Chapter 21 (1/2)
A fair word of warning – this chapter of Lost You Forever is intense Jawdropping cala with alo type of intense Next chapter is easily one of my personal favorite chapters in the entire novel, but before we get there we need to experience what is forthco here The novel has hinted at Xiao Yao’s birth father the Great General Qi Yo of the Sheng Nong Kingdoes I can devote to what an aweso man he was in Once Promised As a lover to Xiao Yao’s mom he was unparalled in his devotion, but as a man he lived true to his principles and never once betrayed those ere dear to him The problem in Once Promised was that there was a lot of decay and dissolution in the world and Qi Yo shouldered the burden ofattack frodom
To do so he needed a revolution and he had the heart and guts to lead one But for those who benefited froation, Qi Yo was persona non grata to the entire world He dared to change the world to alitarian, to lead it to a better future even if the rotten weeds of today needed to be exterht place but he was but one God againstat the end of Once Promised left the world a bit better but still fundaed Xiao Yao’s er if her paternity were ever revealed because there were too many people who hated her father, and this chapter shows us just how impossible it is a task to keep Xiao Yao safe Her life falls in , Zhuan Xu, and Xiang Liu to save her As usual, the three oal in mind – their beloved Xiao Yaoin Life, Following in Death:
Even though neither Xiao Yao nor Zhuan Xu cared to celebrate the lunar new year, Xiao Yao still felt Sheng Nong Mountain was too desolate and planned to go back to keep Zhuan Xu coo back, it’s still the two of you in the huge Zhi Jin Palace Why not have Zhuan Xu co the snowfall”
Xiao Yao asked “That’s okay? My Gege and your Gege have been onlyattention, and the last ti your birthday party as an excuse”
Xing Yue said “Don’t worry,already Zhuan Xu is the Prince and he is living all alone on Sheng Nong Mountain for the palace renovations My dad is not just a Sheng Nong royal descendant, he’s also the ruler of Zhi Yi Castle and administers to the people of the Middle Plains Nofor Zhuan Xu Last yearwas done, it would actually be weird if e asked our dad to invite Zhuan Xu for a short stay in the residence to celebrate the lunar new year and no one will question that”
Xiao Yao laughed “That’s great I didn’t want to go back to Sheng Nong Mountain, it’s more fun in the castle”
A few days later, Zhuan Xu arrived at Little Zhu Rong’s residence
Xing Yue took Zhuan Xu to his residence and wanted to stay a bit but the lady of the house was busiest preparing for the lunar new year celebrations so she reluctantly said to Zhuan Xu “I’ll coe won’t be ho off in the corner and Xing Yue glared at her before leaving with her face all red
Xiao Yao said to Zhuan Xu “Thank God you didn’t bring Jin Xuan and Xiao Xiao Xing Yue knows you have those two beside you, but she’s still anxious about it Seeing you didn’t bring your maids, she seems relieved and even her s Yue she was such an arrogant girl, Gege how did you ta to follow you anywhere, she’s even willing to let you bring along other girls”
Zhuan Xu ignored her teasing and stared at her “You’ve been happy these past few et about me?”
Xiao Yao sheepishly so back to Sheng Nong Mountain”
Zhuan Xu coldly huffed and Xiao Yao pouted “If you don’t believe , and only after hearing Feng Long’s arrangement did I continue to stay”
Zhuan Xu’s expression softened a bit but then he harshly said “That Tu Shan Jing is everywhere! He’s already engaged with the Fang Feng fa Long for you!”
Xiao Yao sat down beside hie!”
Zhuan Xu stared at her and she sincerely said “If I say he has the right, then he has the right Plus there is no co because I never considered Feng Long”
Zhuan Xu was silent and expressionless for a moment and then he spoke “I hear the Grand Mada She keeps her by her side and teaches her personally Everyone already treats her like she’s the next lady of the house The Grand Mada, whatfits her requiree family also won’t allow the Tu Shan clan to break it off”
“I know” Xiao Yao’s eyes showed her hard to conceal anxiety
Zhuan Xu sighed “Forget it, let’s not discuss such unhappy o, we can discuss it another day”
Xiao Yao glared at him “It’s all your fault!”
“Fine, it’s all my fault!”
Xiao Yao smiled and started to chat about this and that with Zhuan Xu She read the letters written to her by the Grand E archery so his letter wasXiao Yao not to force herself and even if she’s not very good to not care too much
Zhuan Xu nodded “I also think you’re too insistent on this You’re not the wandering Wen Xiao Liu anyrandfather on Xuan Yuan Mountain!”
The Grand Emperor’s letter also contained worry about Xiao Yao and Ah Nian’s future hter didn’t want his worry even if he wanted to worry about her while the other daughter was constantly causing him to worry
Xiao Yao didn’t understand what her dad meant but Zhuan Xu explained “Last time after Ah Nian went back to Five Gods Mountain, she raised a fuss about wanting to get rooms for her but each choice she would spend a few days with and then reject”
Xiao Yao was laughing and rolling her eyes – that Ah Nian, thank goodness she had the best dad in the entire world Xiao Yao said to Zhuan Xu “You even have a source on Five Gods Mountain, I’m impressed”
Zhuan Xu rolled his eyes at her “I don’t need a source there! I grew up there and have tons of buddies I got this fro and worried that Master would decide on hiroom He felt like I was a fake poser when I was there but now that I’ tor there”
Xiao Yao laughed out loud and Zhuan Xu also shed “Actually I miss then land They were all Gao Xing nobles but they never ht it was sincere and now looking back I just reood times and all the bad times fade away”
Xiao Yao s and got back to Xuan Yuan But nonoith his identity he would never be able to go back Just like the Yellow E, Zhuan Xu’s life on Five Gods Mountain would forever re Yue came to find them for dinner and after a si Yue and Zhuan Xu could be alone
The next day on lunar new year’s eve, Feng Long ca had a meal with the four kids After dinner he didn’t depart as usual but sat around a fire pit with thehter and son’s daily matters He also asked about Zhuan Xu’s affairs but his attitude towards Zhuan Xu was a bit unusual and Zhuan Xu was also rather strange around hirandfather Sheng Nong Zhu Rong and the Xuan Yuan Fourth Prince died together Xiao Yao also kne her Fourth Uncle died But this was so far ago for Feng Long and Xing Yue that they wouldn’t feel the rage and anger of losing a loved one Xiao Yao knew that Zhuan Xu already let go of personal vengeance hundreds of years ago So the three of the was off
Xiao Yao inwardly sighed Little Zhu Rong also gave up on personal vengeance for the greater good He created a peaceful life for the people of the Middle Plains and gave up on personal and national vengeance Perhaps because Little Zhu Rong and Zhuan Xurespect for each other
As the new year counted down, Little Zhu Rong led them up to the rooftop to watch the fireworks
There were soldiers on all four corners of the Castle releasing specially h in the air and turned into beautiful flowers The entire sky was like a colorful garden
The hu their own fireworks which didn’t fly as high but were ahter and joy
This was the scene of world peace and the happiness of no warfare
Xing Yue whispered in Xiao Yao’s ear “My dad is especially fond of fireworks Every year he hand selects the fireworks and to h he would even pay for it himself”
Xiao Yao looked up at the fireworks and thought that itwas likely with his grand fireworks with a lot of people as fireworks exploded in the sky Right now in theShui Town, it was likely pitch black and freezing cold The soldiers would be sitting around fires drinking coarse wine and singing national anthe General Gong Gong as they walked through each and every encampment
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After the fireworks, Little Zhu Rong went to bed and told the kids to keep having fun
The four chatted and then went back to the fire pit
Xing Yue and Xiao Yao sat in the outer roo and Zhuan Xu huddled inside to discuss their matters
Xiao Yao fell asleep and in her sleepy daze she felt someone covered her with a blanket She opened her eyes and saw that she was sleeping next to Xing Yue and they were actually nestled together on the sa Yue also woke and drowsily asked “Are you guys done?”
Zhuan Xu covered them with a blanket and said in a soft voice “No, I heard no talking out here so ca Yue was so tired froet up if she wanted and fell back asleep
Xiao Yao also closed her eyes
Zhuan Xu stared at the faces sweet in slu features that seeht now It really was like two bloo flowers arrayed side-by-side Zhuan Xu’s heart skipped a few beats and he stared for a htly walked back into the inner roo’s residence but Feng Long only stayed for one night and the second day he rode his winged ride back to Chi Sui
Xing Yue stuck her tongue out at Xiao Yao “It can’t be helped, he’s busy like this all the time He spent new year’s eve with my dad and randfather and randfather and rouse about it Gege is so sick of thereater than the Heavens but hly of it He thinks the clan rules are too strict and hamper what he wants to do”
When Zhuan Xu returned to Sheng Nong Mountain, Xing Yue was e disappeared in the sky, she stood there in a daze until Xiao Yao laughed did she pull her gaze froh at hed, her day was already here but she controlled it well is all But she also knew that it wasn’t her concealing it all that well, it was Xing Yue not believing it was even possible for Xiao Yao to like Jing Xiao Yao was like a tomboy and when she was all excited she would be chu Yue never even considered that possibility with Jing
Xing Yue asked Xiao Yao “You really don’t have any feelings for e?”
Xiao Yao shook her head “Actually, your Gege has no ro Yue knew Xiao Yao was se’s heart isn’t on woh, or better said that as long as he doesn’t dislike you that is enough Marriage between the Gods, how et along well like friends then that is a good e has never fallen for any woe, you never need to worry about other woh
Xiao Yao didn’t dare respond so gave a silly chuckle and changed the subject
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Little Zhu Rong went to Xuan Yuan Castle and reported to the Yellow E Mountain, Jing was at Qing Qiu, and the only people left in Little Zhu Rong’s residence was Xiao Yao and Xing Yue
The Tan fa Yue to invite her and the Princess to the countryside for a Winter cherry blosso Yue said to Xiao Yao “Cherry blossoo out and play I’o for a twirl!”
Xiao Yao was different than Xing Yue, she lived alone in the mountains for twenty years, then captured by the Nine-tailed fox for thirty years She liked people keeping her company but she was picky about who her co out with people she didn’t like She lazily drawled “You go, I’ll stay ho Yue was insistent and grabbed her arm “Good sister, the invitation nao, they’ll discuss it behind ood friends with the Gao Xing Princess but you won’t give me any face”
Xiao Yao knew those folks put a lot of e Yue was very proud so she couldn’t lose face in front of those powerful offspring so Xiao Yao sives ree beforehand that I’m not in the mood to make polite talk so you’ll have to deal with the Yue blushed and pinched Xiao Yao “It’s not clear who is going to call who sister-in-law yet!”
When Xiao Yao and Xing Yue arrived at the cherry blossom forest, there were already a lot of people there
Xiao Yao earing a veiled hat and followed behind Xing Yue, going wherever Xing Yue went and talking to who Yue told her to She was quiet but everyone knew the Gao Xing Princess was difficult so no oneYue was so chummy with her
Xiao Yao saw the Mu fa at her through the , it was enough for her to take note because her survival instinct was so strong so now she still reht started in the cherry blosso Yue and her cousins were pulled into it
A girl accidentally threw a sobll on Xiao Yao and kept apologizing but Xiao Yao didn’t ht and started walking around the cherry blosso beautifully and because Xiao Yao could hear all the girls laughing and shrieking in the fight, she didn’t feel like she alking too far fro towards the most beautiful view
Suddenly all the sound disappeared and the cherry blosso in silence Xiao Yao’s beast instinct caused her to stop in her steps and look carefully ahead before slowly turning around She wanted to head back the way she caht
Xiao Yao took off her veiled hat and looked around, she was surrounded by fresh white snow as if she was dropped froripped poison in her hand and looked at the sky but couldn’t find the sun She looked at the cherry blosso a shadow so she couldn’t determine the direction The only explanation was that she was in the middle of a spiritual power maze
To create a maze or to break aand knowledge for hundreds of years to acquire Xiao Yao lived in Jade Mountain when she was se and skills before she ran away Later on there was no one to teach her so Xiao Yao understood next to nothing about spirituala powerful opponent and if the person didn’t appear then her poison was of no use
Xiao Yao concentrated but wasn’t too worried She was backed by the Grand Emperor and the Yellow Emperor and no one would risk entire clan and faure out anted to trap her and thought perhaps she wandered into someone else’s maze and when the owner discovered it she would be released
But Xiao Yao quickly realized she was mistaken
All the cherry blossom branches started to ility froe like aattacked she had fallen down
Suddenly a blackened charred hand reached out froer to stab the hand but the hand turned into a long spike and iround
The cherry blossoiant hammer and came down on Xiao Yao’s head but she endured the pain and pulled her foot free and dodged so the ha
Xiao Yao’s foot was bleeding profusely and she screamed “Who are you? Why do you want to killlike a coward” Xiao Yao wasn’t trying to threaten the person since whomever did it clearly understood the consequences She just wanted to knohy the person hated her and illing to incur the wrath of two Emperors to kill her
No one answered her
This maze was even more powerful and intricate than theat the Autuhter like Chi Sui Xian or Yu Jiang or someone of their level could create such a ure out when she incurred such deadly wrath But then she thought of so scarier, this maze wasn’t the creation of one person but the coroup of people with not loho wanted her dead!
A beast’s growl reached her and two violent vicious beasts appeared in the cherry blossom forest No such beast could ever exist in such a forest so this must be someone who had the ability to control God beast who sent them here to kill her
The beasts smelled blood and walked towards Xiao Yao Her foot was bleeding and she was alth so she couldn’t escape their attack She sat down on the snow and quietly watched the beasts
The beasts looked at the weak Xiao Yao and instinctively realized there was danger and started to back away They were indicating defeat and no intention of attacking her, but suddenly there was a cry fro them to attack The beasts raised its head and had no choice but to attack
One beast rushed Xiao Yao and opened its mouth wide but she put her hand into his mouth, all it needed to do was bite down and her arm would be ripped clean off
The beast closed its rabbed the dagger out of the beast’s mouth and ducked below its body just in time to avoid the attack of the other beast
The beast raised up to strike with its claws and Xiao Yao stared at it coldly When the beast’s claw came down, it sensed its life was at an end and whined pitifully before falling on the ground
The other beast stared at its companion and Xiao Yao used the chance to stab it in the eye with her dagger before ducking away behind the dead other beast as a barrier to avoid attack
The beasts had thick skin which made it hard to poison it, but its weak spots were the mouth and eyes So when Xiao Yao risked her life to stick her hand in to poison it, she then took advantage of the other beast’s shock at seeing its companion die suddenly to strike it in the eye with more poison It didn’t seem like a lot of work but required precision otherwise she would have lost an arht now
Both beasts were dead
Xiao Yao was still alive but she used up the final bits of her strength in the battle She screa! I want to see what else you have up your sleeve”
Xiao Yao sensed they hated her immensely otherwise they could use many faster ways to kill her but sent the beasts clearly to make sure she suffered and didn’t die a quick death Xiao Yao wanted the Yue was not an idiot and she would sense so, and if she sensed it then Xiao Yao had a chance to survive today
A man walked out from the cherry blossom forest and it was the Mu family son
Xiao Yao’s heart fell, if they weren’t concealing themselves anymore, it meant she had run out of time to stall
The Mu fa you die in the ”
The cherry blossom trees started to wildly dance and branches reached out from all sides to twist around Xiao Yao’s liripped her and then pulled her into the air to dangle above the ground
Xiao Yao asked “Why? We’ve never met before, what did I do to make you hate e “What did you do? My entire tribe’s three hundred and forty-seven lives!”
“It was Qi Yo who exterminated your entire tribe, what does that have to do withuncontrollably
The Mu family son yelled “What does Qi Yo have to do with you? Stop pretending! He killed allto kill his only relative! To use your blood to avenge the deaths of our families, all one thousand twenty two lives!”
Xiao Yao shook her head “No! No! I have no relationshi+p with Qi Yo! My dad is the Grand Eround turned into the sharpest blades and pierced Xiao Yao’s palht that was shocking to behold
The pain started to spread as if all her insides was being ripped to shreds but Xiao Yao didn’t utter any sound and instead calmly said said “I have no relationshi+p with Qi Yo, my dad is the Grand Emperor!”
The Mu family son howled “This blood is for the Zhan fas and her blood continued to fall She was in such pain but she still refused to screa and instead just said “My dad…is the Grand Eed “It doesn’t matter if you refuse to admit it! This is for the Zin family!”
Three sharp blades pierced Xiao Yao’s torso and her blood flowed like a waterfall as the Mu family son said “This is for the Shen family!”
Xiao Yao’s face was stark white and she kept trying to talk “You…you…you are killing…the wrong person”
The Mu family son had tears in his eyes as he looked up to the sky “Mom, Dad, may you rest in peace now!”
He waved his hand and the cherry blossoms danced in the sky and became sharp cherry blossom knives The Mu family son said “And this is for the Mu family!”
An entire sky filled with cherry blossom knives fleards Xiao Yao and embedded into her entire body and blood blanketed the cherry blosso
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The deepShui Town
Inside a roo with his adopted father about the Spring rations for the ared
Gong Gong stared at him oddly “What is it?”
“I need to leave for so Liu left with just one word and whistled as he sprinted outside Before a white and gold condor had even landed Xiang Liu had vaulted on its back and directed it Northwest
Gong Gong and another general in the room stared at each other and then looked out the door
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Sheng Nong Mountain, Zhi Jin Su on the pallet with his back against the wall as Xiao Xiao was sprawled on his knee while he stroked her hair and listened with a lazy demeanor about the latest palace renovation update
Suddenly Zhuan Xu felt his heart was jumbled and he almost couldn’t breath He pushed Xiao Xiao aside and stood up The subordinates could tell so was off and quickly scurried out
Xiao Xiao waited for Zhuan Xu thinking he was about to give her an inment
Zhuan Xu’s face was confused as he tried to remember, and then he remembered that when his father died tens of thousands of miles away, he had the saed and he said to Xiao Xiao “You i her to see me No matter what happens you have to keep her safe”
“Yes!” Xiao Xiao turned and left
Zhuan Xu paced the room until he suddenly burst out the door and hollered “Servants! I need to go to Zhi Yi!”
He got on his winged ride and looked out at the sky as he prayed over and over in his mind “Mo you, I beg all of you!”
No matter how difficult his life was he always assured theuys don’t worry, I will continue on well!” But this tied them to help protect the last loved one in his life!
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Qing Qiu, the Tu Shan clan residence
The Grand Mada, Hou, Hou’s wife Lan Mu She was lecturing them “I don’t haveto quickly becoet along well to protect the clan together And the third is for a grand child If all three wishes are fulfilled, I will die happy”
All four said nothing and the Grand Madaot her water and patted her on the back Jing said “Grand will be fine”
The Grand Madaet married and you refuse I ask you to hold the clan leader initiation cere to delay all this?”
At that ’s waist suddenly snapped and fell on the ground Jing stared and then picked it up and felt a o’s face changed and he rushed out the door with nothing on his ht: Xiao Yao, he had to find Xiao Yao i and Lan Mu were both stunned and Yi Yang called out “Jing, Jing, where are you going?”
The Grand Mada can sense it but doesn’t know exactly what it is”
Yi Yang and Lan Mu looked at the Grand Madam and she explained “The true descendants of the Tu Shan clan bloodline possess this power It cannot be described or explained but is a sensation of so about to happen From the ancient tiest powers but we have become one of the most powerful clans because of this special ability which helps the clan avoid calalanced at Hou and then at the Nine-tailed fox drawing on the wall before saying “Jing is destined to be the next clan leader!”
Lan Mu lowered her head and didn’t dare look at Hou while Yi Yang glanced at him with a worried look Hou coldly smiled
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Jing furiously urged his winged ride faster to get to Little Zhu Rong’s residence and learned Xiao Yao was not there Shan Hu quizzically said “Princess went to the cherry blosso rushed there and the cherry blosso under the trees and the sound of happy feer
Jing tensed up and brought out little fox and asked it to track Xiao Yao The Nine-tailed fox was a born tracker and good at conceal kept Xiao Yao on his heart and mind all the time so even if her scent was mixed with htest s was born with the spiritual eye that could see through any enchantments and mazes, plus with the help of little fox, he tracked her to another canyon He saw awater, wood, and fire, it was a kill rabbed the snow in hand and created a fog to envelope hi entered theand followed the sound He didn’t see the round that was dyed red with blood A bloodied person was hanging in mid air, the body so cut up it was impossible to tell if it was a man or a woman, but her face was pristine as if carved from a crystal jade and her eyes were still opened wide
Jing let out a scream from deep within his soul, it was a scream that didn’t even sound like it was made by a person, and he flew up and used his hands to slash the branches and grabbed Xiao Yao in his ar went to feel for her pulse but felt nothing His entire body was shaking and he tightly embraced Xiao Yao and tried to use his body warmth to warm her icy cold body
He put his hand on her back and continued to push spiritual power into her “Xiao Yao, Xiao Yao, Xiao Yao……”