Chapter 108 - Everything Has an End

Bai Lian cradled the bowl of soup and asked, “When your sister was ill, did you take care of her in the same way?”Upon the mention of Jiang Anan, a smile naturally appeared on Jiang Wang’s face.

“She was a very well-behaved child, and she didn’t throw tantrums even when she was sick.

And as long as I bought her some tasty treats, she would be very happy.

I would buy her things like Cai Ji’s mutton, Du Dewang’s soup pot, Gui Xiang Zhai’s pastries…”

Jiang Wang listed the foods Jiang Anan favored one by one, causing Bai Lian’s mood to sour more and more as she listened.

The soup in her hands…

it had never been appealing to begin with.

Your sister gets sick, and you bustle around buying all sorts of delicacies.

For the sake of preserving your life, I went through life-and-death struggles, and this is the sort of thing you serve me?

An inner roar, a forced smile on her face.

“Alright, thank you.”

Bai Lian interrupted Jiang Wang.

She found this man to be the quiet type, but whenever his sister was brought up, he suddenly became quite eager to express himself.

“Hmm, you’re weak, so talk less,” Jiang Wang said as he raised his hand.

“Drink up, drink up, there’s more in the pot, I’ll add more once you finish.”

Bai Lian automatically ignored the latter part of his sentence, and after some hesitation, moved the soup closer.

Suddenly, she stopped and looked at Jiang Wang, blinking her beautiful eyes: “Do you want to watch me drink?

Want to know…

what I look like?”

“Sorry, sorry.

I forgot, my apologies,” Jiang Wang said as he turned and walked towards the cave entrance.

“Hey!” Bai Lian called him back, waited until he turned around again, then said with a smile tinged with amusement, “Help me lift my veil…”

Her voice was melodious and seductive, pulling at one’s heartstrings.

Jiang Wang felt his lips go dry, to say he wasn’t curious about Bai Lian’s appearance would be impossible.

Although they hadn’t spent much time together, every encounter had been memorable.

This woman’s figure, voice, and even the eyes that were exposed, were all impeccable.

Jiang Wang couldn’t deny his curiosity about what lay beneath the veil, even a vague sense of anticipation.

And now, Bai Lian was asking him to lift her veil.

No hesitations.

Jiang Wang strode forward, reached out to grab the veil, and gently lifted it…

Underneath the veil…

Was a beautiful…

Mask.

It was a beautifully crafted, nicely designed lotus-patterned mask.

It wonderfully combined elements of purity and eeriness.

“Hahaha!” Bai Lian laughed so hard her whole body trembled.

Jiang Wang’s hand froze in mid-air, then awkwardly withdrew.

I should have known…

he thought.

“Drink your soup,” he said coldly, and once again feeling mocked, Jiang Wang stormed out of the cave.

The laughter from Bai Lian continued behind him.

Jiang Wang stood outside the cave, looking up at the sky, his expression filled with melancholy.

Inside the cave, the black bear looked at his retreating figure, sharing the same melancholy expression.

The laughter finally ceased…

“Gurgle~”

“Pfft!!”

Bai Lian’s roar echoed: “Jiang Wang!

Are you trying to kill me?

Its taste is even worse than its appearance!”

“Here, this is the jam I made myself.

I chose the sweetest wild fruits, condensed the cleanest water using Water Taoism Technique, nourished it with the purest Wood tactics vitality, then carefully controlled the fire, and meticulously blended it together.” Jiang Wang said earnestly, “Will you try it again?”

Bai Lian looked at the flashy mess, then with an equally earnest gaze said to Jiang Wang, “Jiang Wang, please, just pick the wild fruits and give them to me as they are.

I like them raw, truly.”

Seeing Bai Lian’s pleading eyes, Jiang Wang felt refreshed and clear-headed.

This was the first time Bai Lian had shown him any form of submission, all because of his exquisite cooking skills.

Many skills do not overwhelm one, ancient sayings do not deceive!

After another trip out, he returned with a huge pile of wild fruits.

Bai Lian ate the fruits inside the cave, while Jiang Wang continued to stand guard outside.

He looked at his two “pots,” feeling somewhat perplexed.

“Is it really that disgusting?”

The so-called pots were just larger stones, with a hollow carved out in the middle.

One pot held a wild vegetable soup, the other a wild fruit jam.

One pot was colorful, the other a riot of colors.

Competing for attention, they reflected each other’s brilliance.

He moved closer to his culinary creations, hesitating for a long while before ultimately deciding he couldn’t bring himself to taste them.

After all, Bai Lian’s reaction had been too pathetic.

Even when she was brutally beaten by Ji Xuan last night, she hadn’t screamed so miserably.

But to pour it all away would be too wasteful for Jiang Wang to bear.

He had worked hard and put effort and passion into it.

“What a waste…”

Murmuring to himself, Jiang Wang’s gaze drifted aimlessly, eventually settling on the black bear sitting obediently nearby.

“You, come here.” He waved the bear over.

Jiang Wang had been gone for a long while.

He was a Disciple of the Dao Technique, talented and willing to work hard.

His prospects were bright.

He had his own life, good friends, and a lovely sister.

His life was supposed to be peaceful and bright.

Bai Lian sat quietly in the mountain cave, her eyes filled with a lost and distant look.

In fact, her body had recovered very well; the effects of the life recovery secret technique were remarkably compatible.

It was a secret technique she had only heard of but had never mastered, a power that came from the abyss.

This, without a doubt, strengthened her conviction.

However, she unusually found herself hesitating.

Was it because of that awful-tasting wild vegetable soup?

Or was it the sudden warm embrace she fell into, just as she had readied herself to face death?

Bai Lian couldn’t tell.

She wasn’t naturally soft-hearted, yet, to her own surprise, she had found herself playing the role of the frail for half a day.

She let out a long sigh.

But everything comes to an end, just like last night had passed.

By the time the Bone Messenger appeared, Bai Lian had already redonned her black veil, appearing to breathe calmly and not look as if she had been gravely injured.

Outside the cave, there was also a black bear lying on the ground, foaming at the mouth.

“Just a beast; kill it if you must, why torture it?” The Bone Messenger asked from outside the cave.

“You’re unexpectedly benevolent,” Bai Lian said, as she gracefully exited the cave.

“It seems the rumors are false; you’re not hurt.” The Bone Messenger clearly didn’t care about a black bear foaming at the mouth.

He was merely looking for an excuse to continue, “I received the news and was extremely anxious, but it turned out to be an unnecessary worry.”

Bai Lian ignored the latter part of his statement and softly said, “I also don’t know who wishes for my life so eagerly, having knowledge of my whereabouts and even colluding with Ji Xuan.

Aren’t they afraid that I will be captured alive and reveal all the secrets of the organization?”

“It’s certainly not me.

If it were me, I wouldn’t have come alone.”

“Of course.

My death now wouldn’t benefit you in the least.

But who knows about later?”

“Look at what you’re saying; whether you die now or later, it would be very upsetting for me.” The Bone Messenger turned and walked away, even taking care to remove branches that were in the way.

The two of them moved through the mountain forest, stepping on the fallen leaves with a rustle.

The distance between them was delicate, seemingly close yet mutually guarded.

They could, of course, be comrades in arms, or fellow disciples striving for the same ideal.

But with just a moment’s carelessness, they might become each other’s prey.

It must be said that this feeling of walking on a knife’s edge was what Bai Lian was most familiar with.

Her footsteps became lighter and more relaxed.

As they walked, she suddenly asked, “Messenger, has anyone ever risked their life for you?”

“Oh yes!” The Bone Messenger replied without looking back, “Those who want to kill me often risk their lives.”

“That’s true,” Bai Lian said with a soft chuckle, “for people like us.”