Chapter 6: Even the Dead? How Depraved!

Qin Tian nearly choked and broke into a violent coughing fit. When he finally recovered, he forced a smile. “That isn’t funny, classmate.”

Lin Mengxi shook her head, perfectly serious. “I’m not joking. I mean it.”

His smile froze. “You do? Why? Just because I saved you?”

“That’s only part of it.” Her eyes gleamed. “I’m in a difficult position. Many people want me dead, but I intend to live. I need someone to help me.”

Qin Tian hesitated, then smiled politely. “I don’t think I’m capable of helping you, Lin.”

“You are. I know better than anyone how severe the cold poison in my body was, and you dealt with it so easily. That proves enough. As I said, those five years you were gone must have been eventful.”

He was about to refuse again when she added, “Don’t be so quick to say no. I know something about the massacre of the Qin family five years ago.”

An invisible wave of murderous intent erupted from him, and the room seemed to freeze. Qin Tian drew a deep breath and forced it down. “What do you know?” he asked hoarsely.

Facing the dangerous man before her, Lin Mengxi showed no fear. Her eyes grew brighter. “Marry me.”

He frowned deeply and thought for a moment. Then he nodded. “All right. I agree.”

She smiled, radiant as a snow lotus blooming on an icy mountain. “Qin Yuankun may have been involved in the massacre.”

Qin Tian knew the name well: his eldest granduncle, the man who had taken over the Qin family. “How do you know?”

“Qin Feng told me.” Her voice turned icy, her disgust undisguised. “He was drunk once and bragged that his grandfather had personally sent the old Qin family to hell, and that the present Qin family was the real one.”

“He’s asking for death!” Qin Tian turned sharply.

“Come back!” Lin Mengxi called. “Qin Feng was probably boasting. At most, Qin Yuankun is a pawn. If you go after him now, you’ll alert the people behind him.”

Qin Tian stopped. After considering her words, he saw her point. Qin Yuankun’s family posed no threat to him; he could destroy them easily. But killing them would cut off the trail to the men in black. He needed to plan carefully.

“Thank you,” he said.

She raised a brow. “You’re my fiancé now. Must you be so formal?”

He stared at her. “You really meant it?”

A cold glint entered her eyes. “Are you going back on your word?”

He smiled awkwardly. “Of course not. I’d be delighted to get a wife so easily.”

She rolled her eyes. “Even without the information, you’d still have to take responsibility. You saw me. Did you think you could just walk away?”

Qin Tian scratched his head, at a loss for words.

“Help me up,” she said weakly.

He bent to do as she asked. At that moment, the door was kicked open with a crash, and Li Xiang charged in first.

From the doorway, it looked as though Qin Tian was bending over Lin Mengxi to do something indecent.

“See?” Li Xiang shouted. “I told you he wanted to take advantage of her! He’s out of his mind, doing something so filthy to a dead woman!”

“Stop! Get out!” Lin Tong roared.

“You’re the one who should get out. Who let you in?”

The clear, cool voice filled the room. Lin Tong’s pupils contracted. He knew that voice only too well, and it was the last one he wanted to hear.

“M-Mengxi? You’re awake?” His face went ashen, as though he’d seen a ghost. Wang Guilan’s legs gave way, and she caught the doorframe to keep from collapsing. Lin Ying clutched her chest, unable to bear the shock.

An eerie silence fell. Only the steady beeping of the heart monitor remained, announcing that Lin Mengxi was alive.

Meng Henian stood trembling in the doorway. Suddenly, he stumbled to the bed, seized her wrist without asking, and pressed three fingers to her pulse. Everyone held their breath.

After a moment he let go, shaking his head in disbelief. Lin Tong clenched his fists. “Physician Meng, say something! What’s wrong with my niece?”

Meng turned to Qin Tian, his voice shaking. “Her pulse is normal, as if she’d been born anew. This is miraculous. How did you do it?”

“The cold poison is gone. Naturally, she’ll recover.”

“Cold… poison?” Meng Henian shook as though struck by lightning. He had detected the strange cold energy, but not its cause, much less known how to remove it. Yet this young man had pulled someone back from death’s door in less than the time it took an incense stick to burn. Such medicine was unheard of.

Qin Tian smiled. “Physician Meng, do you remember our wager?”

“I…” Meng’s face darkened, and he fell silent.

At the door, Su Wanqing stared in astonishment. “Xiaotian… really did it?” Her eyes filled again, this time with tears of relief and joy. Listening to Li Xiang’s taunts outside, she had been terrified. Now, at last, hope had broken through.

Meng Henian dropped to his knees before her and bowed his head. “I’m sorry. I wrongly accused you.”

She flinched. “Physician Meng, you…”

He smiled bitterly. “I lost the wager, and I’ll honor it. In this gentleman’s presence, how could I call myself a renowned physician?”

Qin Tian headed for the door. Passing Lin Tong, he paused and grinned. “I didn’t let you down. I saved her.”

Lin Tong’s face turned livid. “Thank you,” he forced out through clenched teeth.

“You’re welcome.” Qin Tian turned to Li Xiang.

“What… what are you going to do? Don’t… don’t try anything…” Li Xiang scrambled out of the room and fled. Qin Tian discreetly sent a strand of qi after him. A moment later, a piercing scream came from the corridor, making everyone shudder.

As though nothing had happened, Qin Tian approached Su Wanqing and offered his hand. “Sister-in-law, let’s go.”

“All right.” She took it.

At the door, Lin Mengxi called, “Qin Tian, don’t forget our agreement!”

He murmured assent without turning around.

Lin Tong forced a smile. “Mengxi, what agreement?”

Her smile vanished. “What does it have to do with you, Uncle? You should be more concerned about where the cold poison in my body came from.”

His eyes flickered. “Don’t worry. I’ll get to the bottom of it.”

She closed her eyes and waved them away. “Enough. I’m tired. All of you, leave.”

Lin Tong signaled to Wang Guilan and the others, and they filed out. Alone, Lin Mengxi opened her eyes, a bright light in them.

“Qin Tian, I’ve waited five years for you. This time, I won’t leave myself with regrets.”