Chapter 7 (1/2)

If you aren’t already addicted to Lost You Forever, chapter 7 will flip the switch as the best chapter yet It’s funny, bittersweet, and unexpectedly dreamy all sets theirlike this will be theromantic journey ahead for her but also that this cannot possible end well There is only one Xiao Liu, but there are three guys exhibiting signs that “it’s her and no one else” This novel still masterfully alternates between fast-paced action and quiet reflection with equal aplomb I enjoy that Xiao Liu really connects with people despite all outward appearances to be an ill-mannered layabout But the real Xiao Liu really has that personality in her, it’s not all an act insofar as that is also part of who she is The bits and pieces we’ve seen of her past when she thinks about her Gege (older brother), who all signs point to being Zhuan Xu (Xuan), she’s always been a pretty spirited and saucy little thing even when her life was still rainbows and unicorns and happy times I love that about her, her fearlessness coupled with intelligence gleaned from survival, paired with a je ne sais quoi attitude

Now that we’ve ive a quickie refresher on all the various identities since it can get rather confusing Xiao Liu is the alter ego of our leading lady and her real na Jiu Yao (everyone calls her Xiao Yao) and she is the Eldest Princess of the Gao Xing Kingdo, scion of one of the Four Great Clans, but in front of her he’s just Ye shi+ Qi, the dude she rescued from the brink of death Wine shop owner Xuan is merely the cover for Prince Zhuan Xu, one of the princes of the Xuan Yuan Kingdoe or older brother And finally Nine-lives Xiang Liu, the only non-God entity a Liu all the ti up and he’ll show up in Xiao Yao’s life as someone else as well It’s not really a spoiler since she’s hardly fooled, but it changes their dynairl We have a leading lady who just wants to live thepulled back into her most complicated of worlds, surrounded by three extraordinary men

Chapter 7 – People Beco:

The cold Winter left and the war one and Xiao Liu went out to buy soot to bringwalked over and paid for him

Xiao Liu shoved the snacks in his arms “You paid for it, you eat it!” He turned and left but Xuan saw them and called out “Xiao Liu, shi+ Qi”

Xiao Liu had no choice but to walk into the wine shop There was no one there and Xuan was drinking alone and playing with a chess board Xiao Liu sat down and Jing followed and sat down as well

Xuan asked “One match?” Xiao Liu recently learned chess fro to you, I’

Xiao Liu was a lousy chess player, e and take a move back Xuan played a few tiain

Xiao Liu was insulted “You’re looking down ondown on you!” Xuan didn’t try to hide his disgust towards Xiao Liu’s chess playing but then very courteously asked shi+ Qi “What of it? One match? I’ve heard you excel at all the artistic disciplines fro lowered his head and asked Xiao Liu “Shall I play with hi, what does it have to do with me?” “I listen to you, if you say for me to play, I’ll play If you say no, then I won’t” Xiao Liu wanted to get angry but his lips curled upward and he didn’t say anything Jing stared intently at Xiao Liu

Xuan rapped the table a few times “Hey, hey…I know you two are close, but…”

Xiao Liu angrily huffed “Who’s close with hi said “We’re close, and it doesn’t concern you” Both of the looked very calhed at Xiao Liu “Doesn’t uys are close or not, he listens to you Have him play withbut never had a chance”

Xiao Liu’s eyes twirled “I want to play, too” Xuan sighed “Fine, you place the pieces, he calls thewould softly give a move and Xiao Liu would place the piece Xuan smiled and followed suit After so’s reputation wasn’t unwarranted

People came to buy wine but Xuan wasn’t interested He put a servant at the counter and told no one was to come bother hi and stared at the chess board People say its hard toequal is a very happy occurrence Xuan’s chess was taught by the Yellow Eenerals of the Xuan Yuan Kingdom Nowadays when Xuan played chess he usually only put a third of an effort into it Today he was putting 100 of his effort into this oodtoto Xiao Liu But Xiao Liu shook his head and pointed elsewhere “I think it should be placed here” Jing smiled and didn’t object “Fine, then place it there”

Xiao Liu happily placed the piece but Xuan hollered “I allow you to renege on a move Make a differentthere” Xuan pleaded with Jing “Please reconsider”

Xiao Liu was ie on a e you want me to”

Xuan felt such pent up frustration, like his greatest excite on a new outfit only to find the mouse had eaten a hole in it He placed hissaid so and Xiao Liu placed a piece

Xuan exhaled as the frustration was lifted, like seeing the hole being in a place that can’t be seen so the outfit was still good Xuan thought and placed a piece Jing said so to Xiao Liu but he shook his head “Your idea is bad, I want it there”

“Fine, that’s a good place” Jing still smiled and complimented Xiao Liu as if Xiao Liu’s chess skill was exemplary and every move was brilliant, as opposed to completely and utterly crap

Xiao Liu happily placed the piece and Xuan felt like he found a second est you change your lared at hiave a move and then back and forth, and suddenly Xuan felt like the hole was once again out of sight and he was excited again

Jing lowered his head but Xiao Liu shook his head and said “There” “Okay” Xiao Liu put the piece down and by now Xuan had given up and was only curious to see how Jing continued to transform the worst moves into a save After an hour the chesslost Xuan won but didn’t feel happy whereas Jing lost and was s “Was it because of reat, it was led while Xuan wearily clasped his head

Xiao Liu saw that it was alhed “Winner treats! Heard there was a new roasted o try it”

“Sure” Jing answered so quickly that Xuan wondered if perhaps Jing did not know the word “no” when he was talking to Xiao Liu Xuan pointed to hi looked at hilanced at Xiao Liu “Sure!”

The three of them left the shop and walked down the street It was Xiao Liu and Xuan bickering with each other while Jing listened quietly Xiao Liu was happy so Jing’s eyes reflected that happiness

Suddenly there was a holler to e ruolden arrow ee, all carrying bows and arrows, giving off an ians stood silently staring, everyone on the street quieting down to observe

The second Jing saw the carriage the laughter disappeared from his eyes He lowered his eyes and stood frozen in place Xiao Liu asked “Who was that? That eso

Xiao Liu asked “Why was there a bow and arrow embroidered on thecurtain?”

Xuan explained “That is the e faend has it their ancestor could shoot down the stars Not every faht to embroider the emblem, and the size also e must be an extraordinary archer”

Xiao Liu whistled “No wonder everyone stopped and stared in fear” Xiao Liu thought the Fang Feng na looked suddenly made Xiao Liu remember the connection He turned his head away and asked Xuan in a low voice “Was that the Tu Shan fahter-in-law?”

Xuan replied “Probably” There was the bow and arrow Fang Feng family emblem ee there was the nine-tailed fox emblem that represented the Tu Shan family Other than the Tu Shan fa, there was no other possibility

The carriage passed and people startedthere Xiao Liu laughed at Jing “Since your fiancee is here, on’t bother your reunion Bye!” Xiao Liu dragged Xuan off, leaving Jing standing there watching the Ye rushed over to Jing “I finally foundFengeyes reflected his sadness but he wordlessly walked back

Jing Ye said “All these years, without news of e Qiu waiting for hter-in-law and helps ease her worries My lord insists on staying in Qing Shui Town and not going back, the Grand Mada to speak up on your behalf and rushed here to see you”

Jing still said nothing and Jing Ye felt very concerned The second lord used to be afor 9 years, he returned aYe asked around and heard that the second lord lived at Hui Chun Clinic for 6 years, but 3 years remains unaccounted for The second lord never discussed it and when the Grand Mada to find out, he claims he doesn’t remember anymore He claims to have woken up with noYe and everyone else all believe that it was the eldest lord who did it But if the second lord refuses to speak of it, then no one dared to do anything

Jing Ye reat businessman, and in his personal time he was considerate and sweet Not like nohere he barely see Thankfully he was alive and that was all thatstopped outside Jing Ye could understand since the second lord had never even seen his fiancee despite being engaged They were like strangers

Jing Ye whispered “Miss Fang Feng likes archery My lord used to design weapons She likes to travel and see the sights, hts, she likes to listen to songs fros froreat chess player and even her older brothers can’t beat her My lord can play…”

Jing walked in and the servants all ca woraceful, with fine features and red lips She elegantly bohile Jing kept his head lowered and courteously returned the bow

Inside the restaurant, Xuan asked Xiao Liu “How did you come to take that one in?” Xiao Liu scoffed “I can’t believe you didn’t already investigate yourself”

“I did investigate but you trained Chuan Zi and Ma Zi well and they didn’t reveal anything After getting Chuan Zi drunk, all he said was that he was once gravely injured and you rescued him What kind of injury he never explained”

Xiao Liu laughed “It’s not Chuan Zi not wanting to explain, I handled it all ”

“I can hear that his voice is scratchy, was it fro about him?”

“Because the Tu Shan family’s businesses blanket the entire vast wilderness, and he represents the future of the clan and that will determine whether the Tu Shan clan is et chummy with him, why ask hed “You think playing chess and running his entire family business is the same? He listens to me, because I saved him, but he only listens to what he can listen to”

Xuan sighed and gave up on his idea Like Xiao Liu said, 6 years of gratitude can let Jing treat Xiao Liu well, but would never let Jing change the position of the Tu Shan clan for Xiao Liu

Xiao Liu pressed “You hurry up and leave town Xiang Liu can show up anyti Liu is powerful, but don’t think too lowly of me” Xiao Liu said “Fine, Fine, you’re super powerful!”

Xuan smiled “One on one battle I can’t beat him, I can’t even come close” Xuan pointed to his head “But I rely on this”

Xiao Liu al on your connections and background” “But at least I have that, and that takes ti and after solanced at Xiao Liu with some shock and casually replied “It’s been okay”

The two finished eating and walked hoo back to the clinic He walked to the river’s edge and stood there for so into the river

The Spring water still carried a Winter chill Xiao Liu let the river carry hi deep into his bones Right up until he almost smashed into a rock, he climbed on the rock and let the cold air further chill him He said to himself “Do you see? This is what happens when you do what you want You almost freeze to death”

Xiao Liu jumped back into the river and swam upstream back to the clinic He ran inside, took off his clothes, and burrowed under the blankets He was still cold and tossed and turned but couldn’t sleep He yelled at hioes on no matter who leaves!”

These days, everyone was talking about Miss Fang Feng and the Tu Shan second lord Xiao Liu decided not to leave the house but couldn’t even escape it at ho, she’s so beautiful and delicate, needing a maid to escort her, but I hear she’s a crack archer and can kill a person from ten miles out That second lord sure is lucky!”

Chuan Zi groused “Our Qing Shui Town isn’t a lofty place, why do those powerful fahed “Who cares why? I heard Tu Shan clan wants to hurry up with the wedding If anyone had such a wonderful fiancee he would want to marry her as soon as possible”

Xiao Liu put his bon “I’ out for a walk”

Xiao Liu walked along the river and sat down on a rock with his mind in a daze He plucked a flower and pulled off its petals, tossing it in the river Suddenly a white condor called and before Xiao Liu could even gasp he renched onto the back of the condor by Xiang Liu

Xiao Liu waved with a s time no see How’ve you been?”

“If Xuan was dead, I’d be a lot better”

Xiao Liu shut up and tightly grabbed Xiang Liu’s aret pissed and toss him off The white condor flew to the same lake they once carabbed Xiao Liu and vaulted off

Xiao Liu was stunned and could only grab onto Xiang Liu with a tentacled creature grasp The histled past and Xiang Liu stared coldly “Shall I use you as a cushi+on?” Xiao Liu violently shook his head with his eyes full of pleading but Xiang Liu didn’t appearto be s the water, Xiang Liu suddenly turned and flipped Xiao Liu on top

With a giant plop, the two of theh Xiang Liu absorbed the brunt of the impact, Xiao Liu was still rocked by the waves and his head was spinning and his entire body ached Because his li Liu and his body sunk into the depths

Xiang Liu floated in the water staring as he sunk towards the bottorab nothing and his eyes were gradually seeing black Just as he was about to take his last breath, he felt Xiang Liu embrace him and a pair of cold lips pressed to his and passed air to hi Liu held him and they rocketed towards the surface like an arrow Xiao Liu sprawled on Xiang Liu’s shoulder and violently coughed and took loud deep breathes His nose and eyes were all filled ater After some time, Xiao Liu finally asked “If you want to killLiu’s body fell backward and he laid down on the water’s surface Xiao Liu’s entire body was still aching so he couldn’tLiu pulled Xiao Liu’s arm “Does it hurt?”

“He will hurt a lot”

Xiang Liu laughed “This voodoo bug is decent but not good enough”

“If it was a life-linked voodoo bug, you wouldn’t even hesitate and would kill ht?”

“Yup, too bad it just shares pain” Xiang Liu’s voice shared his regret

Xiao Liu closed his eyes and felt the so there was no need to use any strength and it was quite relaxing

Xiang Liu asked “Since he’s so precious to you, why not reht for a long time Since he was a demon, and demons and creatures and ht know so, it’s that I can’t Last time I was injured, you used all sorts of weirdhad so and I lied that I’ll do it when he leaves Recently I’ve been trying all sorts of ways to coax the bug out of hiht about it “If you don’t want to die, then don’t try calling it back The only solution is to find a way to transfer the bug to another person”

Xiao Liu sincerely said “The only person I want to hed “Then put the bug inside me” Xiao Liu scoffed “Like you would be so nice”

“I’ll kill hi Shui Town, then you won’t have to worry about how to res weren’t shaking any hio on the battlefield and killed Sheng Nong soldiers?” “No” “Do you have a personal blood feud with him?” “No”

“Then why do you still want to kill hiht undermy part”

“You have so I do”

“Laughable!”

“It is laughable, and even I think I’o talk to the Yellow E”

Xiao Liu was silent and looked up at the crescentti like? To lead to a deiance?”

“He’s an idiot!” Xiang Liu quieted down for awhile and then said “He is a pathetic idiot He leads a bunch of idiots, doing so pathetic”

Xiao Liu said “Theto do it, they don’t think they are idiots They think they are doing sorave To let their descendants be proud They are happy to go down in a blaze of glory But you – you mock it yet you do it”

“Who let ets complicated and contradictory”

Xiao Liu couldn’t help but laugh out loud and al Liu’s ar you are a nine-headed de sore spot If anyone mentioned it, you would kill them”

“You’re still alive”

Xiao Liu mumbled “For now…”

“What I loathe is that when they discuss e and weird I let you discuss it because……” Xiang Liu turned to the side and propped his arh at me but deep down inside you don’t think a nine-headed dee”

Xiao Liu smiled “That’s because I used to be even more weird than you”

“So you hid in the mountains and refused to see anyone?”

“Yup”

Xiang Liu lightly stroked Xiao Liu’s head and he stared on shock back at Xiang Liu “Is this considered having a heart-to-heart under theLiu replied “Until the next tihed “Peaceful times are short, just like happiness is momentary Flowers bloom and wilt, the moon waxes and wanes But the beauty in life isLiu snarked “Who said once that even the row old with ti It was sunrise by the ti wet

He dried his hair and thought about taking a nap since Tian Er wason the door but yelled for the and then the door was kicked open

Xiao Liu angrily stuck his head out and wanted to throw so there Her face was tear streaked and she was angrily looking at Xiao Liu

Xiao Liu i “Why do you think I’ain” Xiao Liu’s mind twirled and he jumped down “What happened to Xuan?”

Ah Nian turned around “Gege is injured The doctor can’t stop the bleeding Gege asked rabbed clothes and put it on as he ran out He know understood why Xiang Liu caht heart-to-heart When he was in so th and couldn’thappened to Xuan But Xuan ell protected, and Xiang Liu ith Xiao Liu Who could break through the Xuan Yuan guards and har at the wine shop, Xiao Liu didn’t bother with the front door and vaulted over the walls into the back Guards ca yelled for them to halt She led Xiao Liu to a room where Xuan laid inside, his eyes closed and his face ashen

Hai Tang shook hie, are you better?”

Xuan sently “I’o sleep now” He glanced at Hai Tang alked over and literally carried and coaxed Ah Nian out the door

Xuan introduced the doctor Wu Cheng, a famous physician in toho specialized in external injuries Xiao Liu looked at Xuan’s injury, a chest wound that wasn’t very big but the bleeding wouldn’t stop Wu Cheng explained “Last night an assassin camaster was also suddenly struck with extreme pain Thank God a servant pushed hian The proble”

Xiao Liu looked at the wound while Wu Cheng added “I tested hundreds of different poisons and it’s not a poison”

Xiao Liu asked to see the arrohich was an ordinary wood arrow that was now snapped in half Xiao Liu countered “It can’t be an ordinary arrow, it was shot fro tremendous force An ordinary arroould have shattered already in flight”

Xiao Liu asked Xuan “What did you feel when the arrow pierced you?” Xuan closed his eyes “In that moment, my body hurt, my chest was in pain, and cold…I felt a cold enter my body”

Xiao Liu continued “Have you been to the North Pole?” Xuan smiled “No, have you?”

“I’ve been That place is always blanketed in snow, and then the layers of snow press down it becolaciers The glaciers are harder than the rocks in the vast wilderness Even the sharpest blade striking it will only loosen some debris After tens of thousands of years, there will be ice crystals in the glaciers as beautiful as precious gems but harder than any mineral It will always release cold air

Xuan asked “Will ice crystals melt?”

“Normally no, but since its still ice-based then theoretically yes”

Xuan slowly understood “You’re saying someone used a special method to wrap a layer of ice crystal around an ordinary arrow, and when the arrow piercedonly the ordinary arrow”

“I don’t kno to manipulate ice crystal so it melts when it touches blood, but that’s likely what happened”