Chapter 1, The White Dragon Lies Dead (I)

Whether it is my younger brother or my companions... they lie alone outside, unable to frolic and play with them as they once did

A young man complained, running his fingers through his hair, and said calmly

However, it is not heavy, just a light drizzle. The rain patters against the carriage, producing a dull sound. Occasionally, the snorts of horses can be heard from the camp, adding a very eerie atmosphere to this tranquil rainy night. Indeed, eerie, an inexplicable eeriness.

In other words, they must spend a night in this desolate wilderness

According to the sayings of middle-aged men, the hour of You is an auspicious time for burial

The young man appeared extremely robust, with his eyes tightly closed, his face as pale as paper, and his collar stained with black blood, lying there motionless

The dark clouds rolled ominously, and from time to time, faint rumblings of thunder could be heard, as if heralding the approach of a greater storm.

Yes

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The Liu family and her family have no relation whatsoever

What the master said is indeed true

This statement effectively defined the situation. The old woman, who had initially been filled with hope, upon hearing the doctor's words, fell silent for a moment before letting out a sharp cry, and in an instant, tears streamed down her face like rain

Yes, aunt, please accept my condolences

When we arrived in Pei, it was as if we were in unfamiliar territory. Although we had some meager resources, without assistance from others, it would ultimately be difficult to establish ourselves in Pei

The official-looking person hurriedly stepped forward to respond: "My lord, Liu Kan's fate is predetermined! When he was born, there were already people saying that he was destined for great misfortune and would not live past the age of 15. Mr. Qu also did his utmost, but unfortunately, this child... sigh, it is indeed fate."

Sister, why suffer from hunger in this desolate wilderness for a foolish boy? If you ask me, just dig a hole and bury him.

The middle-aged man wore an expression of deep disappointment

Kang Ao said: "As a mere woman, how could I be in charge of such matters? I can only follow the arrangements made by the master"

A middle-aged man descended from an ox cart. Accompanying him were two young girls. One, around eighteen or nineteen years old, had bright eyes and white teeth, with a pair of watery apricot-shaped eyes that carried a look of compassion; she held her younger sister's hand, her face filled with sorrow.

Aren't they the ones outside who are fleeing with us?

The young girl, however, was too lazy to pay attention, holding her younger sister, leaning against the carriage, and closing her eyes

What about now

The steward was taken aback, "Master, this desolate wilderness is rather unsafe. If we travel another ten miles, we will reach the mulberry fields, and we..."

Four people walked to the rear of the convoy and saw an elderly woman, holding the body of a robust young man, weeping.

Kan, is it no longer possible?

"Ao" is a term used to refer to elderly women. In more straightforward terms, it means "Old Lady Kan".

She gently released her sister and covered her with her clothes. Looking at the two brothers who were snoring and sleeping soundly, she couldn't help but feel helpless. These two brothers, accustomed to a life of luxury, were actually sleeping so deeply in such circumstances

The young girl widened her eyes and said, "Brother, you cannot speak like that. The Liu family father and son died protecting us... Back then, our family had many guests. However, on the day when the city fell, only the Liu family father and son remained. Not for any other reason, but even for our own sake, we cannot commit such an unjust act. Our family is no longer what it used to be; the king has surrendered, and this world has already become Qin's world. Our family is no longer what it used to be; the king has surrendered, and this world has already become Qin's world"

The body of the young boy was laid beneath a towering tree, wrapped in a piece of brocade, with a straw mat placed underneath him

The middle-aged man said: "Mr. Qu, your words are excessive! I, Lv, am now a fallen man. You have not abandoned me, following me from Shanfu all the way to here; this is already a display of utmost kindness and righteousness. How can I blame you? It is a pity that, in the end, I cannot save Kan's life. I truly feel guilty towards Brother Liu... Fusheng, go convey my message: we will rest here tonight, and after arranging for Kan, we will set off again."

The middle-aged man also softly advised her, and the old woman, sobbing, ceased her cries

Kan Ao, the mother of Liu Kan

Thus, I, an old man, have been disrespectful!

The butler was very reluctant, but the master had already made up his mind, and he knew that persuasion would be futile

After persuading the old woman Kan to fall asleep, the two young girls returned to their own vehicle

We managed to escape from the single father, thanks to the father and son who fought bravely at the cost of their lives. Liu Fu died in battle, and now even Kan cannot be saved... Fusheng, come with me to take a look. The father and son sacrificed their lives for my family, so we must ensure that the child is properly taken care of.

Kang Ao, please accept my condolences

Kan'ao looked at Liu Kan, a trace of an indescribable kind smile appearing on her face, and softly said: "Kan is afraid of thunder; if I accompany him, he will not be afraid!"

Sister, has Kan really left?

Who can help us

The middle-aged man can be considered from a scholarly family, and he is very methodical in his work. He immediately made arrangements, and thus the servants either started cooking or set up accommodations, coming and going, appearing quite busy. Two young girls supported the old woman Kan as they walked into the carriage

Indeed, Kan Aop... do not let Kan leave with an uneasy heart

Not everyone is willing to do this. After all, this place is flat and offers little shelter from the wind and rain. Moreover, the world is not peaceful; one cannot guarantee that bandits or horse thieves will not appear. Although the servants in the caravan are armed, it is still fundamentally unsafe

In this world, besides the young girl who is concerned about Liu Kan's corpse, his mother is equally concerned. In fact, her concern is even more genuine than that of the girl. Hearing footsteps, Kan's grandmother turned her head to look and, upon seeing the girl, smiled and nodded.

The urgent matter is to bury Kan peacefully. Unfortunately, the conditions are rudimentary, and we cannot find a coffin for Kan's burial. However, I still have a piece of silk brocade in hand, which can temporarily serve as a coffin, allowing Kan to be buried first. Once we arrive in Pei, we can have someone craft a proper coffin, how does that sound

It started to rain outside the carriage

The convoy stopped by the banks of the Sishui River, and from within the convoy came waves of weeping.

The girl did not speak again; she simply found a raincoat and draped it over the old woman. Then she sat beside Liu Kan's corpse. The two women did not say another word, just keeping company with Liu Kan. The night grew deeper, the wind howled, and the rain intensified!

But now, Liu Kan has actually left

The young girl felt a pang in her nose and tightly embraced her younger sister

The young girl's heart was filled with sorrow, yet she forced a smile and comforted the old woman, saying: "Aunt, although Kan has passed away, if he sees you like this from the heavens, he will surely be very sad."

However, if Liu Kan were still alive, I suppose I would not be so vigilant myself

The vehicles formed a circular formation, with a bonfire burning in the center

A middle-aged man approached and asked the doctor, "Mr. Qu, is there really no hope?"

Upon hearing the young girl say this, he became hesitant to speak further. He could only mutter under his breath, "That may be true, but there is still some danger involved. If bandits were to appear, we would all be in grave danger. If we cannot survive, what use is there for human sentiment?"

But who should be blamed for all of this

Aunt, why aren't you going to rest

Although the young man is older than the young girl, he evidently feels somewhat intimidated by her

Beside him sat a young man, appearing to be around sixteen or seventeen years old, who, upon hearing this, could not help but nod repeatedly in agreement

The young girl suddenly awoke, recalling that Liu Kan's corpse was still outside

To outsiders, it may be quite difficult to understand the relationship between the sisters and Liu Kan. Childhood sweethearts? Perhaps that could be considered the case! In the elder sister's heart, Liu Kan is the little brother she has watched grow up since childhood; while in the younger sister's eyes, Liu Kan is the good companion she has played with since they were young

Draped in a raincoat, the young girl stepped out of the carriage. She picked up a piece of felt from the cart, jumped down, and ran towards the large tree. Surely, she could not allow Liu Kan's corpse to be drenched by the rain. However, when the girl reached the tree, she discovered that someone was already sitting next to Liu Kan's body, alongside the *illustration*.

The middle-aged man's expression darkened, "The deceased must be prioritized, especially since Liu Fu and Liu Kan, father and son, are the saviors of my entire family!"

To be precise, the father and son of the Liu family are merely retainers in her household. The deceased youth was named Liu Kan and was just over fourteen years old. The young girl had watched Liu Kan grow up since childhood; with her inherently kind nature, she regarded Liu Kan as a younger brother. Although she had brothers of her own, Liu Kan, with his simple and honest demeanor, seemed to be closer to her, following her around like a little tail since they were young

Mr. Qu nodded slightly, "This child was struck by an arrow outside Danfu City, hitting the vital point. If it weren't for his strong constitution, he would have likely succumbed long ago. That he has managed to hold on until now is already a surprise... Lord Lü, I truly apologize; please forgive this old man for his powerlessness."

An elderly man resembling a physician stood up, shaking his head and letting out a sigh

The younger sister whispered softly, "Then won't there be anyone to play with me anymore? Sister, I want to stay... I don't want to leave, okay?"

A middle-aged man approached the weeping elderly woman with two young girls, saying, "Madam Kan, please accept my condolences"

A'yan, do not worry... A'kan has left, but your sister is still here

The father does this to win the hearts of these people. If it is truly as you say, I fear that before Pei arrives, the hearts of the people will have already scattered

The middle-aged man asked, "Is there no way for Mr. Qu to save him?"

The older girl crouched down and gently offered her comfort. Her bright eyes, red and filled with tears, kept swirling in their sockets

On a day in March of the twenty-sixth year of King Qin Zheng's reign, after a thunderstorm, the sky remained overcast, showing no signs of clearing.