That person was Xue Tao!
Xue Tao... the Xue Tao whom Raging Orchid No Trace had risked his life to save, the Xue Tao whom Yu Konghou had gone to great lengths to keep—how could she be abandoned like a discarded ragdoll in this desolate mountain wilderness on a snowy night? A Shui suddenly mustered immense courage, stopping in her tracks to take another look at her—she had a wound on her chest! Something had pierced through it, and she had lost a lot of blood.
But she wasn’t dead yet. Half of her face remained as fair and delicate as snow-white jade, and a tear frozen at the corner of her eye had turned to ice. A Shui lifted her into her arms, summoning strength from somewhere unknown, and sprinted back toward their dwelling with her.
Faster, faster—she had to move even faster!
She had so much to tell Tang Lici! So many important things! So many lives...
Tears spilled from her eyes. She felt an unbearable weight on her shoulders—lives, lives, lives... So many lives. What could she possibly do to make things right? How much effort would it take to salvage even a little? She was just A Shui. She already felt overwhelmed—how much heavier must the burden be on Tang Lici’s shoulders? Could he even bear it?
With a loud bang , A Shui reached the door and crashed inside. Yu Tuan'er, startled by the sudden noise, let out a shriek at the sight of A Shui, battered and bruised. Lin Bu hurried over to help A Shui and Xue Tao up. Wan Yu Yuedan opened the door and stepped out. Before A Shui could catch her breath, she pointed outside, gasping, "Brother Shen... is trapped at Wangting Manor... Go save him, and Guan'er..."
"Don’t worry, Young Master Tang has already gone," Wan Yu Yuedan reassured her, bending down to take her hand with a calm smile. A Shui froze for a moment. At his words, the world seemed to spin around her. "He’s already gone?" Wan Yu Yuedan nodded. "He woke up in bed, heard that you had taken Brother Shen and Zhu Yan to storm Wangting Manor, and left immediately. Don’t be afraid—with Young Master Tang there, nothing will happen to anyone." A Shui stared at him, her voice trembling as she asked, "His condition..." Wan Yu Yuedan raised a finger and circled it near his temple, smiling. "He was just agitated. I gave him a sedative, and after drinking the rice porridge you made, he’s already doing better than before. Rest assured—when Young Master Tang is present, no one will get hurt. He’s the kind of man who would fight to the death for others, and with his abilities, is there anything he couldn’t accomplish if he set his mind to it?"A Shui gazed dizzily at Wan Yu Yuedan. This person claimed Tang Lici was someone who would risk his life for others—how could he say it with such certainty, so naturally? "He..." Wan Yu Yuedan held a handkerchief, gently wiping away the mud and melting snow from her face as he spoke softly, "I've met another person who would risk his life for strangers. He did it out of universal love—he was kind to everyone, wishing for everyone's happiness, and for that, he would risk his life. Such a person is beloved and praised by all. But Young Master Tang is not like that. He risks his life for others not because of universal love, but because he is fragile." A Shui blinked slowly, her eyes filled with melting snowflakes, making everything appear hazy. She only heard Wan Yu Yuedan's gentle voice continue, "He is too lonely, too desperate for care, so he desperately saves others. Through saving others... he gains some fulfillment, making himself feel important. His refusal to give up on Fang Zhou, his persistence with Liu Yan, his desperate efforts to save Chi Yun—all because those who truly care for him are few, and he holds onto them, unwilling to let go. But few understand him. Young Master Tang expresses his emotions intensely, and most people fear him because he seems capable of accomplishing what dozens, even hundreds, could do alone—as if his existence alone renders others unnecessary. But that's not the case. He is simply too lonely. He needs that lofty demeanor... too desperate for care, too desperate to be valued. He cannot be like ordinary people."
I... have always been so foolish. The water in A Shui's eyes spilled over. "Yes..." Wan Yu Yuedan sighed softly. "I'll say something I perhaps shouldn't. Miss A Shui, you must understand Young Master Tang. I believe his obsession with you isn't for any other reason, but because... you carry a certain... maternal presence."
The water in A Shui's eyes flowed again, indistinguishable between snowmelt and tears. "I understand." This gentle young man, meeting her for the first time, seemed capable of piercing through all confusion. She finally understood what Tang Lici sought from her, finally understood whose "love that would die for him" he desired, finally realized why she had never felt his love for her, why his kindness always left her disappointed—so this was it...
So this was the reason...
She broke down, collapsing to the ground in wracking sobs. He only wanted a mother who would die for him, but she had misunderstood all along.
She could never be his mother, yet she had cared for him deeply all the same. But... but... all he wanted was a mother, nothing else.
And she truly... could never be his mother.
Shen Langhun had exchanged twenty-two moves with Yu Qifeng and Qingxuzi. In terms of true strength, Shen Langhun might withstand a hundred moves from Yu Qifeng but would surely lose before two hundred. Yet he was no swordsman—he was an assassin. Assassins know best how to survive. So even though he clearly couldn't withstand a single combined strike from Yu Qifeng and Qingxuzi, he had managed to hold out for twenty-two moves.But twenty-two moves were the limit, and Shen Langhun knew it well—the twenty-third would be his dire straits. Yu Qifeng had already deciphered his evasive patterns, while Qingxuzi’s palm techniques remained steady, utterly unfazed by his dazzling blade work. By the twenty-third move, the two had developed a tacit understanding. Thus, Yu Qifeng swept his sword toward Shen Langhun’s right knee, while Qingxuzi leaped high to strike at his back. With no room to dodge, Shen Langhun roared and unleashed his short blade, Willow Slayer, blocking the sword and palm strike from both front and back!
Bai Suche watched from the sidelines, her expression indifferent yet unwilling to leave, as if she found the spectacle intriguing. Suddenly, her gaze flickered slightly. Catching her glance, Shen Langhun felt a spark of inspiration flash through his mind. Abruptly, he abandoned defending against the palm strike from behind—Willow Slayer gleamed coldly as it flew from his hand, accompanied by dozens of Shadow Shooting Needles, all aimed at Yu Qifeng’s chest and throat!
Yu Qifeng had suffered greatly from this hidden weapon before and hastily swung his sword to block. Seizing the moment, Shen Langhun lunged forward with his short blade, pressing with relentless attacks, forcing Yu Qifeng into retreat. Behind him, Qingxuzi let out a sharp cry as he engaged another opponent. The sound of a palm strike echoed— thud —and Yu Qifeng’s expression changed as he withdrew his sword and retreated. Bai Suche paused briefly, offering Shen Langhun a faint smile before she too withdrew. Shen Langhun exhaled in relief and turned around, only to see Tang Lici standing alone. Qingxuzi had retreated even faster than Yu Qifeng, vanishing down the far end of the tunnel.
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