One Year Left to Live

The jingles of a flying carriage echoed through the blazing wind. Fangsu was motionlessly lying in the shelter of the carriage, however, her grandpa was panicking in his mind and heart as he watched over Fangsu, "Yun Nan, do you know if Fangsu will recover?" She was surprisingly not screaming in pain which only scared him even more. He clenched his hand to keep himself from going insane.

Yun Nan grimaced as she chewed her lip as she stared at Fangsu unresponsive body, "I don't know," Confessing straight up, Yun Nan usually never had any difficulty in telling bad news to her patients but the Chen Family was the benefactor of her family who always supplies them with medical ingredients that many countries couldn't normally get a hold of, "I don't even think I can keep her alive anymore," Yun Nan was extremely stressed out as she began pulling her hair.

Fangsu's grandpa stopped Yun Nan from gaining a bald spot because of her bad habit of pulling her hair when she was bored or stressed, "Is there no other alternative to help Fangsu recover?" He held on Yun Nan's hand with a solid grip on hoping that there would be a method to prolong Fangsu's life. Her weak constitution was worsening over the years and the medicine was barely effective on holding back Fangsu's illness.

Yun Nan stared at the night sky hoping that time would slow down for them, "If we manage to reach the Poison Ravine before morning," Staring at the pale Fangsu with conflicted eyes, "My father may be able to find something to help Fangsu," Slapping herself in the face, Yun Nan was able to snap herself out of her panicked state. The flying carriage reached the cliff overlooking the foggy ravine until it flung itself down the endless ravine.

Bypassing the foggy cover revealed an underground mansion with a waterfall streaming down from the surface merging into the underground waterway. As the carriage landing on an arena like platform, Yun Nan and Fangsu's grandpa rush into the mansion. Where some fumes began smoking the mansion, "THIS IS THE SEVENTH TIME," a loud croaky old voice boomed throughout the mansion pausing the two before they ran to the direction of the voice.

Yun Nan fell to her knees, "Father please help Fangsu!" Begging with all her might hoping you convince him without letting him go crazy with experimenting with Fangsu.

The old man was Yun Nan's father who was an eccentric man who always wanted to experiment on Fangsu especially since she had a rare illness and she would be the one and only specimens of the rare illness. 'Unending Suffering' like the name of the illness the person afflicted by this disease would suffer indefinitely, but Fangsu was the only known case to have survived for 17 years, "Has she been struck by another relapse," The other few patients who were afflicted by this illness would have died during the birth process, "I thought you could handle it," He began lighting a pipe to smoke.

Yun Nan bowed her head towards her father, "It has progressed much more severely than you predict," Reporting that Fangsu was in severely critical condition of Yun Nan couldn't possibly handle to prolong Fangsu's life. The old man rushed over to the unconscious figure once Yun Nan had reported to him. Examining her body, he discovered that Yun Nan's report was indeed true the illness had progressed much more than previous cases.

Carrying the unconscious Fangsu, he entered a chamber where there was a pool of bluish water, Morning Dew Water. Fangsu's body was submerged into the water disturbing the tranquil water ethereal lights began slowly emitting in the water as Dawn's Breath, glowing extremely brightly. Fangsu's grandpa was extremely worried as Fangsu was being submerged into the water, "Yun Chang!" He felt the coldness of the water which could be bad for Fangsu's already weak body.

The old man brushed Fangsu's grandpa off, "You damn mother hen!" Continuing to tend to the sickly looking Fangsu, "She needs Morning Dew Water and Dawn's Breath to help stabilise her right now!" The colour slowly returned back to her face but she wasn't conscious.

The old man was confused when Fangsu didn't wake up, checking her pulse he found that she had been properly stabilised, "Ah! She is in a comatose state," He was shocked that her body was in need to shut down to preserve itself.

Both Yun Nan and Fangsu's grandpa was shocked to hear this, "How long do you think she will stay like this?" Fangsu's grandpa was genuinely scared for Fangsu's overall well-being.

The old man shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know," He made some medicine in the room creating an incense for the room to help stimulate the young girl but no response, "Maybe two weeks from now, maybe two months or never," The old man was quite unfazed by such an incident but Yun Nan and Fangsu's grandpa were shocked to the core. After hearing the part that Fangsu would possibly never wake up made his soul fly out of his body but the old man immediately whipped the soul back into the body. Fangsu's grandpa would only mindlessly stare out the window praying.

Yun Nan went to her father, "Can she be cured?" Whispering silently to prevent Fangsu's grandpa from experiencing more shock. She was hoping that he was able to help Fangsu, however, he shook his head.

He brought a stool to sit down knowing that Yun Nan was doing everything in her power to save the unfortunate girl, "This type of illness can only be cured by the Instant Recovery Pill," But, he brought down reality, breaking her hope. Yun Nan could only look at the unconscious Fangsu submerged in the water.

After four months of intensive care, Fangsu had finally woken up, sitting up to see the familiar rocky underground ravine made her realise a definite fact. She was going to die. The thought of not seeing her whole family together made her heartbreak. The creaking of a door opening caught her attention which revealed Yun Nan who gasped in shock, "Yun Nan, you know it takes a lot more than just my weak body to kill me off," Fangsu smiled as she joked to lighten the quiet atmosphere.

A croaky crackle erupted from the hallway, "This youngster still has some spirit to her," Revealing an eccentric man laughed at Fangsu's attempt at lightening the mood, "I will have to inform your grandpa that you are up and ready to go now," The man disappeared from the room to send a letter to the anxious man who was waiting for a response from them.

Fangsu turned to Yun Nan. "How long?" Her smile held an understanding of her condition. She knew her body's condition the best but she wanted to know.

Yun Nan suddenly began laughing as she began pulling her hair, "You're right it would take much more than a bleeding nose to kill you," She seated herself on a stool to check Fangsu's pulse. It was slow and steady unlike anyone for her age.

Fangsu stopped Yun Nan from checking her pulse, "Yun Nan, tell me how long I have," Her dull eyes revealed that she knew how short her lifespan was, "I can still hear things even when I'm unconscious and I know it's not long," Fangsu smiled at Yun Nan who began trembling in Fangsu's gentle hands.

Tears began bubbling up in Yun Nan's eye as she bowed her head till they touched Fangsu's hand, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Her body began trembling as she apologised to Fangsu, "I'm sorry! I'm useless! I couldn't help you cure your illness!" She was renowned as the Genius Doctor who could heal any ailment with a touch of her hand yet she couldn't heal Fangsu. What was the point of such a title if she couldn't save one person?

Fangsu gently clenched Yun Nan's hands, wiping away her hot tears, "Why are you crying? Shouldn't I be the one cry?" Laughing at the snot-nosed Yun Nan who had continuous tears streaming down her face, "I'm happy that you tried so hard for me," Consoling the crying Yun Nan who was breaking down in front of her.

Yun Nan rushingly wiped away the tears and snot from her face, "But, I couldn't heal you!" But hiccups began erupting from her body, "I'm a failure as a renowned doctor!" Covering her mouth with her hands to prevent her from hiccuping. Fangsu laughter erupted as Yun Nan desperately tried to stop the hiccups but it was futile.

Fangsu patted Yun Nan's head, "It's ok, failure will always be a part of life no matter what you do," Fangsu began to braid her long ash grey hair to the side, "You can use me as reference for someone who has the same condition as me," Listening to the sounds of the powerful sounds that the water made as it connected with the lake. After finishing the braid it had reached at least her thigh, and it made her realise how long she was unconscious for.

Yun Nan began crying again, "Why are like this!" She pounded the blanket angrily as she stared at the quiet Fangsu, "Always accepting death so willingly! It's like you have no will to live anymore!" Screaming at Fangsu who always had a nonchalant attitude about death but she was shocked when she saw tears falling from Fangsu's eyes.

When Fangsu heard Yun Nan she turned her head away in shame but anger began filling her being, "It's not like I have no will to live! Just can I do when I have nothing to look forward to when I'm going to just die anyway!" Tears began quivering at her eyes, blinding her. "I don't want to be a burden to everyone around me! All my life I have had to rely on others to help me with just the simplest task!" Until she blinked the tears began falling uncontrollably. There was no way for her tears to stop. All the emotions she had bottled up over the years had suddenly burst out in just a single moment. Fangsu wiped her face endlessly to rid her face from all the tears and the snot began running.

Yun Nan was stunned for words after Fangsu's explosive confession. She was at a loss for words. Fangsu looked so vulnerable in front of her, she always seemed like a happy and caring individual but also at times a cold and indifferent person when dealing with people she disliked. Fangsu seemed like an impenetrable tower but in reality, she was as fragile as glass, "I'm sorry," Those were the only words she could muster.

Fangsu returned back to her smiling self as she steeled herself again after wiping away all the tears. The only evidence remaining was her red eyes and nose, "Grandpa, I know you are there," Fangsu turned to the corridor revealing her aged Grandpa who heard the heated part of their conversation.

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After hearing the news that Fangsu was awake, Fangsu's grandpa happily was rushing to the room that Fangsu was admitted to with his friend closely followed behind but he stopped in his tracks as shouting began erupting from the room. As he listened to the conversation between Fangsu and Yun Nan, it broke his heart hearing those words from Fangsu's lips. Once he heard Fangsu call out for him, helplessly he entered the room, "Fangsu… please never think like that," He fell to his knees as he reached for Fangsu, "Your mother and sisters would be sad to hear you saying that," Tears began falling from his wrinkled face which only caused Fangsu's heart to break even more.

Fangsu got out of her bed to pick her grandpa, "Please stop crying for me," Wiping her grandpa's face with her already wet sleeve from Yun Nan's and her tears, "It's my fault," Fangsu couldn't bear the sight of her grandpa crying because of her.

Both Yun Nan and her father felt ashamed that they couldn't help Fangsu but they could only do as much as they could, "Child, go explore the world while you can," The old man picked the two Chen members up from the ground, "The world is vast, fly like a bird into the unknown." Once Fangsu heard those words she felt a slight liberation from her chains from being useless.

Both Yun Nan and Fangsu's grandpa stare at the old man in shock, "Are you crazy? She could get killed!" Protesting against the idea straight out.

The old man blocked his sensitive ears from their loud shouting, "Look at the both of you! You trap her in a cage like an exotic bird!" The old shut the two up with that statement as they looked at the Fangsu's appearance which was abnormal in terms of normal colouration for people but regardless of that she had a cute appearance, "Have you ever asked what she wanted once to do?" Fangsu's grandpa never realised that thought. Fangsu was always an obedient child who was thoughtful of others but compared to her other two siblings were always rebellious, never girly and always chose to do whatever they wanted.

The sudden realisation came to Chen Hong that Fangsu must have been envious of her sibling who had the freedom to do what they wished. But, she was always limited by her weak constitution that was also impaired by her illness. Turning to Fangsu, he saw a small fire shine in her eyes at the thought of travelling.

He had to let go of Fangsu.

It was dawn by the time Yun Nan took Fangsu and her grandpa back to the capital on her flying carriage leaving behind a bag of stronger medicine, "Take it every three days," She couldn't face Fangsu anymore not after happened when they fought, "There is an entire year supply for you," As quickly as they arrived at the capital she quickly left them behind standing at the gates of the capital.

Fangsu nodded knowing that she would have at least roughly an entire year left to live. Fangsu's grandpa remained silent as they entered the capital but he understood that Fangsu would travel for herself no matter what and no one could stop her. As Fangsu entered the premises of Blossoming Fragrance she was immediately greeted by Xiao Ming and the employees. She cuddled the now taller Xiao Ming tightly knowing that she was away for a long period of time. By the end of today, it would be the day she would leave the capital to strike on her own in the vast but cruel world. The first person to talk with would be Wen Cheng and the employees about her leaving so that she could travel.