Chapter 36 A Mother Instinct

After learning about Yongzheng, he was no ordinary back mountain Taoist. Everyone, including Cao Fengge, hesitated whether to make the first move. They knew what Number One is capable off. Number one is the kind of killer that you will be hired to kill other killers. Not many martial artists in the martial arts world can defeat him.

Standing in place, Yongzheng refused to retreat, still holding Xue Horan's sword. He looked at the rest of the people and said simply, "Let us through."

Chief of Seventy-Two Islands said, "Leader one, if you are willing to go back. I will surrender Seventy-Two Islands back to you and renamed the Seventy-Two Island back to it original name Men Of Thousand Faces. I believe everyone will welcome you with open arms, especially Wu Jinghua."

As Cao Fengge and chief of Seventy-Two Islands talked back and forth, it finally hit Xue Longwei that Cao Fengge and chief of Seventy-Two Islands are stalling time. They are waiting for more and better martial artists to show up. No matter how strong one martial artist can be, when he face countless martial artists, he will be exhausted and defeated.

Xue Longwei said, "Horan, open your eyes and stop counting. We have to leave now." He vomited more blood. "Dirty beggar, they are wasting your time. We need to leave now."

Yongzheng send Xue Horan's sword flying towards Cao Fengge and chief of Seventy-Two Islands. He rushed back at lightning speed, grabbed Xue Huoran and Xue Longwei, and they flew over the burning house.

Cao Wenyan asked, "Father, should we chase them?"

Cao Fengge, "What are you going to use against Number One?"

Chief of Seventy-Two Islands said, "Cao gongzi, believe me, if you want to survive, stay away from Number One." He looked at Cao Fengge. "Leader Cao, remember your words."

Cao Fengge said, "Chief of Seventy-Two Islands, must also remember his words as well."

Chief of Seventy-Two Islands flew back onto his single boat and sail away quietly into the dark river.

Cao Wenyan, "Father, who is this Number One?"

Cao Fengge, "Number One is the official person in charge of an organization called The Men of Thousand Faces. There are one hundred assassins who has greatly skilled. These ruthless assassins were assassins that you hire to kill other assassins. No one know their real identity. If Number One didn't used 'Lightning Sword' I wouldn't be able to tell that he is Number One."

Cao Wenyan, "How did such fearful organization fall?"

Cao Fengge, "If the leader fell, then everyone else fell. When Number One suddenly disappeared without a trace, the other ninety-nine assassins wanted to become Number One. They fought against each other and the big fearful organization that everyone in the martial arts circles fear, just crumbled like that. Everyone went their own way and was chased by the offspring of the people they have killed. The survivors finally came here. In order to escape the enemy, they called themselves Seventy-Two Islands."

Cao Wenyan asked, "Father, if Mu gongzi is still alive, who do you think is better?"

Cao Fengge put his hands behind his back and began walking towards the ship. He sighed, "My money is still on Mu Dishi."

Cao Wenyan, "How?"

Cao Fengge said, "Lightning can be cut by leaf. Leaf can be pull down by threads. Threads can be grab by fist, and fist can be pierce by strings." He stopped and looked at Cao Wenyan. "Do you understand?"

Cao Wenyan nodded.

Yuan Xiurong and Shi Rou hid in a small hidden cave. Shi Rou said, "Yuan gu niang, you stay here, I will go see what happened. I hope we are not the only survivors."

Yuan Xiurong looked at Shi Rou and said, "You be careful."

When Shi Rou was far enough away from the hidden cave, one hand touched Shi Rou's left shoulder. Shi Rou turned around, facing the person's face. She smiled and said, "Oh, is just you. You scare me." She turned around.

The person walking behind her took out a small knife and slit Shi Rou's throat.

Early in the morning, Rao Zhengsheng walked towards the marked cave with Xue Luxia on his back. He said, "Shimu hang in there. We are almost at the entrance of the cave, Xiurong will help you."

Xue Luxia coughed, and blood gushing out of her mouth and nose. She gasped, "Zhen'er, let me down. My chest is pressed against your back, I can't breathe."

Rao Zhengsheng quickly put down Xue Luxia. He hugged her from behind. He looked down at her wound, blood was still gushing. He saw Xue Luxia's face began to turn pale. Later, Dong Lanying and Yuan Xiurong came from a distance.

As soon as Yuan Xiurong saw Rao Zhengsheng who was covered in blood, she rushed towards Rao Zhengsheng. She asked, "Rao gege, are you hurt?"

Rao Zhengsheng raised his head and said, "Xiurong, help my shimu. Quickly check her. No matter what you do, you must save her."

Yuan Xiurong said, "I will try my best."

Xue Luxia, "Zhen'er…Lan'er…find Hoa'er. Take care of him. Horan…he is such a naïve person, thinking that the whole world is like life on Butterfly Island. Zhen'er." She coughed.

Rao Zhengsheng cried, "I'm here, stop talking. When you are better, we could sit down and have a long conversation."

Xue Luxia breathed heavily, "Zhen'er, let me talk. This may be the last time you hear me complain."

Rao Zhengsheng's lips trembled, and tears flowed down the corners of his eyes, "Shimu, I never get tire of your complains."

Yuan Xiurong said with tears, "Rao gege, let her speak."

Xue Luxia coughed and chuckled at the same time. She said, "Do you know that Horan loves you?"

Rao Zhengsheng nodded with tears and said, "I also love him very much."

Xue Luxia, "That's great. He has been learning to cook, clean and sew all his life. He dreamt that one day when you will marry him, he can become your good housewife." Her lips began to turn purple, and her lips trembled.

Tears flowed from Rao Zhengsheng's eyes, "I know."

Xue Luxia, "Horan loves you, love blinded his eyes. He didn't realize that the real life of our lives is different from what children's promises. I know that you are the last offspring of the Rao family. In the future, you going to marry Yuan gu niang who will be able to carry offspring for you."

Rao Zhengsheng, "I'm sorry shimu."

Xue Luxia chuckled, "Sorry for what? You didn't do anything wrong. I am not angry with you. Why should I be mad at my own son? Is just that, I want to ask you and Yuan gu niang."

Rao Zhengsheng, "Go ahead. Whatever you want, I will make it happen."

Xue Luxia, "Zhen'er, even if you marry Yuan gu niang, please don't leave Horan." She grabbed onto Yuan Xuirong's hand. "Yuan gu niang, I'm begging you."

Yuan Xiurong, "Xue furen, don't worry. I know that no matter what happens in the future, Horan, will always be the number one person in Rao gege's heart. I will not treat him ill. You can rest assure."

Xue Luxia laughed softly, "Thank you, Yuan gu niang." She reached out her hand. "Lan'er..."

Dong Lanying held Xue Luxia's hand, "Shimu, I am right here."

Xue Luxia coughed up more blood, "Be like a woman in the future. If you don't lower down your masculinity, you may not get married."

Dong Lanying, "Shimu, why did you block that sword for me?"

Xue Luxia, "Silly girl, every mother will do the same thing as me. The six of you were raised by me since you were young. I love each of you, like my own."

Dong Lanying cried loudly, "Shimu, I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

Xue Luxia said, "You didn't do anything wrong, don't be sorry." She looked up at the sky. She started gasping violently and had difficulty breathing. She held Rao Zhengsheng's hand tightly. She looked up at Rao Zhengsheng and smiled. "Xiao gege, do you know that you weren't handsome at all when you cry?" She chuckled twice, and then the flash of light in her iris began to fade.

Rao Zhengsheng shook Xue Luxia, "Shimu…Shimu…wake up…Shimu." He shouted frantically at Yuan Xiurong. "Help her! Help her!"

Yuan Xiurong said with tears in her eyes, "Rao gege, she is dead. Do you understand? She is dead."

Rao Zhengsheng hugged Xue Luxia tightly and let out a loud scream from his lungs. Rao Zhengsheng still remembers the first time he saw Xue Luxia in the Rao Manor, until her last breath, she was like a mother to him. She has always regarded him as her son.

Rao Zhengsheng remembered that when he first came to Butterfly Island, he was not use to the weather, so he often get sick. Xue Luxia will stayed up all night trying various methods to find a way to reduce his fever. At that time, she was still pregnant with Xue Horan, but she still refused to leave Rao Zhengsheng's side.

Rao Zhengsheng said, "Lanying, help put shimu on my back." Dong Lanying helped put Xue Luxia's body onto Rao Zhengsheng's back. Rao Zhengsheng's lips trembled, tears streaming down. "Shimu, let's go find Horan together."