Chapter 14 (1/2)

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation

Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Probably that was exactly the reason why she was an innocent, untainted, and unsuspicious stranger.

“Wutian, you have not disturbed me or anything. Other than my father and Yi, I have met no one else all these years. You are the first person I have ever met, Wutian. Would you stay for a few days to keep me company?” said Shishi with a sweet smile, her voice was almost pleading.

“Aren’t you afraid that I am a bad guy?”

“You are not a bad guy. Yi can read people’s minds. If you were evil, it wouldn’t have allowed you to come near and touch it.”

The Flying Fox made a low sound as it licked her hand with her scarlet tongue. She could not help but cackle.

“Yi says you are filled with deep hatred and inconsolable sorrow, but you will not hurt me and we can be friends.” She gently stroked Yi’s fur, her voice crisp and pleasant, her eyes filled with anticipation.

This girl was too adorable. Wutian could not bring himself to reject her. “It would be unbecoming of me to say no to such a beautiful place and an adorable girl like you,” said Wutian after some thought.

“Yeah! I am glad that you agree!” The girl jumped up and down and danced on the meadow in excitement like an elf.

She curled her hand around Wutian’s arm as if it was a natural thing to do. “Wutian, you look good when you smile. So don’t put on that sad face again. You should be happy and worry-free like me, only then you will not grow old!”

Wutian nodded with a smile. Shishi’s kindness and innocence were contagious. For a moment, he had forgotten his worries and was relaxed.

“Let me bring you to meet Flora. It is beautiful, and you will like it. But let me warn you; don’t you bully it. It is my best friend.”

“Let me tell you a secret. I forgot to water Flora yesterday, and it almost died. When I visited it in the morning, it sat stooped in the flowerpot. I was so sad. But I am happy that it has regained its vitality again.”

While she walked Wutian to the gazebo, she jumped and danced and babbled continuously, as if she wanted to say what she had not gotten the opportunity to say in the past twelve years at once.

A smile spread across Wutian’s face as he listened quietly.

The place was beautiful and serene, far away from the outside world. It was an excellent venue for cultivating one’s mind and body. So, Wutian thought he might as well open his heart, forget everything else to relax.

Shishi and he went to meet Flora, which turned out to be a ubiquitous flower that grew all over the mountains. But Shishi treated it like a friend, carefully nurturing, trimming and watering it, day after day, year after year.

Little Tian was elated. Warned not to do anything to Yi, but so long as it could stay here, there would be plenty of opportunities. But the Flying Fox seemed not to give it the chance; it followed closely Shishi and Wutian so that Little Tian could do nothing about it.

Little Tian became restless, itching to push its luck.

“Look at the auspicious deer over there, and also the beautiful phoenix. Wow! There are ten over white qilins there. Look, Wutian! They have come out to say hello to you!”

Groups of monster beasts emerged and dallied around Shishi. They were horrific but appeared docile like sheep in front of this little angel.

Wutian had visited many places, seen different types of flowers and harmless, intelligent beasts today. It was indeed a land of purity, a place with no killing, dispute, hatred, or greed. Life was pure and simple here.

At night, the silver moon hung in the sky accompanied by a sea of stars as two humans and two beasts sat by the pond, gazing at the moon.

Shishi looked up. “My father says every star in the sky represents a person. And he is the brightest star in the sky. So, everything when I miss him, I would gaze at the stars here, hoping to find the star that represents him. But every time, I find that all the stars are equally bright. I wonder which one is Father. Do you know which one, Wutian?”

She hugged her legs in her arms, her petite body curled up to herself. The reflection of the moon in her black gem-like, beautiful eyes told of her loneliness and her missing of her father.

“Your father is right, Shishi. Everyone is a star. And among the stars is my family. When they are not around, they will quietly watch and care for us from above. They have never left us but quietly guard us.”

He used to be like her, gazing up at the stars at night, hoping that his parents would suddenly appear. But sixteen years had since passed, yet they were nowhere to be seen. It was only an elusive dream. But he did not want Shishi to feel disappointed and sad because of her father’s lie. So, he did not tell her the truth.

“Look, Shishi, that bright star up there must be your father. He was twinkling and winking at you!” Wutian pointed up at the sky with a smile.

“Really?”

“Yeah, I will not lie to you.” Wutian nodded at her.

“Father, I have finally found you! I miss you so much!” Shishi called out at the sky with delight.

Tonight, Shishi talked a lot. Wutian had roughly figured out something: Shishi was no ordinary person, her father could be a powerful man, probably one of the top figures around the Greendragon subcontinent. But Shishi had not clearly said why his father had left her living here alone.

It was late at night, and Shishi was too tired, finally falling asleep in Wutian’s arms. She felt so lonely, holding his hand so tightly as if she was scared that she would find him gone when she woke up.