Chapter 107 - Turn back, reluctant to part with

"Brother Axiu, did you … remember something?" Biting her lip, Liu Yusheng whispered.

Axiu shook his head. "You call me brother Axiu. It's me who should be worrying about you."

Liu Yusheng's lips twitched. She was too worried about him.

At the same time, her heart was relieved.

If remembering the past could only make him miserable, she would rather he never remember it.

Just consider those pasts already buried.

She could accompany him and look forward to the future, to a new life.

She wanted him to be happy.

"Okay." After applying the medicine and packing the bottle in the small wooden cabinet on the bedside table, Liu Yusheng caused a fuss and gave the young man a hard pinch on the nose. "Good night, Brother Axiu! Hahaha!"

The girl succeeded in her mischief and darted out the door, leaving behind only open laughter.

As Axiu watched the door close, his smile gradually faded away.

There was still pain in his nose, but he wanted to engrave that pain in his heart.

It was proof that she could frolic wildly before his eyes.

What to do? He just wanted to spoil her.

The sourness in the young man's eyes grew denser as the candlelight flickered down, and finally they closed, masking all his emotions.

At midnight, it was quiet everywhere.

The farm dogs all stopped barking so as not to disturb the slumber of the people.

A shadow landed over the Liu's courtyard and finally stopped in front of the door of the west wing.

The person outside the door didn't move, and the door remained silent.

It was a long time before the door creaked open, and a young man stepped out slowly, his clothes unruffled and tidy.

He had never slept.

The dark shadow immediately knelt down. "This humble servant has come to escort the sixteenth prince back to the palace!"

"Why are you still alive?" The young man's voice was clear and crisp, in the middle of the night. Clear and faint, but it made people chilled to the bones.

The dark shadow shivered invisibly. The 16th prince knew everything! "This humble servant has neglected his duty. After bringing the prince back to the palace, I'll definitely receive punishment!"

"Just take your own life. Don't I know the way back to the palace?"

"16th Prince! I know my crime is unforgivable! I have no plea! But please give me a chance to escort you back to the palace! Now that the Emperor's health is deteriorating and all forces are stirring. Once the Prince returns to the capital, there will be danger everywhere! One more humble servant is always an extra point of insurance!"

"Wei Zi."

"Your humble servant is here!" A man whistled out of the shadows again.

If Liu Yusheng had been present, she would have recognized that the two strangers in the courtyard, during the day, had both come to the small courtyard to seek medical attention from her.

"Behead him, and depart in half an hour." The young man bypassed the kneeling man. His voice was so cold that the rise and fall in his voice couldn't be heard. "Don't dirty the land of the Liu family."

"… Yes!" Wei Zi bowed his head and looked at the man kneeling straight, his eyes complex.

In the same Hidden Guard Battalion, this man had led them on countless missions, never failing in any way.

Except for one time, when he let the Emperor's beloved woman be killed and left the 16th Prince in a desperate situation.

Brotherhood was no longer enough for him to plead for him.

Because it was his failure, his selfishness.

Before dragging Wei Qing out, Wei Zi turned around. "16th Prince, the Emperor's condition is already critical … Also, I think our quiet departure from the capital has also been discovered. Someone will soon come after us. Before those people arrive, Your Highness had better leave as soon as possible so as not to affect the innocent."

After saying that, he restrained someone and flew away.

What happened outside the courtyard didn't blemish the tranquility of the small courtyard.

Axiu's footsteps stopped in front of the door of the next room.

He lifted his hand several times, but lacked the courage to push it open.

She was sleeping peacefully, and he was about to leave.

What should he say if he woke her up?

That he'd remembered everything; that he'd made up his mind to leave?

And then to pretend that she needn't have to worry; that he might, perhaps, never come back?

When he was down and out, she held out her hand to support him, and when he was foolish, she was there for him.

Was it just a dream?

He met her like a lonely traveler walking on a snowy night who suddenly saw the sun.

If he could, he would have stayed forever.

But he had to avenge his mother's tragic death.

He could never forget the fire that burned his family. It was also that fire that opened his eyes to the truth, that even if he retreated and ran away, he wouldn't grasp the peace he wanted!

The young man stood quietly in the doorway, his back thin and gaunt. The moonlight cast down from the sky reflected his slender shadow. Deep into the night, it was extraordinarily lonely.

In the end, the young man couldn't restrain the desire in his heart. He gently pushed the door and closed it.

Step by step, he walked to the bed, lowered his eyes, and greedily took in the figure of the sleeping baby on the side of the bed.

Wisps of moonlight crept inside through the half-open window gaps, falling squarely between him and her.

She was bathed in moonlight, her sleep peaceful and tranquil. He, on the other hand, just happened to be standing in the gloom that couldn't benefit from the moonlight, overflowing with sharp tyranny.

They were in the same space, yet divided into two worlds.

The distance was clearly within reach, but there were invisible and insurmountable barriers across them.

Her world was sunny, and beautiful flowers bloomed in her every step.

His world, however, he would tread on eerie white bones with every step; and when he turned, foul winds and rains of blood were the only things to see.

"16th Prince." Outside the door, someone whispered and urged.

Axiu crouched down and took the child's hand on the side of her face in his palm.

Her hand was soft and small, only the size of his palm. With a slight closing of his five fingers, he could completely envelop her hand.

The little baby was harassed in her sweet dreams. She tugged his hand back and pillowed her face on it. Finally, she gently rubbed her face against it.

The smooth and soft touch softened his heart.

Shengsheng, you said you like the life you're living now; you like it simple and plain.

What you like, I'll protect.

The young man shut his eyes, then opened them again, and his eyes hardened with determination.

With the lightest of strength, he withdrew back his hand and stood up. With a few strokes of ink and paper on the small bedside table, and a final deep look at the still-dreaming baby, Axiu turned and left.

Never looking back.

He might repent with a turn of his head.

The group left quietly, without disturbing anyone.

The Xinghua Village behind them was covered by the night sky, still peaceful and quiet.

This tranquility lasted only in the early morning hours, amidst the noisy clamor of the Liu family.

Liu Yusheng saw the note on the bedside table when she got up.

Gone back; don't worry.

Four characters, with a smooth, clear and powerful stroke.

He said goodbye with only those four words and nothing else.

Before going to bed last night, there were countless complex emotions in his eyes with a thousand words hidden; he had planned to leave long ago.

But refused to say even one word to her himself.

What was that?

The Liu family sat together in the hall in silence.

Grandma Liu still couldn't believe that the boy, Axiu, had left.

"Nannan, is Axiu really gone? Did he really write this?"