Chapter 153: Life Hanging by a Thread

Su Ruo carried Song Jingyu on her back, step by step walking out of the alley; the blood flowing from Song Jingyu's wound quickly soaked her clothes.

Su Ruo felt Song Jingyu's breath growing weaker and weaker, and involuntarily recalled the first time she saw him.

At that time, Song Jingyu wore a green military uniform, constantly digging in the ruins, solely to find a living person, yet he failed to notice the danger slowly approaching.

He was brave and resolute, willing to sacrifice himself to save others; such a person should not die like this.

Blood welled from Song Jingyu's mouth, dripping onto the ground; Su Ruo looked up, and faced with the endless night and the seemingly endless road, her eyes reddened.

Su Ruo gritted her teeth and said, "Song Jingyu, that pill is expensive, you haven't even paid me yet—you can't die!"

Su Ruo knew Song Jingyu couldn't hold on much longer, and though bringing him back for treatment was futile, she simply refused to give up.

She walked forward step by step, even though each step was arduous, even though she knew there was no hope…

Just as Su Ruo was about to despair, the road ahead was suddenly illuminated by car headlights; Si Yannian walking toward her against the light seemed like an angel lighting up her life.

"What's going on?" Si Yannian grabbed Su Ruo, who was about to fall.

Upon seeing her back bearing a severely wounded Si Yannian, Si Yannian asked nothing and immediately said, "Get in the car with me!"

After he helped her into the car, Su Ruo noticed her body trembling uncontrollably; she forced herself to calm, took out the Hundred-Year Ginseng given by Senior Brother, broke off a segment, and placed it in Song Jingyu's mouth to sustain his life.

"Where are we going now? What do I need to do?" Si Yannian's words gave Su Ruo a bit of strength.

"I need a quiet place, and this must absolutely not be known to anyone else."

Could Su Ruo trust Si Yannian? She didn't know, but at this point, besides trusting Si Yannian, she had no other choice.

"Good," Si Yannian said just one word, and the car sped off like lightning.

Su Ruo didn't ask Si Yannian why he had appeared here, and Si Yannian didn't ask Su Ruo who Song Jingyu was or why he was injured; neither spoke another word.

A few minutes later, the car stopped at a courtyard; upon entering, Su Ruo realized this was the place where Si Yannian's underlings had previously detained her.

Si Yannian said, "Don't worry! This place is very safe; no one dares to come here to search for people."

Su Ruo whispered, "Thank you."

She knew Si Yannian had some background, so even if someone suspected, knowing this was his residence would make them wary and dare not come to search recklessly.

"You never need to thank me, nor feel like you're bothering me."

Su Ruo knew Si Yannian disliked such pleasantries, so she said nothing more; she would keep in mind his help today and later think of ways to repay him.

Si Yannian placed Song Jingyu on the bed; Su Ruo immediately stepped forward to examine him, and although the master's medicine and ginseng temporarily preserved Song Jingyu's life,

but given Song Jingyu's current condition, surgery was simply impossible.

Su Ruo devised many surgical plans in her mind, but every outcome indicated that Song Jingyu would die from excessive blood loss.

The difference now is that if surgery were performed, Song Jingyu would die immediately; if not, given his condition, he could not last even a few hours.

Su Ruo's heart was filled with resentment; could it be that despite all she had done, she still could not save Song Jingyu?

Si Yannian asked, "What's wrong?"

Su Ruo weakly said, "I need to operate on him, but he has lost too much blood; surgery requires blood plasma."

Si Yannian reached out and rubbed Su Ruo's head, saying, "I thought it was something else—just blood! I'm O-type blood, take mine."

Su Ruo froze for a moment, then after a while said, "But I need a lot of blood; you might be in danger."

Si Yannian had already rolled up his sleeves, revealing his slender arms, and said, "It's fine; I trust you."

Such a resolute tone made Su Ruo's heart contract suddenly.

Su Ruo didn't know how Si Yannian could be so unprepared and yet entrust his life to her hands.

Although they had only known each other a short time, from another angle Su Ruo would absolutely be unable to do this, but now is not the time to think about such things.

Su Ruo took out the needed surgical tools from her backpack, which was actually a space.

Fortunately she had brought the bag out today; otherwise she really couldn't explain it, and although this would still arouse Si Yannian's suspicion, Su Ruo no longer had the luxury to worry about that.

Before formally drawing blood from Si Yannian, Su Ruo comforted him, saying, "Don't be nervous; I won't let anything happen to you."

"I know!"

Si Yannian looked at Su Ruo, his stunning peach-blossom eyes shining; he could give her his life in this lifetime, so why would he care about a mere blood draw?

But as bag after bag of blood was drawn, Si Yannian's face grew increasingly pallid; Su Ruo likewise had him hold a segment of ginseng in his mouth and gave him medicine to replenish qi and blood.

However, compared to the rapid blood loss, these measures were merely a drop in the bucket, utterly ineffective; by the end, the normally talkative him spoke less and less, his voice growing weaker.

When the fifth bag was drawn, Su Ruo finally stopped; although the amount of blood plasma was still insufficient, drawing any more would kill Si Yannian.

Although Su Ruo wanted to save Song Jingyu, she would absolutely not do so at the cost of another person's life.

Seeing Su Ruo pull out the needle, Song Jingyu forced a smile and asked, "Is it enough? If not, we can continue—rest assured, I can handle it."

Su Ruo looked at him and said, "It's enough."

Upon hearing Su Ruo's words, Si Yannian immediately fainted; but because Su Ruo held him up, he didn't fall from the chair.

"This guy really is stubborn." Su Ruo, feeling responsible, helped Si Yannian onto the bed, examined him, and only relaxed after confirming he was merely weak and not in mortal danger.

After settling Si Yannian, Su Ruo immediately began operating on Song Jingyu without delay, but because several of Song Jingyu's gunshot wounds had damaged the kidneys, the surgery was extremely difficult.

This surgery lasted over ten hours, with several occasions when Song Jingyu was at death's door, and Su Ruo pulled him back from the clutches of the Death God.

After the surgery ended, Su Ruo felt a wave of dizziness; she steadied herself by holding onto the wall just enough to stand.

After confirming Song Jingyu was out of danger, Su Ruo's whole body was overwhelmed by a profound sense of exhaustion.

Si Yannian looked at her, his eyes filled with deep concern: "If you do this again next time, risking your own body to save others, I will get angry."

Su Ruo smiled and said to him, "I'm fine."

But Si Yannian clearly didn't believe her; he helped Su Ruo onto the bed and said, "Rest a while; I'll go make food."

Yet Su Ruo grabbed his wrist, took his pulse, and after this day and night of recovery, Si Yannian's body, though still weak, had improved considerably; even Su Ruo couldn't help but marvel at his astonishing recuperative power.

After confirming Si Yannian was fine, Su Ruo went along with him; by the time Si Yannian returned with the meal, Su Ruo had already fallen asleep.

Si Yannian stepped forward, looked at Su Ruo's weary face, and ultimately couldn't bring himself to wake her.