Chapter 4: Secrets Unveiled

The next few days passed in a blur. Li Sheng spent every moment he could by Mei Lin's side, learning the intricacies of traditional healing, herbal medicine, and even the subtle ways she connected with the energies around her. Mei Lin was reluctant to share everything with him, but she couldn't deny the sincerity in his eyes. She saw his growing determination and knew that, eventually, he would discover the truth about her.

One evening, as the wind picked up and rustled the trees outside, Mei Lin called Li Sheng to her clinic. There was a sense of urgency in her voice that made his heart race as he quickly made his way over.

When he entered, Mei Lin was already seated, her face pale, as though she had been up all night. She looked at him with a mixture of caution and resolve.

"I've decided to tell you," she said, her voice steady but filled with an undertone of sadness. "But you must understand, once you know the truth, nothing will be the same."

Li Sheng nodded, his pulse quickening. "I'm ready."

Mei Lin took a deep breath and began her story.

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Flashback

It was many years ago, long before the 1980s, when Mei Lin was just a child. She had grown up in a small village on the outskirts of Xicheng. Her parents were both healers, but their practices were modest—rooted in traditional Chinese medicine. From a young age, Mei Lin had shown extraordinary abilities. She could heal wounds that should have taken weeks to recover in mere days. She could cure ailments that baffled even the most seasoned doctors.

But her powers came with a price. Mei Lin's family had hidden her gift, keeping her isolated from the world, for fear of the dangers it might bring. When she was old enough, they sent her away, hoping that she could live a life without drawing too much attention to herself.

It was during this time that Mei Lin discovered the true source of her power—an ancient artifact, a jade amulet, passed down through generations. The amulet had been enchanted with the essence of life itself, but it was not a gift—it was a curse. While the amulet granted her miraculous healing abilities, it also drained her energy with every use. The more she healed, the more it consumed her.

Her parents, aware of the amulet's power, had warned her never to use it recklessly. But over time, Mei Lin could not stop herself. She healed more and more, helping those in need, unable to ignore the desperate cries of the people around her.

As she grew older, the toll became too great. Mei Lin's body began to weaken, and she started to lose her sense of self. The amulet's magic had begun to warp her very soul. The more she healed, the more she became a shadow of her former self.

But Mei Lin had continued to hide this from the world, and even from Li Sheng, hoping to keep her secret safe. She feared that if anyone knew the truth, they would fear her, or worse, try to use her powers for their own gain.

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Present Day

Li Sheng sat frozen, trying to process everything Mei Lin had just shared. The weight of her words hung heavily in the room, and the air seemed thick with the knowledge of her suffering. He reached out and took her hand once more, his voice filled with compassion.

"I don't care about the curse," he said firmly. "What matters is that you're here, and I'm here with you. We'll find a way to break it together."

Mei Lin looked at him, her eyes filled with both gratitude and fear. "You don't know what you're getting into, Li Sheng. There are people who would kill to possess this power. And the price of trying to destroy the curse may be even greater than the toll it takes on me."

Li Sheng squeezed her hand gently. "Then we'll face them together."