Five

Is this what tears are? Why do they fall? Hua Qian finished sewing and, confused, reached out her hand to gently touch his cheek, feeling a cold sensation. Then she slowly moved her hand up, gliding over the bridge of his nose, reaching the corner of his eye, wiping away the dampness. After a moment of thought, she awkwardly apologized, "I’m sorry for making you uncomfortable. Have you always been in such poor health? Are you afraid of blood?"

Hua Qian raised her head and commanded, "Light the lamp for me."

The arrival of these two individuals bodes no good.

The crowd cursed: "Two damned bastards, all they know is to bully others"

Hua Qian is even more perplexed: "Why are you sad?"

If the wound is not sutured, it will bleed excessively and lead to death

Xiao Ziyu asked with a lack of confidence, "Isn't it too ambitious?"

An ugly and massive wound lay across her fair and beautiful arm, with large drops of fresh blood flowing down, seemingly endless, staining her clothes and the ground red. Hua Qian stared intently at the blood-dripping dagger in Wu Tianliang's hand, remaining silent, her entire being exuding a terrifying aura, as if she were a man-eating demon

He quietly glanced at Hua Qian, fearing that she would mock him for overestimating his abilities like others did. However, Hua Qian did not; there was no hint of ridicule on her face. Instead, she remained silent, carefully observing him, as if she were contemplating something.

The long-absent moisture suddenly flowed past the corner of the eye, gliding down the cheek

The two of them intended to pull Hua Qian, thinking they would send her to the brothel in the county to inquire which family she had gone missing from

When tears can no longer yield any assistance, there is no need for tears

The trafficking of orphans is one matter, while committing murder in public is another. The heartless did not anticipate that frightening children would lead to such a serious situation

Hua Qian tilted her head and affirmed once again: "Moreover, you are very interesting and I never get tired of looking at you"

He cautiously opened his eyes, only to see Hua Qian blocking him with her arm, deflecting the attack of the dagger.

He was completely unaware of the changes in his body, nor did he know what earth-shattering changes this strange girl would bring to his life

Hua Qian asked curiously: "Do you have a dream?"

The cries of an infant serve to attract the mother's attention and seek assistance, gradually becoming a habit ... Crying when feeling sad is a call for sympathy, crying in pain is a plea for compassion, crying when feeling wronged is a need for comfort, and crying when troubled is a request for help

In front of the calm girl, he began to retreat, and Xiao Fenggu's legs also trembled slightly. The onlookers started to voice their condemnation, and the malicious couple no longer dared to persist. They casually threw out a couple of harsh words and fled in a panic.

Xiao Ziyu forced himself to calm down, and the emotional control skills he had honed in the past came into play once again, allowing him to quickly regain his composure. He thanked the villagers and accompanied Hua Qian into the house to provide emergency first aid. After Hua Qian confirmed several times that he was unharmed and could assist, she took out a small cloth pouch from an unknown location. From it, she retrieved silver needles and silk thread, placing both items into a white porcelain bottle that exuded a strong aroma of liquor to soak for a moment. Then, she threaded the needle and poured the liquid from another black porcelain bottle onto the wound to clean it thoroughly, followed by stitching the wound with the needle and thread. Each of her movements caused her body to convulse, yet she did not cry or scream, which left Xiao Ziyu feeling terrified and unable to look directly at her.

Without any sense of morality, he brandished his dagger and sneered: "That kid Xiao Ziyu has no father and no mother, where could he possibly have a cousin?"

Hua Qian seemed completely indifferent to the taste, as she spooned the food into her mouth bite by bite, as if she were enjoying a delicious dish

Xiao Ziyu, unable to endure any longer, finally asked: "Why do you always look at me?"

Xiao Ziyu took a few deep breaths, trying to calm himself as he lit the long-unused oil lamp, placing it beside the young girl. He watched her calmly stitching and sewing, piercing the needle into her flesh, as if she were mending not her own body, but some tattered garment. Although Xiao Ziyu had anticipated what was about to happen when she took out the needle and thread, witnessing the gruesome scene still made him feel a wave of discomfort. As he saw Hua Qian about to finish stitching herself up, he finally spoke: "Doesn't it hurt?"

Xiao Ziyu insisted on hiring a physician for Hua Qian

Without any sense of shame, he laughed heartily: "Stop pretending to be strong. I have seen many girls like you in the flower streets and willow lanes of the city. Each one has fair skin and delicate little hands, just like good sisters." As he spoke, he attempted to touch Hua Qian's hand, but she disdainfully slapped his hand away. He did not seem to mind the pain; instead, he sniffed his own hand and lewdly chuckled, "Fragrant, truly fragrant. I see, my lady, you must have come from some brothel, a girl who would rather die than submit. Once I send you back, I can also collect a few rewards."

Dream? Xiao Ziyu repeatedly chewed on these two words, the suppressed desire once again leaped out.

He left as if riding on clouds and mist, forgetting how he had stumbled over stones while walking in a daze, and also forgetting how he had foolishly smiled amidst the furious scolding of the tigress. It was not until the neighbor, Sister Niu, rushed over in a hurry, grabbed him, and asked, "Who is the young girl living in your house? Those heartless couple are looking for trouble with her, you should hurry back and check on her." that he finally awakened from his daze

Hua Qian was somewhat incredulous. She had neither committed murder nor arson, nor had she engaged in robbery or smuggling, let alone fed anyone to snakes. All she did was get into a fight, sustaining some injuries that were her own. How could this child, who was perfectly fine, suddenly fall ill due to a stabbing?

Seeing her misunderstanding, Xiao Ziyu quickly shook his head: "I am just sad for you"

Xiao Ziyu overthought things again, his mind went blank, and in an instant, his face turned red, hot enough to fry an egg. He found it difficult to look at Hua Qian, yet he also couldn't avoid it. In the end, he lowered his head and made an effort to scoop the porridge into his mouth. Suddenly, he felt that this unappetizing porridge was quite palatable, almost like sweet soup.

In the crisp air, Xiao Ziyu faintly caught a whiff of happiness.

Xiao Ziyu closed her eyes, bracing for the impending misfortune

Even if one cries uncontrollably, the wound will not heal

The only fortunate thing is that Hua Qian is easy to take care of. She possesses the temperament of a pampered young lady from a wealthy family, yet she is not picky about food or clothing. Whether it is bitter medicine or plain porridge, she consumes it all without complaint, without fuss, and without tears. However, Hua Qian has a peculiar habit; she particularly enjoys watching Xiao Ziyu, to the extent that it makes Xiao Ziyu so nervous that he burns the porridge.

The burnt porridge is so unpalatable that it is nauseating, yet they have limited rice and cannot afford to be picky.

How could the heartless care about what this little child has to say? With a kick, he sent her aside, then reached out to touch the delicate skin of Hua Qian. Hua Qian frowned, slightly shifting her left foot as if about to fall, her hand gently pushing the firewood aside. The heartless was caught off guard, missing his target and crashing against the windowsill, knocking over several pots of flowers and plants. When the heartless got up, he had pulled down quite a few. Seeing her man fall, Xiao Fenggu was furious, rolled up her sleeves, and pointed at Hua Qian's nose, shouting: "You little wretch, do you still want to resist?! I will take care of you!"

However, he did not wait for the anticipated pain, only hearing the gasps of the onlookers

Hua Qian interrupted him decisively, saying: "Don't be sad, this is not your fault. You have helped me, and I am willing to do my best to help you in return. It may seem a bit strange, but I have never been afraid of pain since I was young, nor do I like to cry. This is not a big deal; it is my problem, not your fault. So please do not feel sad for me..." It may seem a bit strange, but I have never been afraid of pain since I was young, nor do I like to cry. This is not a big deal; it is my problem, not your fault. So please do not feel sad for me...

Due to Yue Wuxia standing up for him a while ago, Xiao Zijian's hand was slightly burned. Xiao Zijian was busy gambling and didn't dare to seek revenge from his mother-in-law. He temporarily had no time to deal with him. As a result, the unscrupulous couple who protected their own interests refused to let it go. Especially when they heard that there was a valuable jade pendant in Xiao Ziyu's house, they were like bloodthirsty wolves smelling blood, thinking that there was profit to be made, so they quickly rushed over. Seeing that Xiao Ziyu was not at home, but there was a beautiful girl of unknown origin, they were even more delighted.

Xiao Fenggu's yin voice and yang energy help with the accompaniment: "Looking at your appearance, you are not a true young lady, but rather like a skinny horse raised, who are you trying to show off this cold, arrogant and noble demeanor to? Shameless fox!."

Xiao Ziyu became very anxious and repeatedly tried to stop it.

She merely made the most reasonable choice

Hua Qianman casually remarked: "It hurts, it hurts to the core."

Seeing Hua Qianli's confident demeanor, Xiao Ziyu was left speechless. He had experienced similar situations; after injuring his knee, he would get up, bandage the wound, and continue walking. When he was stopped and beaten by Xiao Zijian and other ruffians, he silently endured it, even collapsing from illness without shedding a tear. It was only when Uncle Liu discovered him that he barely managed to save his life.

"There is, there is," Xiao Ziyu asked cautiously, "You really won't make fun of me?"

The more she explained, the more desolate Xiao Ziyu felt

Why not cry

Hua Qian muttered, "They are just two dogs that can only bark."

Hua Qian's right foot is injured, leaving no place to run even when trying to escape, and only obediently suffering from bullying.

Xiao Ziyu, unable to endure any longer, asked: "How could you bring yourself to do this? Why aren't you crying?"

Xiao Ziyu felt even more distressed. He wiped away his tears with his sleeve and reflected: "Because of my incompetence, in the face of this pair of wicked couple with no sense of morality, I was afraid in my heart, did not dare to fight back to the death, only knew how to evade and suffer blows, which led to your injury. The villagers are right; I, Xiao Ziyu, am the greatest waste in the world! A cowardly and pathetic waste! If only I had..."

Wu Tianliang is the father of Xiao Zijian, originally named Wu Tianxing. He is an outsider without any ties, who married into the Xiao family village. After making a fortune somewhere, he became a small landlord in the village. Due to his bullying behavior towards both men and women, he was despised by the villagers and was collectively referred to as Wu Tianliang. He is known for his unreasonable nature, often resorting to violence at the slightest provocation, which instills fear in everyone. His wife, Xiao Fenggu, was spoiled since childhood, extremely selfish, and a formidable person in her own right. Together, this couple is synonymous with trouble. Years ago, they led the demand to divide the several dozen acres of good farmland belonging to Xiao Ziyu, claiming that Xiao Ziyu was too young to manage the family assets. They created a scene and took everything away, only leaving when they had squeezed out every last bit of benefit.

Hua Qian shook her head decisively.

I do not know what you have been through, but you are not worthless, " Hua Qian said, oblivious to his emotions, clumsily trying to comfort him, " You just have not discovered your talent for the time being.

These days, those who dare to open brothels are all people with backgrounds. If an ordinary girl with no connections or reasons is thrown in, no matter how eloquent and persuasive she may be, how could she possibly come out?

The neighbor's Ermao cried, and a mother came over to comfort him. Sister Xinghua in the village cried, and her man showed concern. Grandma Xiao cried and wailed, and her filial children and grandchildren knelt down to apologize. However, what can Xiao Ziyu's crying bring?

This is a very gentle kiss.

Hua Qian said: "See if you are a good person."

She turned around and found that Xiao Ziyu was having another relapse, with a pale face, leaning against the door and panting.

Xiao Ziyu was also loved when he was young. He used to cry a lot. When Grandpa Liu was still alive, he would sometimes cry sadly. But after Grandpa Liu passed away, he cried for three days and then never cried again because the person who cared for him was no longer there.

Do not hesitate, do not be afraid, believe in yourself, and believe in my words. Hua Qianfang released Xiao Ziyu. She gently stroked his forehead with her fingertips, and a faint black snake-shaped mark appeared where he had been kissed, then gradually disappeared. If the gods saw this scene, they would be horrified. This is a mark that makes the three realms tremble and makes demons bow their heads. Hua Qianfang admired her work and ordered, "You have talent, you will become a spiritual mage. Even if there are thorns ahead, you must walk without hesitation and not shed tears."

Xiao Ziyu felt a heartache he had not experienced in many years, watching Hua Qian carelessly stitch up the wound, and it pained him deeply

As the day gradually turns to dusk, the light inside the room becomes somewhat dim, making it difficult to see the direction of the needle and thread

The physician Wu from the neighboring village is quite skilled in treating injuries from falls and blows. He stated that although Hua Qian's injuries appeared severe, they were not as serious as they seemed; the joints were already properly aligned. With another half month of proper care, there would be no lasting effects. As he left with a cheerful demeanor after leaving the medicine, Xiao Ziyu found that his life savings had dwindled to just over ten coins. He tentatively asked Hua Qian if she had any money, to which she touched her pocket, shook her head, and remained silent.

Hua Qian gently said: "Yes, you have talent. Although I cannot be certain yet, it indeed exists; it just needs guidance to be brought out. To live is to dream, so why don't you tell me what your dream is? As for dreams, how can one know they cannot be realized without trying?"

"Let go of my sister!" Xiao Ziyu lunged forward like an enraged tiger, biting down hard on Wutianliang's arm. Wutianliang, in pain, swung his dagger wildly, attempting to shake him off, but lost his aim, inadvertently slashing towards Xiao Ziyu's eyes.

Hua Qian held a stick of firewood, blocking the door. She said, "I am a distant cousin of Xiao Ziyu."

Xiao Ziyu was in a state of panic, unable to pay attention to the old tigress behind him shouting and cursing, and he hurriedly ran home. He saw many people watching, and the heartless couple was blocking the entrance to his home, shouting and cursing.

Hua Qian is a girl of merely fourteen years, and girls are inherently delicate; she is certainly not a fierce warrior who would shoot arrows at her own eyes and swallow them. How could she cultivate a mindset that remains unperturbed even when faced with the collapse of Mount Tai? Therefore, Xiao Ziyu understands that Hua Qian did not grow up in happiness; like herself, she is a neglected child, and her living conditions are even more dire. No one would offer her any compassion or assistance when she is hurt, which has forged her character.

"Why can't I take action? I want to live, I don't want to die," Hua Qian just finished sewing the last stitch, she bit off the thread and looked up in confusion, asking, "And... does crying make the pain go away?"

No one has ever believed in their dreams, not even Grandpa Liu.

Xiao Ziyu was so moved that she felt like crying

He only wants to be with Hua Qian

The shallow and ignorant mortal, Hua Qian, did not show any signs of anger on her face, and repeated once more: "I am his cousin."

Xiao Ziyu took a deep breath and gathered her courage: "I want to become a spiritual mage and follow the path that my father walked."

Without any sense of morality, he held in his hand the small dagger he often used to intimidate others, brandishing it up and down in a showy manner, threatening Hua Qian with the words: "Where did this charming young lady come from? How could she have hidden in this shabby place for so many days? Could it be that she has eloped?"

A faint warmth penetrated from his forehead down to his heart, igniting the boy's heart with a burning heat. He gently asked, "Do I really have the talent to be a sorcerer? But I don't know anything, I have no strengths, and my health is poor..."

Hua Qian concealed her injured hand behind her back

Xiao Ziyu felt that she was overthinking

Xiao Ziyu frowned as she ate, forcing herself to stuff it down her stomach

No, this is very good. Is this your wish?" Hua Qian came back to her senses from her contemplation, and suddenly reached out, gently embracing Xiao Ziyu, closing her eyes, and with the softest voice, assured him, "Rest assured, you will definitely become a spiritual mage." Immediately after, she kissed Xiao Ziyu on the forehead.

Xiao Fenggu interjected: "Still tender and delicate, at first glance, she is clearly a younger sister who has never done any hard work"

Xiao Ziyu understood that Hua Qian was not unwilling to cry, but rather did not know how to cry

Fortunately, Xiao Ziyu had taken the pills given by Yue Wuxia, so this time the onset of the illness was not as severe. After catching his breath for a while, he took the medicine left by Grandpa Liu, and soon regained his composure. However, upon seeing Hua Qian's blood-soaked arm, he began to gasp again.

Xiao Ziyu repeated in disbelief: "My own talent?" In this lifetime, he had been called a "waste" by others, and no one had ever believed that he had any talent. He couldn't help but laugh at himself: "I only have talent when I'm dreaming. I particularly enjoy thinking about various things, and I have a lot of dreams.

Hua Qian slowly dodged, appearing somewhat flustered, yet managing to narrowly evade several times. The firewood in her hand lightly struck Xiao Fenggu's hand, seemingly lacking strength, but it left her with bruises, making her increasingly furious. She picked up a stick, and as Wutianliang crawled up from the mud pile, one person brandished a dagger to intercept from behind while another wielded a stick to block from the front, forcing Hua Qian into a corner with no way to escape, and then they intended to capture her.

Hua Qian stood at the door, watching him go to the teahouse to work

A child who does not understand how to cry is the saddest existence in the world

How taken for granted this is

Would such a large wound, with so much blood loss, be fatal

Xiao Ziyu had no choice but to accept it

Several kind-hearted villagers quickly brought some medicinal wine to treat Hua Qian's injuries