Chapter 137: You Are Not In Exile You Are Clearly Traveling!
**Chapter 137: The Cost**
"Where is she?"
Watching Chen Xue carry the baby away, the crowd was curious but unable to see what she was doing inside the carriage.
"Could she really have a way to save the child?" someone whispered.
"Impossible!" Zhang Yiquan countered. "She’s probably stalling for time or planning to switch the child with another one."
"Nonsense!" someone immediately defended Chen Xue. "Where would she find another baby to switch in this snowy land?"
"Exactly."
"I think you’re just jealous and trying to discredit her."
"That’s right, I know him. His name is Zhang Yiquan, and he has a grudge against the Chen family. That’s why he’s slandering them."
"You’re talking nonsense," Zhang Yiquan retorted angrily. "If the Chen family can bring someone back from the dead, then I’ll..."
"Then you’ll what?"
"Not brave enough to say, huh?"
Zhang Yiquan indeed didn’t dare to bet. Deep down, he was a bit worried but didn’t want to lose face. "Just wait and see!"
As the crowd argued, they suddenly heard a cry—an infant’s cry. They looked toward the sound and saw Chen Xue carrying a baby who was wriggling and crying.
"My baby!" The woman, stunned at first, then filled with joy, rushed forward and stopped in front of Chen Xue.
Chen Xue handed the baby to her. The woman opened the child’s clothes, saw the familiar face, and burst into tears of joy.
"Thank goodness, thank goodness!"
Seeing the woman’s reaction, the crowd realized that Chen Xue had indeed brought the child back to life.
The Chen family could actually revive the dead.
"Gasp!"
The crowd collectively inhaled sharply.
"Impossible! How can this be?" Zhang Yiquan staggered back, unable to believe it. The Chen family were ordinary people, not supposed to be capable of such miracles.
Why?
It didn’t make sense!
Zhang Yiquan felt his worldview crumbling.
Others who had sided with Zhang Yiquan now had sour faces and some even turned to flee, fearing retribution.
"Thud!"
Suddenly, Chen Xue collapsed to the ground.
"Miss!" Xiao Die, who appeared at her side, caught her just in time, her face filled with concern. "Are you alright?"
Chen Xue weakly waved her hand. "I’m fine, just exhausted."
While facing away from the crowd, she winked at Xiao Die, who understood immediately and turned to shout to Master Chen.
"Master, something’s wrong! Miss used up her lifespan to perform the celestial art and has fainted."
"What?"
"How could this happen!"
Master Chen’s expression changed dramatically. He rushed over to his unconscious daughter, his face full of anxiety.
"Xiao Xue, don’t scare me!"
Xiao Die continued to cry out, "Master, we need to take Miss back to rest. She said this secret art can only be used once in a lifetime, the cost is too great."
Master Chen panicked. Had he known the cost of this secret art, he would have stopped her. No matter how others might resent them, or how his reputation might suffer, he was a father first and couldn’t bear to see his daughter hurt.
Thoughts racing, he hurriedly carried Chen Xue back to the carriage.
"What’s happening?" Madam Chen was startled, seeing her husband bringing in the unconscious Chen Xue.
"I…"
Master Chen felt guilty, but before he could explain, Chen Xue "woke up," sat beside her mother, and started eating some pastries.
"Xiao Xue, you…" Master Chen was stunned.
"Miss is fine," Xiao Die said. "I’m sorry, Master, I made it up."
"I asked Xiao Die to say that," Chen Xue explained, pulling Xiao Die to sit down. "I was worried that if people knew I could revive the dead, they’d come to us endlessly for help."
"So I thought we should pretend that using this secret art comes at a great cost. That way, they might not come to us."
"And if they do, we can claim it requires a significant sacrifice to deter them."
"But," Chen Xue continued, feeding Xiao Die a pastry, "credit goes to Xiao Die. She came up with those words herself, not me."
She had briefly instructed Xiao Die on what to say before coming out of the space, but Xiao Die’s performance exceeded her expectations.
In the future, if anyone asked her to revive someone, she could use the excuse of needing to sacrifice her lifespan.
"You scared me to death!" Master Chen wiped the sweat from his forehead. "I nearly had a heart attack."
"Next time, give me a hint first, or I might really go mad."
Master Chen felt relieved yet jittery, knowing he could not bear to lose his only daughter.
…
The crowd, seeing Chen Xue faint and hearing Xiao Die’s shouts, realized that using this celestial art came at a great cost. They had thought it was easy.
Now they knew Chen Xue had to sacrifice her lifespan, and the art could only be used once in a lifetime, making it clear they wouldn’t have another chance. Even if they did, the Chen family wouldn’t use it again for anyone.
Seeing Master Chen’s frantic actions convinced them it wasn’t a performance, making them accept the high cost of this miracle.
"Serves her right!" Zhang Yiquan muttered in the distance, pleased to see Chen Xue faint. He secretly cursed her. While it was unexpected that the Chen family could revive the dead, he was glad it came at a high cost.
Zhang Yiquan’s mind raced, wondering if he should incite others to pressure the Chen family for more miracles, ensuring they faced consequences.
PS: Sisters, it's the end of the month. Please support with votes and rewards!
Comments
Post a Comment