Chapter 3: Twin heart soul body

"Mom...?" Yuan impulsively yelled out to the woman as he approached her upon noticing her lying in the bed.

"Hmmm?.. Yuan, are you there?" Anna Grace Blank, recognizing her son's voice instantly, remarked as the door opened and his presence filled the room. She wouldn't mistake his voice for anybody else's.

"I'm here—yes, Mom! Mom, how are you feeling?" Yuan spoke gently as he sat beside her on the bed, taking her hand in his and tenderly massaging it, fueled by his love for her.

"It's really you, my sweetheart. I thought you had suffered some kind of loss. Why didn't you come to talk to me yesterday? Do you know how worried I was?" She briefly sobbed in his arms, overwhelmed by guilt.

As his mother, she felt responsible for taking care of him in every possible way, but her illness confined her to the bed, rendering her unable to even lift her hands to touch her son's face. She had accepted that no one in this world could cure her ailment.

Yet, she held onto hope that one day her illness would be cured, allowing her to stand by her children and wholeheartedly care for them.

'Sorry, Mom. I'm afraid I can't let you know that the old Yuan you knew has passed away.' Yuan confessed silently, feeling a twinge of guilt within him.

"Mom! Look, nothing has happened to me. Yesterday, I was working on something crucial for our family at the town square. I'm sorry, Mom, and I love you!" Yuan spoke with a smile on his face, admiring her soft, black, and white hair.

However, he secretly felt remorse for fabricating his activities from the previous day.

"Mom! Little Yuan is telling the truth. He was indeed busy with an important task yesterday," Lily chimed in, standing next to Yuan, affirming her brother's words. She didn't want their ailing mother to bear any additional stress.

"Is that true, dear?... My dear, I am so proud of you." Anna Grace smiled warmly at her son, wiping away a small tear from her eyes, finding joy in witnessing his growth and responsibility toward their family.

Though she felt happy in that moment, Lily couldn't help but feel guilty for deceiving their mother about Yuan's absence. Why couldn't he visit her yesterday?

'I promise, I will quickly find a remedy for Mom's condition!' Yuan made a heartfelt pledge to himself, determined to heal his mother's illness. Suddenly, a thought entered his mind.

'The system. Yes, surely the system would know what's going on with my mom as it's a very magical thing!' Yuan contemplated the possibility of the system having information about his mother's condition.

"Nora, hey! Can you examine my mother's physique and let me know what the issue is...?" He queried the system, hoping to find any information that could aid her recovery.

[Certainly, host! I will be done in a minute, so please wait.] Nora responded enthusiastically, using her power to scan his mother's body.

Yuan simply wished there was a way to save his mother, even if it meant sacrificing his own life in the process, as he didn't want to become an orphan again.

On Earth, Yuan had no knowledge of his parents or whether they were still alive. He had been discovered in a basket near the entrance of an orphanage, with no clue about his origins.

There was a girl who had been close to him and had taken care of him in the orphanage, going above and beyond to support him. Although she could be stubborn and difficult at times, she was incredibly devoted and concerned about Yuan. However, after his reincarnation, he had to let go of his commitment to search for her when he grew older.

When Nora responded, Yuan glimpsed a glimmer of hope that his mother's suffering might be alleviated.

[Host! What I have discovered will astound you! It is truly a marvel!] Nora's voice burst with enthusiasm in his mind, indicating that she had found information about his mother's condition.

Yuan raised an eyebrow and promptly inquired upon hearing Nora's voice, "What information about Mom did you uncover? What did you find? Can Mom's condition be cured?" Impatience tinged his voice as he wanted immediate answers from Nora.

[In response to your inquiry, your mother is not ill at all!] Nora declared.

"What would you call her current state of health if she isn't ill? Tell me!" Yuan wondered why Nora insisted that his mother wasn't ill. How could she make such a claim? What term would she use to describe his mother's condition? Nora's statement left him perplexed.

[Do not be perplexed! As I mentioned earlier, your mother is not ill; her condition is extraordinarily rare and occurs only once in a billion years. It is a wonder; I never expected to find something so remarkable in this small world.] Nora explained, her voice brimming with excitement.

"Tsk. Can you explain to me clearly what is happening with my mother, Nora? Everything here is above my comprehension!..." Yuan expressed his frustration, trying to grasp the source of his mother's condition, when the system finally responded.

[Your mother doesn't have any illnesses, as I previously stated; rather, her extraordinary body is to blame. She possesses a physical configuration known as the Twin Heart Soul Body, which means she has two hearts, two souls, and two personalities within a single body. She also has the ability to separate into two different individuals and merge back into one.]

[However, since there are no cultivators on this planet and she lacks the cultivation skills, her body constantly requires sufficient qi to function properly. Unfortunately, there are no cultivators remaining alive in this world.] Nora clarified, shedding light on the nature of his mother's condition.

"Now that I think about it, I do recall her behaving like a different person on several occasions... so that's the explanation," Yuan mused, realizing the reason behind his mother's personality changes. However, there was still an unresolved issue: how could they heal her?

"Now that we know what caused her condition, shouldn't you advise me on how to treat her?" Yuan implored, growing impatient to find a solution.

[Host! It's actually quite simple. You just need to guide her and provide her with cultivation techniques to practice, and she will return to normal within a day.] Nora stated matter-of-factly.

"It sounds plausible, but... did I miss something?" Yuan questioned in disbelief, his voice trembling with uncertainty.

[Yes, host! If she starts cultivating, she will be fine, I assure you. However, her current condition is too weak for cultivation. You need to first purchase a healing medication from the system shop, preferably of above tier 2. This will allow her body to fully recover from its injuries and then begin cultivation.] Nora reaffirmed her advice.

Yuan's face displayed a peculiar mix of relief and joy, as if he had just reclaimed his most prized possession. The weight of finding a potential cure for his mother lifted from his shoulders.

"How are you doing, little brother? What's causing you to act strangely?" Lily inquired, noticing Yuan's inconsolable grin. She grew concerned, knowing he had experienced harm the day before.

Unintentionally, he blurted out in front of his mother and sister, "It's nothing, I just discovered a way to cure Mom of her disease."

Lily, not finding it amusing to joke about such matters, cautioned him, "It's not funny to fool around with something like this, little brother."

"Are you sure, son? Did you really find a treatment? Mama believes in you and is confident that you will one day discover a cure for me!" Unlike her sister, their mother trusted Yuan's words and had faith that he wouldn't joke about such a serious situation.

"I did find a treatment, and I'm not joking!" Yuan spoke with utmost seriousness, looking at each of them intently.

"Brother, is that true? Can you really heal Mom?" Lily asked, observing his serious expression and realizing he wasn't joking.

—

[A mission has been assigned to the host]

<Mission: buy something for the first time at the system store>

<Difficulty: none>

<Reward: five tier 3 body strengthening pill

[Will the host receive this mission? Yes/No]

—

"Yes!" without giving it any thought, he accepts the task; the only requirement is that he purchase something from the shop, which he was already planning to do.

[Host has taken the mission! You have 59 minutes to complete this mission]

"Nora! Buy a high-grade healing pill for my mom!" Yuan said.

[Tier 3 healing pill will cost 20 SP! Will you confirm this purchase? Yes/No]

"Yes"

[Ding! You have successfully purchased a Tier 3 healing pill! The pill has been placed in the inventory!]

[SP: 980]

[Ding! The mission has been completed successfully!]

[Ding! Five tier 3 body strengthening pills were received! Please check the inventory!]

—

He took out the healing pill from the system storage, the result of completing the task assigned by the system and making the necessary purchase.

"Mom, taking this medication will allow your body to function at its best. But remember, it's just a temporary solution; I will give you something that will completely heal you!" Yuan stated, displaying a pill from a bottle. The pill emitted a delightful floral scent, filling the air with its aromatic fragrance.

Anna opened her mouth to swallow the medication and remarked, "I've tried various potions before, sweetheart, and none of them worked. But I've never seen medicine like this before, so let me try and hope it works, even if it's just temporary."

Since Anna was unable to move her body, someone had to feed her. Yuan took the tablet and gently placed it in her mouth, helping her swallow.

Gulp! As soon as Anna consumed the tablet, she felt her body begin to heat up. Soon after, vapor started escaping from her body as the heat took effect.

Her frail figure transformed, rejuvenating her once-pale skin. The thin physique vanished, replaced by a breathtakingly attractive body with long legs and exquisite curves, resembling a goddess of beauty.

Her face radiated with a newfound glow, captivating everyone's attention. As the process concluded, Anna touched her face and started moving her hands and legs, reminiscent of an ecstatic child experiencing the joy of movement once more.

"Is this a dream? ...or am I delusional?" Anna questioned, finally free from the constraints that had bound her for so long.

"Mom, this is reality, not a fantasy. Mom, you're truly healed! I'm so happy for you, Mom," Lily exclaimed, overwhelmed by her emotions as tears streamed down her face. These tears were tears of joy rather than sorrow. Her mother's recovery from her illness made today the happiest day ever for Lily.

"Not a dream? That means I..." Anna embraced her son tightly, sobbing uncontrollably against his chest. She had longed to touch him but had been unable to due to her illness.

Now, against all odds, she could hold him on her own. She clung to him as if afraid he would slip away. Yuan, far from being bothered, embraced his mother, cherishing her soft hair, now even softer than before.

Lily joined the embrace as well, unable to bear being left out, seeking solace in the warmth of their family bond.