Vito, utterly suprised, strove to defend himself- physically and verbally;
"Wait- I was just trying to help!" He wailed as he tumbled on the ground.
"SHUT THE HELL UP!" The old man charged after him, hot on his heels. "You're dead!"
Vito cried out; "SIR SHE IS GOING TO DIE! Let me help! I swear I am just trying to save her life!"
The old man snickered as Vito tried to get out of his way; "You must think I was born yesterday, do not come near my---"
Vito sidestepped, trying to stay out the path of this homicidal old man. Shit, this had gotten out of hand real fast! He side glanced at the girl, and knew instantly that the window of opportunity to save her was closing really fast.
He stopped pivoting, and face the crazy old man;
"Listen to me old man! Her death is going to be on your hands! If you don't let me resuscitate her right now, she is going to die!"
White beard hesitated for a moment. Every instinct in him told him to protect the girl from this predator. But the determined look in Vito's eyes was able to sway him out of his stubborness a little. The girl was of a very important clan. Her death would be sure to bring a shit storm on his head. He had to gamble on this chance. The consequences would be dire if he allowed her to dies.
In a cold voice that mirrored his own deep resolve, he warned Vito;
"If she dies, know for certain that there is no possible place on earth that will keep you safe from me. I will cut you in pieces and feed you to the dogs. Got it?"
Vito did not know it at the time, but the man was speaking from a place of fear. Should the girl die under his protection, the master of the Xiao family, the girl's patriarch, would flay him alive, and leave him strung up for days before killing him- and that was if he chose to be merciful.
If it became public knowledge that the corpse of the girl had been defiled before death, it would not just end with him. His wife, sons, daughters, his in-laws, their children, and the entire clan would be purged with the sword. Even down to their livestock. Absolutely none would be spared.
As Vito lowered himself onto her again, the old man silently prayed, with all his heart, that the girl would survive.
Vito, obviously had been annoyed. He thought he old man was batshit crazy. As he planted both hands on the region that housed her lungs, he realized that the concept of CPR was probably lost on the man. Of course, from his point of view, it must have seemed atrocious. But that did not stop him from doing it again.
Pushing up on her chest intermittently with both arms, he lowered himself onto her mouth and blew into her. Vito could almost hear the old man's teeth grinding in his mouth as he performed that process. He took no delight in watching the old man squirm. But he did not indulge him either.
Ignoring the old man's hesitation, Vito repeated the process over and over again. Every second that passed by without any result, was like one hour of mental torture. Vito continued to dilligent persistence. But the old man's faith began to gradually decline. His knees buckled beneath him as he pictured the graphic images of his headless children being paraded for all to see. He averted his eyes from the girl- convinced it was all over.
Then, the delicious sound of water splurting came.
It pricked his ears, and tugged at the chords of his heart like a celebratory tune.
Consumed with the precious high that is 'hope,' he speedily turned towards the girl with indescribable gladness in his heart, and tears in his eyes. Never had the old man ever thought he would be so glad to hear that precious gurgling sound.
Water splurted from her mouth like an unstable fountain. At once, her whole body violently jerked as the first cough came. At once, Vito slid off her, as she bolted upright as though she had taken ten volts of electricity to the heart. Instinctively, she rolled over on her side, and began to cough out the water that had lodged itself in her lungs.
Her whole body trembled with each violent cough. The old man was at her side in a heartbeat, comforting her with kind words that somehow still sounded like reprimands;
"IT'S ALRIGHT! . . . DON'T OVERDO IT . . . GET IT ALL OUT . . ."
The old man and Vito exchanged knowing looks. That had been a reall close one. The thirty seconds it took to resuscitate her could have as well been thirty long minutes. Finally, after coughing up water for straight one minute, the girl laid back down again, weak, and disoriented. But, most importantly- still alive.
As soon as the girl was stable, the old man faced Vito.
Before Vito could say or do anything, he bowed down towards the earth with his temple touching the ground, and his hands stretched out before him.
"Thank you stranger, thank you . . .!!!"
His voice rang loud and clear, carrying the full weight of his gratitude that undoubtedly came from a deep place. He continued to offer adulation to Vito;
"You have no idea what you've done for me here today, you have no idea at all! From the bottom of my heart, with all my soul and my being; many thanks to you kind stranger! Many thanks indeed!"
Vito was really dumbfounded and at a loss as to how to respond.
Never had anyone knelt before him in his life. No one had ever bowed to him either. He genuinely did not know how the proper way to respond to such an overwhelming display gratitude.
"Please sir," he began diplomatically, "It was a great honor and priviledge to save your daughter's life."
"Ah, you flatter me dear stranger. This young noble here is not my daughter at all. Pardon me, I should have made the necessary introductions already."
Vito was slightly amused. The old man was certainly very formal.
The old man gestured towards the girl;
"The lady here is called Xiao Mei. She is the eldest daughter of the Xiao clan- the ruling clan of our city. . ."
He placed his palm on his own chest;
"And I am Xiao Kui. Escort, butler, tutor, and bodyguard." He gesticulated at her;
"Come quickly Xiao Mei, pay your respects to this kind stranger who deigned to save your life. Come!"
Vito was about to protest that all that was not necessary at all when Xiao Mei promptly got up, took the hem of her garments, and curtsied;
"My deepest gratitude to you kind stranger. May providence continue to grace your hands for many moons to come. . ."
Despite dripping in wet clothes and hair running down across her face, Vito saw that this noble lady was a beautiful creature. With zero make up on her face, her features came out neatly. Nature and genetics had favored her with a lovely face. Her wet clothes, clung to her body, gifting Vito a firsthand view.
Her hourglass figure was perfect. Not too plumpy, and not overly skinny either. Her figure was as a result of proper dieting, and of course- great genes.
Before he could be caught gawking at the woman he had just saved, Vito proceeded to introduce himself as well in like manner;
"Greetings to both of you. I am called Vi To."