When they reached the plaza at Qingyun Peak, Ling Tian suddenly stopped. Almost without thinking, he glanced back toward a corner not far away.
There, a little girl in green sat on the steps, crying. She looked about thirteen or fourteen, a year or two younger than Ling Tian. She wasn't particularly pretty. Her skin was a little dark, her thin little face was gaunt, and her hair was messy and slightly yellowed, giving her a malnourished look. Her clothes were ragged, making her seem all the more frail.
For some reason, Ling Tian felt a sudden ache in his heart. Before he knew it, he was walking toward the girl. Lingyun and his wife noticed something was amiss and turned to watch him go, but they stayed where they were and didn't follow.
The girl seemed to sense someone watching her. She lifted her head and looked at Ling Tian.
Ling Tian's heart gave a small shudder. What kind of gaze was that? One part despair, three parts hatred, three parts stubbornness, and three parts helplessness. With her pitiful, tear-streaked face, she made anyone who saw her feel compassion, wanting to protect her with their life and keep her from suffering even the slightest harm or hurt.
"Little sister, why are you crying?" Ling Tian crouched in front of her. The pain in his heart brought to mind another figure who had wounded him just as deeply—that sorrowful, tear-streaked figure at their parting.
At Ling Tian's words, the girl said nothing. She stood up, stopped sobbing, and stared at him, a hint of wariness in her eyes.
"Don't cry." Ling Tian forcibly suppressed the ache in his heart, stood up as well, and reached out to wipe the tears from her face.
The little girl looked a little startled, but she didn't shrink away. She let Ling Tian wipe her tears, and the wariness in her expression eased a little.
"Mom once told me, 'Child, don't cry. Be strong.' That was the last gift she gave me. I hope you'll accept that gift, too." Ling Tian looked up at the sky. The ache in his heart flickered, then was quickly hidden. He murmured, as if speaking to the girl, though perhaps he was only talking to himself.
"Mm." The girl nodded, then gave a quiet little hum, so faint it was almost inaudible.
"Hehe, silly girl." Seeing that she had stopped crying, Ling Tian felt a little glad. He lifted his left hand and gently smoothed her unruly hair.
At his words, the girl pursed her lips in annoyance, though her expression clearly held a hint of bashfulness.
"Hehe, my name is Ling Tian. From now on, I'll—pro—tect—you." Ling Tian smiled and spoke each word distinctly, his expression solemn. As he spoke, he gently wrapped his arms around the girl.
The girl let out a soft cry and moved her hands as if to push him away. But Ling Tian's arms tightened slightly, and she stopped struggling. Perhaps the warmth of his embrace made her feel a little safer.
After a while, Ling Tian let her go. Looking down, he saw her shivering slightly. Her clothes were far too thin for the high, chilly slopes of Qingyun Peak.
Ling Tian's heart gave another small ache. He took a garment from his Storage Ring and carefully draped it over her shoulders. A blush slowly spread across his fair face.
"I, I..." The girl's face reddened, and she seemed to want to say something but couldn't. The despair and helplessness had vanished from her eyes, replaced by a little dependence and gratitude.
"Put it on. Don't go thinking it's a problem just because it's my clothes!" Ling Tian smiled, lightly flicked the tip of her nose with his little finger, and teased her.
The garment had been prepared for him by Lingyun and his wife, and the fabric was naturally excellent. It was a white robe embroidered with a bashful red flower of unknown name, so lifelike it seemed real. Despite its somewhat feminine style, it suited the girl quite well.
"Mm," the girl murmured, and put on the robe.
At once, she looked fresh and charming. Her frail appearance made her all the more touching, and Ling Tian couldn't help staring, entranced.
"Little one, let's go." Just then, several women came from the Great Hall at Qingyun Peak. They took the girl by the hand and walked away with light, graceful steps.
The girl seemed reluctant, but she could only let the women lead her away. She kept glancing back, her little face turned toward Ling Tian, her eyes blinking as if pearls might soon spill from them. But remembering what Ling Tian had just said about not crying, she bit down on her teeth and held back her tears.
"What's your name?" As the girl grew farther away, Ling Tian suddenly realized he still didn't know her name.
His voice carried a hint of excitement and expectation as it spread around them. But the hoped-for answer didn't come at once, and Ling Tian couldn't help feeling a little disappointed and forlorn. He lowered his head.
A moment later, the little girl's sweet voice floated back to him, shy and happy. "Big Brother Ling Tian, my name is Hua Min'er. Thank you."
Hearing her voice, Ling Tian abruptly lifted his head and grinned foolishly.
"I'll come visit you!" he shouted, suddenly remembering. But this time, no voice came back. She must already have gone too far away.
"Hua Min'er, Hua Min'er. Hehe, what a lovely name." Ling Tian repeated those three words over and over like a fool.
"Hua Min'er, I'll protect you with my life. I won't let you cry again." Ling Tian murmured softly, but his voice was firm and beyond doubt.
Lingyun and his wife were a little far away, and the little girl's gaze had only been fixed on Ling Tian. She hadn't noticed them at all. Otherwise, perhaps what happened later would never have come to pass. But that's a story for another time.
"Haha, our Tian'er's already falling in love at such a young age. Tsk, tsk." At some point, Lingyun and his wife had come up behind Ling Tian, who was still standing there in a daze, grinning foolishly. They clicked their tongues in amusement.
"That's not it, Father. I just, I..." Ling Tian's little face reddened, and he stumbled over his words. He wanted to explain, but didn't know where to begin.
"Haha, all right, all right. If you like her, you like her. Why stammer and fumble?" Lingyun roared with laughter and kept teasing him.
"Father, if you keep making fun of me, I won't talk to you anymore. Hmph." Ling Tian pouted. Knowing his father was teasing him on purpose, he simply ignored him.
"Really? You won't talk to me? Then you don't want to know where that girl is going? Ah, good thing I don't feel like telling you." Lingyun sighed theatrically and drawled.
"Father, you..." Ling Tian was completely beaten. He knew Lingyun had tricked him again, but could only gaze at his father with eager eyes.
"Look at the clothes those female disciples are wearing. They're embroidered with several colorful butterflies. They must be disciples of Qingdie Peak. Qingdie Peak only accepts female disciples, so Hua Min'er must have joined them." Lingyun stopped keeping Ling Tian in suspense and, after a moment's thought, gave his opinion.
"Oh, that must be it. Hehe, I'll go visit her when I have time." Ling Tian was delighted. Now that he knew where Hua Min'er was, it would be easy to find her.
"Looks like you really do like her. Tsk, at such a young age..." Lingyun sighed and began teasing Ling Tian again.
"I don't know if I like her. I just want to protect her and keep her from being hurt again. I don't know why, but that's what I thought the first time I saw her." Ling Tian's eyes held an unusual look, but he didn't seem to be lying.
"Oh? Looks like the two of you share some bond of fate. But whether or not you like her, since you promised to protect her, you have to keep your word. A man shouldn't let a girl down." Lingyun seemed to be speaking to Ling Tian, but he only stared fixedly at Humei. His expression was grave and solemn, yet tinged with regret and desolation.
"Mm, I understand, Father. I wasn't joking, either." Ling Tian rarely saw his father so serious. His expression turned solemn, and he could guess that his father and mother had shared a story carved deep into their hearts.
"Good. Let's go. It's time to head to Qingming Peak." Seeing how serious Ling Tian was, Lingyun nodded in quiet approval, clearly pleased. He looked up at the sky. They had already lost some time, so he set off toward Qingming Peak as he spoke.
Ling Tian stared for a while in the direction Hua Min'er had gone, then turned and hurried a few steps to catch up with his father. He kept murmuring:
"Min'er, wait for me. I'll come visit you at Qingdie Peak."
Ling Tian's voice was very soft, barely audible.
They said nothing more on the way. Before long, Lingyun and the others arrived at Qingming Peak.
Before you continue