âYou better leave, I will never go back with you. You donât need to say anything, I wonât listen, I wonât listenâââ
Li Shinian burst into tears and cried uncontrollably.
The world is too cruel, that it makes people give up all hope.
Why did something like this happen?
Why did I have to know the truth after it happened?
Why canât they let me live a simple and happy life?
Those elders, they are so selfishâ-how could they have the nerve to come and acknowledge me now?
âShinian, what are you talking about?â Luo Qi scolded quietly. âHow could you talk to MIssâ-auntie like that?â
Li Shinian pushed the noble woman forcefully, ran to Luo Qi and hugged her tightly: âMum, Iâm not leaving, I wonât go with herâââ
Luo Qi was startled, stuttered a reply: âyouâknow?â
She still havenât decided yet but Li Shinian was able to guess whatâs on her own mindââhow could her child be this smart?
âMumâââ Li Shinian cried even harder. âI will not go with her. I donât care who she is. I donât care where sheâs going to take me. I will not go with her. Iâm your daughter, I used to be, and I always will be. Iâm not going, Iâm not going anywhere, I will always stay here by your sideâââ
Luo Qi tightly wrapped her arms around her daughter, then let out a long sigh: âsilly girl, youâre not the only one going, all of us are goingâââ
âTogether?â Li Shinian looked at her mother, her eyes wide with surprise: âyou and fatherââwill come with me?â
âYes.â Luo Qi nodded. âWe came from that place, in the end we have to go backâ-we canât live in Jiangnan city anymore.ân/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âMum whatâs going on?â Li Shinianâs eyes were wide open and her mouth slightly hanging open, like a curious baby waiting for her motherâs explanation.
Luo Qiâs eyes shifted over to Li Yan. âYou explain to our child.â
Li Yan said awkwardly: âthis kind of thing, itâs better if you explain it. Iâm stupid, Iâm afraid I will explain it badly.â
âââ-â
Without choice, Luo Qi looked at Li Shinian and carefully explained: âyou also know that recently a lot of things have happened. Last time an assassin attacked us we were all wounded. If it werenât for that young master Yan Xiangma, our family would have died. Today, some people appeared suddenly in our house and aimed their sword at your father and me. If these people did not arrive in time, we would have been slashed to death and you wouldnât see us when you came backââ â
âLady knows weâre having a difficult time in Jiangnan, so she came to collect us back to Tiandu. Your father and I originally had some hesitation, after all, weâve lived in Jiangnan for so many years, we have deep feelings to everything around us. But you came back and said you encountered some ugly monsters at the lake and they tried to kill youâ-We canât live in Jiangnan any longer. I thought about it, this time we will go back to Tiandu with Lady.â
The woman in black exclaimed joyfully: âLuo Qi, you promise?â
âMIssâââ Luo Qi said with a complicated expression on her face. âI kindly ask for Missâs protection.â
The woman in black held Luo Qiâs hand, her eyes welled with tears: âwhat are you saying? You and I are like sisters, alsoâ-also I owe you a lot. No matter what I will protect you. Otherwise, I wouldnât have travelled such a long distance to Jiangnan. I know your temper, I know other people wonât be able to ask you to come back, so I personally came hereâ-This time those people were not fully prepared but next time it would be different. Jiangnan is dangerous now, the sooner you leave the better. We could take care of you in Tiandu. You shall live in the Liu mansion, no one can hurt you there.â
âWe put ourselves completely in your hand.â Luo Qi nodded.
âGood. You should pack now, we will set out immediately.â The woman in black said.
âMum, I amâ-your daughter?â Li Shinianâs glance swept over to the woman in black then back at mother Luo Qi as she asked aloud.
Luo Qi smacked Li Shinianâs head and scolded loudly: âwhat are you thinking? Hurry, go pack.â
âââ-â
Inside the room, Li Yan and Luo Qi were busy packing.
They have been in Jiangnan for over ten years now and have lived in this house for more than ten years. Now, all of a sudden, they have to leave, they were not mentally prepared at all. They felt sad and emotional.
âDid Shinian have any misunderstanding?â Luo Qi asked aloud.
âPerhaps.â Li Yan was a little unsettled. âShe asks if sheâs your daughterâ-Is she doubting whether sheâs your daughter or not?â
âThis girl always likes to think about all sorts of strange things.â Luo Qi snappily said. âBut her words touched me. Used to be my child and always will beâ-If Muyang encountered the same situation as today, what would he do?â
Li Yan sighed: âDonât think about it too much, Muyang would do the same as Shinianâ-â
âIf Muyang said those few words to me, even if I die, itâs worth it.â Luo Qiâs eyes were glistening with unshed tears as she fought the urge to burst into sobs.
Deep down she knew clearly, once they returned to Tiandu, once they entered the Lu family, the two families could no longer remain separate anymore. Her son, Muyang, she also canât keep forever.
The thought of going through that kind of scene, she felt her heart aching badly.
Like a blunt knife cutting her flesh!
ââ
ââ
Creakâ
The wooden door of the first room was pushed open.
Chu Xun angrily stomped in. âThat idiot actually lives next door to us, he also chose the dragon slayer course. What dragon is he going to slay? What does he have to be a dragon slayer?â
Standing in the backyard watching the cloud rolling across the sky, Lu Qiji did not turn around and said in a muffled voice: âHe chose the dragon slayer courseâ-isnât that the right choice?â
Chu Xun thought for a brief moment before he answered: âthatâs true. Heâs good at nothing anyway, other choices would be just as bad. Anyway, there are no dragons in this world, which means he wonât have to put himself in dangerâ-it is a wise choice.â
âWhat about you?â Lu Qiji asked abruptly: âWhy did you choose the dragon slayer course?â
âBecause you chose dragon slayer.â Chu Xun looked at Lu Qiji, affection beamed from his eyes.
Of course, Lu Qiji did not see the expression in his eyes. Because from the start her back was facing Chu Xun.
Lu Qiji did not answer. She dislikes these topics of conversation.
Chu Xun knew that she didnât like it, quickly explained with a smile: âMy father is a carefree prince, so I was also destined to be a carefree princeâ-I donât dare to choose the way to authority, if I major in that my father will immediately send someone up here to take me back. I also cannot choose courses to do with military affairs or my cousin would ask whether I have any thoughts or ambitions on the affairs of West Wind Kingdom. Buddhism and Taoism also means nothing to me, the martial techniques passed down the Chu family is enough for me to practiceââApart from these, if I have chosen painting or music, whatâs the difference to dragon slayer?â
âChu Xunâââ
âHuh?â
âWeâre not the same kind of people.â Lu Qiji said in a serious tone of voice.
âI know that.â Chu Xun said smilingly. âWeâre not the same kind of people. Youâre better than me, smarter than me. But I believe one day you will come to realise that there was one person who stood by your side all along and never left you, that kind of reassuring feelingââyou would think: itâs him. Even if itâs because Iâm someone youâre used to or I am someone youâre settling for, I would still happily accept that feeling.â
âThat is your choice.â Lu Qiji remained indifferent and uncaring. âI will not take responsibility for your life.â