Believing in Miracles
Translator/Editor: Mr Voltaire
Ling Chen felt as if he had been smashed in the heart by a hammer. He had never thought that the most playful and joyful girl in Heart’s Dream, who was always in high spirits and had a bright smile on her face had such a terrifying illness. This girl, who always seemed so carefree and cheerful, would only live till 20 years of age at most.
“Why didn’t you tell me this earlier??” Ling Chen asked as he gently shook her, his heart in pain. Recalling all of her smiles and laughter, he suddenly realised how those were just masks to cover up the pain and sadness within her heart. The Vermillion Bird said that it was rare for those with Flame Souls to live past the age of 20, and Xiao Qi’s current state… could it be that her ‘Heavenly Sun Arteries’ was the ‘Flame Soul’ mentioned by the Vermillion Bird?
Xiao Qi shook her head and softly replied, “Only a few people know about this apart from my family. Even big sister Meng Xin and Su Su only found out three years ago. I wanted to hide this from you all, because I didn’t want you guys to worry about me. After all, it’s impossible to change my destiny… Plus…” Xiao Qi looked up, a slight smile on her face, “What’s so bad about living until I’m 20? Because my life is going to be shorter than everyone else’s, within this period of time, I’m going to live better and happier than anyone else. I’m going to smile and laugh every day, even more than everyone else. I have the best sisters in the world, Meng Xin and Su Su, and they will always be by my side.
I also have a wonderful family. My dad and big brother treat me so, so well, and they always try to satisfy my demands no matter how outrageous they are. My big brother said that I’m his only little sister, so if anyone dares to bully me, he’ll rip them to shreds.
“And now, I also have big brother Ling Tian. Big brother Ling Tian, did you know, your appearance caused my world to become even brighter and more colourful. Just then, while we were riding, although the wind was quite strong, I had a very peaceful and satisfying sleep because I was able to lean against big brother Ling Tian. It was so comfortable sleeping like that, and I wanted to keep sleeping like that and never wake up. To have all of you by my side, even if I had to die immediately, I wouldn’t be afraid, so, so…”
“Don’t say silly things! Who said you’ll die! In this world, there’s no such thing as an incurable illness, and nothing is absolute. There’s definitely a way to cure your Heavenly Sun Arteries; it’s just that no one has found it yet. You’re not allowed to say such things anymore!” Ling Chen loudly replied as he cut her off.
Due to his experiences in ‘Heaven’ and ‘Hell’ which left him with only hatred and a desire for vengeance, Ling Chen’s blood had become completely cold. In his world, there was no such thing as compassion, sympathy or kindness. To him, life was completely meaningless and worthless. However, after meeting Shui Ruo, his icy heart had been gradually melted, until he was like a normal person again. However, his emotions and care would only be for those who were closest to him; everything and everyone else would still be met with his coldness.
At this moment, upon feeling those complex emotions, Ling Chen suddenly realised that the girl in front of him had unknowingly become an important person to him.
Due to fate, they had been brought together in Heart’s Dream. They hadn’t known each other for a long time, but they grew closer and closer each time they interacted. Yun Meng Xin, Xiao Qi and Su’Er all had prestigious backgrounds, as well as world-class beauty and beautiful and pure personalities. None of them had the arrogance and shallowness of most high-class ladies. As the saying went, birds of a feather flock together. Only girls like Xiao Qi and Su’Er could become close to someone like Meng Xin.
Heart’s Dream was created by and for Meng Xin, but he deeply liked and cared for each of the girls in Heart’s Dream. He enjoyed the feeling of working together with them towards a common goal.
Finding out about Xiao Qi’s condition had created massive waves within his heart.
Xiao Qi smiled cheerfully, “Big brother Ling Tian, for you to care so much about me, I’m really, really happy. However, you really don’t need to worry about me. Being with you guys makes me incredibly happy. Even though I don’t want to leave you all, but if that day comes, I won’t be afraid, because I have all of you.”
Ling Chen gripped his fists together, and gently breathed in. He looked at her determinedly in the eyes, “I won’t allow you to die. Meng Xin, Bing Yao, Shui Ruo and Tian Tian won’t let you leave them either. Our Heart’s Dream has only come together for a short while, so we need you to work hard with us! Trust me, there’ll definitely be a way!”
“Ahem, saving her is but a simple matter. Don’t you remember what I told you a few days ago?”
After listening to them for a while, the Vermillion Bird finally spoke out. Ling Chen looked up and asked while frowning, “Vermillion Bird, is Xiao Qi’s Heavenly Sun Arteries the ‘Flame Soul’ you were talking about?”
“Heavenly Sun Arteries? Nonsense, her condition has nothing to do with her arteries or heart. The fire within her body comes from her Flame Soul. Only about one in one trillion people possess a Flame Soul. To you humans, the Flame Soul can be a horrible curse, or a great blessing. If the Flame Soul cannot be controlled, and it is allowed to flare up, then the person will not live past 20 years of age. However, if it can be controlled, then that person’s accomplishments with fire will be something no one else can even dream to match up to.
“Moreover, the Flame Soul can also refine and strengthen her body, allowing her to live thousands, or even more than ten thousand years. However, it’s almost impossible for humans to control fire. Despite this, with my help, this will be an incredibly simple task. If you want to save her, then leave her here. Inheriting my Vermillion Bird’s Flames will not harm her, but will rather be the greatest blessing of her life. With my Flames and her Flame Soul, she will be incomparable in wielding fire.”
Ling Chen: “……”
Xiao Qi: “……”
After the Vermillion Bird finished talking, Ling Chen and Xiao Qi could only stare mutely.
“What? You are unwilling? Countless creatures have begged me for even a bit of my Flames, but I refused each and every one of them. If it wasn’t to save the Golden Crow’s descendant, why would I pass on my clan’s Flames to a human? What reason would you have to refuse my Vermillion Bird’s Flames?”
“No, you’re mistaken. To be able to receive the inheritance and blessing of a god beast is something that we could only dream of; why would we be unwilling? However, there are some circumstances that prevent us from agreeing immediately,” Ling Chen said as he glanced at Xiao Qi, “We’re not like you, as we come from a different world. What you just said might not apply to us players.”
Virtual games had already developed to an extraordinary level and the NPCs in virtual games were often just as smart and intelligent as humans. Within the games, NPCs acted and spoke exactly like real humans, and some were even more intelligent than most humans. However, in the end, they were still NPCs within games. Xiao Qi’s illness had not been cured after so many years, despite all the efforts of her family. Now, a creature within a virtual game made by humans said that it could easily save her, as well as allow her to live for thousands of years…
Any player who heard these words would be sceptical… even if the creature that said these words was the incredibly powerful and majestic god beast, the Vermillion Bird.
“I know you are humans from another world, but what of it? What difference does it make?” The Vermillion Bird asked in reply.
Ling Chen wasn’t quite sure how to answer the Vermillion Bird. He thought for a while before replying, “As players, only our consciousness enters the game. The bodies you see are not our real bodies.”
“Do you know why it is called the ‘Flame Soul’?” The Vermillion Bird once again asked.
Ling Chen shook his head.
“The Flame Soul is a soul of the fire element. Human souls usually do not belong to any element, but her soul belongs to the fire element. What I require is this sort of soul. Though you live in a different world, what comes here is your very soul! What I will give her is the origin flames of my Vermillion Bird’s Flames, as well as the memories for how to control the Flames. All of these things only require her soul; why would I need her real body?”
“But…” Although he couldn’t completely accept it, Ling Chen couldn’t rebut what it was saying. However, no matter how logical it all seemed, a creature in a virtual world said that it could save her, as well as let her live thousands of years… any rational person wouldn’t be able to accept and believe such a thing easily.
“You need my help, and I need your help. I have no reason to deceive you or set up a trap for you. She has, at most, half a year left. This period of time is when the Flame Soul is the most active. If she inherits my Flames during this period of time, the inheritance which would usually take a few years can be finished within a few months. If you believe me, then let her stay here. I will keep my promise and save the Golden Crow’s descendant while carrying out the inheritance. If you don’t believe me, I won’t force you to, and you will be free to leave.”
As a god beast and the guardian beast of the Vermillion Bird City, why would it trick players like them? Not only could it save Xiao Qi, it would also give her its Flames- this was something most players could only dream of! This was one of the four god beasts! Moreover, it wanted to find a person with a Flame Soul because it wanted to save Xi Ling.
Ling Chen could not find any reason to refuse.
He turned around and looked at Xiao Qi calmly as he softly said, “Qi Qi, do you… believe in miracles?”
Xiao Qi blinked a few times. Although he was wearing a mask, it was as if she could see his expression and understood what he was thinking. She gently nodded, “Of course I believe in miracles. After all, big brother Ling Tian has created so many already.”
“In that case, do you want to stay here? Maybe a miracle really will happen.”
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