195: wake

A bath?

Me?

Yumi's face immediately flushed. Although she was only sixteen, she already understood certain things.

Old Master Hisamura urged, "How about this, little Yumi? You change this boy into a clean set of clothes, and also help me wash the mattress. I can waive one-tenth of the medical fees."

Hearing this, Yumi quickly nodded, "Okay!"

Although she was shy, Grandpa was offering too much.

Yumi's gaze fell upon the young man. Because he had been submerged in water for so long, and after all the trouble, his face was filthy, making his exact appearance unclear.

She hesitated for a moment, but eventually turned and left.

Later, she jogged back, holding an extra set of clothes.

Old Master Hisamura was no longer in the clinic, and the main door had been closed. Only the two of them remained in the clinic now.

Yumi sighed in relief. She then lifted the young man; her strength was considerable, and she easily carried him into the bathroom.

When it came time to undress him, Yumi's cheeks were so red they looked ready to bleed.

"It's fine, just pretend it's my little brother taking a bath."

"He can't see anyway..."

Yumi used self-affirmation, hinting to herself not to overthink it. She then hardened her resolve and directly unbuttoned the young man's clothes... eventually leaving him only in his shorts. Yumi thought for a moment and did not continue, subtly glancing at a certain spot before expressionlessly turning on the faucet.

After nearly half an hour of effort, Yumi dried the young man's body, then suppressed her shyness and helped him put on a pair of underwear.

After cleaning the young man, Yumi carried him to another hospital bed. By now, her fair forehead was covered in sweat beads, and her small mouth was slightly open as she panted softly.

Only then did she have time to properly look at the young man's appearance.

"What a handsome older brother..."

Yumi indulged in a brief moment of infatuation, then turned around again, taking the mattress and the clothes she had removed from the young man to wash them.

Yumi only returned to the clinic after working tirelessly until evening.

Old Master Hisamura had already prepared dinner. Seeing her, he said, "Girl, want to eat dinner?"

Yumi politely declined, "No need, Grandpa Hisamura, I have to go home."

Old Master Hisamura didn't insist, and then asked, "Are you taking that boy home?"

Yumi quickly shook her head, "No! My father would beat me to death."

Old Master Hisamura paused, then angrily cursed, "Bastard!"

Yumi hung the blanket and clothes outside, then asked, "Grandpa Hisamura, when will he wake up?"

Old Master Hisamura said calmly, "That depends on him. Maybe he'll wake up tonight, or maybe it will take another month."

"Oh..."

Yumi walked inside and saw the young man receiving an IV drip.

Yumi's eyes immediately curved into a smile: "Grandpa has a sharp tongue but a soft heart."

In this era, many medical drugs are precious; their prices have increased by more than a hundredfold.

Old Master Hisamura retorted irritably, "I am merely upholding the principle of seeing a rescue through to the end. And girl, let me tell you, you'll have to pay more!"

Yumi replied cheerfully, "Alright then!"

"Then I'll head back now, Grandpa!"

"Mhm."

...When Yumi returned home, her mood became uneasy.

As expected, her father was waiting for her at home.

"Yumi is back?"

Mukaihara looked at Yumi, his expression calm.

Facing her father, Yumi was still instinctively somewhat afraid, lowering her head and whispering, "Father..."

Mukaihara glanced at her and asked, "Where were you today?"

A flicker of panic crossed Yumi's eyes. She said timidly, "I... I was at Grandpa Hisamura's place."

Mukaihara didn't doubt this, but instead said, "I heard you've been accepted by the Cangwu Martial Arts Hall?"

Yumi nodded slightly, "Yes, Father."

Mukaihara sighed, then said, "Yumi, I'll be honest with you. Our family cannot afford your expensive tuition fees."

Yumi bit her lip and remained silent.

Mukaihara said earnestly, "Yumi, don't go to the Martial Arts Hall. Just finish high school peacefully, and then go to work."

"No!"

Yumi looked at her father with stubbornness in her eyes: "Father, I want to study at the Martial Arts Hall. I want to become a Martial Artist!"

Mukaihara's expression immediately darkened: "Nonsense! What are you doing thinking about fighting and killing all day long as a girl?! What good is becoming a Martial Artist? You'll just end up being dragged to the front lines as cannon fodder!"

Yumi said seriously, "Father, if I become a Martial Artist, we can change our current life, right?"

"Change our life?"

Mukaihara slammed the table abruptly, making the tea set rattle: "Do you think being a Martial Artist is easy? The kid from the Tanoue family in the village joined a Martial Arts Hall last year and broke his leg in less than three months. Now he's still in a wheelchair, and his whole family went bankrupt to pay for his treatment! Do you want to follow in his footsteps?"

Yumi clenched the corner of her clothes. Her eyes weren't red; instead, she looked up and met her father's gaze: "That was his own fault for starting conflicts with others! Cangwu Martial Arts Hall is a legitimate hall. As long as I train diligently, I can definitely protect myself and earn money for the family..."

"Earn money?"

Mukaihara sneered, "Our family's entire savings aren't enough for your tuition, let alone the registration fee for the Awakening Ceremony and the cost of buying resources..."

"If you don't have money, how can you practice martial arts?"

Mukaihara waved his hand dismissively, "In any case, I absolutely forbid you from joining the Martial Arts Hall! If you don't listen, you'll have to figure out the money situation yourself!"

After speaking, he stood up and returned to his room.

Yumi stood rooted to the spot, tears finally streaming down her face. She slid down the cold wall until she was sitting on the floor.

Did she really have to give up?

Her dream was to become a Martial Artist and earn money to support her family, but thinking of the family's difficulties and her father's harsh words, she felt powerless.

Just then, her mother walked out holding a bowl of hot porridge. She set the porridge down, squatted in front of Yumi, and gently wiped away her tears: "Don't be angry with your father; he can't help it either."

Her mother's voice was very soft, tinged with fatigue: "I'll go try to raise some money for you tomorrow. It's okay, Yumi, I support your dream."

"Mother!"

Yumi's voice immediately choked up.

Her mother's eyes were also red. She stroked Yumi's head and said nothing more, simply handing the hot porridge bowl to her.

Yumi held the warm bowl of porridge, but her heart was in turmoil.

That night, just as Yumi was about to sleep, a knock suddenly sounded on her room door.

"Yumi, it's me. Are you asleep?"

Yumi sat up and replied, "Is something wrong, Mother?"

"Doctor Hisamura just sent a message. He said he needs you to go to the clinic."

Hearing this, Yumi's sleepiness immediately vanished: "I'll be right there!"

Just as she reached the clinic door, Yumi heard a slight movement coming from inside.

Her heart tightened. She quickly pushed the door open and walked in, only to see the young man who had been unconscious sitting up in the hospital bed, frowning and looking around. The light shone on him, outlining a slender yet tall silhouette.

"You're finally awake?"