Deeply rooted in love

"What?" Lin Wanrong was greatly shocked, almost unable to believe his ears. The news was too unexpected, surprising to the point of disbelief. He took a deep breath and looked at Qin Xian'er, asking, "Are you sure she's dead? How is that possible?"

Tai Xian'er's expression turned cold, saying, "Dead is dead. Could there be fake death?"

Seeing her serious expression, Lin Wanrong felt a pang in his heart. Could it be true? Did that girl really die? Just a while ago, they were still arguing, and now she's gone? Suddenly, he remembered the caring exclamation from the young lady before he was taken away. The weight in his heart grew heavier. If the young lady was really dead, what would happen to the Xiao family? What about Yu Shuang? Would that little girl cry her heart out? Just thinking about it was heartbreaking.

Lin Wanrong felt a deep sense of unease. Over the long period of time, despite the constant bickering with this girl, they had developed a profound camaraderie. How could she suddenly be gone?

Recalling the scenes of their arguments, her proud demeanor, Lin Wanrong sighed. His heart gradually cooled, his gaze deepening. He released Qin Xian'er's hand and said in a deep voice, "Miss Qin, please tell me, how did the young lady die?"

Qin Xian'er didn't answer his question. Instead, she looked at him and asked, "Do you really care about Miss Xiao that much?"

Lin Wanrong nodded solemnly, "Yes, she is my friend. I will certainly care about her. She was captured by the White Lotus Cult and died here. This is definitely related to the White Lotus Cult. I, Lin Wanrong, swear that if I don't destroy the White Lotus Cult, I won't be human."

Hearing his oath, tears welled up in Qin Xian'er's eyes. She looked at him with a tearful gaze and said, "Young Master, Xian'er is also a member of the White Lotus Cult. Are you going to eliminate me too?"

"Oh, why is this girl so stubborn?" Lin Wanrong felt helpless and said, "Xian'er, you are different from them. They kill innocent people, harm the common people. That's unforgivable."

Qin Xian'er chuckled, her face pale, "Young Master, you're wrong. I am a demoness of the White Lotus Cult, killing more people than they do. The sins on my hands are so heavy that I can never wash them away. If you want to eliminate them, you have to kill me too."

"Oh no, why is this girl so fond of dwelling on her own guilt?" Lin Wanrong sighed and said, "Xian'er, why did you join the White Lotus Cult?"

"My master is the leader of the White Lotus Cult. If I don't join, who will?" Qin Xian'er looked miserable as she spoke softly.

"Is your master treating you well? If not, we can rebel against her," Lin Wanrong wickedly suggested.

"I was raised by my master since I was a child. She treated me with great kindness. How can I betray her? Even if she kills me, I can't betray my master." Qin Xian'er said firmly.

Lin Wanrong felt a headache. This situation was really difficult to handle. If he eliminated the White Lotus Cult, this girl would be heartbroken. If he didn't, not only would Yu Shuang be heartbroken, but he would also be uneasy.

Seeing him silent for a long time, Qin Xian'er smiled sadly and said, "Young Master, are you rejecting Xian'er?"

Lin Wanrong grabbed her hand and said, "Xian'er, where did you get that idea? You risked your life to save me. How could I reject you?"

Qin Xian'er sighed softly, "You are grateful to me for saving your life, but there is nothing else between us. Your heart belongs to Miss Xiao."

Lin Wanrong felt his head spinning. The news of the young lady's death had turned his mind into mush. What would happen to the Xiao family? What about Yu Shuang? The importance of this young lady that he hadn't paid much attention to before became clear today. He understood that losing her would be unbearable.

Qin Xian'er saw his dazed expression and said, "Young Master, if I die, will you be as sad as this?"

"Don't talk nonsense," Lin Wanrong whispered, "You are beautiful and skilled in martial arts. You won't die."

"I mean, if one day I die, will you be as sad?" Qin Xian'er looked at him and asked.

"I don't know how to answer that," Lin Wanrong said, avoiding the topic, "Xian'er, can you tell me how Miss Xiao died?"

"Do you really want to know?" Qin Xian'er asked, and when Lin Wanrong nodded, she said, "Then look carefully. The person who killed Miss Xiao is far away and yet close at hand."

"What? Is it you?" Lin Wanrong exclaimed, more surprised by this revelation than the news of the young lady's death.

Qin Xian'er nodded solemnly, "Yes, it's me."

Lin Wanrong was stunned. He felt that his brain was not enough to comprehend the situation. Qin Xian'er

 had saved him from the White Lotus Cult, and now she was telling him that she killed the young lady? This was too absurd.

He stared at Qin Xian'er in disbelief, trying to find any signs of deceit or madness in her eyes. However, her gaze was steady and serious.

"You killed Miss Xiao? Why? How?" Lin Wanrong couldn't believe what he was hearing.

Qin Xian'er sighed, "Miss Xiao and I were both controlled by the White Lotus Cult. I had a secret mission, and she had unknowingly become a puppet of the White Lotus Cult. I had to kill her to save her from becoming a tool for evil. It was a painful decision, but it was the only way."

Lin Wanrong's mind was in chaos. The revelation that the young lady was controlled by the White Lotus Cult and that Qin Xian'er had to kill her to prevent further harm was too much for him to process.

"Is there no other way? Could we not have found a way to save her without resorting to killing?" Lin Wanrong asked, his voice filled with desperation.

Qin Xian'er shook her head, "I tried everything I could. The control the White Lotus Cult had over her was too strong. If we didn't act quickly, she would have caused great harm. I made the decision to end her suffering, even if it meant staining my hands with her blood."

Lin Wanrong felt a mixture of emotions—shock, sadness, anger. He couldn't fathom the complexity of the situation. The girl he argued with, the one who constantly irritated him, was now gone, and he couldn't even blame her for it.

He looked at Qin Xian'er and said, "What should we do now? How can we face the Xiao family and Yu Shuang?"

Qin Xian'er's eyes were filled with tears, and she said, "I don't know, Young Master. I can only ask for your forgiveness. I understand if you can't accept what I've done."

Lin Wanrong felt a deep sense of loss. The young lady was gone, and the circumstances surrounding her death were beyond his comprehension. He couldn't find it in himself to blame Qin Xian'er entirely, knowing that she too was a victim of the White Lotus Cult.

He sighed heavily and said, "Let's go back to the Xiao family. We need to find a way to explain this, to comfort Yu Shuang. I don't know how we will face them, but we have to try."

As they left the desolate place, both of them carried heavy hearts. The road ahead was uncertain, and the pain of loss lingered in the air.