Love & Redemption
Chapter 161: Volume 4 Hua Meng Suddenly Cracks - 18 Old Friend

Chapter 161: Volume 4 Hua Meng Suddenly Cracks Chapter 18 Old Friend

Liu Yihuan had been quietly recuperating in bed for several days and gradually recovered. Ordinary people look forward to getting out of bed soon when they are sick, but he, in fact, was completely fine yet still found excuses every day to stay in bed, insisting that Yu Sifeng take care of him.

Yu Sifeng, remembering his assistance along the way and considering their deep father-son relationship, knew well that he was feigning illness but never complained. Every day he shared the experiences of the past six months with him, and Liu Yihuan always loved hearing about the taming of the spiritual beast, leading to hearty laughter each time, saying, "Well captured! But isn’t it inconvenient to keep such a large Divine Beast with you?"

Yu Sifeng laughed and said, "Didn’t I tell you? Divine Beasts can transform into human form. Speaking of which, Brother Liu hasn’t seen Tengshe yet. Next time, I’ll ask Xuanji to bring him to meet you."

Liu Yihuan’s eyes lit up, his mouth watering as he eagerly asked, "How so? Is he a great beauty?"

Yu Sifeng rubbed his forehead helplessly, "No, he’s a man." And moreover, he’s hot-tempered and fierce.

Liu Yihuan’s face immediately fell, sighing weakly, "Then I’m not interested. I’d rather see the little lady Linglong... I’ve been wanting to see her for a long time..."

"Brother!" Yu Sifeng couldn’t help but laugh and cry at his words.

Suddenly, the door creaked open and Xuanji entered with a lunchbox. Hearing Liu Yihuan mention wanting to see Linglong, she immediately said with a smile, "Sure, once Linglong has recovered, I’ll bring her to visit Brother Liu."

Clearly, she hadn’t grasped the wickedness in Liu Yihuan’s words. Seeing him laughing uncontrollably on the bed, Yu Sifeng shook his head, lost for words.

"Where’s Ting Nu?" Liu Yihuan had rarely seen him in recent days and strangely missed this quiet and gentle Merfolk.

Xuanji served the food and said, "Father and several Elders highly appreciate his erudition and have been consulting him about the path of Cultivation these days."

She had thought Ting Nu’s Merfolk identity might be awkward for the Shaoyang Sect, but to her surprise, not only had he rescued Linglong, but he was also favored by the elders. From top to bottom of the Shaoyang Sect, there was no one who didn’t like him, a situation that, albeit wonderful, was utterly unexpected.

"Hehe, how foolish, how foolish! Guided by a demon, any experiences learned are utterly useless!" Liu Yihuan shook his head.

Xuanji wondered, "So, according to Brother Liu, how should one cultivate to become an immortal?"

Liu Yihuan laughed and said, "You all think that slaughtering more demons brings closer to immortality, but you’re completely mistaken. Humans and gods are different beings of different realms; transcending reincarnation to become immortal is a significant feat with few successes. If you ask how to achieve immortality, I’d say there’s no specific method. It all hinges on the heart; one thought can lead to becoming an immortal, and perhaps the next thought might make one turn into a demon."

Xuanji was stunned, feeling as if she had heard this principle somewhere before. Good and evil, god and demon, are merely a thought apart, success or failure isn’t determined by the world, but resides in the human heart. These thoughts seemed to touch her, provoking deep reflection.

As Yu Sifeng helped Liu Yihuan eat, he noticed an open garment on Liu Yihuan, carrying a green silk bag at his chest, something he hadn’t seen him wear before these few days. When asked, Liu Yihuan refused to elaborate, sighing deeply if pressed too much. He was always frivolous, and Yu Sifeng speculated it might be a love token from some romantic entanglement, deciding not to pry further.

Yet today, upon seeing that the green silk bag had been frequently handled, its edges worn and the neck of the bag loosened, revealing a roll of shiny black hair, Yu Sifeng paused, and Liu Yihuan, sensing his gaze, casually tucked the silk bag into his chest, preventing further observation.

The movement was awkward for both, and with a cough, Yu Sifeng quickly changed the subject with a smile, "Brother, where have you been in the past six months?"

He shouldn’t have asked; Liu Yihuan’s expression turned even more awkward and after swallowing, he said, "Er... I, well, also have some private secrets. I was visiting an old friend who has passed away for long; paying respects to her grave, reminiscing about the past and such..."

Yu Sifeng sighed, "Brother, visiting prostitutes and drinking isn’t shameful, I’m used to it. There’s no need for such lies."

Apparently, he didn’t believe him. Seeing the woman’s hair in the silk bag, it was clear it represented some romantic debt he had incurred. Now, talking about visiting an old friend’s grave seemed ridiculous.

Liu Yihuan was then truly at a loss for words, choking for a while before saying, "I really was visiting... an old friend who has passed away..."

Yu Sifeng turned a deaf ear, packing up the finished dishes into the box. As she was about to leave, she suddenly heard Liu Yihuan say, "How to put it, she was... probably the woman I liked most in my life. I go every year to clean her grave, staying for a few days... That’s all I can do for her now."

Both were touched by his melancholic words and couldn’t help being curious. Xuanji quickly set down the lunchbox, turned around, and asked, "Was she the woman Brother Liu used to like? She’s deceased?"

If one said Liu Yihuan truly loved a woman, neither Xuanji nor Yu Sifeng would believe it. He never took women seriously, often calling several prostitutes for drinking and merriment, clearly indulging like a lecher, could such a man also love?

Liu Yihuan’s dark face actually reddened slightly, and after a long pause, he sighed, "...She was indeed different from other women, very different."

The two youths were stunned, and it took a while for Yu Sifeng to find her voice, hurrying to ask, "How did she die? Is that silk bag... something she left for you?"

Liu Yihuan spat out a curse, "Damn brat! Who told you to have such sharp eyes?"

With that, he reached into his collar to grab the silk bag, fumbling with it for a long time before whispering, "Correct, it’s hers. But no, she didn’t give it to me." He had secretly cut a lock of her hair, treasuring it like a precious relic. Her existence was a sin he committed, a painful truth that could never be ignored.

"You mean, you adore someone, but they have absolutely no feelings for you?!" Xuanji was shocked. Since Liu Yihuan had always been forthright, she also asked bluntly without any courtesy.

Liu Yihuan sighed deeply and said gloomily, "Perhaps she will never know who I am until her death."

He was so hopelessly in love! Xuanji promptly supported her chin to prevent it from dropping. While Yu Sifeng was shocked, he suddenly felt something was amiss and couldn’t help asking, "Wait, Brother, are you talking about your beloved?"

Liu Yihuan’s face changed, and he finally sighed miserably, with a bitter smile, "I knew I couldn’t hide it from you, clever as you are... She’s not my lover, she is my... my daughter."

There was a loud thump as Xuanji, overwhelmed by shock, fell from her chair onto the floor. He had a daughter! He once had a daughter?! Suddenly, Xuanji felt as if the entire world had become mysterious, everything so unpredictable.

Liu Yihuan lamented, "It was a sin I committed when I was young. After a night of revelry with that prostitute, who could have imagined she became pregnant in secret and gave birth to a daughter. Since I had told her I was a disciple from Li Ze Palace, she had someone leave the child at the palace gates. I thought, no matter if she was a prostitute or whatever else, she was the child’s mother. I planned to leave Li Ze Palace, redeem her, and find a picturesque place to live a lifetime together as a family. However, the Old Palace Master learned of this and was extremely angered, sending someone to poison the prostitute to death overnight. They initially wanted to kill the girl too; I had to pledge my own life in exchange for her silence, to keep her alive. According to the rules of Li Ze Palace, women were not allowed entry, so I had her adopted by a farmer’s family. I would visit her secretly every month."

"Year by year, she grew and became more beautiful, lively, and adorable. She was unmistakably my daughter. Every time I watched her from the shadows, I desperately wanted to talk to her, to touch her little hands and face, to hear her call me ’Daddy’... To be a parent, that feeling, I understood for the first time in my life."

Saying this, he gave a small, somewhat bitter smile.

Yu Sifeng gently said, "Brother... Did you leave Li Ze Palace later because of this?"

Liu Yihuan nodded, "Exactly... Except for the Old Palace Master and I, only another Elder knew this. That Elder... I’m truly grateful to him. Since I couldn’t often visit my daughter, he always took care to send things to her and looked after her. Once when I secretly went to see my daughter, I waited until nightfall but didn’t see her. I didn’t dare go closer to check, fearing discovery. I stood there dully the whole night, with no result, and had to woefully return to Li Ze Palace. Later that Elder hurriedly sought me out, and only then I learned that the child had fallen gravely ill, her life hanging by a thread. She was just ten years old, such a small child, who had taken many medicines, seen many doctors, but to no avail. In desperation, I disregarded all rules and left Li Ze Palace overnight. But by the time I arrived at her side, she was already too far gone, completely in a terminal state. I held her, unable to cry... I never heard her call me ’Daddy’... To be a father, yet unable to raise my child into adulthood, I was not only a failure as a father, but as a person altogether."

Seeing Liu Yihuan becoming more and more distraught, Yu Sifeng instinctively felt alarmed and spoke softly, "Brother... If you don’t want to continue, stop there. It’s my fault for asking."

Liu Yihuan, as if not hearing, continued, "I used all my mana to save her but to no avail... She died, just like that, in my arms... Until her death, she never knew I was her father... She had never even seen me... If I couldn’t raise her, I should never have allowed her to suffer through life. I sat with her body for three days and nights until the Old Palace Master personally came to find me. I refused to go back... I never wanted to go back, all because of those damned rules, my daughter... it was as if I had personally killed her... How could I return then? The Old Palace Master was furious, severely injuring me. I was immobile, helplessly watching as they cremated my child’s body... That fire... it spiraled into the sky, the wind blowing her ashes away... They killed my woman, and then my child, leaving me nothing to cling to. What’s the point of living like a coward?! I desperately broke free from their grasp, gathering her ashes bit by bit from the soil. But I didn’t know her name! My daughter! I didn’t know what she was called! Thus, I couldn’t even erect a tombstone for her, but then, what right did I have to do so, to claim her as my daughter?"

"I was captured by the Old Palace Master and thrown back into the dungeon. Many times, I thought about joining them, having come into this world in vain, achieving nothing. But even in death, what right did I have to face her mother and daughter? Wishing for life or death was futile, a sensation I never wish to experience again... I languished aimlessly, not knowing how many days had passed when suddenly a young child appeared in the dungeon one day. With chubby cheeks, even younger than my daughter, he clung to the iron bars of the prison door, curiously observing me. Upon seeing him, I immediately thought of my daughter, wondering what thoughts such a young child would have. I wanted to know, so I coaxed him over to talk with me. He was well-behaved and intelligent, trusting everything I said. From him, I found the joy of teaching my daughter... If my child were still alive, I would play with her like this, tell her jokes, save all the delicacies for her... hoping only that she would be happy, forever carefree..."

At this point, Liu Yihuan chuckled twice and said, "Little Phoenix, I was so selfish back then, am I not at fault? I treated you like my daughter when I sought your company."

Yu Sifeng said in a low voice, "Brother... In my heart, you have already become my father..."

Liu Yihuan laughed again softly, then suddenly sighed deeply, lay back on the bed, and said with his hands under his head, "So many years have passed! I’ve almost forgotten these things; keeping them to myself all this time. Speaking of them today feels truly invigorating! I stole the Heavenly Eye just to see which reincarnation she had entered so I could find her again. Sadly, she hasn’t reincarnated yet. When she does... This lifetime, I will definitely treat her well and never abandon her again."

Yu Sifeng nodded, speaking gently, "I’ll join you, Brother. Our family will never be apart again."

It was only today that he discovered why Liu Yihuan had left Li Ze Palace twice, even risking danger to steal the Heavenly Eye; such a past was truly poignant.

Xuanji, sobbing with snotty tears, cried out, "I... I’ll join too... Brother Liu... I won’t ever be harsh to you again... How about you consider me your daughter too... I can do anything except call you ’daddy’..."

Liu Yihuan, startled, quickly waved his hand, "No need, no need! I don’t want the War God General’s daughter! Let’s forget it!"

As he spoke, he and Yu Sifeng burst into laughter. Xuanji, wiping her tears and puzzled, was just about to ask when she suddenly heard the door being pushed open forcefully, and a clear voice called from outside, "Xuanji! Xuanji, are you here?"

It was Linglong’s voice! Xuanji hurriedly got up, "I’m here! Linglong, how did you get here?"

An image flashed at the door, and Linglong stood there in a red dress, her skin as white as snow, her black hair cloud-like, looking vivaciously beautiful with a faint smile on her lips and sparkling bright eyes.

Upon seeing such a spirited and beautiful young girl, Liu Yihuan’s previous melancholic emotions instantly vanished, his eyes widened in awe, almost as if his jaw would drop unknowingly.

"I’ve come to find you," Linglong walked forward, saying aloud, "After the Flower Pinning Conference ends, I want to join you to Buzhou Mountain to rescue Min Yan."

Xuanji was shocked, mumbling, "You... how did you know..."

Linglong, smiling, took her hand and spoke softly, "I’m sorry, I was so useless before, always losing my temper and failing to do anything right. It caused you all so much trouble, and Min Yan too..." Her expression suddenly darkened, then she added, "So, this time, it’s my turn to rescue him! I will kill Wu Tong myself for imprisoning him and for what happened to Min Yan!"

Xuanji stared at her for a long time, her eyes gradually revealing an overwhelming excitement, suddenly enveloping her in a tight hug, her voice choked with emotion, "Good! Let’s do it together! This time... we will definitely rescue Sixth Brother!"

Tengshe, who had been lurking outside, afraid to come in, hearing that they weren’t angry, realized that his offense against Linglong hadn’t been exposed, and thus snuck in boldly. He secretly picked up the cakes from the plate and stuffed them into his mouth, eating to his heart’s content. (To be continued. For more, please visit www.qidian.com, with more Chapters, support the author, support genuine reading!)