After finis.h.i.+ng up my check-up, Ying tied up the bandages behind me: “You’ll be able to move from tomorrow . ”

Sitting in front of Ying, I asked, “I tried to stand up in the day but failed . Did you use something on me?”

From behind, Ying bluntly replied, “That’s right . ”

“Why stop me…?”

“Because you may never stand again if you move about thoughtlessly . ”

Ying picked up a small knife and cut the bandage in her hand . I didn’t suffer any external injuries . The bandages were used to set my bones . I looked at the empty porcelain bowl that I finished . In a soft voice, I said, “Why do you insist on helping me? Not only did you save me, but you’re treating me, too . ”

Voice monotone, Ying explained, “No, I didn’t save you . You were washed up to sh.o.r.e . I could’ve ignored you, but you’re the first person I’ve seen survive a huge wave that fellow caused; you could argue he hurt you . My duty is to protect people from his attacks . He injured you, which means I didn’t fulfil my obligation . As such, treating you is a form of compensation for an error on my part . You need not thank me or feel grateful . It should be me who apologises . ”

Ying hand on my back stopped . I heard a rustling sound from behind . I turned my head around to her black hair touch the ground . She knelt onto the ground . With her head down, she sincerely apologised: “Sorry . ”

Hopeless, I said, “Why are you apologising? You saved my life . ”

“No . As I mentioned, I failed to protect you . ”

“The person tasked with protecting me wasn’t you but my guard fleet . Moreover, n.o.body can guarantee they’d made it through a storm safe and sound, can they?”

Ying was bewildered . Frankly, I had no idea what tone she was speaking to me in . Her monotone voice reminded me of the crisp and emotionless female tone machines used, rendering me speechless . She raised her head: “If pirates or a dinichthys hurt you, then, indeed, it would have nothing to do with me . However, they weren’t the ones that hurt you . It was a wyrm that hurt you . You were supposed to be its food, but he ran for some reason . The wyrm threatens the village’s safety; my duty is to protect the village from the threat . The wyrm should not harm a soul as long as I breathe . You were hurt, though . I sensed it going on a rampage, but I couldn’t save you in time . I can’t absolve myself of the fault . ”

Ying bowed her head and solemnly apologised again: “Sorry . ”

I gently placed my hand on Ying’s shoulder . Tone solemn, I responded, “It’s all right . Ying, raise your head . You don’t need to feel apologetic . We’re not from your village, so you don’t have a responsibility to protect us . ”

“No . Even if you don’t belong to our village, I should protect you once you enter this region of the ocean . You must’ve lost a lot of people in the water . If the wyrm infects you with its breath, you’ll become a flood corpse . Flood corpses will hara.s.s the villagers by the sh.o.r.e . I do my best to not let people die in the water . In other words, if your wives are still at sea, they may be in danger . ”

“Flood corpses? Can they be killed?”

Ying straightened herself up . Adopting a proper sitting posture, she explained, “They’re fundamentally the same as humans . You can kill them by beheading them or piercing their heart . It’s just that one human corpse can usher ten flood corpses over . As you might imagine, there are too many of them once they swarm you . With that said, none of them rushed to the sh.o.r.e last night . Somebody by the sh.o.r.e saw lots of headless flood corpses this morning . Additionally, the wyrm didn’t convert all of the corpses into flood corpses in time . Something there must’ve scared them off . ”

I dallied for a moment before noticing that a smile slowly crept up onto my face . My entangled feelings relaxed all of a sudden . My mind calmed down for the first time; nightmares stopped plaguing me . I slowly lied back down and laughed .

Ying must’ve been confused as to why I was laughing . I wiped the tears at the corner of my eyes . In a shaky voice, I stated, “I’m so glad . I’m so glad . I’m so glad . That means my wives made it . My wives are still alive . Flood corpses can’t possibly hurt my wives . I’m absolutely certain they were the ones who killed the blood corpses . I’m certain of it!”

Ying fell off track for a second . She then emphasised, “They?”

“Ah, I have two wives . ”

“No, what caught my attention was that they dared to fight the flood corpses . It sounds as though your wives are soldiers specialised in combat . It would be great if they’re safe as you a.s.sume . Have a good rest . When you’ve recovered, return to them . There is no other land around nearby . If your wives are still aboard the s.h.i.+p, they will likely come here . The wyrm hasn’t been active for the last two days; therefore, the ocean has been considerably calm . ”

Ying’s indifference to the fact I had two wives was awkward to me . She stood up and carried the tray with her to the door . Eyes on her white kimono, I called her . She looked back . As a result, her long black hair gently glided through the air . I looked at her red eyes and thanked her: “Thanks . ”

“I told you: you don’t need to thank me . ”

Ying turned around . I raised my voice: “Thank you for taking care of me during this time in addition to protecting me . Thank you very much, Ying!”

I think that was the first time I addressed Ying by her name . She suddenly froze in place . Her black hair swayed a few times . She didn’t turn around, and I didn’t look away . I, instead, looked at her back with sincerity . I didn’t look away despite only seeing her back .

“Mm . ”

She left the room a short moment later . My mood literally did a one eighty from daytime . I felt relaxed . Nier and Lucia were the two who’d be capable of killing so many flood corpses . I believed the two of them were fine and would soon arrive on the island .

It was a very dangerous ordeal, but I guess you could say it didn’t turn out too bad . The rescue fleet should soon arrive . I’d bet anything there were boats in the village, as well . I just needed to inform my people of my location . I was incredibly interested in the small island . I wanted to take a good look around before I head back . I also had to find out more about Ying .

“Is Ying her original name?” I wondered . I didn’t know, but having something to address by was good enough . Moreover, I was going to spend a long time with her, so I figured I’d get to know more about her .

I closed my eyes . The breeze outside blew in . Something seemed to land on my face . I touched it with my hand . I thought it was a bug of some sort . Only to find that it was a soft flower petal . I opened my eyes and looked over to the huge moonlight seemingly hanging on the tree . With the moonlight gracing it, the leaf appeared a radiant silver colour . The wind blew the tree trunk and branches which, in turn, caused flower petals to rain down elegantly as a waterfall running down and between the rocks in a cave .

From underneath the clear moonlight and twirling sea of flowers, the girl in white slowly gazed up at the sky . Ying’s long black hair splayed out in the air, while her sleeves fluttered . The floating flower petals spread out on her hair, a sight akin to snowflakes gently landing on the ground . The moonlight illuminated her captivating face . However, her expression was as cold as the moonlight…

.  .

After finis.h.i.+ng up my check-up, Ying tied up the bandages behind me: “You’ll be able to move from tomorrow . ”.

Sitting in front of Ying, I asked, “I tried to stand up in the day but failed . Did you use something on me?”.

From behind, Ying bluntly replied, “That’s right . ”.

“Why stop me…?”.

“Because you may never stand again if you move about thoughtlessly . ”.

Ying picked up a small knife and cut the bandage in her hand . I didn’t suffer any external injuries . The bandages were used to set my bones . I looked at the empty porcelain bowl that I finished . In a soft voice, I said, “Why do you insist on helping me? Not only did you save me, but you’re treating me, too . ”.

Voice monotone, Ying explained, “No, I didn’t save you . You were washed up to sh.o.r.e . I could’ve ignored you, but you’re the first person I’ve seen survive a huge wave that fellow caused; you could argue he hurt you . My duty is to protect people from his attacks . He injured you, which means I didn’t fulfil my obligation . As such, treating you is a form of compensation for an error on my part . You need not thank me or feel grateful . It should be me who apologises . ”.

Ying hand on my back stopped . I heard a rustling sound from behind . I turned my head around to her black hair touch the ground . She knelt onto the ground . With her head down, she sincerely apologised: “Sorry . ”.

Hopeless, I said, “Why are you apologising? You saved my life . ”.

“No . As I mentioned, I failed to protect you . ”.

“The person tasked with protecting me wasn’t you but my guard fleet . Moreover, n.o.body can guarantee they’d made it through a storm safe and sound, can they?”.

Ying was bewildered . Frankly, I had no idea what tone she was speaking to me in . Her monotone voice reminded me of the crisp and emotionless female tone machines used, rendering me speechless . She raised her head: “If pirates or a dinichthys hurt you, then, indeed, it would have nothing to do with me . However, they weren’t the ones that hurt you . It was a wyrm that hurt you . You were supposed to be its food, but he ran for some reason . The wyrm threatens the village’s safety; my duty is to protect the village from the threat . The wyrm should not harm a soul as long as I breathe . You were hurt, though . I sensed it going on a rampage, but I couldn’t save you in time . I can’t absolve myself of the fault . ”.

Ying bowed her head and solemnly apologised again: “Sorry . ”.

I gently placed my hand on Ying’s shoulder . Tone solemn, I responded, “It’s all right . Ying, raise your head . You don’t need to feel apologetic . We’re not from your village, so you don’t have a responsibility to protect us . ”.

“No . Even if you don’t belong to our village, I should protect you once you enter this region of the ocean . You must’ve lost a lot of people in the water . If the wyrm infects you with its breath, you’ll become a flood corpse . Flood corpses will hara.s.s the villagers by the sh.o.r.e . I do my best to not let people die in the water . In other words, if your wives are still at sea, they may be in danger . ”.

“Flood corpses? Can they be killed?”.

Ying straightened herself up . Adopting a proper sitting posture, she explained, “They’re fundamentally the same as humans . You can kill them by beheading them or piercing their heart . It’s just that one human corpse can usher ten flood corpses over . As you might imagine, there are too many of them once they swarm you . With that said, none of them rushed to the sh.o.r.e last night . Somebody by the sh.o.r.e saw lots of headless flood corpses this morning . Additionally, the wyrm didn’t convert all of the corpses into flood corpses in time . Something there must’ve scared them off . ”.

I dallied for a moment before noticing that a smile slowly crept up onto my face . My entangled feelings relaxed all of a sudden . My mind calmed down for the first time; nightmares stopped plaguing me . I slowly lied back down and laughed

Ying must’ve been confused as to why I was laughing . I wiped the tears at the corner of my eyes . In a shaky voice, I stated, “I’m so glad . I’m so glad . I’m so glad . That means my wives made it . My wives are still alive . Flood corpses can’t possibly hurt my wives . I’m absolutely certain they were the ones who killed the blood corpses . I’m certain of it!”.

Ying fell off track for a second . She then emphasised, “They?”.

“Ah, I have two wives . ”.

“No, what caught my attention was that they dared to fight the flood corpses . It sounds as though your wives are soldiers specialised in combat . It would be great if they’re safe as you a.s.sume . Have a good rest . When you’ve recovered, return to them . There is no other land around nearby . If your wives are still aboard the s.h.i.+p, they will likely come here . The wyrm hasn’t been active for the last two days; therefore, the ocean has been considerably calm . ”.

Ying’s indifference to the fact I had two wives was awkward to me . She stood up and carried the tray with her to the door . Eyes on her white kimono, I called her . She looked back . As a result, her long black hair gently glided through the air . I looked at her red eyes and thanked her: “Thanks . ”.

“I told you: you don’t need to thank me . ”.

Ying turned around . I raised my voice: “Thank you for taking care of me during this time in addition to protecting me . Thank you very much, Ying!”.

I think that was the first time I addressed Ying by her name . She suddenly froze in place . Her black hair swayed a few times . She didn’t turn around, and I didn’t look away . I, instead, looked at her back with sincerity . I didn’t look away despite only seeing her back

“Mm . ”.

She left the room a short moment later . My mood literally did a one eighty from daytime . I felt relaxed . Nier and Lucia were the two who’d be capable of killing so many flood corpses . I believed the two of them were fine and would soon arrive on the island

It was a very dangerous ordeal, but I guess you could say it didn’t turn out too bad . The rescue fleet should soon arrive . I’d bet anything there were boats in the village, as well . I just needed to inform my people of my location . I was incredibly interested in the small island . I wanted to take a good look around before I head back . I also had to find out more about Ying

“Is Ying her original name?” I wondered . I didn’t know, but having something to address by was good enough . Moreover, I was going to spend a long time with her, so I figured I’d get to know more about her

I closed my eyes . The breeze outside blew in . Something seemed to land on my face . I touched it with my hand . I thought it was a bug of some sort . Only to find that it was a soft flower petal . I opened my eyes and looked over to the huge moonlight seemingly hanging on the tree . With the moonlight gracing it, the leaf appeared a radiant silver colour . The wind blew the tree trunk and branches which, in turn, caused flower petals to rain down elegantly as a waterfall running down and between the rocks in a cave

From underneath the clear moonlight and twirling sea of flowers, the girl in white slowly gazed up at the sky . Ying’s long black hair splayed out in the air, while her sleeves fluttered . The floating flower petals spread out on her hair, a sight akin to snowflakes gently landing on the ground . The moonlight illuminated her captivating face . However, her expression was as cold as the moonlight….

 .