife, no!" His shout was so loud that even those outside heard his roar.

"If there is truly a next life, I wish to gain immense power to protect my loved one from harm; if there truly is a next life, I wish to meet you again, my wife; if there truly is a next life, I must love you well," Wang Jin whispered, his eyes fixed on the roof of the Mountain God Temple collapsing down upon him. In that fleeting moment, he made his vow. Thanks to the readers for their monthly ticket support.