Chapter 4, The Wishing Tree

I have never seen my mother show that kind of expression... it was an expression that made my heart ache.

It is her! The little princess of the Xiao family!

The little girl glanced at the heavy rain outside, which had raised a layer of mist from the ground, and a nearly wicked smile appeared at the corners of her mouth. Father? He is dead. He slipped down the slope and fell into the cliff.

"Why are you here?" She frowned, unable to understand.

She looked more closely at Xiao Juyuan. His clothes were dirty and had several tears, his hair was disheveled from being soaked by the rain, but the innocent expression on his face, untouched by worries, remained unchanged! ... That was the demeanor of someone who had grown up in a wealthy family, pampered and cherished, that was ... . ... a sense of security

My name is Xiao Juyuan, and I am from the Xiao family of Ya'an. My father's name is Xiao Mingyu, and my mother's name is Li Juxin. Seeing that she finally reacted, Xiao Juyuan felt an immense sense of excitement.

Go ahead, the little girl watched her small figure struggling to crawl along the mountain path, her eyes shining remarkably, go ahead, that road is the road to the underworld

Hmm. I really don't understand why my mother insists that I go with my father-in-law. She said that she and my father are in danger and that I should hide for a while. I am very worried about them

That is the wishing tree, which is quite magical. We, from a poor family, make all our wishes to that tree. My mother was originally gravely ill and on the verge of death. I went to the tree to make a wish, and as a result, my mother's illness was suddenly cured

Having received kindness from others, one must certainly repay it. The first thing Xiao Juyuan did after getting close to the warm fire was to take out food and share it with the young lady. Mother is truly thoughtful, even bringing her some plums as snacks

Wishing tree? Hmph, even if it is a tree with divine power, it is still helping her! To help her, it must take her life!

Well, alright then. She finally nodded, after all, it would be a quick trip there and back

As she gasped for breath, nearly crawling into the cave, she saw a little girl who was about the same size as her

She, disheveled and dirty, begged for alms on the street, huddled in a corner, watching from a distance as the local deity of wealth, Xiao Mingyu, rode a famous steed from beyond the frontier, with his most beloved daughter seated in front of him on the saddle, laughing and chatting as they went along

The little girl hesitated for a moment and nodded her head

Sister, how did you end up here

After the rain stopped and the mountain flood receded, she crawled back to the cave, exhausted. The young lady was no longer there, leaving only the bundle and a pile of cold ashes

The appearance of Xiao Juyuan did not elicit much of a reaction from her; she merely maintained a cold expression and rolled her eyes slightly. In those eyes, there was nothing but resentment and indifference, devoid of any childlike innocence.

The sunlight caressed them, and the manes of the horses along with the fabric of their garments reflected a faint halo of light

She did not know why she felt that the indifferent little girl was older than her. Perhaps it was due to the expression and demeanor that surpassed her age.

Mother said that the Pei family lives at the foot of Jinyun Mountain near Chongqing, and it would take no more than two days to arrive at the fastest speed

I went to gather herbs with my father, got lost, and encountered rain again

You can also make a wish. It is particularly effective

Xiao Juyuan tightly gripped the torch with great difficulty; the stone wall ahead was the mechanism for the exit. The Xiao family actually had such a long secret passage! She never even dreamed of it.

"Shame? What is there to be ashamed of? My mother said that Pei Junwu is quite handsome." Xiao Juyuan smiled, "This time I will be able to see him. Look, this is the token of recognition between me and my father-in-law, the Tianque Sword. It is quite heavy; several times on this journey I thought about throwing it away, but without this sword, my father-in-law would not recognize me, as he has never seen me before."

On this pitch-black and helpless rainy night, that fire seems to have become all hope!

After today's rain stops, her life will be equivalent to a fresh start

He is always drunk, hitting her, scolding her, and occasionally threatening to sell her into a brothel. He forces her to work, compels her to beg for alms, and even coerces her into stealing

Haven't seen it? Don't recognize it?

Ah! The little girl called out to her, "Are you going to take this sword with you? The mountain path is a bit steep, and it's raining. It will be quite a hassle for you to carry it. Just leave it here, and I will keep an eye on it for you."

Unlike her, who is always worried about when her father will hit her or sell her, she seems like a lost bird that cannot find a place to land, startled into a clumsy flight at the slightest sound

"What about you?" she suddenly became interested in chatting and asked back. Who said she couldn't talk and chat besides working? From that moment on, she was a free person, able to do whatever she wanted!

If heaven truly received her plea, then let this fool die on the path leading to the wishing tree

"Sister, what is your name?" Xiao Juyuan noticed her silence and tried to make conversation.

"Sister, may I come over to warm myself by the fire?" Her innocent and sweet smile.

Xiao Juyuan asked questions while eating, as she found it strange and awkward for two people to be together without saying a word

The bundle containing the dry rations and water bottle wrapped in oiled paper by mother seems to be getting heavier, causing a bit of pain in the shoulders! How many days' worth is this? When will the Pei family come to pick her up? Surely, it won't take many days, will it?

She looked at him, terrified as he reached out to her for help, and her first reaction was a cold smile of satisfaction, followed by her spitting in the face of that old, ugly, and disgusting man

Are you the young lady of the Xiao family? The young girl gazed intently at Xiao Juyuan, her eyes sparkling.

Really? Xiao Juyuan was quite surprised; she had never heard of such a thing

At the age of six, the petite girl stumbled along the mountain path in the heavy rain, slipping several times. The Tianque sword and her bundle became her greatest burdens. The road that appeared to be close felt long to walk, yet the flickering light in the rain held an irresistible allure, exceptionally bright and warm, leaving an indelible mark on her life

Then... I wish for our whole family to be happily together, is that possible

The rain made the night even darker, yet she saw a flicker of fire through the hail-like downpour! It was that cave, the one her mother spoke of, just above the small mountain path. ... That fire ... ? ... Could it be that the Pei family has already arrived?

Xiao Juyuan hesitated a bit; although her mother said that the sword should not leave her side, it had been quite troublesome to carry it all this way, as it was both heavy and long

She weighed the Tianque sword with resentment, it was so heavy! Why use it as a token? She had originally been dragging this large sword on the ground, but the "squeaking" sounds made by the metal and stone in the secret passage were truly unbearable, so she had no choice but to tuck this heavy iron object under her arm

The little girl took the pie she handed over and ate it greedily, without expressing any thanks. It was only right to pay the price for the fire she had worked hard to kindle. The hardships of her childhood made her understand better than anyone that one cannot gain something for nothing

A strange light rose in the little girl's eyes

She sensed that fate had created a miracle for her! The mere fact that her father had died was a miracle, and the appearance of this little fool was an even greater miracle! It was heaven's compensation for her, perhaps a result of her countless pleas to the heavens.

Is he also considered a father

It is indeed raining outside, and it seems that mother did not miss anything.

Today is truly her festival

Upon activating the mechanism, the stone wall slowly ascended, and a gust of damp wind, laden with the scent of rain, suddenly rushed in, extinguishing the torch instantly

From now on, she is known as Xiao Juyuan, her father is named Xiao Mingyu, her mother is named Li Juxin, this sword is called the Tianque Sword, and her husband is named Pei Junwu

Hmm. Xiao Juyuan followed her hand with his gaze and nodded.

Where is your father

Xiao Juyuan felt a bit disappointed, as it seemed that the Pei family had not yet arrived. However, the presence of someone in the cave, a little girl who was about the same age as her, brought her great surprise

Shameless! She snorted, husband? This girl possesses countless things she has always yearned for

The tree stands at the edge of the cliff, and her father fell from there. The narrow path is both wet and slippery, and a mountain flood is about to come down.

Of course

Envy bordering on despair is a form of extreme suffering

She gazed at the little girl who was about the same age as her; she was so beautiful, smiling and speaking, occasionally pouting playfully with a hint of reproach. Whenever she pouted, her handsome and charming father would show a look of tenderness on his face

He should have died long ago

Her hair is so black and shiny, beautifully styled, and the hairpin she wears is of a design she has never seen in her life. She sits proudly in her father's embrace, exuding a blissful appearance that seems unaware of the taste of sorrow

My mother sent me here to wait for my father-in-law in this cave. He is my father's sworn brother, and his son, Pei Junwu, is the husband I have been betrothed to for a long time. Xiao Juyuan spoke confidently, a bit proudly

Xiao Juyuan clung to the tree branch in fear. Fortunately, her mother had taught her some light body skills, allowing her to climb the Wishing Tree in a critical moment; otherwise, she would have been swept away by the suddenly erupting mountain flood.

Are you worried about them? she expressed sympathy

To the little girl, her expression of sadness was merely a form of meaningless moaning; what does she understand about sadness

She excitedly dashed into the rain, and when the stone wall closed, it made a loud thud. She turned back in shock, the rain making it impossible for her to open her eyes...! ... That cold and thick stone seemed to isolate not just her path forward, but her past as well

That fire ... ? ... Isn't the fire illuminating the sky coming from her house? ! ? Trees, I beg you to keep my parents safe! Let our family live together happily like before, and let that bad person die!

"Rest assured, I will be here waiting for you," the young girl said, nodding her head earnestly.

"Do you see the big tree on the cliff over there?" The little girl pointed outside the cave. The rain had lessened, and a bright light appeared beyond the mountains, as if something was on fire, allowing them to clearly see that tree.

Die well

Then I will go now! Xiao Juyuan picked up the sword and was about to walk outside