Fleeting Dream Across Three Lifetimes - Chapter 3

She tried hard to lift her head, in her sight she could see Lin Qingchen’s white satin shoes pacing back and forth. Clearly, this showed she seemed to be hesitating. Su Zining sneered inwardly, This woman still needs to hesitate when punishing me?

Qin Mohan was struggling inside. Reason told her she should follow the storyline in the book, at least she must not reach out a helping hand. But looking at a frail, heavily wounded girl lying on the ground, she really couldn’t ignore her. Her brows knitted tightly, her heart was in turmoil, she didn’t know whether she could return, nor did she understand where the original Lin Qingchen had gone. In this strange and fantastical world, would they notice she was just an outsider?

Biting her lip, she paced back and forth a few steps. When she saw the pool of blood spreading under Su Zining, she could no longer hold back. She crouched down and whispered, “Are you alright?”

Su Zining froze slightly. That tone indeed carried some concern, but she clearly remembered, Lin Qingchen loathed her. In her past life, because the man she admired had looked at her a few more times and spoken up to defend her, when Su Yue pushed her forward as the scapegoat, Lin Qingchen, for certain calculations, had agreed without hesitation. Then she crippled her dantian, making her struggle to survive in misery for more than ten years.

At that thought, Su Zining’s gaze darkened, but in an instant she changed into a weak and pitiful appearance, struggling to lift her head to look at Qin Mohan, and said feebly, “It is my fault for causing you injury, whatever punishment I deserve is not too much, I dare not complain.”

She looked timidly at Qin Mohan. Having dealt with Lin Qingchen in her past life, she understood her psychology. Only by showing weakness could she earn mercy.

Yet as she lifted her head, she clearly saw a flash of shock across that cold face. The other’s eyes stared straight at her, leaving Su Zining faintly puzzled.

Qin Mohan clasped her hands tightly, nearly unable to stop herself from rushing forward. The face before her was still youthful, with a streak of blood, pale and frail, yet the charm between her brows and eyes could not be hidden. Her gaze was timid and innocent, yet paradoxically pure.

That face Qin Mohan could never forget, for she had seen it in her dreams for over ten years, etched deep into her bones. It was Zhi Mo! In all the world, others might look similar, but she would never mistake anyone else for Zhi Mo. Those eyes, that air of grace, even if veiled by youth and fear, still revealed themselves, so deeply familiar to her. And given the abilities Zhi Mo once displayed, if this was indeed that world, everything matched perfectly. So when Zhi Mo said she would take her away, it had been real!

Her mind spun into chaos. How did Zhi Mo become Su Zining? The girl before her was clearly not the gentle woman who had grown up alongside her. Since it was she who had brought her here, why had she turned into this?

Though she had countless doubts she wished to unravel, being someone who already couldn’t bear to watch her suffer, once she suspected this might be the young Zhi Mo, she could not hold back any longer.

But… when she took a step forward, she suddenly remembered her current situation. If she suddenly changed her behavior, how would Su Zining react, how would the Su family react?

In an instant her thoughts raced. She took a deep breath, still wearing a forced coldness on her face, and said faintly, “Open your mouth.” Su Zining stiffened, not understanding her intent. Qin Mohan repeated, “Open your mouth.”

Not knowing what she was plotting, yet afraid of worse consequences if she defied her, Su Zining braced herself and opened her mouth.

The person before her bent down, her beautiful face close, her expression somewhat suppressed. The next moment she swiftly reached out, shoved a pill into Su Zining’s mouth, and then gripped her chin, forcing her to swallow it.

Su Zining’s face changed, panic flashing as she looked at Qin Mohan. Qin Mohan’s gaze flickered evasively, as she whispered, “Don’t worry, it won’t kill you immediately. But if you defy me, as soon as I activate it, you will suffer heart-devouring pain. Yet I still have use for you later. As long as you behave, I can spare you.”

In the book, it was briefly mentioned that Lin Qingchen treated the Su family politely only because of their heirloom treasure, the Soul-Gathering Lamp, which was said to restore the scattered souls of one utterly destroyed.

Lin Qingchen’s mother had been harmed a year ago, leaving only a wisp of soul. Just now, Qin Mohan suddenly remembered, so she bluffed Su Zining with a half-truth.

Su Zining trembled as she agreed, her eyes brimming with tears, like a frightened young girl, which made Qin Mohan’s heart ache with both pity and guilt.

Pressing her lips together, she crouched down again and whispered, “Take off your clothes.”

What she had fed Su Zining was not poison, but the healing medicine brought by Lin Xiao.

The damage caused by a heavenly-grade spiritual weapon was fatal to the newly Foundation Establishment-level Lin Qingchen. In the original story, she had been unconscious for more than half a month. So naturally, the Lin family’s pills were precious. Some for internal use, some for external applications. To avoid raising suspicion that she had not fed poison, she had to apply ointment as well.

Su Zining was utterly confused. Though she couldn’t yet discern it with spiritual power, the refreshing scent the pill carried the moment it entered her mouth was nothing like poison. And now being told to undress, what on earth was she planning?

The predictable path had been completely disrupted, leaving Su Zining wary and tense. What exactly was wrong here?

Seeing her dazed and lost in thought, Qin Mohan glanced at her still-bleeding wound. She reached for Su Zining’s belt, and when Su Zining struggled to retreat, she said coldly, “Don’t be flattered. Since you’re working for me, as long as you don’t defy me, I’ll naturally see you well taken care of.”

Su Zining had little strength left, how could she resist, and besides, she dared not. Humiliated, she allowed those slender white fingers to untie her belt. Her outer robe fell, revealing the undergarments already soaked through with blood.

Su Yue always used a barbed iron whip to beat people. When he lashed and then yanked it back, it would rip off a whole piece of flesh.

Qin Mohan lowered her head, her lips pressed so tightly they had turned white. No one could understand her feelings for Zhi Mo. That was her only attachment in that world, a bond of both teacher and friend. How could she bear to see her treated like this?

She carefully undid the inner garment, some dried blood had glued the torn cloth to the wound. Qin Mohan’s brows furrowed, not daring to use force. Bit by bit she pressed around the wound and slowly eased off her clothes.

At this moment all she thought about was easing Su Zining’s pain, completely forgetting that this was not how Lin Qingchen should behave.

Su Zining had thought this was just another form of Lin Qingchen’s torment. But the woman before her was half squatting, her left hand disregarding filth to support her, her right hand carefully peeling away her clothes, her beautiful brows tightly knitted. In her eyes was restrained pain and anger. For a moment Su Zining felt dazed. Is this person… feeling sorry for me? The thought had barely risen when she shuddered. I must be crazy, how could this woman feel sorry for me!

“Did I hurt you?” Qin Mohan saw her shiver and quickly stopped, lifting her eyes to the pale, frail girl.

Ignoring the strange thought in her heart, Su Zining said softly, “No, I… thank you, no one has ever… ever asked me if it hurts.” Tears hovered in her eyes, about to fall yet not falling, gratitude and emotion mingled there. On her delicate and alluring face it looked utterly innocent and pitiful.

Qin Mohan sighed inwardly. Just like in the book, Su Zining was soft, naïve and easily bullied, always harboring illusions about those around her. How could she already forget that she had just poisoned her? Her heart stifled with frustration. How had her Zhi Mo once been this kind of person? Letting others bully her, grateful for a crumb of kindness? 

But what could she do? She took a deep breath and said coolly, “Don’t misunderstand, I just can’t stand seeing my people in such an unsightly state.” With that, she took Lin Xiao’s ointment and carefully applied it on her.

She did not know that the pills Lin Xiao had given were no ordinary goods. This external Jiuhua Ointment was also extremely precious, usually used for wounds inflicted by high-level spiritual weapons. Though Su Zining’s injuries were severe, they were nothing compared to the spirit-eroding wound on Qin Mohan’s own shoulder and did not need such fine medicine at all.

Su Zining recognized the Jiuhua Ointment at once, and waves surged in her heart. Was Lin Qingchen stupid, actually using Jiuhua Ointment to heal her wounds? Her behavior today was completely unlike the vicious woman in her memory. Could she have been possessed? Yes, if she could live a second life, why not? In the cultivation world, possession did exist.

She covertly studied the one applying the medicine. The more she looked, the stranger it seemed. The aura was a little different, but the cold tone of her speech was very similar. Could a person change their attitude toward someone in just three days? Clearly impossible. Yet earlier she had said she wanted her to do something, wasn’t it to seize the Soul-Gathering Lamp? If it was the Soul-Gathering Lamp, only Lin Qingchen would plot that. Or was it that by “helping,” she meant to deceive heaven and earth and help her completely replace Lin Qingchen, thus deliberately treating her kindly to win her loyalty?

After weighing it over, Su Zining had roughly figured it out. No matter what, now was the time to stay humble. She was too weak now; only by leaving the Lin family could she have a chance to survive.

Her thoughts stilled, and then the sensation on her body became distinct, the cool fingers sliding little by little over her skin, pain mixed with a tingling itch.

From the corner of her eye she saw Lin Qingchen’s somewhat serious, pretty face, focused and intent. This was clearly the face she deeply hated, yet at this moment it looked strangely beautiful to Su Zining. Shaking her head to drive out unrealistic thoughts, she obediently let Qin Mohan continue.

Half a box of Jiuhua Ointment was used up by Qin Mohan, making Su Zining’s heart ache. 

This Jiuhua Ointment was precious, yet Lin Qingchen squandered it on superficial wounds. But the effect was immediate. Her wounds almost began to close at once, and the pain faded. Even her internal injuries were half healed, making Su Zining doubt the so-called poison even more.

When Qin Mohan prepared to dress Su Zining, Su Zining’s face flushed red and she hurriedly clutched her collar, saying softly, “I… I’ll do it myself.”

Qin Mohan stood up and moved the arm that had supported Su Zining. The wound on her shoulder still tormented her; she too needed to take a pill, or else she might arouse the Su family’s suspicion.

Seeing her movement, Su Zining suddenly remembered her shoulder wound, her feelings growing even more complicated. What exactly does this person want?

To Qin Mohan, it was simply Su Zining standing helpless in the room, her heart filled with countless threads of pain and nowhere to vent them. All these years it had been Zhi Mo, like an older sister, who cared for her in dreams and made her happy, mature and gentle. Facing such a humble, lost Zhi Mo was a situation she had never imagined.

Her gaze swept over her and Qin Mohan paused slightly, suddenly thinking of something, then walked straight out.

After she left, Su Zining narrowed her eyes, a faint gleam flashing there. This person was troublesome. If she could not understand her intentions, she would remain passive.

While she was lost in thought, that voice sounded by her ear, “Prepare some food, something light.”

Lin Qingchen had only just built her foundation, not yet reached the point of fasting. Having slept so long, eating something was normal. But none of them had reminded anyone to prepare it. Was Lin Qingchen truly favored?

Carrying some doubts, Qin Mohan returned to the room, looked at the much-improved Su Zining, and let out a slight breath of relief, saying softly, “Sit down.”

Su Zining dared not speak more, obediently sitting on the round stool, her head slightly bowed with some restraint.

Qin Mohan had wanted to tell her she needn’t be so timid in the future, but as the words reached her lips she swallowed them back. She knew pitifully little about this world, and she did not know whether the original owner might return. If she did, such meaningless advice would only harm her. Right now she could barely protect herself and could not protect her.