Chapter 122

Of course, Zhuge Yue and Chu Qiao would not be able to see all the soldiers hiding in the darkness. By now, the guards of the Liu Family had all fallen back. The main tent was filled with a deafening silence.

“Xing’er!” Zhuge Yue charged forward. Raising his sword, he guarded Chu Qiao. With his free arm, he blocked Chu Qiao in case she decided to charge forward.

Looking at “Liu Xi” hidden in the darkness, she spoke firmly without skipping a beat, “Liu Xi, I am going to represent Da Tong and claim your life. Even if I cannot kill you today, Yan Xun will someday take revenge for me. All betrayers will be slain!”

With a deafening boom, a streak of lightning pierced through the heavens. The man dressed in white inside the main tent chuckled as he raised his head to observe the torrential downpour that was drenching the countless silhouettes outside of the tent. His smile was full of bitterness. Should he feel fortunate? The person he had been seeking for so long was finally standing in front of him, safe and sound, and still complete confidence in him. On the other hand, how should he handle this situation?

The heavens had truly dealt him some tricky cards!

Chu Qiao was slightly taken aback. That man’s expression and demeanor was so familiar. But after the slaughter she had just experienced, her thought process had already stalled. There were certain things that she would simply not consider at this point in time.

Continuing to frown at the man in the darkness, she picked up her blade and slowly stepped forward. With a whoosh, the Yan Guards stepped forward. But at this moment, the man in white raised a hand and waved it left and right slowly. Seeing that, the crowd lost their minds. That signal was an order to let these people go!

“Master!” The butler of the Liu Family was completely aghast at this turn of event, as he stepped up and firmly declared, “How can we…”

The man’s gaze dropped to sub-zero temperatures as he glared at the butler in rage and annoyance, tinged with a hint of murderous desire.

Feeling chills go down his back, Butler Lin complied with his orders and faced Chu Qiao and Zhuge Yue, saying, “The Master has agreed to let you go.”

Now it was Chu Qiao and Zhuge Yue’s turn to be stunned. Their eyes were devoid of any form of relief as they stared at that man with eyes full of suspicion.

Irate, Butler Lin snapped, “Scram! Do you need us to send you off?”

“Xing’er, let us go.”

Frowning, Chu Qiao continued to stare with disbelief at the pitch black tent. Zhuge Yue pulled on her arm and firmly declared, “Follow me!”

Previously, the only reason that they attacked the main tent was due to strategic concerns. But now the enemy had agreed to let them go, so regardless of whatever else, they had no reason to hesitate.

Jumping onto two horses, Zhuge Yue turned around. Looking into that pitch dark tent, he firmly declared, “Liu Xi, if you become my captive one day, I will give you two chances to live as well.”

No response could be heard from the darkness, but just as Chu Qiao was about to gallop off, a tired sigh could be heard. The sigh sounded so helpless, as though it carried all the remaining strength of that mysterious man. Following the sigh, the man whispered, “Be careful.”

The voice was so low, so quiet, but Chu Qiao still heard it. Her body trembled, and she turned around forcefully. However, with all the soldiers blocking her line of sight, she could no longer see the man’s figure.

The raging wind sent her bloodied hair fluttering. The pungent scent of iron on her hair filled her nostrils.

“Giddyup!” Zhuge Yue signaled his horse to gallop away.

Furrowing her eyebrows, Chu Qiao ultimately turned around and closely followed behind Zhuge Yue. With the horse galloping on the muddied ground, they raced out of the encampment.

The storm seemed to have worsened, as intense panting could be heard from the aftermath of the bloodbath. The soldiers looked at each other in disbelief as they saw their enemy leaving just like that.

“Master!” AhJing turned around and anxiously shouted, “That is the lady! How can we just let her leave just like that with Zhuge Yue?”

“What else can we do?” Yan Xun turned at him, frowning bitterly. “Can I just take off my mask and tell Chu Qiao that all this was done by me?”

Clouds layered on each other as the incessant rain continued. But even if the rain did not stop, it was about time this seemingly eternal night ended.

Within a cave, the three of them picked up some relatively dry firewood after much searching, and after lighting up a fire, they finally felt some relief from the cold. They removed their outer clothes to dry beside the fireplace. After the endless fighting, they were completely worn out both physically and mentally. Even that normally restless kid sat on the ground hugging his knees, not saying a word.

Chu Qiao looked very calmly as the kid leaned his tiny back onto her. She seemed as though she was thinking about something, but also seemed as if she was staring into empty space mindlessly, just wanting to rest.

Unable to stand the awkward silence, Zhuge Yue frowned and stood up as he informed, “The firewood is running out. I will go and pick up more.” With that, he went to leave the cave.

“Zhuge Yue!” Chu Qiao shrieked as if startled.

Taken aback, Zhuge Yue turned around and stared her bewildered, and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“No…it’s nothing.” Looking a bit panicky, Chu Qiao quickly shook her head in quickly. “It is nothing.”

Raising an eyebrow, Zhuge Yue inquired suspiciously, “Are you sure? I thought you were not wounded.”

Putting up a weak smile, Chu Qiao replied, “I am really fine.”

Nodding, Zhuge Yue replied, “Alright, just wait here.” Just as he was about to leave, it seemed he suddenly remembered something. He turned around and reminded her, “Watch the brat. Don’t…don’t run off.”

“Alright!” Chu Qiao nodded and chuckled. “Just go!”

Zhuge Yue turned around, but just as he walked another few steps, Chu Qiao called out to him again, “Wait!”

Zhuge Yue stopped in his tracks, only to see Chu Qiao running up with the Sword of Moon Shatterer. Passing the sword to him, Chu Qiao examined his wounds, before looking into his eyes earnestly and whispering, “Be careful.”

Taken aback by this strange behavior, Zhuge Yue gazed at Chu Qiao in suspicion. But he dismissed his thoughts and stoically nodded before heading out of the cave. But just as he exited the cave, a grin immediately surfaced on his face as though he could no longer hold it in. Childishly rubbing his nose, his expression softened.

As Zhuge Yue walked into the distance, Chu Qiao stood still in the same spot, as her face turned into a strange expression that seemed to express both tiredness and guilt. She sat back next to the fire, and while patting the kid’s head, she whispered, “Your name is Mo’er, right?”

Nodding, the kid did not speak.

“Are you feeling very sad?”

The kid chose to remain quiet.

Sighing lightly, Chu Qiao lightly cuddled the tiny figure, while cooing, “I know, you feel horrible.”

A teardrop suddenly fell onto Chu Qiao’s hand, as the kid started to sob uncontrollably, “Xingxing…Xingxing….” These pained sobs stabbed Chu Qiao’s heart as she was reminded of that girl who was like the embodiment of sunshine.

“Mo’er, do you hate those people?”

Perhaps the kid did not clearly understand the meaning behind the word “hate”, but he suddenly grasped his small fist, and fiercely proclaimed, “Mo’er will quickly grow up, and master martial arts just like Uncle so that I can kill those bad people!”

Chu Qiao suddenly found herself lost for words. What could she say? Such was the circle of revenge that could never end. Was she supposed to say that violence would never solve anything? She could not even dare to look into the kid’s eyes. Her hand was trembling uncontrollably, and she felt even worse. She could only muster up the strength to caress the kid’s trembling back, and almost choking on her overflowing emotions, she whispered, “Then you must work hard. Even if you cannot kill the enemies, you can at least protect yourself.”

“Mo’er will definitely kill them!” The child forcefully raised up his hand, as he turned around and looked naively at Chu Qiao, asking, “Will Elder Sister teach Mo’er those skills?”

Bitterly smiling, Chu Qiao replied, “From now on, you must follow that uncle, and listen to whatever he says. Be a good boy. He will take care of you, and will teach you martial arts.”

Blinking, the kid asked her the most crucial question, “What about Elder Sister?”

Taken aback, Chu Qiao took a deep breath, before replying with a feigned casualness, “If the opportunity arises, I will come and see you.”

The kid was smart and sensitive, as he instantly understood the meaning behind that sentence. He panickedly tugged on Chu Qiao’s sleeves, as he questioned loudly, “Are you leaving?”

Chu Qiao shook her head as she hugged the kid again. It was no longer clear if she was speaking to the kid or speaking to herself, as she began a monologue. “Mo’er, you are really unfortunate, but you are also very fortunate. Your parents were killed by others, and your enemy has great influence and power. You really have no chance of standing up to the enemy. You were originally destined to die, but there were people who were willing to save you and protect you even though your family had already perished. From that point alone, you can be considered lucky. But in this world, there are people who are even more unlucky than you. His hatred was even stronger than yours, and his enemy was even more powerful than yours. He withstood humiliation for many years without anyone willing to help him. He could only rely on himself even when bullied by others. As such, his hatred was even more intense than yours.” Taking a pause here, Chu Qiao smiled gently and caressed the kid’s head before continuing, “As such, no matter what you do, Elder Sister will forgive you, because I have seen what you went through, and I know why you became the way you are today. But if you do something wrong, Elder Sister will think of ways to stop you.”

“Elder Sister!” the kid called out. “Mo’er will not do anything wrong! I will listen to Elder Sister no matter what!”

“Good boy, I hope you will remember what you said today.” Chu Qiao sighed.

With the crackling of the twigs in the flame, the conversation died out and the kid started getting drowsy. Using some dried grass as bedding, Chu Qiao placed Mo’er on the makeshift bed. Before long, the light snoring of the kid could be heard.

Forlornly looking at the kid’s sleeping face, Chu Qiao sank into reminiscence. On that fateful day after the massacre, in that dilapidated hut with a leaky roof, with that pale youth whose frown was deeply etched into his forehead, they hoarsely growled out with all their determination, “Live on, even if we have to live like a dog.”

In the blink of an eye, so many years had passed.

Picking up a twig, she wrote a few words on the ground. Pressing so hard onto the twig, it was as though she was pouring all her emotions out into the few words. Finally, she glanced at this cave for one last time and looked at that kid. Finally, she took a deep breath as she left the cave without looking back!

With a loud neigh, the sound of hooves resounded and was quickly washed out by the torrential downpour.

Zhuge Yue returned shortly after. He had even caught a rabbit. Smiling as he entered the cave, he was just about to speak when he was completely stunned.

“Brat! Brat!” Zhuge Yue shook the kid awake.

Rubbing his eyes, Mo’er drowsily replied, “Uncle..”

His face clouded with worry, Zhuge Yue hurriedly asked, “Where is Xing’er? Where did she go?”

“Elder Sister?” The kid frowned, confused. Pointing at the place Chu Qiao was sitting before he fell asleep, he said, “Elder sister was there? Eh? Where is Elder Sister?”

Zhuge Yue let go of him quickly, as he dashed out of the cave. Just as he thought, one of the horses was missing.