C2 Leave the Mountain Village

In Green Stone Village, within the home of Han Binn, Han Tianhe gazed upon his grievously wounded son lying in bed, his heart twisted with agony. Turning to the bedside physician, he implored, "Sir, how is my son faring?"

With a heavy sigh, the doctor replied with a sense of defeat, "Tianhe, Han Binn's injuries are grave. The majority of his meridians are severed, and he's lost a great deal of blood. I fear his chances are slim. Even if he were to awaken..."

Noticing the doctor's abrupt pause, Han Tianhe swiftly grasped the doctor's arm, urgency lacing his voice, "Even if he awakens, what then?"

After a brief hesitation, the doctor spoke the stark truth, "Even if he wakes, he'll be left incapacitated."

The doctor's words sent a shockwave through Han Tianhe's mind, leaving him reeling in a void of disbelief, while his wife, Xiujuan, collapsed from the overwhelming grief.

The doctor, with a sorrowful shake of his head, gathered his medicine box to leave but paused, considering Han Tianhe's despair. "Tianhe, try not to lose all hope," he offered, "sometimes miracles do occur." Once the doctor had departed, a hush fell over the room, punctuated only by Han Binn's faint breaths—each one a crushing weight on Han Tianhe's already burdened heart.

Now in his forties, Han Tianhe had only his son Han Binn, and the prospect of having another child was beyond their means. If his son were to pass, what purpose would his own life hold? As he approached his wife to assist her, Xiujuan's eyes fluttered open.

Upon regaining consciousness, Xiujuan's gaze immediately found her son's pallid face, and she wept uncontrollably.

Though Han Tianhe kept his tears at bay, the anguish he felt was every bit as profound as his wife's.

Suddenly, a thought struck Xiujuan, and she rushed to her husband, her voice tinged with desperation, "Tianhe, your elder brother in the city—could he possibly help? Maybe he knows of another way."

When Han Tianhe thought of his elder brother, a glimmer of hope sparked in his eyes, only to fade quickly. He sighed, "You know what he's like. All he cares about is money. He's spent years mocking us for being poor, never lifting a finger to help. What are the chances he'd help us now?"

Wang Xiujuan was well aware that their chances were slim, but the thought of her son's fading health steeled her resolve. She said firmly, "Tianhe, I've made up my mind. If it means our son can wake up, we'll do whatever it takes. We've been saving for the wedding all these years, right? Let's offer that money to my brother. I refuse to believe he'll turn us down."

Han Tianhe paused, the words "That money..." hanging in the air before he steeled himself. "You're right. If we lose our son, what good is the money?" With resolve, he retrieved the savings from beneath the bed and dashed out into the night, umbrella in hand.

The sky was pitch black, a light rain falling, making the mountain path treacherous. A single misstep could send him tumbling down the cliffs.

" Tianhe, you can't go now," Wang Xiujuan called out urgently.

But Han Tianhe was determined. He popped open the umbrella and called back without looking, "I can't sit by while our son is in this state. No matter the risk, I have to try." With that, he hurried out the door.

Wang Xiujuan watched her husband's retreating figure, then turned to her son lying motionless on the bed, her eyes brimming with tears.

Han Binn lay there, his complexion ghostly pale, indistinguishable from a sheet of paper. Were it not for the faint rise and fall of his chest, one might think he was already gone. Time had raced by, and three days had slipped away. Throughout those days, Xiujuan had cared for her son with unwavering attention, spoon-feeding him chicken soup in hopes of a miracle. But Han Binn's condition only worsened, growing more dire by the hour.

Over the past three days, Han Binn had become noticeably thinner. Given the severity of his injuries, he should have succumbed long ago. Yet, Han Binn clung to life with a tenacity that was nothing short of extraordinary. Even in his comatose state, a single conviction kept him going: he could not die, he simply could not. This unwavering belief had sustained him thus far. But how much longer he could hold on was anyone's guess—maybe a day, maybe three to five.

At noon, a carriage pulled up in front of Han Binn's home. Han Tianhe was the first to alight, with his elder brother, Han Tianlong, following close behind. Three days apart had left Han Tianhe with noticeably grayer temples, his black hair now streaked with silver. Though it had been only three days since he left home, to Han Tianhe, it felt longer than three centuries.

Upon descending from the carriage and catching sight of the ramshackle thatched hut, Han Tianlong couldn't help but sneer, "Little brother, it's been over two years, and your place hasn't changed a bit."

Han Tianhe's expression soured at the remark, but remembering why he had summoned his brother, he managed to suppress his anger and urged, "Big brother, please, go inside and see Binn. I'm afraid he doesn't have much time left."

Han Tianlong gave a reassuring wave and a look that suggested there was no need for concern. "Let's go have a look," he said with a nonchalance. He was generally a decent man, but his one flaw was his avarice; he was all about the money. You could count on him to get things done, but not without payment upfront. That said, Han Tianlong was known for his high efficiency.

On that day, after Han Tianhe had sought out his elder brother, he explained the situation and handed over all his savings.

Without a word, Han Tianlong accepted the money, promptly arranged for a carriage, and accompanied his younger brother to the village.

Initially, Han Tianhe had hoped his brother would bring a doctor, but Han Tianlong refused, stating that the amount of money offered was only enough to transport Han Binn to the city. To have a doctor come to the village would cost three times as much. Having already given everything he had, Han Tianhe was at a loss for how to come up with more funds. With no other options, he resigned himself to his brother's plan.

As the two conversed, Wang Xiujuan came running out, her voice laced with urgency. "Tianhe, what's the situation?" Her worry softened slightly upon seeing Han Tianlong.

Han Tianhe gave his wife a reassuring nod and ushered his elder brother into the room.

Standing by the bedside, Han Tianlong surveyed his nephew's condition and shook his head. "With injuries like these, I doubt he'll make it," he remarked grimly.

Already distressed, Han Tianhe bristled at his brother's blunt assessment. "What kind of talk is that, Brother? Binn is your nephew, regardless of his condition. Are you actually hoping for his quick demise?" he snapped.

Taken aback by the outburst, Han Tianlong replied, "Easy, Second Brother. I'll take him to the city at once." Whether spurred by the rebuke or a prick of conscience, he promptly set out for the city with Han Binn, leaving his own son behind to save on travel costs.

The journey through the valley was treacherous and jarringly rough. Han Binn, jostled within the carriage, nearly succumbed to the tumultuous ride. By the time they reached Tianfeng City after a grueling day and night, Han Binn's breaths were faint, barely perceptible. Han Tianlong, seeing his nephew's dire state, was reluctant to even seek a doctor's help, but having been paid, he dutifully continued to Dr. Wang's clinic, since Han Binn was still clinging to life.

Dr. Wang, the city's most renowned physician, examined Han Binn and sighed. "It appears a martial arts master has shattered his meridians. It's tragic—he's lost too much blood, and the delay has been too long. Even if we revive him, he won't have much time left. It's a wonder he's held on this long." Bound by his medical oath, Dr. Wang would treat any living patient. After a brief hesitation, he produced a Pill and placed it in Han Binn's mouth, following it with a gentle stream of warm water.

Moments later, color returned to Han Binn's ashen face. Han Tianlong, elated, pressed Dr. Wang, "Is he going to make it?" His eagerness stemmed not from Han Binn's improvement, but from the promise of payment. Before departing, Han Tianhe had made his brother a pledge: if Han Binn could be revived, a generous reward would await him upon their return.

Dr. Zhang gestured dismissively and explained, "I once came across a Pill capable of mending meridians. While this Pill can partially restore the meridians, it's not a cure for his injuries—it will merely rouse him for a short while." He paused briefly before adding, "He'll awaken by evening, but he'll only have a month. Prepare for his passing once that time is up."

Han Tianlong was taken aback. He recognized Dr. Zhang's reputation as a renowned physician whose diagnoses were unerringly precise—if he said someone had three days to live, they wouldn't see a fourth. Resigned and lamenting the wasted silver, Han Tianlong knew there was no other recourse. If Dr. Zhang had declared there was no hope, then Han Binn's fate was sealed. After settling the medical expenses, Han Tianlong took Han Binn home to await his awakening before sending him on his final journey.

A prominent local merchant dealing in furs, Han Tianlong's wealth was substantial, placing him among the elite of Longfeng City. Despite his avarice, he spared no expense when it came to his residence. His mansion boasted numerous pavilions and courtyards, staffed by a retinue of servants. Upon returning, Han Tianlong entrusted Han Binn to one of his servants before seeking the company of his concubines.

As Dr. Zhang had predicted, Han Binn came to that very evening. Confused by his unfamiliar surroundings, he murmured, "Where... where am I?"

The room's door swung open, and a maid stepped inside, inquiring with deference, "Young Master, may I assist you with anything?"

When Han Tianlong had handed over Han Binn to his staff, he was likely concerned they might mistreat the young man, leading to an untimely death that could tarnish his reputation. He made a point of revealing Han Binn's identity, which led the servants to believe they were to provide the best care possible. Consequently, they assigned a comely maid to stand by, ready to attend to his needs.

Confronted with the maid, who was only a few years his senior, Han Binn asked, bewildered, "Who are you, and what is this place?"

Bowing her head, the maid responded, "Young Master, I am called Cui, and you are in Han Mansion."

As the old adage goes, "With money comes power." Han Tianlong was exceptionally astute and fully grasped this concept. He used his wealth to secure a minor official position in the city. Although the role held little actual authority, it provided him with the means to covertly collude with other officials. In the city, officials of any rank were entitled to their own mansion, and Han Tianlong's residence was none other than the Han Mansion, which had undergone numerous expansions.

"Han Mansion?" Han Binn asked, perplexed. "Which Han Mansion are you referring to?" He hadn't ruled out Han Tianlong, but in his recollection, his uncle was so avaricious that it seemed inconceivable for him to take Han Binn into his home for recovery, let alone provide him with a servant.

Cui, unaware of the intricacies between the two families, had been instructed to attend to Han Binn. The butler had made a point of clarifying Han Binn's identity to her. When Han Binn inquired, Cui assumed he was simply unaware of what had transpired during his unconscious state. Without giving it much thought, she replied, "Young Master, Lord Han has declared you his nephew."

"Uncle?" Han Binn was dumbfounded, struggling to reconcile the idea that his miserly uncle would have brought him here.