The sun and moon alternated, grass and trees receded.
The mutated steed galloped tirelessly, seemingly never wearying, and half a month passed in a flash.
On this day, the sky suddenly began to drizzle, and violent coughing sounds came again from within the carriage.
Every time Lu Li heard this sound, he knew they had to stop again. Liu Xinyu coughed every time and needed to rest for a while, and anyone could see there was a serious problem with her body.
Lu Li had also asked Liu Xinyu before, but each time, words reached her lips only to be swallowed back, as if she had some unspeakable difficulty.
Lu Li lifted his head and glanced at the faintly visible towering mountain range at the horizon, pulled the carriage to a stop, then turned and entered the carriage: "Junior Sister, if it's really not possible, should we just not go?"
Looking at Liu Xinyu's condition, it seemed she could face life-threatening danger at any moment. Even though Lu Li had the intention to search for that Lightning Fire Orchid, he couldn't bear to see the other die before his eyes.
"Lu, Lu big brother."
Liu Xinyu covered her mouth with a handkerchief, her face deathly pale as she said, "We... are almost at Qinglei City, right?"
"Yes, we'll pass outside Qinglei City in another half an hour. After passing Qinglei City and traveling one more day, we'll reach the Lightning Fire Mountains." Lu Li sat down beside Liu Xinyu and said slowly.
"Half an hour, huh."
Liu Xinyu glanced at the rain curtain outside the window and murmured: "Lu big brother, I want to enter the city to pay respects. Could you, speed up the journey? I'm afraid... I can't hold on."
"Junior Sister, you!"
Lu Li looked at Liu Xinyu's pale face, words at his lips but then halted, "You really..."
"Lu big brother, just don't ask anymore. When we reach Qinglei City, I'll tell you everything, okay."
"Okay."
Lu Li nodded dejectedly, then turned and returned to sit at the front seat, violently lashing the whip: "Yah!"
The steed neighed long, wheels spun rapidly, the carriage shot through the rain curtain like a sharp arrow. Raindrops coming at them hit Lu Li's face like stones, pattering loudly, blurring his vision and unsettling his mind.
We've arrived.
Not long after, the vague outline of a city appeared faintly visible within the rain mist.
Lu Li's face slightly brightened. Disregarding that his whole body was already wet, he turned and said: "Junior Sister, hold on." Again he lashed the whip, shaking the falling raindrops into mist.
The carriage galloped into the city. Guards beneath the city wall only saw a black shadow sweep past, stretched a hand out then retracted it, mouths agape, faces filled with shock and confusion.
He somewhat doubted if his eyes had problems, or perhaps, he'd seen a ghost.
The rain poured down in torrents, the streets empty of people, the carriage passed smoothly without obstruction.
In a flash, they had already reached the eastern city.
Liu Mansion!
Two golden large characters were carved on the dark black plaque.
The steed neighed long, the galloping carriage screeched to a stop before the gate, standing within the rain curtain.
Lu Li pulled open the carriage curtain and softly called: "Junior Sister, we're here."
"Mm."
The voice from inside the carriage was very weak. After responding once, there was no further movement. After waiting a good while, Liu Xinyu slowly came out, her face now had an additional snow-white gauze scarf.
"Lu big brother, do I... look pretty."
The gauze scarf covered most of Liu Xinyu's face, but above the forehead were many dark red blood vessels, densely crisscrossing like a spider web, fierce and hideous.
Lu Li's pupils sharply contracted.
Undoubtedly, the previous Liu Xinyu was beautiful, but now... she had become this appearance. Looking at Liu Xinyu's hopeful eyes, he nodded, "Junior Sister looks very pretty."
Liu Xinyu smiled.
Facing the pouring rain, she gently leaped down from the carriage, but after landing, her body softened and suddenly she was about to collapse to the ground.
Lu Li quickly supported her: "Junior Sister!"
"Lu big brother, take me inside. This is my home, I've come home..." the young girl murmured softly. If not for Lu Li's excellent hearing, he almost wouldn't have heard it.
"Okay."
Lu Li nodded, then swept the young girl up in a horizontal embrace, facing the rain, step by step walking toward the Liu Mansion gate.
The gate wasn't tightly closed, left slightly ajar.
Lu Li lightly kicked it with his foot, and the gate creaked open. Entering his sight... desolation.
Scattered skeletons lay haphazardly on the square behind the gate, ruthlessly battered by the rain. A cold, chilling aura rushed forth, making Lu Li unable to resist shivering.
This is... what did they encounter?
In his arms, Liu Xinyu tilted her head, looking at the square. Her bloodshot eye sockets shed two lines of bloody tears, expression lonely and helpless: "Father, mother... your daughter is unfilial, couldn't help you take revenge... settle the hatred!"
Lu Li opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found he simply didn't know what to say. The aura of the girl in his arms was rapidly weakening. Perhaps, at this moment, whatever he said would be useless.
Liu Xinyu retracted her gaze, looking at Lu Li, "Senior Brother, I'm sorry, I lied to you."
"What." Lu Li looked at the young girl in his arms.
"I was actually sent to Qingyang Sect by Zhang Song. The purpose was to lure you out. He killed my entire family, and forced me to swallow a Heart-Eating Insect... I utterly hate him, but I had no choice. The Heart-Eating Insect will hatch in two years, I... also hesitated for two years."
"More than ten days ago, I felt I couldn't hold on any longer. I wanted to return home, so... I lured you out."
"But don't worry, I didn't inform Zhang Song."
"I just... was afraid to return home alone."
As she spoke, Liu Xinyu slowly pulled a Storage Bag from her bosom, "Lu big brother, there's a treasure inside this. Carrying it on your body can block Divine Sense detection. Consider it... Xinyu's apology to you. Can you... forgive me?"
So this was the situation.
Lu Li suddenly felt a wave of lingering fear, staring blankly at Liu Xinyu. He shook his head: "I don't blame you. I should thank you, thank your kindness, thank you for giving me a way out..."
Yes, if his own family was exterminated, he would definitely think of every way to survive, then stop at nothing to take revenge, why would he care about the life or death of an unrelated person? But she didn't do that, gave him a chance to live.
What else could he say?
However, Lu Li couldn't help but sigh, sometimes danger truly is unavoidable. It seems he'll need to be even more careful from now on, after all not everyone is Liu Xinyu.
"Lu big brother, you... are so good."
Having received Lu Li's reply, Liu Xinyu relaxed her mind, the light in her eyes beginning to rapidly scatter. She murmured softly, "Father... mother... your revenge..."
Her words stopped halfway, her slender jade-like hand suddenly hung down weakly.
"Junior Sister!"
Lu Li exclaimed, forcefully shaking Liu Xinyu in his arms. But the other gave no further response.
She had died.
Lu Li remained silent, his heart somewhat pained, as if stabbed by needles...
He didn't know why his heart hurt.
He and this junior sister didn't seem to have much interaction.
......
A moment later.
Lu Li braved the torrential rain, walked to the center of the square. Several talisman papers shot out explosively.
Several loud rumbling explosions, and a pit about one zhang wide and deep suddenly appeared. Lu Li returned to pick up Liu Xinyu and looked at her, then resolutely returned to the rain.
Before long, a new grave appeared at the center of the Liu family square. On the three-chi high stone stele before the grave, the six characters "Junior Sister Xinyu's Grave" represented Lu Li's sentiments.
"Junior Sister, rest in peace."
"If Senior Brother one day kills Zhang Song, I will definitely come back and tell you."
Staring at the grave marker for a while, he slowly walked back under the corridor, picked up the Storage Bag on the ground, and placed it in his bosom.
Closed the gate, left...