Xi held the fruit of her three days of relentless effort in her own hands. That royal garment shimmered like gold in the sunlight. A sense of triumph gleamed in Xi's eyes. She immediately ran to show it to her sister.
"Sister... look! I finished it. Isn't it beautiful?" Xi shouted with excitement.
By then, Ye was drifting between consciousness and oblivion. Even her vision had begun to darken. But hearing Xi's joyful voice, she summoned every ounce of her strength to open her eyes. Looking at the shimmering dress before her, she forgot her agony for a fleeting moment. Realizing that her little sister had created such a magnificent masterpiece, a beautiful, proud smile emerged from Ye's pale lips.
"It's very... beautiful, little sister..." Ye whispered in a trembling voice. She was genuinely happy for Xi's talent. To Xi, that happiness felt as vast as a mountain. With a sense of great victory, she quickly packed the dress in a box and left the house to meet Lan Shu.
The moment Xi left, Ye's body fell under the absolute command of death. An unbearable, burning pain erupted from deep within her chest. The agony, as if her heart were being scorched, brought her to her knees. A fit of coughing seized her; she pressed both hands firmly over her mouth, terrified that Xi might hear the sound of her blood spilling.
Ye tried desperately to stand, but her legs were lifeless. As the warmth gradually drained from her body, she realized death had arrived at her side.
"Xi...! Little sister...!"
She used all her remaining strength to scream Xi's name. But the only thing there to carry her deathly plea was the wind blowing through the forest. Xi was already far away.
"I... I need to see you... just once... just one more time..." Ye sobbed, dragging herself along the floor. If this was to be her final moment, she prayed fervently to close her eyes while looking at Xi's face. She lay by the leg of the table where Xi worked, hoping to breathe her last while inhaling at least the lingering scent of her sister.
"No... I cannot die... I must stay for Xi..." Pushing back the dark shadows of death, she rose with great difficulty, like a phoenix rising from the ashes. It was not out of a desire for life, but out of the immense affection she held for her sister, not wanting to leave her alone.
Time slipped away. Xi returned home smiling like a great conqueror. In her hand was a beautiful red silk Hanfu adorned with gold thread. She had purchased it from the city for Ye.
"Sister! Look what I brought for you!" Xi unfolded the dress with enthusiasm.
Ye was in a state of severe distress. She had neither the vision to see the beauty of the dress nor the strength to speak of it. She only needed Xi's warmth.
"Sister... I have no use for these things... I just need you to be with me. Can't you... spare a little time for me? I have something to tell you..." Ye pleaded in an incredibly weak voice.
The smile on Xi's face vanished instantly. She had expected Ye to jump with joy. "I worked for three days without sleep, and when I bring you such a valuable gift, you reject it? Why are you being so cruel, Sister?"
Xi's sorrow became uncontrollable. Her grief transformed into an anger she herself did not understand. She began to speak harshly to Ye. "Do you know how much I sacrificed for you? I am doing all of this for you!"
Ye could not bear these accusations. 'My sister is suffering because of me...' Amidst the mental anguish, her physical illness flared up violently. She felt a pain as if her heart were stopping. Suddenly, a large amount of warm blood spilled from her mouth onto the floor right in front of Xi. Ye's eyes closed, and she collapsed at Xi's feet like a lifeless rag.
A deathly silence pervaded the house. Trembling with fear, Xi lowered herself to look at Ye. Only then did she see the blood flowing from Ye's mouth and her pale, still eyes.
"Sister...? Sister...!"
Xi forgot everything. The silver coins she had gathered, the expensive clothes—it all felt like ashes to her now. Wailing, she took Ye into her arms and embraced her. "Oh, Sister... forgive me! Please open your eyes!"
But Ye's cooling body did not respond to Xi's tears.
Xi clung to Ye's still body and cried out in agony. Her tears fell upon Ye's blood-stained face.
It was as if Xi's warm tears and lamentations awakened Ye's soul once more. With great difficulty, Ye raised her trembling hand and caught Xi's arm. Xi started at the touch.
"Sister! You... you're still here, aren't you?" Xi cradled Ye's face in both hands and cried even louder. "Please don't leave me, Sister. You're all I have in this world. Nothing else matters if you aren't here!"
Ye pulled Xi closer with effort. She used her remaining strength to place a deeply affectionate kiss on Xi's forehead. Within that kiss lay an unspeakable forgiveness and love.
"I... I'm not going anywhere, little sister..." Ye whispered in a very weak voice. "Now stop that crying... you crazy girl..."
Hearing those playful words, a smile broke through Xi's tears. It was a strange smile, a blend of pain and joy. Xi immediately tried to give Ye a little water and very carefully lifted her to lay her on the bed.
"I won't let anything happen to you, Sister. I will save you somehow!" Xi said with fierce determination.
"Xi... I need to go to Huan Mi... only she can save me," Ye said in a faint tone.
Xi did not think twice. She waited a moment until Ye gained enough strength to sit up slightly. Then, supporting her sister, she began the difficult journey through the dark forest, passing the city, in search of Huan Mi. In Xi's heart, there was only one goal: to rescue her sister, who was as precious as her own life, from the clutches of death.