Xin Mei rolled back in, and the arrow grazed past the carriage wall, forcibly scraping several cracks in the wooden wall.
“…Trying to kill me?” she murmured in disbelief.
Though she hadn’t met many War Ghost clansmen—just Lu Qianqiao’s family—based on past experience, while they were fierce, they rarely killed so directly. Could she have unconsciously offended her mother-in-law again without realizing it?
“At least they’re not trying to kill me.”
The carriage swayed wildly under the pull of several Paradise Birds. The great monk rolled to her feet and looked up at her seriously: “Actually, I came to save you.”
“…Give me a reason first.”
“No problem, but… could you please move your foot a little?”
The great monk pointed to her foot stepping on his forehead and smiled bitterly.
The facts were simple. Li Chaoyang’s awakening at age twenty-five achieved the extremely rare perfect War Ghost body, after which she killed all one hundred and thirty-seven members of her husband’s family. At that time, because Lu Qianqiao had been sent back to the clan to be cared for by the Li family, he escaped disaster. Being of mixed blood, he was already at a disadvantage. Clansmen all thought the young lady would mercilessly eliminate him upon her return, but Li Chaoyang only had him sent away, sparing his life.
Mother and son had always had shallow affection. Even on the rare occasions they met, she almost always sat in the carriage with bamboo curtains separating them into two worlds.
Now thinking about it, perfect War Ghosts had no so-called emotions. She spared his life probably holding onto a faint hope—since she could achieve the perfect form, her biological son might also be capable of it.
Now that he truly had hope of achieving it, but still retained reluctant emotions in his heart, preferring to quietly leave alone and disregard the War Ghost clan’s rise and fall, Li Chaoyang had her reasons for anger.
If Lu Qianqiao wouldn’t take action, then she would—
“That’s how it is.”
The great monk spoke until his mouth was dry, then pulled the bamboo tube from his waist and took a sip of water to moisten his throat. Looking up at Xin Mei, she had no reaction at all and was propping her chin, lost in thought.
“Didn’t understand?” He waved his hand in front of her.
Xin Mei thought for a moment and shook her head: “No, I think… she’s not that kind of person.”
“She killed all one hundred and thirty-seven members of the Lu family—that’s a fact. I don’t have time to make up stories.”
“What I mean is, she has emotions.”
That day in the tent, facing those blood-red eyes, though they were cold and full of killing intent, she didn’t feel afraid or want to hide. She saw Li Chaoyang’s hand on Lu Qianqiao’s face, her fingertips revealing a trace of regret and sorrow. Bodies don’t lie.
“That doesn’t mean she has feelings for you, otherwise why would we be running for our lives now?”
Xin Mei looked at him: “Right, why are you running with me? We’re not even familiar.”
The great monk grinned: “That’s naturally because we of the Fox Clan are a bright and righteous group of heroes who don’t allow evil War Ghosts to continue killing indiscriminately. I’m here to stop their atrocities.”
Xin Mei didn’t speak, just stared at him.
The great monk smiled again: “In any case… I won’t harm you, so rest assured.”
Paradise Birds were no ordinary birds after all, flying faster than spirit horses. After violently bumping for half an hour, they finally shook off the War Ghost behind them.
Both were somewhat mentally exhausted from rolling around in the long carriage. The great monk wearily propped himself up, glanced out the window, and said: “I’m taking you back to our clan. Once there, no one will come to kill you.”
“I won’t go.” Xin Mei refused very quickly. “Send me back to the Imperial Tomb.”
The great monk was about to wail: “Did you really not understand what I just said?!”
“Back to the Imperial Tomb.” Just three words.
The great monk finally put away his playful expression and looked at her quietly: “Even if you go back, Li Chaoyang won’t kill you, but if you wait ten or twenty years, he still won’t return. Even if he does return, you’ll only have an instant together before he chops you to pieces. Whether you die is your business, but the clan’s mission is for me to protect you. If I can’t complete the mission, I won’t have it easy either.”
“I have something to say to him—I must say it.”
There’s no such thing as having nowhere to go. She would wait for him at the Imperial Tomb, always waiting for him. As long as she was alive, this place would forever be his home.
The great monk sighed deeply: “You don’t need to return to the Imperial Tomb. I know where he is—let me take you to see him.”