Chapter 14
Edward Quan ·
【Don't believe anyone who tells you the child has to die.】
I burst into tears.
I went to the second coffin.
【This time, I kept her safe until the eighth month.】
【But I still failed.】
【If there's a next time, please keep trying a little longer.】
The third.
【I've discovered Mingyuan isn't acting entirely of his own will.】
【He's bound by his ancestor's oath.】
The fourth.
【My mother-in-law wasn't the first to put medicine in the soup.】
【Someone changed it.】
The fifth.
【Lu Changsheng can't leave the well unless someone invites him willingly.】
The sixth.
【Don't open the door for the dead.】
The seventh.
【I managed to kill him once.】
【But he came back because his fate-soul was still in the well.】
The eighth.
【The child can see the future.】
【But every prophecy she speaks costs her part of her own memory.】
I stiffened.
I looked down at my belly.
"You…"
No answer.
I went to the ninth.
【Don't make her tell you too much.】
【She's trading her own memories for her mother's safety.】
Tears fell.
I remembered the prophecies.
The truck.
The lottery ticket.
My aunt.
The soup.
Every one correct.
I'd been delighted.
Astonished.
Afraid.
But I'd never considered what it cost her.
My voice shook.
"How much have you forgotten?"
Silence.
"Sweetheart?"
Only after a long while did she answer.
"I don't remember."
I broke down.
I went on to the tenth coffin.
【Every prophecy is a trade.】
The eleventh.
【Don't use her gift to make money.】
The twelfth.
【She's forgotten her own name.】
I went numb.
I looked down.
"What's your name?"
She was silent.
"Do you remember your name?"
After a while, she whispered, "No."
I covered my mouth.
The thirteenth.
【Her name is Chen Nian'an.】
【Nian means remembrance.】
【An means peace.】
【I chose it because I wanted her to have a peaceful life.】
A sob escaped me.
"Nian'an…"
The baby kicked hard.
"Mommy?"
My voice caught.
"Your name is Nian'an."
"Chen Nian'an."
She was quiet.
Then, very softly, "Really?"
"Really."
I held my belly.
"I named you."
"This time, I won't forget."
The fourteenth.
【I've found a way to preserve her fate-soul.】
My head shot up.
The fifteenth.
【The fate-souls don't have to reunite to seal Lu Changsheng away.】
【We only need a substitute.】
My heart pounded.
The sixteenth.
【The substitute must share the fate-soul's origin.】
I looked at Lu Changsheng.
He was struggling wildly.
"STOP!"
I ignored him.
I went to the seventeenth coffin.
The same words marked its lid.
【Mommy, I don't blame you this time.】
I touched it.
A voice sounded.
This time, not mine.
Nian'an's.
【Mommy.】
【If you're hearing this, I've brought you here.】
I stood motionless.
Her voice continued.
【I've tried so many times.】
【Every time, I wanted to save you.】
【But you always chose to save me first.】
【I don't blame you.】
【I just wanted to say…】
Her voice caught.
【Mommy.】
【Could you live for yourself this time? Just once?】
I clutched my chest.
I was crying too hard to stand.
Then one last sentence came.
【If you still want to save us both…】
【Remember what Great-Grandmother said.】
【What was born of a curse can only be destroyed by the first curse.】
My head snapped up.
The first curse.
A hundred years ago.
Chen Youde.
The man who'd signed a pact with Lu Changsheng.
Suddenly, I understood.
I turned to him.
"Lu Changsheng."
He looked at me.
I smiled.
"You forgot something."
He frowned.
"What?"
Slowly, I said, "I didn't sign the first pact."
"Neither did my daughter."
"The Chen ancestor did."
His smile disappeared.
"Then why should my child be the one who finally pays?"
No answer.
I watched him.
"Because you altered the pact."
He backed away.
I laughed.
"You're no god."
"You're just a con man who's lived too long."
"And your pact…"