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墨書 Inktalez
"Uh?"
The man's surprise was evident at Le Yao Yao's suggestion. Seeing this, Le Yao Yao couldn't help but bite her tongue in embarrassment, feeling regretful inside.
In fact, she was just as shocked by her own proposal after saying it.
However, upon hearing the man's words earlier, she had blurted it out without thinking, and now she couldn't take it back.
Perhaps it was something from her subconscious; she inexplicably didn't want to part ways with this man. It was all too clear.
Although she had been trying to restrain herself, she knew she shouldn't get too close to him.
After all, she didn't know his background, and she wasn't clear about his appearance either. Most importantly, he wasn't Yu.
He merely resembled Yu in some ways.
She shouldn't selfishly treat him as if he were Yu; that would be unfair to him.
Yet, she simply didn't want to separate from him.
She had been lonely for far too long and felt like she was going crazy from Cosmic Thought.
If she didn’t treat him as Yu, it would truly hurt her, and she wouldn’t find the motivation to keep going. So, could she allow herself to be selfish just this once?
Le Yao Yao thought to herself, aware that recklessly traveling with someone else would surely raise suspicions and perhaps lead others to doubt her intentions.
After a moment of contemplation, Le Yao Yao continued speaking.
"Dugu Brother, it's like this: although you defeated those bullies last night, my martial skills are lacking. If I encounter those bad people again..."
At this point, Le Yao Yao paused for a moment before continuing.
"That's why I rashly wanted to travel with Dugu Brother. One, it's nice to have company; two, I selfishly want Dugu Brother to protect me. But I won't let Dugu Brother do it for free. I can pay, so Dugu Brother, name your price!"
Le Yao Yao said anxiously, offering money as an incentive.
However, the man before her showed no sign of being tempted. He simply replied calmly, "No need."
Those two words left Le Yao Yao's hopeful heart plummeting into a whirlpool of disappointment.
Feeling dejected, the once bright and starry eyes of Le Yao Yao were now clouded with gloom.
Seeing this, Xuan understood that her mother wanted to keep this uncle around. Without a second thought, she reached out her small hand and tugged at the black-clad man's sleeve, raising her little face filled with pleading. She said pitifully, "Uncle, Xuan likes you. Will you come with us? Please?"
Though part of her motivation was for her mother, Xuan had also started to genuinely like this uncle.
This was an experience she had never had before in her life.
Even though she couldn't clearly see the uncle's face and thought he looked cold enough to make one shiver, being with him made her very happy. So, out of personal desire, she wished for him to stay with them.
As Xuan thought this, she had no idea that her simple words stirred a tumultuous wave of emotions within the man.
What!? Xuan said… she likes him!?
"Is it true!?"
If so, it truly made him incredibly happy.
After all, these were the words spoken by his son.
In the past, he often worried about how many years he had been away from his son. Would his son hate him? Would he no longer like him, especially after learning about his own circumstances?
He was even more reluctant to reunite with them. After all, experiencing pain once was enough; he didn’t want Le Yao Yao to suffer again. So during this time, he stayed by her side, cherishing her enchanting face and engraving her features deep in his heart. That was enough for him.
He didn’t dare to hope for too much...
But now, hearing from his son that he liked him—though this kind of liking wasn’t exactly that of a father—was still the most delightful thing he could hear.
Thinking of this, a smile crept onto the man's lips, and beneath the veil of black fabric, his face was already filled with satisfaction.
Then, under the expectant gaze of Little One, he slowly bent down to gently touch the soft little face before looking up to meet Le Yao Yao's jade-like visage. In a hoarse voice, he said, "What I just said is true; you don’t need to pay me. I’m willing to accompany you."
"Really? That's wonderful!"
Upon hearing his words, Le Yao Yao immediately cheered.
However, the next moment she realized her reaction was too exuberant. Her delicate face flushed with embarrassment. To cover up her earlier excitement, she quickly lowered her head and reached out to pat Xuan's little head, softly saying, "Xuan, quickly thank Uncle. With Uncle around from now on, we won’t be afraid of bad people bullying us anymore."
"Alright, Daddy."
Upon hearing Le Yao Yao's words, Leng Yixuan felt puzzled. Even without his uncle around, no one could rival his mother. However, since his mother said so, he would do as she wished; as long as she was happy, that was enough.
With that thought in mind, Leng Yixuan immediately turned and sweetly addressed the man.
"Thank you, Uncle."
"Hehe..."
Seeing the interaction between the two—one big and one little—the man chose not to expose Le Yao Yao's embarrassment. Instead, he looked at the joy in her eyes and the sweet smile on Little One's face. His heart felt both happy and pained...
...
What started as a duo had now become a trio, yet none of them felt awkward about it. Especially Le Yao Yao, who thought this combination seemed destined to be.
Although the man spoke little, most of the time it was a question-and-answer exchange between him and her. Many times, she would chat with Xuan while he sat quietly beside them, listening intently.
He was very quiet, yet he always made her feel secure.
This sense of security was something she had only experienced with Yu...
Though she knew this man was not Yu, she couldn't help but subconsciously view him as Yu.
Especially during these days spent together with this man.
Even in subtle ways, Le Yao Yao was shocked to discover that his unconscious actions were strikingly similar to Yu's. Could there really be two people in this world so alike?
She had to find out the truth!
It was a beautiful afternoon, with gentle winds and bright sunshine.
There were so many wonderful sights in Dali. Le Yao Yao and her companions had spent several days exploring all the famous attractions in the area.
Now, they had arrived at the most renowned spot in Dali, Fairy Lake.
It was said that anyone visiting Dali must try the fish from Fairy Lake.
Fairy Lake was not only a gem of Dali but also the clearest and most beautiful lake in Heavenly Origin.
Legend had it that a fairy once descended to the mortal realm and encountered a group of bullies. The bullies, captivated by her beauty, attempted to take advantage of her. Fortunately, a wandering swordsman happened to pass by and taught those bullies a lesson.
From that moment on, the fairy fell in love with the swordsman, who was equally smitten by her.
They quickly fell deeply in love and enjoyed a sweet life together. However, their happiness was short-lived. When the heavenly deities learned that the fairy had fallen for a mortal, they forcibly took her back to the heavens, leaving the swordsman behind.
The swordsman, realizing that he loved a fairy, felt both astonished and heartbroken. He waited at their meeting place, hoping that his sincerity would move the heavens and reunite them.
Yet, even after he passed away, the fairy never returned to the mortal world. She remained trapped among the celestial beings but watched him every day through a mirror from above. Seeing him waiting in anguish brought her to tears, and eventually, her sorrow turned a once dry land into a lake.
This lake became known as Fairy Lake, Dali's most famous attraction.
Whether this story was fabricated by later generations or not, one thing was certain: the waters of this lake were indeed remarkably clear.
They arrived here only at noon.
Surrounding Fairy Lake, lush green trees provided ample shade, and the ground was covered with a layer of vibrant green grass.
The grass was a rich emerald hue, soft and tender, dotted with small flowers.
A gentle breeze blew, causing the willow fluff to sway, while the treetops rustled softly. The little grasses and flowers danced in the wind, resembling tiny green-clad fairies performing the most enchanting dance, bringing a sense of tranquility and joy to anyone who watched.
However, the most captivating sight was undoubtedly the renowned Fairy Lake itself.
At this moment, it was afternoon, and the sun hung high in the sky, radiating its warmest charm. The shimmering water of Fairy Lake seemed to be coated in gold, sparkling brilliantly under the sunlight.
Upon closer inspection, the water of Fairy Lake was clean and crystal clear.
From the shore, one could see schools of fish swimming gracefully beneath the surface.
Many people had gathered near Fairy Lake, and on the shore were remnants of charcoal and wooden frames, clearly left behind by those who had come to catch fish and grill them on-site.
Le Yao Yao scanned the area and noticed that not far from them, several people had already caught quite a few fish. A group was grilling them by the shore, and the aroma of grilled fish wafted through the air. Even though they had just finished lunch, it made their mouths water uncontrollably.
It smelled delicious! It must taste amazing!
Le Yao Yao was a foodie by nature, and as her son, Leng Yixuan was no exception.
Seeing so many fish in the lake and so many people grilling nearby made Leng Yixuan's stomach rumble.
Thus, driven by his hunger, Leng Yixuan immediately approached a man nearby. He reached out with his small, delicate hand to tug at the man's sleeve, his face displaying a pitiful expression as he spoke.
"Uncle, can we grill fish too?"
Hearing Leng Yixuan's innocent voice and seeing his eager, hungry expression was like watching a little kitten longing for food!
The man couldn't help but smile softly and replied gently, "Sure."
As long as it was something he wanted to eat, he would certainly make it happen.
With that thought in mind, the man slowly rolled up his pant legs and sleeves, removing his shoes and socks.
After all, at Fairy Lake, the water was quite shallow near the shore, but it became deeper as one ventured further into the lake.
However, there were plenty of fish in Fairy Lake, so even in the shallow areas, they could still catch many fish.
Seeing the man wade into the water barefoot made Leng Yixuan clap and cheer joyfully from the shore.
After all, children have simple hearts; just the thought of delicious fish to eat made him incredibly happy.
But in contrast to Leng Yixuan's delighted expression, Le Yao Yao stood nearby with her dark eyebrows furrowed.
When the man rolled up his pant legs and sleeves, she noticed the various scars on his arms and calves...
These scars were numerous and varied in size, resembling a spider web spread across his legs and arms.
From the color and texture of the wounds, it was clear that some were sword wounds, others appeared to be bites from something, and some looked like they had been scratched by an object.
Some seemed to have endured the passage of time, while others were more recent additions; not a single spot was left unscathed.
Seeing this, Le Yao Yao couldn't help but feel a pang of fear and heartache.
What kind of life had this man lived!?
Why did he have so many wounds on him!?
Dugu—was that his real name, or did it signify the loneliness of his current days!?
At this thought, Le Yao Yao's heart clenched painfully for the man.
In contrast to Le Yao Yao's thoughts, Leng Junyu, amidst Leng Yixuan's cheers, soon caught three fish that were as big as his arm.
Fairy Lake not only had crystal-clear waters, but the fish it nurtured were also plump and fresh.
After catching the fish, the man took out a small knife and began to scale and gut them by the lake. Leng Yixuan, who had eaten a lot of fish since childhood, watched the man's skilled movements with envy.
"Uncle is amazing! Xuan wants to catch fish by herself too!"
Leng Yixuan exclaimed, her little face filled with hope as she spoke to the man. Her voice was clear and melodious, like pearls dropping onto a jade plate.
In response, the man simply smiled softly and said, "When Xuan is a bit older, you'll be able to catch fish on your own."
"Will you be there to teach Xuan how to catch fish then?"
Hearing the man's words, Leng Yixuan asked again.
However, this time, the man's response was merely a pause in his movements. After a moment, he finally spoke.
"At that time, there will naturally be someone by Xuan's side to teach Xuan how to catch fish."
That person wouldn't be him...
As he said this, the man's tone became somewhat dry.
Leng Yixuan was innocent, yet her heart was sensitive; she listened with a mix of understanding and confusion.
Blinking her big eyes filled with doubt, she asked again, "At that time, would Uncle leave Xuan?"
"..."
Upon hearing Leng Yixuan's words, the man fell silent.
Beneath the black veil, Cold Eyes gently lowered, unable to bear looking into those eyes filled with confusion yet hope.
Because he feared that from those clear eyes, he would see disappointment.
If that happened, it would make it even harder for him to leave...
Leave.
The moment the word crossed his mind, Leng Junyu felt a sharp pang in his heart, a deep pain that twisted within him.
It was as if someone had plunged a sharp dagger into his chest.
If it were possible, he truly wished to stay by their side for the rest of his life, to care for them, to cherish them, and to provide them with a warm and happy home. Yet, he found himself utterly incapable of doing so…
Thinking of this made Leng Junyu bitterly smile to himself.
Once, he was a figure that instilled fear in others, a living embodiment of hell itself, wielding power and influence. What was there that he could not accomplish!?
However, now all he desired was to remain beside these two lovely children, and yet this seemingly small wish felt utterly out of reach…
Perhaps this was fate playing tricks on him, or perhaps their bond was simply too shallow!
As Leng Junyu pondered these thoughts, Leng Yixuan, who had been waiting for his response, grew increasingly anxious.
After all, he liked this uncle, and he could tell that his mother liked him too. Therefore, he wanted this uncle to stay.
With a pure heart, Leng Yixuan spoke whatever came to mind. He tugged at Leng Junyu's sleeve, his voice laced with a hint of coaxing desperation.
“Uncle, Xuan and Mother both really like you! So can you please stay? Xuan doesn’t want to be apart from you. Also, you promised to teach Xuan how to catch fish! I want to catch my first fish and share it with you. And since you’re so skilled in martial arts, I want to learn from you too!”
As Leng Yixuan continued to plead with his innocent words and hopeful little face, Leng Junyu felt a lump in his throat; it was almost hard for him to breathe.
Moreover, the narrow coldness in his eyes began to warm up, tinged with a faint mist of emotion.
This was his child asking him for something!
If possible, he wished he could fulfill his son's small wish.
After all, these were things that any father in the world could do for his son, but he...
Thinking of this, Leng Junyu felt a pang of sadness in his heart.
However, what he could not do, he naturally could not promise. After all, he did not want to give his son hope only to let him down later.
Just then, Le Yao Yao, who was over there building a wooden frame, had finished her task.
She had not heard the conversation between Leng Junyu and Leng Yixuan.
Earlier, when she saw the man catching fish in the lake, she couldn't just stand by and wait to eat; that would be too embarrassing.
So, she gathered some dry branches and built a wooden frame nearby to prepare for cooking the fish later.
At this moment, having completed her task and noticing that the man had also finished with the fish, she dusted off her hands and walked over.
"What are you talking about? Is Xuan bothering Uncle again?"
"Mom, Xuan wouldn't bother Uncle! Xuan just wants Uncle to stay."
Hearing her mother's words, Leng Yixuan immediately pouted in grievance and said.
Le Yao Yao was taken aback by this response and then turned her gaze to the man, asking in surprise, "Dugu Brother is leaving?"
Le Yao Yao spoke, her tone revealing her anxiety without reservation.
After all, although she had not spent much time with this man, the thought of him leaving made her heart feel as if it was missing a piece that had once been whole.
To be honest, she did not want him to go.
Seeing Le Yao Yao's flustered state, the man felt a pang of reluctance in his heart as he listened to her words and observed the worry etched on her beautiful face.
If it were possible, he truly did not wish to leave her and her child. Unfortunately...
Fate was cruel, and he loathed the heavens for it!
Why must two people who clearly loved each other be forced apart repeatedly?
Leng Junyu felt this hatred but could not change the reality. Although he knew Le Yao Yao and her child would not want to hear it, he still nodded and said in a deep voice, "Yes, I have matters to attend to and will be leaving in a couple of days."
Upon hearing his words, Le Yao Yao felt as if a hammer had struck her heart, leaving her face pale and despondent.
However, she paused for a moment before forcing a smile and saying, "I see. Since that's the case, I cannot keep Dugu Brother here. But I wonder, Dugu Brother, will we meet again in the future?"
As she spoke the last words, Le Yao Yao felt her heart rise to her throat.
For some reason, she had an unsettling feeling that if this man left now, it would be a farewell forever...
Thinking of this, Le Yao Yao felt a sudden tightness in her heart.
How she wished that this man would not leave.
Moreover, there was one deep-seated question that remained unanswered: was this man really Yu? Could he possibly be!?
During this time they had spent together, he had never removed the black veil from his hat.
She did not know what he looked like. If only she could lift the veil from his head, then she would have the answer she sought.
Just as Le Yao Yao was lost in her thoughts, Leng Junyu, who was crouched on the ground gutting fish, heard her words. Seeing her forced smile, his thin lips pressed tightly into a straight line.
In truth, how could he not see that she had always harbored a suspicion?
She had always thought of him and hoped that the man before her was the one she loved.
Yes, she guessed correctly; he was the man she desired. Unfortunately, he could not let her know...
Once was enough for pain. His time was limited, and he could no longer accompany her forever.
Thus, he had to leave and cut off her hopes.
With this thought in mind, Leng Junyu paused for a moment before speaking coldly.
"We probably won't meet again."
Never again...
When those words were spoken, Leng Junyu felt a sharp pain in his heart, leaving him speechless, as if a sharp knife was cutting into his very soul.
To Le Yao Yao, it was no different.
The thought that they would never see each other again made her heart ache as if it were being sliced apart.
It felt as though something was lodged in her throat, rendering her unable to utter a single word.
After a long while, Le Yao Yao finally managed to pull the corners of her mouth into a smile and said, "Oh, I see..."
Her voice was bitter.
Little did she know that the smile on her face at that moment looked far more tragic than tears.
The wind rustled the treetops and sent their clothes fluttering.
The sunlight above was enchanting, yet the two of them felt as if their entire world had been shrouded in darkness.
They locked eyes with each other, but it felt as though there was an eternal veil separating them.
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