A Little Bit About His Past

When Bai Shuixian finished playing with the children of the village and the light of the sun became a dark orangish color instead of its bright yellow, she finally told them to go back to their families as she had business. Coming out of the tree, she originally planned to visit Duan Guiren. However, she somehow got caught up in the innocent and happy smiles of the kids that it reminded her of the sad past in which she could not willfully play or go about like them.

Using qinggong, Bai Shuixian quickly traveled to the front door of the brothers. Since waking up, she had immediately wanted to proclaim Duan Guiren as her disciple. She knew that the brothers would accept as soon as she asked and that this was fate calling out to her.

Knocking on the door, Bai Shuixian quietly called out, "Xiao Ren, it-"

Before Bai Shuixian could even introduce or say that it was her who was knocking on the door, Duan Guiren already opened it with an excited smile and said, "Jiejie! We've been waiting for you!"

Although seeing his cute little face made her happy and wanted to laugh when she saw the small charcoal marks on his cheeks, she was also a little mad. What if it was not her who was at the door but someone who wanted to cause problems instead? Duan Guiren was too innocent and naive in this cursed world that it made Bai Shuixian worried.

Frowning, Bai Shuixian said sternly, "Xiao Ren, don't just open the door without the stranger pronouncing who they are, understand? It's dangerous."

"Alright," Duan Guiren automatically shook his head up and down while still looking at her. "But, jiejie, I knew it would be you. Only you would knock on the door!"

Hearing the last words from Duan Guiren, the frown on her face deepened as she became filled with even more worry and anxiety. Could it be that something happened after she came? Or was it something that the brothers got used to as they continued to occupy this rundown house?

Wanting to ask, but not wanting to hear it from the light voice of Duan Guiren, Bai Shuixian decided to wait until after she finished checking up on Lu Gang. He was not an adult yet, but the fact that he could take care of a child at his young age meant he was mature enough to understand the world in some way or form. Perhaps, he could even tell her about where they both came from or if they were born in this town.

"Ah, it's you," Lu Gang coughed out while remaining seated at the small dining chair although he tried to get up.

"Don't get you," Bai Shuixian said, seeing his efforts. "How was the effect of the medicine? Did you listen to me when I told you to not always lay in bed?"

Continuing to cough, Lu Gang answered, "Yes. I did. Unfortunately, a few things happened after you left and… well…"

Though calm, Bai Shuixian tightened her fists and said, "It's fine. I brought a few more items for you and Xiao Ren. We can talk after I've given them to you guys."

"Alright," Lu Gang said. "Thank you very much, Lady…"

Only then did Lu Gang remember that Bai Shuixian never introduced herself to them. Or did she and he forgot her name? That could not be.

"Bai Shuixian," she said. "My name is Bai Shuixian."

Hearing the surname Bai, Lu Gang asked with a tiny hint of surprise, "Could the Bai be referring to the same Bai as the Bai Clan that fell from the emperor's grace?"

Placing her fingers on his wrist, Bai Shuixian responded with, "You want to know whether I'm related to them?"

"Ah, it's just a conjecture. Please don't take offense," Lu Gang apologized hearing her question.

Since Bai Shuixian played with the children in the early part of the day, her mood was quite good, so she said, "Not at all. You can ask your questions. I am related to that same Bai Clan."

"May… I ask… How are you related to them? Considering the fact that you have their direct surname, you must be a part of the main family?" Lu Gang conjectured in thought as he asked.

Nodding her head, Bai Shuixian explained, "I'm the only child of Bai Huang. The only grandchild of Bai Deming."

Confused, Lu Gang tilted his head after staring at Bai Shuixian up and down, and continued to ask, "Wait… Isn't the only child of Bai Huang a… A son?"

Chuckling, Bai Shuixian answered, "Bai Deming wanted a son. Bai Huang had no opinions. Yao Zhu wanted to live."

Scratching his head with his free hand, Lu Gang said, "I'm not understanding."

Putting her hand away from his wrist, Bai Shuixian explained further, "In those circumstances, who would care about the biological gender of the child? As long as it was a male, it would be a benefit to all people in the house… Alright, I've checked your pulse."

"Ah, how is it?" Lu Gang asked. "Am I doing better? Or is it worse?"

"Not bad. Not good," Bai Shuixian answered while taking things out of the cosmos bag. "You made sure to stay up with exercise, but you didn't eat the medicine."

"Ah…" Lu Gang sighed out with a wry smile. "The day after you left, the landowner's son came here and saw the food and medicine you left for us. I believe he must have told the landowner that we stole all of the things you gave us because not a day later, the landowner came and confiscated everything you gave us."

Hearing his explanation, Bai Shuixian did not react at all and instead said, "It's fine. It's not as though you will continue to live here either way."

"Huh? Uh… Lady Bai, we can't possibly move," Lu Gang frantically said upon hearing her statement.

"If it's money, it's not a big problem," Bai Shuixian said. "The only thing you must sacrifice is Duan Guiren and-"

Getting protective, Lu Gang interrupted and warned, "Lady Bai, even if it's for our well-being, I can't possibly give Xiao Ren to you."

"You are misunderstanding," Bai Shuixian stated. "After divining weeks ago, I saw that Xiao Ren's star is near mine. I can't tell you the details, but I can tell you that it is my fate to meet him and it is his fate to meet me, so I plan to ask you to let me take him on as my disciple."

As soon as Lu Gang heard the word disciple, he immediately stood up in shock and tried to bow down to Bai Shuixian, however he tripped as he said, "Lady Bai, thank you! Thank you so much! I-I don't know how to thank you!"

"Calm down!" Bai Shuixian scolded as she held Lu Gang to seat him back on his seat. "Just because you're a tad bit more stronger now, it does not mean you are immortal now."

"Ah… I apologize… I just became excited," Lu Gang apologized. "I thought… I really thought that if Xiao Ren was not with me, he would have had a better life. As a small child his size, I believe that he deserves more. Much more than what I can give him right now."

Sighing, Bai Shuixian said, "Just because I take him, it does not mean that I will allow him to abandon you. Have you heard of the saying, 'Love me, love my dogs'?"

"It is quite famous. Only a deaf person would not have heard of it," Lu Gang answered.

"Good then. I hope you understand that although I'll be taking in Xiao Ren, I plan to nurse you to full health. You've taken care of him for a long time, so it is only right that he also takes care of you when he becomes an adult," Bai Shuixian said.

Chuckling, Lu Gang said, "I do not hope for that. We are not even truly… Real biological brothers… Haha…"

Hearing that, Bai Shuixian immediately asked, "Adopted?"

"No. I picked him up at a riverside," Lu Gang answered.

"Riverside?" Bai Shuixian repeated and tightened her brows as she frowned.

Interrupting in their intense conversation, Duan Guiren exclaimed innocently as he gestured along, "Yes! Gege picked me up at a river! He said that mom and dad left me to him, so he's taking care of me until they come back!"

A little shocked at the exclamation of Duan Guiren, Bai Shuixian turned to Lu Gang and remarked, "I thought that Xiao Ren is so young, you would not tell him such things."

Staring at the jumping up and down figure of Duan Guiren when Bai Shuixian gave him a small toy, Lu Gang said, "Me neither. But, when I became ill, I thought I wouldn't be able to live long enough. I guess I just thought that maybe, telling him would be the best choice."

"You indeed made the correct choice," Bai Shuixian said. "You are a good brother."

"Thanks… Ah, right. Xiao Ren," Lu Gang called out when remembering that Bai Shuixian came to their house to take Duan Guiren as a disciple.

Running up to Lu Gang, Duan Guiren asked, "What is it Gege?"

"Xiao Ren, do you want Bai-jiejie to become your master?" Lu Gang asked.