Chapter 325: We Are All Protectors
After the discussion concluded, Shaoyao had yet to return. Hua Pingyang escorted Hua Zhi back to her room. When they reached the doorway, Hua Zhi attempted to stand and step over the threshold, but Hua Pingyang held her down, refusing to let her move. He also declined the assistance of his injured elder brother and instead gestured for his second brother to come over. Together, they lifted the wheelchair across the threshold.
Hua Zhi initially felt somewhat embarrassed, but then she reconsidered: her injuries were sustained for the sake of these people. If she didn’t accept their gestures of goodwill, they would likely feel even more uneasy, inadvertently widening the emotional distance between family members. Accepting their kindness appropriately was beneficial for everyone.
With this thought, she relaxed, smiled at her second uncle, and allowed her fourth uncle to push her back to her room.
The night at Yinshan Pass was neither cold nor hot—it was quite pleasant. Their shadows stretched long under the moonlight, making even the child appear as tall as an adult.
At the sight of the child, Hua Pingyang felt a headache coming on. "Don’t spoil him too much. How can you always let him sleep in your room?"
"He’s still so young. Even the rule of separate seating for men and women doesn’t apply until the age of seven," Hua Zhi replied softly. "His only relative entrusted him to me before passing away. I am the only person he recognizes. Once he gets through this period of insecurity, it’ll be fine."
"You, why do you insist on carrying everything on your shoulders?"
"What else can I do? If I hadn’t held the Hua family together, it would have fallen apart. If I hadn’t acted that night, we would all be dead. If I don’t take responsibility for Zeng Han, his world would collapse. One thing after another—when have I ever been given a choice?"
Indeed, when had there ever been a choice? The more capable one was, the more responsibilities piled up. Hua Pingyang patted his niece’s shoulder. "Your fourth uncle misspoke. Without the court, the Hua family is just a group of scholars who can’t even lift a chicken—utterly useless."
"Military officials can still fight even if they’re not in office, while civil officials can still wield their pens. Isn’t my father highly respected now? People even fight to wash his clothes," Hua Zhi said with a laugh. "If my mother finds out that even his undergarments were snatched away by women to wash, my father will surely drown in her jealousy when he returns home."
"If your mother really finds out, just wait and see how your father deals with you." Hua Pingyang couldn’t help but chuckle at the memory. It happened after his elder brother became a teacher. Once, after bathing, his brother came out carrying a basin and, before he could figure out what was happening, a woman snatched the clothes from the basin. They only saw the leg of his underpants fluttering in the wind. The woman not only ran fast but also had a loud voice, shouting that she would return them after washing. His elder brother, unable to catch up, could only stomp his feet and cry, "This is an insult to propriety!" They had laughed until their stomachs hurt.
But it only happened that one time. After that, his brother made sure to wash his clothes with the bathwater before coming out, taking strict precautions.
Seeing that her fourth uncle’s mood had lightened, Hua Zhi steered the conversation back. "Fourth Uncle, do all of you think I’m exceptionally capable?"
There was no doubt about it. Hua Pingyang nodded firmly. "Who would dare say you’re not capable?"
"It’s all just a forced front."
They had reached the doorway of her room. Hua Pingyang stopped pushing the wheelchair and moved to face Hua Zhi directly. He heard the bitterness in her words and saw the wry smile on her face."How could I truly be so capable? Even if I did possess some skills, I was far from mastering them. But when there's no way back, when you have no one to rely on but yourself, when there are people you must protect, and when there's simply no other choice before you—what else could I do but force myself to become capable? Human potential is limitless. Push hard enough, and you'll learn everything—even what you thought you couldn't."
She had learned free combat well enough, but during her first real confrontation at the estate, her body—accustomed to years of comfort—was uncoordinated, and her reflexes were far from adequate. Worse still, she lacked the conviction to kill. Having grown up in peaceful times, she had learned those skills purely for self-defense. She had to force herself to strike ruthlessly, relying on that innate tenacity that had never been extinguished to endure.
After that, she began training her body. But whether during the incident in Zhenyang or this time, she employed the same tactic—trading injuries for lives. In a narrow path, the brave prevail. She exchanged her own wounds for her enemies' lives, never emerging unscathed. This was the method she devised out of necessity, forcing herself to aim every strike at lethal points.
Thinking back now, she couldn't pinpoint when she had become capable of such ruthlessness. Perhaps she was not far from treating human life as worthless.
Hua Zhi smiled self-deprecatingly and beckoned Zeng Han, who was lingering by the threshold. Stroking his head, she spoke of matters unrelated to him, "You'll become like this too someday. Before you know it, you'll become capable, mastering everything you couldn't do before, and even your heart will unknowingly harden."
She looked up, a wry smile curling her lips, "Because only then can those behind us live safely and securely."
Hua Pingyang's lips trembled, but no words came out. Indeed, if not forced by circumstances, who would want to be so capable? Who would want to grow thorns all over?
"So Fourth Uncle, don't feel useless or that you owe me much. Soon, we'll be playing the same role." Hua Zhi smiled, "We are all protectors."
"I understand." Hua Pingyang's voice wavered slightly, but his expression relaxed. Zhi Er knew everything—knew they felt useless, knew they were ashamed of relying on a niece for protection, knew they couldn't hold their heads high in front of her. These words weren't just for him; they were for all the men of the Hua family.
"We all understand now."
Suddenly feeling somewhat embarrassed, Hua Zhi lowered her head with a faint smile. "I'll go in now, Cao Cao."
Shaoyao, who had been eavesdropping inside the room, darted out. Grinning at Hua Pingyang, she lifted Hua Zhi along with her wheelchair and carried her over the threshold into the room. Zeng Han immediately followed, and the door snapped shut.
In the corridor, many members of the Hua family gradually emerged.
Inside the room, Hua Zhi instructed Shaoyao to make the bed. Zeng Han had been sleeping on a mat beside her bed these past few days.
Zeng Han never spoke voluntarily, but he would answer when spoken to and always stayed where he could see Hua Zhi.
Hua Zhi neither deliberately drew close to him nor kept him at a distance, treating him like any ordinary child in the household. Sometimes she would chat with him, other times make him a small toy. When drinking water, she would offer him a cup; during meals, she would remind him to eat slowly. She insisted he eat some vegetables when he only wanted meat, and in her free time, she would engage him in conversation.At this moment, Hua Zhi pulled him closer and asked casually, "Did you understand the game Sister Shaoyao and the others were playing today?"
Zeng Han's dark eyes lit up. "Yes."
Shaoyao paused her bed-making and exchanged a glance with Hua Zhi. Unsure how much he truly understood, Hua Zhi tentatively asked, "Would you like to play a round with Sister Shaoyao?"
Zeng Han nodded immediately, appearing almost eager.
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