Chapter 14: “Mark My Words.”

After waiting for a while, Gu Jinxin saw Liu Meifeng walking with Ming Guanghe and Gu Yunxi. Behind them, there are over twenty-seven Minotaurs following them. Gu Jinxin's face turned white and immediately called all of the warriors in the village.

Liu Meifeng saw Gu Jinxin's panicked face and called all the warriors ready to attack anytime. She turned to Gu Yunxi beside her, Gu Yunxi also staring at her and the two have a tacit understanding of what should be done.

"Father, stop." Gu Yunxi said as she raised her hand to the front. Gu Jinxin signaled the warriors behind him and they stopped moving in unison; it was almost like a dance group. Gu Jinxin turned his gaze towards Liu Meifeng and questioned her through his eyes.

"Your Majesty, would you be willing to talk with me and the Minotaur leader for a while?"

Gu Jinxin stared at Liu Meifeng suspiciously, then he turned his gaze on Gu Yinxi. After Gu Yinxi gave a slight affirmative nod, he sighed and said casually, "Very well. Let's hear what you have to say."

Gu Jinxin led Liu Meifeng and the Minotaur leader to his house. No one is allowed to follow including the guards outside, just Liu Meifeng and the two leaders.

Ming Guanghe stood next to Gu Yunxi, "The Grandmaster's grandson really got a lot of quirks, huh?" Gu Yunxi shrugged and pinched her forehead, "I got to admit, he got a pretty head."

From far, Gu Zhuxuan saw Gu Yunxi and ran to her immediately, "Meimei!"

Gu Zhuxuan hugged Gu Yunxi and let out relieved tears, "Uuu… are you okay? Is there anywhere uncomfortable?" Gu Yunxi smiled and wiped Gu Zhuxuan's face, "I'm fine. Thanks to Xu Haoran and Guanghe for rescuing me." Gu Zhuxuan turned to Ming Guanghe and thanked him sincerely. Ming Guanghe flushed a bit, "No, no. It's my duty to protect the princess. Besides, it's all thanks to young master Xu's plan we can save the princess without getting hurt."

Gu Zhuxuan blinked twice and asked, "Young master Xu? Since when did you call him that?"

"Since, he saved me from the fairy tree's deathly trap and sacrificed himself to save the second princess." Ming Guanghe explained.

Gu Zhuxuan blinked again and stared at the two in bewilderment. She moved her gaze to the Minotaurs behind them, surprisingly they looked rather anxious which kind of strange. From all these times, the White Wolf clan always considered the Minotaur as a ferocious monster. Now she saw it herself, they looked pretty much like humans.

"Meimei, where's Haoran?"

Gu Yunxi frowned when she heard her elder sister called Xu Haoran's given name. This shows that her elder sister is close to Xu Haoran, thinking that she's somewhat displeased with it. But she had no clue why she felt so.

"He's currently talking with his father and the Minotaur leader for a peace treaty."

"What?!"

"Calm down, Jiejie. I and Guanghe were also surprised at first, but the more that person talks the more reasonable it is to make peace with the Minotaur."

Gu Zhuxuan frowned when she heard it, she asked again, "Can we trust them?"

Gu Yunxi didn't answer, Ming Guanghe who stood beside her shrugged, "Honestly, I don't trust them. But I trust in young master Xu, I believe he's not someone who does things arbitrarily without proper planning."

Gu Zhuxuan sighed, "Very well. Let's wait for the result."

Meanwhile, inside the King's tent, Gu Jinxin and the Minotaur leader seem to be getting along well. He didn't expect that the Minotaur leader isn't far different than himself. Through Liu Meifeng as their bridge to communicate, they could easily get along. Half an hour later, a peace treaty was created and both parties swear under the cursed talisman not to offend each other and support each other as a neighbor.

Liu Meifeng heaved a relieved sigh, then she proposed an idea to study each other's language to communicate without her help. The two leaders quickly approved it and went out of the tent happily. Seeing their joyous expression, the tension outside had dissipated quickly.

Gu Jinxin shouted, "From now on, we the White Wolf clan will form a good friendship with the Minotaur race! Anyone who dares to revoke the treaty will be executed without mercy!"

The Minotaur leader also shouted the same words but in their own language. Later, the Minotaur people and the White Wolf people hugged each other at the end of their long-term dispute. Liu Meifeng smiled when she saw this and somehow a bit relieved. She retreated from the village quietly and went to the mountain.

When she arrived at the mountain, Duan Gen already stood in front of the cottage waiting for her arrival. Judging from his stern expression, Liu Meifeng is likely going to be punished for meddling too much in other's affairs.

"Shifu, I'm back." Liu Meifeng subconsciously lowered her head when she said this. She had never been this guilty in her second life, especially to Duan Gen.

Duan Gen observed Liu Meifeng and asked indifferently, "Did you get the Black Lotus?"

"No. I tried to ask the Minotaur people, but they haven't seen a Black Lotus blooming for the past few years." Liu Meifeng licked her lips and continued, "But I met a tree fairy from the legend and promised her to be her servant for a week. Since she had been living here for more than a thousand years, perhaps she will help me find the Black Lotus."

Duan Gen who originally wanted to punish Liu Meifeng held back his anger and asked, "Tree Fairy?"

"Yes, have you ever heard a legend of a demon tree who turned into a human after hundred years of cultivating and went to an isolated island to continue her training in solitude?"

Duan Gen rarely read any legendary stories, but back when he was traveling. He did hear some villagers mentioned a similar story about this demon tree.

"I did hear some rumors about it."

"Well, let me tell you. She's amazingly beautiful! I've never seen any woman as beautiful as her!" Liu Meifeng said eagerly.

Duan Gen frowned and asked rhetorically, "I thought the only one in your heart was the Zhao family's only daughter?"

"I never said I loved the tree fairy. I just think of her as a senior sister, because she gave me the earth spiritual roots to strengthen my body."

Duan Gen was surprised and doubted Liu Meifeng for a second. He quickly grabbed Liu Meifeng's arm and pulled her with him, "You, come with me!"

"Huh?" Liu Meifeng didn't understand what's wrong with Duan Gen, but she followed along. When the two entered the cottage, Duan Gen told Liu Meifeng to sit on the floor with her legs crossed. Duan Gen sat behind Liu Meifeng and pressed his palm on Liu Meifeng's back to check her spiritual roots. To his surprise, Liu Meifeng actually told him the truth. Liu Meifeng's earth spiritual roots had increased greatly. It seems like this tree fairy can be Liu Meifeng's salvation!

Liu Meifeng chuckled and said casually, "So, does that mean you're not going to punish me this time? I have found my salvation after all."

Duan Gen forgot that Liu Meifeng has the ability to read people's hearts through physical contact. He quickly retracted his hand and bopped Liu Meifeng's head lightly.

"You presumptuous disciple! Go stand on the corner with a bucket of water on your head for three hours! If the bucket falls you will start from the beginning again!"

Liu Meifeng was shocked, last time it was a bowl of water. Now it's a whole bucket?! Her neck and shoulder will be sore if she does that.

"Shifu, did an evil spirit possess your brain or something? I clearly said the tree fairy needs me to be her servant for a week. If you punish me like that, I won't be able to stand straight tomorrow!"

"Aiya, that is your problem. This is your punishment for neglecting your main task and put your nose into someone else's business." Duan Gen said angrily.

"But if I don't help, the second princess will become those Minotaur's dinner!" Liu Meifeng defended.

"Yes, but you can just sneak into the nest quietly. I gave you those talismans specifically for that, why on earth did you put your nose on the two villages' dispute?! If something happens in the future, do you want to take responsibility? Are you so confident that you're going to stay here forever?!"

Liu Meifeng pressed her lips and answered solemnly, "My life may be unpredictable, I could die anytime and anywhere even without enemies targeting me. With my short lifespan, all I can do is battling with my own fate and hope for the impossible to be possible. I'm fully aware of this, but that's the more reason to do so." Liu Meifeng took a deep breath before she continues, "If my death is unavoidable, then I refuse to be a nameless person who died for nothing in this world. I want someone to remember that there was a person named Xu Haoran who contributed to make the world a better place. Is that wrong?"

Duan Gen pressed his lips and couldn't say anything. The two of them went silent for a while, then he turned to the door.

"As you can see, we no longer have anything to talk about. Should you state your business, Your Highness?" Duan Gen said casually. Liu Meifeng was startled when hearing it, she quickly opened the door and saw Gu Yunxi standing in front.

Gu Yunxi looked awkward and didn't know what to say. She had heard everything from the beginning to the end, she couldn't help but pity Liu Meifeng now and wanted to treat her better. Seeing Gu Yunxi's guilty gaze, Liu Meifeng instantly knew what's on Gu Yunxi's mind.

"Referred Grandmaster, I come here to find Liu Meifeng to discuss something together with Jiejie and Father. I also hope the referred Grandmaster will forgive Xu Haoran for he is my life savior and the village's hero. But if the referred Grandmaster insisted to punish him, let me be punished with him as well. It was because of me that he had to jump to the Minotaur's den." Gu Yunxi said as she kneeled with one foot. Liu Meifeng was surprised and hurriedly supported Gu Yunxi to stand up.

"Your Highness, you don't have to be like this. It was clearly my own intention to help you and your village. This has nothing to do with you—"

Gu Yunxi glared at Liu Meifeng, "Of course it has something to do with me! If I didn't carelessly walk around on the lake I won't be abducted by the Minotaur! It was clearly my own negligence that caused you some trouble! So, shut your mouth and let me bear some of the responsibility too! This is also my pride."

Liu Meifeng shut her mouth immediately she didn't dare to speak any more words. She turned her gaze to Duan Gen and asked him to spare the princess. Duan Gen straightened his eyebrows thinking since when did he become the bad guy here.

"Fine, fine. Haoran, I shall make an exception this time. Since you have promised the tree fairy to be her servant for a week. You shall fulfill your promise and if possible, try to find this Black Lotus. It's very important especially for you… now I want to meditate, don't bother me."

Duan Gen went back to his room, the two people in the main room sighed in relief. Gu Yunxi stood up and turned to Liu Meifeng, "Father and Jiejie have something to discuss with you."

"I know."

"Then, let's not waste our time." Gu Yunxi said indifferently and walked ahead. After a few steps, she suddenly stopped and turned back to Liu Meifeng.

"Was all that true?"

"What?"

"That you… you will die sooner…" Gu Yunxi stared at Liu Meifeng anxiously, she secretly hoped it was not true. How could a virtuous and handsome child like Xu Haoran have such a terrible fate?

"It's true. Due to my mixed blood I have weak lungs and couldn't digest the air like normal people. They said the air is like poison to me while the water is like a sword, both could kill me but with a different estimated time. It was estimated my body can't hold on until the age of ten, which is probably the reason why Shifu brought me here and told me to find this Black Lotus."

"Why did he search it by himself?"

"Because I ought to be his disciple and successor. That's why he made this as part of my trial, to see if I'm worthy to inherit his skills and be the next Grandmaster."

"…what if you fail?"

Liu Meifeng laughed and said leisurely, "Then I'll die."

Seeing Liu Meifeng's fearless attitude towards her imminent death. Gu Yunxi couldn't help but pity her even more, she was about to say something but was stopped by Liu Meifeng.

"I know what Your Highness is thinking about and I feel fortunate to receive Your Highness' kindness. But I expect Your Highness to pretend not knowing about this matter, after all this is my personal affair and something that I had to face alone. I expect Your Highness not to treat me differently much less pitied me for my bitter fate." Liu Meifeng said rhetorically, she really didn't want anyone to pity her or treat her differently because of this just like what her parents did.

"But you…"

"Your Highness, do you know what makes a dying person despise their life even more?"

"I… don't know." Gu Yunxi replied hesitantly.

Liu Meifeng smiled and explained in one breath, "It's how the people around them treat them differently due to their short lifespan. The relatives who were cold suddenly become warm, the friends who neglected them suddenly come to visit and wish for the better. Perhaps they're doing it for moral support but in my point of view. They're just doing it to spend the last memory with the dying person. As if they're sure the person won't survive, hence they helped to create short beautiful memories." Liu Meifeng looked at Gu Yunxi in the eyes and continued, "Surely, I don't need that."

Only then, Gu Yunxi thinks there's something wrong with this person in front of her. The way Liu Meifeng thinks is just full of negativity and mostly trust issues. This person was smiling while explaining her point of view, but her eyes were indifferent and cold.

'Something must've happened to him in the past, perhaps this is also the reason why the Grandmaster adopted him.' Gu Yunxi thought quietly in her heart. She closed her eyes and took a few breaths before she replied, "I see. It can't be helped if you think of it that way, you must have your own reason. But—"

Gu Yunxi suddenly grabbed Liu Meifeng's collar and put her face close to Liu Meifeng, "I won't let you stare at me with that cold gaze as if I'm nothing to you. Just wait! Someday I'll change how this brain of yours thinks and by the time we talked about this topic again. You'll realize how important you are to the people around you! Mark my words."

Liu Meifeng frowned but she didn't say anything. Gu Yunxi looked at Liu Meifeng's pretty face for a while before she released her. Gu Yunxi snorted her nose and turned around to walk ahead. Liu Meifeng stared at her for a while and secretly sneered at her…

'How could someone like you understand my pain?'