Vol 2 Book 2 Chapter 18 (2/2)
Li Yiming rushed toward Bai Ze. The faltering steps she took made his heart ache, and he remembered how she stood in front of him and s.h.i.+elded him from incoming danger. He remembered how resolutely she walked with the two swords in her hands. He remembered her figure covered in blood. Suddenly, Li Yiming once more hated himself for being so weak and incapable, just as he did when he was back on the rooftop not too long ago.
“Not dead yet?” Bai Ze supported herself against the tree and asked in a teasing voice, but the relief in her eyes could not be hidden.
“Are you okay?” Li Yiming picked her up and looked around for wounds. Her skirt had become nothing more than strips of fabric dyed crimson by blood. Li Yiming hovered over her wounds with shaking hands, not even daring to touch her.
“I’m a little girl, are you sure it’s okay for you to stare at me like that? How about you get me some clothes?” Bai Ze rolled her eyes and put her hands in front of her chest exaggeratedly. ‘Ah, everything’s good as long as he’s safe and sound.’
It was hard for Li Yiming to smile back, given how hurt Bai Ze looked. He took out a jacket from his bracelet and carefully wrapped it around Bai Ze.
“Where’s Liu Meng?” Bai Ze rested in Li Yiming’s arms, exhausted from the efforts that it took for her to walk all the way to Ning Village.
“She’s okay.” Li Yiming pulled on his sleeves and wiped away the bloodstains on Bai Ze’s face. “What about you? You look hurt.”
“Well, I wasn’t doing so great, but then this mysterious guy showed up and gave me a pill that healed my wounds, at least for the moment. Oh yeah, that guy came over here, did you see him?”
“Mysterious guy?” Li Yiming asked.
“Yes, well, he’s dressed pretty poorly. Oh, also, he had a knit bag.”
“You mean big bro in shorts?”
“So he’s that big bro you mentioned?”
The two exchanged a glance and Li Yiming told Bai Ze what had happened after the man’s arrival.
“You mean that he stopped the phoenix with one hand and then somehow subdued her?” Bai Ze was at a loss for words. She had esteemed the man to be quite strong, but to that extent? It was beyond her imagination. “Who is he?” She asked Li Yiming.
“You mean, you don’t know?” Li Yiming asked.
“Nope. But he’s very strong, that’s for sure. His intentions are also unclear,” Bai Ze said.
“I don’t think that he means bad though. His smile is a little… weird, but he had very sincere eyes.”
“Wait, what do you mean? You mean that you remember his eyes and his smile?” Bai Ze suddenly broke free from Li Yiming’s arms and stared at him in surprise.
“I’ve seen him twice, and with the way he looks, it’s pretty hard to not remember it, really,” Li Yiming answered.
“That’s impossible,” Bai Ze suddenly raised her voice. “That man has a technique, In a Dream. It’s impossible for anyone to remember the way he looks unless you’re even stronger than he is.”
“In a Dream?”
“Yes, it’s an advanced Dao technique. You won’t be able to remember his appearance until the next time you meet him.”
“But I do remember…” Li Yiming recalled. ‘Not too tall, not too short, skinny, full brows, bright eyes, low nose bridge, nose isn’t too big, that gentle smile, elegant, nonchalant… There’s no mistake, I remember exactly how he looks.’
“Oh well, you were an abnormality from the start. Do you know his name?”
“No…”
“What do you mean, ‘no’?”
“Well, he didn’t tell me.”
“And you didn’t ask?”
“I did, but he didn’t answer.”
“You’ll always impress me. Where is he now?” Bai Ze extended her arms.
“He should still be over there. Liu Meng and Fang Shui’er are there too. Let’s go.” Li Yiming also thought it rather embarra.s.sing that he did not know the man’s name despite having been saved a couple of times by him.
“Carry me, I’m too weak to walk,” said Little Bai Ze, just like a real child.
“Oh.” Li Yiming obeyed her.
Mission Failed, Punishment: zeroing of life marks.’ A voice suddenly rang in his head.
‘s.h.i.+t! Are you serious?’ Li Yiming froze.
End of Book 2, Tomorrow Book 3 begins: Monsters in the City