Chapter Eighty-One: Farewell to a Stranger

"Mother~" Just as the woman turned back to approach Yun Si, a distant male voice rang out. Yun Si looked towards the voice and saw a young man running towards them.

The young man reached the woman and helped her, speaking with a tone that was somewhat reproachful yet also somewhat playful, "Mother, I told you to wait for me nearby. How come, in just a moment, you wandered off here by yourself? Father is still searching for you everywhere!"

But the woman just smiled, full of indulgence. "Alright, alright, it's all my fault."

"Mother, let's go back quickly, or Father will worry." The young man supported the woman and began to leave. At this moment, Yun Si felt like an outsider, watching the happiness of others with envy.

Yun Si watched the departing figures with reluctance, thinking that perhaps she would never see them again. Suddenly, the young man remembered something and ran back to her, asking, "Little Master, are you hungry? I still have two steamed buns here, you can have them!"

The sudden warmth caught Yun Si off guard. She didn't know how to respond and could only awkwardly accept the steamed buns and hold them close. She thought the young man would leave after this, but instead, he remained standing there, scratching his head embarrassedly. "Little Master, you're really beautiful!"

Yun Si was puzzled, not understanding his meaning. The young man continued, "If my sister were here, maybe she would look as beautiful as you."

"Really? Have you... never seen your sister?" Yun Si looked at him with clear eyes, her mind filled with thoughts. She wished she could tell him right now that she was his sister, but reason told her it wasn't the right time. Someday, she would stand before him boldly and say, "I am your sister!"

The young man shook his head somewhat dejectedly. "No, my sister had already left when I was born. My parents told me that she was born under an unlucky star, so she was taken in by a high monk to preserve her life."

"I..." Before Yun Si could finish her sentence, the young man interrupted, "Little Master, it's getting late. We need to go back, or my father will worry." Without waiting for Yun Si to say anything, he hurried away.

"What's your name?" Seeing the young man leave, Yun Si hurriedly caught up and asked, not realizing that her tone was now tinged with tears, fearing that tears would flow from her eyes in the next moment.

"Tian En! My name is Tian En!" The young man waved his hand and left...

Yun Si stood there foolishly, tears streaming down her cheeks, holding the two steamed buns in her arms, watching the two figures gradually disappear from view, and she just stood there, watching, watching...

"Tian En, a bestowed grace from heaven? What a good name, what a good name!" Yun Si murmured to herself as she absentmindedly walked back, completely unaware that someone had been waiting for her ahead.

"Master... Master!" Yun Si looked at the person in front of her in surprise, realizing that her master had appeared here at some point. She rushed into Qing Wu's arms, crying like a tearful person.

"I once said that when you come of age, I will let you make a choice. When that time comes, whether to stay or leave, it will be up to you to decide." Qing Wu remained as calm as ever. He had no words of comfort, just that simple sentence.

This was the promise he had made to Yun Si's parents, saying that he would protect her for a lifetime. Even if it was difficult, he would do everything to fulfill it, thus repaying the debt he owed her parents!

Hearing his words, Yun Si stood up straight, wiped away her tears, and looked at Qing Wu. She didn't tell him that she couldn't bear to leave him either.