155 Regrets (2/2)

Once he saw the familiar bird, his eyes softened before turning hard when looking back at Wei Jingyi. The frail man sighed back into his seat and withdrew his gaze to perceive all the men's eyes on him.

”Who are you?” General Guo asked again.

”Ah yes, I suppose I should introduce myself,” Wei Jingyi smiled casually. ”I was a follower of Governor Tao of Guando province. After the death of my master, Bai Rin took me in as her follower. While she was taken by Commander An and his men, I stayed up north with Sir Tao's daughter and Ju. That is until I received a letter from her.”

The news hit everyone like a bolt from the blue.

They looked at the middle-aged man lounging on the chair in the center of the room as if he were an unknown creature. General Guo seemed to think of something and stole a glance at the man in the corner. He saw a touch of feelings that could not be put away in An Sun's eyes.

It was clear from his shadowed gaze that he felt uneasy upon recalling the previous events that took place in Guando. Though he was a changed man, it still didn't deny the fact An Sun was a part of for Governor Tao's death and had kidnapped Rin.

In the end, Bai Han was the first to break the silence. ”What did the letter she sent say?”

As if expecting his question, Wei Jingyi reached into his robe to pull out a small square piece of paper. Everyone's eyes locked on the paper with scorching gazes. He calmly placed the letter on the center of the table and leaned back into his seat.

When An Sun saw the pair of written words on the paper, he stared in a daze, his mind completely blank. The sourness and bitterness in his heart were overwhelming.

[Head North. Divert the Head An from Sun]

After a moment of silence, he raised his head to look at Wei Jingyi.

He creased his brows as he asked in a slightly dark tone, ”She told you to visit my father?”

Wei Jingyi nodded and awkwardly scratched his head. ”It wasn't an easy task, I'll tell you that. But, I was able to successfully carry it out.”

An Sun returned with an expression full of surprise after confirming the meaning of the letter. His face was still carved into its usual strict expression without any change in emotion.

However, only he knew the twisted thoughts entering his mind.

Having heard Wei Jingyi recite the events in Guando province, An Sun was brought back to the deeds he had done. Many of which he did not regret.

Causing the death of thousands of Guando soldiers, he felt no remorse. That was just how wars worked.

Responsible for the death of Governor Tao, though honorable, he too felt no remorse - only minor guilt. It was not he who embedded such a choice in the governor's mind.

Kidnapping Bai Rin for the sake of people's lives. He will never regret.

However, forcing her to walk in the snow barefoot.

Allowing her to deal with the men in front of the camp and feeding her nothing but scraps of leftover dried meat.

This he regrets most.

Yet, despite all of this, she chose to support him on his route to success. All of these things, she did for him because of her faith in him.

An Sun had long drifted away, immersed in his thoughts. He was only called back to earth by the sound of Bai Han's voice.

”Then, do you perhaps know where my granddaughter could be?”

Wei Jingyi sighed and shook his head. ”I'm afraid I don't know. However, have you considered entering the villages yourself?”

General Guo and Bai Han glanced at one another with puzzled looks.

”Why would we do that?”

Wei Jingyi stole a brief glance at An Sun and Manchu before looking back at Bai Han.

”Because rumor has it in the villages I passed through, the Tuhan men have been collecting beautiful women. I take it they assume Bai Rin is one of those women they want and are protecting her.”

At this, everyone's eyes swept over to the two men in the corner.

An Sun and Manchu: ”…”