Chapter 6, The Thoughts of the Heart

Little Chen, wake up, wake up!" It was the urgent call of his older brother.

Oh. In times of chaos, there are too many tragedies of separation and death. He was not surprised and only asked, "So where are you going? Are you seeking refuge with relatives?"

I just heard you having a nightmare...

After having a full meal, one feels sleepy; Mr. Qiu noticed her fatigue and said, "Little girl, are you tired? I'm going to the pharmacy tonight to look up some medical books. You can rest in my room."

For a full seven days, she had been tormented by fear, trembling with trepidation. Finally, the unconscious Yuwen Chutian opened his eyes.

"Do we really need to rush to see the sunrise?..." She complained while rubbing her eyes. With sleepy eyes, she reluctantly opened them, and when she saw the scene in front of her, her whole body froze in shock.

The sect leader has ordered a swift return!

At night, his body trembled from the cold. She piled the unburned remnants of the peach tree branches into the brazier, igniting a fire. In the feeble flames, her small yet warm body was tightly embraced by him, as they warmed each other.

At your command, sir! The black-clothed person disappeared without a trace in an instant.

"A bottle of medicine? If it's really Huolian, it shouldn't have been taken just a month ago." He shook his head in confusion, got up and prepared to go out, but Luochen quickly grabbed his sleeve.

His talent is extraordinary, and the meridians in his body are unusual. Even when practicing, the water of Yao Hua has not harmed his heart meridian," said the voice of the masked man.

At that time, she looked at Uncle Qiu with a sad and gentle gaze, feeling that he was a very pitiful and kind uncle. She never expected that this destitute uncle, who limped on one foot, would be Qiu Yishan, the number one physician in the martial arts world. She also never imagined that he had a deep connection with the Night Owl.

He reached out to wipe away her tears, but his hand fell weakly before touching her face.

Not quite similar, seems to be natural.

In that cold night, his breath was weak, his heartbeat gradually weakening. She kept talking to him without stopping: "Brother, you can't die... You promised me to take me to the rapeseed field, to take me to the bamboo forest to pick bamboo shoots. You can't die... You haven't taken me to see the sunrise yet. I won't stay in bed anymore. I will definitely accompany you to watch it together... You can't die. Mom and Dad don't want us anymore. You can't leave me behind again..." "You can't die. Mom and Dad don't want us anymore. You can't leave me behind again..."

My older brother is my only relative now. He said he would take me to Miaojiang to find someone.

Upon hearing this, Luo Chen looked around and asked, "Where is she? Has she gone to sleep?"

"But your injuries..." She struggled, wanting to rush into the rain again, but he held her tighter. Through the clothes soaked by the rain, his warmth enveloped her, as if it could drive away the coldness of the entire world.

In the blink of an eye, everything has vanished. My parents are forever buried beneath the yellow earth, and the once warm home now remains only as ruins, with the room in disarray.

"It's a good name too." Uncle Qiu patted her head, "Hurry up and eat, the noodles are going to get cold."

I will go prepare some hot noodles for you; you can come out once you have changed your clothes

Even though he had long since become indifferent to life and death, he could not help but feel a twinge of emotion when faced with this pair of lonely siblings, bound together by life and death. With a soft sigh, he stepped forward to check the pulse of Yu Wen Chu Tian, his face unable to conceal his astonishment. After holding his breath and concentrating on the diagnosis for a while, his expression revealed not only surprise but also a greater sense of confusion.

She no longer spoke much and focused intently on eating her noodles

A girl followed closely beside him; judging by her slender and graceful figure, she appeared to be around eleven or twelve years old. Her face was obscured by a black veil, making it impossible to see her features, but in the faint moonlight, one could discern that she possessed a pair of exceptionally beautiful eyes, reminiscent of the waning moon in the sky, exuding a delicate charm tinged with melancholy

My injury is not a problem; I will adjust my breathing and circulate my energy for a while, and it will be fine.

After a month of arduous travel, they finally arrived at a small border town in the western region of the Great Nation. Years of war had led to countless deaths among the populace, with many fleeing, leaving many towns along the border as desolate ghost towns. Although this small town still had some inhabitants, it was in a state of utter decay, with a dilapidated sign hanging at the entrance of the street, inscribed with the three characters "Qingyuan Town".

Suddenly, in the desolate and silent valley, a gust of cold wind swept through, causing the leaves to flutter and fall. A cold gleam flashed among the lush trees, and Yu Wen Chu Tian cautiously stepped back, narrowly avoiding a swift sword strike coming from behind a tree. However, soon after, more than a dozen swords converged towards him. He desperately protected Luo Chen, but in a moment of carelessness, his right arm was slashed by a sword, the skin torn open, revealing stark white bone.

He turned his face to look at Luo Chen, who had asked countless times, "Is my brother really okay?" yet still wore a worried expression: "Little girl, has your brother taken any special medication?"

Innate

The porridge you cooked is very delicious

In the naive thoughts of youth, life was supposed to be lived this way. As for the outside world: the vast land of the great nation spoken of by her father, the powerful military of the Xuan nation, the vanished Loulan kingdom, and the Lan ethnic group of Miaojiang, were merely meaningless codes. As for the tumultuous rivers and lakes, that was even more distant; the supreme martial arts estate of Wuran Mountain, the highly esteemed Daoist sect of Zhuoguang Mountain, and the assassin organization Night Owl, which struck fear into the hearts of all in the martial world, were nothing more than bedtime stories for her.

Half a month later, Yu Wen Chutian's injuries had mostly healed. He said he wanted to take her to Miaojiang to find a woman named Lanxi. Thus, they packed up all the valuable items in their home and bid farewell to their parents' new graves. Before leaving, Yu Wen Chutian stood in front of the grave for a long, long time

Yuwen Chutian looked at his mother's trusting gaze and nodded firmly: "Alright, I understand!"

She thought her brother had come to find her to watch the sunrise again, so, as usual, she closed her eyes and curled up in the blanket, playing coy: "Good brother, I haven't had enough sleep yet... Let's watch the sunrise together tomorrow, I promise, I will definitely accompany you tomorrow"

The man lowered his head, gazing into her misty black eyes, and then looked at Yu Wen Chutian, who was barely hanging on, at the age of twelve or thirteen. There was an extraordinary resilience about him, clearly tormented by pain to the point of confusion, yet still stubbornly holding on, refusing to fall.

Luo Chen quickly nodded, put down his chopsticks, and stood up to perform a grand bow: "Xiao Chen will never forget your great kindness in this lifetime"

Little Dust

"By the way, little girl, what is your name?" Uncle Qiu asked

He gazed at her for a long time, a hint of affection shining through his weathered eyes, and unconsciously softened his tone: "Little girl, how old are you?"

She slowly crawled towards him, unafraid and unhurt, with only one thought in her mind: wherever he goes, he will not abandon her; he will protect her, cherish her, and will not allow her to suffer even the slightest harm

Uncle Qiu did not deceive her; that night, Yu Wen Chutian indeed slept very soundly. Outside, the wind and rain were raging, and the thunder and lightning were deafening, yet he did not stir even once, remaining in deep slumber. Seeing him sleep so peacefully, she no longer felt anxious. She wrapped her arms around one of his, nestled against his shoulder, and soon fell asleep.

Her mother, Lu Linran, held a sword in one hand, her face pale: "What is meant to come will eventually come. Gu Yu, you should take the children and leave; they want my life."

Luo Chen immediately nodded: "Mm, Uncle Qiu."

She nodded slightly, thought for a moment, and then shook her head vigorously: "Not for long! Brother, you must be hungry, I will go cook for you, just wait a moment!"

In the blink of an eye, more than ten swords were thrust towards them simultaneously. Yu Wen Chutian hurriedly dealt with the situation, having no time to say anything further; in fact, he did not wish to say more. In such circumstances, even if Luo Chen could escape first, with her martial arts skills, she could not hold out for long, and ultimately, she would still be unable to escape her fate

He finally responded to her, with only two words: "Xiao Chen".

She looked up and gazed out the window. It was already dawn, and the morning light spread across the vast sky, with the countless bodies on the ground disappearing without a trace

Luochen gritted his teeth and said, "Brother, I'll go find a doctor for you."

"I do think about it, how could I not? But..." The uncle paused, not continuing, and changed the subject, saying, "My surname is Qiu, so you can call me Uncle Qiu from now on"

If that's the case, he would rather stay with her, whether it's life or death, they will face it together.

At the age of ten... He looked at her thoughtfully for a long time, a hint of bitterness appeared at the corner of his mouth. He patted the chair next to the fireplace and said, "Come, come sit here and have a bowl of noodles."

"Well, you can rest assured. Your brother has a unique constitution and a strong internal energy. These superficial injuries will heal completely with just half a month's rest." He rummaged through the cabinet and pulled out a clean set of girls' clothing, "Your clothes are all soaked; you might catch a cold. First, change into this dress."

Some people are wearing official clothes, swaggering around, kicking over vegetable stalls of street vendors, hitting men and touching women, but no one dares to intervene. Only people whisper on the side: "Is this an official of the government or a bandit rogue?"

"Brother, you are injured!" Luo Chen exclaimed in shock, struggling to get down from his back.

No, I won't go! The obedient Luo Chen desperately grabbed his clothes and vigorously shook his head, saying, I won't go, please don't force me to leave.

Beneath the locust tree of the heavens, a new grave has been added, inscribed with the words: Tomb of the couple Yu Wen Gu Yu.

Finally, she clumsily cooked up a bowl of something black and mushy, unsure if it was even edible. Licking her cracked lips, she pulled her sleeves down a bit to cover her scarred hands from the burns, and then she carried the bowl out of the kitchen

It was a long journey, and Luocheng could not remember how many days they had traveled, only that the sun rose and set, and they had never ceased walking towards the place where the sun descended

She shook her head in confusion: "I don't know either"

She only glanced at a few words, and the elder gentleman closed the medical book, saying: "The journey to Miaojiang is long, and your brother's injuries are not suitable for travel. You may stay here temporarily until he has recovered before you leave."

Ten years old

The uncle was completely at a loss for words, and he rummaged through the wardrobe to find a clean set of old black clothes: "I don't have any boys' clothes here, so let him make do with mine."

The jade wine cup most frequently used by the father lay shattered on the ground, while the jade hairpin beloved by the mother was deeply embedded in the broken window frame, unable to be removed. The Four Books and Five Classics that the siblings had studied were scattered all over the floor, stained with blood, rendering the characters illegible. Additionally, the vase gifted to her by her brother had been split in two by a sword, and the petals inside had turned a deep crimson.

"My brother ... ... " She only said three words, and he guessed what she wanted to say, "Your brother needs to rest for the time being and cannot eat anything. When he wakes up, I will prepare medicine for him"

"Father, I also know martial arts, and I can stay to help." Her brother, Yuwen Chutian, said.

Did I wake you up?

Lu Linran also turned to look at them and urged, "Tian'er, taking good care of Xiaochen is already helping us! Remember, no matter what happens, you must protect Xiaochen at all costs!"

She and her brother read and write together every day, practice swordsmanship in the bamboo forest, play hide and seek in the peach blossom garden, pick wildflowers in the valley, watch the sunset from the mountain top, lie together in the flower bushes soaking up the sunlight for a short nap, and in their dreams, they are also together, holding hands tightly

The dark clouds hung lower and lower, and large raindrops fell densely, splashing up dust that danced wildly in the air, creating a chaotic scene between heaven and earth. Yu Wen Chutian pulled Luo Chen to take shelter under an eave to escape the wind and rain. After a long journey, Yu Wen Chutian was already injured and had his shoulder bone crushed by a horse's hoof; with new and old injuries combined, his body was so weak that he could barely stand against the wall. Yet, he still made an effort to wrap his arm around Luo Chen's shoulder, shielding her from the biting wind and rain.

The cold wind of midnight tousled her thin garment and also extinguished her drowsiness

There were also some individuals dressed elegantly, galloping in on fine steeds, completely indifferent to whether the crowd around them was scattered by the horses. They charged forward relentlessly. Had it not been for Yu Wen Chutian using his own shoulder to bear the weight of the horse's hooves, Luo Chen would have long since become a wisp of a ghost beneath the hooves. As a result, Yu Wen Chutian's shoulder blade was crushed by the hooves, while the rider on the horse did not even glance back, riding away into the distance.

On that bleak night, under the waning moon, dark clouds gathered, and countless figures in black cloaks closed in from all directions, surrounding the entire courtyard so tightly that not even a fly could escape. Meanwhile, their parents stood in the center of the courtyard, dressed only in white robes.

Um, I would like to ask, my brother's clothes are also wet, do you have clean clothes for him to change into

Are you no longer listening to me

There was no one in the bed, and she hurriedly ran to the yard, only to see Yu Wen Chutian kneeling before his parents' grave, his swaying body seeming as if it would collapse at any moment

Along the way, they encountered a variety of people.

Seeing the man silent, she tugged at the corner of his shirt and shook it desperately: "Uncle, I beg you, he has not yet recovered from his old injury and is running a fever again. If he doesn't take his medicine soon, he won't be able to hold on. Please, have mercy and save him."

Chutian nodded: "Xiao? The owl, it is the night owl. I will definitely avenge my parents"

He asked her if she knew how her parents died and who buried them

Realizing the crisis of the situation, Yu Wen Chutian slowly set down his sister: "Xiao Chen, you go ahead first, I will deal with them. Remember, run towards the east, do not stop, and do not look back"

The man pulled her hand away, while she was still looking back towards the bed.

Xiao Chen! As Yu Wen Chutian chased after, the door of the pharmacy was simultaneously opened, revealing a figure holding an umbrella standing at the entrance. He leaned on a cane, his right foot dragging limply on the ground, dressed in coarse gray linen clothes, with disheveled hair, a few strands falling over his face obscuring his vision, exposing only a gaunt face. Even in such a disheveled state, he could not hide his handsome features and the unusual elegance that surrounded him

Your brother has just taken my medicine, and he will be in a deep sleep all night long, so there is no need for you to take care of him. It is rare for you to have such concern, but it is good, go ahead!

As the sun rises and sets, she stays by her brother's bedside, taking care of him with great devotion. He calls out for water in his coma, and she immediately goes to fetch it, climbing halfway up the mountain to the stream to draw water for him. She stumbles countless times along the way but manages to bring the water to his bedside without spilling a single drop. Unable to open his mouth in his unconscious state, she holds the water in her mouth and feeds it to him. His lips are cold and dry, still bearing the bitter taste of medicine. She gently licks with her lips and tongue, until she has absorbed his sour bitterness, softened his dryness, and warmed his icy lips. Unable to open his mouth in his coma, she holds the water in her mouth and feeds it to him. His lips are cold and dry, still bearing the bitter taste of medicine. She gently licks with her lips and tongue, until she has absorbed his sour bitterness, softened his dryness, and warmed his icy lips.

Brother

The man wearing a mask took out a token, which was entirely black and bore a single character, "Xiao".

A sharp pain pierced through the back of her neck, and she wanted to rub it, but found her body unable to move, nor could she make any sound, only faintly sensing that someone was moving nearby. Then, she heard the voice of the girl from before she lost consciousness asking: "Brother, he was poisoned by the 'Yao Hua Zhi Shui', and he fought fiercely for an hour and a half, how could he possibly survive?"

The man had tended to the already festering old wounds and the still bleeding new injuries of Yu Wen Chutian. It was already late at night, and he checked Yu Wen Chutian's pulse again, his face still bearing an expression of disbelief

Some people smile with a bright and sunny disposition, receiving good food and drink, and having their needs met. In the end, all their valuable possessions are stolen, and they are sold to traffickers. In a fit of rage, Yu Wen Chutian severely injures the trafficker and drags him to report to the authorities. However, the officials cleanly absolve themselves, the scammers remain unfound, and their belongings cannot be recovered, including the relics of their parents.

The blade glimmered once more, and she closed her eyes, awaiting death

On that day, Luo Chen cooked for the first time. She had always thought that the meals her mother prepared with such ease were simple, but now that she tried it herself, she realized how difficult it was. After busying herself in the kitchen for most of the day, her clothes were burned with several holes, and her fingers were scalded with a few bright red spots, but she finally managed to light the fire and cook the rice

The man wearing a mask bent down and glanced at Luo Chen. She shrank back, and when she saw the man reaching out to check Yu Wen Chu Tian's breath, she immediately held Yu Wen Chu Tian tighter in her arms and shouted, "Do not touch my brother!"

In her guilt, she couldn't help but think: it seems that Uncle Qiu's medical skills are not very reliable after all, claiming that taking his medicine would ensure one wouldn't wake up for an entire night, which is quite unbelievable

In the darkest hour before dawn, Yuwen Chutian was stabbed in the shoulder once more, and he could no longer protect her. He collapsed before her, blood dripping from his shoulder, staining the lush green grass.

Hmm

Good child..." The uncle helped her up, and there was a hint of tenderness in his eyes, much like the tenderness that a father cannot hide when looking at his daughter. "You really resemble my Shiro."

He is injured, and I want to take care of him.

The man glanced at them as they stood at the door, and when his gaze fell upon Yu Wen Chu Tian's pale face, it paused slightly before quickly shifting away, the expression of indifference clearly keeping others at a distance

Now, the only person she can still rely on is Yuwen Chutian, who lies on a dilapidated bed that is on the verge of collapse. No, it should be herself, for Yuwen Chutian also depends on her for care

Oh!

He shook his head, let out a light sigh, and said: "She lives with her mother, and I haven't seen her for many years. She is also ten years old this year, the same age as you."

Mentioning her parents, she couldn't help but redden her eyes: "They are no longer in this world."

He waved his hand to signal her to stop speaking, directly picked up Yu Wen Chutian, and hurried into the pharmacy

Yuwen Guyu turned around and saw a pair of children coming out of the house. He quickly stepped back to stand in front of them and instructed, "Tian'er, take Xiao Chen out through the secret passage in the study in a moment, and keep walking east without coming back!"

"It has been ten years, and I never expected that they still refuse to let you go!" Her father, Yuwen Guyu, sighed deeply

That night, she followed Yu Wen Chutian as they escaped through the secret passage. Due to being unused for a long time, the passage had accumulated a layer of rainwater. He carried her on his back, slipping with each step as they traversed the narrow, dark passage, emerging from a cave in the back mountain and running eastward.

Fifteen years ago, at that time, Huan Sha, or rather, it should be said that Yu Wen Luo Chen was still an innocent child. Deep within the peach blossom forest, far from the clamor of the world, there was a warm home, with loving parents and a brother she was unwilling to part with for even a moment

No, I must go find a doctor for you, do not stop me...

It seems that this place has been forgotten by people, even by the authorities. The streets are devoid of any human presence, and there is not a single inn where one can rest. Only the blue stone streets remain, pockmarked by the ruts of passing carts

You and Xiao Chen are here, which will only distract me and your mother

Yuwen Chutian

Dressed in clean clothes and having combed her hair, Luo Chen walked out from the back hall. The uncle at the pharmacy was holding a bowl of freshly cooked noodles, deep in thought. Hearing the noise, he looked up and saw her; after her grooming, Luo Chen resembled a water lily bud, pure and clean as water. The dress she wore fit her remarkably well, an apricot-yellow silk long coat, with her black hair casually cascading down her back. Although her pale face was somewhat gaunt, her pair of dark eyes were bright and spirited, exuding an ethereal purity.

No, no, I will go to my brother's room and sleep with him

"The meridians are unusual; have you practiced some profound martial arts?"

The wind that night was particularly biting, and the faces of my parents were distorted by the glow of the fire; that was the last image of their faces in the fading memories.

Brother! She held Yu Wen Chutian tightly, her white dress stained red with his blood. She cried out hoarsely, and in that moment, she finally understood what it meant for the heavens to collapse and the earth to shatter

Having encountered all kinds of people, although the face before her now bore no kindness, Luo Chen felt that he would definitely help them, without any reason, just a feeling. Therefore, she rushed over without hesitation, grasped the man's collar, and pleaded, "Uncle, my brother is very ill, please prescribe him some medicine."

Yuwen Guyu fought fiercely to carve a bloody path behind him, then he pushed the two children into the room with force. After a moment, he remembered something and took out half of a white jade butterfly from his clothing, handing it to Yuwen Chutian: "Tian'er, if we do not make it back in time, you should take Xiaochen to Miaojiang and find a woman named Lanxi. Give this to her, and she will take care of you both."

There was no time for further explanations or farewells, as the men in black had already taken the opportunity to close in on the family. Yu Wen Gu Yu and his wife brandished their swords and fought fiercely, striking without mercy. The flashes of blades and swords cut through the pitch-black night sky, carrying a chilling coldness. With each flicker of light and shadow, someone would fall, and in the blink of an eye, the beautiful peach blossom garden was strewn with shocking corpses.

That was the day the nightmare began, she was sleeping particularly soundly when someone shook her vigorously

As she slept until midnight, the blood-soaked memories replayed once more in her nightmare. In her despair, she cried out in the throes of her nightmare: "Brother! Brother! You can't die, you can't leave me!" A warm touch brushed against her cheek, and she heard a low yet gentle voice calling her: "Xiao Chen, don't be afraid, your brother is here"

I do not know, it depends on his fate

Luo Chen briefly recalled: "More than a month ago, my brother was seriously injured, and someone gave him a small bottle of medicine."

"Sherlock?" She lowered her head to look at the dress she was wearing and suddenly realized, "Is she your daughter?"

Although her brother had warned her more than once about the treachery of human nature and advised her not to casually disclose her name to strangers, Luo Chen regarded Uncle Qiu as a benefactor, and a benefactor is not a stranger: "My name is Yu Wen Luo Chen"

"He is still alive! Don't you want me to save him?" he asked

They had been walking for a long time, and only then could their limbs move. She hurried to the bedside and saw Yu Wen Chu Tian sleeping peacefully, his wounds already bandaged.

She suddenly awoke, opening her eyes to see the pair of black eyes she trusted the most, and immediately plunged into the embrace she relied on the most. Breathing in his unique scent, she was able to stop trembling and no longer feel afraid

In an instant, all the grievances could no longer be suppressed. She threw herself into his arms, and the tears that had not fallen for seven days burst forth like a dam breaking: "Brother, you are awake, you have finally awakened!"

Miaojiang? Are you from Miaojiang?

Uncle, is my brother's injury really just a superficial wound?

Hmm, having been struck by the 'Water of Yaohua' and still clinging to life is truly a miracle. I wonder if there is still hope for him. The man took out a white medicine bottle from his bosom. Seeing that Luocheng was still tightly holding onto her brother and refusing to let go, he reached out and tapped her on the back of the neck. Luocheng only felt a numbness in her neck, and then she lost consciousness.

They initially thought that the rain would soon stop, but unexpectedly, it continued to pour heavier and heavier, with the torrential rain accompanied by a bone-chilling cold wind showing no signs of abating. Meanwhile, Chu Tian's complexion grew increasingly pale, and his body temperature became ever more feverish.

Thank you, uncle

However ... ...

... ...

In the darkness, the cold wind rustled the fallen leaves. She held tightly to the body in her arms that still retained a trace of warmth, believing that by holding him this way, he would not feel pain, would not bleed, and would not leave her alone in this cold night

Uncle! My brother he ... ...

After that, he led her towards the direction of the setting sun

I observe that your demeanor and that of your brother do not suggest a background of poverty. In these chaotic times, why are you wandering outside? Where are your parents?

He extended his hand and smiled at her

"You sleep in the same bed as him, this..." Seeing her pure expression, Uncle Qiu hesitated to speak.

She had just taken two steps when he immediately caught up with her, embracing her from behind and half-dragging, half-holding her back under the eaves: "The rain is too heavy, you cannot run around like this"

She could hardly believe it, rubbing her eyes many times yet still uncertain if she was seeing things, until he weakly called out to her: "Xiao Chen ... ... "

After a long pause, he finally spoke: "Have I been asleep for a long time?"

Life at that time was like being immersed in a jar of honey, with each day being sweet, so sweet that only by eating an unripe grape could one understand what it means to feel sourness

Holding his painfully injured arm, Yu Wen Chutian gazed towards the west, where the peach blossom forest was illuminated by flames. The raging fire painted half the sky red, resembling the evening glow of a setting sun. He knew that he would never see his home and loved ones again

Luo Chen walked over and sat down opposite him, roasting by the fire, slowly eating the noodles one bite at a time

Awakening from the haze of confusion, one finds oneself back in the peach blossom grove, yet the peach blossoms are no more, leaving only the trees turned to ash, a scene of utter desolation

Why doesn't your family live together? Don't you miss them?

In the past, whenever she threw a tantrum, her brother would be reluctant to call her again, but that night, he directly dragged her off the bed and pulled her into the chilly courtyard.

... ...

The emperor is incompetent, and even brothers and sisters-in-law can seize power; we common people can only seek our own blessings and must be careful not to get involved in any matters

He cast a glance at her swollen eyes, a strand of singed hair, and her small hand that was desperately trying to shrink into her sleeve. He reached out to take the unknown object, drank half of it in one go, and then handed the remaining half to her

The uncle lowered his head and glanced at the medical book on the table. Luo Chen followed his gaze and saw that the page read: "Fire Lotus, a sacred object of the Miao people in the Jiang region, its color like blazing fire, its nature fiery..."

Luo Chen shook his head and said he did not know, but he intermittently told Yu Wen Chu Tian what he knew: the people who killed their parents were all dressed in black, wearing silver belts around their waists. Among them was a tall, thin man wearing a mask, referred to as the Guardian, who prevented those black-clad individuals from killing their siblings, claiming it was the order of the sect leader. The Guardian also possessed a token, seemingly made of black mysterious iron, engraved with the character "Xiao," which refers to the owl. The Guardian was accompanied by an eleven or twelve-year-old girl with eyes like the moon.

Suddenly, she remembered something: "Brother, how did you wake up?"

Help! Help! She knocked on the door forcefully

But will he die like this? The girl looked at Yu Wen Chu Tian, whose eyes were tightly closed, her gaze filled with flickering stars

I will not listen, I will not leave

It is said that the affairs of the world are ever-changing, and she had never anticipated that her tranquility was being drawn into those distant and unattainable stories, as a brewing brutal slaughter silently approached

Upon hearing this surname, Uncle Qiu looked at her in surprise for a moment, but quickly concealed the astonishment in his eyes. "Luo Chen, hmm, a good name. What about your brother?"

She turned her head in astonishment and saw a tall, thin figure behind her. He was also dressed in black, and his attire was similar to that of the previous black-clad individuals. He wore a menacing mask on his face and had a silver belt wrapped around his waist

Upon witnessing this scene, Luo Chen finally realized that the vast and magnificent country her father spoke of was actually fraught with danger. Had it not been for her brother's protection, she would have long since lost her life countless times.

Through the torrential rain, she vaguely saw a pharmacy across the street. In her surprise, it seemed as if she suddenly gained immense strength, or perhaps he truly had no strength left at all. She broke free from his arm and rushed to the entrance of the pharmacy

"Guardian? What is this..." the black-clad man, who originally intended to kill them, asked in astonishment

You must first heal your wounds before seeking revenge!" She placed a bowl of dark, thick substance in front of him, "I made porridge, please have some!

Is he still alive? This question was asked not only by Luo Chen but also by the girl accompanying the man.

Whether it is official or not, whether it is a thief or not, whether it is a ruler or not, whether it is a minister or not, whether it is a family or not, whether it is a country or not... we can only be in a state of neither living nor dying

Well

However, the knife she was waiting for did not fall upon her head, but instead, like a kite that had come loose from its string, flew off in another direction, ultimately embedding itself deeply into the thick trunk of a large tree

How many more times do you need to ask? Your brother will not die, he truly will not die, stop asking.

Just as she was about to grasp his hand, several beams of light flashed before her eyes. She curled up, holding her head, waiting for death, but unexpectedly, he lunged forward and embraced her. The warm, sticky blood splattered on her beautiful face, turning the world before her into a sea of red

Uncle, my brother...

Alright, we should be on our way