Fei Lap looked at the girls helplessly "Im sorry..." his eyes lingered on Ping Yee. "I love Ping Yee more." he closed his eyes to avoid the glare from Ching Ching.
"Lap Gor! How could you. After all that she's done for you??" she was angry and she had the right to be. She thought he would understand how she felt. She would much rather die then to have someone die in her place.
Both girls were crying harder then before as Fei Lap looked at both of them "I can't lose you..." his gaze ended on Ching Ching. They understood what he was trying to do. His final decision was still Ching Ching.
The woman sneered "Hmph! At least you can decide, unlike your father!" she said with rage. "Well, now that you know who he loves more, you can die with peace." She twisted the girls around her arms, using her full force as she used her internal energy, she hit both girls on the back in unison.
"NOOO!!!" he cried out as he watched both girls spit out blood. He rushed in time to catch both of them on each arm before they fell. His eyes filled with tears, he looked down at the girls in his arms. "Ching Ching." he pulled the blood stained veil from her face. Touching her scars as he pulled her face up the nape of his neck while he hugged her tightly.
"Lap Gor, don't be sad." he heard her whisper and pulled her away from him so he could see her. Her eyes wandered to Ping Yee, who was pale aside from the blood dripping down her mouth.
He turned to Ping Yee as he gently placed Ching Ching on the ground "Im sorry..." he whispered as he pulled her to his chest.
She smiled through tears "I understand. Im glad you made a decision." he burried her face into his chest as he hugged her.
"Would you like to join them?" the wild woman asked Fei Lap.
With his other hand, he reached around Ching Ching's neck and pulled her to his chest. "I'll take you with me." he said through clenched teeth.
"No more." the male voice said sadly. Kam Hung stepped between his wife and the three. He looked calmly at them. "All this pain, all this hurt, all the deaths. They have to stop somehow?" his eyes filling up with tears.
"They never stop." his wife said sadly "I did all this because I loved you so much." she had a soft spot for this man. There was something about him that she could never let go of. Since that first day he walked into her life, she promised that he would only be hers and no one else's.
The man laughed with tears in his eyes "Because of me? You're right...its all because of me?" he continued to laugh.
"What's so funny?" Liu Sum asked.
"If I never met you three women, this would have never happened?" he looked at the ground and swiftly reached for Yiu Fai's fallen sword. Using the sharp sword, he sliced his own throat. The blood quickly drenching his clothes as he fell to the ground. His eyes closed slowly.
"Hung Gor!!!!" Liu Sum cried out in agony as she fell to the ground next to him. Her sobs loud and painful.
"Father..." Fei Lap whispered as tears fell down his face. His father finally did something right in his life, even if it meant giving up his own life.
"Please don't leave me..." she rocked her husband back and forth. "If you die, what am I gonna do?" she pulled him away from her and saw his closed eyes. Her shaking finger reached out to his nose, testing for his breathing. She gasp as she pulled back her hand, he was dead. She slowly smiled as she reached for the sword in his hand and sliced her own throat. Blood surging from the open wound, "Wait for me." she whispered before falling beside him.
Fei Lap closed his eyes as he pulled the weak girls closer to him. He looked around and found Yuk Lan hugging Yiu Fai's corspe while Ga Lok stood behind her watching. His gaze returned to his father and Liu Sum's lifeless body. So many deaths, so much pain; all over one man and all because of the word love.
He looked up in time to see a pair of feet a few yards from him. It was Chan Ling, she sighed as she looked at everyone around her. "Kam Hung, if only you would have guessed this to happen sooner. Maybe our children's life would have been easier."
"Bak Mau..." Fei Lap called out to her. His head pointing towards Ping Yee by his side.
Chan Ling quickly rushed over to her daughter, she didn't even see her "Ping Yee!!" she cried out. She took her daughter's pulse and then Ching Ching's. "Its not too late. Sit them up." Fei Lap did as he was told while she used her internal healing powers to help them.
Fei Lap didn't want to disturb her so he walked over to Yuk Lan. His gaze set on Yiu Fai "He's dead, you have to realize it." he said softly.
She nodded slowly as she looked at him "Eventhough we're not true blood brother and sister, I still wanted you to be safe."
He lips curled into a little smile "Thank you. Im sorry we didn't come out sooner." he glanced up at Ga Lok and gave a little nod.
"Heung Hing." he knelt down as he placed a hand on Yuk Lan's shoulder "I'll help you burry him." Ga Lok said comforting.
She nodded as she finally let go of his body. Allowing Ga Lok to pick him up as they left the scene. They burried him over looking the mountains near a cliff. Yuk Lan carved his name onto the wooden gravestone. "This was one of our happier times together. He loved the mountains, you know. We travelled along the mountains for weeks." she closed her eyes, allowing the tears to seep through as they dripped on the wood. She watched as Ga Lok took the gravestone from her and pushed it into the ground where the mound of dirt sat on top of Yiu Fai's burried body.
She continued to kneel there while Ga Lok stood behind her quietly. He pulled out his flute and began to play a sad tune. Yuk Lan head slowly turned to face Ga Lok. A smile crept on her face as she let the music sink into her. Thoughts about Yiu Fai and what they went through ran through her mind. The beautiful sound of the flute travelled through her body as her eyes closed slowly. She felt herself go limp as she fell to the ground.
************
When Yung and Hung Sing reached the Kingdom, they felt something erie. As they entered the city, they noticed a huge crowd gathering around the Kam home. Hung Sing helped her get off her horse as they walked towards the crowd.
"So sad..." one woman said to her husband as everyone whispered amongst themselves.
When the two got closer, the saw a woman trying to save two girls while two lifeless bodies laying beside her. A guy was kneeling in front of the male body. "Heung Dai Gor?" she asked as they exchanged glances. Hung Sing instantly pushed the crowd aside as they rushed over to the scene.
"Heung Dai Gor" Yung called out to him, but he seemed numb and emotionless. She knelt down at his side "What happened?" she asked softly.
"My father...Ching Ching...Ping Yee.." he muttered their names quietly.
"You found him?" she asked while her gaze returned to the two girls. "Ching Ching? What happened?" she asked again, this time with more concern for her friend. He shook his head slowly.
Hung Sing put his palm on her shoulder "Don't push him, Yung Yung. He's not ready to talk."
Yung stood up next to him as they all waited patiently for Chan Ling's response. Drops of sweat dripped from her forehead. Fei Lap knew she was working too hard. "Bak Mau, maybe you should rest, you're too tired."
She shook her head "If I stop, they'll die."
He watched helplessly, he couldn't even do anything to stop their pain. He turned to his father "If you want to repay for all the pain you've caused, please let the girls be safe. They can't die..." his head dropped as he closed his eyes, wishing that everything will turn out for the better.
Chapter 20
Ga Lok tapped her face lightly to wake her up. She had fainted onto the ground and was now lying against his arms. After a few minutes, her eyes fluttered open. "Lam Dai Gor?" she looked at him and reality hit her once again when she saw his grave. She quickly sat up.
"How are you feeling?" he asked with concern.
She shook her head "How would you feel in my situation?"
"Devastated, sad, mourning...but I'll tell you one thing. He wouldn't want to see you like this." he nodded to Yiu Fai's grave.
She looked away "How would you know?"
"I know that love conquers all, despite the fact that he's no longer here. I may be unexperienced, but I know that I have fallen in love with someone that doesn't love me. It is painful but I would only want to see her happy."
She had no idea that he was talking about her "How do you know she doesn't love you? Did she tell you?"
He smiled "She's in love with someone else."
"Oh." she said simply as her gaze once again wandered to Yiu Fai's grave. "Im sorry."
"Its okay. As long as she's happy, I don't mind who's she's with." She turned to him with a question look "Though it may be painful to watch her sad eyes filled with tears as she watched him die in her arms. I know she isn't ready to accept anyone and I will not push her."
His words crept through her slowly, she knew he was talking about her. "Stop, please." she whispered.
He sighed "Im sorry. Im not pushing you to do anything, I hope you understand that." she nodded without saying another word "Lets go back."
They returned to the Kam home in silence. Shocked and confused as they came upon the scene of the earlier crowded place that's now empty. "Where did they go?" she asked out loud.
"Maybe inside?" he offered. They nodded as both raced into the home.
**********
He sat by her bed as he held to her hand tightly. "Ching Ching." he whispered. "Im staying by your side until you wake up, you hear me?" he wiped the tiny patch of dirt off her forehead.
"Heung Dai Gor, she'll be fine." Yung spoke up, she was sitting at the table in the room. He's been sitting in the same place for hours. He never once left the seat beside her bed. "Maybe you should go see how Ping Yee is doing?"
His eyes looked up but he wasn't willing to budge. "I want the first person for her to see when she wakes up is me."
"You should still go see Ping Yee. I know you love Ching Ching, but she wasn't the only one that sacrificed her love for you."
He nodded slowly, Yung was right. He needed to at least give her a visit.
In Ping Yee's room, Hung Sing stood by her bed as he waited for her to wake up. Guilt coming back to him as he looked at her face, he knew he was responsible for giving her so much pain in the past. If he didn't leave her without an explanation, she wouldn't be so cold and ruthless.
His thoughts were interrupted from the mumbling sound coming from the bed "Ping Yee, you're awake." he bent down next to her.
"Its you?" she asked without feeling. "What are you doing here?" she pushed his hand away when he tried to help her up "I don't need your help" she said coldly.
"Ping Yee, please...don't be mad. I know I owe you an explanation."
"You don't need too. Don't mention the past, I don't want to know. Nothing matters now." fresh tears forming in her eyes.
"I know he chose Ching Ching, but Im sure somewhere deep inside of him, he loves you as well." she laughed while tears dripped down her face. "Im so sorry to cause you so much pain. You know why I left?" she stared blankly at him "Bak Kwai Gung Chu made me leave you. It was her plan for me to meet you. But it wasn't her plan for me to fall in love with you. When I did, she got mad and made me leave you. I originally refused, but she threatened to kill you if I didn't go. I worried for your safety, so I left."
Ping Yee shook her head with sadness "Im not surprised. I know I shouldn't be mad at you. Im happy for you that you finally found the right girl. Maybe I wasn't 'her'. I thought I would never be able to open up my heart ever again. But he came into my life." she smiled at the mention of Fei Lap.
"Im sorry..." she looked at him puzzled "He chose Ching Ching."
She looked away "I know. It just gives me the more reason to fall in love with him."
"Ping Yee, don't do that to yourself." he knew she endured too much pain to have to go through losing another love.
"I want to see him." she said happily. She began to get off her bed. Seeing that she was still weak, Hung Sing supported her off her bed and to the door. When he opened the door, he found Fei Lap standing there.
"Heung Dai Gor." Ping Yee smiled warmly at him.
He returned the smile "Im glad you're okay." he glanced at the guy beside her. He heard their whole conversation, Hung Sing was the guy that broke her heart. "I hope you will not make the same mistake with Yung, she's a great girl."
"I know." Hung Sing said, he glanced at both of them. "I'll leave you two alone." he walked back to Ching Ching's room where Yung was.
"How is she?" Ping Yee asked.
"Still unconscious. Im sure she'll be fine. How are you feeling?" he felt awkward having to talk to her about their situation.
"Still a little weak but I'll live." her voice curt "I want to see my mother."
"I'll take you there." he offered. He owed her at least that much.
She shook her head "No, I want to go myself." she walked towards the room where he pointed to.
He watched her go into the room safely before he turned to go see Ching Ching. "Heung Dai Gor?" Yuk Lan ran to him with a worried expression "Are they okay?"
He smiled "Thanks for your concern. Ping Yee woke up, Im just waiting for Ching Ching to wake up." he glanced at Ga Lok who stood a few steps behind her. "Are YOU okay?" he asked her.
She glanced back at Ga Lok before lowering her head "Im doing better." she mumbled.
"Im going to see her." they nodded politely as he returned to the room. Yung and Hung Sing were no longer there. He walked up to her bed and sat down on the tiny stool next to her bed "Ching Ching, Ping Yee is well now. Its your turn, please wake up." he reached for her hand as he squeezed it lightly.
He took her palm and placed it on his face as he rested his eyes. Suddenly, he felt her pull her hand back. He opened his eyes and his face lit up "Ching Ching, you're okay?!!" She nodded without responding. "What's wrong? You don't look happy? Are you still mad about what I said? I only said it because I wanted to save you."
"You're stupid." she mumbled.
He looked down at his hands "I know."
The door suddenly bursted open and an unknown guy ran inside. "Ching Ching!"
Her face lit up as she reached for him "Ah Kin (Marcos Ngai guest star role)" she pushed Fei Lap aside as she embraced the stranger.
"Ching Ching, who?...what? I don't understand" a mixed feelings of hurt and wonder overfilled him as he watched the couple embrace. He turned away, unable to look at them any further.
She was so happy that she forgot about Fei Lap. "Where's Ping Yee?" she asked. She seemed nonchalant about hugging someone else in front of him.
"She's with her mother." he said, his eyes full of hurt as he watched the guy wrap his arms around her and walked towards the door.
"Aren't you coming?" she turned around when she noticed that he wasn't leaving. He looked up while she smiled at him, motioning for him to come with her.
Yung and Hung Sing were talking when they saw Ching Ching walking down the hall with a guy they didn't recognize. Behind the couple was Fei Lap. They quickly followed them down the hall where they gathered in the room where Chan Ling was resting. Ping Yee looked up and saw everyone coming in. "Wow, that's quite a welcome." her voice happy, not like it was earlier.
"Ching Ching, can you please explain? How could you do that to me? Who is this guy? Why didn't you tell me about him?" Fei Lap glared angrily at the guy, who turned away.
Ching Ching and Ping Yee exchanged secret glances, a smile crept up on their lips as they bursted out laughing. Fei Lap was more confused than ever as he looked from one girl to the other. "Heung Fei Lap, can you tell me why you love Ching Ching so much?" Ping Yee asked.
"I..." he looked around at the many eyes that were staring at him "What's the point in all this?"
"Just answer me. Don't tell me you are afraid to tell the girl that you love exactly how you feel?" Ping Yee smiled sweetly.
He paused as he thought of the right words "She's different from the other girls, she's strong and caring. She's always thinking about me first. I love her sense of personality, her will to go on despite what she looks like. Her inner beauty is one of a kind. In my eyes, she is the most beautiful." he finished.
Ching Ching clapped her hands "Well said!!" she exclaimed while Ah Kin glanced at her and laughed.
"That doesn't sound anything like you." Ah Kin said as he muffled a laugh when she punched him playfully in the stomach.
"How about Ping Yee? We all know you have strong feelings for her." Ching Ching said.
His gaze followed to Ping Yee, their eyes seemed to lock as he spoke up "Ping Yee? She's mysterious and very smart. I know her feelings for me is there, but I guess there's a part of her that can't seem to trust me. She hides alot from me while Ching Ching tells me everything that she is feeling." he watched in confusion as Ping Yee's face blushed profusely.
"Si Jei ah, maybe we should stop. You'll torture him to death."
"Si Jei?" Fei Lap asked in confusion. So did the rest of the people in the room. No one understood.
"Im not Ching Ching...I mean, Im not the Ching Ching that you felel in love with. I am the real Ching Ching." her explanation seemed to cause more confusion.
"I don't understand." he said finally.
Ching Ching looked at Ping Yee for help. She laughed as she put up her hands "Okay okay. Let me explain. Si Mui, why don't you take off your mask?" Everyone watched in awe as Ching Ching (Joyce Tang, finally revealed) peeled away the thin mask that looked like scars. She was actually quite pretty. "This is the real Chung Ching Ching. She was raised in Ha Chow but around two years ago, she got really sick and Lou Chung, her grandfather, took her to The White Demon's palace for help. Liu Sum, who is also Bak Kwai Gung Chu agreed to help her in return for me to take her place. Her plan was to have me to find clues as to where Heung Chi and her son lived. I obediently agreed and took on the case. While Ching Ching stayed in the Palace, Liu Sum saved her and took her in as her pupil. Although Ching Ching refused, she still had no choice since her grandfather agreed for the return of his granddaughter's life."
"That would explain why I've never seen you two in the same room together." Fei Lap said. Everything was finally coming together.
"My face was never burned to begin with. My grandfather made up an excuse for the whole town so they would leave me alone. I was an ill child, with an unknown disease that cause me to catch a cold everytime I went outside, thats why he kept me in the home all these years. When I was finally cured, I was able to go anywhere I pleased. With the help of Si Jei, I was able to go home to my grandfather. I met Ah Kin there and we soon fell in love." Ching Ching glanced at the handsome guy beside her as she smiled gratefully.
"That's so cruel of you to not tell him." Yung cried out angrily. She felt bad for Fei Lap.
Ping Yee sighed "I didn't plan for it to happen like this. I didn't know I would fall in love with him. I didn't expect to. But when I realized that I had fallen for him, the disguise was going on too long to break the news to him. Anyways, I wanted to test his feelings. Was he going to chose beauty or inner beauty. In the end, I wasn't disappointed." she smiled at Fei Lap, who was trying to soak it all in.
"No matter who he chooses, it will still be you, What's there to be disappointed about?" Yuk Lan spoke up.
"Because she didn't want for me to fall for her beauty, instead for her personality. It hurt me to death that I had to choose between the two girls. Im happy to know it was always one." Fei Lap smiled. He knew there was no use in getting mad.
"You're not angry with me?" Ping Yee asked, her eyes wide with concern "I would have told you eventually."
He walked to her side as he pulled up her hand to his chest "Just don't give me another surprise." he pulled her in for a hug while everyone clapped their hands.
A week later, when everyone was healed and was back to normal, it was time to go their separate ways:
**Yung and Hung Sing approached the King about their marriage issue. He was more than happy about the idea after he learned that Hung Sing saved his daughter. They got married that same night. Yung convinced Hung Sing to stay in the Palace with her.
**Ching Ching and Ah Kin went back to Ha Chow and lived a normal and peasant life. They grew crops and tended chickens, while the grandfather was happy to know that his granddaughter was back with him.
**Yuk Lan decided to travel the world to open her eyes. Ga Lok tried to convince her to stay but she declined. The day before she left, she went to Yiu Fai's grave to say goodbye. The sweet sound of the flute played as she got closer to the grave. It was Ga Lok. Luggage in her hands, she asked if he wanted to travel with her. She didn't know why she decided to ask him, but she knew the spirit of Yiu Fai would want her to move on. Ga Lok, of course, agreed.
**Fei Lap and Ping Yee said goodbye to Chan Ling, who was the head lady of the Kam's huge home. The happy couple returned to Ha Chow to pay their respects to Fei Lap's mother. Hand in hand they too travelled the country side. After all that they went through, Fei Lap knew he would treat her with much respect and promised to love her more than his own life. She's never been happier in her life as she put the past behind her and rested her happiness upon him.
THE END
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