To Raise a Soul 4

As if annoyed by his staring, a twig fell on his head, slid down his back, and into his basket.

“Ah.”

Yu Zhen raised his hand to his head and turned to look into the basket. However, the angle was off so he could only see the corner of his cotton-padded hat.

The branch was growing perfectly fine on the tree, why did it suddenly fall?

Yu Zhen felt strange. He turned and took off his basket. Bending, he picked up the branch laying on top of the firewood. He tilted his head up and looked at the peach tree to find the branch it fell from. But he was met with a bare tree.

A northern wind blew, bringing with it a cool chill.

Yu Zhen held the twig of peach blossoms in full bloom. Standing under the bare tree, he stared up at it, stupified.

The flowers. Where are the flowers?

He glanced down at the flower-covered twig in his hand and looked up at the bare peach tree. A twig from the highest point of the tree had broken off. Nervously, his mind came to some strange conjectures. Yu Zhen didn’t dare stay another second. He picked up his basket and ran toward the small road that would take him uphill.

After a few peaceful, restful days, Yu Zhen began to dream again.

He couldn’t remember their contents, and he became more and more muddle-headed with each passing day. Even worse, though, was the cold in his arms and legs which had returned with the dreams.

One sunny day, Yu Zhen sat on the temple door’s high threshold with large, dark circles under his eyes. He took a bite out of a bun and chewed a few times without paying attention to the taste. His eyes unconsciously shifted to the ground where the twig was laden in beautiful flowers. He choked and couldn’t eat anymore.

It had been a week, but the strange twig remained covered in brilliant flowers. They showed no sign of withering and maintained an attractiveness that made people happy. With the brilliant blossoms nearby, his thin, pallid appearance was easily overshadowed.

It was too weird.

Placing the steamed bun on a stool, he stood and picked up the twig. He reached out and pressed the flowers, an abundant amount of juice coating his fingers.

Normal petals wouldn’t produce so much.

The flowers’ fragrance filled the air, and in his muddled state of mind, Yu Zhen wondered how it would taste. He licked the juice from his hand. The sweat taste spread throughout his mouth, and his confusion cleared up.

Hmm?

Yu Zhen stood motionlessly. He felt as if he had woken from a dream. Not daring to look at his hand, he looked at the surprisingly tasty flowers. He threw down the peach blossoms in a panic and frantically wiped his hand clean.

What was going on? He actually thought the juice was delicious, and there was that strange illusion the branch might be chocolate-flavored.

Something is wrong. There has to be something wrong.

The words Grandpa Yu used to say to him flashed through Yu Zhen’s mind. His heart rate skyrocketed.

The cold limbs, confused mind, insomnia, and dreams had all appeared after he burned the Ping-An bracelet. He had also experienced things that couldn’t be explained with science.

The doctor said his medical report showed he was completely fine.

The flowers were still in full bloom, and the sweetness still lingered on his tongue. Yu Zhen tightened his fist, and his cold fingertips warmed as the sweet taste in his mouth spread.

He was finished. The punishment for not listening to his grandpa had come.

A luxurious black car traveled down an uneven, dirt road. Its speed was so slow it didn’t match its function.

“Uncle Wen, drive slower. Brother still hasn’t recovered. We can’t jolt him around,” Yin Le reminded for the fifth time. In the driver’s seat, Weng Xiping’s face was full of helplessness.

“Young Master, if we slow down any further, the car will stop.”

Yin Le took a look outside the window and saw the scenery was crawling by. Realizing he was being silly, Yin Le smiled to cover up his embarrassment.

Through the rearview mirror, Yin Le glanced at his brother sitting alone in the back. Yin Yan shifted in his seat, clearly feeling uncomfortable.

He should have sat in the back, but recently, his older brother was too silent and had become strange. Yin Le felt his big brother had the aura of a celestial being that didn’t belong amongst humans. He felt being that close to his older brother would be an offense.

He wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but since the accident, Yin Le had felt not only had his brother’s temperament changed, but his appearance also seemed to be different.

Clearly, facial features were just facial features, but the color of his brother’s eyes and hair were getting darker by the day. The color of his lips had turned from an unhealthy pink to a darker red that made people want to stare.

But the reason for those changes could be due to his weight loss. His facial features had become more defined, his skin improved, and even his height seemed to have increased a little.

How did it look like his brother was unwell? It looked more like his brother had gone overseas for surgery to perfect his appearance.

In the rearview, Yin Yan looked away from the scenery, and his gaze met Yin Le’s. Yin Le stared blankly at him then quickly looked away.

“What’s wrong?”

Yin Yan was still expressionless. He raised a hand to touch his face and asked, “Do I look too pale right now? My complexion’s been sickly.”

His pale, slender fingers were stark against his attractive face, like an eye-catching painting, but Yin Le felt a little sad.

“No. Big Brother is still very handsome.”

Yin Le shook his head and felt he was being silly. Of course, if his brother lost weight, his features would get more defined. Being in the hospital for so long, his skin would pale, so his hair and lips would look darker.

After eating nutritious meals daily, and being forced to lay in bed all day, it would be weirder if his skin didn’t improve.

As for the height issue, Yin Yan used to slouch, but recently, the doctor advised him to stand straight. It was natural his brother seemed taller now.

What plastic surgery? His brother’s handsomeness was the result of good genetics.

Putting the silly thoughts out of mind, the distant feeling faded from Yin Le’s heart. He turned around and hung onto the car seat. He openly looked his brother up and down and said, “Mum’s style is great. You look handsome wearing this suit. It looks better than the jackets you used to wear.”

Yin Yan straightened the suit and didn’t respond.

Yin Le’s gaze followed his brother’s hands then snapped back up to Yin Yan’s hair that had grown longer. Compared to the carefully styled hair his brother used to keep, Yin Le foud his loosely hanging, soft, black hair looked even better. But remembering his brother’s usual preference, he said, “Brother, your hair needs a trim. When we’re back in B City, why don’t we go for a haircut?”

“Young Master, please sit properly. We’re going uphill.”

Weng Xiping interrupted the brotherly exchange. Yin Yan didn’t respond to the suggestion and only repeated, “Sit properly.”

“Oh.” Yin Le replied and turned back. He obediently sat in his seat and adjusted his seatbelt.

The slope wasn’t long, and the car quickly and smoothly went up. A dirt road even narrower than the previous stretch appeared before them.

“Keep straight,” Yin Yan said and slightly adjusted his sitting position.

Yin Le felt he might be overthinking things again. He felt his brother had become the strict type. His brother’s expressionless face was calm and collected.

There were twists and turns in the dirt road. As they traveled further down the road, the trees grew denser and the road narrower.

When a broken tree appeared on the roadside, Yin Le looked over. The joy on his face disappeared, and his lips tightened.

Weng Xiping also glanced to the side then stepped on the gas to speed past it.

The Taoist temple was close. Yin Yan didn’t even look at the scene of the accident. Instead, his gaze was fixed ahead. The temple was reflected in his dark eyes. Apart from the building, nothing else mattered to him.

The car stopped near the door. The driver considerately didn’t block it.

Up until then, Yin Le had never seen such a worn-out door or temple. His eyes swept over the large crack in the courtyard door and the crude tiles on the roof. He suddenly felt weak.

In his mind, the sister-in-law who saved his brother’s life was a delicate, pretty woman who was down to earth and had a warm personality. Though the residence was simple, there was a garden out front and a small stream in the back.

He felt only this type of young lady was suitable for his brother. Only this type would be able to mend the heart Han Ya broke. Love at first sight. It should be said the true essence of love was warmth and kindness, not lies and making someone wait.

“Young Master, are you thinking straight? Didn’t the officers say the savior was a young man who lived in the temple? What flower garden and small stream? Please watch fewer idol dramas and read books instead.”

Weng Xiping ruthlessly broke Yin Le’s fantasy. Removing his seatbelt, he exited the car.

Yin Le realized he had said such embarrassing imaginations out loud. With a red face, he turned to explain to his brother, only to find the seat empty. His older brother had already disappeared.

Hmm? Where did he go? Didn’t the car just stop?

He turned forward again and saw his brother’s silhouette at the temple’s door. His brother looked so handsome he could turn people’s legs to jelly.

Inside the temple, Yu Zhen sat on the old-fashioned bed. He clenched his cold fingers, pursed his numb lips, and looked at the peach blossom congee before him. He took a deep breath and lifted his hands to the bowl. His fingers traced the bowl’s edge.

He didn’t have the time or energy to think too much about weird things. If he kept feeling this cold, he suspected he’d freeze to death.

Knock, knock, knock.

The fingers at the bowl’s edge halted. He paused for a moment then shook his head.

Why would there be knocking? Am I hearing things again?

Knock, knock, knock.

The congee’s fragrance drifted over, and his sluggish mind jerked to action.

He realized the knocking came from the courtyard door. It wasn’t an illusion. He quickly got up and ran a hand through the hair he hadn’t brushed since waking up. He pulled off the cotton blanket wrapped around him and headed for the door.

This is strange. Normally, no one visits for years at a time, but there was a visitor that day. The sun must be rising from the west.

“I’m coming, wait a moment.”

He raised his voice so the guest wouldn’t feel impatient.

With his hand on the door, a faint breeze drifted in from beyond it. He paused. When he noticed the scent, he thought of a possibility.

Recently, he’d met too many strange occurrences. He had a strange incident in the woods. The person knocking on the door now, could they be. . .

Knock.

From the crack in the door, another gentle knock sounded. Then, a slender hand reached in to grab the door. It was pushed open.

The stranger didn’t use much strength, and Yu Zhen didn’t put any effort in pushing back. This time, he had no strength left to resist danger.

Yu Zhen stared at the pale hand and memories of the corpse from the night of the accident rapidly surged through his mind. He stepped back, eyes wide, and his teeth chattered. With fear in his eyes, he looked up as the door slowly opened.