171 Point Of No Return (2/2)

The boy shook his head, tears brimming the corners of his eyes.

”Lies! It's all lies! You just don't want to deal with me anymore! Just like her, you're—”

Before he could finish his sentence a gust of fragrant wind hit him, a pair of warm arms wrapping around him.

”I'm not lying to you nor am I leaving you,” Rin said seriously. ”I failed to protect her, but I'm not going to make that same mistake again. Aiguo, I want you to come with me.”

Wrapped in her embrace, Aiguo's eyes widened.

”W-What?”

Rin laughed softly and pulled away to look at his flushed little face.

”I want to take you in and help you grow.”

Aiguo was confused. ”Why?”

The corners of Rin's lips curled. ”That's a secret.”

The boy was dumbfounded. He oddly felt the Rin before him was livelier. However, for some reason, she still possessed a sharp, clever aura.

”Of course, this is all up to you.” She looked into Aiguo's eyes. ”Are you willing to follow alongside me?”

He looked up into her clear eyes and found himself lost in a sense of comfort and trust. Although her hair was cut short, she was still beautiful. But none of her other features compared to her emerald eyes that were as deep and bright as a flowing river.

”I…” His fists by his side clenched. ”I want to follow you.”

Rin's expression softened and she patted the boy on the head.

”Then we should prepare to leave.”

…

At the bottom of the mountain, the faintest gust of wind passed through the trees, traces of ash and snow dancing in the sky.

”Girl, may I speak to you for a moment?” The old monk walked to stand beside the girl.

”Hmm.” Rin nodded as her gaze remained fixed on the boy kneeling by the mound in the ground.

”What is your purpose in taking him in?”

Rin could not help but let out a chuckle when she saw the old monk's suspicious eyes.

”Do you believe I have some ulterior motive in helping him?”

The old monk grunted. ”That depends on what your heart and path require from him.”

Rin's glanced at the old monk, her eyes sharp. Suddenly, her lips curled up and a smile blossomed on her face as she looked at him with determination.

”I want to create my own force. While he is still young, I am certain I can train him to aid alongside me.”

The old monk was silent as he stared at the girl's seemingly cunning expression. His brows furrowed.

”Who are you?”

Rin looked at him and smiled but did not respond. When she turned her head back to the boy, he was already walking in their direction.

”Are you ready?” She asked.

Aiguo hesitated as he glanced back at an area in the ground. Jia was buried beneath there, surrounded by a pile of chrysanthemum flowers. His eyes reddened, but he quickly suppressed the tears threatening to break and nodded his head.

”Then let's go.” Rin adjusted the crossbow on her back and walked forward.

When they reached the end of the village, Aiguo paused in his footsteps, a glint of hesitation flashing across his eyes before he quickly concealed it.

He looked up ahead. He had never gone past these woods. For the first time, he was about to walk outside of his village and into the unknown world.

His fists by his side clenched.

”Don't look back.” A soft, calm voice suddenly sounded beside him.

Aiguo glanced up and was met with a pair of calm, emerald eyes. He was stunned for at least three seconds before he regained his senses and nodded his head with resolute eyes. Rin sounded a slight hum and continued forward with Aiguo following close behind.

As the old monk watched their figures disappear in the distance, he softly let out a sigh and looked back at Jia's grave.

Another faint wind brushed against the agile petals of the chrysanthemum flowers, a petal landing gently on the forever buried mound in the ground.