Beyond Saving

"He's dead."

The man's lips trembled at Shen Hui's words. He looked as though he hadn't heard clearly—or had heard but refused to believe it.

He looked down at the child in his arms, then reached out to check for breath. His whole body crumpled.

His shoulders jerked. A muffled sound rose in his throat, and at last he burst into sobs.

Some of the villagers turned away. Others lowered their heads and wiped their tears.

An old man leaning on a cane sighed.

"Tie Zhu's wife died young and left him this one child... Now his family line really has come to an end."

Beside him, a woman with red-rimmed eyes murmured,

"Tie Zhu's had a hard life. He lost his parents as a boy, then his wife when he grew up. And now even his child..."

"Don't say any more."

Someone tugged at her sleeve.

The man wept for a long while. Gradually, his cries faded until only his shoulders kept shaking.

He held the child in his arms, pressed his forehead to the child's cold brow, and muttered something under his breath.

Suddenly, he raised his head.

His eyes were bloodshot, yet a frightening light burned in them.

He stared straight at Shen Hui, hope in his voice.

"Daoist master!"

His knees buckled, and he knelt with the child in his arms.

"Daoist master! You're an immortal! You can bring him back, can't you? You must have a way, don't you? Please save my child! I'm begging you!"

He knocked his head against the ground several times. Blood appeared on his forehead after only a few blows.

Shen Hui watched him in silence and did not answer at once.

When the man saw that he made no move, he shuffled two steps forward on his knees, his