Chapter 170: A Life for a Life? There were conditions!
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The air in the hospital room hung heavy with an unusual silence. All three individuals remained in complete silence, each absorbed in their own thoughts.
After what felt like an eternity, it was Qian Qiangyu who finally broke the silence. He looked at Li Yidao and asked, “Mr. Li, may I ask you for a favor?”
Li Yidao, observing the uneasiness in Qian Qiangyu’s eyes, gently nodded and said, “Go ahead.”
Qian Qiangyu hesitated for a moment before making his request, “I… I wish to see her one more time, is that possible?”
Li Yidao furrowed his brows in response.
Under normal circumstances, Qian Qiangyu should be relieved to have separated from the bride in the dream world.
Why would he want to see her again?
Qian Qiangyu let out a bitter laugh and explained, “I don’t know why, but ever since I sealed her, I haven’t seen her in my dreams. However, I can’t forget her. I keep feeling that the world I’m in now is unreal, and the world I shared with her was the real one.”
Li Yidao gave Qian Qiangyu a deep look and replied in an even tone, “I can’t help you with that.’
Indeed, Li Yidao was incapable of granting Qian Qiangyu’s request.
Although he could see the bride in the wedding dress, he couldn’t make her visible to Qian Qiangyu.
“Now that the situation is clear, could you tell me the origins of the painting you’re holding?” Li Yidao continued.
“I assume you haven’t left everything uninvestigated. Even if the painting isn’t widely renowned, it should have some historical records.”
At this point, the most critical matter for them was understanding the specifics of this ghost bride.
Once they had that information, they could address the situation and work toward a solution.
Upon hearing Li Yidao’s response, Qian Qiangyu’s eyes filled with disappointment.
He paused for a few seconds before answering Li Yidao’s question with a bitter smile.
“I did, in fact, consult many experts and collectors to gather information about this woman. It was from that point onward that my fear started to dissipate,” Qian Qiangyu began. “She… she was a pitiable woman.”
He continued to reveal the story of the bride in her wedding gown, a rather tragic tale.
She had become pregnant out of wedlock and was forced into marriage, not with the man she truly loved but with someone who was deemed more suitable in terms of social status.
However, had it stopped there, it could have been a sad love story, had her husband been kind to her.
Yet, unbeknownst to her, the man she married was already critically ill. Within a week of her arrival, he succumbed to his illness, and she, tragically, was murdered after that.
Her family, on the other hand, received a precious plaque, a source of admiration among the community.
In ancient times, such an act was a matter of great pride, a testament to their family’s honor and respect.
In other words, her family traded her life and the life of her unborn child for a simple wooden plaque.
Li Yidao fell into silence as he listened to the story.
He looked silently at the ghost bride, recognizing that the roots of her current sadness were in the past hardships she had faced.
However, he understood that her past suffering should not be used as a justification for her actions now.
While he felt a certain sympathy for her, he did not pity her.
They had found the source of this matter, and it was now essential to find a way to dissipate the resentment she harbored.
If reconciliation was not possible, Li Yidao was ready to take more forceful measures.
Nevertheless, there was one thing that had to be done—ensuring the safety of the young boy.
If they took action without proper planning, Wei Wenqiang’s grandson might be doomed.
As he contemplated these things, Qian Qiangyu’s questioning voice interrupted his thoughts.
“Is the child currently… entangled by her?”
Li Yidao was puzzled by the question, surprised that Qian Qiangyu seemed to know.
He nodded gently, and Qian Qiangyu revealed a bitter smile.
“As I suspected…”
“When the guy gave me the inkstone, he told me that this method could indeed temporarily confine her. However, if the inkstone were to be destroyed, there might be many uncontrollable consequences,” Qian Qiangyu explained.
Li Yidao frowned and asked, “Who is this man? Where is he now?”
Qian Qiangyu shook his head and continued with a bitter smile, “I couldn’t find him when I tried to locate him before. He… he’s already deceased.”
Li Yidao was speechless.
F*ck!
Well, this was an unsolvable situation!
Observing the current state of the ghost bride, it seemed impossible to dispel her resentment in the short term.
The only option was to find a way to save the young boy’s life and then forcibly deal with the situation.
However, a solution appeared out of reach.
It seemed that contacting the old man was the next step to explore any potential means.
Just as Li Yidao had decided to find the old man, Qian Qiangyu seemed to reach a decision. He took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly.
“When that man explained this situation to me, he also mentioned a solution,” Qian Qiangyu announced, capturing the attention of Wei Wenqiang and Li Yidao.
Wei Wenqiang was especially surprised.
He had been on the verge of despair after overhearing their previous conversation and believed that the situation was nearly unsolvable. Yet, he couldn’t have anticipated this change in the circumstances.
Li Yidao inquired with a furrowed brow, “What solution?”
It was time to untangle this web. If the misterous man provided the method, it might be their last hope.
“A life… in exchange for another life,” Qian Qiangyu responded.
A low hum filled the room as Li Yidao, with a deepening frown, contemplated the notion of exchanging one life for another.
His eyes darted involuntarily toward the direction of the ghost bride and Wei Wenqiang’s grandson, who was held captive by her.
Exchange one life for another? How would they proceed?
Wei Wenqiang, upon hearing the concept of exchanging one life for another, took a deep breath and declared without hesitation, “I will do it!”
This was a grandfather, defending his grandson with unwavering determination—a pure and profound love, the most selfless and noble kind.
Li Yidao remained silent, for he had no reason or authority to interfere or obstruct their decision.
However, he couldn’t help but wonder if there was no other alternative to consider.
An exchange of one life for another—was that truly their only choice?
Meanwhile, Qian Qiangyu smiled wryly, “It won’t work. You can’t do it.”
Wei Wenqiang, his brows furrowing in frustration, cast a hostile glance at Qian
Qiangyu.
“Why can’t I?”
His voice was laden with anger.
It was entirely understandable. Anyone in his situation would likely feel the same.
Getting into such a situation for no reason, he even had to sacrifice his own life and the lives of his family!
“You can’t replace him because…She won’t want you.”
At this point, Qian Qiangyu seemed to have made a decision.
His tone and demeanor had undergone a transformation, shedding the helplessness and submissiveness.
“What do you mean? Why wouldn’t she want me? It’s one life in exchange for another life! Why wouldn’t she accept my life in place of my grandson’s?”
Wei Wenqiang’s immediate thought was to find a child of a similar age to exchange for his grandson.
However, even though he wasn’t necessarily a virtuous person, he couldn’t fathom going through with such a morally reprehensible act, which plunged him into despair once more.
His voice resonated with anger, and he even grabbed Qian Qiangyu’s collar with both hands.
Qian Qiangyu, without a word, met Wei Wenqiang’s gaze and then redirected his attention to Li Yidao.
“One life in exchange for another life, but she must agree to it herself. The person to be exchanged for must be someone she chooses, ” Qian Qiangyu explained, emphasizing the importance of her consent.
“So… you should ask her if she’s willing to accept my life in exchange for the child’s life,” he continued, his gaze unwaveringly fixed on Li Yidao..
This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢