The Little Boy

Taking her first steps on the cobblestone pathway that she could feel under her feet, she slowly walked. In the next ten steps or so that she walked, she tripped and got a scratch on her right knee. She did not cry out in pain but as though Priestess Kong had expected it, the priestess had been there immediately to help her clean up the scratch.

Almost a whisper, she told Priestess Kong, "Thank you."

"Young lady, there is no need to thank me," Priestess Kong said. "It is I who should thank you."

Hearing that, her face frowned, not understanding why the priestess would thank her. When Priestess Kong saw her face she continued to clean up the injury but also explained to her.

"Four years ago, I received an oracle that someone would bring about the downfall of the world," Priestess Kong started. "At that time, I and the other priestesses had used our powers to find out how to prevent it."

"And… I am a person in the equation," she asked.

"Yes," Priestess Kong answered. "In fact, you are an essential piece… When we performed the ceremony, we saw that the person who would bring about the downfall of this world would be the prince of this empire."

"How does this person involve me," she asked while facing the priestess.

"We have no idea," Priestess Kong answered. "We only found out that there would be a young lady that would appear in this area in four years in all white."

"I see," she said. "Then again… How am I related to this prince?"

"We also have no idea," Priestess Kong answered. "However, I know that you will not allow yourself to be taken advantage of."

"Of course," she said in a factual tone.

"In this world that you may not be familiar with, I will help you to gain power, get used to being in the darkness, and learn the details of this place," Priestess Kong said.

"You want to give me something I really need in return that I help you save this world," she asked with a raise of her brow.

"Yes," Priestess Kong said.

"I am unsure of how to help you or this world," she said honestly. "But, my blindness will eventually get in the way of my survival in this world. I can only agree with you in order to survive. Is that not so?"

"It would seem that is so," Priestess Kong said. "But if a person has the persistence, survival will be at their fingertips."

Hearing that, she gave a chuckle. If she could see where she was right now, she would have a much easier time trying to decide whether she would want to help the world or not. However, she also had another thought.

If she was not in the same world as Cao Yang and Qiao Guangli, she could definitely live happily with a new start. Even if she was in the same world as them, she could also get a new start. As long as she had a new identity and was not in the same location as them, she would surely be able to survive.

In her mind, she thought, "Well, since I have a good outlook, I should have a will, right?"

As though Priestess Kong could read her mind that was thinking through the two choices she had, the priestess said, "You can take the time you need."

At first, she was a hard time choosing, but after hearing the patience of Priestess Kong, she told her, "How much time do I have?"

"Currently, the prince has not been found," Priestess Kong, trying to say that they did not know.

"Can't you use whatever technique you did to find on the prince also," she asked with a small frown.

"Young lady, there is a limit to how much power we can use," Priestess Kong said. "In order to find a way to avoid this tragedy, we have gone against the heavens."

"You are saying that you do not know when I will really be needed, right," she asked.

"That is correct," Priestess Kong answered.

Heaving a sigh, she said, "Since that is so, then just help me as much as you can. I will do my best to help, but I can not promise that I will be detur this tragedy that you have predicted."

"That is more than enough," Priestess Kong said while smiling.

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[TIME SKIP TO 2 YEARS LATER]

Walking on the dirt path with Qin Xifeng holding her hand to guide her, she headed back home. However, while walking, she felt someone staring at her from a low angle. When she tried to feel out who it was, she found that the center of balance from the person was short.

Confused, she asked, "Xifeng, is there a child in front of me?"

"Yes," Qin Xifeng answered. "It seems to be an orphaned little boy."

"Xifeng, I remember we have some Mongolian meatball ramen left, right," she asked.

"Yes, we do," Qin Xifeng answered. "Miss, do you want to give the boy some?"

Giving a nod at Qin Xifeng's question, she asked, "Little boy, what is your name?"

Right when Qin Xifeng was about to give the boy the food, he said, "I don't need your pity food. Also, why would I tell my name to a stranger?"

"Why do you think I am pitying you," she asked, ignoring his question about the name.

"Because that is what everyone has done so far," he answered.

"I am giving you food because I have a feeling that we will meet in the future," she confessed.

"What," the little boy said, tilting his head in confusion.

"Little boy, if we meet in the future, you must repay me for this food I am feeding you," she said while chuckling. "This is not out of pity, but a debt."

"A debt," the boy asked. "How do you expect me to repay this debt in these circumstances?"

"I can see a bright light in you. You will definitely succeed in life," she answered. "During that time, you will be stronger. So much more than me."

Hearing what she said, the little boy stared at her, trying to remember her appearance. He saw that she had white hair, blue eyes, and teardrop symbol at the middle of his forehead. He also noticed that she did not look at him once but only stared straight.

A little curious, he asked, "How do you expect me to repay you if you don't recognize me?"

"Your voice," she said. "I will remember your voice."

"I'm still young," he admitted. "My voice will change as I grow."

"Even if you grow, I will definitely remember," she said. "Don't worry. I don't forget people easily."

"If I eat this, I owe you," he asked, trying to make a conclusion of this conversation and first time meeting.

"Yes," she answered.

Hearing her answer, he looked at the food offered to him. He had been starving for three days. Not for the fact that he could not get free food or could not beg for food, but for the fact that he did not want their pity. This time, he was getting food that was worth something.

Grabbing the plate of ramen that Qin Xifeng held out, he started to stuff himself. After she saw that he was eating, she left the scene.

When he had finished it, he realized that she was still standing in front of him. He had seen her leave, so he was confused as to why she was back.

As though trying to tell the reason why she came back, she ordered, "Xifeng, give him the basket."

Hearing her order, Qin Xifeng gave him the basket. After that, both of them finally left, leaving the little boy to stare wide-eyed at their back.

Holding the basket and lifting the top of the basket, he saw that there was lots of food, and there were even multiple layers to the basket. He did not know if there were more food under that top-level that he saw, but the food on the top could last him one month if he fasted. On the top-level, there was a plate of chicken fried rice, egg roll bowl, Szechuan beef, wonton soup, shrimp 'n broccoli lo mein, kung pao chicken, honey walnut shrimp, Mongolian glazed wings, sticky orange chicken, and loaded veggie chow mein.

Staring down at the food, and then once again staring back up at the direction that they left in, his heart warmed. He would remember her image forever. He would remember her face, her hair, and her eyes that could not see.

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"Miss, is it true," Qin Xifeng asked, curious about what she had told the little boy.

They were in her room right now and she was currently changing from her daily wear to her nightwear.

"Yes, it is," she answered, knowing that Qin Xifeng was referring to the conversation with the small boy.

Qin Xifeng and she had just met about six months ago when she decided to travel to the Tang Empire. She had not thought that they would be able to meet in this life, but when she recognized Qin Xifeng's voice, she called out to her immediately. After that, they had headed to a restaurant and started to talk about the things that happened in the past year and a half.

They also talked about the few final moments in their past life. She had thought that Qin Xifeng would hate her as she might not have been killed if she was never her assistant, but after having a very long chat with each other, she found out that her assistant had never hated her even after death. In fact, Qin Xifeng was even the one who wanted to come back to help her again.

When she had heard that, she had actually cried. It was her first time crying in this life since coming here, and she felt as though pressure on her shoulder had been lifted. When she had cried, Qin Xifeng had helped lend her a shoulder to cry on.

After that long chat in the restaurant, she was introduced to Ren Lei. She had not expected for Qin Xifeng and Ren Lei to meet again in this life, but she was actually very happy for them. She knew that they were the mandarins that swam in the pond together and were practically inseparable.

In this life where she did not have to meet Cao Yang and Qiao Guangli again, she was happy. So happy that she wished for nothing more. She was glad that she chose to learn all the things that Priestess Kong had taught her and everything that she was forced to do by all the masters that Priestess Kong brought to her.