Meeting Upon a Glance Back

As he walked towards the Qingyun Peak Plaza, Ling Tian suddenly stopped. He casually glanced back at a corner not far away.

There, a little girl in a green dress was sitting on the steps and crying. The girl was about thirteen or fourteen years old, a year or two younger than Ling Tian. She wasn't particularly beautiful; in fact, her skin was a bit dark, her small face was thin, and her hair was messy and slightly yellowish, making her look malnourished. Coupled with her somewhat tattered clothes, the little girl appeared even more frail.

For some reason, Ling Tian felt a pang of heartache and involuntarily walked towards the girl. Ling Yun and his wife noticed the anomaly and looked back as Ling Tian walked away, but they just watched him from a distance and didn't follow.

As if sensing someone watching her, the girl looked up and met Ling Tian's gaze.

Ling Tian's heart trembled slightly. What kind of eyes were those: filled with a sliver of despair, three parts hatred, three parts stubbornness, and three parts helplessness. Combined with her pitiable, tear-streaked appearance, it made one's heart ache with a desire to protect her with their life, ensuring she never suffered even the slightest harm or grievance.

"Little sister, why are you crying?" Ling Tian knelt down in front of the girl. The pain in his heart reminded him of another figure who had also caused him pain—that sorrowful figure, also tear-streaked, at their parting.

Hearing Ling Tian's words, the girl didn't speak. She stood up, though she stopped sobbing, and stared fixedly at Ling Tian, her eyes holding a hint of wariness.

"Don't cry." Ling Tian forcibly suppressed the pain in his heart and stood up, reaching out to wipe the tears from the girl's face.

The little girl seemed a bit startled but didn't dodge, allowing Ling Tian to wipe her tears. The wariness in her eyes lessened slightly.

"Mother once told me, 'Child, don't cry, be strong.' This was her last gift to me, and I hope you'll accept this gift." Ling Tian looked up at the sky, the pain in his heart flashing and quickly concealed. He murmured, as if speaking to the girl, but also as if talking to himself.

"Mhm." The girl nodded, then let out a soft hum, barely audible like a mosquito's whine.

"Heh heh, silly girl." Seeing that the girl had stopped crying, Ling Yun felt a slight joy in his heart. He moved his left hand and gently stroked the girl's messy hair.

Hearing this, the girl pouted in annoyance, but her expression clearly held a hint of shy coquetry.

"Heh heh, my name is Ling Tian. From now on, I... will... protect... you." Ling Tian smiled slightly, speaking each word deliberately, his expression very solemn. As he spoke, he gently embraced the girl.

The girl let out a soft sound and her hands moved slightly, wanting to push Ling Tian away. But as Ling Tian's arms tightened slightly, she stopped struggling. Perhaps Ling Tian's embrace offered a sense of warmth and security.

After a moment, Ling Tian released the girl and looked down to see her shivering slightly. Her clothing was clearly too thin for the cold heights of Qingyun Peak.

Ling Tian's heart ached slightly. He then took out one of his own clothes from his Storage Ring and carefully draped it over her. A blush slowly spread across Ling Tian's fair face.

"I, I..." The girl's face turned slightly red, and she hesitated, wanting to say something. However, her eyes no longer held despair and helplessness; they now held a hint of reliance and gratitude.

"Put it on. Don't dislike that it's my clothes!" Ling Tian smiled faintly and gently tapped the girl's nose with his finger, teasing her.

The clothes were prepared for him by Ling Yun and his wife, made of excellent material. It was a white long robe embroidered with a shy red flower of an unknown species, lifelike. This somewhat feminine garment actually suited the girl well.

"Mhm." The girl softly agreed and put on the long robe.

Suddenly, the girl looked fresh and lovely. Combined with her frail appearance, she became even more captivating. Ling Tian couldn't help but stare, entranced.

"Little one, let's go." At this moment, several women emerged from the Great Hall of Qingyun Peak. They grabbed the girl's small hand and, with light steps, walked away.

The girl seemed reluctant but could only let the women lead her away. She kept looking back, her small face turned towards Ling Tian, her eyes blinking rapidly, as if about to shed tears. However, remembering Ling Tian's words about not crying, she gritted her teeth and held back.

"What's your name?" As the girl walked further away, Ling Tian suddenly remembered he didn't know her name.

His voice, filled with a hint of excitement and anticipation, spread out into the surroundings. However, his expectant voice didn't receive an immediate reply, leaving Ling Tian feeling a little disappointed and melancholic. He couldn't help but lower his head.

"Brother Ling Tian, my name is Hua Min'er. Thank you." After a moment, the little girl's sweet voice drifted back, tinged with shyness and joy.

Hearing her voice, Ling Tian looked up abruptly, grinning foolishly.

"I'll come see you." Suddenly remembering something, Ling Tian shouted loudly. However, his voice didn't echo back this time; she must have already gone far.

"Hua Min'er, Hua Min'er, hee hee, what a nice name." Ling Tian mumbled foolishly, repeating the three words over and over.

"Hua Min'er, I will protect you with my life. I won't let you cry again." Ling Tian murmured to himself, his voice soft but firm, leaving no room for doubt.

Since Ling Yun and his wife were a bit far away, the little girl's gaze remained solely on Ling Tian. She couldn't even see Ling Yun and his wife. Otherwise, perhaps future events might have been different. Of course, that's a story for another time.

"Haha, our Tian'er is already smitten at such a young age, tsk tsk." Ling Yun and his wife appeared behind Ling Tian, who was still lost in a daze, and chuckled.

"It's not like that, Father. I just... I mean..." Ling Tian's face flushed, and his words stumbled. He wanted to explain but didn't know where to start.

"Haha, alright, alright. If you like her, you like her. Why be so hesitant?" Ling Yun laughed heartily, continuing to tease Ling Tian.

"Father, if you tease me again, I won't talk to you anymore, hmph." Ling Tian pouted. Knowing his father was deliberately teasing him, he decided to ignore him.

"Really not talking? Then you don't want to know where that girl is going? Sigh, I'm too lazy to say anyway." Ling Yun feigned a sigh and said leisurely.

"Father, you..." Ling Tian was completely defeated. He knew he had fallen for Ling Yun's trick again but could only stare at his father with eager anticipation.

"Look at the embroidered colorful butterflies on the clothes of those female disciples. They must be disciples of Qingdie Peak. Qingdie Peak exclusively accepts female disciples, so Hua Min'er must have joined Qingdie Peak." Ling Yun stopped toying with Ling Tian and, after a moment of thought, stated his deduction.

"Oh, that makes sense, hee hee. I'll go see her when I have time." Ling Tian's face was filled with joy. Knowing Hua Min'er's destination made it easy to find her.

"It seems you really like her, tsk tsk, at such a young age..." Ling Yun sighed, starting to tease Ling Tian again.

"It's not exactly liking her. I just want to protect her and not let her get hurt again. I don't know why, but that's what I thought the first time I saw her." Ling Tian's eyes held a peculiar expression, but he didn't seem to be lying.

"Oh, it seems you have some predestined connection with her. But whether you like her or not, since you said you would protect her, you must keep your word. A man should not let a girl down." Ling Yun seemed to be speaking to Ling Tian, but he was looking intently at Humei, his expression serious and solemn, with a hint of apology and loneliness.

"Mhm, I know, Father. I wasn't joking." Ling Tian rarely saw his father so serious. His expression also became solemn. He could guess that his father and mother had a deeply unforgettable story.

"It's good that you know. Let's go, we should be heading to Qingming Peak." Ling Yun saw Ling Tian's seriousness, nodded in silent approval, and felt greatly relieved. He looked up at the sky; they had already wasted some time. He said this and started walking towards Qingming Peak.

Ling Tian gazed for a moment in the direction Hua Min'er had gone. Then he turned his head and quickened his pace to catch up with his father, murmuring to himself:

"Min'er, wait for me. I'll come to Qingdie Peak to see you."

Ling Tian's voice was very low, barely audible.

There was no further conversation along the way. Soon after, Ling Yun and the others arrived at Qingming Peak.