That person was Xue Tao!

Xue Tao… the Xue Tao that Kuanglan Wuxing had risked his life to rescue, the Xue Tao that Yu Konghou had schemed desperately to keep – how could she be abandoned like an unclaimed doll in this desolate mountain wilderness on a snowy night? A’Shui suddenly found tremendous courage, stopped, and looked at her again – there was a wound on her chest! Her chest had been pierced by something and bled profusely.

But she wasn’t dead yet. The remaining half of her face was beautiful as snow and jade, with a tear at the corner of her eye frozen into ice. A’Shui lifted her up with both hands, finding strength from who knows where, and ran wildly toward their lodgings while carrying her.

Faster, faster, she had to go faster!

She had so many things to tell Tang Lici! So many important things! So many lives…

Tears burst from her eyes. She felt her shoulders unbearably heavy. Lives, lives, lives… so many lives. What exactly should she do to make everything perfect? How should she strive to save something? She was just A’Shui – she already felt she couldn’t bear the burden. How much heavier must it be on Tang Lici’s shoulders? Could he bear it?

With a bang, A’Shui rushed to the door and burst in. Yu Tuan’er inside was startled. Seeing A’Shui covered in wounds, she immediately screamed. Lin Bu hurriedly came out and helped A’Shui and Xue Tao up. Wanyu Yuedan opened his door and came out. A’Shui was still gasping, pointing outside, “Elder Brother Shen… is trapped at Wangting Manor… quickly go save him, and Guan’er too…”

“Don’t worry, Young Master Tang has already gone.” Wanyu Yuedan bent down to grasp her hand, smiling very calmly. A’Shui was stunned. Hearing these words made her feel dizzy, “He’s already gone?”

Wanyu Yuedan nodded, “When he woke up from bed and heard that you had taken Elder Brother Shen and Zhu Yan to storm Wangting Manor, he immediately rushed there. Don’t worry – with Young Master Tang there, no one will be hurt. He’s someone who can risk his life for others, and with Young Master Tang’s abilities, what can’t he accomplish when he puts his life on the line?”

A’Shui looked at him dizzily, asking tremblingly, “His condition…”

Wanyu Yuedan raised his finger and drew a circle beside his head, smiling, “He was just emotionally agitated. I had him take calming medicine and drink the rice soup you made. He’s already somewhat better than before. Rest assured – when Young Master Tang is there, he won’t let anyone get hurt. He’s someone who can risk his life for others, and with Young Master Tang’s capabilities, what can’t he accomplish when he puts his life on the line?”

A’Shui looked at Wanyu Yuedan in bewilderment. This person said Tang Lici was someone who could risk his life for others – why could he say it so certainly? So naturally?

“He…” Wanyu Yuedan held a handkerchief, slowly wiping the mud and snow from her face, saying gently, “I’ve seen another person who could risk his life for unrelated people. He did it because of universal love – he was good to everyone, wanted everyone to be happy, and would risk his life for this. Everyone liked and praised such a person. But Young Master Tang isn’t like that. He’ll risk his life for others, not because he has universal love, but because he’s very fragile.”

A’Shui slowly blinked her eyes. There was melted snow in her eyes, making everything appear hazy. She heard Wanyu Yuedan say softly, “He’s too lonely, too much in need of care, so he desperately saves others. Through saving others… he can gain some satisfaction. He feels important. His persistence with Fang Zhou, his persistence with Liu Yan, his desperate attempt to save Chi Yun – all because there are so few people who truly care about him. He remembers them in his heart and won’t give up. But few people understand him. Young Master Tang’s way of expressing emotions is very intense. Most people fear him because he seems like he can accomplish what dozens or even hundreds of people do, as if only he needs to exist and others don’t. But it’s not really like that. He’s just too lonely. He needs that lofty posture… He wants care so much, wants to be valued so much, he can’t be like ordinary people.”

I… have really always been so foolish. Water flowed from A’Shui’s eyes, “Yes…”

Wanyu Yuedan sighed softly, “I’ll say something I shouldn’t – Miss A’Shui, you can’t not understand Young Master Tang. I think the reason he’s obsessed with you isn’t for any other reason, but because you… you have a kind of… maternal feeling about you.”

Water flowed from A’Shui’s eyes again, indistinguishable as snow water or tears, “I understand.” This gentle youth who was meeting her for the first time seemed able to see through all confusion. She finally understood what Tang Lici wanted to get from her, finally understood whose “love that could die for him” he wanted, finally understood why she had never felt him loving her, why he treated her well but she always felt disappointed – so that was it…

So that was it…

Just because of that…

She began crying, falling to the ground in grief. He just wanted a mother who could die for him, but she had always misunderstood.

She could never be his mother, but she cared for him just the same. But… but… all he wanted was a mother, nothing else.

And she really… could never be his mother.

***

Shen Langhun had already exchanged twenty-two moves with Yu Qifeng and Qingxuzi. In terms of true strength, Shen Langhun might be able to receive a hundred moves from Yu Qifeng, but would definitely be defeated within two hundred moves. However, he wasn’t a swordsman – he was an assassin. Assassins knew best how to survive, so even though he clearly couldn’t receive any move from Yu Qifeng and Qingxuzi working together, he had managed to hold out for twenty-two moves.

But twenty-two moves was his limit. Shen Langhun knew clearly in his heart that the twenty-third move would be his doom. Yu Qifeng had already figured out his evasion patterns, and Qingxuzi’s palm techniques were steady, not confused at all by his dazzling blade work. On the twenty-third move, the two had developed their coordination. So Yu Qifeng swept his sword toward his right knee while Qingxuzi leaped high to strike down at Shen Langhun’s back. Shen Langhun had nowhere to avoid. He roared and brought out both his short blade and Kill Willow, forcibly blocking the sword and palm before and behind him!

Bai Suche watched the battle from the side, her expression cold but not leaving, as if she found it interesting. Suddenly her gaze flickered slightly. Seeing her gaze, Shen Langhun instantly felt as if a spark flashed through his mind. He suddenly abandoned blocking the palm behind him. “Kill Willow” flashed with cold light as it flew from his hand, along with dozens of “Shadow-Shooting Needles” shooting fiercely at Yu Qifeng’s chest and throat!

Yu Qifeng had suffered greatly under his hidden weapons before and hurriedly danced his sword to block. Shen Langhun’s short blade thrust out, striking continuously like an assassin, actually forcing Yu Qifeng to retreat repeatedly. Behind him, Qingxuzi gave a clear shout and engaged someone in combat. There was a bang as palms met. Yu Qifeng’s expression changed as he withdrew his sword and retreated. Bai Suche paused slightly, smiled faintly at Shen Langhun, then withdrew.

Shen Langhun breathed a sigh of relief. Turning around, he saw Tang Lici standing alone. Qingxuzi had actually retreated even faster than Yu Qifeng, withdrawing along the other end of the tunnel.