Grant Me a Name, I Want to Be a Person!

Eddie followed Princess Jean and his cousin Rue to the White-Stone City medical facility, where he was surprised to find the mysterious subordinate was the busty tavern waitress from the eastern city. 

Now, she lay half-paralyzed on a hospital bed, barely clinging to life. Despite the medical staff's efforts, her injuries were too severe. Eddie could sense her life force fading, leaving no chance of recovery.

Eddie had only interacted with the waitress once, asking her to pawn the spoils he had seized from the Iron Madman. 

Since then, after embarking on his journey to the Heaven-Reaching Tower to find Sophia and return Mother Grace to the Yew family castle, he had not seen her again nor had time to return to White-Stone City.

Now, he wondered how she had come to falsely claim to be his subordinate and attempt to rescue Mother Grace. 

How did she even know Mother Grace was in danger, and what made her so sure of Mother Grace's connection to him?

 It was all very puzzling.

Eddie was certain of one thing: the waitress had no ill intentions and had nobly risked her life to save Mother Grace.

"She was one of thirteen people who tried to rescue Mother Grace. Except for a little girl disguised as Frost, all the others perished.She's the last one. She's been holding on, wanting to see you before she dies," Rue explained with a choked voice, summoning a white light and gently casting it on the waitress. 

The healing light would normally have a significant effect, but in this case, it was minimal. The waitress's body recovered slightly, but her life force was still fading. She couldn't even open her eyes.

"She's at her limit," Princess Jean said solemnly.

Eddie's sister Sophia, teary-eyed, implored him, "Brother, please think of something." Yehken and Hessian also shook their heads in dismay. 

The waitress was one of the wounded rescued by the Old Fox and Rambo after a bloody battle with the Myriad Demons at Skinny Dog Ridge. 

She was the only survivor.

"I'll try," Eddie said. Previously, he would have been helpless, but he had just learned advanced Innate Qi control skills, including medical techniques, from his dream encounter with the large Lolita.

He placed his hand on the waitress's forehead, channeling his gentle Innate Qi to awaken her dormant brain. 

Although Eddie's medical ability was limited, awakening her was a miraculous feat, considering her grave condition and even the imperial physician's inability to help.

Gradually, a hint of color returned to the waitress's pale face, and her eyelashes fluttered. To everyone's astonishment, she slowly opened her eyes, looking around before her gaze settled on Eddie.

Recognizing him, her eyes filled with immense joy, and she attempted to speak. Eddie, seeing the effect, quickly channeled more Innate Qi into her forehead.

"It's really you... I thought I'd never see you again," the waitress whispered weakly, her voice barely audible.

Eddie, with his keen hearing, gently nodded and comforted the tavern waitress, "It's me. Don't worry, your injuries will heal. We will find a way to cure you. Thank you for saving Mother Grace and my sister. Now, just focus on resting and getting better. You will recover."

The waitress's face showed a faint smile as she spoke weakly, "I've known for a while that I won't recover. I know my own body... "

"But it's okay. I have no regrets and feel honored. I'm just a nobody, never did anything significant or saved anyone in my life. "

"Now, this is what I truly wanted. For people like us, living is a disgrace, a suffering. I only lived for revenge... "

"Now that my vengeance is fulfilled and my wish granted, I have no more regrets."

As she spoke, her face glowed radiantly, as if her condition had miraculously improved. 

Her eyes shone brighter than usual, her lips reddened, and her previously faint breathing became stronger and steadier.

Princess Jean and Rue knew this was just a final burst of energy before the end. The tavern waitress's life was burning out for the last time before reaching its conclusion.

The waitress said:

"I've recognized you for a long time. I often secretly watched you playing with your sister on the streets from behind doors and windows. "

"Although you covered your face when fighting criminals at night, your eyes are distinctive, and I recognized you instantly. "

"I kept this secret to myself until that fateful night when I overheard the criminals mentioning you. "

"After gathering information, I found my sisters, and we decided to masquerade as your subordinates to save Mother Grace and the young lady in advance. "

"We thought separating and traveling far would shake them off, but they still caught up... "

"We failed our task, but thankfully, by some miracle, Mother Grace and the young lady are safe." 

The waitress's face beamed with a more intense glow, speaking more clearly.

"You all did a great job. Without you, Mother Grace and Frost would not have survived. I thank you all!" Eddie expressed his deep gratitude and respect for these women.

He later learned they were forced into their situation by the Iron Madman and felt sympathy, but he had never thought to change their fate. 

Little did he know, his small act of kindness in killing the Iron Madman would bring such a significant return. 

These despised tavern women sacrificed twelve lives in a feat of loyalty and bravery, escaping with Mother Grace and even using one of their children as a decoy.

When Eddie killed the Iron Madman, he had only intended to cultivate Thorn Flowers and never thought to rescue these women. 

Yet, his simple act of kindness returned with a life-saving grace.

"Young master, don't be sad. I've always wanted to do something for you, but I never had the means, and it always pained me. "

"Being able to help you, even a little, makes me very happy. I'm okay with dying. In fact, I haven't wanted to live for a long time. Dying this way, you have no idea how happy I am... "

"To see you one last time before I die, I have no regrets," the waitress smiled again, her eyes sparkling with joy, as if she had accomplished the proudest deed of her life.

Sophia's tears rolled down her cheeks, wetting the back of Eddie's hand. Rue also cried uncontrollably. Even the usually strong Princess Jean quietly wiped away tears that had unknowingly slid down her cheeks.

Haye Yew tried to hold back his tears, his face contorted as tears streamed down his face, biting his teeth to suppress his sobs. Yehken turned away, unable to bear the sight, while the Lyken brothers clenched their fists, struggling to find words of comfort.

Eddie took a deep breath, trying to control his emotions. He leaned down and softly asked the tavern waitress, "Do you have any last wishes? Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Please, give me a name... I've never had one," the waitress's voice weakened.

"What?" Eddie was astonished. A person without a name?

"I was born a daughter of a war prisoner, a slave, with no name, only a number. I was sold and resold, reduced to a tool for others' lust. "

"I was nothing but flesh to be played with, a lowly slave destined to be trampled by thousands. No one ever treated me as a person, except you. You looked at me with the eyes that saw a human, a peer... "

"If only I had met you earlier, how wonderful it would have been. I dreamed of being reborn to serve you, not to be sold and used like before. "

"I wanted to be a person, not just flesh. In the next life, let me be your servant, the only one who treated me as a person..."

"Next life... if there is a next life..."

Before Eddie could give her a name, the tavern waitress passed away in her quiet sighs.

Eddie closed his eyes tightly, holding back the pain and tears in his heart.

A teardrop fell on her unblinking eyes, then slid down her cheek. 

Eddie gently covered her face with his hand, closing her wide-open eyes, nodding heavily.

 "I will give you a name. You were once a lowly slave, sold and resold. But from today, you are my servant. "

"You're not a mere object, but a person; not just flesh to be abused, but a dignified and free human being. "

"Even without life, no one will ever disrespect you, for your master is me! I swear, those who harmed you will pay a thousandfold, a millionfold..."

It seemed as though the departed waitress heard Eddie's words. A serene smile appeared on her tranquil face, as if silently smiling in gratitude.

Sophia hugged her brother and cried uncontrollably. 

Haye Yew, overwhelmed with emotion, banged his head against the wall, tears streaming down his face. Princess Jean and Rue embraced each other, weeping together. 

Yehken and the Lyken brothers had red eyes, looking at Eddie with a mixture of hope and despair.

 In their hearts, Eddie was someone who could perform miracles, capable of achieving the impossible. 

They wished he could bring back to life the nameless tavern waitress who deserved to be a person more than some others.

But Eddie was powerless in this situation; he couldn't revive the waitress. Mother Grace had mentioned that the resurrection crystals were already used up, and death was irreversible for anyone in this world.

Eddie pondered his options: should he preserve the body in an ice coffin or use the 'Soul Capturing Pearl' he obtained from Saltold Old to seal her soul?

 However, he wasn't sure how to use the pearl and was unaware of the potential consequences. 

But in his moment of indecision, a rainbow light flashed, and Little Wenli appeared, gently stopping Eddie with her small hand.

Eddie's heart leaped with hope. Could this little treasure have a way to help?