Chapter 624 - Kin and Friends
Chapter 624 of "Red Heart Patrols the Sky" opens presenting key developments: Being abandoned by Aunt Song was a shadow in Jiang Ananâs heart that could never... Read on!
Being abandoned by Aunt Song was a shadow in Jiang Ananâs heart that could never be erased.Although, when they were in Fenglin City, Jiang Wang had done his utmost to give her a home, to provide her with warmth.
But the role of a mother could never be replaced.
Thatâs why she still read her motherâs letters, treasured her motherâs gifts, andâŚ
missed her mother.
She missed her so, so much.
But she also understood that her mother didnât want her anymore.
Even though her brother denied it, why was it that, when they were at the academy, all the other children had mothers, but she didnât?
She never talked to her brother about these things.
She knew it would make him sad, she knew he couldnât just conjure up a mother for her.
The reason she got along so well with Qingzhi was that Qingzhi also didnât have a mother.
Although young, she understood that she had been abandoned once before.
She was really afraid of being abandoned again.
It was her brother who had embraced her at her most helpless and most bewildered.
He gave her a home, took her to eat delicious food, bought her new clothes, sent her to school, spoiled her, loved her, took care of herâŚ
She knew that the senior brothers and sisters at Lingxiao Pavilion were all very kind to her, but after all, none of them were her brotherâŚ
She knew that her brother had no choice but to leave her in Yun Country, that finding Ling He, Ru Cheng, Disciple Tang Dun, and Brother Aâzhan was very, very difficult, and that her brother must be working hard.
So, she was also very well-behaved at Lingxiao Pavilion and never cried in front of others.
But she was still very afraid, afraid that her brother, like her mother, would leave and never return, and she would never see him again.
Thatâs why she got so angry when Mo Liang made that kind of joke.
Thatâs why Brother Mo Liang became the disliked senior brotherâŚ
Thousands of feet high in the sky, looking at little Anan sobbing loudly, he saw her carved, jade-like little face, crumpled up from crying, and Jiang Wangâs heart shattered.
He slowly leaned his head on Jiang Ananâs small shoulders.
His voice was calm but unmistakably determined, âBrother will never abandon you.â
He repeated, âBrother will never abandon you.
Did you hear that, Anan?â
Touched by this gentle determination, Jiang Ananâs crying gradually ceased.
âBrother.â
âHmm?â
âI have a runny nose.â
Jiang Anan added, âI have a lot of runny nose.â
Many thoughts flashed through Jiang Wangâs mind in an instant.
My new clothes!
From Yun Xiang Zhai!
Oh wellâŚ
âItâs okayâŚâ Jiang Wang said.
At that, Jiang Anan broke into a smile through her tears.
âBrother.â
âWhat is it?â
âYou really can fly now!â
Jiang Wang hummed proudly, âBrother is very amazing!â
The siblings stayed aloft, talking for a very long timeâŚ
When they descended, Ye Qingyu was still waiting in the same spot.
âFellow Daoist Ye.â
Jiang Wang smiled apologetically at her, âJiang Wang has been rude.â
He had met Ye Qingyu before and had arranged with her in advance to give Jiang Anan a surprise that evening.
The young cultivators at Lingxiao Pavilion had also learned of Jiang Wangâs distinguished reputation in Qi Country from that merchant fleet that sailed out to sea.
Thatâs why Mo Liang was in a hurry to apologize to Anan, thatâs why that âBrother Fangâ repeatedly emphasized that tattling was wrongâŚ
After all, someone with a reputation that echoed throughout Qi Country, among the young generation in Yun Country, definitely had no equal.
Ye Qingyu smiled lightly, âItâs no trouble.
I thought you would keep talking until sunrise.â
She pointed her finger upward to the sky.
Jiang Wang grew even more embarrassed, âI thought you had gone back alreadyâŚâ
âHow could that be allowed?â Ye Qingyu feigned seriousness, âJiang Anan is an outstanding disciple of our Lingxiao Pavilion, who weâve carefully cultivated up to now.
I must watch over her.
What if you simply whisk her away?â
Having just finished crying, Jiang Anan felt somewhat embarrassed and only sneaked a glance at Ye Qingyu before burying her little head back into Jiang Wangâs chest.
âI owe you a lotâŚâ Jiang Wang said with sincere tones.
Ensuring Jiang Ananâs well-being was not a big deal for Ye Qingyu.
What truly showed her dedication was making Jiang Anan comfortable in the Lingxiao Pavilion.
Jiang Wangâs gratitude was genuine.
Ye Qingyu waved it off, âIt is I who should be thankful to you.
After Anan arrived, everyone has become so much happier.
She is indeed our little bundle of joyâŚ
Hm?â
Her words were cut short as she suddenly turned her head.
A dazzling sword light shot towards them in a swift streak.
Jiang Wang quickly informed her, âItâs a friend of mine.â
Atop that dazzling sword light stood a cultivator, dressed especially neatlyâit was Xiang Qian.
Gone was his usual dispirited demeanor.
Now he rode his sword soaring through the air, spiritedly riding the wind with an air of indescribable suaveness.
He stood on the bright and brilliant flying sword, hovering in front of Jiang Wang, locking eyes with the curious wide eyes of Jiang Anan.
With great flair, he tossed his hair back.
He introduced himself, âYes, you are seeing correctly.
I am your brotherâs good friend.
My surname is Xiang, and my given name is Qian!â
This entrance was something he must have planned for a long time, getting every detail just right.
Jiang Anan buried her head back into Jiang Wangâs chest, âWho is this uncle?â
Xiang Qian touched the stubble on his chin, his expression quite wistful.
âUh.â Jiang Wang felt quite embarrassed for Xiang Qian and explained, âThis is Brother Xiang Qian, a good friend I made in Qi Country.
Call him brother.â
Only then did Jiang Anan turn back and weakly said, âHello, Brother Xiang Qian.â
âHey!â Xiang Qian hurriedly responded, joyfully saying, âThis is our first meetingâŚ
I didnât prepare anythingâŚâ
Looking over himself, he patted around to find that indeed, he prepared nothing.
The money he used to buy new clothes was even borrowed from Jiang Wang!
After a moment of thought, he unfastened a sword-shaped jade pendant from his waist, âThis little trinket is for you as a meeting gift!â
Ye Qingyu, used to seeing wealth, couldnât help but show some surprise when she saw the jade pendant.
Jiang Wang was even more direct, âThis is too valuable, Anan canât accept it.â
The sword-shaped jade pendant didnât stand out much when fastened to his waist, but as soon as he took it out, the sharp aura could no longer be concealed.
It was definitely a treasure, and given his origins, it might even be a relic passed down from the age of flying swords.
Xiang Qianâs skin still wasnât thick enough.
If it were Xu Xiangqian, if he had nothing prepared in a rush, he could just pluck a piece of grass from the roadside as a meeting gift.
Not like him, who had to pull out his most cherished possession.
âThe era it belonged to is over.
Thereâs nothing so precious left about it,â Xiang Qian lamented, âTake it, let it serve as protection for Anan.â
He placed the jade pendant in Ananâs hand.
Anan quickly drew back her small hand, shaking her head insistently, âI canât accept it.â
Xiang Qian turned towards Jiang Wang, his eyes, for some reason, carrying a hint of sadness.
So Jiang Wang patted Anan, and only then did she stretch out her hand to accept the jade pendant, âThank you, Brother Xiang Qian!â
Xiang Qian smiled with satisfaction and reached out to pat Ananâs small head.
Then he turned on his flying sword, looking at Ye Qingyu, âThis lady must be the treasured daughter of the Pavilion Master of the Lingxiao Pavilion, Miss Ye Qingyu, right?â
Ye Qingyu smiled gracefully, âHello.â
Only then did Xiang Qian nod, no longer speaking.
At that moment, Jiang Wang suddenly realized.
Xiang Qian had gone to the effort of dressing up, and it probably wasnât just because he was going to meet Jiang Wangâs sister.
It was more likely becauseâŚ
Lingxiao Pavilion, a place he had visited before with his master.
Where the Sword Dao had once shone bright above the clouds.
He didnât want to disgrace his master.